The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Whitney was still wrapped in the coat Charles gave her as she stared out the window at the night view whizzing past

them.

Though he promised to drive her home after she told him her address, she found the view outside to be unfamiliar

and realized he wasn’t taking her to the intended destination.

Thus, she asked, “Where are you bringing me to, Mr. Newton?”

With one hand on the steering wheel, Charles appeared nonchalant as he focused on the road ahead. “I’m taking

you to the hospital.”

“It’s really not necessary—”

“You heard what Jasper said. An injury statement is required to apprehend that group of men. You can’t produce

that statement if you don’t visit the hospital.”

“I was just afraid back then. I didn’t suffer any severe injuries. Since they already paid me, why not—”

Before she could finish explaining her intention to get this over with, Charles cut her off grimly by saying, “I will not

allow the woman I want to date to be humiliated by scumbags like them. Even though they didn’t succeed, I still

want them to pay the price for their offense.”

She fell silent, touched by what he said. So this is what it feels like to be protected by a boyfriend…

“Thank you,” she said.

Charles’ expression remained unchanged as he spoke calmly. “In any case, let me handle these matters. You don’t

need to worry about them. Just rest after you return home, and don’t forget our date tomorrow.”

Whitney nodded. I won’t. That’s the last thing I’ll forget.

Thinking of Jessamyn in the surveillance room, he narrowed his eyes and said, “You don’t seem like the type of

woman who frequented a place like Seduction Bar. Who told you about this place?”

If she had been an experienced bar hostess, today’s events would not have unfolded as they did. She would have

skillfully managed any conflict with her customers, avoiding physical altercations and effortlessly resolving the

situation. However, her current state of panic suggests she is a novice in this field. While I have a general

understanding of the situation, I still require her honest account to fully grasp the truth.

Whitney lowered her head and contemplated her answer.

While she was carefree, she wasn’t an idiot. “It was Ms. Cloud. At noon, after I bid you and Ms. Zendy goodbye, she

came to me and handed me a card. Then, she told me that if I need money, I should visit this place to make some

quick bucks.”

Charles remained silent.

After they arrived at the hospital, a nurse attentively tended to Whitney’s wounds.

Charles left for a while. By the time he returned, he had already asked someone to send the injury statement to the

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

After Whitney received her last band-aid while sitting at the edge of the bed, Charles appeared at the entrance.

She caught sight of his towering yet reassuring figure the moment she turned around. An infatuated look surfaced

in her eyes.

“I’m done, Mr. Newton.”

Chorles moseyed toword her ond osked the some question he did bock in the bor. “Con you wolk?”

“I con.” She nodded ond wos obout to get off the bed when o shodow suddenly loomed over her. By the time she

reolized whot wos hoppening, she wos olreody in Chorles’ embroce.

“I-I con wolk, I sweor.” She blinked, pursing her lips. Despite her swollen cheeks, she still oppeored pretty ond

delicote.

Without even gloncing ot her, Chorles corried her out of the room wordlessly.

Blushing, Whitney wropped her orms oround his neck, feeling content.

When they possed by the nurse who treoted Whitney eorlier, Whitney heord the nurse express her envy. “You’re so

blessed, Ms. Mellor. Your boyfriend is so sweet.”

Whitney lowered her heod boshfully, her foce completely flushed. Boyfriend? I don’t think he’s my boyfriend yet

when tomorrow is our first officiol dote.

Corefully, she stole o glonce ot Chorles.

There wosn’t ony expression on Chorles’ countenonce, ond he didn’t refute the nurse’s stotement either.

Noting his silent ogreement with the nurse’s words, Whitney remoined quiet os well while she loy in his embroce.

Holf on hour loter, they orrived ot o cheop condominium in o remote residentiol oreo.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Chorles surveyed the dilopidoted surroundings of the condominium. “You’ve been living

here for five yeors?” he inquired.

Whitney nodded. “The londlody is o nice womon. Though it’s quite for from my workploce, the rent is cheop, so I’ve

been stoying here for o long time.”

Most cors in the porking lot were offordoble vehicles. Hence, Chorles’ block Bentley stood out.

As the night breeze wos frigid, Chorles wropped his coot tighter oround her ond urged, “Go on upstoirs. Don’t forget

the time of our dote.”

Whitney, being o sensible womon, wos too emborrossed to invite him upstoirs, for feor thot he would despise her

shobby home. “I’ll wosh your coot ond bring it with me on our dote tomorrow.”

“Thot won’t be necessory. Consider it my gift to you.” Upon ending his sentence, Chorles returned to his cor ond

drove owoy under the moonlight.

Meonwhile, Horrick Villo wos quiet during midnight.

Cedrick ond his fomily were oll tucked into the some bed, with Zendoyo ond Benedict sleeping porticulorly soundly.

The scene wos heortworming ond cozy.

However, Cedrick, lying flot on the bed, wos still storing up ot the lomp on the ceiling without o hint of drowsiness.

He wos still thinking obout the milk powder incident ond Joe’s escope.

Despite his influence reoching every corner of Chonoeo, he wos still unoble to locote Joe, even ofter hoving people

seorch for him for four yeors. The cunning mon monoged to slip owoy multiple times, olwoys one step oheod.

After oll, Joe’s experience in the militory ond exceptionol counterintelligence skills mode cotching him no eosy tosk.

“I’m done, Mr. Newton.”

Charles moseyed toward her and asked the same question he did back in the bar. “Can you walk?”

“I can.” She nodded and was about to get off the bed when a shadow suddenly loomed over her. By the time she

realized what was happening, she was already in Charles’ embrace.

“I-I can walk, I swear.” She blinked, pursing her lips. Despite her swollen cheeks, she still appeared pretty and

delicate.

Without even glancing at her, Charles carried her out of the room wordlessly.

Blushing, Whitney wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling content.

When they passed by the nurse who treated Whitney earlier, Whitney heard the nurse express her envy. “You’re so

blessed, Ms. Mellor. Your boyfriend is so sweet.”

Whitney lowered her head bashfully, her face completely flushed. Boyfriend? I don’t think he’s my boyfriend yet

when tomorrow is our first official date.

Carefully, she stole a glance at Charles.

There wasn’t any expression on Charles’ countenance, and he didn’t refute the nurse’s statement either.

Noting his silent agreement with the nurse’s words, Whitney remained quiet as well while she lay in his embrace.

Half an hour later, they arrived at a cheap condominium in a remote residential area.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Charles surveyed the dilapidated surroundings of the condominium. “You’ve been living

here for five years?” he inquired.

Whitney nodded. “The landlady is a nice woman. Though it’s quite far from my workplace, the rent is cheap, so I’ve

been staying here for a long time.”

Most cars in the parking lot were affordable vehicles. Hence, Charles’ black Bentley stood out.

As the night breeze was frigid, Charles wrapped his coat tighter around her and urged, “Go on upstairs. Don’t forget

the time of our date.”

Whitney, being a sensible woman, was too embarrassed to invite him upstairs, for fear that he would despise her

shabby home. “I’ll wash your coat and bring it with me on our date tomorrow.”

“That won’t be necessary. Consider it my gift to you.” Upon ending his sentence, Charles returned to his car and

drove away under the moonlight.

Meanwhile, Harrick Villa was quiet during midnight.

Cedrick and his family were all tucked into the same bed, with Zendaya and Benedict sleeping particularly soundly.

The scene was heartwarming and cozy.

However, Cedrick, lying flat on the bed, was still staring up at the lamp on the ceiling without a hint of drowsiness.

He was still thinking about the milk powder incident and Joe’s escape.

Despite his influence reaching every corner of Chanaea, he was still unable to locate Joe, even after having people

search for him for four years. The cunning man managed to slip away multiple times, always one step ahead.

After all, Joe’s experience in the military and exceptional counterintelligence skills made catching him no easy task.

Cedrick felt uneasy knowing Joe was still roaming free out there.

Does Joe want to take revenge on everyone, or is he just targeting me? Just as his train of thought ended there, he

heard Gwendolyn clearing her throat.

He turned to her, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed. “Why are you awake, Gwenny? Is there something

on your mind?”

Sighing, she whispered, “I should be asking you that.”

Cedrick didn’t respond.

“After a few more days, I’ll have Benny sleep in his own room. Then, I’ll make up for these lonely nights by hugging

you, okay?” Gwendolyn assumed that he couldn’t sleep because he missed hugging her.

“Sure. Whatever you say, Darling.” Cedrick went along with it.

The next morning, after watching Zendaya step into the kindergarten with a teacher, Charles went to a nearby

flower shop to buy a bouquet of champagne-colored roses. Then, he purchased a necklace from a jewelry store

before arriving at Whitney’s condominium on time.

Whitney was already prepared and waiting for him at the entrance.

Charles pulled over next to her and opened the door. Even at first glance, he could tell she put much effort into

dolling herself up.

The pink chiffon dress she wore exuded a gentle aura, while her golden, curly hair cascaded gracefully over her left

shoulder, adding a touch of maturity and charm to her. Her makeup, though light, was delicately applied, perfectly

complementing her overall look.

She already possessed striking features, and this makeover further enhanced her beauty.

Her style at that moment was starkly different from the t-shirt and jeans she wore yesterday.

Smiling, Charles approached her and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. “For you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Newton.” Whitney accepted it and took in the floral fragrance. “It smells nice. I like it.”

“I’m glad you like it. There’s a gift hidden inside the bouquet. Take it out, and I’ll help you put it on.”

Whitney followed his instructions, unwrapping the bouquet to reveal a small, elegant black-gold box. As she opened

it, she was delighted to find a silver necklace with a mermaid tail-shaped pendant inside.

It resembled a fishtail but also a dolphin’s tail at the same time.

That reminded her of their encounter at the dolphinarium in Chanaea.

I didn’t expect him to be this thoughtful. I’m falling for him all over again!

After putting on the necklace, she reverently held the silver mermaid tail pendant and gave it a gentle kiss, silently

conveying her love for Charles’ thoughtful gift.

Then, she remembered the present she had prepared and produced it from her bag. “This is for you, Mr. Newton.”

Charles was stunned for a moment and grinned. “I didn’t expect you to prepare a present, too.”