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 want Mommy! Why can’t Benny and I go home tonight?” she whimpered, sniffling quietly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “D-Do Daddy and Mommy not want me anymore? Is that why

bawling her eyes out tugged at

tucked Zendy into bed before.

option, Charles begrudgingly called Cedrick,

a text over, but even so, there was

on earth is

call and turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn off

grim expression on his face. Neither of them had seen Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and it was beginning to

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

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 lately. If you wander about, you might meet the bad guys who devour

run into those bad guys, I’ll bite them! I want to join the army when I grow

Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if I’m not

clung to Charles’ arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. “Uncle Charles, can you take me to look for Mommy? Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep

number, but to his

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

good,” Charles said gently amid the little girl’s muffled sobs. “How about I read you a bedtime story tonight? What would you like to listen to? I’ve never tucked

moment, Zendaya felt torn and didn’t

be sad if

able to coax Zendy to sleep, but what about Benny? I’m sure he’ll kick up a fuss too. I know Zendy listens to me,

at a loss when Nico suddenly returned to

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

he decided to err on

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

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

that, the princess and the prince

soon as the story ended, Zendaya

read stories like you’re chanting scriptures. I didn’t enjoy it. What should we do