The Ex and Her Riches

Charles took off his disposable gloves and observed his injured hand in the corridor.

He was about to go downstairs when he bumped into Gwendolyn coming back from the restroom at the corner.

Gwendolyn had just finished a video conference. She washed and sanitized her hands to prevent bringing bacteria from the computer mouse to Benedict before returning to the ward.

When she faced Charles, she immediately noticed the bloodstains on his hand. By the time Charles tried to hide his hand behind his back, it was already too late.

“You’re injured?” she asked.

Charles smiled casually and replied, “It’s nothing. I slipped and fell on my way here.”

Observant as always, Gwendolyn sensed something unusual about him. “Even if you really slipped, you wouldn’t have gotten such an injury given your skills. Don’t tell me that your hand happened to hit a nail on the ground as you fell.”

Charles chuckled. “You know me well, Gwen.”

“The laboratory has top-notch security measures and cleanliness. How is a sharp object like a nail going to end up on the floor? Don’t try to deceive me. What really happened?” Gwendolyn asked.

Charles shrugged indifferently. “It seems impossible to hide anything from you, Gwen.”

A few minutes later, when the door to the ward was slowly opened, Benedict, who was devouring a piece of durian, quickly threw the remaining of it into the trash and hastily wiped the corners of his mouth.

Gwendolyn entered the ward.

Although Benedict’s actions were swift, he still couldn’t escape Gwendolyn’s eyes.

“Is your meeting finished, Mommy? Actually, there’s no need for you to rush back here. I know your work is important. I’m already used to receiving the drip alone. I can handle it myself,” Benedict said.

Gwendolyn said nothing as she calmly walked to his bedside.

Her gaze inadvertently fell on the corner of his mouth, where there were still traces of durian flesh. The room was filled with the pungent smell of durian.

Benny clearly loves eating durian. Why did he throw away the remaining piece as soon as he saw me coming in?

from the bedside table

obediently, his face showing

expression grew increasingly serious as a thought flashed across her mind. “Did you cause the injury on

Benedict’s disgust toward Charles quickly grew rampant again despite having dissipated

tattle to you, Mommy! Why didn’t he tell you that it was all voluntary on his part, that

I asked him. He insisted that he accidentally injured himself, and

who gave birth to you. I know you the best. If

Benedict remained silent.

to strike back. Maybe I’ve thought

always gentle and considerate, being so serious with him. Although he had wrongly accused

of Charles? Do you think I’m a naughty child who caused severe injuries to Charles’ hand? Are you going to

“Yes…” Gwendolyn sighed again.

kindergarten like Zendy, and I can’t make any new friends. I have to receive daily drips and endure the pain. All I want is to make things difficult for Charles and to make him back off from bothering me. Who knew he would actually chop the durian with

rarely cried, had

open because he refused to let the tears

when she

sensitive. She hadn’t said anything

and patted his back patiently to comfort him, she said, “I wasn’t going to reprimand or punish you, Benny. I know that you made three forgiveness requests

response, Benedict

You’re not angry at

be angry about? Charles caused your hospitalization, so you

suggest such retaliatory behavior to Benedict under normal circumstances, but now that he had already done it, she had no

thought you were going to scold me,

age of five, you

too far as to cause harm to someone’s

supported her child unconditionally, but it didn’t

trouble, but I’m also not afraid of it when it is needed. These

firmly. “Don’t worry, Mommy. I understand. But Mommy… why

Gwendolyn entered the room, she had

could barely hold it any