The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

An old man around the age of sixty was standing outside.

His hair was white, and he had a gray beard. He also had defined features—something not most Chanaeans had.

Cedrick could somewhat recall who he was—the biochemistry professor, Eugene Yortz.

He had been the one who gave Benedict the book about Abnormal Psychology, so Cedrick later contacted Joshua

and found out about the man.

Nevertheless, Cedrick solemnly stared at Eugene, wondering why Benedict seemed nervous earlier.

“Professor Yortz, what can I help you with?”

Eugene scratched his head and scoured through his memory to figure out who was the man standing before him.

“You must be Benny’s father.”

“Yes, that’s me,” was the only polite answer Cedrick gave to Eugene.

Eugene let out a laugh, a hint of mockery entering his eyes. “It’s rare to see his parents caring for him. In that case,

I won’t disturb your time with him. Please continue with your conversation.”

With that said, he turned to leave.

“Stop!”

Cedrick grabbed his hand and forcibly lifted Eugene’s hand. As it turned out, Eugene was holding a book.

Its title was How Do People With Paranoid Personality Disorder Turn Into Murderers?

Cedrick’s heart lurched, finding the book title spine-chilling.

In a stern voice, he confronted Eugene, “You’re bringing an inappropriate book for my son again. As a professor in

the lab, why aren’t you trying to be a good role model? Why are you trying to lead a child astray? What are you

trying to do?”

Eugene found his words absurd. “How is this book a bad book? It’s just a book about humanity. You’re always

absent despite being his father, so what’s wrong with me talking about books with him when I’m free? Why are you

accusing me of something so outrageous? You’re strange.”

Strange? Don’t you know who’s the strange one here?

Cedrick tamped down his anger as he gritted out, “Benny’s only five—an age where he’s naive. Why are you

teaching him about humanity with books like these? What are you trying to do?”

Eugene flung his hand away, annoyed. “Naive? He’s your son, so don’t you know his character well? He likes books

like this, so I brought this for him. It’s not as if he had learned anything bad from these books. He’s smart and much

more mature than kids his age. I’m sure he can judge for himself.”

Cedrick did not wish to continue talking to Eugene, however.

“Please don’t bring books like these for my son anymore. If I find out that you’re still doing this, I might report this

incident to Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wicked people shouldn’t be staying in a lab like this and should be

terminated from their position.”

At that, Eugene fell silent. After a scoff, he left with the book.

Cedrick watched until he was gone from the stairwell before returning to the room and closing the door behind him.

He had a grimace on his face, and the tension in the room was thick.

Benedict’s head was hanging as if he knew the mistake he had made.

“Sorry about lying just now, Daddy.”

He then turned around and took out a thin ruler from the bedside table’s drawer before passing it to Cedrick.

“You can punish me. I’m sorry.”

When Cedrick saw him roughly flipping his hand around and making the blood flow back into the tubing, his heart

skipped a beat.

“Benny…”

Cedrick took away the ruler from the boy before turning his hand around and massaging his wrist.

Benedict continued to purse his lips, not daring to look at his father. “I need to write with my right hand, so maybe

you should hit my bottom like how you used to punish Zendaya.”

Benedict had been an ill boy since young, and he spent most of his time on a lab bed. Thus, Cedrick never dared to

lay a finger on the boy.

When he saw how miserable Benedict looked when he asked to be punished, Cedrick’s heart softened even more.

“I wasn’t thinking of punishing you. I just hope that you’ll keep a distance away from Mr. Eugene from now on.”

Benedict blinked. “But… I lied too. Are you not angry with me?”

Indeed, Benedict should not have lied. Hence, Cedrick pinched his cheeks, only using a little more force than usual.

“This will be your punishment. However, I have a rule. I’ll let things slide this time. If you don’t change and continue

lying, I’ll definitely punish you severely. I’ll make it so painful you’ll never forget about it for the rest of your life.”

Benedict’s face paled, a little fearful of his father’s warning.

“I understand. I won’t do it again.”

Cedrick then gently rubbed the red spot he had pinched earlier, unable to bring himself to say anything harsher

than that.

“It was my fault. I couldn’t keep you company that often. From now on, I’ll find ways to come here every day.”

Benedict pouted gloomily. “It’s not your fault. I’m a big kid already. I don’t need you to stop work because of an IV

therapy. I’ll feel bad if you do.”

If his father kept a close eye on him, he would never be able to carry out his nefarious plans.

Thus, he did not want his father to spend more time keeping his company.

When his mother had been the one keeping him company for the IV therapies, he had been able to easily divert her

attention. His father, on the other hand, was much harder to deal with.

Cedrick did not know what was on Benedict’s mind, but it was clear that the boy was thinking of nothing good from

what he could see of his expression.

“You don’t need to feel bad about it. If you have any pranks you want to do, you can tell me about them. I might not

stop you from doing some of them.”

It was normal for children to be mischievous, but there was something amiss about Benedict.

Cedrick did not know if Benedict had been influenced by the books Eugene had brought to him, but he was certainly

taken aback when he heard that Benedict wanted to stab Charles with a needle a thousand times.

Zendaya would have never thought of a wicked idea like that.

Cedrick let out a silent sigh and decided that he was going to slowly correct Benedict’s mindset.

While he was lost in his thoughts, Benedict tilted his neck and leaned over. “Daddy, what are you thinking about?

Are you really going to accompany me for all of my IV therapies?”

At that, Cedrick returned to reality and asked, “Are you not happy about that, Benny?”

“I am!” Benedict forced out with a tense smile.

Not wanting to dwell on that, Cedrick took a toothpick and passed him a slice of peach. “Eat more.”

…

Everyone was busy the entire day.

After cleaning the lab’s restroom, Charles changed into his suit in his car before driving to Newton Group.

Checking the time, he guessed that it was almost time for Whitney to get off work.

Isaac, his assistant, knew that he was on his way, so he was already waiting in the parking lot by the time Charles

arrived.

Once Charles’ car came to a stop, Isaac hurried over to open the door for him.

As Charles got out of the car, he casually asked, “How are things today?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Newton. Everything is running smoothly.”

Charles gave him a cold look in silence before striding toward the CEO’s private elevator in the building.

Isaac stiffened for a second before realizing what was happening. He then hurried after Charles.

“Mr. Newton, it’s Mrs. Newton— I mean, Ms. Mellor’s first day at work today, and she has been performing all right.

I checked on her a few times earlier, and it looks like she has adapted quickly and is in a good mood.”

Charles hummed in response, seemingly unfazed by Isaac’s report.

Hearing that, Isaac sighed in relief. Sure enough, Charles was there for Whitney.

The two of them then went into the elevator.

Initially, Charles had wanted to head straight for the highest floor, but he realized that there were few levels that

the private elevator would go to.

Thus, he went out of the elevator and headed for the normal elevator instead.

Isaac silently followed him.

Ding!

The elevator arrived.

Isaac cautiously leaned over to whisper, “Ms. Mellor’s logistics department is located on the fifteenth floor, Mr.

Newton.”

Apathetically, Charles glanced at Isaac and questioned, “Did I ask you that?”

“My apologies for overstepping.”

At that, Charles fell silent and hovered his finger over the buttons.

Upon raking his gaze across them, he finally pressed the button on the fifteenth floor.

Isaac took much effort in suppressing his laughter as he stood behind Charles.