Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 189

When Juliet emerged with the last of the guests, she spotted Cynthia still standing in the same spot, lost in thought.

Someone in the group teased, "Miss Tremaine and Mr. Holloway really are close, aren't they? His car has already left, and Miss Tremaine is still here, reluctant to say goodbye."

Another chimed in with a grin, "Looks like the Tremaines and the Holloways are about to enter a golden age, thanks to the spark between Miss Tremaine and Mr. Holloway."

Juliet kept her polite, faint smile. She didn't bother to deny it, just sighed good-naturedly. "My sister is a little shy. Please, go easy on her. If you tease her any more, she might be too embarrassed to show her face in public."

Her words drew easy laughter from the others.

Cynthia slipped over to Juliet's side, quietly helping to see the last of the guests to their cars.

Once everyone had gone, Cynthia finally glanced up at her sister, searching her face for some sign of emotion—anything other than that calm, distant smile.

But there was nothing. Juliet's expression was as composed as ever. The soft curve to her lips was less warmth than the quiet satisfaction of a victory.

"Juliet…" Cynthia hesitated.

Juliet looked down at her. "What is it?"

Cynthia bit her lip, voice barely above a whisper. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe the only reason Mr. Holloway was so cooperative today… was because of you?"

She spoke so softly, afraid even to say it, worried Juliet might be angry.

Cynthia knew her own proposal about the Cloudcrest project might have caught Dominic's interest, but not enough to explain just how accommodating he had been.

She still remembered clearly what Dominic had said to her before she broke off their engagement.

Juliet arched an eyebrow, her tone cool. "Dominic and I were never that close at school. If there hadn't been something in it for him, I doubt he'd have shown up at a Tremaine event at all."

She started towards the house, Cynthia hurrying to catch up. "Maybe it was never about being old classmates," Cynthia ventured softly.

Camilla quickly hurried over to stop her. "Miss Cynthia, you shouldn't be doing this. Come inside and rest, I'll take care of everything out here."

Cynthia smiled. "I used to help out with this kind of thing all the time back in Cloudcrest. It's no big deal. The sooner we finish, the sooner everyone can go home."

When her mother left the Tremaine family years ago, she'd taken nothing but Cynthia with her. Those first months back in Cloudcrest had been a shock—she'd grown up with nannies doing everything for her, and suddenly had to fend for herself.

But over time, she'd adapted.

Her mother always told her, no one will pamper you for your whole life. No one can guarantee you'll never want for anything. Especially as a woman, you have to stand on your own two feet—even if you're stuck in the mud, you have to find the strength to climb out.

Cynthia had long since stopped thinking of herself as some pampered princess.

Seeing this, Camilla's face softened into a proud, approving smile.