The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Asher’s face lost all color when Gwendolyn’s revelation struck him.

He found it unbelievable that Cedrick was willing to disregard his family’s reputation and interests to transfer

everything he had over to Gwendolyn.

It’s so ironic that it feels like a bad joke.

“I’m sorry.”

An apology was all that he could eke out, for he knew that any further explanation was pointless.

Wiping away her tears, Gwendolyn felt as if she had lost all faith in Asher.

“Even if you weren’t behind those misdeeds, your tolerance of Evelyn’s misdeeds has allowed her to act with

impunity. The way you protect her and cover up the truth was the reason I ended up in Fairlake when I was fifteen.

There, I suffered for six years straight while living with the Wright family. The trauma that I experienced isn’t

something that your trivial punishment can ever make up for!

“On top of Crane Bridge at Fairlake, she and Luke hired forty assassins to kill me. I had no choice but to jump into

the freezing river to escape. Another time in Realm Bar, she and Uncle Hector bribed Charles to steal the S404 RNA

virus from the lab so that they could infect me with it.

“Let’s not forget the numerous times she tried to sow discord between me and Cedrick. By advising Eloise, she

almost succeeded in getting me raped by Sherman during Eloise’s birthday party. Yet, you bailed Eloise and

Natasha out of prison, allowing them to ride roughshod on my life. All these incidents are the result of you and Dad

indulging her, and I’m never going to forgive you for what you have done. Since you want the right of succession so

much, I’ll give it to you as my way of repaying you for the care you have shown me throughout the years. But, from

today onward, you and I are no longer siblings!”

The moment Gwendolyn was done with her outburst, she walked past Asher with her eyes brimming with hatred.

The latter, whose eyes had reddened, called out to Gwendolyn right before she opened the door to leave.

“I’m sorry, Kiddo. I didn’t expect my actions to have traumatized you to this extent. I know I don’t deserve to ask

for your forgiveness. Instead, I’ll reflect upon my actions and do my best to make it up to you. As for Evelyn, you’re

free to make her pay as long as you don’t kill her.”

Unfortunately, his words only hurt Gwendolyn more. Her grip on the doorknob tightened in response. “In the end,

it’s clear that she’s more important to you. Despite me listing out all her crimes, you still choose to stand up for

her.”

Suppressing the remorse within him, Asher hung his head and gave a teary-eyed explanation. “When I was on a

mission in the military, it was her mother who sacrificed her life to save mine. She’s the one that I’m indebted to. I

promised her that I would take care of Evelyn and ensure her safety. As for Dad, the fact that she’s his illegitimate

child simply added to his guilt. Evelyn has a special place in his heart because I was the cause of her mother’s

death.”

Marcus was a good father who loved all his children. Unfortunately, he failed as a husband for loving three women

in his life.

Asher let out a sigh before continuing in a choking voice, “Kiddo, I beg of you. Please spare her life.”

His plea left Gwendolyn stunned at her feet. Her heart tightened abruptly, while her eyes twitched beyond her

control.

Ever since she was little, Asher was someone she truly respected.

Whenever she did something wrong, he would reprimand and punish her. However, his heart would break every

time he did it, and he would feel the urge to give her all the attention in the world to make up for it.

The dynamics of their relationship made him a stern mother figure to her, while Marcus played the role of a gentle

father.

As a result, she was devastated to see the brother whom she loved so deeply beg for mercy on behalf of Evelyn, a

mere illegitimate child.

The irony of it all elicited a smirk from her. “Don’t you dare call me Kiddo anymore! I don’t ever want to hear those

words from your mouth. Going forward, the only brothers I have are Kieran and Treyton. The eldest brother I so

cherished died when I was fifteen.”

After leaving him with her scathing response, she opened the door and stormed out without looking back.

Asher was left alone in her old room, overwhelmed with sorrow and dejection.

When Gwendolyn emerged from the room, Cedrick was standing by the stairs, waiting for her.

The sight of her reddened eyes and tear streaks on her cheeks filled him with sympathy. Instead of saying anything,

he simply opened his arm to offer her a comforting embrace.

Gwendolyn reciprocated by throwing herself into his arms and wrapping her hands around his waist. The sound of

his steady heartbeat brought her a sense of belonging which gradually calmed her down.

Hugging her tightly, Cedrick patted her on the back as he suggested in a magnetic voice, “Are you tired? If it’s too

much for you, let’s just head home first.”

Gwendolyn shook her head to indicate that she wasn’t done yet.

I’m not going home until I deal with those two b*tches—Lorelai and Evelyn!

Cognizant of her intention, Cedrick stopped persuading her. Instead, he tightened the grip on her hand as he led

her to the living room downstairs where Sienna was standing.

It was clear from her glistening eyes that she, too, had just cried.

The sight of Gwendolyn and Cedrick coming down filled her with shame and regret. She was unable to hold back

her tears, so she cried even more. “Gwendolyn, I’m shocked to have just learned about how much you have

suffered. I’m sorry… I’m truly sorry!”

Gwendolyn was someone who could clearly tell friend from foe. Sienna, her sister-in-law, had always treated her

like her own sister and was innocent of any involvement with Asher’s misdeeds.

“I don’t blame you at all, as you were ignorant of the entire matter. You don’t have to apologize on Asher’s behalf.”

The sensitive Sienna could detect the change in Gwendolyn’s tone when she mentioned Asher, a fact that saddened

her so much that tears just wouldn’t stop flowing.

Letting out a sigh, Gwendolyn couldn’t help but feel a certain distance between them now, especially after all that

had happened.

Clueless as to how she could console Sienna, Gwendolyn suggested, “He’s upstairs right now. Why don’t you go

check on him? I doubt he’s in a good place emotionally.”

“All right.” Sienna nodded before hurrying upstairs.

Meanwhile, Evelyn and Lorelai were being guarded at their seats in the garden.

Upon emerging from the villa, Gwendolyn could already see Lorelai’s fearful expression from afar.

The thought of her unconscious father in the room infuriated Gwendolyn further. After striding across the lawn, she

dragged Lorelai into the villa by grabbing her silky-smooth hair.

“Ouch! Let go of me, Gwendolyn! I’m your stepmother, an elder of yours. You can’t do this to me!” Lorelai

screamed as her face contorted from the pain.

Gwendolyn sneered, “That might be the case before this, but not anymore!”

With rage burning in her eyes, she gave Lorelai’s hair an even stronger tug.

Despite feeling as if her scalp was about to be torn off, Lorelai—who had lived a life of luxury in the Harris residence

—failed to struggle free on the account that she wasn’t a martial artist.

She was dragged into the villa and subsequently into Marcus’ room.

The room door opened to reveal Marcus lying there peacefully. His eyes were closed, while his face was covered by

an oxygen mask that was connected to a monitoring device. At that moment, he was nothing more than a

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Thereafter, Gwendolyn kicked Lorelai behind her knees and pressed her down so that she kneeled by Marcus’ bed.

Even then, her tight grip on Lorelai’s hair didn’t loosen one bit.

“Lorelai, take a good look at him! This man insisted on marrying you despite his children’s objections. He is the one

who gave you a life of luxury throughout your years living at the Harris residence. How can you push him off the

stairs? Do you not have a conscience at all?”