Chapter 40

Cynthia lazily tore a piece of bread and put it in her mouth. “Lilian set me up, and I’ve paid her back in kind. Tell her we’re even. But if she keeps playing tricks, I won’t be so polite next time.”

Lilian had smeared Cynthia online, causing her to lose her prime-time hosting position. In return, Cynthia brought Lilian’s mother to the TV station to create a scene, evening the score. Lilian’s troubles seemed far from over.

Filip remained silent before speaking. “I was drunk last night… Did I say anything?”

Cynthia thought of the scar on Filip’s waist, her gaze unconsciously falling there. Filip noticed, his face paling. “You saw it?”

A hint of guilt appeared on Cynthia’s face. “I didn’t know you were hurt that badly.”

Anger and disgust flashed in Filip’s eyes. “Cynthia, don’t look at me like that.”

He saw through her—the guilt and sympathy were fake. She feels disgusted yet pretends guilt; it’s repulsive, Filip thought. Pity alone wounded a man’s pride; false pity was worse.

“I’m sorry. Your injury was because of me,” said Cynthia.

Filip exploded. “Cut the act, Cynthia! You’re disgusted, aren’t you? You even wished I was dead! You’re a vicious hypocrite pretending to be a saint. Why bother?”

Cynthia caught the key to his words. “What did I do to make you think that?”

“Your diary spelled it all out. Are you still going to deny it?” Filip said furiously.

Cynthia had kept a diary since childhood, but she didn’t remember writing anything about hating Filip or wishing him dead. She had also lost a diary in college and hadn’t written in one since.

“You’ve read my diary? Tell me what I wrote that made you think so poorly of me?” she asked.

The memory of what he’d read still hurt Filip deeply.

“You know exactly what you wrote,” he said.

“Since you won’t say, bring out the diary. Let’s settle this face-to-face.” Cynthia suspected the lost diary was in Filip’s possession.

Filip scoffed. “I burned it long ago.”

The atmosphere was unbearably tense.

Cynthia was the first to calm down. “You probably wouldn’t believe me before, but Lilian drove a wedge between us. Now you should see she’s not the innocent person you thought she was. Still, you’ve chosen her, so the past doesn’t matter anymore.”

A dark look flashed in Filip’s eyes.

“I’m tired of fighting with Lilian, openly or secretly. Tell her I’ve given you up. But if she continues to cause trouble, I’ll take back what’s mine—and even what’s not,” she said.

Chapter 40 (continued)

Filip raised his head, staring intently at Cynthia. His expression was cold, his eyes sharp and icy. His voice was equally frigid. “Cynthia, I’m a person, not an object you can just hand over.”

They parted on bad terms. Cynthia found it absurd. Isn’t this what we both wanted? What else can they expect from me? she thought.

After leaving the Yates residence, Cynthia headed to Greenfield Villa.

She hadn’t slept well and planned to catch up. But upon entering, she saw Jonathan coming down from the second floor.

He stopped. Cynthia casually greeted him. “Heading to the office?”

Jonathan just stared. Only after she walked past him did he speak. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

Cynthia checked her phone. “The battery died.”

Jonathan didn’t look pleased. “Did you wait for me last night? I told you I had plans and not to wait up.”

Jonathan locked eyes with her. “You didn’t say you wouldn’t be coming home.”

Cynthia smiled, kissing him lightly. “Sorry, darling. Next time, I’ll let you know.”

She was about to go upstairs when Jonathan grabbed her arm.

“Cynthia, what do you take me for? A lapdog?” His face was flushed with anger. “You pet me when you’re in the mood and kick me aside when you’re not?”

Cynthia didn’t understand his fury. She’d told him not to wait. But he’d been willful before.

She tried to calm him. “I really had something to take care of yesterday. How about I make it up to you tonight?”

This time, his expression darkened. “Your ‘business’ was flirting with Filip in the Opulence Club lobby?”

Cynthia caught on. “So you were at the Opulence Club last night?”

No wonder he’s angry—he saw me with Filip, Cynthia thought. “He was drunk last night, and I just helped him home.”

“Why does it have to be you? Cynthia, what exactly is your relationship with him now?” Jonathan was frustrated.

“Out of gratitude for the Yates family, helping him wasn’t a big deal,” Cynthia said.

Jonathan sneered. “Are you really doing this out of gratitude, or do you still have feelings for Filip?”

He’d overheard Cynthia speaking affectionately to Filip the night before, promising never to abandon him.

Jonathan smiled mockingly. “You really have a way with men, don’t you?”

He grabbed her chin. “Am I not enough for you? Are you that eager to get back with Filip?”

Cynthia’s eyes turned cold, but her lips still held a trace of a smile. “Mr. Bennett, you’re overstepping.”

Chapter 40 (continued)

Jonathan frowned, his gaze dark and stormy.

Cynthia maintained her elegant smile. "Our relationship doesn't require me to explain these things to you, so please don’t act like you're interrogating a criminal. We’re just here for mutual pleasure. We’re not husband and wife, nor are we boyfriend and girlfriend. I can confidently say that I haven’t broken any of the terms of our arrangement. As for my heart and my thoughts, you have no right to control them,” she continued. “If you’re tired of this, Mr. Bennett, you can end it whenever you like. I’ll move out immediately.”

Jonathan stared at her. She hasn’t slept with Filip, but her heart is still with him, and she’s telling me not to interfere, he thought.

He suspected that if he ended their relationship, she wouldn’t hesitate to leave, perhaps even celebrate.