The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Nico was so alarmed to hear Gwendolyn’s voice, which was deadly soft, that he nearly flung his phone aside.

For a long while, he did not dare respond or breathe.

“You’d better come clean on Cedrick’s behalf, Nico,” Gwendolyn warned him severely. “Confess while I’m still feeling lenient, or the two of you will be in for a world of hell. Rest assured, I will send you there.”

She uttered the last few words through gritted teeth, and it sent shivers down his spine.

Nico was thoroughly frightened by this point. “Cedrick only did it with your health in mind,” he explained hastily. “He loves you so much, you know. He…”

Amidst a deluge of ingratiating pleas, Gwendolyn finally understood the entire matter two minutes later.

“All right, I see. You were right to tell me, so I won’t be putting you in a tough spot, nor will I allow him to punish you. Don’t you worry.”

Compared to his own fate, Nico was more worried that he had driven a wedge between her and Cedrick. “Don’t be mad at him, Gwendolyn. He—”

The woman had had enough. “Don’t concern yourself with it,” she interrupted brusquely. “Nothing will happen to him.” Without another word, she hung up.

Silence descended all of a sudden as the bedroom filled with a chilly aura.

Gwendolyn turned to face Cedrick. Before she managed to open her mouth to mock him, she felt something stuffed hastily into her hand.

Looking down, she found the mahogany ruler from the drawer of the bedside table.

“Even the ruler is out. What is this?” she asked with feigned ignorance. “Do you miss the taste of it, having been deprived of it for too long?”

Cedrick bit his lip nervously. The tips of his ears grew red, and his voice seemed to have withered in defeat. “I was wrong for not thinking things through. Please forgive me.”

Gwendolyn studied him carefully. “The children belong to both of us, Ceddy. You have no right to decide on my behalf.”

“I know.”

He avoided her gaze. “It was just a thought that I wanted to discuss with you as soon as I came home.”

She exposed him mercilessly while fiddling with the ruler. “If Nico did not intervene, would you have discussed it with me?”

“I’m sorry.”

at a loss of arguing his way out of that. Though he did plan on bringing it up with her, he thought it

at that thought, he offered both his

would appease you, I will let you punish

to the both of us, Ceddy. Please talk to me next time instead of doing everything on your own

displeased, at his hung

hit him! Not

not make an impression on an already-recovered patient

too far today. I should prank

Her fox-like eyes glimmered beadily. “You

up and felt a sense of foreboding

on the bed

“Eh?”

to have grasped her meaning, he appeared uncertain. “Do you want

“Very clever of

“No way!”

flushed crimson in an instant. Even

not just a punishment to him. Worse than that,

rather die than

the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What

she replied seriously. “Are you telling

right!” His tone was

them, caressed them, and even spanked them. I’m already saving you face by letting

find the words to retort, but that was something he could not bring himself

“No means no.”

to the Harris residence and think about whether I should forgive you. You

up, and Cedrick quickly grabbed

I made a

stifled another laugh at the conviction of his response. Deciding to take the prank one notch higher,

minutes getting into position on the bed in front

wooden ruler lightly on his buttocks, her movements exuding a hint of deviousness. “Even if you’ve never taken a spanking, I’m sure you’ve delivered one. Your posture isn’t

his face in the pit of his elbow. Gwendolyn could not see his expression, but she saw the tip of his ears, flaming red,

announced playfully, “Here it comes, Ceddy! I won’t hold