The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Valentino’s eyes were brimmed with tears, and his hand on Cedrick’s shoulder was trembling slightly. In a sorrowful

tone, he said, “I was wrong. Out of all the sons and grandsons I have, I chose to sacrifice you. I’m sorry. Please

don’t resent me, Ced…”

Cedrick also teared up a little as he kept mum. Over so many years, Grandpa has always been the elder I love and

respect the most. I would never hate him. Even if Grandpa wants me to resign and let Xander take control of the

Federal Bureau of Investigation, I still won’t resent him.

One month later, Benedict was still receiving conservative treatment in the laboratory. While he was so weak that

all he could do was stay in bed, Zendaya had learned to run and call out names.

Early one morning, Charles arrived at Harrick Villa to bring Zendaya to the oceanarium.

After arriving at the oceanarium, Charles carried Zendaya to the dolphinarium to see dolphins.

Zendaya was thrilled and giggling merrily when she saw a dolphin swimming around in the water. Seeing that she

was staring fixedly at the dolphin, Charles gave the staff a signal with his gaze. Immediately after, the staff

beckoned the dolphin over.

In the next moment, the dolphin was seen swimming swiftly to the edge of the water and sticking its head up to

Zendaya and Charles.

“Zendy, this is my birthday gift to you. Do you like it?” Charles asked.

Zendaya smiled brightly and reached out her tiny hand to the dolphin.

Charles guided her tiny hand so that she could touch the dolphin’s head.

The dolphin’s head was soft and smooth, and it was so cute that it could melt anyone’s heart.

The highly intelligent dolphin made Zendaya giggle even harder by tilting its head and rubbing its head against her

palm.

Suddenly, Charles put Zendaya down by the pool and said in a gentle tone, “Zendy, be a good girl and stay here,

okay? I need to answer a phone call. I’ll be away for a couple of minutes. Don’t go anywhere.”

Zendaya was only a little over one-year-old, so there was no telling if she understood those words. She smiled

sweetly at Charles and mumbled, “Uncle… Charles…”

“Good girl, Zendy.” Charles caressed her head dotingly and went to a corner of the oceanarium to answer his

phone.

Zendaya squatted at the edge of the pool and played with the dolphin.

When she saw the dolphin swimming around freely in the water, she wanted to do the same. As soon as she

toddled toward the pool, a figure dashed toward her from the side and picked her up by the waist.

When Charles returned after the phone call, he saw a female staff carrying Zendaya in her arms. Zendaya seemed

to be on the verge of crying.

“What happened here?” Charles asked with suspicion.

The female staff turned around and replied in a serious tone, “Ms. Zendaya wanted to jump into the pool to play

with the dolphin just now. The water’s too cold. If I hadn’t picked her up in time, she could’ve caught a cold or

drowned.”

Charles took Zendaya into his arms and consoled her before saying to the female staff, “Thank you. I’ll tell the

finance department of the oceanarium to reward you with three months’ worth of bonus.”

Stunned, the woman furrowed her brows. “Mr. Newton, that’s not what I meant…”

Tenderness would only appear in Charles’ blue eyes when he looked at Gwendolyn and Zendaya. However, his gaze

would always be icy when he looked at others.

In response to the woman’s words, he said nonchalantly, “If you want more, tell the finance department.”

The woman’s frown deepened, and she insisted, “I didn’t save Ms. Zendaya to get rewarded.” She paused and

continued in a slightly reprimanding tone, “Something bad could’ve happened to Ms. Zendaya if I hadn’t shown up

in the nick of time. Even if your business deal was worth hundreds of millions, it couldn’t possibly outweigh Ms.

Zendaya’s life, could it? Since you’re out with the child, Mr. Newton, you shouldn’t be busy with work. You should

prioritize the child’s safety.”

Charles hadn’t been criticized much ever since he became the person in charge of the Newton family.

He slowly raised his gaze at the woman in uniform in front of him.

After taking a closer look, he found the woman familiar.

Where have I seen her before? I can’t remember, but even if I did, I don’t think she’s anyone important.

“You’re not from Chanaea?” he asked.

“My mom is, so I’m half-Chanaean and a mixed-blood.”

Charles retracted his gaze casually. “With your looks and figure, you could have a bright future in a modeling

career. Why are you working in an oceanarium?”

The woman lowered her gaze and answered, “I came from abroad to look for someone in Chanaea.”

“You might have trouble finding that person because Chanaea is huge. Tell me his appearance, characteristics, and

name. As your reward, I’ll help you find him.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ve already found him.” The woman concealed the disappointment in her eyes and turned

around to leave the dolphinarium. “Ms. Zendaya, Mr. Newton, I’ll wait outside.”

Charles glanced at her retreating figure and didn’t think too much about the interlude. He gently tapped the tip of

Zendaya’s nose and grumbled, “Didn’t I tell you to wait by the pool, Zendy? Why did you want to jump into the

water? Although the dolphin knows how to swim, you don’t. What if you drown in there?”

Zendaya blinked and stared at him adorably.

Charles couldn’t bring himself to reprimand her, so he pinched her cheek lightly and said, “If Gwendolyn and

Cedrick find out that you almost drowned under my watch, they’ll be angry. Do you really want to see your mommy

scold me?”

Zendaya seemed to understand some of the words because she whimpered and buried her head in his chest. She

even rubbed her head against his chest in a cute way.

With a palm over her bottom, Charles hugged her tightly and walked toward the exit. “It’s getting late. We should

head home. I’ll bring you here again to see the dolphins, Zendy.”

Zendaya pursed her lips and pointed at the dolphin in the water. “Ben… Benny…” she mumbled.

Charles froze momentarily as guilt washed over him. His gaze slightly darkened when he said, “Benny has fallen

sick, so he can’t be out with us to see the dolphins. However, this oceanarium belongs to him. He can keep anything

he wants in this oceanarium in the future.”

Zendaya seemed to understand that Benedict was sick. She held onto Charles’ suit and stayed obedient in his arms.

When the two came out of the dolphinarium, the woman who saved Zendaya was standing outside.

Charles halted in his tracks when she walked past her and shot her a side glance. “What’s your name?”

Startled, the woman clutched her pants and replied, “Whitney Mellor.”

Charles muttered the name under his breath and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.