The Ex and Her Riches

His eyes turned scarlet. He clutched Gwendolyn’s wrist, not noticing that he was gripping her so tightly that her skin was turning pale.

Cedrick shoved him away, wrapped Gwendolyn in his arms, and massaged her wrist.

Gwendolyn sighed. Her tone was stern as she said, “You acted rashly tonight, Treyton. I understand how you must be feeling, but I don’t agree with you giving away fifteen percent of the company’s shares to the Newton family.”

Treyton gaped at her in disbelief. “For all your talk about being sisters with Jennifer, you won’t even save her when she’s in trouble. When have you become so unfeeling, Gwendolyn?”

“Me, unfeeling?”

Gwendolyn was incredulous. Her rage began to boil.

As Treyton had had a traumatic night, she did her best to remain patient. “I don’t want to hold a grudge against somebody who can’t think straight. We’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

Treyton’s gaze grew cold.

Everything that had happened at the party had lost him his wits. “I’ll do it myself if you won’t. My shares, my call.”

He turned to go, but Gwendolyn had enough. Done with coddling him, she dashed forward and slapped him across the face.

Smack!

The crisp slap echoed in the air.

As she had used her full strength, Treyton’s face tilted to the side, and a red imprint of her hand appeared instantly on his cheek. He stared at her, dumbstruck.

Cedrick, too, was stunned. He remained rooted to the spot.

Massaging his stinging cheek, Treyton fumed, “How dare you hit me, Gwendolyn?”

Faced with his accusatory glare, Gwendolyn raised her chin defiantly.

“I’m not hitting you as your little sister but as the head of the Harris family. Now would you calm down? Can you listen to me?”

She looked stern, like the head of the family she was.

fuming, he did

time to cool down

gazed at her, somewhat hurt. “Are

Think of it as grounding. It’s

could say another word, Gwendolyn turned to address Cedrick. “Could you marshal some men who aren’t on

decisively. “Very well,

of them with batons. You have my permission to beat

If it came to that, she would still be the one feeling sorry

the head of the family, and everybody must obey me with no exceptions. If you won’t, we’re going to the ancestral hall and I

snorted. “You think I’m scared of a little

be. If you piss me off, I will have you beaten up so severely that you pass out and spend the next two weeks in bed. By then, you would only be able to watch the broadcast of Jennifer’s engagement party. Would you

refused to say

around Cedrick’s, Gwendolyn

she turned around and said, “Call me

watched as she and Cedrick entered

car did not

soldiers surrounded the villa as if they had rehearsed it and left no corner

negotiations but preferred to strike first instead. Forced back into

was securely inside his house did Gwendolyn and Cedrick

most other days, Inez showed up early the

had lost some of its stiffness. Though far from being on good

her secretary had taken

following two days

department arrived with the new

in,” she said without taking her attention off

her permission, the two

manager had an imposing poise and a

so much as look

manager placed the secretary’s resume on her table. “This candidate is very well qualified, Ms.

grunted in response, engrossed in typing. She did not look at the

exception of special circumstances. You cannot arrive at the office later than me. When I come

nodded. “Understood,