Chapter 126
As night fell, Cynthia returned to Greenfield Villa. For a moment, as she reached the door, she wished the lights inside were on, welcoming her home, but she quickly reminded herself, Jonathan and I are no longer together. I can’t rely on him for comfort or companionship anymore.
Once inside, Cynthia turned on every light, filling the mansion with a warm glow. She then switched on the TV, tuning into a popular variety show filled with laughter and cheerful noise. Cynthia turned up the volume, hoping the lively sounds would fill the room, creating an atmosphere that would ease the weight of emptiness. Soon, she found herself dozing off on the couch, the TV still blaring in the background.
Meanwhile, in the CEO’s office in the BJ Building, Claude had just finished his report. Then he said, “Mr. Bennett, Ms. Jones is back in the country. She landed in Roncrity at 11:30 am and should be at Greenfield Villa by now. Do you want to see her?”
He knew Jonathan was still watching Cynthia from a distance, his thoughts lingering on her. He hoped they would find their way back to each other again. Only then could Jonathan return to a normal life.
With Cynthia no longer by his side, Jonathan had become a workaholic, completely absorbed in his work and pushing those around him to their limits. Claude, Jonathan’s personal secretary, was on call 24/7, always ready to respond to Jonathan’s demands, and he felt the strain of the nonstop work.
He wasn’t alone in his exhaustion; the entire company was worn out from Jonathan’s relentless pace, particularly after a series of recent acquisitions that drained the team and left them overwhelmed.
Jonathan was a brilliant businessman, and under his dynamic leadership, the team achieved a series of significant victories However, he had expected everyone to keep pace with his grueling schedule, filled with endless meetings, proposals, and reports that never seemed to end.
Claude thought, ‘Mr. Bennett is losing his mind. Without Ms. Jones‘ presence, the company would be on the brink of disaster. If she doesn’t return soon, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand the pressure much longer!
Jonathan’s frown deepened when he heard Claude’s words while reviewing a proposal. “Claude, don’t you have enough work to do?” His tone was icy.
Claude immediately understood the implication. “No, I’ll get back to work,” he replied, quickly leaving the room.
Left alone, Jonathan put down his pen and leaned back in his leather chair, rubbing his temples as fatigue washed over him. He knew exactly what Claude was implying, but whenever he tried to rest, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to Cynthia.
They had been separated for almost a month, at least for Cynthia Jonathan brushed his fingers along the faint scar on his temple, a lingering reminder of the last time she had thrown something at him. He still felt the pain, both physically and emotionally. Cynthia had been merciless, and Jonathan knew he couldn’t get close to her now.
Whitney was overseas in lugrea but kept tabs on him in the company through her accomplice, Jonathan allowed it to continue because it served his purpose of getting Whitney to understand what he wanted her to know.
Whitney had already caught wind of his three–year relationship with Cynthia, which made her suspicious. Jonathan had to convince her that Cynthia was just a fling and nothing serious. If Whitney ever discovered how much Cynthia truly meant to him, things could get dangerous.
He missed her, but he couldn’t go near her–not now. Jonathan was worried that they might have ended things forever. He would not risk reaching out to her until he had the power to protect her. He thought, ‘I can’t let Whitney know that Cynthia is my weakness!‘
The Paradise Resort project was his last card. If the project went according to plan, Clifford would hand over Jonathan complete control, giving him the leverage to take Whitney down. Once he got that, he would find a way to take everything from Whitney and leave her with nothing.
10:06 Thu, Nov 7 u
Chapter 126
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However, time was running out, and he couldn’t shake off his worries. He feared that Cynthia might not have been able to wait for him, or she might have moved on with someone else. Even if she learned the truth later, she might not have cared by then.
Cynthia’s vacation ended the next day, and she returned to RNN. During a meeting. Freddie announced, “Cynthia and I have learned a lot at BCB. Our higher–ups have decided to partner with them to produce a new variety show involving Mr. Lowe, the director of some major variety show hits.”
He then turned to Cynthia and said. “You’ll be in charge of coordinating with Mr. Lowe’s team. This show is our groundbreaking project, and a lot of effort is being put into it. You need to take it seriously
Cynthia calmly replied, “Why me? What about my anchor duties?”
Freddie replied, “Linda is coming back. So, don’t worry–the prime anchor spot is still yours. However, if you’re busy, Linda will be your backup. How does that sound?”
Linda Vargas had been with RNN for ten years, holding the top anchor position before leaving for BCB. She returned in less than two months, raising questions about her value in the industry. It was unexpected for RNN to bring her back so quickly.
However, Linda had always taken after Cynthia. When Cynthia prst joined RNN, Linda mentored her, and they had gotten along well. Therefore, Cynthia nodded and replied, “I’m fine with it.”
Freddie was not surprised. Although Cynthia might have seemed distant sometimes, she was loyal and caring toward those who mattered to her. He said, “Good, then it’s settled. I’ll send you the contact information for Lowe’s team. This variety show is a big deal for us. If it’s a success, you’ll be the hero of RNN. Our head mentioned that if the show takes off, he’ll consider taking the company public and giving you stock options.”
Cynthia’s interest was piqued at the mention of stock options. She had always loved stocks; after all, she had agreed to be Queen Jewelry’s designer since Simon had promised her shares. The mention also reminded her of another important matter–Shirley’s shares. It was time to reclaim them.
Before she could act on that thought, Cynthia received a phone call that afternoon. The caller ID made her pause–it was Selena. For the first time in three years, Selena was reaching out. When Cynthia saw the word “Mom” flash on the screen, hey heart ached, but she answered, “What is it, Mrs. Jones?”
There was a brief silence on the other end. “Cynthia, do you really refuse to call me ‘Mom anymore? Selena’s voice trembled with emotion.
Cynthia bit her lip before responding. “You’re the one who didn’t want me.
The silence stretched, and then Cynthia heard Selena softly crying. After a long pause, Selena spoke again, her voice steadier but still fragile. “If you won’t acknowledge me, that’s fine, but you need to come to the hospital. Your dad had a heart attack and has been admitted.”
SEND GIFT
