Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 282

Cynthia searched her memory, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t recall ever hearing about a cousin of Viola’s.

“Your cousin is…?”

“Miranda, of course,” Viola replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

The truth was, Miranda and Viola’s aunt weren’t related by blood at all. But Viola had always gone around claiming Miranda as her cousin, eager to forge any connection that might raise her own standing.

Just then, Jocelyn walked over and caught the tail end of Viola’s story, unable to suppress a quiet laugh.

“Viola, does Miss Kingsley know you’re playing matchmaker for her behind her back?”

She slid between Cynthia and Viola on the bench, deliberately nudging Viola aside.

Viola still hadn’t forgiven Jocelyn for embarrassing her at dinner last week. Now, seeing Jocelyn butt in again, Viola’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“I’m just giving Cynthia a friendly warning,” she said through gritted teeth. “She shouldn’t mess with things that aren’t hers, or she might end up falling—and the higher you are, the harder you land.”

Jocelyn snorted, then glanced over at her brother and Dominic across the lawn.

“Nick.”

The moment she spoke, Viola grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?!”

Garry and Dominic both looked up at the commotion.

“What’s going on?” Dominic asked quietly.

Viola glared daggers at Jocelyn and then quickly turned to face Dominic, smoothing her expression. “Oh, nothing, Nick. Just chatting.”

Jocelyn piped up, “Viola was just talking about your engagement. She said she heard you’re getting engaged, and wanted to check if it’s true.”

Viola hadn’t expected Jocelyn to be so brazen. She stiffened, lowering her head with a look of wounded frustration.

His eyes lingered on Cynthia, dark and unreadable.

Jocelyn nodded quickly, her voice small. “Okay, Nick.”

Cynthia forced an awkward smile.

Ask her? Why would anyone ask her? She wasn’t about to start making things up the way Viola did.

While the others were still reeling from the revelation that Dominic had been engaged all along, Viola looked at Cynthia, bewilderment clear in her gaze.

Other people might not know who Jocelyn’s closest friend was, but Viola certainly did. Cynthia and Jocelyn had grown up together, practically joined at the hip. While Cynthia had been away from the city for years, Viola had fought hard to become close with Jocelyn. But the moment Cynthia returned, Jocelyn dropped her and ran straight back to her childhood friend.

But if Dominic’s engagement was such old news, why would anyone ask Cynthia about it?

Could it be… those rumors about an engagement between the Tremaines and the Holloways were actually true?