The Ex and Her Riches

Chapter 223 Nowhere To Hide
Suspicious thoughts raced through Gwendolyn’s mind.
Valentino was still speaking when she snapped out of her thoughts. “Cedrick’s really fallen for you. By the way, you’ve been back
for a few days already, right? Have you two met yet? What’s your first impression of him?”
“I haven’t met him yet, Old Mr. Jenson,” answered Gwendolyn.
She then seized the opportunity to continue, “I’ve been sending people to meet him these days, but he’s been avoiding me. So,
no. I haven’t met him yet.”
The look on Valentino’s face grew serious. “Did that really happen?”
He then asked Logan to enter and ordered, “Get Cedrick here this instant. What’s he avoiding her for?”
“Yes.”
In the meantime, Gwendolyn kept her smile while chatting and having coffee with Valentino.
Ten minutes later, Logan returned.
“Old Mr. Jenson, Mr. Jenson isn’t coming tonight. He’s on a mission.”
“What kind of mission’s so urgent that he has to bail his fiancée’s party? Ugh. This rascal!”
Valentino stomped his cane on the ground and tried to stop himself from being too harsh with his words. He assured her, “Don’t
worry, Gwendolyn. I’m going to bring him here, even if it means kidnaping him.”
Instead of rejecting the suggestion, Gwendolyn smiled obediently. “We’ll follow your lead.”
Valentino cast her an affectionate gaze, but it darkened when he shifted his gaze to Logan.
“Tell that rascal to kneel in the ancestral hall for three whole days until his legs break if he doesn’t show up on time today.”
With that, Logan left.

Ten minutes later, he returned again to report gloomily, “Mr. Jenson says he’ll... carry out his punishment in the ancestral hall
once he returns from his mission.”
Hearing that, Valentino lost it!
He’d rather get punished than attend his fiancée’s party, huh? He’s dead set on going against my words.
Since Gwendolyn was still present, he had no choice but to steel himself and increase the severity of the punishment. “The
punishment doesn’t scare him, huh? Very well. Tell him he’ll get whipped a hundred times if he still doesn’t show up.”
Logan’s face fell. “One hundred whips? Are you being serious, Old Mr. Jenson?”
Valentino simply stomped his cane on the ground and turned his head, snorting coldly.
Even so, Valentino dared not pass the message to Cedrick. “Old Mr. Jenson, you know how stubborn Mr. Jenson is. He’ll
definitely go to the ancestral hall to receive his punishment if he’s decided to not attend. Are we really going to beat him if he
goes to the ancestral hall? He’ll be dead if we really whip him.”
There was a change in Valentino’s countenance. He lowered his head and fell silent.
In the meantime, Gwendolyn’s eyes darted between the two men’s expressions.
Sounds like the Jenson family’s whipping punishment isn’t as simple as I thought. Can a hundred whips really kill someone as
muscular as Cedrick? He’s from the army, though.
However, Valentino had already said that in front of Gwendolyn. It would be too embarrassing for him to go against his promise,
but he could not bring himself to beat Cedrick to death as well.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense.
At that moment, Gwendolyn knew Valentino was keeping quiet and waiting for her to speak.
With a smile, she said gently, “Old Mr. Jenson, this whipping punishment sounds really terrifying. It’s just a party, anyway. His
mission is more important. Please don’t punish him. It’s okay if Mr. Jenson doesn’t come.”
Gratified, Valentino patted her hand and sighed. “You’ve got such a big heart. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”
“It’s okay, Old Mr. Jenson.”

However, her generosity only made Valentino feel more sorry.
“Don’t worry, Gwendolyn. Even if he doesn’t show up today, I’ll find a way to let the two of you meet. I’m going to make him
apologize to you.”
Soon, the party officially began.
Gwendolyn had become the center of attention as soon as she appeared.
Her gorgeous gown, her delicate makeup, and her every move made her look beautiful beyond words.
The party that night was organized because of her.
Gwendolyn walked up the stage under everyone’s gazes and made a wonderful speech about returning to the Harris family.
When she finished speaking, Marcus went upstage to announce her engagement with Cedrick while the crowd cheered.
Since Cedrick did not show up, Marcus decided to simplify his speech and skipped the important parts to distract the guests.
Halfway through the party, Gwendolyn had finished toasting to the guests and found a table in the corner to enjoy some wine
quietly.
Sherman felt bad to see her drinking alone. Hence, he walked over and sat across from her.
“Gwendolyn, you don’t really want to get engaged with Cedrick, do you?” he asked.
She said nothing and swirled her glass elegantly.
Seeing that, Sherman continued, “It’s ridiculous. How could he be absent on such an important day and make you put up with
everyone’s criticisms alone? He won’t treat you well when you marry him in the future.”
Gwendolyn snorted. “Mr. Ferguson, no one, apart from you, is criticizing me today.”
Looking gloomy, Sherman said, “That’s because Mr. Harris is doing a great job of controlling the crowd. Gwendolyn, I regret not
letting my parents talk to him about asking your hand in marriage. But I’m willing to fight against the Jenson family if you’re willing
to be with me.”
“That’s not necessary, Mr. Ferguson. I don’t want that,” rejected Gwendolyn without hesitation.

“Why? Do you really like Cedrick?”
Gwendolyn put down her glass and said solemnly, “I don’t like him, nor will I marry him. Similarly, I only see you as a friend. We’ll
never get married. I hope you can understand that.”
Sherman paled, totally at a loss for words.
The Harris family’s party ended at eleven o’clock at night. Nico, who had been hiding near the Harris residence, rushed to a car
that was parked about two hundred meters away.
He checked his surroundings before getting into the car.
Before Nico could even make himself comfortable, the man, who had been waiting in the car for a long time, asked, “How did it
go?”
“Don’t worry, Boss. No one dared to criticize Ms. Gwendolyn thanks to the threats you made in advance and Mr. Marcus’ skills in
handling the situation.”
Cedrick felt incredibly guilty.
“Is she upset?”
Nico pondered and answered, “No. I saw her chatting with Mr. Ferguson for a long time, and it looked like the conversation went
well.”
Immediately, Cedrick pursed his lips. The color drained from his face, and a look of dejection filled his dark eyes.
Although Nico could not see Cedrick’s expression in the dark, the former could sense a thick tension building up in the air.
I shouldn’t have mentioned Sherman’s name. Hitting his mouth frustratedly, Nico quickly changed the topic. “It’s getting late.
When are you planning to return to the Jenson residence?”
Cedrick contemplated for a moment. “I’ll wait here a little longer.”
He did not return to the Jenson residence until an hour later.

Remembering the punishment Valentino had given him for not attending the party, Cedrick went straight to the ancestral hall
instead of the villa.
Logan was already waiting for Cedrick at the entrance. Clearly, the former had been waiting for a long time.
“Mr. Jenson, Old Mr. Jenson’s been saying he’s feeling uncomfortable ever since he returned. Please go and have a look.”
Thus, Cedrick followed Logan without giving it much thought.
Upon arriving at the guest room on the second floor, Logan suddenly halted in his tracks and made a gesture for Cedrick to
enter.
Frowning, Cedrick asked, “This isn’t Grandpa’s room. Why did you bring me here?”
“Old Mr. Jenson’s leg wasn’t in a good condition. He was feeling uncomfortable when he arrived at this point. Hence, he decided
to spend the night here,” explained Logan without the slightest change in his expression.
Cedrick kept mum, clearly not believing Logan’s words.
Noticing that, Logan met Cedrick’s gaze and questioned, “Do you think I’d dare to joke about Old Mr. Jenson’s health? He’s in
there. You’d better go in quickly. He’ll be mad if you’re late.”
Cedrick was not fully convinced, but he still pushed the door open and took two steps forward. Immediately after that, Logan
gave him a push at the back and locked the door.
“Open the door, Logan!”
Cedrick banged on the door a few times, but there was no sound outside the door. It was as if Logan had left.
Just as Cedrick was feeling puzzled, a familiar woman’s voice rang out behind him.
“It’s useless. This was arranged by Old Mr. Jenson because you kept avoiding me.”
This voice...