The Ex and Her Riches

After a brief hesitation, Charles merely muted his phone, choosing neither to answer nor reject the call.

Benedict, who had noticed his godfather’s actions, instantly pursed his lips. “Your lady’s calling you, isn’t she? I can’t believe you have the guts to ignore her, Charles. How did a lousy man like you even get yourself a wife?”

Charles felt a warm blush rise to his cheeks, but unfortunately, Benedict wasn’t done with his lecture.

“In any case, don’t you think you should return her call? She will be so worried if she doesn’t hear back from you. As a man, you ought to cherish and dote on your woman. Understood?” the latter chided, looking very authoritative with a stern expression and his arms folded.

It was the first time Charles found Benedict so adorable, and he had to do everything he could to hold in his laughter.

“You’re right, Benny. I’ll send her a text,” he replied good-naturedly before texting Whitney about not returning to the Newton residence that night.

With that done, he turned off the screen and casually set the phone on the bedside table.

Meanwhile, Zendaya had gotten tired from playing by the window and rubbed her eyes.

“I’m sleepy, Uncle Charles. I want to go home,” the little girl mumbled wearily as she turned to look at Charles.

Upon hearing that, the man hastily wrapped a tissue around the cut on his fingertip and walked to the window to carry her.

“Be good, Zendy. We won’t be returning to Harrick Villa tonight. I’ll sleep with you, okay?”

Zendaya pouted and squirmed slightly in Charles’ arms. “Where’s Daddy? Where’s Mommy? I want to hug Mommy to sleep… I can’t fall asleep without her.”

As could be seen, children were easygoing during the day, but when it came to bedtime, their stubbornness would very quickly go off the charts.

No matter how much Charles coaxed and cajoled Zendaya, the latter continued to ask for Gwendolyn.

I go home tonight?” she whimpered, sniffling quietly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “D-Do Daddy and

sight of Zendaya bawling her eyes out tugged at

tucked Zendy into bed before. What am

called Cedrick, only to realize the

but even

on earth is Cedrick

as ever, Zendaya eavesdropped on the phone call and turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn

Gwendolyn or

with Mommy. I want to hear her bedtime stories…” Zendaya said stubbornly as she wiped away her tears

of Investigation today, so your father can’t come,” Charles coaxed. “It’s pouring outside, and I don’t know where he is. Besides, Salinsburgh has been pretty chaotic

unfazed. “Hmph! If I run into those bad guys, I’ll bite them! I want to join the army when I grow up.

Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if

Charles’ arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. “Uncle

sighed and dialed Gwendolyn’s number, but to his surprise,

two? Did they plan this? Why else is one phone turned off and the other on airplane

you a bedtime story tonight? What would you like to listen to? I’ve never tucked you into bed before, and I’d love to try it. Will you give me

torn and didn’t know

sad if I turned him

upon the ward, making Charles even more anxious. Oh, my goodness. I don’t know what to do! I might be able to coax Zendy to sleep, but what about Benny? I’m sure he’ll kick up a fuss too. I know

loss when Nico suddenly returned to the ward with two

filled to the brim with the children’s clothes, and it

he decided to err

that Nico was around, Charles felt a load off his shoulders as the men could split the task of coaxing the

Charles took Zendaya into an empty ward and read her a fairy tale he had found

like that, the princess and the prince lived

story ended, Zendaya frowned,

like you’re chanting scriptures. I didn’t