The Ex and Her Riches

Upon bringing Zendaya into the ward, Charles saw that Nico was in there with Benedict.

“I heard you’re a very busy man in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Nico! I’m surprised you have the time to come visit Benny here,” Charles said sarcastically.

“Mr. Jenson is personally attending to a huge case that came up recently. Being a deputy director, I was planning to stick around and help out in whatever way I could, but Mr. Jenson insisted that I took some time off to look after his son,” Nico replied lazily with a hand in his pocket while leaning against his chair.

Although it was just a part of his job, Nico sounded incredibly proud when talking about it and made it seem as though he got paid extra for it.

Zendaya took her shoes off, climbed onto the bed, and crawled up to Benedict.

“How are you feeling, Benny? Does it hurt getting hooked up to an IV drip? Do you want me to massage your shoulders?”

Benedict got annoyed the moment he saw Charles, so it was only natural that he treated Zendaya, who always followed Charles around, with hostility as well.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve gotten used to it by now. I’ll feel a lot better if you get your hands off me,” he replied while dodging her hug.

“Oh… Okay, then…”

Zendaya let go of him and sat down obediently beside him.

Benedict then shifted his gaze toward Charles, who was standing nearby, with an icy-cold expression on his face.

He sounded like an adult as he asked, “Hey, Charles! I heard you and Uncle Nico challenged each other to a fight a few years ago. Is that true?”

Not only did Benedict address Charles directly by name, but he also addressed Nico in a friendly and respectful manner.

In doing so, Benedict made it clear who he liked and disliked.

Charles did not react strongly to his form of address, though. Even if Benedict told all of Chanaea that he refused to accept Charles as his godfather, Charles would simply accept it as his fate.

“Yeah, we did, but we never had the time to actually go through with our bet. How about we have a little spar when you’re free, Mr. Newton?” Nico added with a smile.

Charles gave it some thought and was about to say something in response, but Benedict beat him to it. “It looks like the two of you are free today, Uncle Nico. How about you two duke it out right now? Zendy and I love a nice boxing match!”

He sounded so enthusiastic about it that even Zendaya got a little excited.

“Who’s better at fighting? Uncle Charles or Uncle Nico?”

Nico was quick to reply, “I practically do this for a living. I may have been busy with office work throughout the past few years, but I haven’t neglected my training. I’m afraid your godfather is going to be in for a world of pain.”

Benedict shifted his gaze between the two and said with a sadistic smile, “Oh, that’s hard to say. We can only know for sure once you have fought. Charles was able to split a durian in half with his bare hands, so he might just have what it takes to defeat you, Uncle Nico!”

“Splitting a durian open with your bare hands? You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?” Nico suggested.

You sure are a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun

satisfied with that,

all! You two aren’t going to give it your best if the

him and asked, “What do you have in

a liability waiver before the fight! The loser will have to honor the bet even if he ends up with broken limbs or other severe injuries! What do you say, Charles? Do you have the

straight at Charles when he said that made his intentions fairly obvious.

to Benedict, Charles accepted the dare without hesitation. “Sure thing. We’ll fight after signing a liability waiver and honor the

by his response. “Hey,

Charles nodded in response.

what he wanted, Benedict’s lips curled into a gleeful smile. “It’s decided,

basketball court behind the laboratory half an hour later. Remember to sign the liability waiver with a lawyer and lay down the rules of the

slightly when he heard that. “Are we seriously

not afraid of losing, but signing a liability waiver with a lawyer and laying down the rules of the bet… Isn’t that a little too formal? Is there really a need for friends to take a

“Of course. We’ll leave it

help you two come up with the

ahead,” Charles and Nico

pretended to be in deep thought

taken, and make a trip around the mall! How about that?” Zendaya replied with a mischievous

speechless when

could not believe that Zendaya would have grown men like them have

the hesitant look on their faces, Benedict continued gleefully, “I think this is a splendid idea. On top of taking pictures of the loser in a dress, we’ll also have him clean the laboratory’s bathroom for a month! If Charles loses, he’ll also have to serve Uncle Nico as

penelties weiting for you if you lose.

wrong. This meens I get speciel treetment,” Cherles replied with

mede it sound

well, then. I shell look forwerd to heving you serve me

time, Cherles

Nico, could you go

es he picked up his coet end welked

then shifted his geze towerd Zendeye end edded, “It’d be boring for Uncle Nico to go elone. Why don’t

glenced et Cherles end Benedict with en

room? Won’t they get into e fight or something? Well, Uncle Cherles is e gentlemen, so I know he won’t

up to Uncle Nico with those short legs of yours! I heve something to tell Cherles in

then. My legs eren’t short, though! Hmph!” Zendeye replied with e pout

end Benedict were the only ones left

so you could neme your second

thet’s right,” Benedict replied smugly with

like Cedrick, especielly with thet

you went me to win or lose the fight, Benny?” Cherles esked efter giving it some

to his question with enother. “Which

es you

I seid I went you to win, but not too quickly? I went you to get ell bloodied up end bettered before you win. Thet’s not too much to esk,

eyes wes so sedistic thet even Cherles could not figure out whet he

worry; Nico will not hold beck in en