Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 11

"Mr. Shepard, please don't argue with Cynthia on my account and make a spectacle of us. This is all my fault—I shouldn't have come here in the first place. I'll leave right away."

Father Benedict's brow furrowed, his hand on the divider wavering for a moment.

Cynthia rose from her seat.

His stern expression immediately snapped back into place. He'd known Cynthia would never embarrass him in public, and to spare her discomfort, he was prepared to have Giselle leave.

But Cynthia simply stepped forward, reached up, and locked the divider with a sharp click, cutting off his view.

"Cynthia!"

A man's voice thundered angrily from the next suite.

Cynthia's face remained unreadable as she returned to her seat.

Jocelyn followed with a satisfied smile, sitting down beside her.

"I thought you'd go over there with him," Jocelyn teased.

Cynthia kept her eyes on the auction stage, her tone cool. "Do you think I'm that desperate?"

Picking up on Cynthia's low spirits, Jocelyn leaned in and slung an arm around her, pressing her cheek playfully to Cynthia's.

"Of course not. At most, you just had terrible taste for a few years."

Cynthia rolled her eyes, unable to help a faint smile.

The auction was due to start in a few minutes, but the commotion next door showed no sign of dying down.

Giselle's soft sobs could be heard.

"This is all my fault," she sniffled. "I caused Mr. Shepard and Miss Tremaine to quarrel. I should go apologize to Miss Tremaine in person, explain there's nothing between Mr. Shepard and me."

No one else dared speak. Only Father Benedict responded, his tone icy.

"That won't be necessary."

The auction entered its opening preview.

Giselle's stifled weeping still drifted through the wall from time to time.

Eventually, the head of the auction staff knocked at Benedict's suite.

"Mr. Shepard, we've received complaints that your suite is too noisy and it's disturbing the auction. Please, for everyone's sake, keep the noise down. I hope you all find something you love today."

He seemed to enjoy it, even sending her taunting messages.

[See something you like? I'll buy it all for you.]

Cynthia replied: [Those worthless trinkets you just bought? I wouldn't want a single one.]

Benedict: [Are you doing this on purpose?]

Cynthia glanced at her phone and didn't bother to reply. She raised her paddle again.

This time, Benedict didn't follow, and Cynthia finally won the item she wanted.

It was a bracelet perfect for her sister—a gift she planned to bring home to The Capital.

Benedict: [Surprised I didn't go after it?]

Cynthia: [Thank you, Mr. Shepard, for not bidding. Now I got what I wanted for a bargain price.]

Benedict didn't reply this time.

Cynthia could easily picture his face—cold, frustrated, and absolutely livid.