The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 283

Chapter 283

Chapter 283 Indignance

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In the bedroom, Cedrick had been waiting for quite some time, yet there was no sign of Gwendolyncoming upstairs with the box of medicine.

“Gwenny?”

The lights were on downstairs, but no reply came.

Puzzled, Cedrick got out of bed, slipped on his slippers, and proceeded downstairs to investigate.

As he descended the staircase, his gaze fell on Gwendolyn right away. She was standing before acupboard, holding a pack of cigarettes and examining it carefully.

One of the drawers on the cupboard was open, revealing its contents–packs and packs of cigarettes.

Cedrick’s heart skipped a beat.

His handsome face turned a shade paler.

Nico had only bought the cigarettes earlier that day and told Cedrick where he had put them away.However, Cedrick had been preoccupied with an online meeting that afternoon and hadn’t had achance. to open the drawer himself.

D*mn it! Gwenny doesn’t usually go through drawers. I’ve got such rotten luck to be caught in the actby her today. And why did Nico buy so many packs?

His body tensed as a wave of turmoil stirred within him.

Gwendolyn, observing his reaction, held the pack of cigarettes and turned around to take a seat on thecouch. Her face was devoid of any expression as she emanated a frosty aura.

“Care to explain?” she asked.

Cedrick stood frozen at the foot of the staircase. Without the slightest guilt and hesitation, he denied,“Those aren’t mine. I never use that brand. They must be Nico’s.”

A hint of amusement crossed Gwendolyn’s eyes. She fixed a stare on him, a smirk dancing on her lips.

“So, you’re saying that Nico placed his cigarettes in your villa, in your living room, in the drawer of yourcupboard? And why is that? To tempt you to partake and join in the fun?”

Cedrick fell silent as his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. His eyelashes quivered while his brainchurned at lightning speed.

“Penny for your thoughts, Ceddy?” Gwendolyn eyed him intently, a tempest hidden beneath her calm.exterior. Her tone was frigid as she added, “Perhaps you’re thinking of how to concoct a plausibleexcuse and pull the wool over my eyes?”

With a loud smack, she slapped the cigarette pack onto the coffee table furiously.

At that sudden loud noise, Cedrick instinctively fell to his knees.

He cast his eyes downward, hoping Gwendolyn would go easy on him now that he had admitted hismistake. His obsidian gaze was tinged with guilt. “I was wrong! Please, hear me out!”

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Chapter 283 Indignance

Gwendolyn’s frigid gaze flickered at his plea.

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When he had fallen to his knees just now, Gwendolyn had clearly heard a dull thud resonating from hiskneecaps. Furthermore, he had landed on cold, hard marble tiles.

Her heart ached for him. However, the sight of the cigarette packs on the coffee table made her resistthe urge to rush over to help him up and rub his knees.

Then, she gestured at the soft carpet by her feet and said, “Come here.”

The forceful kneel had indeed hurt Cedrick badly.

When he stood up, his eyebrows contracted in a small frown.

He quickly concealed the pain in his eyes and slowly began to move toward Gwendolyn.

She watched him carefully, her eyes taking in every small movement he made.

Just as Cedrick was about to get on his knees again, she said, “Assume military posture and squat.”

Huh? Squat?

Cedrick paused for two heartbeats and didn’t move.

Gwendolyn regarded him coolly. “Didn’t catch that? Do you need me to repeat myself?”

“I heard you,” he replied.

Cedrick immediately assumed the standard military pose–a single knee driven into the earth, thumbaligned with the rest, straightening his back as he squatted.

He appeared imposingly upright in this position, emanating an air of unyielding pride.

However, seeing as he had been caught red–handed in his misdeeds, his aura seemed somewhatdiminished, subdued by Gwendolyn’s commanding presence.

Her gaze fell on the cigarette pack atop the coffee table. “This is your last chance to explain yourself.Choose your words carefully.”

Cedrick nodded obediently. “I appreciate that.”

He began to formulate his response, laying out the truth in a forthright manner. “The cigarettes areindeed mine. I had Nico purchase them, but I never intended to smoke.”

Fury burned in Gwendolyn’s chest.

She took a deep breath and suppressed the boiling rage. “Still not telling the truth? How many timeshave you secretly done this behind my back? How many cigarettes have you smoked?”

A wave of indignance washed over Cedrick. “I only asked Nico to buy them this afternoon, and byevening you’ve already caught me. I haven’t smoked any.”

Once again, Gwendolyn calmed herself and picked up the pack of cigarettes on the coffee table,flipping it open to show Cedrick.

When I came over, the drawer of the cupboard was slightly ajar, like it had been opened just today. It

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Chapter 283 Indignance

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seemed like you had been so flustered that you’d forgotten to close it properly. Besides, one cigaretteis clearly missing from this pack on the top. Are you still trying to deny it?” Gwendolyn pointed out.

Cedrick was rendered speechless.

So this is how I was discovered!

Moreover, Nico had also put the packet missing one cigarette into the drawer.

How could he be so careless? Is he trying to have me killed?

Suppressing the urge to let Nico have a piece of his mind, Cedrick switched from squatting to kneeling.

“I did use one cigarette today, but I only smelled it. I didn’t even light it. If you don’t believe me, you cansmell me. I don’t smell of smoke at all. I really haven’t smoked!” Cedrick said.

Gwendolyn narrowed her eyes slightly and sneered. “You could have showered and changed clothesafter smoking. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to detect any smell.”

She clearly doesn’t believe me…

Cedrick was so aggrieved that the corners of his eyes turned red. His fingers gingerly clutched at hersleeve, as if it might offer some solace.

“Gwenny, you said that we should trust each other. Everything I’ve said is true. Could you believe mejust this once?” Cedrick pleaded.

“But didn’t you deny that the cigarettes were yours just a moment ago? So, which statement should Ibelieve?” Gwendolyn retorted.

Cedrick was at a loss for words. Nico and his own oversight had led him into a ditch.

He bit down hard on his lip, unable to utter a single word of explanation.

Gwendolyn soon noticed the tears welled up in his obsidian eyes. His expression was a mix of sorrowand helplessness.

The imprints of his teeth were visible on his lower lip, forming a bloody streak.

“Stop that!”

Stumped, Gwendolyn’s fingers dug into his cheeks, forcing his mouth to open.

His handsomely pale face bore a look of desolation in his drooping lashes. The vivid red imprints of histeeth formed a desperately pitiful sight.

“You’ve made a mistake, and now you’re playing the victim?” Gwendolyn questioned.

She let out a resigned sigh, her heart aching at the pitiful sight. Gwendolyn leaned down and pressedher lips against his, her tongue gently licking away the pain from his bitten lip.

The faintly metallic taste of his blood was sweet and bitter.

After the kiss, Gwendolyn continued to hold his face, her eyes boring into his at a close distance.Finally, she decided to offer him a way out. “Since you insist that you didn’t smoke, then the intactcigarette should still be around. Find it, and I’ll believe you.”

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Chapter 283 Indignance

At last, a glimmer of hope sparkled in Cedrick’s eyes. “All right, it’s in the study-”

His words abruptly halted.

D*mn it! I asked Nico to dispose of the cigarette along with the study’s rubbish bag. Now, where onearth am I supposed to replace it?

Gwendolyn’s hand, still clutching his face, exerted a bit more pressure. “Where in the study?”

“I threw it in the trash can, and it was taken away when Nico left…”

Gwendolyn arched her brow. “How convenient.”

It is, indeed… How can I possibly explain myself now?

On the inside, Cedrick was seething. His misty dark eyes stared at Gwendolyn as he said, “I have noevidence to support my claim, but I have a witness. I’ll have Nico prove my innocence!”

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Gwendolyn haughtily eyed him before releasing her grip on his chin, silently granting her permission.

A minute later, Nico answered the call

Before he could even utter a single word, Cedrick’s temper flared up as he gritted his teeth in fury. “Youhave fifteen minutes to get your *ss over here, now!”