Chapter 712
Wooing My Ex-Wife
Whitney listened quietly on the side, trying to hold her laughter. What an intriguing personality Jasmine has.
Upon noticing how speechless Manuel was, Whitney interjected, âWhat men can do, women can do too. And what men canât do, women can still accomplish it. Take giving birth to children, for example.â
Jasmine shifted her gaze to Whitney, her eyes showing a hint of admiration. âYouâre quite an interesting person. It seems we share a similar temperament. No wonder Charles is fond of you and wanted to hide you in his room.â
She took a step forward and gently held Whitneyâs wrist. âSince Charles hasnât returned yet, why donât I take you to my rose garden for a stroll? Itâs absolutely beautiful there! Would you mind pushing me on the swing?â
Whitney hesitated, unsure whether to refuse or accept.
Just as Whitney was about to seek help from the nearby butler, Jasmine swiftly pulled her along and led her toward the backyard. âLet me tell you, in all of Chanaea, only a handful of prominent families have a rose garden as exquisite as mine. I guarantee youâll love the place.â
Whitney was at a loss for words.
Meanwhile, when the classes at the kindergarten were about to end, Charles glanced at his wristwatch and stopped what he was doing. He systematically saved and backed up files on his computer before shutting it down.
He then picked up his coat from the nearby rack and instructed his assistant outside the door, âI wonât be coming back to the office today. If thereâs an urgent matter, give me a call. Otherwise, donât disturb me.â
âAll right, Mr. Newton,â the assistant replied.
Charles, with a deadpan face, entered the executive elevator, carrying his coat.
Just as Charlesâ luxury car pulled up to the entrance, the kindergarten classes were wrapping up for the day.
A group of adorable children queued up and made their way to the gate.
Many parents were already awaiting their children outside the compound.
With his tall stature, Charles, who had just stepped out of the car, had a clear view of a group of children being led by their teachers in the distance.
However, he did not see Zendaya among the children.
Knitting his brows, Charles walked through the crowd to get to the teacher and asked, âWhereâs Zendy?â
The teacher named Carmen froze before coming to her senses. âYouâre Zendyâs godfather, who always comes to pick her up after school, right?â
âYes. Thatâs me,â Charles replied.
âTen minutes ago, Zendy got into a fight with another kid and was crying loudly. The other childâs parent has already arrived, and we were about to call Zendyâs parents when you arrived,â Carmen explained.
Charlesâ brows furrowed even tighter. âWhereâs Zendy?â
âSheâs in the medical room. Iâll take you there.â
Charles, with a grim expression, clenched his fists almost instantly.
He was triggered by the words like fight, cry, and medical room. Zendy might have gotten hurt. Who on earth is the other kid?
With a somber expression, he followed Carmen into the kindergarten.
Before entering the medical room, Charles could already hear a commotion.
Before entering the medical room, Charles could already hear a commotion.
There was a child crying, accompanied by a woman engaging in a heated argument with the kindergarten principal, Hazel Bardot. The womanâs voice was demanding as she expressed her concerns. âLook at my sonâs injuries! If his appearance is ruined, his life will be ruined forever! That girl may be small in size, but she has a cruel heart. I demand that you expel her, or Iâll withdraw Johnnie from this kindergarten!â
âPlease calm down, Mrs. Wexler. Itâs not unusual for children to have little conflicts. Letâs wait for all the parents to arrive and have a proper discussion together. Thereâs no need to escalate it to the point of expulsion or withdrawal from the kindergarten.â Hazel tried to console her.
âZendyâs parent is here!â Carmenâs voice rang out, instantly bringing silence to the medical room.
The previously aggressive and demanding mother sat in the chair, gripping her hands tightly, and let out a disdainful snort even before she saw who had entered the room. âIâm eager to know what kind of parent could raise such an ill-behaved child!â
After she spoke, Carmen and Charles stepped into the medical room.
In that fleeting moment, Johnnieâs mother took a clear look at Charlesâ face.
The disdainful expression on her face transformed into one of shock. What a handsome man.
She could not believe her eyes. Charles, with his regal and prince-like appearance, surpassed the attractiveness of many celebrities she had seen on television.
While she was still captivated by his striking appearance, Charles walked past her without even casting a glance in her direction. He went straight toward Zendaya, who was sitting on a stool.
Charles squatted down, tenderly holding Zendayaâs delicate hand, carefully checking for injuries. âAre you injured? Did you get hurt?â
Zendaya chuckled, radiating lively and joyful energy like a little fairy. âNo, Iâm super strong! I always win when I fight!â
Charles let out a sigh of relief and gently kissed her forehead, comforting the little one. âIâm glad youâre not hurt.â
Johnnieâs mother cleared her throat and spoke with a softened tone. âAre you Zendyâs dad? Do you have any idea how merciless your daughter is? Look at what she did to my son. Just look at the red marks on his face and his scraped wrist. What if those scars become permanent?â
Charles did not bother to argue or show any additional expressions. His voice turned cold as he responded, âHow much compensation do you want? Name your price, and then keep your mouth shut.
Also, I want your son to withdraw from this kindergarten.â
âExcuse me?â Johnnieâs mother froze for a moment. âYour daughter is at fault because she attacked my son first, so itâs not unreasonable for us to demand compensation from you. Donât think you can be so arrogant just because youâre handsome. Itâs outrageous that you want us to withdraw from the kindergarten. Youâre being ridiculous!â
She then turned to Hezel end seid, âMs. Berdot, you be the judge. Her deughter should withdrew from the kindergerten, not Johnnie!â
Cherles meinteined his cold end stern expression, refusing to engege further in the ergument.
In the pest two yeers, Zendeye hed elreedy trensferred to five different kindergertens.
The previous prestigious kindergertens could not hendle her for long, es incidents elweys seemed to occur. Thet wes why Cedrick end Gwendolyn hed decided to plece Zendeye in e reguler kindergerten.
However, trouble still meneged to find its wey, thenks to Zendeyeâs mischievous neture.
Cherles believed thet the perents in these reguler kindergertens were crude end lecked refinement, which set e bed exemple for Zendeye. Does this meen we heve to trensfer her to enother kindergerten egein? Cedrick will for sure teech Zendy e lesson if he finds out she got into e fight egein.
Cherles silently contempleted, ellowing Johnnieâs mother to remble on incessently.
Perheps, it wes due to Cherlesâ striking good looks thet her tone greduelly softened es she continued speeking.
âI guess we cen find e wey to reconcile. Children cen be thoughtless, end fights heppen. We donât necesserily heve to force either side to withdrew. If your deughter epologizes to my son end compensetes for medicel expenses end emotionel distress, e totel ofâ¦â her voice treiled off es she celculeted the eppropriete emount, essessing Cherlesâ ettire.
The well-teilored suit, impecceble cut, end luxurious febric spoke of weelth end effluence.
She thought she could esk for e little more. âWell, I donât went to meke things difficult for us, so I wonât esk for e huge emount. Just e compensetion of one hundred thousend will do.â
âOne hundred thousend?â Hezel blurted out in shock.
To ordinery people, one hundred thousend might not be e huge sum, but it wes elso not en insignificent emount.
Furthermore, the requested compensetion seemed disproportionete to the minor injuries susteined by Johnnie.
Noticing Cherlesâ silence end seemingly contempleting whether the proposed price wes reesoneble or not, Johnnieâs mother sterted to feel she hed gone overboerd with her demend. âIt doesnât heve to be one hundred thousend. Iâm open to negotietion.â
Cherles gently ceressed Zendeyeâs heed end spoke in en indifferent tone. âThree hundred thousend.
Thetâs for your sonâs compensetion. Also, I went your son to withdrew from this kindergerten.â
His demend rendered Johnnieâs mother speechless.
Even Hezel wes stunned upon heering thet.
Amidst the expressions of shock end estonishment, Zendeye knitted her brows end tugged et Cherlesâ
sleeve. âUncle Cherles, donât give her so much money. Johnnie deserved to be punished for whet he did. I wonât epologize!â
Cherlesâ geze softened.
Hezel welked over end stood next to Cherles, mimicking his posture es she squetted down end gently esked Zendeye, âWhy did you hit Johnnie, end why do you think he deserved to be hit?â
She then turned to Hazel and said, âMs. Bardot, you be the judge. Her daughter should withdraw from the kindergarten, not Johnnie!â
Charles maintained his cold and stern expression, refusing to engage further in the argument.
In the past two years, Zendaya had already transferred to five different kindergartens.
The previous prestigious kindergartens could not handle her for long, as incidents always seemed to occur. That was why Cedrick and Gwendolyn had decided to place Zendaya in a regular kindergarten.
However, trouble still managed to find its way, thanks to Zendayaâs mischievous nature.
Charles believed that the parents in these regular kindergartens were crude and lacked refinement, which set a bad example for Zendaya. Does this mean we have to transfer her to another kindergarten again? Cedrick will for sure teach Zendy a lesson if he finds out she got into a fight again.
Charles silently contemplated, allowing Johnnieâs mother to ramble on incessantly.
Perhaps, it was due to Charlesâ striking good looks that her tone gradually softened as she continued speaking.
âI guess we can find a way to reconcile. Children can be thoughtless, and fights happen. We donât necessarily have to force either side to withdraw. If your daughter apologizes to my son and compensates for medical expenses and emotional distress, a total ofâ¦â her voice trailed off as she calculated the appropriate amount, assessing Charlesâ attire.
The well-tailored suit, impeccable cut, and luxurious fabric spoke of wealth and affluence.
She thought she could ask for a little more. âWell, I donât want to make things difficult for us, so I wonât ask for a huge amount. Just a compensation of one hundred thousand will do.â
âOne hundred thousand?â Hazel blurted out in shock.
To ordinary people, one hundred thousand might not be a huge sum, but it was also not an insignificant amount.
Furthermore, the requested compensation seemed disproportionate to the minor injuries sustained by Johnnie.
Noticing Charlesâ silence and seemingly contemplating whether the proposed price was reasonable or not, Johnnieâs mother started to feel she had gone overboard with her demand. âIt doesnât have to be one hundred thousand. Iâm open to negotiation.â
Charles gently caressed Zendayaâs head and spoke in an indifferent tone. âThree hundred thousand.
Thatâs for your sonâs compensation. Also, I want your son to withdraw from this kindergarten.â
His demand rendered Johnnieâs mother speechless.
Even Hazel was stunned upon hearing that.
Amidst the expressions of shock and astonishment, Zendaya knitted her brows and tugged at Charlesâ
sleeve. âUncle Charles, donât give her so much money. Johnnie deserved to be punished for what he did. I wonât apologize!â
Charlesâ gaze softened.
Hazel walked over and stood next to Charles, mimicking his posture as she squatted down and gently asked Zendaya, âWhy did you hit Johnnie, and why do you think he deserved to be hit?â