Ch. Called Off the Wedding 26 Called Off the Wedding 26

Chapter 26 

“Want me to drive you home?” 

Cynthia shook her head. “That’s not necessary.” 

She slipped out of Benedict’s grasp and strode out of the conference room. 

Giselle scrambled to her knees and crawled to block her path 

“Cynthia…” 

Cynthia paused, a faint smile curving her lips. 

“Miss Channing, you can drop the act” 

She glanced down at Giselle, voice cool and edged with mock concem. “You’re not really fit for work at the moment. Wouldn’t it be easier to let them keep you safe and pampered, like a little songbird in a gilded cage? 

Her words hung in the air, pointed and unmistakable. Benedict’s expression stiffened, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. 

Giselle lowered her head at once, falling silent. 

Benedicts face had gone rigid, that guilty look refusing to fade.} 

“Cynthia…” he began 

Cynthia’s gaze slid to Giselle’s hand, where angry red welts from a burn stood out against pale skin 

“Look at your hand. It’s already turning red–it’ll be much worse by tonight. There’s not much work you’ll be able to do for now, is there? 

Her tone was gentle, almost sympathetic, and Benedict’s tense posture seemed to loosen. He moved closer to her, slipping an arm around her waist, lowering his head to murmur softly. 

“I shouldn’t have let things get so out of hand on the one day you actually come to the office. That’s on me. I’ll clear my schedule for the rest of the day–let me keep you company.” 

Cynthia didn’t answer. She tumed, glancing back over her shoulder Giselle was slumped on the floor, face ashen, glaring up at her with a mixture of resentment and despair. 

Benedict’s grip at her waist unconsciously tightened. 

He’s worried I’ll make things worse for her, Cynthia thought 

She lifted Benedict’s hand off with a flick of her wrist and strode down the hall to her own office. 

At the door, she stopped and shot Benedict a look, nodding for him to open it! 

He let out a resigned sigh and, seeing she wouldn’t take no for an answer, unlocked the door for her. 

Cynthia paused in the doorway, her eyes icy as she surveyed the familiar space. 

The office layout was largely unchanged. The photo of her and Benedict still sat on the bookshelf. But now, the room was cluttered with personal items that didn’t belong to her 

She stepped inside, reached behind the door, and pulled out a golf club. 

Benedict’s brow furrowed; he stepped forward, trying to stop her. 

“Cynthia 

Before he could finish, che swung the club–hard–catching him sharply in the side. Then, without pausing, she went to town on the entire office. 

Benedict didn’t try to 

try to stop her again. He stood off to the side, pressing an ice pack–courtesy of Assistant Frank–against his face, watching with a cold, unreadable expression. 

By the time she was finished, the office was a disaster zone. Cynthia tossed the now–bent golf club aside with a careless flick. 

There was a wild freedom in that gesture, as if she’d finally let go of something she’d been holding onto. Benedict felt a sudden, inational fear that she was about to walk out of his life for good. 

He frowned, voice cautious. “Teel better now?“% 

This time, he kept his distance, watching her from across the room. 

Cynthia smoothed a stray lock of hair from her forehead, fixing Benedict with a wry smile. 

“I’m fine now” 

There was a reckless, liberated spark in her eyes. 

Benedict just stood there, frowning in silence I 

Chapter 26 

his 

Cynthia turned and walked out of the office. 

Benedict followed, a few paces behind. He noticed a thin cut across her palm and reached for her hand 

“You’re hurt.“} 

Maybe it was adrenaline, but Cynthia hadn’t even noticed the sting. She tried to pull her hand away, but he held on, steering her toward office. 

She shook him noff, her voice flat with imitation. “It’s nothing. Not worth fussing over.”]] 

The words hit him like a blow, leaving him tense and frustrated. 

His face darkened. He stepped closer, his tone tight and insistent. 

ur own health. Don’t hurt 

“All right, you’ve yelled, you’ve smashed up the place–I let you do whatever you needed. But don’t joke about your yourself just to get a reaction from me, to make me feel quilty.“8 

Cynthia stared at him with cold, impenetrable eyes. She didn’t answer, but inwardly, the whole thing just felt absurd X 

Benedict reached for her again, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his embrace, holding her tight 

“Cynthia, don’t do this. I already feel guilty enough.”