The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 267

Chapter 267

Chapter 267 Do You Still Love Me

Nico paused and didn’t continue as he noticed the sudden furrow of Cedrick’s brow and the grim look inhis eyes.

“This matter about the virus has to be kept a secret. You’re not allowed to tell her at all!”

“Understood.”

Nico was still worried nonetheless. “But Boss, even if you keep it from her now, she’ll still be gutted tolearn of your death five months later!”

“I know. Let me figure it out.”

When Cedrick lowered his eyes in dejection, the twitch in his eyelashes made it seem as if he washiding something.

Nico immediately recognized the sad dilemma his boss was going through.

As it was already late, Nico took his leave and left Cedrick in the lab to rest.

Deep into the quiet night, the palm leaves outside rustled with the wind, heralding the arrival of adrizzle.

Tilting his head to the side, Cedrick looked through the window at the raindrops outside thoughtfully.The proud expression he always wore was replaced by a complicated one.

It was then that he heard a message notification on his phone.

When he unlocked it to check, he realized it was from Gwendolyn.

Gwendolyn: Ceddy, how’s your sleep at the border?

Gwendolyn: I heard the ultra–violet rays there are particularly strong. Would you be coming back with abronze- tanned complexion? When I see you, can I call you Bronzy then? Haha.

The message elicited a smile from Cedrick.

Right before his eyes, he could see the image of Gwendolyn talking to him. The smile on her facemade her look particularly adorable.

Suddenly, he felt the urge to hug her and never let go for the rest of his life.

Thereafter, another message from Gwendolyn arrived: Are you asleep? Is it inconvenient for you toreply over there?

Gwendolyn: Wait, is there even a signal? In that case, I won’t bother you anymore. Good night!

After that message, Gwendolyn’s chat window stopped popping up.

Cedrick subsequently ran his fingers across the screen to stroke the words that she had sent. A singleteardrop fell despite his efforts to hold it back and disappeared into his sideburn. All of a sudden, anintense pain engulfed his heart, causing his limbs to tremble uncontrollably.

1. e. Cedrick curled up in bed. His nose was covered in sweat while the veins or his hand bulged

up as he clutched his heart.

Every breath he took was so painful that his body would quiver.

Despite his already terrible condition, the pain grew increasingly intense.

Finally, he was hurting so badly that he ended up groaning. As he tried to reach the call bell with hisshaking hand, he fell off the bed due to being too weak.

The commotion alerted Joshua who was just next door.

Upon hurrying over, he was shocked the moment he opened the door.

“Cedrick! Oh my God! I told you not to let your emotions get the better of you. Stop being too sad orexcited. Otherwise, the chest pain you’re suffering from will kill you!”

“While ranting, Joshua swiftly retrieved a tablet and stuffed it into Cedrick’s mouth.

As the drug needed time to take effect, Joshua had no choice but to help Cedrick back up in bed andtuck him in.

After staying by his side for a few hours, Joshua heaved a sigh of relief when Cedrick fell asleep fromexhaustion.

That night was also a sleepless one for Gwendolyn.

Staring at the ceiling light, she suddenly recalled how Cedrick was almost hit in the heart by a bulletand lost a lot of blood on his last mission.

This time, he had gone to the border that was rumored to be extremely perilous and littered withformidable enemies.

Yet, when Cedrick didn’t reply to her messages, she had no idea if he was hurt or if his mission wascompleted.

Amidst the uncertainty, she gradually drifted off to sleep.

Due to not sleeping well the night before, Gwendolyn went to the office with dark circles around hereyes.

Little did she expect the man she was pining for to return that very evening.

Carrying the train of her dress, she ran upstairs and pushed open the bedroom door.

Cedrick was sitting on the bed, engrossed in a book.

As he flipped its pages with his long fingers, the aura he exuded was unparalleled in its debonair.

Even though he was just leaning against the headboard, his dashing looks would make the knees ofany

woman go

weak.

Upon hearing the door, Cedrick raised his gaze and gave Gwendolyn a gentle look. He then called outin a deep voice, “Gwenny.”

The smiling Gwendolyn quickly climbed into bed and straddled herself on his lap. Holding his cheeksclose. with both her hands, she leaned in to observe his face up

“I can’t believe you didn’t get a tan from your trip to the border, as your current complexion looks soirresistible that I feel like giving it a bite!”

After pecking twice on his lips, Gwendolyn flashed a cheeky smile as if she was a child was had justbeen given a lollipop.

“Ceddy, why didn’t you tell me that you’re coming back ahead of time? If I hadn’t spotted Nico at thedoor, I would still be clueless about your return. Were you planning to give me a surprise?”

Cedrick responded with a faint smile,to hide the weakness in his eyes.

“That’s right. I wanted to surprise you.”

Despite his best efforts, Gwendolyn still detected the gloominess in him from the depth of his tone.

“Ceddy, did the mission at the border not go according to plan? Why do you seem upset?”

Lips pursed, Cedrick extended his arm toward her.

Gwendolyn responded by sitting on his left and leaning her head against his shoulder. She thenthreaded her cold hands deep into his robe and began caressing his waist.

Even though he quivered from her icy touch, he didn’t move away at all. Instead, he wore anaffectionate smile as he relished in the sensation her wandering hands brought him.

“There’s a member of Jenson Group’s senior management who has spent his entire life in my service.He and his wife are extremely loving…”

With a nonchalant expression, he began to speak in his magnetic voice.

Noticing that Cedrick seemed to have a lot to say that evening, Gwendolyn wrapped her arms aroundhis waist and listened to him intently.

“Recently, he was diagnosed with late–stage cancer and was only given months to live. He didn’t daretell his family, especially his wife. So, he wanted me to come up with an idea for him, but death is acomplex issue to navigate.”

Gwendolyn, who was infected by the grim mood, lamented, “Considering how close he is to his wife,she’ll be devastated by the news. When it comes to matters of death, the living are the ones who sufferthe

most.”

Her words caused Cedrick to freeze as he desperately tried to hide the sorrow that was welling upwithin him.

“That’s right. The living are the ones who will no doubt be hurt the most.”

Half a year ago, Gwendolyn was mired in anguish over my death. Nothing is worse than losingsomething you used to have. If I put her through it one more time, I’m sure she’ll be stricken with grief,won’t she?

At that moment, Gwendolyn was oblivious to Cedrick’s dejected mood as she was thinking about whathappened to him half a year ago.

Just the thought alone was enough to fill her with desolation and cause her eyes to redden.

Her slender arms subsequently tightened around his waist.

“Luckily, I was given a clean bill of health when I did a medical check–up yesterday. Therefore, Ceddy,you have to take good care of yourself. Don’t get hurt on your missions, as we still have a long futureahead of

us.”

As Cedrick swallowed the lump in his throat, his hands balled into fists underneath the blanket.

She still has a long future ahead of her, but my days are now numbered.

After parting his pale lips a few times, he finally mustered the courage to pop the question he neverdared ask.

“Gwenny, do you still love me?”

He lowered his head and locked gazes with Gwendolyn.

There was a time when he was afraid to ask that question.

He was worried that her answer would turn his heart icy cold and make him feel as if all his sacrificeswere in vain.

But this time, he hoped that she would tell him that she didn’t love him anymore.