Chapter 286

Lilian wasn't merely showing off; Cynthia suspected foul play. But Cynthia didn't know what Lilian was up to. She mused, "Has she already achieved her goal? She stole Filip from me and married him. What else does she want?"

Cynthia decided to confront Lilian directly. Besides, she desperately wanted answers about Silas's death and her own rape. She wasn't afraid of Lilian or her schemes. Lilian had fooled her before by feigning kindness, but those tricks wouldn't work again.

Cynthia agreed to play along, donning the bridesmaid dress Lilian had provided. Emerging from the fitting room, she stunned everyone. The simple white dress accentuated her figure, its long train—matching the bride's—being the highlight. From a distance, it looked like a bridal veil. Despite being a bridesmaid dress, its elegant design, combined with Cynthia's beauty, made her appear more stunning than Lilian.

Cynthia wore no makeup—she didn't want to upstage the bride. The staff looked worriedly at Lilian, but Lilian appeared pleased. "Cynthia, you look amazing!" she exclaimed.

Cynthia gazed at her reflection. The dress was gorgeous. Although she and Filip never obtained a marriage license, they'd had a lavish wedding ceremony—one where Filip had abandoned her at the altar, making her the subject of much gossip. Three years later, she was attending his wedding as a bridesmaid. The irony wasn't lost on her.

She intended to attend; if Lilian tried anything, Cynthia would expose her.

Lilian stood beside Cynthia. "Ms. Zabel, could you take a photo for us?" Tracy obliged, snapping several shots.

Cynthia felt awkward, though. Despite agreeing to be a bridesmaid, she wasn't close to Lilian. The photos felt hypocritical; they stood close together, each lost in thought. "No more photos," Cynthia said, retreating to the dressing room to remove the dress.

When she returned, Lilian was studying the photos. Seeing Cynthia, Lilian recovered. "The photo is awesome. Would you like to take a look?"

"No. No one else is around. We don't need to pretend to be close, Lilian. As promised, I'll attend your wedding, but I hope you keep your word," Cynthia stated, leaving for Jonathan's office.

Since quitting her job, she'd had little to do besides helping Rachel at her restaurant and visiting Jonathan. Simon, aware of this, had called twice, offering her the position of Design Director and Vice President at QUEEN. Cynthia wasn't interested.

First, QUEEN's headquarters were in Betrico, requiring her to leave Roncrity. Second, Simon's company was enormous—over a hundred designers, not including other staff and branches. As "Miss Y," a well-known designer and major shareholder, accepting the position would cause a significant industry stir. She preferred to avoid the spotlight, so she declined, opting to design for Simon in her free time while planning to open a fragrance studio.

Chapter 287 (Corrected Chapter Number)

Upon arriving, Jonathan was on the phone. Cynthia quietly sat on the sofa, eventually falling asleep.

She awoke to darkness; Claude had just finished his report. Seeing she was awake, he left.

Cynthia rubbed her eyes, rose, and sat on Jonathan's lap, leaning against him. "How long did I sleep?" she asked.

"Three hours," Jonathan replied. Cynthia groaned. "Oh, no. I won't be able to sleep tonight." She struggled with sleep; daytime naps disrupted her nighttime rest.

Jonathan embraced her. "If you can't sleep tonight, I'll keep you company."

Cynthia noticed his smirk. "You're the CEO. Can't you think of something else?"

Jonathan teased, "I mean I'm going to accompany you to enjoy the stars and moon, or talk all night. What else are you thinking about?"

Cynthia was speechless. Overhearing Shirley's name, she asked, "Who just called?"

"The lawyer has tracked down the paparazzi who took the photos. They'll soon press charges against Shirley," Jonathan said resolutely. "If convicted, she'll spend the rest of her life in jail."

Cynthia was shocked. She'd considered Shirley merely simple-minded and jealous, not realizing the depth of her machinations. Shirley had secretly kept the video for three years, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. She wasn't foolish; she was vicious and calculating.

"Well, let her reflect on her behavior in jail. Just—" Cynthia hesitated.

"Just what?" Jonathan asked.

"Shirley's two mothers will be upset," Cynthia said, referring to Selena (Shirley's biological mother) and Rachel (her adoptive mother). Knowing Shirley would spend life in prison would break their hearts.

Jonathan seemed to understand. "Well, your biggest weakness is having a soft heart."

He leaned closer, his gaze falling on her lips. "Do you have any plans, honey?" he asked.

"Come with me to a wedding," Cynthia said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Whose wedding?" Jonathan asked, kissing her.

"Filip and Lilian's," Cynthia replied. Jonathan frowned but continued kissing her. "Why do you want to attend their wedding?"

"It'll be fun. Are you going or not?" Cynthia asked. Jonathan wasn't in the mood to answer.

After a while, he released her. "I have a video conference later. I'll ask Claude to take you out for lunch." He wouldn't have let her go otherwise.

Cynthia was hungry. "No need to bother Mr. Gaston. I'm going to grab some food and pack something for you."

Jonathan nodded. "Just grab me a sandwich."

Cynthia left. Shortly after, her phone on the sofa began buzzing. Jonathan initially ignored it, preparing for his meeting, but the persistent buzzing forced him to check it. He frowned upon seeing the messages.

The corrected passage addresses grammar, punctuation, and inconsistencies in chapter numbering. It improves sentence structure and flow for better readability.