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.

director of Central Intelligence Agency. If he had truly wanted to go into hiding, it would indeed

Charles harbored selfish motives, so

me as soon as you found her and brought her back safely rather than keeping it a

Charles didn’t refute.

had selfish intentions, wanting to

that was provided Gwendolyn was willing to give him a chance

criminal charge, being surrounded and intercepted by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and having to live as an absconder for the rest of his life. He wanted to gamble that once.

“I wanted to bring her back, but I could only do that if she’s willing to come

brows. “What do

Gwendolyn is different now.

personnel were ordered to stay put. Charles

smoke from a cooking fire rising from a simple tiled house a hundred meters

stove inside the humble house.

the magazine, chambered a round, and pressed the muzzle against the back of Charles’

stopped short and turned around. Instead of cowering at the

to come clean. Are you sure you didn’t do anything to Gwendolyn during the four days you’ve spent alone with her

me. I didn’t get the chance to spend time alone with her. Hurry up and put away your gun.

there were other

He holstered his gun, hiding it behind his waist under his shirt. Then, he pulled his coat closer, concealing

three men stood outside the

pod in her delicate, fair hands, carefully and gracefully picking out the green peas from inside. Due to her innate elegance, she appeared captivating even

as she

his reddened eyes. I’ve finally found her, the woman I’ve been missing

why didn’t she come home?

body, causing even his fingers, hidden beneath the sleeves of his coat, to

Cedrick’s mood. He