The Ex and Her Riches

The crimson hues of the sunset outside retreated, giving way to the twilight.

The light atop the mountain gradually dimmed, and a chilly evening wind blew.

With an unperturbed demeanor, Charles stood unmoving on the mountaintop, bracing against the breeze.

The engine roars of five helicopters grew increasingly loud, deafening, and intimidating. Yet, Charles remained stationary, silently awaiting the helicopters to land.

Soon, the cabin door opened, and Cedrick, clad in a dark military coat and boots, descended the cabin stairs with a stern look on his face.

Almost instantly, the two men locked gazes from afar.

Immediately afterward, Nico also disembarked from the helicopter. He breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Charles. Luckily he didn’t flee and obediently came to meet us. I suppose there is more to the situation than meets the eye. Thank goodness. I don’t have to endure punishment when we get back.

“Mr. Jenson, don’t you think this is a little over the top, leading over a dozen armed subordinates here? Others who don’t know better may think I’m a criminal.” Charles smirked.

Cedrick glared at Charles, not bothering to beat around the bush with the latter, and cut to the chase. “Is Gwendolyn here with you?”

Charles smiled faintly and corrected him halfheartedly. “This is not my territory. All I did was locate her.” Toward the end of his statement, he spoke in a knowing tone and arched his brow mischievously. “Cedrick, I got lucky this time, finding her before you did. If she chooses me this time, will you let go of her?”

Cedrick frowned with murderous intent and rage churning in his eyes.

Striding forward in his military boots, he angrily grabbed Charles’ shirt collar and uttered furiously, “If you dare covet her, I don’t mind giving you another taste of the unbearable life in a high-security prison.”

Charles met his gaze, and the two entered a stalemate for a few seconds before Charles gave in by flashing a smile. “I’m just kidding. Don’t take it seriously, Mr. Jenson. If I had genuinely wanted to possess Gwen, I would’ve destroyed all means of contact, cut all ties with all of you, and prepared a large sum of money to take her overseas to a less developed nation. Once we’re out of the country, even Federal Bureau of Investigation, with its mighty abilities, would find it challenging and time-consuming to track us down. Don’t you agree, Mr. Jenson?”

Cedrick narrowed his eyes and fell silent.

Seeing Charles voluntarily receiving the helicopters, he knew Charles didn’t have the guts to hide Gwendolyn.

used to be the director of Central Intelligence Agency. If he had truly wanted to go into

motives, so Cedrick still thought poorly

as soon as you found her and brought her back safely rather than

Charles didn’t refute.

selfish intentions, wanting

willing to

if it meant bearing a criminal charge, being surrounded and intercepted by Federal Bureau

Charles said with a double entendre, “I wanted

“What do you

when you see her.” Charles smirked again with an inscrutable, profound look in his eyes. Gwendolyn is different now. She’s reluctant to choose me, but

of the armed personnel were ordered to stay

tiled house a hundred meters away. Err… Have Gwendolyn and

stove inside the humble house. He reached to his lower back and drew his sidearm in one

a round, and pressed the

of cowering at the sight of the gun, he merely felt confused. “What are

uttered threateningly through gritted teeth, “I’ll give you one last chance to come clean. Are you sure you didn’t do anything to Gwendolyn during the four days you’ve

chuckled. “You’re falsely accusing me. I didn’t get the chance to spend time alone with her. Hurry up and put away

were other people in the

gun, hiding it behind his waist under his shirt. Then, he pulled

than two minutes, the three men

slender figure sitting under the eaves on a low stool. She held a pea pod in her delicate, fair hands,

smile as she chatted leisurely with an older woman by

reddened eyes. I’ve finally found her, the woman I’ve been missing dearly and had disappeared

feelings quickly turned complicated. She’s not hurt, so why didn’t she come home?

body, causing even his fingers,

the changes in Cedrick’s mood. He sighed inwardly