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 met his

his

able to recognize you just because you’re wearing a mask? You might fool everyone, but I can tell

entire

Should I come clean?

Gwendolyn think that I’ve been deceiving

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 for

for me if you weren’t dead? How come you’ve taken on the

hands were trembling. Her

“Ms. Harris, I—”

you calling

curved her elbow as she

pain, and he bent down reflexively. Despite that, Gwendolyn tugged his collar

wouldn’t retaliate as he feared that he would accidentally hurt Gwendolyn due to the disparity

had

with all her

mind had no room for reason as she stared

still couldn’t get over

didn’t he

like

to tell the truth, I’ll have

out to snatch his

it. “Ms. Harris, isn’t it unbecoming

of me seeing your face? If you are Cedrick

“I—”

give him a chance to defend himself as she leveled

ripped off his mask while he was curled

as they looked into one another’s

surveyed his face

the rest of his features were completely altered. He now only vaguely resembled

his gaze and

He was obviously Maverick.

it because you’re wearing another mask?” Gwendolyn pinched the skin of his face and

firm on her hand and said sternly, “That

think I won’t be able to recognize you

was the only indicator on his

severe burns and wounds from the lashings on Maverick’s back before the incident and broke

aren’t you taking things too fast

me! If you

“Fine. Go ahead.”

raised both of his hands

was suspicious, she still

his clothes one by one, she loosened his shirt from his belt and lifted

broad back was instantly revealed. Its defined musculature was flawlessly smooth, with

She couldn’t even make out the deep knife wound on Maverick’s waist which he