The Ex and Her Riches

An old man around the age of sixty was standing outside.

His hair was white, and he had a gray beard. He also had defined features—something not most Chanaeans had.

Cedrick could somewhat recall who he was—the biochemistry professor, Eugene Yortz.

He had been the one who gave Benedict the book about Abnormal Psychology, so Cedrick later contacted Joshua and found out about the man.

Nevertheless, Cedrick solemnly stared at Eugene, wondering why Benedict seemed nervous earlier.

“Professor Yortz, what can I help you with?”

Eugene scratched his head and scoured through his memory to figure out who was the man standing before him. “You must be Benny’s father.”

“Yes, that’s me,” was the only polite answer Cedrick gave to Eugene.

Eugene let out a laugh, a hint of mockery entering his eyes. “It’s rare to see his parents caring for him. In that case, I won’t disturb your time with him. Please continue with your conversation.”

With that said, he turned to leave.

“Stop!”

Cedrick grabbed his hand and forcibly lifted Eugene’s hand. As it turned out, Eugene was holding a book.

Its title was How Do People With Paranoid Personality Disorder Turn Into Murderers?

Cedrick’s heart lurched, finding the book title spine-chilling.

In a stern voice, he confronted Eugene, “You’re bringing an inappropriate book for my son again. As a professor in the lab, why aren’t you trying to be a good role model? Why are you trying to lead a child astray? What are you trying to do?”

Eugene found his words absurd. “How is this book a bad book? It’s just a book about humanity. You’re always absent despite being his father, so what’s wrong with me talking about books with him when I’m free? Why are you accusing me of something so outrageous? You’re strange.”

Strange? Don’t you know who’s the strange one here?

Cedrick tamped down his anger as he gritted out, “Benny’s only five—an age where he’s naive. Why are you teaching him about humanity with books like these? What are you trying to do?”

Eugene flung his hand away, annoyed. “Naive? He’s your son, so don’t you know his character well? He likes books like this, so I brought this for him. It’s not as if he had learned anything bad from these books. He’s smart and much more mature than kids his age. I’m sure he can judge for himself.”

Cedrick did not wish to continue talking to Eugene, however.

for my son anymore. If I find out that you’re still doing this, I might report this incident to Federal

Eugene fell silent. After a scoff, he

stairwell before returning to the room

and

was hanging as if he knew

about lying

a thin ruler

punish me. I’m

roughly flipping his hand around and making the blood flow back into the

“Benny…”

ruler from the boy before turning his

with my right hand, so maybe you should hit my bottom like how you used to

been an ill boy since young, and he spent most of his time on a lab bed. Thus, Cedrick never dared to lay a finger

how miserable Benedict looked when he asked to be punished, Cedrick’s heart softened even

just hope that you’ll keep

lied too. Are you not angry with

Benedict should not have lied. Hence, Cedrick pinched his cheeks, only

slide this time. If you don’t change and continue lying,

face paled, a little fearful of his

understand. I won’t

earlier, unable to bring

fault. I couldn’t keep you company that often. From now on, I’ll find ways to

“It’s not your fault. I’m a big kid already. I don’t need you to stop work because of an IV

him, he would never be able to

his father to

mother had been the one keeping him company for the IV therapies, he had been able to easily divert her attention. His father, on the other hand,

but it was clear that the boy was thinking of nothing good from what he could see

If you have any pranks you want to do, you can tell me about them. I might not stop

for children to be mischievous,

Eugene had brought to him, but he was certainly taken aback when he heard that Benedict

would have never thought of a

decided that he was

are you thinking about? Are you really going to accompany me for

reality and asked, “Are

forced out with a

Cedrick took a toothpick and passed him a slice of

…