Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 63

Dominic watched her puffed-up cheeks for a moment, then picked up the figurine and turned it over in his hands.

"You like it that much?"

Cynthia nodded so hard it was almost comical.

"I can't even describe what I felt when I saw her again," she blurted out. "It was this wild mix of awe and nostalgia."

It was as if she'd collided headlong with her own youth.

Her eyes sparkled with uncontainable joy.

Dominic, holding her gaze, simply set the figurine back inside the display cabinet.

"Funny, isn't it? Sometimes something has to disappear before we realize how precious it is."

A lump formed in Cynthia's throat.

"But I designed her—how could she ever disappear?"

Dominic closed the glass door with a quiet click. "If you hadn't stumbled across her today, Miss Tremaine, would you have even remembered? All these years you've forgotten her—hasn't that been a kind of disappearance in itself?"

He stood a little distance away, watching her, a cold, ironic smile tugging at his lips.

"She could have been remembered by so many more people."

Cynthia's breath hitched. A flicker of sadness crossed her face.

She looked utterly crushed, as if Dominic's words had struck the final blow.

Dominic turned away, his tone cool and detached as he walked past her.

"So, Miss Tremaine, are you still in the mood to see the project?"

Snapping out of her daze, Cynthia noticed Dominic had settled himself comfortably on the sofa, looking perfectly at ease. She couldn't help but grumble, "Of course I am!"

But Dominic didn't budge.

Cynthia noticed how uninterested he seemed in Valmont Holdings' project, and her irritation flared.

"Mr. Holloway, don't tell me you're planning to back out of investing in Valmont Holdings?"

Dominic arched an eyebrow. "What gives you that idea?"

"You were just waiting for me to throw a tantrum—then if I refused to show you the project, you'd have the perfect excuse to pull out. Don't even try to deny it."

His eyes flashed with amusement, lips quirking in a half-smile.

"Not bad. You're sharper than I thought."

She'd nailed his intention.

Cynthia froze. She'd already struck a deal with Dominic, and yet Jenny had gone behind her back and contacted Benedict.

Seeing her speechless, Dominic frowned and loosened his collar.

"Go home, Miss Tremaine. If you change your mind and decide not to sell VistaSphere Group's shares to me, let Shaw know as soon as possible. No sense wasting our legal department's time drafting contracts."

"I won't change my mind," Cynthia replied quickly.

Dominic glanced at her, his gaze cool. "Then I'll thank you for your honesty, Miss Tremaine."

Cynthia could hear the sarcasm in his voice. She bit her lip, silently cursing Jenny.

"Putting all this aside, Mr. Holloway, what do you actually think of Valmont Holdings' project?"

She knew Jenny was probably worried Holloway Enterprises would look down on their project—hence the desperate move. Benedict, meanwhile, would drag things out just to spite her for Giselle's sake.

Cynthia hated owing favors, and she didn't want Valmont Holdings' project to suffer because of her.

"It has potential," Dominic replied, unwilling to elaborate.

Cynthia's eyes hardened with resolve. "It's more than just promising. This project will shape the future of Cloudcrest City."

"I've studied Cloudcrest's development and planning over the years. The city's economy has stagnated, and whoever's in charge will want to make their mark. Valmont Holdings' project is exactly the kind of opportunity the city needs—sooner or later, people will notice."