The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Cedrick’s lips curved into a smile as he immediately saw through her trick. “Zendy, why are you so attentive to me

today? Did you do something wrong?”

“Well…” Zendaya waved her little hands, looking guilty.

Cedrick put on a stern expression and reminded her softly, “I love punishing children who lie, so think carefully

before deciding whether to tell me the truth.”

Zendaya pursed her lips, looking dejected. “Daddy, does that mean you know everything?”

Cedrick nodded and gave her an amused look. “You screwed up the meeting between your Uncle Charles and the

daughter of the Cloud family. You also called him Daddy and said your mommy is pretty, gentle, elegant, and rich. Is

that right?”

Zendaya quickly grasped the main point. “Don’t you think Mommy is pretty and gentle? I’m just stating the truth.

Daddy, dare you say Mommy isn’t beautiful?”

Cedrick wasn’t going to fall for her trick.

“Your mommy is the most perfect woman to me, but you call someone else your daddy outside. Whose wife do you

think your mommy is?”

As he spoke, his voice grew colder, and a stern expression formed on his face.

“Um…”

Zendaya bit her lip, her hands resting uneasily behind her back.

Daddy looks horrifying when he’s angry!

Zendaya dared not meet his gaze and looked away.

What did Uncle Charles tell me when we were eating in the private room again? How should I respond to Daddy?

Zendaya had already forgotten everything as she was flustered.

Oh, no. I’m going to get spanked!

As she racked her brains, she asked softly, “Daddy, are you going to spank me?”

Cedrick threw the question back to her. “Zendy, you did not behave yourself. Do you deserve to get spanked?”

Zendaya shook her head and replied feebly, “Daddy, I’m still little, and I don’t support using violence as a form of

discipline.”

Cedrick sat at the edge of the bed and rolled up his sleeves.

He gestured for Zendaya to come over and said, “This has happened too many times. I’ve told you more than five

times not to call someone else Daddy, but you still failed to remember it. I need to teach you a lesson so you won’t

forget. Come here and lie on your front.”

Cedrick had been all talk and no action when it came to punishing Zendaya regarding this matter previously.

Despite putting on a fierce front, he only patted her twice as a warning.

Alas, Zendaya was too naughty and didn’t take his warning to heart.

Gwendolyn was his wife, and that was his bottom line and prerogative.

Besides, the person Zendaya called Daddy was his previous love rival. That was unacceptable.

The more he thought about it, the more furious he became. Cedrick ordered sternly, “Hurry up. If you insist on

making me pin you down, I’ll take off your pants and spank you.”

Zendaya retreated in fear. “I’m already five years old! You can’t take off my pants!”

As there seemed to be no room for negotiation, Zendaya whirled around and pounced on Benedict. She hugged his

little legs as though he was her last hope.

“Help me, Benny! I don’t want to get hit. If I die, you will lose a smart, adorable, and sweet little sister!”

She blinked innocently at Benedict and wailed out loud.

Benedict shook his head, showing no intention to save her. “You shouldn’t have called someone else Daddy. You

deserve the spanking.”

Zendaya was speechless.

Oh, no. Benny doesn’t want to help me. He betrayed me. Mommy isn’t around and can’t save me from getting

spanked.

In despair, she burst into tears.

Cedrick was still waiting at the edge of the bed, showing no intention to wipe off her tears and console her. Afraid

that he would take off her pants for real, Zendaya sulkily flopped onto his lap.

She kicked her feet in frustration and muttered under her breath, “Nobody loves me. I’ll endure the pain alone!

Daddy, you can punish me however you want since nobody loves me…”

Cedrick furrowed his brows as he gazed at the little girl on his lap.

I haven’t even hit her, but she’s already acting all pitiful. Who did she learn this from?

He pinned her legs down and raised his right hand.

“Mr. Jenson, stop!”

A large pair of arms appeared in Cedrick’s sight as they covered Zendaya’s butt.

Cedrick didn’t even need to look up to know who had stopped him from teaching Zendaya a lesson.

Zendaya seemed to have found her new savior as she screamed, “Oh, Uncle Charles, save me! I’m about to be

beaten to death!”

Charles hadn’t left. Concerned for Zendaya’s well-being, he had stayed outside to listen in, worried that Cedrick

would punish her.

“Mr. Jensen, Zendy has indeed made a mistake this afternoon, but she had a reason for doing so. The daughter of

the Cloud family, who was on a blind date with me, insulted me. I chose to ignore her, but she crossed the line.

Zendy couldn’t bear to see it, so she stood up for me and responded on my behalf,” he explained sincerely as he

carefully carried Zendaya from Cedrick’s lap.

As Cedrick did nothing to stop him, he embraced Zendaya and calmly soothed the sobbing little girl.

“I know I shouldn’t have interfered when you were disciplining Zendy, but this matter is, after all, my fault. I didn’t

handle my private affairs well,” Charles added.

Cedrick gave Charles a sharp look. He didn’t argue or deny Charles’ words, but instead questioned him directly. “It

seems that this is more than just an innocent mistake. Zendy is young and still learning, but you, as an adult, knew

that she was addressing you improperly and saying things that weren’t justified. Yet, you didn’t stop her or rectify

the situation with the Cloud family’s daughter. Is there something else going on here, Charles?”

Charles was at a loss for words.

Zendaya’s cries echoed throughout the room as she clung to Charles’ neck. She hiccupped and managed to utter,

“Don’t be mad at Uncle Charles, Daddy. He doesn’t have any bad intentions. He was just trying to make me happy

by letting me do whatever I want. He spoils me because he cares.”

Cedrick took in her aggrieved expression and sighed out loud. “Zendaya Harris, do you know your mistake now?”

Zendaya buried her face in Charles’ chest and kept mum.

Cedrick’s scowl deepened as he warned, “Consider this your final warning about calling someone else Daddy

without reason. If you do it again, I will take strict measures and forbid you from seeing Uncle Charles again. I mean

it.” The seriousness in his tone made an impact.

“I know I was wrong, and I promise I won’t call someone else Daddy again. Please forgive me, Daddy.” Zendaya’s

fear was palpable as she acknowledged her mistake without hesitation.

“No more next time, Zendaya,” Cedrick reminded her sternly.

Zendaya sobbed, “Yes, Daddy!”

She grabbed the collar of Charles’ shirt and used it to wipe her snot and tears away.

Charles didn’t stop her as he felt bad for her. He said to Cedrick, “Zendy’s eyes are red from crying. I’ll take her to

the playground to help cheer her up.”

Cedrick nodded, agreeing to his suggestion.

In fact, he couldn’t bear the thought of spanking Zendaya. Despite his anger, he couldn’t bring himself to

intentionally cause her pain.

Besides, Zendaya loved complaining.

Charles soon left with Zendaya in his arms, and the door clicked shut behind them. Benedict, who was hooked up to

the IV drip, suddenly said, “Daddy, it seems that your daughter doesn’t really care about you.”