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.

when the doctor, who was arranged

Charles sent Gwendolyn back to the condominium on the outskirts

she was permitted

not complain, nor was she displeased. She only asked him for several books

her meals, however, Charles did his best to oblige her

and a half weeks pregnant, Gwendolyn began exhibiting symptoms of morning sickness and drowsiness—signs of hormonal imbalance. In response, Charles employed a female gynecologist who would show

Charles received a summon

“Mother.”

stood dutifully before her across the coffee

“Be honest with me. Is the child in the belly

Keeping his gaze fixed

lying

lost her temper and overturned her unfinished cup to the

lined with carpet, the impact

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

of devotion, Kylie felt her rage subside. She spoke again, employing a tone

and found that she is engaged in Chanaea. Besides, I saw the way you looked last

head bowed, refusing

good impression she had of Gwendolyn had

that is not worthy of you. What did she do to you to warrant such devotion

kept his head hung as he wiped her fingers diligently. He did not say a

up his mind, so she sighed. “Either marry another woman or

“I will either marry her

thought of the child in Gwendolyn’s belly, he averted his gaze, and his voice seemed to wilt with defeat. “It will damage her body to put her through an abortion. I would like her to

you even consider letting 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

words struck a chord in the sore spot Charles had kept suppressed over

my existence not a wretched one, Mother? You did this, too, didn’t you? Does that make you, in your own words, a woman

“You little sh*t!”

in shock. Enraged, she slapped him

soon as she struck him, she gazed at her beloved son to whom she owed so much and regretted it at once. She

sorry for causing you so much misery over all these

smiled. “It’s all right.

of crying foul at the injustice

should know that it won’t

did not want to answer her,