Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 226

Dominic frowned. “Why?”

Cynthia pressed her lips together, refusing to explain. She simply shook her head.

With Juliet, she’d always been used to acting cute, leaning into the affection and closeness. But in front of Dominic, that just wasn’t possible.

She couldn’t let herself cling to him the way she did with Juliet.

So there was no way she could treat Dominic the same way.

Dominic watched her in silence, his brow still furrowed.

Cynthia glanced up, meeting his eyes. There was something flickering in those deep, dark eyes of his—something that made her heart give a little, involuntary shiver.

“Mr. Holloway, you’re a man. How could I possibly treat you like a big sister?”

She only meant to lighten the mood, to bridge the awkwardness between them, but as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized what a disastrous joke it was. Her awkward laugh echoed down the empty hallway, sounding painfully out of place.

If anything, the silence just got worse.

Thankfully, the elevator doors slid open. Dominic stepped in first, and Cynthia let out a quiet sigh of relief before following him inside.

Usually, she was the type to keep a conversation going no matter what, but this time she opted for silence.

Dominic glanced down at her, noting how unusually quiet she was, then spoke in his calm, matter-of-fact voice.

“Your place is too far from the office. I have an apartment nearby—pack your things and move in.”

Cynthia shook her head. “It’s really not that far. I don’t mind.”

Dominic didn’t look convinced. “Benedict’s been plotting to siphon off company assets for months. He’s clearly prepared for anything, including using you. The neighborhood you live in is too rundown. It’s not safe.”

Dominic noticed her hesitation and spoke again, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Get in.”

Cynthia bit her lip and reluctantly walked over.

He stood there, waiting by the open passenger door. As she climbed in, her mouth got ahead of her brain. “You don’t exactly mind being blamed, do you?”

That was the truth. He’d let it happen—hadn’t he? That was why her sister had been so sure Dominic would show up that night.

He didn’t answer, just fixed her with that unreadable, shadowed gaze.

She felt awkward under his stare, so she quickly pulled the door shut and turned away, doing her best to avoid his eyes.

Unrequited love really was a cruel thing.

She knew her sister had never felt anything for him—yet Dominic had always been willing to let himself be used, all the same.