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?”

sight of Zendaya bawling her eyes out tugged at

into bed before. What am

other option, Charles begrudgingly called Cedrick, only to realize the latter’s phone was

a text over, but even so,

What on earth is Cedrick

turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn off

Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and

find Mommy? I want to sleep with Mommy. I want to hear her

I don’t know where he is. Besides, Salinsburgh has been pretty chaotic lately. If you wander about, you might meet the

unfazed. “Hmph! If I run into those bad guys, I’ll bite them! I want to join the army when

being secretly happy with what his sister had said, Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if I’m not

retaliating, Zendaya clung to Charles’ arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. “Uncle Charles, can you take

number, but to his surprise, her phone

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

What would you like to listen to? I’ve never tucked you into bed before,

torn and didn’t know what

if I turned

ward, making Charles even more anxious. Oh, my goodness. I don’t know what to do! I might be able to coax Zendy to sleep, but 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

suddenly returned to the ward with two

suitcases were filled to 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 err on the side of caution and brought the kids’ fall and

Charles felt a load off his shoulders as the men could split the task of coaxing

and read her a fairy tale he

that, the princess and the prince lived happily ever

as the story ended, Zendaya frowned,

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

felt the corners of his lips