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 me go

the sight of Zendaya bawling her eyes out

Zendy into bed before.

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

but even so, there

earth is Cedrick

on the phone call and turned sullen. “Did Daddy turn off

of them had seen Gwendolyn or Cedrick the entire day, and it was

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

“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

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

secretly happy with what his sister had said, Benedict cocked his eyebrows in cold aloofness. “Who needs your protection? Even if I’m not physically strong, I’d

with big, doe eyes. “Uncle Charles,

but to

with these two? Did they plan this? Why

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

Zendaya felt torn and didn’t know

if I turned him

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 Zendy listens to me, but the same

when Nico suddenly returned to the ward

the brim with the children’s clothes, and it seemed as if the latter had

decided to err on the side of caution and

load off his shoulders as the men could split

empty ward and read her a

princess and

ended, Zendaya frowned, still

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