The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

“He’s likely played like a pawn, oblivious to everything. I think he’s driven here solely by obsessive determination,”

she replied.

Gwendolyn stifled a laugh and continued, “I might as well leverage this about of amnesia to extinguish his hopes of

ever getting together with me, sooner rather than later. It’s high time that he moves on with his life and stops

pining for me. After all, I’m already Mrs. Jenson.”

Cedrick was elated to hear her utter the words “Mrs. Jenson.”

“So, when you said you’d choose me at the hospital, was it for Charles’ benefit as well?” he asked.

Gwendolyn cradled his face with her hands and looked into his eyes. “It seems you noticed Charles lurking at the

door back then?”

He merely smiled and gave nothing away.

With his vigilant nature, how could he not have noticed Charles’ presence? He simply chose to ignore it.

“Why aren’t you answering it, Gwenny? Did you really say it for Charles’ benefit? Do you still care for him? If

Gwenny truly suffered from amnesia and was first found by him, would she not have chosen him instead?

He kept the final question to himself.

He dared not gamble on the outcome.

Gwendolyn gently pinched his face. “Indeed, I intended for Charles to hear it, but it was also a genuine confession.

I’ve chosen you in this life, Hubby. I will have no one else as my husband.”

Cedrick released her waist. He slowly straightened his thighs, with knees still chafed against the Lego pieces, as he

embraced her with a single hand and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

His kiss was gentle, brimming with the longing and affection that had built up over these days. It was as if he was

savoring a rare treasure. Despite the humble posture, there was no sense of debasement. He was the dominant

force in this kiss.

As their kisses deepened, their breaths grew ragged.

His heart pounded with a wild, irrepressible fervor that was utterly overwhelming.

Gwendolyn was almost robbed of her breath. Struggling to breathe, she pushed against his shoulders to end the

reunion kiss.

Wiping the corners of her slightly reddened lips, she avoided Cedrick’s intense gaze, reached for the ruler nearby,

and changed the subject. “Now that I no longer have to feign amnesia in front of you, let’s settle the score for your

smoking.”

Cedrick’s lips curled into an indulgent and doting smile. “Sure.”

Gwendolyn caught her breath and tried to avoid his seductive eyes.

“Given that you could smoke four in my presence the other day, be honest and tell me, how many did you smoke in

this period?” she asked.

Cedrick pondered a moment before refuting, “Gwenny, you’re exaggerating. I only smoked three the other day. The

fourth one was barely lit. I hadn’t taken more than two drags before you tossed it away.”

Gwendolyn frowned in displeasure. “What difference does it make between three and four? Are you intentionally

nitpicking? Do you take pride in going through three cigarettes in a matter of hours?”

“No…”

She grew more irate. How could his lungs withstand such reckless indulgence?

Swinging the ruler in the air, she was eager for action. “Which hand did you smoke with? Show me.”

Cedrick hesitated, then obediently extended his left hand, palm up.

A sharp smack rang out as the uncompromising ruler struck his hand.

He immediately felt a sharp pain emanating from his palm.

Cedrick furrowed his brows slightly. He remained still, looking down at his hand, which was gradually reddening.

It hurt, as always.

The pain felt reassuringly familiar.

He felt a catch in his throat, overjoyed at the sense of familiarity.

“How could you still smile after getting punished?” Gwendolyn looked at him quizzically.

He reigned in the sting in his nose. With a smile still tugged at his lips, he said, “This sensation is surprisingly

comforting.”

It was a physical reassurance that his wife was back. She had not lost her memories, nor had she forgotten about

him.

Gwendolyn stifled a laugh and asked with feigned seriousness, “You still haven’t answered me. How many cigarettes

did you smoke in my absence? Did you ever smoke in front of Zendy or Benny?”

“Perhaps…” He mulled it over, “Roughly…”

“I want the truth,” Gwendolyn warned.

“About two packs. I never smoked in front of them, but Benny did detect the smell once.”

Gwendolyn’s brows furrowed deeply. “How many cigarettes are there in a pack? Twenty?”

“The one I smoke is a pack of ten,” he replied gingerly.

“So, in just ten days’ time, you’ve smoked about twenty cigarettes? Cedrick, you might as well eat those cigarettes!

Even Benny managed to detect the smell. Did he cough?” she demanded.

Cedrick shook his head. “No. I haven’t slept well these past few days. I took to smoking to ease the dullness and

didn’t really keep track of how much I smoked. Benny caught the scent one day even after I had taken a bath, and

the scent had faded. I don’t think it should have affected him.”

He did smoke that much. Trying to explain himself otherwise would be lying to her.

Cedrick said nothing more and extended his right hand, ready to take his punishment. “Gwenny, I admit it’s my

fault. Punish me.”

Gwendolyn’s temper flared as she pinched his handsome face. She hadn’t expected that he would indulge himself

so over the past ten days.

Smoking was no elixir. It was a lethal habit that could wreak havoc on one’s health. Moreover, they had a child with

a heart condition at home. How could he be so reckless?

“You’ve indeed overstepped the bounds of self-indulgence. It’s necessary to discipline you to etch the lessons

deeply into your memory,” she declared with a firm tone.

After a moment’s thought, she pushed down his hands with a ruler and tapped the edge of the bed. “Considering

your current work commitments, a hand injury would be inconvenient. Lie on your stomach here.”

His face tensed up at her words, and his spine stiffened with an eerie anticipation.

A moment ago, the atmosphere was cordial, almost homely. But now, he felt an alarming chill crawling up his spine.

“Counting in the two packs of cigarettes, let’s consider it you’ve smoked twenty-five cigarettes in total. For each

one, you’ll receive two strikes. Once done, we’ll never talk of this again,” she declared.

Fifty strikes…

Cedrick dawdled resignedly. However, since Gwendolyn had promised that the scores would be settled, he slowly

got up and lay on his back at the spot she had specified.

Before long, the bedroom echoed with the dull sound of rhythmic and relentless disciplined strikes.

Waves of pain surged over him, fierce and all-consuming.

Cedrick held his breath, clenched his fists, and braved the onslaught without a word.

Indeed, one should never challenge the authority of house rules. An angry woman was truly a force to be reckoned

with.

Gwendolyn did not hold back, her blows landing with an unrelenting force.

“In a few days, arrange to get a checkup at the hospital, particularly for your lungs.”

The potential harm of excessive smoking was monumental, and she wouldn’t gamble with his health.

Cedrick nodded, his hands folded beneath his head as he lay lazily on the bed. “Things have been rather hectic

lately. I’ll get checked after this busy period is over.”

Gwendolyn said nothing and merely gazed at him.

He quickly reassured, “Don’t worry, Gwenny. I won’t forget the checkup.”

There were plenty of troubles waiting for him at work, and Joe was still lurking out there. Cedrick had no idea what

he would do next. Furthermore, he had to take care of his wife and children.

He was well aware of the importance of his health and wouldn’t recklessly deplete it any further.

Gwendolyn sighed and put the ruler back in the drawer. She fetched a tissue to gently wipe away the thin layer of

sweat from his forehead, her touch as tender as ever.

“Does your bottom still hurt?” she queried.

The man, usually quick to dismiss his discomfort, had to swerve from his typical response. “It hurts since you

haven’t gone easy on me.”

Gwendolyn fell silent. She opened the drawer again to retrieve some anti-inflammatory cream. “Take off your

clothes. Let me apply some medicine.”

Cedrick complied without any fuss. He observed her delicate features, leaving himself to her ministrations.

The tips of her fingers, coated with ointment, traced over his bruised skin, igniting a soothing chill on his stinging

skin.

As she diligently applied the medicine, she continued to explain herself, “About the fact that I haven’t lost my

memories, you should act as if you are unaware and continue playing along. Also, where have you relocated

Megan? Give me the address. I have to see her later.”

Cedrick turned to look at her. “Don’t go. I don’t want you taking risks anymore. Let me handle Joe’s matters.

There’s no need for you to continue pretending to have lost your memories. I’ll take care of the dangers outside.”

Gwendolyn didn’t respond.

Cedrick grabbed her wrist and transfixed his gaze at her. “Benny and Zendy haven’t seen you in a long time. They

miss you terribly. This time, please do as I say. Stay in the lab with them. Let me handle everything else.”

“But Megan—”

“Federal Bureau of Investigation has stood unyielding for many years, employing unique investigation methods.

Gwenny, you can trust me with this. You take care of Benny and Zendy, so I can focus on the case, all right?”

Cedrick reasoned.

Gwendolyn conceded and nodded in agreement.

Satisfied, Cedrick’s lips curved into a smile. He grabbed her wrist, swiftly shifting their positions, trapping her

beneath him in mere seconds.

His eyes glinted with an intense desire.

Gwendolyn knew his intentions from the look in his eyes alone. She stifled a chuckle and asked, “So your bottom

doesn’t hurt anymore?”

“It hurts, but it won’t get in the way,” he replied.

He brushed aside her hair and leaned down to press his lips against hers.

“It’s been a long time since I did push-ups. We still have time before going to the lab. Maybe you could help me get

some exercise, Gwenny?”

I don’t want to exercise. It’s so tiring.

Before she could refuse, Cedrick kissed her again.