The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

It was Benedict who took Gwendolyn’s phone and contacted Charles personally. “Charles, I’m on my way to the

oceanarium with Daddy, Mommy, and Zendaya.”

Charles was stunned for a moment and a little delighted. “Are you finally willing to accept the oceanarium?”

Benedict, on the other end of the line, sounded haughty. “You gifted it to me without allowing me the chance to

reject it, so what right do I have not to accept it?”

“Fine.” Judging by his tone, Benny hasn’t forgiven me yet. It seems like it is my wishful thinking.

Nevertheless, Charles didn’t give up. Instead, he asked in a gentler voice, “This is your first time taking the initiative

to call me. Is this what you want to talk to me about? The oceanarium is yours, Benny. I’m just paying someone to

manage it for you. You can go there and have fun whenever you want. There’s no need for you to ask my

permission.”

Benedict snorted arrogantly. “You’re overthinking. I just want to inform you that I’m planning to renovate the

oceanarium a little to include more new and interesting animals.”

“Sure, that’s not a problem. You can keep any animal you want in there.”

“Hmph. Don’t speak so soon. I’m afraid you may not be able to afford it later. If you’re free now, come over, and

we can discuss this in person.”

His voice might sound childish, but he spoke with the mature cadence of an adult, arranging everything perfectly.

“Okay,” Charles agreed without a second thought since Benedict had taken the initiative to invite him over. There

was no way he would refuse the latter.

Benedict hung up the call rudely and aloofly without even saying “goodbye” or any other parting words.

Charles decisively turned his steering wheel at the next intersection, heading in the opposite direction toward the

oceanarium.

Whitney noticed the change in route and hastily asked, “Where are you going?”

“Mr. Jenson and his family are going to the oceanarium. I’m going to join them.”

“In that case, should I get out of the car now?”

Charles pondered briefly before replying, “Let’s go there together. Zendy is also there. You’ve spent several years

in the oceanarium and know it better than I do. I think you’ll be able to explain it better if you were to introduce

some marine life to the kids.”

Zendy is also there. Whitney quite missed that clever little girl.

Still, she found it weird for her to tag along.

“Mr. Newton, we’re a secretly married couple. You said we shouldn’t announce our relationship in public, so how

should I introduce myself when I show up there with you later?”

Charles fell silent, seriously considering that problem.

Whitney also spaced out. I saw the caller ID earlier was remarked as “Gwen,” but the person who spoke on the

phone was clearly a child. If Zendy is also there, could it be that the childhood sweetheart he hasn’t been able to

forget is the twins’ mother? Her children are already five years old, yet Mr. Newton still holds that woman so dearly

in his heart. The more I think about this, the more I’m curious to know how beautiful that woman must be.

She suggested, “Why don’t you just say that I’m your personal maid? You can tell them you brought me to grocery

shopping and received the phone call on the way. That’ll explain why we’re going there together.”

He shook his head in refusal.

Because Zendaya was fond of Whitney, Charles promised the little girl he would attempt to date and get into a

relationship with Whitney.

He figured Zendaya would undoubtedly be displeased if Whitney suddenly became his personal maid instead.

A few moments later, Charles uttered, “Girlfriend.”

Whitney was rendered speechless. “How is that different from a wife? Both are intimate relationships.” Isn’t he

afraid his childhood sweetheart will get upset?

Charles said firmly, “It’s not the same. A girlfriend is a lover while a wife is a life partner, a legally-binding

relationship.”

She pursed her lips and argued with an undertone, “You can break up with a girlfriend, so you can divorce a wife

too. There’s not much difference, honestly.”

Charles didn’t respond. He agreed with her point of view, but he didn’t want to let Gwendolyn know about his

marriage so soon. “Just do as I say. Don’t forget that our marriage is a secret. Aside from members of the Newton

family, it’ll be best if we avoid letting anyone else know.”

Figuring he had a point, Whitney nodded in agreement. “Okay. I’ll cooperate with you.”

Approximately twenty minutes later, the duo arrived at the oceanarium.

From afar, they could see Cedrick, Gwendolyn, and the two kids standing outside the deserted entrance of the

oceanarium.

The scene featuring the family of four standing together was harmonious and heartwarming.

Charles got out of the car and strode forward, leaving Whitney behind.

“Uncle Charles!”

As soon as Zendaya saw him, she beamed and bounded toward Charles, spreading her arms to hug him.

He bent down and caught her, pulling her steadily into his embrace.

Zendaya wrapped her arms around his neck and noticed the red mark on his cheek.

She poked at the spot and asked curiously, “Uncle Charles, why is your face red? Oh? It’s hot. Does it hurt? Let me

blow on it for you, Uncle Charles.”

She puffed out her cheeks and blew earnestly.

Charles stiffened. He had forgotten about having his face pinched by Whitney earlier. “It doesn’t hurt.”

Whitney trailed behind and slowly caught up to the party.

Clarity washed over Zendaya when she perceptively spotted Whitney. “You’re also here, Whitney! I got it. Whitney

must’ve hit Uncle Charles because he misbehaved and angered Whitney.”

Both Charles and Whitney were rendered speechless upon hearing the little girl’s words.

Then, Zendaya excitedly introduced Whitney to Gwendolyn. “Mommy, this is Whitney. I mentioned her to you

before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like a match made in heaven.”

Then, Zendaya excitedly introduced Whitney to Gwendolyn. “Mommy, this is Whitney. I mentioned her to you

before. Uncle Charles went on a date with Whitney. They look so good together, like a match made in heaven.”

Gwendolyn glanced up and happened to lock gazes with Whitney.

The two women sized up each other for a few seconds.

In the end, Gwendolyn smiled first. “You’re not a Chanaean, right? You look so pretty and seem like a very nice girl.”

Whitney beamed at Gwendolyn sheepishly in response. “Yes. I’m from Tayhaven. This is my first time meeting you,

Mrs. Jenson, and you really took my breath away.”

Gwendolyn put on plain makeup with bright red lipstick for work that day. She exuded a powerful yet sensual vibe,

giving others the impression that she was a highly competent woman even at first glance.

On top of that, her elegant demeanor, courteous manner of speech, and hints of distinguished temperament made

her seem as if she was glowing.

Whitney thought Gwendolyn was truly an exceptionally charming woman.

The moment she saw the latter, she began to fathom Charles’ preference in choosing his female companion.

A brief silence ensued, but Charles quickly introduced, “This is my new girlfriend, Whitney Mellor.”

He turned to Whitney and introduced the rest of the party to her. “That’s Mr. Jenson. You’re a year younger than

Gwen, so you can call her Gwendolyn. You’ve met Zendy, and this is her twin brother, Benny.”

Whitney bowed slightly and greeted the family politely, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jenson and Gwendolyn.

Hello, Zendy and Benny.”

Cedrick nodded in response while Gwendolyn smiled faintly.

Benedict held his head high arrogantly and ignored Whitney.

Only Zendaya was exceptionally enthusiastic. “Hello, hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Whitney!”

Everyone laughed. The atmosphere livened up because of Zendaya’s bubbly personality.

Cedrick asked Cedrick, “The weather is getting cold. It’s quite chilly outside, so why didn’t you all go inside?”

Benedict stood at one side with his hands tucked inside his pockets, snorting disdainfully. “It’s all because of

Zendaya. She insisted on waiting for you at the entrance. Mommy and Daddy are worried about her safety, so all of

us ended up waiting here.”

He sounded impatient, seemingly not very pleased about the wait.

Charles didn’t lose his temper. “Sorry to have kept you all waiting. It’s cold outside, so let’s go in.”

Subsequently, they moved inside.

Charles carried Zendaya into the oceanarium while Cedrick went to pick Benedict up.

The two men entered the building one after the other, each holding a child.

Meanwhile, Gwendolyn and Whitney ended up walking side by side.