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.

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 they aren’t letting

of Zendaya bawling her eyes out

I’ve never tucked Zendy into bed before.

no other option, Charles begrudgingly called Cedrick, only to realize

over, but

earth

ever, Zendaya eavesdropped on the phone call and turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn off his phone? Does he really not want

his face. Neither of them had seen Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and it was beginning to feel like they had

to hear her bedtime stories…” Zendaya

lot to do at the Federal Bureau 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 lately. If you

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

cold aloofness. “Who

of retaliating, Zendaya clung to Charles’ arm and stared at him with big, doe eyes. “Uncle

and dialed Gwendolyn’s number, but to his surprise, her phone was unreachable

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

What would you like

felt torn and

Charles would be sad if I turned him

about Benny? I’m sure he’ll kick up a fuss too. I know Zendy listens to me, but the same can’t be said for Benny… Argh! There’s no way I can tuck them in

still at a loss when Nico suddenly returned to

clothes, and it seemed as if the latter had emptied their entire closets into

last, so he decided to err on the side of caution and brought the kids’

around, Charles felt a load off his shoulders as the men could split the

took Zendaya into an empty ward and read her

the princess and the prince lived happily

the story ended, Zendaya frowned,

Charles, you read stories like you’re chanting scriptures. I didn’t enjoy