Called Off the Wedding, Left Him Bankrupt novel Chapter 50

"These trinkets are just for show, something to impress outsiders. There's no need to spend a fortune on them. You eat Benedict's food, live under his roof—don't go expecting too much."

Giselle's face went pale, words catching in her throat.

Lois shot her a scornful glance before striding over to the couch and sitting down, her posture radiating arrogance.

She couldn't control Cynthia, but surely she could intimidate Giselle.

Giselle felt so wronged she wanted to burst into tears. She tried calling Benedict, desperate for him to come home, but he didn't pick up.

Meanwhile, after changing all the locks, Cynthia finally felt secure enough to make herself some dinner.

With Lois keeping Giselle company on the other side of the house, Benedict was at last free to go see Cynthia.

He slid his key into the lock, but no matter how hard he turned, it wouldn't budge.

After several failed attempts, it dawned on Benedict that Cynthia must have changed the locks.

Why would she do that all of a sudden? He didn't even need to ask—clearly, this was to keep him out.

He'd already humbled himself so much, even tried to win her over by invoking his mother's name. But she still wanted nothing to do with him.

Frustration flared in his chest, and he started banging on the door, his temper barely in check.

"Cynthia! Open up!"

His shouting grated on the neighbors' nerves. One of them opened their door and snapped, "Keep it down! My kid's doing homework!"

Benedict swallowed his pride and didn't argue, falling quiet for a moment.

But he didn't leave. Instead, he stood outside the door, pulled out his phone, and called Cynthia.

She didn't answer.

Ten minutes ticked by, and Benedict's patience wore thin.

Still, he forced down his anger, closed his eyes, and knocked again—this time with forced calm.

"Grandma, Grandma, it's me, Benedict. Could you come open the door for me?"

He hadn't known.

No one had told him.

He replayed his recent visits in his mind: the bedroom door always shut tight, the memorial photo hanging in the living room. Suddenly, everything made sense.

No wonder Cynthia wouldn't forgive him, no matter how much he tried to make amends or how humble he acted.

She'd once told him her grandmother was her only family in the world.

Losing her must have broken her heart.

And what had he been doing during that time?

He'd been in another city, using a business trip as an excuse to take Giselle on a week-long getaway.

Benedict stood frozen in the hallway, regret heavy in his eyes, his whole body rigid with remorse.