The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

After a brief hesitation, Charles merely muted his phone, choosing neither to answer nor reject the call.

Benedict, who had noticed his godfather’s actions, instantly pursed his lips. “Your lady’s calling you, isn’t she? I can’t believe you have the guts to ignore her, Charles. How did a lousy man like you even get yourself a wife?”

Charles felt a warm blush rise to his cheeks, but unfortunately, Benedict wasn’t done with his lecture.

“In any case, don’t you think you should return her call? She will be so worried if she doesn’t hear back from you. As a man, you ought to cherish and dote on your woman. Understood?” the latter chided, looking very authoritative with a stern expression and his arms folded.

It was the first time Charles found Benedict so adorable, and he had to do everything he could to hold in his laughter.

“You’re right, Benny. I’ll send her a text,” he replied good-naturedly before texting Whitney about not returning to the Newton residence that night.

With that done, he turned off the screen and casually set the phone on the bedside table.

Meanwhile, Zendaya had gotten tired from playing by the window and rubbed her eyes.

“I’m sleepy, Uncle Charles. I want to go home,” the little girl mumbled wearily as she turned to look at Charles.

Upon hearing that, the man hastily wrapped a tissue around the cut on his fingertip and walked to the window to carry her.

“Be good, Zendy. We won’t be returning to Harrick Villa tonight. I’ll sleep with you, okay?”

Zendaya pouted and squirmed slightly in Charles’ arms. “Where’s Daddy? Where’s Mommy? I want to hug Mommy to sleep… I can’t fall asleep without her.”

As could be seen, children were easygoing during the day, but when it came to bedtime, their stubbornness would very quickly go off the charts.

No matter how much Charles coaxed and cajoled Zendaya, the latter continued to ask for Gwendolyn.

“It’s okay if Daddy isn’t here, but I want Mommy! Why can’t Benny and I go home tonight?” she whimpered, sniffling quietly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “D-Do Daddy and Mommy not want me anymore? Is that why they aren’t letting me go home?”

of Zendaya bawling her eyes out

never tucked Zendy into bed before. What am I

called Cedrick, only to realize the latter’s

text over, but even so, there was

on earth is Cedrick up

sullen. “Did Daddy turn

of them had seen Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and it was beginning

take me to find Mommy? I want to sleep with Mommy. I want to hear her bedtime stories…” Zendaya said stubbornly as she wiped away her tears and put on

of Investigation today, so your father can’t come,” Charles coaxed. “It’s pouring outside, and I don’t know where he is. Besides, Salinsburgh has been pretty chaotic lately. If you wander about, you might meet the bad guys who devour

run into those bad guys, I’ll bite them! I want to

had said, Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if I’m not

doe eyes. “Uncle Charles, can you take me to look

Gwendolyn’s number, but to his

two? Did they plan this? Why else is one phone turned off and the other on

a bedtime story tonight? What would you like to listen to? I’ve never tucked you into bed before, and I’d

felt torn and

if I turned

what about Benny? I’m sure he’ll kick up a fuss too. I know Zendy listens to me, but the same can’t be said for Benny…

loss when Nico suddenly returned to the ward with two

the brim with the children’s clothes, and it seemed as if the latter had emptied their entire

the warning alert would last, so he decided to

off his shoulders as the men could split the task of coaxing the

an empty ward and read

that, the princess and the

soon as the story ended, Zendaya frowned, still alert and

you read stories like you’re chanting scriptures. I didn’t enjoy it. What should

corners of his lips