The Ex and Her Riches

Cedrick held his breath while sneaking a glance at Gwendolyn.

She sat on the couch by the window with her back facing him, sipping red wine.

He clenched his fists so tightly that they felt clammy. Could she be drunk by any chance?

Would she be as gentle to me as two nights ago?

“I admit I don’t know you well, yet you still plotted to get engaged with me. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Cedrick’s hand was on the doorknob when he felt his heart drop.

Gwendolyn’s speech was coherent and paced regularly. It was clear she’d barely imbibed any wine and was still sober.

That meant that he would be dead meat tonight.

Cedrick still wasn’t ready to face her.

He stalked toward the window and considered making a run for it.

Gwendolyn’s languid voice sounded. “Old Mr. Jenson has instructed the windows to be locked. It is also fitted with bulletproof glass and can’t be shattered. We’re just going to have a nice little chat. I wonder what you’re so afraid of?”

He had no chance of escape.

Cedrick subconsciously touched his face to confirm that his mask was still on. Gwendolyn couldn’t possibly recognize him that easily.

He cleared his throat. “You must be joking, Ms. Gwendolyn. We aren’t acquainted at all. I decided to get engaged with you merely because the fortune teller mentioned that we’d get along well together.”

Gwendolyn placed her wine glass down and turned to face him. “I’ve told you before that there’s someone I—”

She was cut off abruptly.

The man who stood by the window in a well-fitting suit gave off an aloof aristocratic air.

The sheer sight of him flooded her with a bone-deep sense of familiarity.

Her expression froze as she carefully scrutinized the man from head to toe.

Cedrick’s heart was in his throat when he noticed the change in her expression.

“Mr. Jenson, you really look like someone.”

Gwendolyn got to her feet with her brows furrowed and gingerly approached Cedrick.

“Ms. Harris, you must be mistaken. We’ve never met,” His eyes were glacial as he uttered in a hoarse voice.

reddened as she

out without forewarning to grab his suit collar and

an idiot, Maverick? Do you think I won’t be able to recognize you just because you’re wearing a mask? You might

felt his entire body go

Should I come clean?

I’ve

dark the most and had never liked him in the first place. Wouldn’t doing so compound the hatred she bore against him, so much so that it’d be even more difficult

you weren’t dead? How come you’ve taken on the identity of Cedrick? Maverick, you owe me a much

his collar so tightly that her hands were trembling. Her

“Ms. Harris, I—”

are you

her hand and curved her elbow as she swiftly landed a hard blow on

twisted in pain, and he bent down reflexively. Despite that, Gwendolyn tugged his collar and backed him up

as he feared that he would accidentally hurt Gwendolyn due to the disparity

Gwendolyn had

whack him with all her might every

for reason

get over Maverick being alive

didn’t he look for

like we’re

tell the truth, I’ll have

to

Harris, isn’t it unbecoming of

are you so scared of me seeing your face? If you are Cedrick and not Maverick, you should have nothing to

“I—”

didn’t give him a chance to defend himself as she leveled

mask while he was curled up in

seemed to stop as they looked

his face in

the rest of his features were completely altered. He now

and

He was obviously Maverick.

does your face look so different? Is it because you’re wearing another mask?” Gwendolyn pinched the skin of his

kept his grip firm on her hand and said sternly, “That is because I am and

believe you! Did you undergo plastic surgery? You must be delusional to think I won’t be able to recognize you because of that! Why don’t you try switching your eyeballs instead?”

on his face that they

burns and wounds from the lashings on Maverick’s back before the incident and broke free from Cedrick’s grasp to

things

back to me! If you aren’t guilty, then let

“Fine. Go ahead.”

hands

suspicious, she

his shirt from his belt

revealed. Its defined musculature was flawlessly smooth, with tan skin that looked exceptionally enticing under

devoid of any scars. She couldn’t even make out the deep knife wound on Maverick’s waist which