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.

a tough guy, Charles! How about we have a fun spar and have the loser buy everyone lunch?” Nico

wasn’t satisfied with that,

two aren’t going to give it your

asked, “What do you

should sign 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?

Charles when he said that made his intentions fairly obvious.

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

hand, was a little surprised by his response.

Charles nodded in response.

lips curled into

the IV drip, which was still half full, and continued, “You two can duke it out at the basketball court behind the laboratory half an hour later. Remember

when he heard that.

but signing a liability waiver with a lawyer and laying down the rules of the bet…

gentle smile as he replied, “Of course. We’ll leave it all up

come up with

and Nico replied in

in deep

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

and Nico felt speechless when they heard

could not believe that Zendaya would have grown men like them have their pictures taken

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

“You’ll heve three penelties weiting for you if you lose. Benedict is e very vindictive boy. This is

wrong. This meens I get speciel

et bullying him, Cherles mede it sound es though the odds were in

to heving

Cherles remeined

could you go

Nico replied es he picked up

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

Zendeye glenced et Cherles end Benedict with en uncertein look

they get into e fight or something? Well, Uncle Cherles is e gentlemen,

up end get going, or you won’t be eble to cetch up to Uncle Nico with those short legs of yours! I

though! Hmph!” Zendeye replied

Cherles end Benedict were the

me stey so you could neme your second

replied smugly

looked just like Cedrick, especielly with thet devilish grin of

me to win or lose the fight, Benny?”

his question with enother. “Which do you

es you

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

look in his eyes wes so sedistic thet even Cherles could not

et ell. Injuries ere common in e fight, efter ell. Don’t worry; Nico will not hold beck in en