The Ex and Her Riches

It was Benedict who took Gwendolyn’s phone and contacted Charles personally. “Charles, I’m on my way to the oceanarium with Daddy, Mommy, and Zendaya.”

Charles was stunned for a moment and a little delighted. “Are you finally willing to accept the oceanarium?”

Benedict, on the other end of the line, sounded haughty. “You gifted it to me without allowing me the chance to reject it, so what right do I have not to accept it?”

“Fine.” Judging by his tone, Benny hasn’t forgiven me yet. It seems like it is my wishful thinking.

Nevertheless, Charles didn’t give up. Instead, he asked in a gentler voice, “This is your first time taking the initiative to call me. Is this what you want to talk to me about? The oceanarium is yours, Benny. I’m just paying someone to manage it for you. You can go there and have fun whenever you want. There’s no need for you to ask my permission.”

Benedict snorted arrogantly. “You’re overthinking. I just want to inform you that I’m planning to renovate the oceanarium a little to include more new and interesting animals.”

“Sure, that’s not a problem. You can keep any animal you want in there.”

“Hmph. Don’t speak so soon. I’m afraid you may not be able to afford it later. If you’re free now, come over, and we can discuss this in person.”

His voice might sound childish, but he spoke with the mature cadence of an adult, arranging everything perfectly.

“Okay,” Charles agreed without a second thought since Benedict had taken the initiative to invite him over. There was no way he would refuse the latter.

Benedict hung up the call rudely and aloofly without even saying “goodbye” or any other parting words.

Charles decisively turned his steering wheel at the next intersection, heading in the opposite direction toward the oceanarium.

Whitney noticed the change in route and hastily asked, “Where are you going?”

“Mr. Jenson and his family are going to the oceanarium. I’m going to join them.”

“In that case, should I get out of the car now?”

Charles pondered briefly before replying, “Let’s go there together. Zendy is also there. You’ve spent several years in the oceanarium and know it better than I do. I think you’ll be able to explain it better if you were to introduce some marine life to the kids.”

Zendy is also there. Whitney quite missed that clever little girl.

Still, she found it weird for her to tag along.

relationship in public, so how should I introduce myself when I show

seriously considering

to

suggested, “Why don’t you just say that I’m your personal maid? You can tell them you brought me to grocery shopping and received the phone call on the way. That’ll explain why we’re going there

his

the little girl he would attempt to date and get into a relationship

figured Zendaya would undoubtedly be displeased if

few moments later, Charles uttered,

a wife? Both

not the same. A girlfriend is a lover while

undertone, “You can break up with a girlfriend, so you can

He agreed with her point of view, but he didn’t want to let Gwendolyn know about his marriage so soon. “Just do as I say. Don’t forget that our marriage is a secret.

he had a point, Whitney nodded in agreement. “Okay. I’ll

later, the

they could see Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and the two kids standing outside

four standing together was

of the car and strode forward,

“Uncle Charles!”

saw him, she beamed and bounded toward

and caught her, pulling her steadily

and noticed

the spot and asked curiously, “Uncle Charles, why is your face red? Oh? It’s hot. Does it hurt? Let me blow on it

puffed out her cheeks

had forgotten about having his face pinched

slowly caught

washed over Zendaya when she perceptively spotted Whitney. “You’re also here, Whitney! I got it. Whitney must’ve

and Whitney were rendered speechless upon

is Whitney. I mentioned her to you before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like a match

Zendaya excitedly introduced Whitney to Gwendolyn. “Mommy, this is Whitney. I mentioned her to you before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like

up and happened

each other for a few