The Ex and Her Riches

It was Maverick’s voice.
Although Gwendolyn first heaved a sigh of relief, it was soon replaced by anger. “Why didn’t you answer the phone?”
The man’s tone was tinged with sleepiness and fatigue as he replied, “I was asleep. It’s already so late. Why haven’t you turned
in? Did something happen?”
“Nothing. I couldn’t sleep.”
“Do you want me to keep you company?”
“Mm,” Gwendolyn responded softly. When she recalled the dream she had earlier, she reprimanded him sternly, “I’m reminding
you again. You’re not allowed to go anywhere for two days. Also, keep your phone ringer volume at the highest! You must
answer my calls no matter what!”
On the other end of the line, Maverick was silent for a moment before replying faintly, “Okay. Are you feeling sleepy now?”
“I’m not tired.”
“Shall I tell you a story?”
“Don’t.”
“Then, are you hungry? You can give me your address, and I’ll get something delivered to you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
Maverick was speechless. She’s truly a conversation killer. How am I supposed to keep the flow going?
Unable to sleep, Gwendolyn settled for Maverick telling her a story in the end.
Maverick regaled her with the jokes he had found online.
He was not good at telling jokes, and there were a lot of awkward silences. Hypnotized by his voice, Gwendolyn gradually drifted
off to sleep before she knew it.
The next day, Gwendolyn proceeded to carry out her affairs with the order they had settled upon.

Hector stayed at Hecalion Estate for the entire day and never left.
When Gwendolyn saw that it was getting late, she began to feel impatient and sent Treyton to lure him out.
After about half an hour, Hector came out with Treyton. However, he had just exited the villa’s doors when he was suddenly
knocked out with a bat.
Hector woke up to find his legs bound to a chair. His mouth was bound, and a table was placed before him.
His surroundings were enclosed and dim. It looked as if he were in a basement.
Baffled, he began to struggle and made desperate noises.
As the door of the basement was thrown open, he saw a woman enter and walk toward him. Her makeup was exquisite, and her
eyes were like starry pools that could suck one in. She was gorgeous, like a fairy.
Hector was stunned when he saw the woman. Her sudden appearance had also made him cease to struggle.
Gwendolyn sneered when she saw his reaction. “You must have seen a picture of me recently, Uncle Hector. We’ve not met for
so many years, and surely I must have grown more beautiful. Yet, you were able to recognize me at a glance.”
She went over to the table in front of Hector and sat down on the chair opposite. After sitting down, she gave Elven a look.
Elven came forward and tore the tape that was keeping Hector’s mouth shut.
Pain engulfed Hector as some strands of his mustache came off with the tape.
Furious, he glared at Gwendolyn. “I’m your fourth uncle! How dare you use Treyton to bait and kidnap me! Is this how you should
treat your elders?”
Gwendolyn rested her chin on her hand, smiling nonchalantly. “It’s not like you were unaware of my lawlessness. Anyway, I have
a good attitude! In fact, you’ve become a disgraceful elder and are no longer worthy of respect.”
Hector narrowed his eyes. “Me, disgraceful? I’ve always stayed out of the family’s affairs and enjoyed being an idle person. What
is it that I’ve supposedly done?”
“Uncle Hector, I’m sure it will clear things up once you take a look at this.”

Gwendolyn gave Elven another look, prompting the man to put down Charles’ confession in front of Hector.
“Uncle Hector, I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. Why don’t you take a look and see if this has anything to do with
you?”
Hector’s expression changed drastically when he saw the confession Elven had placed in front of him.
“Goodness me! Gwendolyn, I had no hand in this. Why would I try to have you killed? I was quite fond of you when you were
young. I’d even carried you before. Do you remember? Moreover, Charles is the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. How
can someone like me order him around?”
“Hm?” Gwendolyn murmured, “I heard that your son and my cousin, Luke, work at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I wonder
if this has anything to do with him? Shall I get Asher to conduct an investigation for me?”
“No! He has nothing to do with it!”
Gwendolyn slammed the table, her gaze suddenly turning sharp. “What do you mean by it has nothing to do with him? Charles
already confessed everything. Do you think you can deny it with just a few words? Do you think you get to order Charles around?
Let me guess; it must be because of the inheritance.”
Hector stared at her solemnly, refusing to answer.
“You did not appreciate my father going against tradition and leaving the inheritance to me, his beloved youngest daughter.
Hence, you joined hands with someone and plotted to kill me. You were planning to take over the Harris family afterward, weren’t
you? You’re the only one who would do such a thing. Was Uncle Gideon part of it too? What about Lorelai?”
Gwendolyn kept pressing on, not relenting in her questions.
However, Hector calmed down when she got to the end.
“Gwendolyn, you’re grasping at straws. Don’t you think it’s absurd that you want to pin the crime on me with just Charles’
confession alone?”
Gwendolyn had not expected him to retort. He’s a cunning old fox...
“It’s okay if you refuse to admit to it. Previously, someone tried to attack me while I was at the bar. They tried to ruin my face with
a strong corrosive potion, S40. Since I’m always one who shares, I brought it for you too.”

Taking out a glass bottle and a special synthetic brush, Elven placed them on the table in front of Gwendolyn.
“What’s this?” Hector asked.
Gwendolyn blinked, adopting a naughty expression. “It’s S40 strong corrosive potion. Uncle Hector, don’t you think it will look
good if I write a few words on your face? What shall I write?”
Hector felt his hair stand on its ends. “This drug is banned from the war research lab! How did you get your hands on it? Did
Asher permit this?”
Gwendolyn was gleeful. “So, your idle and lazy persona was a facade. Since you’re aware that it’s a banned drug, how can you
say that you have nothing to do with this?”
Smiling coldly, Gwendolyn popped open the bottle’s lid, holding the brush between her pale fingertips as she stirred it around in
the bottle’s contents.
“You’re so stubborn, Uncle Hector. Since there’s no point in questioning you, I may as well begin. Although this is a bottle of
sulfuric acid, I think it can be quite potent too.”
“You! I’m your uncle!”
Gwendolyn acted as if she had not heard his words. After pondering it over, she said, “Since you enjoy pretending to be an idle
and lazy person, shall I write those words? What do you think?”
“Gwendolyn, don’t you dare!”
“Why wouldn’t I? I’d like to see you try to procure evidence and report me to the Harris family! Are you going to tell them that I
suddenly came back to life after pretending to be dead, kidnapped you, and wrote on your face with acid?”
“Y-You!” Fear colored Hector’s face.
It was obvious that Gwendolyn had planned all this. There was no way he could go out and tell anyone that his niece had faked
her corpse. Hector would have no choice but to keep silent on this matter.
“Kill me if you can! Just you wait!”
Gwendolyn stared at him in disdain. “I won’t dare. I’ll send you to my father after I obtain all the evidence.”

Snorting, she turned around and left the basement.
Soon, a loud and miserable wail sounded from inside the room.
Upon hearing the other party’s misery, Gwendolyn felt totally refreshed and slept exceptionally well that night.
The next day, she had just woken up when Elven knocked on her door urgently.
Upon opening the door, Gwendolyn noticed that Elven’s eyes were red. The latter’s voice was also all choked up.
“Justin just called to say that Mr. Wright... Mr. Wright is...”