The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Megan glanced at Cedrick with an awkward smile, chuckled sheepishly, and then settled back into her seat.

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn returned her gaze to Cedrick, seizing the opportunity to study him while he remained lost in

desolation, his eyes fixed on the ground.

When he finally looked up, she quickly averted her eyes, avoiding eye contact. Resuming a calm tone, she asked,

“Since you claim to be my husband, what evidence do you have to prove it?”

Cedrick pondered for a moment before reaching into his pocket and taking out his phone. With trembling fingers,

he tapped the screen and clicked into the photo album, showing Gwendolyn a family photo of the four of them

taken in the hospital’s lab.

Gwendolyn glanced at it placidly. “Photos can be edited. Since you came prepared, it’s only normal for you

fabricate these.”

She was implying that she still didn’t buy his claim.

Cedrick sighed, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he began to explain, “We have a pair of five-year-

old twins. The older one is a boy named Benedict Jenson, and the younger one is a girl named Zendaya Harris. They

have different surnames because you personally arranged it that way, considering their involvement in the

inheritance rights of both the Jenson and Harris families. During the year when you were pregnant, many things

happened. Your father fell from the stairs and passed away in the hospital. You were questioned about whether you

were truly the heiress of the Harris family. All those burdens took a toll on your emotions, causing them to become

unstable and often go out of control…”

He paused and slowly rolled up his left sleeve, revealing his muscular forearm.

As he was clenching his fist firmly, his skin was taut, revealing the veins bulging underneath.

He turned his forearm slightly, showing two rows of bite marks that had left a small, fading scar.

Cedrick gently caressed the scar with his fingertips, his eyelashes trembling as he spoke hoarsely. “This scar is from

when I stopped you from eating oranges during a manic episode. You bit me hard, and it hurt so badly…”

The pain from that bite was excruciating, but nothing compares to the agony of her not remembering me and not

choosing me.

Gwendolyn turned her face away, not looking at the bite mark. Her calm expression seemed indifferent, as if she

was unaffected by what he just said.

Megan observed their expressions back and let out a sigh as she shook her head, uncertain of what she should say.

Matters concerning these young people were beyond her intervention, so all she could do was listen quietly.

The courtyard fell into a tranquil silence.

With a composed demeanor, Gwendolyn said, “Stories can be fabricated. Saying all this won’t make me believe

you. There are so many people with ill intentions nowadays. If I wasn’t cautious, I would’ve believed Charles, and

you wouldn’t even have the chance to tell me all this. It’s not that I’m deliberately singling you out. I hope you

understand.”

She sounded so apathetic, as though she was an interviewer evaluating a candidate.

Cedrick remained squatting by her feet, his head hanging low. He remained silent for quite some time.

For some reason, he felt that Gwendolyn was trying to console him and tell him that she was merely trying to

protect herself now that she had lost her memories.

Yet, in just a few seconds, he dismissed the thought.

How can she possibly be comforting me when she doesn’t even remember me? It’s nothing but wishful thinking.

Gwendolyn gazed at the dejected man, who was still crouching at her feet, wallowing in sorrow. With a tinge of

tenderness, she asked, “Aren’t your legs sore from squatting like this for so long?”

Cedrick shook his head. Squatting is nothing. If there weren’t any outsiders watching, I would even kneel and slap

myself to atone for my sins until she remembers me.

Gwendolyn inquired further, “You mentioned earlier that you have two five-year-old kids. At such a young age,

children need their parents’ company. Are you really planning to stay here overnight instead of being with your

children?”

Her tone sounded distant and unwelcoming, as if she was chasing him away and making it clear that he was not

welcome there.

Cedrick hesitated for a moment before resolutely shaking his head.

He would be wherever his wife was.

Nothing could ever change that.

Gwendolyn frowned slightly, seemingly impatient. “You really won’t leave? We can’t accommodate all of you here.

Your children must be upset without someone to keep them company. You claim to love me and your kids, yet

you’re leaving them alone. How can I believe your words?”

Cedrick hesitated for a moment before responding, “The children have been very obedient recently. Benny can

tuck Zendy in himself, so they don’t need me there. Besides, Joshua is with them, so they’ll be fine.”

In other words, he was determined to stay there tonight.

Sensing the tension in the air, Megan gently patted Gwendolyn’s hand with a warm smile, trying to mediate the

situation. “That’s okay. I’m honored that Mr. Jenson is willing to make himself comfortable in my humble abode. Let

me go get you guys some clean bedding.”

With that, she got up and walked inside the house.

Cedrick and Gwendolyn were the only ones left in the courtyard.

Gwendolyn didn’t feel like saying much and simply rephrased the question she had asked Charles earlier. “There’s

no point in saying anything else because I won’t believe you. I only have one question for you. Do you have our

marriage certificate?”

Cedrick gazed at her and answered firmly, “Yes.”

Wearing a solemn look, Gwendolyn held out her hand. “Show me.”

Cedrick instinctively reached for his pocket, eager to present the evidence. However, his expression soon froze on

his face. “The marriage certificate is at home. I didn’t bring it with me…”

Gwendolyn responded indifferently, “Then, stop claiming to be my husband. Until I see the marriage certificate, I

won’t believe you. We’ll talk after you show me the evidence.”

After uttering these words, she stood up, ready to leave. However, Cedrick reached out and grasped her wrist.

When she turned to face him, he met her gaze sincerely. “I’ll get someone to head home and retrieve the evidence

right away. Once you see our marriage certificate, will you trust me?”

Gwendolyn’s expression stiffened, but she soon freed her hand from his grip. “It’s too late now. Let’s discuss it

tomorrow.”

Without any hesitation, she turned away and walked back into the house to help Megan prepare two clean sets of

bedding.

Meanwhile, Cedrick remained squatting outside, his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn’s back. He fell into a daze, lost in his

thoughts.

For some inexplicable reason, he had a feeling that Gwendolyn was deliberately avoiding him.

On one hand, he noticed those subtle gestures and wondered if they meant she still remembered him somewhere

deep inside. On the other hand, if she did remember, it seemed like she was deliberately choosing not to

acknowledge him, which meant she no longer wanted him. It was an agonizing realization to grapple with.

He felt suffocated as if a heavy weight was pressing down on his chest. The multitude of conjectures sent a chill

down his spine, leaving him feeling colder than when the evening breeze had brushed past his face.

The sizzling sounds from the kitchen interrupted his thoughts. Soon, Nico rushed over to help Cedrick stand up.

“Cedrick, don’t strain your legs. It’s freezing out here. You should conserve your strength so you can take your wife

back home. Come inside. Dinner is ready.”

Once Nico helped Cedrick inside, the former stepped out of the courtyard to get a better mobile signal and made a

call.

“Yeah, Mr. Jenson and I will stay here tonight. The rest of you should head back. It’s cold at the mountaintop, so

don’t linger here. Also, send the helicopters away; we won’t need them tonight. If anyone requires helicopter

assistance tomorrow, I’ll arrange it beforehand. Now, go home! I won’t repeat myself again. If anyone wants a

beating, speak up, and I’ll be glad to help you with that at the bureau tomorrow!”

His frustration became more evident as he spoke.

He ended the call angrily with annoyance written all over his face.

The night’s coldness felt more intense in the wilderness. Nico’s neck felt the biting chill of the wind as he strode

back into the house, his hands nestled in his pockets, and his shoulders hunched against the cold.

As the last dish was placed on the table, the light illuminated the bruise at the corner of Charles’ mouth, making it

painfully obvious.

Megan asked worriedly, “How did you get injured from cooking? Did you fight earlier?”

Nico immediately felt everyone staring at him.

He chuckled and scratched his head awkwardly. “No. We’re getting along fine. Why would we fight?”

Charles nodded as well, maintaining a calm demeanor as he spoke. “The kitchen floor was a bit slippery, and I

accidentally fell.”