Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 16

"This is my home. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Cynthia gently slipped her hand from his grasp and turned away, settling herself in the armchair.

Benedict caught the faint, almost mocking smile in her eyes, and impatience welled up inside him. He lowered his voice, forcing himself to keep calm.

"Cynthia, must you really pick a fight with me here, in your grandmother's house?"

He looked at her as if to say, *I've already explained myself—what more do you want from me?* As if, by virtue of simply offering an excuse, her refusal to forgive him made her unreasonable.

How had she ever convinced herself that Benedict was different from other men?

A trace of dry amusement tugged at Cynthia's lips. She retrieved the jade bracelet from its velvet box, absentmindedly rolling it in her palm.

Benedict's dark gaze lingered, momentarily arrested.

Meeting his tightly reined-in stare, Cynthia smiled coldly.

"You're here for this, aren't you?"

Benedict's eyes flickered downward, the pretense dropping from his face.

"Yes."

"Lady Wallace's birthday is coming up and—"

Before he could finish, Cynthia cut him off. "This bracelet belongs to me now. If you want it, you'll have to pay for it."

Benedict's expression turned stony, anger flickering in his eyes.

"Cynthia, we're about to be married. Do you really need to draw such hard lines between us?"

Her face stayed impassive.

And why, exactly, did he think she could marry him without a second thought—after he'd cheated on her?

"Yes. I do."

Her reply was steady, her gaze utterly devoid of emotion.

Benedict locked eyes with her, brow furrowed, searching for a hint of softness. Cynthia met his stare, unflinching.

A silent standoff. In these games, someone always broke first.

Finally, Benedict pulled out his phone.

A moment later, Cynthia's phone lit up on the table. A message flashed: payment received.

She didn't bother to check it.

Benedict eyed her, contempt in his voice.

Benedict's face clouded as he looked from the shattered bracelet to her.

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Cynthia shook her head.

"I've already been paid. What would I gain from breaking it?"

He saw the smile she couldn't quite suppress, and his eyes grew dark, stormy.

"If you're going to be this difficult, perhaps it's best we don't see each other until the wedding. Stay here and think things over," Benedict said coldly, then turned on his heel as soon as he saw Cynthia's indifference.

"Wait."

He had barely reached the doorway when Cynthia's voice stopped him.

Benedict's grim expression softened, just a little. If she was willing to apologize, he'd let her save face. Turning back, he started to speak.

"What—"

But Cynthia spoke first, her voice clear and unyielding.

"That bracelet broke because you didn't hold it properly. The money you just sent me—I won't be refunding it."