Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 274

Dominic didn’t respond.

Cynthia caught his reflection in the vanity mirror, watching as he arched a brow with effortless charm, looking every bit the gentleman.

Unable to help herself, she lowered her gaze, missing the fact that Vernon was in the middle of applying her mascara.

The mascara wand poked her in the eye, making her flinch.

“You okay, Cynthia?” Vernon asked, surprised by her sudden reaction and pausing mid-stroke.

Across the room, the man who had been chatting with Miranda on the sofa suddenly went quiet, his expression turning cold as his gaze swept over them, sharp as ice.

Vernon quickly set down the mascara wand and leaned in to check on her.

Cynthia didn’t want to cause Vernon any trouble at work. To keep her freshly done makeup from smudging, she fought the urge to rub her eye and forced herself to wait out the pain.

Once the sharp sting faded, leaving only a lingering ache, she finally lifted her head and waved a hand. “I’m fine.”

Vernon noticed her eyes were red and bent down in concern.

“Does it hurt? Do you feel like there’s something in your eye?”

Cynthia blinked, the soreness flaring up again.

“I think something might be in there.”

Vernon leaned in, peering closely. Sure enough, a stray bristle from the mascara wand was lodged in her lower lid.

“Hang on—try to sit still, I’ll blow it out for you.”

He leaned forward.

Dominic, standing nearby, his eyes cool and unreadable, reached out to block Vernon.

Vernon, quick on the uptake, immediately stepped aside and gestured for Dominic to take over.

“I can’t see exactly where it is, Mr. Holloway. Would you mind helping?”

She’d gotten distracted—pulled in by Dominic’s easy confidence and that magnetic, gentlemanly air he carried, especially in front of Miranda. That moment of realization had left her flustered and thrown off.

Dominic’s gaze darkened as he replied,

“If you know it was your mistake, make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

He looked at her for a moment, then turned away and sat back down, his demeanor icy.

Cynthia felt a lump rise in her throat at his sharp tone, but thankfully her eyes were already red from earlier. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to hide how much his words stung.

After steadying her nerves, she glanced into the mirror and told Vernon,

“Let’s continue.”

As she spoke, she noticed Miranda watching her with a sharp, scrutinizing look—part curiosity, part disdain.

Cynthia knew that look all too well. As a woman herself, she could easily see the judgment and veiled calculation behind Miranda’s eyes, and she knew exactly what it meant.