Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 175

"I'll take the day off tomorrow and help you host the guests at home."

It had been ages since the Tremaines last entertained, and with so few staff in the house—most of them recently hired—Cynthia worried Juliet would be overwhelmed.

She didn't want Juliet overexerting herself, not with her health still fragile.

"No need."

Juliet didn't even pause before rejecting the offer.

"You'll go to work at Holloway Enterprises like usual tomorrow."

Cynthia's hand, halfway through typing a message to Dominic to request leave, froze in midair.

"But I'm supposed to be the star tomorrow. How can I not be at home?"

Juliet shot her a cool, almost amused glance. "A star always makes an entrance. The grander the arrival, the more unforgettable the impression, right?"

"You want me to show up fashionably late?" Cynthia asked, catching on.

Juliet gave her a look that seemed to say, "Now you're getting it, but you're still a little slow."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll have Assistant Channing drive you to Holloway Enterprises. After work, catch a ride home with Dominic."

And then everything clicked for Cynthia.

She might be the guest of honor at the party, but the real purpose was to let everyone attending believe that Tremaine Holdings and Holloway Enterprises had patched things up and were working together again.

If she and Dominic arrived together, the illusion would be complete.

The next morning, everything unfolded just as Juliet had mapped out.

Assistant Channing dropped Cynthia off in front of Holloway Enterprises and drove off.

Cynthia headed upstairs, settling into her temporary workstation. She'd come in early on purpose, but to her surprise, Dominic was already there.

"Good morning, Mr. Holloway." She smiled, greeting him first.

"Sorry, sorry," she mouthed quickly, scrambling to pick up the shattered glass.

Kneeling, she berated herself for the blunder—and while reaching for a second shard, she lost focus for a split second. A jagged edge bit into her finger, drawing blood.

A sharp, sudden pain shot up her hand. Cynthia pressed her lips together, barely daring to breathe, much less gasp.

She forced herself to finish cleaning up, then wrapped her finger tightly in a tissue.

Thankfully, the sting subsided after a moment.

She let out a silent sigh of relief, refusing to glance in Dominic's direction as she pretended to study her documents.

But then she noticed a shadow falling across her desk. Cynthia looked up.

Dominic, who'd just been on his video call, was standing right in front of her. He looked down, expression unreadable, gaze sharp.

Cynthia gave an awkward smile and whispered another apology.