Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 298

“Let me help you up, okay?”

Vicky reached out to steady Seymour, but he brushed her hand aside without a word and stood up on his own.

It was the very first day of their engagement, and already Seymour had embarrassed her in front of so many guests. Vicky’s face flushed with humiliation.

The Chalfont family quickly gathered around to comfort her.

Vicky’s eyes turned red, but she managed to compose herself within moments. With practiced grace, she greeted guests as if nothing had happened at all.

Still, the incident set off a flurry of whispers among the onlookers.

“Vicky’s in for a rough time now that she’s part of the Raynes family.”

“The Chalfonts were already reaching above their station marrying into the Raynes. If it wasn’t for that one Chalfont who landed herself a spot in the Kingsley family, there’s no way they’d have managed this match.”

“But I heard Mr. Raynes and Miss Chalfont are in love, aren’t they?”

“I doubt it. I bet it’s all because of a pregnancy. I saw Vicky at the OB/GYN last month. She’s probably already expecting.”

“And rumor has it, Seymour was supposed to marry someone else...”

Jocelyn clicked her tongue at the gossip.

Cynthia scanned the room, searching for Juliet, but didn’t spot her anywhere. A look of worry flashed in her eyes, and she was just about to call her sister when Jocelyn tugged her sleeve. Cynthia glanced up to see Juliet walking in from the garden with Old Mr. Raynes.

Accompanying them was a strikingly handsome man.

He wore a perfectly tailored black suit jacket over a deep burgundy silk shirt. He stood tall, maybe six-foot-three, with long, lean legs—there was something effortlessly charming, almost rakish, about him.

As he chatted with Old Mr. Raynes, his gaze kept drifting back to Juliet, his dark, expressive eyes full of mischief and interest.

Juliet kept a polite smile, her cool eyes revealing nothing but a touch of detachment.

Dominic shot her a cool glance and said nothing.

Cynthia bit her lip and tried again, her voice softening. “Nick, who is he? I’m worried the Raynes are setting a trap for my sister.”

He still didn’t answer, so Cynthia tugged gently at his sleeve.

Only then did the tension in his brow ease. He finally spoke, his voice low. “Do you really think your sister is as naive as you?”

Who ends up falling into a trap is still up for debate.

Juliet was clearly ready to leave Tremaine Holdings’ old business behind and start fresh.

Cynthia watched as the group, led by Old Mr. Raynes, took their seats. She caught the way the handsome stranger looked at her sister—like a hunter singling out his prey—and her anxiety grew.

Dominic, noticing her worry, finally relented and answered in a quiet tone, “That’s Julius Channing, heir to the Channing family from Elderhaven.”