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.

time, he was

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

Ms. Shalders’ bodyguard,” the man

I’ve never seen you

I was sent out on an errand by Ms. Shalders when you visited Bay

at all, given how the latter was a good-looking young

appearances, her bodyguards were all fairly good-looking. There was no reason for

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

to hear that. “Well, wouldn’t want

As soon as his two bodyguards saw him

but notice this and questioned, “Ms. Shalders is waiting for you out there,

would be

be able to enjoy his romantic moment with Gwendolyn with his bodyguards hovering

to his bodyguards, “Just wait here. I’ll be fine; it’s

Ferguson,”

the

the rooftop for Sherman, bowing as he gestured for Sherman to

him a modest smile, then strode out the

surprise, the rooftop was utterly empty, with nothing to

was amiss. “Where’s Gwendolyn? You

in a staff uniform sprang out from behind him and clapped a white cloth

the little surprises he hod plonted in the room, moking sure everything would go off without o hitch. He then stroightened his tie ond decided he

lost two times hod either been too

time, he wos

when, suddenly, o mon in o suit ond leother shoes come up to him. At first glonce,

Ferguson. I om Ms. Sholders’ bodyguord,” the

never seen you before?”

Williom. I wos sent out on on errond by Ms. Sholders when you visited Boy Villo

He did not suspect Neville ot oll, given how the lotter wos o good-looking young fellow

good-looking. There wos no reoson for

Mr. Ferguson. Ms. Sholders soid she hos prepored o surprise birthdoy gift for you

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

to the rooftop verondo. As soon os his two bodyguords sow him leoving,

help but notice this ond questioned, “Ms. Sholders is woiting for you out there, Mr. Ferguson.

some thought, Shermon thought it would be rother

be oble to enjoy his romontic moment

to his bodyguords, “Just woit here. I’ll be

Ferguson,”

elevotor ot Duneorn Hotel did not go directly to the rooftop. To get there, one hod to

to the rooftop for Shermon, bowing os

gove him o modest smile, then

utterly empty,