The Ex and Her Riches

“What era are we living in now? It’s all about the freedom to fall in love and marry someone we love! How could you arrange my
marriage without asking me?” Gwendolyn got up, feeling utterly infuriated.
Marcus was at a loss for words. He tried reaching out to hold her arm, but she evaded his grasp.After withdrawing his hand, he
stroked his beard and spoke in a subdued tone. “Honey, we’ve already agreed on the engagement. How about you meet Cedrick
first before you decide anything? He’s quite a nice guy, five years older than you, and caring and considerate. Even I, your picky
father, approve of him. I’m sure you’ll like him too.”
“Five years older? No way! He’s too old. I don’t like older men!” Gwendolyn was hellbent on her decision.
She was not ready to enter a new relationship, let alone be engaged to someone. Over my dead body!
“What do you mean he’s too old? He’s only twenty-eight years old! Your ex-husband was also five years older than you, wasn’t
he?” Marcus said.
Gwendolyn choked. “It’s different! There’s no room for discussion. By hook or by crook, you must call off the engagement!”
Marcus sounded even more sheepish. “I-I can’t cancel it. We just finalized the details yesterday, and I agreed with Old Mr.
Jenson to announce your engagement at your welcoming party three days later.”
Gwendolyn took a deep breath, trying to suppress her anger. “I don’t care what welcoming party you’re organizing. You can’t call
off the engagement, can you? Then I’ll do it myself!”
She slammed the door and walked away.
Watching her storm out in frustration, Marcus could only shake his head helplessly. She’s becoming more and more like her
mother in terms of temperament. It’s clear that she needs a man who can handle her!
After leaving the study, Gwendolyn went straight to the garden.
Elven and a few other bodyguards were waiting by the door.
Despite her anger, she acknowledged that her father was ill and needed her company. As a daughter, it was her responsibility to
be there for him.
Hence, she called a few bodyguards to get to the hotel and pack her belongings. She decided to move back to the villa
temporarily.

Standing at the doorway, she pondered for a while, considering how to handle the engagement matter.
A moment later, she noticed Leif was standing near her.
Gwendolyn called him over. “Leif, do you know where the Jenson residence is?”
“Yes, Ms. Gwendolyn. Who do you want to look for?” he asked.
Gwendolyn emitted a murderous intent as she replied, “Cedrick Jenson.”
Upon noticing the grim expression on her face, Leif immediately jotted down the address on a paper and passed it to her.
Gwendolyn followed the address and went to the residence.
Logan, the experienced butler of the Jenson residence, happily welcomed her to the house as he was aware of her engagement
to Cedrick.
It was Gwendolyn’s first time visiting the Jenson residence.
The Jenson residence sprawled across a vast expanse of land. Unlike the Harris residence, which was nestled in the mountains,
theirs seemed to sit on a wide plain. All the villas were designed with a classic and retro theme.
With bamboo groves, water pavilions, artificial hills, and flowing streams, the atmosphere of a traditional family permeated the
surroundings.
Gwendolyn felt as if she had stepped into the residence of a wealthy magnate from ancient times. She could not help but find it
charming.
Guided by Logan, she meandered through the winding paths until they arrived at the entrance of Cedrick’s private villa.
After escorting her there, Logan took his leave.
Gwendolyn sat on the sofa in the living room of Cedrick’s villa, waiting patiently.
After a while, a bodyguard came hurrying over and said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Harris. Mr. Jenson is not available to meet you at the
moment as he’s busy with his work.”
She knitted her brows slightly.

From the moment she arrived, none of the servants had offered her a cup of tea, and the bodyguard’s words seemed to imply
that they wanted her to leave. It seems this guy named Cedrick is not enthusiastic about the engagement either. Great!
“It’s all right. I can wait since I’m free the whole day,” she responded.
“But...” The bodyguard said awkwardly, “I’m afraid Mr. Jenson will be occupied with work the whole day. Why don’t you come
another day?”
Gwendolyn grew a bit displeased. “Since I, Gwendolyn Harris, am already here, there’s no reason for me to leave without
meeting him directly.”
She stood up and walked past the bodyguard, making her way toward the stairs.
“Ms. Harris, I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to behave so...” the bodyguard said.
“Since Old Mr. Jenson has finalized the engagement, I must discuss the details with my fiancé. You have a problem with that?”
Gwendolyn asked impassively.
“Nope...”
“Where is the study? Which floor?”
“The study is located upstairs on the right, the room furthest down the corridor,” the bodyguard replied.
Gwendolyn ascended the stairs and located the study easily enough as a bodyguard was also standing by the door.
After she walked over, the bodyguard stopped her from advancing. “Ms. Harris, Mr. Jenson is busy at the moment. And you can’t
just walk into his study without permission.”
Just when she was about to refute, a man opened the door of the study.
She looked up and found the man to be decent-looking but lacked a certain grace.
Like the two security guards, the man was wearing a uniform. It was apparent he was not Cedrick.
With a respectful shift to the side, he allowed Gwendolyn to catch a glimpse of what was inside the study.

From her view, she could see a layer of amber bead curtains in the middle of the room, with an office desk and neatly arranged
bookshelves behind it. The entire room had a dark tone and exuded a scholarly charm.
A man with a cold and imposing presence was sitting in an office chair, facing away from her. She could only catch a glimpse of
the back of his head.
Gwendolyn wanted to enter, but the bodyguard stood in her way.
Considering the purpose of her visit to discuss the cancellation of the engagement and the fact that she was on their premises,
Gwendolyn realized it would be inappropriate to push her way into the study.
The man in the study cleared his throat before asking in a hoarse voice. “What brings you here, Ms. Harris? What can I do for
you?”
His voice sounded awful. It was as if he had just swallowed shattered glass.
When she was on her way to the Jenson residence, Gwendolyn had already looked up information about Cedrick.
He had a reputation for being cruel and ruthless. Rumors circulated about his unusual fetishes involving the abuse of women.
Additionally, he bore a disfigured face that was remarkably unattractive.
The rumors about Cedrick’s alleged mistreatment of women did not concern her much. If she really did end up with him for the
rest of her life and those rumors were indeed true, she could not help but wonder who would end up on the receiving end of the
abuse.
She could imagine his face just by hearing his voice.
Her lack of interest in the engagement had nothing to do with his appearance. It was simply because she had no knowledge or
feelings for him at all.
After organizing her thoughts, she instructed another security guard to bring her a chair. She then sat outside the room and
initiated the discussion with him. “Nothing much. I’m just curious about how much you know of me, Mr. Jenson.”
Cedrick kept mum.
He held a cup of coffee in his distinctively masculine palm, the sound of him stirring the spoon resonating crisply.

Gwendolyn looked at the back of his head and spoke in a serious tone. “Mr. Jenson, with your capabilities, I believe you must
have investigated me and know that I’ve been married and divorced. In other words, I’m a woman with experience in that
particular area, if you know what I mean.”
“And?” Cedrick took another sip of his coffee.
His response confused Gwendolyn. Does that mean he doesn’t care? Is he into married women? Argh, that’s disgusting.
She began making up a story. “Mr. Jenson, you might have investigated me, but I’m sure there’s something my dad kept from
you. When I was a child, I consulted a geomancer who told me I’d always encounter difficulties in relationships. It’s an inherent
curse that I’m destined to have a husband who suffers because of me. You know my ex-husband, right? Well, he was actually a
victim of my curse!”
Cedrick, taken by surprise, choked on his coffee, coughing uncontrollably as the hot liquid spilled onto the brown carpet.
The bodyguard beside him immediately handed him a piece of tissue.
Noting his reaction, Gwendolyn continued, “You’re the only heir of Old Mr. Jensen’s eldest son, and I don’t want to bring you any
misfortune. This engagement doesn’t feel right for either of us. Why don’t we try to convince the elders in our families and get
them to call it off since we haven’t announced it publicly?”