The Ex and Her Riches

Whitney quickly shook her head and denied, “N-No, it’s not.”

Zendaya playfully covered her mouth, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “Why are you blushing, Whitney? Are you feeling shy?” she teased.

Caught off guard by the little girl’s straightforward comment, Whitney felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. She lowered her head and remained silent, unsure of how to respond.

Even to the most casual observer, it became apparent that Whitney harbored feelings for Charles. In fact, Charles himself was beginning to recognize the possibility, a realization slowly dawning upon him.

After a moment of contemplation, he turned to Zendaya, who was sitting beside him. “Zendy, do you like Whitney?”

The girl nodded her head enthusiastically and replied, “Yes! Whitney is so kind to me. If she becomes my godmother, I would be incredibly happy!”

“G-Godmother?” Whitney was taken aback by the girl’s words, her cheeks turning even redder. Nervously, she twirled a strand of her golden hair around her finger,

Charles lifted his gaze to observe Whitney more attentively.

Although he had encountered her regularly at the oceanarium, he hadn’t paid close attention to her appearance.

Now, he realized that while she may not possess conventional beauty, there was an enchanting allure about her that captivated him.

Whitney possessed exquisitely defined features, highlighted by her golden hair and captivating blue eyes, which exuded an alluring and exotic charm. Her fair complexion complemented her graceful figure, lending an air of elegance to even her black waitress apron.

Whitney’s blushing cheeks, accompanied by the occasional playful tucking of a strand of hair behind her ear, imbued her already captivating presence with a subtle touch of sensuality.

Charles’ eyes narrowed, his gaze shifting from Whitney to Zendaya. As his mind raced with thoughts, a plan began to take shape within him.

“Ms. Mellor, while I’m uncertain if I am the man you have been searching for all these years, I do recall encountering you in Tayhaven. Am I correct in remembering that?” Charles inquired.

The woman kept silent, prompting him to continue saying, “I’ve recently been attending blind dates, as you may be aware.”

She lowered her head further and replied, “Yes, I’m aware.”

“I wonder if you’re interested in me, Ms. Mellor?”

Puzzled, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“We have known each other for quite some time, and there seems to be a certain level of connection between us. If you are interested in exploring that further, we could skip the entire blind date process and go on a date tomorrow.”

reflecting her complete

straight into a romantic relationship? Is Charles implying that he wants us to be together? I was feeling disheartened and had already resigned myself to returning to my hometown and enduring the mockery from my relatives. I never anticipated him taking the initiative and inviting me on

confusion, trying to process this sudden

“Whitney, you should say yes! Going on a date with my Uncle Charles would be incredible. He’s considerate and a

she spoke, Zendaya’s excitement was palpable, her hands and feet waving in

you miss this opportunity,

a

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

a myriad of thoughts swirled. Nevertheless, a warm smile graced his lips, radiating

private room with Jessamyn earlier,

began to surface. Recognizing this, Charles made the decision to order some food and extended an invitation to Whitney to stay and dine with them. This impromptu meal marked the beginning of what could

a harmonious meal

displayed her carefree nature and playfully requested

the meal, Whitney’s day as a waitress was far from over. She joined Zendaya and Charles as they made their way

and I have grown accustomed to your leadership at the oceanarium. If working as a waitress at the restaurant doesn’t suit you, please remember that you are always welcome to return. The oceanarium will be waiting for you with open

“Thank you, Mr. Newton.”

calling me Mr.

a moment before asking, “Then…

her face as she interjected, “Uncle Charles meant that you could use a more intimate

She forced herself to maintain composure and whispered

and content, seemingly pleased with

drop Zendy off at kindergarten first. Could you please share your contact information with me? I’ll pick you up around nine o’clock,” he

me up?” Whitney said

and clear tone, Charles reiterated, “Just as we discussed earlier, we are now officially dating. We can go shopping, watch a movie, indulge in delicious cuisine, and enjoy the scenic night view

planned to spend the entire day with

palms revealed her indescribable joy. It felt like a dream; an

it. I’ll see

face, the man proceeded toward the

gradually faded, giving way to his customary cool and

accelerated swiftly, propelling the luxury car away from the

ensuring she could wave goodbye to

Whitney disappeared from her view did she settle back into her seat, and Charles promptly proceeded to fasten

made a concerted effort to hide any hints of his darker and more sinister nature,