The Ex and Her Riches
Chapter 786

Chapter 786

Except for him, Charles, Nico, and Megan were all looking at Gwendolyn, waiting for her to make adecision.

Staring at the beans in her hands, Gwendolyn cast her gaze downward instead of replying immediately.

Megan smiled. “Both of them are so handsome. It’s indeed hard to choose. If I were you, I’d chooseboth of them.”

Although she intended to ease the tense atmosphere, none of the three men laughed along with her.

It was merely a lighthearted joke, yet they seemed to treat this matter with utmost importance.

Awkwardly, Megan stopped smiling and fell silent.

Faced with their stares, Gwendolyn maintained her composure, but a slight pout of unhappiness wasevident on her lips. “I won’t choose any of them. I don’t know him, so why should I choose him to be myhusband?”

Cedrick’s heart ached, as if a dagger had just pierced it. He gulped, feeling a bitter taste rising in histhroat.

He was in so much pain that he felt the urge to tear up. Lowering his gaze, he struggled to suppress hisrising emotions.

Nico’s expression was grim, too. He stood quietly beside Cedrick and felt sorry when he saw how palehis employer looked.

Charles’ expression was just as gloomy as the other two men.

His guess was correct. Gwendolyn, after losing her memories, would not choose Cedrick.

However, he wasn’t at all happy. After everything he did for the past few days, Gwendolyn had grownfamiliar with him and was willing to trust him. Yet, when it came to choosing between Charles andCedrick, who seemed like a stranger to her, she still did not choose Charles.

The three men stood in the courtyard, stiff as statues.

Megan couldn’t stand the rigid atmosphere and brought out a few stools for them to sit on.

She then turned to Charles and inquired, “Do your guests want to stay for dinner? It’s getting late, andthe nights can be quite dark in the mountains. They might need to stay overnight, but…”

Pausing mid-sentence and hesitating for a while, she continued in a troubled tone, “We only have twobeds and a wooden couch at home. I’m afraid we can’t fit everyone.”

Remembering the officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation still waiting at the top of themountain, Charles replied promptly, “It’s fine, Megan. They don’t need to—”

Before Charles could finish his sentence, Cedrick interrupted him hoarsely, “It’s okay. Nico and I cansleep on the floor. We just need two blankets. It’s dark now, so it’s not safe to leave the mountains.Thank you for your hospitality, Megan.”

Though he was trying hard to keep his emotions in check and his frighteningly pale face was concealedby the dim light, his hoarse voice was evidence that he was on the verge of tears.

Gwendolyn paused in her tracks, unable to resist stealing glances at him a few more times.

Megan was the only one who remained completely oblivious to Cedrick’s emotions. She waspreoccupied with inspecting Cedrick’s and Nico’s uniforms.

Military uniforms! They obviously have a powerful background. In addition to the unique aura they’reexuding, they must be either from a wealthy or noble family.

“It’s no trouble. I’m just afraid that both of you might be uncomfortable sleeping on the floor.”

Smiling, Nico replied on behalf of Cedrick, “Not at all. The air here is fresh and the scenery is gorgeous.It’s our honor to be able to stay here for a night.”

Sleeping on the floor meant nothing to them. They had experienced much worse during their missionsat the border, where they had to sleep on the muddy ground without moving a muscle for twelve hours.They endured that torture without complaint.

Megan laughed along with him, and the atmosphere immediately lightened up.

The joyful atmosphere didn’t extend to everyone. Cedrick’s attention was still fixed on Gwendolyn, whoseemed completely unaffected by his distress.

Does she really… not remember me anymore? How did things end up like this?

His gaze fell from Gwendolyn’s face to her slender fingertips.

That familiar ring was still on her left ring finger.

A faint glimmer of hope lit up his eyes as he approached Gwendolyn and squatted down next to her,asking in a trembling voice, “Do you really… not remember me?”

Gwendolyn remained silent before meeting his gaze for a second. She then looked away and calmlycorrected him, “I don’t recognize you.”

Cedrick’s heart clenched once again as he continued to ask, “Then what about the ring on your lefthand? You’re married. Don’t you remember who your husband is?”

Gwendolyn looked at her left hand, stroking the smooth surface of the ring. With her gaze still castdownward, she shook her head.

“I’ve forgotten many things, including how I got this ring. But it seems like I’ve been wearing it for sucha long time that I can’t take it off. Maybe… I have a husband. He probably treats me very well too andnever lets me do any household chores. That’s why my hands are so fair and clean. I probably love hima lot as well because I keep wearing this ring,” Gwendolyn said with a mixture of uncertainty andintrospection.

Charles listened quietly on the side, concealing the look of sorrow in his eyes.

Cedrick’s eyelashes fluttered as tears brimmed in his eyes, blurring his vision. However, he stubbornlyrefused to let his tears fall, his pride keeping them at bay.

His thin lips quivered, and his face became a canvas of regret and self-blame.

At that moment, he seemed to have lost a precious treasure dear to his heart. Even his broadshoulders trembled, making him appear utterly helpless.

“He’s not a good man at all. He failed to protect you and made you suffer so much.”

Gwendolyn rebutted seriously, “It’s not his fault. My husband is definitely the best husband in the world!Besides, I’m not suffering at all. Megan treats me very well.”

Why is she insisting that her husband is the best despite not remembering anything?

For a moment, Cedrick did not know if he should feel sad or fortunate.

He felt a familiar urge, almost habitual, to place his trembling hands on her knees. The yearning totouch and embrace her overwhelmed him.

However, he was afraid that she would think of him as a perverted hooligan and have a bad impressionof him.

Withdrawing his hands, Cedrick swallowed his tears and introduced himself earnestly, “Gwenny, myname is Cedrick Jenson and I’m your husband. We’ve been married for five years, seven months, andeleven days. We even have two children, both of whom are five years old. Do you really… notremember anything?”

Charles furrowed his brows as he watched from the side, his expression solemn and nervous at thesame time.

Gwendolyn glanced at Charles first before laughing. “What’s up with you guys? Why are all of youclaiming to be my husband? I can’t possibly have so many husbands.”

A cold expression immediately settled on Cedrick’s countenance.

Nico was shocked as well before shooting a fierce glare in Charles’ direction.

Charles lowered his head awkwardly. Rising to his feet, he grabbed the basket of beans in front ofGwendolyn. “I’ll help Megan with the cooking. You guys can continue chatting.”

The frostiness in Cedrick’s eyes dissipated, and he couldn’t be bothered to interrogate Charles at thatmoment. Instead, he raised his head and fixed his gaze on Gwendolyn. “What did he tell you?”

A mischievous grin spread across Gwendolyn’s lips. With a hint of playful complaint in her tone, sheproceeded to reveal what Charles did a few days ago.

“Well, he suddenly appeared here four days ago. Just like you, he was teary-eyed and so earnest.When he realized that I don’t recognize him, he claimed to be my husband and wanted me to go backwith him. I was reluctant to do so. When I asked him for the marriage certificate, he couldn’t produce it.That’s when I asked Megan to chase him out. However, he refused to leave. He stood in the courtyardthe entire night. Megan said he didn’t seem like a bad person, so we allowed him to stay for a fewdays.”

Nico, who was also listening, got even more agitated than Cedrick himself. The former declaredindignantly, “No one would make it obvious that they’re bad people! He’s cunning and malicious, withno good intentions in his heart. He’s taking advantage of you when you don’t remember anything!”

Furious, Nico sprang from his seat and rolled up his sleeves aggressively. Despite looking as thoughhe was about to beat Charles up, he said, “I’ll go to the kitchen and help him wash the vegetables!”

His tone was filled with ferocity, as if he was primed for a confrontation.

Gwendolyn did not stop him.

Fearing that things might spiral out of control, Megan immediately got up as well. “I should go andcook. You two go ahead and talk.”

Gwendolyn quickly held Megan back, making the latter sit back down. “Let them cook tonight, Megan.Stay with me.”

“But it’s not appropriate to have our guests cook.”

“They don’t consider themselves as guests, so just leave them be.” Gwendolyn leaned closer toMegan’s ear and whispered, “Here’s another one claiming to be my husband. Can you help me assesshim?”

Cedrick was at a loss for words. He wasn’t deaf, after all, and at such a close distance, he could heareverything clearly. There was no need for them to act all mysterious.