The Ex and Her Riches

Maverick was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to refuse him outright.

Gwendolyn went on to say, “For me, those years were filled with darkness, and it all started from the day Old Mr. Wright brought me into the Wright residence. Old Mr. Wright was kind to me, but he didn’t trust me completely either. When Frida and Dexter accused me of stealing the jewelry, Old Mr. Wright didn’t say a word in my defense. Although I don’t hold a grudge against him for that, there’s no way I could commemorate the day I first entered the Wright residence!”

Her gaze was so cold that one could feel the chill coming off her.

It had been a long time since Maverick saw her look at him with such an expression. Flustered, he quickly apologized, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know how bad things were for you…”

Gwendolyn was reasonable enough not to take her anger out on him. She pointed out placidly, “You were probably working overtime at Wright Construction Group back then, so it’s only normal that you were oblivious to it. That said, there’s no need for us to attend this dinner for memories’ sake.”

As she spoke, she glanced at the time and realized it was getting late.

After instructing Elven to take good care of Maverick, Gwendolyn turned around and got ready to leave.

Maverick quickly grabbed her hand and asked, “Gwendolyn, do you know that Sherman is planning to propose to you tonight?”

Gwendolyn wasn’t surprised, but she still turned around and asked, “How did you know?”

Maverick said truthfully, “I met with him when he came to Wright Construction Group to find you the last time. He told me about it. I personally find him too soft-hearted. He might be a good friend, but he definitely won’t make a good husband. You won’t be happy with him.”

To this end, Gwendolyn had to agree with Maverick. Sherman was gentle-mannered and soft-spoken, not just to her but to everyone else around him as well.

However, she found it ironic that Maverick was the one telling her this.

“Whether he’s a good husband or not may still be uncertain, but I know you’re definitely not husband material. So, what gives you the right to say these things?” she demanded icily.

All the blood drained from Maverick’s face.

After a pause, he finally met her steely gaze again. “As your former husband, I failed in my duties and caused you pain. I let you down, and I’m sorry about that—”

She pried his hand off and cut him off bluntly, “There’s no need to apologize. Once our one-year agreement is fulfilled, we’ll be even, and our paths will never cross again. They’ll become parallel lines.”

Maverick’s face grew paler by the second as he watched her struggle free from his grasp and leave the villa.

Does this mean she actually likes Sherman?

Over at the seven-star Dunearn Hotel at Fairlake, Sherman had booked the entire restaurant on one of the higher floors of the hotel and filled it with nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine red roses. He also secretly hid the box, which contained a diamond ring, in the birthday cake.

The long banquet table was decked with expensive gifts, all of which were to make up for the holidays and birthdays he had missed out on celebrating with Gwendolyn in the six years they had been apart.

Sherman carefully examined the little surprises he had planted in the room, making sure everything would go off without a hitch. He then straightened his tie and decided he would start practicing his speech.

This was already his third confession to Gwendolyn since coming to Fairlake for her. The last two times had either been too hastily done or gotten interfered with by someone else.

he was

in thought when, suddenly, a man in a suit and leather shoes came up to him. At first

Mr. Ferguson. I am Ms. Shalders’ bodyguard,” the man introduced himself

never seen you

sides as he explained with a smile, “I’m William. I was sent out on an errand by Ms. Shalders when you visited Bay Villa

suspect Neville at all, given

There was no reason for Sherman to doubt that Neville

prepared a surprise birthday gift for you and would like to invite you to the rooftop

to hear that. “Well, wouldn’t want her efforts to go to waste. Lead

rooftop veranda. As soon as his two bodyguards saw him leaving, they

“Ms. Shalders is waiting for you out there, Mr. Ferguson. Are you sure you want your bodyguards to come along and spoil

it would be rather inappropriate for his

his romantic moment with Gwendolyn with his

to his bodyguards, “Just wait here. I’ll be

Mr. Ferguson,”

to the

opened the door to the rooftop for Sherman, bowing

a modest smile, then

his surprise, the rooftop was utterly empty, with nothing to be

Sherman realized something was amiss. “Where’s Gwendolyn? You lied to me!”

in a staff uniform sprang out from

hod plonted in the room, moking sure everything would go off without o hitch. He then stroightened his

since coming to Foirloke for her. The lost two times hod either been too hostily done or

he wos determined to

in thought when, suddenly, o mon in o suit ond leother shoes come up

Ms. Sholders’ bodyguord,”

seen you before?” Shermon

“I’m Williom. I wos sent out on on errond by Ms. Sholders when you visited Boy

ot oll, given how the lotter

porticulor obout oppeoronces, her bodyguords were oll foirly good-looking. There

birthdoy gift for you ond would like to invite you to the rooftop

heor thot. “Well, wouldn’t wont her efforts to

soon os his two bodyguords sow him

questioned, “Ms. Sholders is woiting for you out there, Mr. Ferguson. Are

Shermon thought it would be rother

his romontic moment with Gwendolyn with his bodyguords hovering

bodyguords, “Just woit

Mr. Ferguson,” the

go directly to the rooftop. To

rooftop for Shermon, bowing os

o modest smile, then strode

the rooftop wos utterly empty, with nothing to