The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

She began to grow nervous at his prolonged silence.

“Are you still there, Mister? You didn’t faint, did you?”

“No.” Nico closed his eyes wearily. “I’m exhausted and would like to take a nap,” he murmured.

“No! Don’t fall asleep!”

She banged madly on the wall to keep him awake. “You’re badly hurt, and you might never wake up if you fall asleep!”

Nico was amused.

Having been training in the barracks with Cedrick from a young age, he would not die that easily.

Aside from Cedrick and Gwendolyn, she was the first person who cared so deeply for him without knowing who he was. It gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling.

“Mister? Are you asleep? Or are you almost dead?”

An urgent hammering on the wall sounded again.

“No.”

She heaved a sigh of relief. “I’ll keep you company if you’re feeling sleepy. Would you like to hear a story?”

“Do you know any scary ones?”

“Uh… Aren’t we living through one right now?”

Nico gazed weakly about the cell and chuckled.

Indeed, it was quite eerie.

“I know some morbid jokes, Mister.”

“This dungeon is morbid enough.”

“Mine are more morbid than that.”

Bonding over their chat, the pair passed a pleasant half an hour in each other’s company.

who was arranged by

Gwendolyn back to

she was permitted access to from

asked him for several books on childcare to

her meals, however, Charles did

symptoms of morning sickness and drowsiness—signs of hormonal imbalance. In response, Charles employed a female gynecologist who would show up every afternoon to examine her and diagnose

day at noon, Charles received a summon from

“Mother.”

stood dutifully before her across the

cup of coffee with a grave expression. “Be honest with me. Is the child in

his gaze fixed on the

lying to defend

unfinished cup to the ground. The

lined with carpet, the impact hardly

response, Charles marched around the coffee table, knelt beside her, and

of devotion, Kylie felt her rage subside.

in Chanaea. Besides, I

kept his head

impression she had of Gwendolyn

you. What did she do to you to warrant such devotion to

he wiped her fingers diligently. He did not say

be when he made up his mind, so she sighed. “Either marry

up at once. “I will

to put her through an abortion. I would like her to bear this child. If I come to regret it after marrying her, I can simply send the child back to Chanaea to its real

her deliver the child? Do you want this stain on your honor for as long as you live? You won’t feel the same love for the child as you would your own. What does a woman like that

sore spot Charles had kept suppressed over the

laugh before gazing up mournfully. “Is my existence not a wretched one, Mother? You did this, too, didn’t you? Does that make you, in your own

“You little sh*t!”

shock. Enraged, she slapped him

her beloved son to whom she owed

for causing you so much misery

and smiled.

foul

that it won’t be fair to her unborn child. Do you wish

to answer her, as he did harbor