Chapter 67

Cynthia smiled ecstatically and joked, "Didn't you announce to everyone that I'm your girlfriend? This will probably make headlines tomorrow."

But Jonathan suddenly shed his mischievous grin, his eyes turning serious. "But are you my girlfriend?"

Cynthia stared at him. "Of course not."

Disappointment flashed across Jonathan's face. "I was the knight in shining armor rescuing the damsel in distress. I thought you'd be moved."

Cynthia stroked his cheek with slender fingers, her expression unusually gentle. "I am very moved, but this is different. I just crawled out of one fire pit; why would I jump into another?"

Jonathan snorted, clearly dissatisfied. "Am I a fire pit, too?"

Seeing his angry expression, Cynthia's spirits lifted. She pinched his cheek playfully and said bluntly, "You're an even bigger fire pit."

A vast chasm separated them. It wasn't that Cynthia felt inferior or undeserving of Jonathan. She knew the wealthy Bennett family had numerous descendants and complex relationships. Susanna and her husband, Clifford Bennett, had Jonathan when she was in her forties. He also had three accomplished older sisters holding important positions in their vast business empire. All three were married into equally powerful families. Their children were only a few years younger than Jonathan, and most were already involved in the family business.

When Jonathan was under twenty, Clifford appointed him CEO. However, the shares in his name were (The sentence cuts off here; more information is needed). Jonathan, particularly, had the worst relationship with his oldest sister, Whitney Bennett. She repeatedly urged the board to oust him as CEO. If not for Clifford's fierce protection, someone else would already be leading Bennett Group.

So, Jonathan appeared powerful and glorious, but in reality, he was alone at the top, surrounded by enemies. Cynthia didn't want to become entangled in such a complicated relationship.

Jonathan said angrily, "Everyone thinks I'm a ladder they can climb. You're the only one who calls me a fire pit." He sighed inaudibly. Cynthia was right; in his current situation, he was indeed a fire pit. The woman who became the Lady Bennett wouldn't find it easy; she might even face mortal danger. That's why he couldn't make promises lightly.

Jonathan fixed his gaze on her. Her bright face and eyes seemed to dispel the haze and darkness. She had been a beacon in his difficult life since he was eight. He couldn't bear to have her by his side on this precarious path.

He lowered his head and kissed her hard. Cynthia wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back softly and lingeringly.

Chapter 67 (continued)

She would be lying if she said she had no feelings for him, but it wasn't love. Love involved commitment and responsibility—a heavy burden.

They both knew their current arrangement was ideal. They could kiss lingeringly without repercussions, gaining what they wanted without commitment. They were two temporarily intersecting lines; when fate separated them, they could part without hesitation. How strangers viewed their relationship didn't matter as long as they were on the same page. A tacit understanding existed between them.

Jonathan's kiss was intensely lingering, more possessive and frantic than usual. Fireworks bloomed around them, as if they were enveloped in fire, creating a beautiful scene.

And Filip witnessed this. He was leaving the crowd when the fireworks started. He saw Jonathan take Cynthia's hand and leave the banquet hall and somehow ended up following them. He couldn't hear their conversation over the fireworks, but he knew it was romantic. Seeing them embrace and kiss, he felt a knife twisting in his heart.

Filip had known since childhood that Cynthia would be his wife. From learning to walk, they had been inseparable, sharing many firsts: their first hand-hold, skipped class, waltz, and secret drinks. Those were his best memories. He wondered when his mindset shifted; probably after the burns to his waist and thighs.

Looking at the hideous scars, Filip felt inferior, fearing Cynthia's disgust. He covered them as much as possible, even wearing two t-shirts in summer, afraid of accidentally exposing his waist. The more he hid, the stronger his inferiority complex grew.

When Lilian gave him the diary, he raged, losing all rationality, unable to determine its truth. He felt Cynthia would dislike and find him repulsive. When it "really happened," he accepted it as truth, confirming his deepest fears. The monsters of inferiority and fear broke free, destroying his rationality. He didn't even confront Cynthia.

Now, Filip realized he projected his inner demons onto Cynthia. He was the one who abandoned himself first, pushing her away and hurting her deeply. He'd gotten together with Lilian to take revenge. Now, Filip was fully awake—but it was too late.

He turned and left the rooftop.

The next day, Cynthia went to the TV station early. The moment she appeared, colleagues swarmed her with questions.

(The final lines are incomplete and seem to be excerpts from a news report about Cynthia, possibly related to the "Burning Rose" event mentioned.)