The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Gwendolyn’s gaze remained determined. “Yes, Old Mr. Jenson. I think Mr. Cedrick and I aren’t a goodmatch for each other. If we could, I’d like to… be friends.”

Valentino was surprised by her decision. “Did he mistreat you, Gwendolyn? Tell me, and I’ll take care ofhim!”

“No, he wouldn’t dare do that. I just…”

Fifteen minutes later, Gwendolyn emerged, grim-faced, from Valentino’s villa. William was waiting forher at the entrance.

Upon her appearance, he hurried forward. “How did it go, Ms. Gwendolyn? Did Old Mr. Jenson agree?”

Gwendolyn gazed down glumly and shook her head.

Valentino had walked her through the pros and cons. Her engagement with Cedrick was not anordinary affair, as it concerned many other people as well. In fact, Cedrick had publicized their weddingto also be a business alliance.

If the engagement were to be broken off two days after the reception, Harris Group and Jenson Groupwould face massive financial losses and negative publicity online.

Needless to say, the repercussions would be huge.

Furthermore, Valentino no longer got involved with the Jenson family’s major affairs. As Cedrick wasthe new head of the family, she would have to discuss the matter with him.

Knowing him, he would not consent to it even if she pointed a gun at his head.

Gwendolyn was furious, yet she could not think of anything else.

Cedrick has me trapped well and proper this time!

She could finally understand why Treyton and Eloise had been engaged for two years, yet theyremained together even though they truly despised her. For the children of a rich family, in particular, anengagement built on a business alliance was not easy to call off.

Forget it.

She heaved a long sigh. I’ll plan it all over again soon. For now, I don’t even want to think of that brute,Cedrick.

“Starting from today, I will not entertain Cedrick, his bodyguards, or his subordinates if they come tosee me.”

“Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn.”

William nodded. Then, he followed in her wake as she departed.

The pair walked from Valentino’s villa to the Jensons’ majestic residence in a single file. When theyturned the corner, they did not notice the young man in a blue suit studying her through his fine, gold-rimmed glasses.

Xander Jenson narrowed his eyes and adjusted his glasses with nonchalant elegance. “Is that theheiress of the Harris family who’s engaged to Cedrick?” he asked his bodyguard behind him.

“It appears so, Mr. Jenson,” the bodyguard replied after taking a closer look.

“She’s beautiful, but she does not seem to be in a good mood. Find out what she’s doing here today.”

“Yes, Mr. Jenson.”

The bodyguard left noiselessly and returned ten minutes later. “She’s here to back out of herengagement, Mr. Jenson,” he reported upon reappearing at Xander’s side, “but Old Mr. Jenson did notagree.”

“Back out of her engagement?”

Xander lapsed into a thoughtful reverie. “Cedrick was the one who wanted to get married. Apparently,she does not feel the same way about him.”

“It was said that Mr. Cedrick did not attend her party,” the bodyguard added. “It appears that she’s notimportant to him.”

“Preposterous.” Xander sneered. “You think you know what goes on in Cedrick’s head, do you? We’llreplace out after a little digging.”

“What do you mean, Mr. Jenson?”

Xander gave an enigmatic smile. “Cedrick is out on a mission,” he said loftily. “I heard it involves agunfight. What do you think will happen if he replaces out his fiancée wants out and that the old managreed to it?”

The bodyguard grasped his meaning at once. “Don’t worry, Mr. Jenson. I will make sure the newsreaches Mr. Cedrick’s ears exactly as it happened.”

…

As the matter of calling off the engagement remained unresolved, Gwendolyn set that notion aside andwent to Angle.

After days of preparation, it is almost complete. Over the next two days, I’ll bring over the moreimportant artists from Angle, pick a date, and we will officiate the grand opening of the new building.

Seated at her desk before her computer, she worked the entire day, going over the case file of everyartist the company had signed in her stringent selective process.

Gwendolyn remained lost at work until the end of the workday when a scuffle sounded outside thecorridor. It was so loud that it drew her notice.

Setting her documents down, she was prepared to go outside for a look when the office door suddenlyflew open. Nico came in with his eyes red, and hands covered in blood.

Puzzled, Gwendolyn glanced outside and found Ezra and Quinton on the ground, clutching their shinsand grimacing in agony.

She turned back to glare at him. “How dare you assault my people in front of me?”

Nico bowed his head, looking sincerely apologetic. “I’m sorry, Ms. Gwendolyn. I have sent half a dozenpeople to look for you but they had been rebuffed by those two, so I was forced to come myself andbarge in through drastic measures. Don’t worry, though. The blood on me is not theirs. They’re justmildly hurt.”

I have left instructions that I would not see Cedrick’s people. It must be something serious for Nico tobarge in.

Gwendolyn lowered her voice. “What’s the emergency? What happened?”

Nico’s eyes turned red. “It’s Mr. Jenson. He’s on the way to the hospital, but he refuses to enter theemergency room until he sees you one last time. I beg you, Ms. Gwendolyn, go to him!”

Cedrick is quite a good fighter. What could have happened to him?

Gwendolyn’s heart lurched. Upon second thought, however, she grew dubious. “He’s always deceivingme with cheap tactics. Isn’t he sick of them by now? Before this, he faked his death. This time, he’sgravely ill. What’s next?”

“It’s true!”

Nico wept. If it were not inappropriate, he would have knocked her out and carried her to the hospitalhimself.

“We were fighting terrorists in the mountains of Salinsburgh, and Mr. Jenson was shot in the chest; theblood all over me is his. He wants to see you one last time. I’m begging you, Ms. Gwendolyn! Pleasego see him!”

Gazing at him weeping in earnest, she felt her heart twinge with pity.

“I’ll trust you just this once! If Cedrick lies to me again, I will never forgive him!”

Without packing her things, she picked up her bag and went with Nico to the hospital.

A group was gathered in the corridor outside the emergency room and making a huge ruckus thatescalated to the point of a heated quarrel, but they all looked solemn. Some even had tears in theireyes.

Gwendolyn quickened her stride. Leading the way, Nico shouted, “Make way! Stop squabbling! Ms.Gwendolyn is here!”

The group fell silent immediately. Some even stepped aside orderly to let her pass.

Venturing deeper, Gwendolyn soon detected the overwhelming, metallic stench of blood.

Laying on a stretcher, Cedrick was deathly pale. He had streaks of blood all over him. The spot wherehis heart was, in particular, was drenched in a deep crimson. There was blood still oozing out. Even thestretcher had been stained red.

The scene was so bloody that Gwendolyn remained in shock for a long while.

He’s not lying this time! He has lost so much blood!

Gwendolyn clapped her hand over her mouth in horror as her tears fell, rolling off her cheeks. Her feetfelt like lead that every step she took was impossibly heavy.

Cedrick’s dull eyes brightened at her approach. He raised a hand, bloody and trembling, to grab hertiny wrist.

“Don’t cry. I-I’m not in pain, but my heart hurts when you cry.”