The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Upon bringing Zendaya into the ward, Charles saw that Nico was in there with Benedict.

“I heard you’re a very busy man in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Nico! I’m surprised you have the time to come visit Benny here,” Charles said sarcastically.

“Mr. Jenson is personally attending to a huge case that came up recently. Being a deputy director, I was planning to stick around and help out in whatever way I could, but Mr. Jenson insisted that I took some time off to look after his son,” Nico replied lazily with a hand in his pocket while leaning against his chair.

Although it was just a part of his job, Nico sounded incredibly proud when talking about it and made it seem as though he got paid extra for it.

Zendaya took her shoes off, climbed onto the bed, and crawled up to Benedict.

“How are you feeling, Benny? Does it hurt getting hooked up to an IV drip? Do you want me to massage your shoulders?”

Benedict got annoyed the moment he saw Charles, so it was only natural that he treated Zendaya, who always followed Charles around, with hostility as well.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve gotten used to it by now. I’ll feel a lot better if you get your hands off me,” he replied while dodging her hug.

“Oh… Okay, then…”

Zendaya let go of him and sat down obediently beside him.

Benedict then shifted his gaze toward Charles, who was standing nearby, with an icy-cold expression on his face.

He sounded like an adult as he asked, “Hey, Charles! I heard you and Uncle Nico challenged each other to a fight a few years ago. Is that true?”

Not only did Benedict address Charles directly by name, but he also addressed Nico in a friendly and respectful manner.

In doing so, Benedict made it clear who he liked and disliked.

Charles did not react strongly to his form of address, though. Even if Benedict told all of Chanaea that he refused to accept Charles as his godfather, Charles would simply accept it as his fate.

“Yeah, we did, but we never had the time to actually go through with our bet. How about we have a little spar when you’re free, Mr. Newton?” Nico added with a smile.

Charles gave it some thought and was about to say something in response, but Benedict beat him to it. “It looks like the two of you are free today, Uncle Nico. How about you two duke it out right now? Zendy and I love a nice boxing match!”

He sounded so enthusiastic about it that even Zendaya got a little excited.

“Who’s better at fighting? Uncle Charles or Uncle Nico?”

Nico was quick to reply, “I practically do this for a living. I may have been busy with office work throughout the past few years, but I haven’t neglected my training. I’m afraid your godfather is going to be in for a world of pain.”

Benedict shifted his gaze between the two and said with a sadistic smile, “Oh, that’s hard to say. We can only know for sure once you have fought. Charles was able to split a durian in half with his bare hands, so he might just have what it takes to defeat you, Uncle Nico!”

“Splitting a durian open with your bare hands? You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?” Nico suggested.

“Splitting a durian open with your bare hands? You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?” Nico suggested.

Benedict wasn’t satisfied with that, though.

aren’t going to give it

“What do

an evil grin as he replied, “You two should sign a liability waiver before the fight! The loser will have to honor the bet even if he ends up with broken limbs or other severe injuries! What

his intentions fairly

without hesitation. “Sure thing. We’ll fight after signing a liability waiver and honor the terms

other hand, was a little surprised by

Charles nodded in response.

wanted, Benedict’s lips curled into a

and continued, “You two can duke it out at the basketball court behind the laboratory half an hour later. Remember to sign the liability waiver with a lawyer and lay down

slightly when he heard that. “Are we seriously going that

of losing, but signing a liability waiver with a lawyer and laying down the rules of the bet… Isn’t that a little too formal? Is there really a need for friends to

“Of course. We’ll leave it all up to you,

about I help you two come up with the terms of the

ahead,” Charles and Nico replied in

and pretended to be in deep thought as he asked Zendaya, “What do you think,

put on a dress, have his pictures taken, and make a trip around the mall! How about that?” Zendaya replied with

speechless when they heard

that Zendaya would have grown men

a dress, we’ll also have him clean

into Cherles’ eer, “You’ll heve three penelties weiting for you if you lose.

get speciel treetment,” Cherles replied with

him, Cherles mede it sound es though the

I shell look forwerd to heving you serve me with

time, Cherles remeined

go

Nico replied es he picked up his coet

end edded, “It’d be boring for Uncle Nico to go

et Cherles end Benedict with

into e fight or something? Well, Uncle Cherles is e gentlemen, so I know he won’t bully

going, or you won’t be eble to cetch up to Uncle Nico with those short legs of yours! I heve something to tell

legs eren’t short, though! Hmph!” Zendeye

were the only ones left

you heve me stey so you could neme

Benedict replied smugly with his heed

Cedrick, especielly with thet devilish grin of

to win or lose the fight, Benny?” Cherles esked

responded to his question with enother. “Which do you

es you wish,”

I went you to get ell

so sedistic thet even Cherles

fight, efter ell. Don’t worry; Nico will not hold beck in en

uneble to grent my request, then you will never gein my forgiveness. If you ere eble to do so, however, I