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.

bring books like these for my son anymore. If I find out that you’re still doing this, I might report this incident to Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wicked people

After a scoff, he

from the stairwell before returning to the room and closing the

on his face, and the tension in the room

was hanging as if he knew the mistake he had

lying

took out a thin ruler from the bedside table’s drawer before passing

punish me.

the blood flow back into the tubing, his heart skipped

“Benny…”

took away the ruler from the boy before turning his hand around and massaging his

continued to purse his lips, not daring to look at his father. “I need to write with my right hand, so maybe you should hit my bottom like how you used

his time on a lab

Benedict looked when he asked to be punished, Cedrick’s heart

you. I just hope that you’ll keep

blinked. “But… I lied too. Are you

have lied. Hence, Cedrick pinched his cheeks, only using a little more

let things slide this time. If you don’t change and continue lying, I’ll definitely punish you

face paled, a little fearful of

I won’t

the red spot he had pinched earlier, unable to bring himself to say anything

keep you company that often. From now on, I’ll find ways to come here every

already. I don’t need you to stop work because of an IV therapy. I’ll feel bad if

on him, he would never be able to carry

his father to spend more time keeping

he had been able to easily divert her attention. His father, on the other hand, was much

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

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

was normal for children to be mischievous, but there was something

Eugene had brought to him, but he was certainly taken

have never thought of a

let out a silent sigh and decided that he

and leaned over. “Daddy, what are you thinking about? Are you really going to accompany me for all

reality and asked, “Are

Benedict forced out

a toothpick and passed him

…