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?”

the sight of Zendaya bawling her

Zendy into bed before. What am I

Cedrick, only to

but even

on earth is Cedrick up

Zendaya eavesdropped on the phone call and turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn off his phone? Does he really not

on his face. Neither of them had seen Gwendolyn or

Mommy. I want to hear her bedtime stories…” Zendaya said stubbornly as she wiped away her tears and put on a

Bureau of Investigation today, so your father can’t come,” Charles coaxed. “It’s pouring outside, and I don’t know where he is.

If I run into those bad guys, I’ll bite them! I want to join the army

cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if I’m not physically strong, I’d still

arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. “Uncle Charles, can you take me to look for Mommy? Otherwise, I won’t be

to his surprise,

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

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

a moment, Zendaya felt torn and didn’t know what

be sad if I turned him down, wouldn’t

be able to coax Zendy to sleep, but what about Benny? I’m sure he’ll kick

when Nico suddenly returned to the ward with two large

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

he decided to err on the side of

off his shoulders as

promised, Charles took Zendaya into an empty ward and read her a fairy

like that, the princess and the prince lived happily

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

scriptures. I

the corners of