The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

As a gentle breeze stroked the room, sheer curtains billowed from the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the

entangled silhouettes.

A soft blush bloomed on Gwendolyn’s cheeks as she adjusted her breathing.

Ten days of yearning, worry, longing, all erupted within Cedrick’s conquest.

Half-lidded, Gwendolyn’s fingers traced Cedrick’s sweat-slick Adam’s apple.

The imprint of her teeth from the morning was still visible.

A wave of satisfaction washed over her. Their love felt like an intense fire.

The notion of losing a love like this was unfathomable.

Amnesia, injury, or even death were unbearable facets of their lives.

“What’s on your mind, Gwenny? You should focus.”

Cedrick seized her wrists and lifted them above her head as he planted a kiss on her lips again.

By mid-afternoon, the world outside was bright and sunny. Yet, for Gwendolyn, it was a whirlwind of dark ecstasy.

Her waist was sore and aching, and she didn’t feel like moving her body at all.

Cedrick carried her and headed to the bathroom again.

She was on the brink of collapse. The exhaustion was overwhelming.

Gwendolyn regretted giving in to their fervent desires after ten days apart.

Their passionate reunion was far too intense.

After bathing, Cedrick diligently helped her dress, choosing a soft white dress. He carefully draped a coat over her

and helped her button it.

“If you still feel weary, please take a rest at home and only head to the lab tomorrow,” he said.

After all, Joshua was watching over the two children at the laboratory. Hence, a major mishap was unlikely. To him,

nothing was more important than ensuring his wife wasn’t overtaxed.

“It’s all right. I’ll take a nap when I get to the lab. It’s the same,” she said.

Cedrick knew she was an opinionated woman. She wouldn’t change her mind that easily after arriving at a decision

and refrained from trying to persuade her further.

Upon changing her attire, he cradled her in his arms and descended the stairs to leave Harrick Villa.

Clinging onto his neck, she inquired with a teasing smile, “You seem to be bursting with energy. Aren’t you the

slightest bit tired?”

He pursed his lips in an attempt to stifle a laugh and replied, “Don’t you feel your husband is quite impressive now?

Isn’t my stamina great?”

Gwendolyn lightly pinched his earlobe in exasperation.

“Be brief next time. Otherwise, you’re going to delay the time,” she grumbled.

Cedrick raised an eyebrow and smiled suggestively. “Are you saying you disapprove of this, Gwenny? Hmm, I seem

to recall otherwise in the bathroom just now…”

Ah, stop it! Don’t say it out loud!

Merely alluding to the amorous instances of earlier sent a flurry of blushing memories rushing back.

Gwendolyn swiftly covered his mouth, glowering at him while her cheeks turned a rosy hue. “You have no shame.

Aren’t you afraid that others might hear us?”

“What is there to be ashamed of? This is a private matter between man and wife. Nobody has a right to say

anything. Gwenny, we’ve been married for five years. Why are you still so shy?”

Exactly. This is a matter between man and wife. How could he say it out loud?

Gwendolyn decided to change the subject and said, “Let’s call for the Jenson family driver.”

Cedrick shook his head. “It’s all right. I’ll drive.”

“Doesn’t your bottom hurt when you sit?” she asked.

He leaned forward to press his lips gently against hers and said playfully, “It’s a minor discomfort, nothing to worry

about.”

All right, then.

After all, it was a punishment for his habit of consuming two packs of cigarettes in ten days’ time. Hence, she

decided to keep quiet and allow him to carry her to the Jenson family garage.

After half an hour, the two children finally caught hold of Gwendolyn, whom they had been missing terribly.

Upon witnessing Cedrick carrying Gwendolyn into the ward, Benedict and Zendaya were filled with palpable

excitement.

“Mommy, I’ve missed you so much!” Zendaya cried.

She teared up and hopped off the bed, her eyes red and puffy as she rushed toward her parents.

Benedict was still on the drip. Hence, he could only sit on the bed and look at them from afar. Nonetheless, he was

elated at the sight of his mother.

Cedrick gently set Gwendolyn down when he saw Zendaya rushing toward them.

Zendaya immediately wrapped herself around Gwendolyn’s leg, choking back her sobs and wiping her tears.

“You’re finally back, Mommy. Benny and I are so worried about you.” She was gentle while hugging Gwendolyn,

afraid that she might hurt the latter. “Did you get hurt? Why did Daddy carry you here?”

Gently tousling her daughter’s hair, Gwendolyn looked back at Cedrick with a playful glance. “You should ask your

daddy.”

Cedrick had drained all her energy that Gwendolyn didn’t even have the strength to bend down and hug Zendaya

now.

Confused, Zendaya turned to look at her father. “Daddy, what did you do to Mommy? She has been away for so

many days. Did you bully her the moment she came back?”

Cedrick wrapped his arm around Gwendolyn’s waist, allowing her to lean against him. Instead of offering an

explanation, he instructed, “Your mommy is tired. You two need to behave tonight. Undress yourselves, wash up,

and go to bed without troubling her.”

“Okay…” The two kids were visibly disappointed.

Cedrick helped Gwendolyn to the side of the bed. Fortunately, she was able to walk as normal, despite feeling that

her legs were going to give out at any moment.

Zendaya clambered up onto the bed, clinging to Gwendolyn.

This time, Benedict was finally able to get closer to his mother too. He reached out his right hand, which was not on

the drip, and gently touched Gwendolyn’s face.

“Mommy, you seem to have lost weight. Haven’t you been eating well?” he asked.

Gwendolyn smiled and nodded. “Your daddy’s cooking is still the best. Now that I’m back, I won’t be leaving again.”

Since he was the older brother, Benedict held in the urge to cry. Nonetheless, his eyes turned red as he pursed his

lips.

After a moment of hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to ask, “C-Can I hug you, Mommy?”

Gwendolyn chuckled. A sense of déjà vu washed over Gwendolyn as she recalled Cedrick asking her the same

questions just a while ago back at Harrick Villa.

It was evident that Benedict was a chip off the old block, both displaying a similar delicate demeanor in times of

uncertainty.

Indulging in this moment of tender innocence, she stroked Benedict’s face and said, “Of course.”

He sat up and scooted toward her, snuggling in her arms.

As soon as she entered the ward, the two children clung to her like koala bears.

Standing aside, Cedrick shook his head and chuckled.

When Gwendolyn was not around, he was the most precious person to the children. However, the moment

Gwendolyn returned, he was once again relegated to the sidelines.

After letting the children enjoy their time with Gwendolyn, Cedrick finally intervened with a solemn voice. “All right,

your mommy is really tired. Let her rest after hugging her, all right? Be good.”

Despite their reluctance to let Gwendolyn go, the two children listened to Cedrick. After all, they didn’t wish to tire

Gwendolyn out either.

Gwendolyn was touched by their considerate gestures and kissed them both on their foreheads.

“Mommy doesn’t feel tired when we hug. Mommy loves it,” the two children chimed.

Their faces beamed with delight as they huddled closer to hug Gwendolyn again.

Cedrick’s interruption of the sweet mother-and-child moment seemed untimely.

Exasperated, Cedrick eyed the three of them. The way Gwendolyn indulged in the two children made him feel as if

he was less important to her than Benedict and Zendaya.

An inexplicable sense of jealousy washed over him. However, he knew all too well that being jealous of the kids

would surely lead to a fight between him and Gwendolyn. Hence, he suppressed the unbidden feeling and looked at

his watch.

It’s getting late. Time to tend to business.

Before leaving, he reminded again, “Benny, take good care of Mommy. She will stay with you guys at the lab

tonight. Don’t make her worry. Zendy, if Mommy wants to drink water or eat fruits, you need to fetch them for her,

okay?”

“Understood!” the two children said in unison.

Gwendolyn turned around when she noticed that Cedrick was leaving. She looked into his eyes and said, “Take good

care. Call me if you feel bored. Don’t smoke.”