The Ex and Her Riches

Gwendolyn’s tears turned into a stream. She could not stop them.

Clutching his hand, she screamed, “Don’t you dare die, Cedrick! I’m going to marry someone else if you die and make you regret it as long as you live!”

Cedrick’s bloody lips parted in a painful smile.

“T-That won’t do. You’re mine.”

Despite her tears, she managed a chuckle before turning to the two paramedics in the corner. “I’m here. Send him in, quickly.”

Cedrick would not let go of her hand. “Let me explain, Gwenny, please?”

“Be good and go through with the surgery. I’ll be out here. You can tell me everything when it’s over.”

Cedrick’s visage was paler than ever. It looked as though every drop of blood had been drained from him. It was plain he could not hold on much longer.

However, he stubbornly maintained his grip on her wrist—he wanted to get a good look at her. There was only a ten percent chance of survival if he went in, and he feared he might never regain consciousness.

Gwendolyn’s heart wrenched painfully. She forced herself to pry his fingers apart and watched him being wheeled into the emergency room.

The light came on, indicating that the surgery was underway. Gwendolyn sat outside and gazed blankly into space. The tears streaking her face had not yet dried.

It was her first time shedding tears in front of that many people, but she did not care. All she knew was that she did not want Cedrick to die.

She waited for three hours until nine that night, yet Cedrick still had not emerged.

Nico sent the squadron home. With a similarly grave expression, he sat on the bench across from Gwendolyn.

Then, as if he had considered something at length, he began, “You thought that Mr. Jenson had lied to you about the incident involving the abandoned warehouse six months ago. He was not. He did enter knowing full well he might die. If not for the rest of the boys making it there in time to rescue what’s left of him, he would have died in the fire.”

up slowly to meet his

with it. The whip scars on his back are a consequence of his defiance of the Jenson family laws. Though he was fortunate to have survived at the warehouse, vast areas of the skin on his face had been burned, and he had broken

gaze flicked and he skipped the part about the virus

not discovered a complete cure for

had once decreed that not a word of any of it was to be mentioned

love for he only knows how to give everything he has but would never tell you any of his pain. He was ashamed to reunite with you after regaining his identity because he was afraid you would hate him more if he

Her heart was filled with guilt to the brim, and it tormented

in blood every time shut her eyes. Worse still, something like that had happened

must have been in even worse shape during the incident at the

that he had kept all that from her. She blamed him for his deception and

it was stabbed. The

“I am sorry.”

three words, she could not offer anything else to make up

what he needs. Just a little bit of love on your part will send

had me procure a whip not because he wanted to put on a charade for you but because he was trying his best to make up for the pain you have endured for six months. That you did, but he too, has been tormented by illnesses for

explain things, but you went to Old Mr. Jenson and asked to call off the engagement instead.

Mr. Jenson and proposed for the engagement to be called off, but he did not agree. I was planning on doing something about it.

did not add up, he quickly

at the entrance to the

sent by

hardened. “Xander? How well does Cedrick get along

family went through was caused by Mr. Yael, Mr. Xander’s father. Mr. Cedrick had only been back

her lips. Looking down, she did not

grew colder. “Do you know how to sneak into the Jenson residence without being

taken aback. “Ms. Gwendolyn,

was a cold, dangerous

settle the score

…

evening, and a muffled cascade was sounding

Xander was drying his hair as he

the lights in his chandelier began flickering. The curtains, too, rustled from being whipped by the

he put his