The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 744

Chapter 744

“Honestly, what was I expecting?” Whitney muttered. The higher the expectation, the greater thedisappointment. I know that…

She sighed and glanced at the milk next to her hand. Recalling how Charles had said not to waste it,she picked it up and drank it all as though she was downing a glass of wine.

Unlike alcohol, unfortunately, milk had no effect on dulling one’s emotions and relieving one’s sorrows.

After finishing her work and turning off her computer, she returned to the bedroom. Coincidentally,Charles had just finished taking a shower. He had his bathrobe wrapped tightly around him, his shorthair still wet and dripping with water.

Their eyes met as they bumped into each other by the bathroom door, and she stared at his face instunned silence.

Having just emerged from the steamy bathroom, Charles appeared significantly gentler and refreshed.

The combination of the water droplets on his face from the shower and his damp hair added aparticularly devilish and charming look to his exquisitely handsome face.

A blush crept over her cheeks as she gazed at him. He’s truly… too attractive and sexy… Who couldpossibly resist a gorgeous man like that… might I add, who just stepped out of the shower?

She dropped her gaze and lowered her head to stare at her feet, stopping herself from having dirtythoughts about his naked body underneath the bathrobe.

“That… I’ve already typed up the contract as you instructed and saved it on the computer’s desktop.You can check it whenever you have the time. I did go through it before turning off the computer, so

there shouldn’t be any typos,” she said, desperately trying to think of something to say to alleviate thefeeling of embarrassment and awkwardness in her heart.

Charles murmured an acknowledgment, his expression unbelievably calm. He showed zero intention ofactually going to review her work or praising her for knowing to check her work before turning off thecomputer to reduce the chances of error.

“Go get a blanket and some pillows to make up the couch. I want to rest after drying my hair.”

“O-Okay.”

She walked past him to the closet, took out a blanket and pillows from the wardrobe, then made up thecouch quickly and skillfully.

She debated whether to call him to come over and rest or take preemptive measures and sleep on thecouch herself, worrying that he would wake up in a foul mood the following morning from having to curlup his legs on the couch all night and being unable to sleep comfortably.

However, no sooner had she lifted a corner of the blanket when a well-built figure walked over andpushed her gently out of the way.

Before she realized what was happening, Charles had settled onto the couch in an elegantly languidpose.

Her expression froze, and she stared at him wordlessly. That was… fast.

Acting oblivious, he scrolled through his phone before looking at her after a few seconds. “Why are youjust standing there in front of me? Do you want to sleep with me?”

Does he have to say it so bluntly? After a brief silence, she replied, “You’re reading too much into it.”

“Then why are you still standing there? Get on with what you have to do. Don’t stand there and be aneyesore.”

At a loss for words, Whitney could only turn around and go to wash her face.

Early the following morning, the sound of a child giggling filled Harrick Villa.

Zendaya had woken up full of energy and was gamboling all over the bed. She even pretended to be apuppy and howled loudly.

Gwendolyn sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to help her put on a pair of pants. However, she couldnot catch the energetic little girl even after a few tries.

After preparing breakfast, Cedrick went upstairs and was greeted immediately by the sight of Zendayamisbehaving.

His expression darkened, and he said sternly, “Stop that, Zendaya. You’ll make my wife tired if youcontinue running around like that.”

The little girl was afraid of him, so she pouted and stopped running. Then, she corrected him in a smallvoice, saying, “She’s my mommy first before she’s your wife.”

“If I didn’t have a wife first, you’d still be a little ‘tadpole’ wandering around somewhere,” he responded,glancing at her.

Zendaya did not understand what he meant. She merely thought he was trying to pull a fast one on her.“I’m not a tadpole. I’m way bigger than a tadpole. You’re telling lies, Daddy. You’re bullying me.”

Ignoring her, Cedrick took a trench coat from the coat stand and personally helped Gwendolyn into it.“The weather is cooler today. Be careful not to catch a cold when you go out.”

Basking in his care and attentiveness, she stifled a laugh and said teasingly, “You’re a grown man. Whyare you still competing with your own children?”

“You’re my wife. No one can take you away from me,” came his reply. Not even my children.

He was obstinate.

“Does it make you unhappy that our whole family sleeps together every night?” she asked, caressinghis face.

He nodded solemnly. “They’re five years old already. It’s time we sent them to sleep in their own rooms.Don’t help them with things like getting dressed. Let them do it themselves. We must let them do thethings within their capabilities so that they learn to be independent.”

Whatever it is, they’re not allowed to hog my wife, especially at night.

When Zendaya heard that, she pulled up her pants herself in dissatisfaction, snorted angrily, and saidin an accusing tone, “You’re a meanie, Daddy! You don’t even allow Mommy to be nice to us!”

Cedrick did not respond. Instead, he carelessly tossed Zendaya’s cream-colored coat at her, whichhappened to drape over her head. “Hurry up and put that on by yourself. Your mother spoils you. If itwere up to me, you’d be going down to breakfast with a red bottom if you dared to continue racingaround wildly like that.”

“Ugh! Daddy is so evil! He’s the absolute worst!” Even though Zendaya continued grumbling softly, shestill put on her coat obediently.

While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particularly well-behavedand sensible.

While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particularly well-behavedand sensible.

Throughout the entire process, not once did he ask his mother for help. He slowly put on each article ofclothing, one after another, and even exuded a faint air of elegance.

After getting dressed, he left the room and went downstairs for breakfast. He was quiet the entire timeand did not utter a single word.

As Cedrick and Gwendolyn watched him closely, the latter sighed worriedly. She could not help thinkingthat the fact her son was so mature beyond his years was even more heartbreaking for her.

Cedrick, on the other hand, said to Zendaya, “You must take your brother as a role model and getdressed by yourself. Do you understand?”

“Benny is a role model, of course. He’s the best. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been born a few minutesearlier than me. He’s nothing like somebody who’s a hypocrite and bullies little kids,” she retorted,pouting her lips in dissatisfaction.

“What did you say?” His brows drew together sharply, and his expression hardened slightly. He lookedutterly intimidating as he rose to his feet.

Zendaya promptly jumped off the bed and dashed off, shouting, “Save me! My evil daddy wants to hitme!”

However, how could she outrun Cedrick with her short legs?

Before she could even get downstairs, he caught her in the corridor by the back of her collar andpicked her up.

“Ahhh! He’s going to gobble me up!” She flailed her arms wildly, attempting to escape his grip.

A spark of anger flickered within Cedrick. He picked her up in his arms and swiftly flipped her over.Then, two dull smacks rang out as he spanked her.

They were only two light taps, but he radiated an incredibly terrifying aura.

“Ouch! Ouch!” Zendaya cried out loudly in an exaggerated manner. Bawling, she turned to Gwendolyn.“Mommy, save me!”

“Even if you call out for help, it’s useless. Didn’t I tell you before that children must hold onto thebanister and walk slowly while descending the stairs? You were running so fast. What if you were toslip and fall?” Cedrick chided in a deep voice.

Although he had smacked her twice on her behind to emphasize the seriousness of the matter, it brokehis heart, and he could not help but rub where he had hit her soothingly.

Zendaya sobbed while wiping away her tears. Having gotten lectured, she pouted and put on a pitifulexpression. Nevertheless, she was finally willing to behave and settle down in Cedrick’s arms, lettinghim carry her downstairs.

Meanwhile, Benedict had already been sitting at the dining table for quite some time. Having a cleargrasp of dining etiquette, however, he had not taken even a sip of his milk and merely sat there quietly,waiting for his parents to come downstairs.