The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 584 No Room For Negotiation

Chapter 584 No Room For Negotiation

It was major news that Valentino had regained consciousness.

Without looking back, Cedrick left the ancestral hall with Nico at once and walked toward the masterbedroom where his grandfather was.

As Yael also wanted to see Valentino, he quickly helped Xander up from the ground. However, Xanderhad been shot in the thigh and was unable to move at all.

Still trembling in pain, he said, “Dad, Cedrick is too ruthless. Not only did he set me up, but he evenshot me so mercilessly. It hurts so much that it’s impossible for me to walk at all. Dad, take me backnow. I need to get my wound treated.”

Yael let out a sigh and said astutely, “We can’t do that. Your injury is our best weapon. We have to letyour grandpa see it.”

Xander immediately understood what his father meant. He gritted his teeth and headed up the stairswith Yael’s support.

Meanwhile, except for Kieran, who had been summoned by Gwendolyn to return to Mount Tranquil toaccompany Inez, the entire Jenson family’s medical corps was stationed in the master bedroom.

Cedrick could hear his grandfather coughing when he was a few steps away from the door.

He immediately hastened his steps and sat at Valentino’s bedside. “Grandpa, how are you feeling? Isyour head aching? Are you still feeling dizzy?”

Listlessly, Valentino replied, “I’m feeling much better. Cedrick, don’t worry. I’m old. It’s inevitable that Iwill fall sick and eventually die.”

“Grandpa, stop uttering nonsense. A blessed man like you will surely live a long life. You have to watchBenny and Zendy grow up.

The mention of his darling great–grandchildren made Valentino’s eyes light up. Being a part of theirgrowing–up journey would indeed bring him great joy.

The two men continued chatting for a while until Yael and Xander appeared, disrupting the harmoniousatmosphere in the room.

Noticing the bloodstains on his clothes and that he seemed to be injured, Valentino asked in concern,“Xander, what happened to you?”

Enduring the immense pain from his gunshot wound. Xander knelt down next to the old man’s bed andsaid in a tearful voice, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I didn’t know that grapes and grapefruit cannot beconsumed together with blood pressure medication. I really shouldn’t have asked you to eat more ofthose earlier today. It’s all my fault. Cedrick was so furious that he lectured me in the ancestral hall andshot me in the leg.”

Valentino’s heart ached. “Is your injury serious? Cedrick, there’s really no need for you to be so angry.It’s my own fault that I was greedy.”

Cedrick remained silent.

Reading the situation, Xander quickly moved forward with his knees on the ground and grabbedValentino’s hand with his entire body shaking, showing how terrified and helpless he was.

“Grandpa, please save me. I’ve realized my mistake, but Cedrick is not willing to let me off. He intendsto get me a ten–year sentence in a high–security prison. Grandpa, my life would be over if thathappened!”

“Dad, I’ve already tried to dissuade Cedrick from doing that, but his stance is firm. He’s currently thehead of the family. He’s not going to listen to anything I say. You’re the only one who can persuade himto change his mind, Dad. Please help Xander,” Yael chimed in.

Valentino did not expect that such a minor family matter would blow up and turn into something soserious.

“Cedrick, Xander really didn’t do anything wrong this time. I was the one who ate the wrong food.You’ve already shot him in the leg. Is there really a need to send him to prison? It’s better for us tosettle our family matters in private. It won’t be nice if word gets out.”

Cedrick had always obeyed his grandfather’s wishes, except for matters related to Gwendolyn. Thatwould be the second time he went against the old man.

“I’ve already decided, and I’m not going to change my mind regarding this matter. Besides, Grandpa,what you heard from Xander and Uncle Yael is their one–sided story. The truth is not that simple.”

Unwilling to accept his fate, Xander retorted, “It is actually that simple! Cedrick, the fact is that you justdon’t like me, and that’s why you refuse to trust me!”

Cedrick did not want to continue listening to his cousin’s pointless arguments. He said firmly, “Anyway,decision is final, and there’s no room for negotiation. I will sort out the relevant evidence and hand itover to the authorities. When your wound is almost healed, you can start making preparations to serveyour time in the high–security prison.”

Xander was already looking rather pale due to the loss of blood from his wound. Faced with Cedrick’sunyielding attitude, he was scared out of his wits, and all color drained from his face at once.

“Grandpa, save me! Grandpa, I don’t want to go to prison. Cedrick is trying to ruin me!”

Valentino was so flustered that he started coughing.

Cedrick immediately reached out to pat his grandfather’s back, trying to help him breathe better.Although he was respectful and appeared to be a dutiful grandson, it would be almost impossible forhim to change his mind once he had made a decision.

Eager to protect Xander, Valentino said, “Do you really have to be so ruthless toward your own family?Since I am fine now, there’s no need to punish him so harshly. Cedrick, just listen to me this time andstop being so stubborn!”

Cedrick fell silent once again. He did not want to anger his grandfather and aggravate his cough. Asthe old man had just regained consciousness and was still recovering, Cedrick could not bring himselfto tell him what Xander had done.

Noticing that Cedrick seemed to be relenting, Xander felt hopeful once more. Yael also heaved a sighof relief.

Just as the atmosphere in the master bedroom began to change subtly, Gwendolyn’s sweet voicesounded.

“Grandpa, Cedrick wouldn’t have taken this step if it wasn’t necessary. He is just going by the book,giving Xander what he deserves.”

Xander turned around and glared at Gwendolyn. Having sheer resentment for her beautifulcountenance at that moment, he murmured through gritted teeth. “Why are you interfering? Just mindyour own business!”

The woman chose to ignore him despite hearing his words clearly. Bypassing Yael and Xander, whowas still kneeling on the floor, Gwendolyn walked toward Valentino and stopped next to his bed.

“Xander intentionally fed you the grapefruit in order to chase me back to the Jenson residence.Something happened to the Harris—”

“Gwenny,” Cedrick quickly stopped her from talking. “Grandpa has just woken up. Let’s not trouble himwith such details. I will handle it.”

Disagreeing with the man, Gwendolyn replied, “You are too caught up in the matter to remain clear-headed. I know you’re worried that Grandpa wouldn’t be able to take it after knowing the truth, but don’tforget that he was from the military and had been through countless tough situations. I trust that hewon’t be brought down so easily.”

Cedrick fell silent once again.

Very quickly, Valentino figured out that there was more than meets the eye and asked, “Gwendolyn, tellme, what exactly is going on?”

Gwendolyn replied in a serious manner, “Both the Jenson family and the Harris family are havingtrouble at the same time. If I were here, I wouldn’t be able to help with anything there as I would be tooswamped. Someone also tried to lure me to the police station, hoping to trap me there. Meanwhile,Xander would replace a way to create rumors and conflict. If Cedrick was not around when all this washappening, it would naturally fall on Xander and Uncle Yael to take care of the situation. They plannedto take this opportunity to reduce Cedrick’s influence and take over his position.

Taking a pause, she continued, “It’s not only that, Grandpa. Xander was also in cahoots with Paul, anoble from Ospea. Paul is an extremely cunning businessman who frequently uses underhandmethods to achieve his goals. If Xander were to succeed, Jenson Group would definitely end up beingacquired by Antea Group, given how ambitious they are.”

Cedrick had his gaze fixed on Gwendolyn while she was explaining the situation to Valentino as if hewas silently asking her how she had found out all that information.

Noticing the look in his eyes, Gwendolyn cocked her brows.

Upon returning from Mount Tranquil, she saw that the lights in Harrick Villa were not turned on. Cedrickwas not back yet.

Hence, she headed to Valentino’s villa and saw Nico outside the bedroom.

It was Nico who shared with her what had happened the previous night as well as Cedrick’sspeculation. At the same time, she also observed that Nico had gotten tanner after he returned fromthe border.

However, he had pearly white teeth and spoke in a comical way. Looking at the man’s dark andhandsome face, Gwendolyn found him silly yet adorable.

As Nico had not had the chance to go home yet, Gwendolyn could not help but wonder how Summerwould react when she saw him.