The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 286

Chapter 286

Chapter 286 The Shameless Nico

Gwendolyn closed her eyes and lovingly kissed Cedrick’s palm.

Her quiet concentration moved Cedrick, who could only stare at her in a daze.

When she finally lifted her lips from his palm, she asked, “Docs it still hurt?”

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Cedrick almost answered in the negative when he remembered the painful price he had paid for givingthe same answer last time.

He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and eked out, “It still hurts…”

Approval danced in Gwendolyn’s gaze, and she commented brightly, “Good to see you’ve learned yourlesson. That beating did not go to waste.”

She followed it up with more kisses on his palm before standing up. After returning the ruler to itsrightful place, she grabbed a tube of anti–inflammatory cream from the same drawer.

Then, she carefully applied the ointment to his palm and knees. From time to time, she blew on theareas to soothe the sting of the ointment.

“Next time, just let me know if you have something on your mind. If you had told me earlier that youhated how bitter the medicine tasted, we could’ve peacefully discussed another solution together. Noneof this would’ve happened then, don’t you agree?”

Cedrick nodded and shot her a tender gaze. His heart was bursting with joy.

With her around, even every argument left a sweet taste in his mouth.

He was still relishing the loveliness of their banter when Gwendolyn’s next words ruined his mood.

She said, “Actually, I planned to let you off the hook tonight. I only wanted to help you back to the roomand apply some ointment to your knees. Who knew you were so into playing the part of a cluelessvictim! You practically begged for your punishment today.”

Cedrick’s back stiffened. He stared at his left palm in disbelief.

Is she telling me that my acting brought this beating upon myself?

He had never felt more depressed than he did at that moment.

My palm hurts even more now!

Cedrick weakly burrowed into Gwendolyn’s embrace, his expression a mask of sorrow and dejection..“Don’t go tonight, Gwenny. Sleep with me, okay?”

His request struck Gwendolyn silent for a few moments. She cleaned the ointment off her fingers with awet tissue before stroking his face and coaxing, “I can’t. We can consider it when you feel better. Ifyou’re so keen on sharing a bed, then take your medication on time and focus on recuperating.”

“But…”

It was almost winter, and judging by the state of his body, Cedrick was already dreading the lonelynights ahead of him till at least spring.

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Eventually, he stopped himself from protesting Gwendolyn’s decision and watched her leave the room.

Because Gwendolyn took the next day off and occupied Cedrick’s attention at the villa, Nico had noopportunity to apologize to Cedrick, and the poor man suffered through two sleepless nights.

Nico’s chance came when Gwendolyn finally returned to work on day three. He was in charge ofmonitoring Cedrick’s afternoon medication intake.

He knocked on the door to the study uneasily.

“Come in.” Cedrick’s deep voice betrayed no emotion.

Nico took a deep breath and carefully opened the door and the amber, beaded curtains behind it. Hislegs felt leaden with dread as he approached Cedrick.

Cedrick paused in the middle of typing and shot Nico a frosty stare.

Chills ran down Nico’s spine. He plastered an awkward smile on his face and asked, “Boss, two nightsago, the two of you… was everything okay?”

“Of course. Though, thanks to you, Gwenny struck me forty times on the hand! No big deal!” Cedrickreturned darkly, mercilessly pushing the blame on Nico.

Nico’s breathing stuttered. He could almost feel his palm throbbing in pain as he imagined Gwendolyn’spunishment.

Before he could wail and plead for mercy, Cedrick continued, “I recently heard of a small country inAlendor called Bera which is in dire need of coal miners. I think you’re a great fit for the job. Should Iget you transferred there?”

“Huh?”

A panic–stricken Nico threw himself at Cedrick’s feet. He hugged the latter’s muscular thigh andhowled, “I have sinned, Boss! It’s all my fault. Why don’t you hit me as many times as you pleaseinstead? I don’t want to mine coal in Bera! I’ll never leave you even if I become a ghost! Please, I’vebeen your loyal follower for years. I may be useless, but considering my efforts, won’t you please giveme a chance to redeem myself?”

His eyes even welled with tears. In short, he was a perfect picture of remorse, from his anguishedexpression down to his cries.

Not this again.

Cedrick was disgusted by Nico’s bawling act and tried to free himself from the latter’s grip.

“I won’t leave! I’ll never go to Bera. Boss, why don’t you just kill me now? Dying by your hand would bean honor!”

To Cedrick’s dismay, Nico tightened his grip and refused to let go. He looked like a leech that wasstubbornly holding on to its target.

Cedrick’s annoyance was written all over his face. He did not know whether to rage or laugh at Nico’sshameless act.

Finally, he roared, “You b*stard! If you don’t want to end up at a coal mine in Bera, stay out of my sightsfor the next two days! Now get lost!”

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“Yes! I’ll scram now!”

Nico clambered to his feet and almost tripped several times in his haste to leave the study.

Cedrick facepalmed at Nico’s comical departure from the room. Surprisingly, most of his rage haddissipated after Nico’s shameless begging.

He returned his attention to the computer screen before him, but before he could type a word,something clutched at his calf.

Cedrick looked down and frowned. “Why are you back?”

Sprawled on the floor, Nico replied seriously, “Boss, Nico from the Federal Bureau of Investigation hasalready fled the room, and the person here is the Nico instructed by Ms. Gwendolyn to make sure youtake your medication on time. I am now working under her orders.”

“You!” Cedrick gritted his teeth in exasperation.

He grabbed his coffee cup from the table to hit Nico.

Nico covered his head with his hands but did not duck. “Take your anger out on me, Boss! My musclesare strong enough to become your punching bag! Even so, I won’t leave without carrying out Ms.Gwendolyn’s orders. I’m sure you wouldn’t want her to know that you taught me a lesson days after thefact, right?”

Ms. Gwendolyn already gave me a ticket to indemnity that day!

“Hmph! Are you threatening me now because you have her support?”

Cedrick’s murderous aura instantly permeated the room.

Nico swiftly changed tune and sputtered, “I wouldn’t dare! But… Ms. Gwendolyn will think you refuse toadmit to your wrongdoing if she knows I left. She’ll assume you pushed the blame onto me, and thenshe’ll get mad at you!”

He added, “I’m doing all this for your sake, Boss! My loyalty to you knows no bounds!” He crawledcloser to Cedrick and even began massaging his boss‘ legs.

Cedrick narrowed his eyes and muttered in disbelief, “How is it possible that you’re becoming more andmore shameless every day? Who’s teaching you this?”

“You, of course…” Nico promptly realized his mistake and corrected himself, “Ah, that’s not it! Boss,you have never taught me anything but sensible things, and I was simply born as a shameless man!”

Cedrick was torn between fuming and laughing. In the end, he shook his head resignedly and ignoredNico, deciding to focus on his work.

Meanwhile, Nico remained on his knees in the study, dutifully massaging Cedrick’s legs and knees.

An entire morning of ingratiating barely soothed Cedrick’s fury.

Their days of peace flew by, and soon enough, it was time for Eloise’s birthday celebration.

Gwendolyn helped Cedrick to put on his tie for the event, though she muttered with a frown, “Theweather is getting colder. I don’t really want you to attend this Ferguson family affair.”

Cedrick covered her hand with his and replied, “It’s precisely because it’s not a simple party that I haveto

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show up.

I’ll be there to hand Gwenny a knife if she wants to kill someone, and if she wants to cause a ruckus, I’llhappily lear those nasty Fergusons to shreds!