Chapter 125
Leopold immediately leaned close to my ear, his voice low. "He's lying."
His scorching breath slithered along my neck like a snake, winding its way down to the pit of my chest. I tried to pull my hand back. Failed.
"Tell him you don't believe it. Make him tell the truth."
Leopold's body heat slowly enveloped me. I steadied my ragged breathing and fired back at Ethan.
"What a coincidence. Last time you failed to alter the test results, and now, when the video gets leaked, your computer conveniently gets stolen?"
"Cindy, I don't blame you for not trusting me." Ethan's voice turned hoarse. "If this bizarre series of events hadn't happened to me personally, I wouldn't believe it either. Let's meet up. I'll show you the evidence."
Leopold's knee pressed against my thigh, his body weight nearly crushing me.
"Say yes."
I shot him a look and bit down hard. "That won't be necessary. I'm busy."
The moment those words left my mouth, he forced my chin up.
"Why won't you listen to me?"
My breathing turned more chaotic.
"Cindy, is someone there with you? I swear I just heard a man's voice!" Ethan caught on, his questions coming rapid-fire.
"It's nothing." I gritted my teeth. "I have to go."
"Cindy, wait."
Ethan stopped me again.
I had no choice but to bring the phone back to my ear. "What now?"
"I really didn't lie to you. Do you believe me?" Ethan stressed again, his tone earnest.
Part of me wanted to verify what Leopold had said earlier. But when the words reached my lips, I decided it wasn't worth it.
"That's all for now. Goodbye."
Before he could respond, I ended the call.
Leopold snatched my phone away and pinned me harder against the seat. His voice dropped to something low and intimate.
"Why didn't you believe him?"
I stayed silent.
When I realized how compromising our position looked, I couldn't help pointing it out.
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
Leopold chuckled softly and admitted it freely.
"It is. Cindy, do you see him clearly now?"
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. "I don't. Not him. Not you either."
I slowly turned my head to meet his uncertain gaze.
"I can't see either of you clearly."
Leopold's smile froze at the corners of his mouth. The air around him turned frigid. Even the temperature inside the car seemed to plummet.
"I'm not like him. I've never lied to you."
I closed my eyes, unable to hold back my mockery.
"My senior did all of this behind the scenes to take me away. But you schemed to stop him and trap me here. What for?"
"Obviously because—"
I knew exactly what he was about to say. I cut him off sharply.
"Don't you dare say 'for me.' It makes me sick just hearing it!"
The coldness in Leopold's eyes exploded, like a dangerously violent storm gathering force.
"Makes you sick?"
Anger simmered in my chest. Seeing him turn aggressive again made my fury ignite like wildfire.
"Yes! You disgust me! We were together for ten years—not ten days. You had countless chances to tell me the truth. But you didn't!"
"Behind my back, you kept seeing Sophia. Every time she needed you, you'd drop everything to run to her side!"
I bit down hard, refusing to let the tears fall.
"Now I'm willing to let you two have each other. Sophia's carrying your child, desperate to marry you—and yet you're still playing both sides. Leopold, where do you get the nerve to think I'd ever trust you again?"
Leopold braced his hands behind him, staring at me in silence. His expression turned even more terrifying.
"I gave Sophia whatever she wanted—not because I cared, but because I owe her."
My tears finally broke free. The second they fell, I scrubbed them away furiously.
"Of course, you owe her. She was the one you loved all along, but you played happy couple with me for ten years. Who else would you owe?"
"What about me! When I was over the moon, planning to marry you, you shattered my happiness with your own hands and ran straight to your true love! Where am I supposed to get back those ten years I gave you?"
Leopold had no answer. For a long moment, he couldn't speak.
The more I wiped, the faster the tears came. Until my entire face was soaked.
"Cindy, don't cry..."
When Leopold reached for me, I recoiled instinctively. My hand found the door handle. I yanked it open and scrambled out.
I speed-walked away, terrified he'd drag me back if I slowed down for even a second.
By the time I got back to Bayview Villas, my emotions had settled somewhat. That's when I realized I'd forgotten something.
Sitting in the living room, it hit me—I'd left Leo at the hospital!
I immediately called Leo.
No answer.
I tried again.
Still nothing.
Just as I was debating a third attempt, Amelia's call came through.
"Cindy, I just got dumped. Can you come keep me company?"
Dumped?
Had she and Leo broken up?
No wonder Leo wasn't answering.
"Send me the address. I'm on my way."
Soon enough, I arrived at the bar where Amelia was. I expected her to be drowning her sorrows in some dark corner.
Amelia had other ideas.
She wore a slinky red dress and was openly flirting with some pretty boy in the packed dance floor. They were practically glued together.
I was speechless. This was the most unique heartbreak response I'd ever seen.
"Cindy!"
Spotting me, she dragged the pretty boy along as she stumbled out of the crowd.
"Over here."
She waved me over. I hurried across.
"How much have you had to drink? Why are you going this hard?"
Amelia gestured for the pretty boy to fetch more drinks. Once he left, she pulled me close with a laugh. "Who says breakups require waterworks? Doesn't the internet say the next boyfriend will be even better?"
Seeing how unbothered she was, I couldn't help but feel sorry for Leo.
"But honestly, none of these guys hold a candle to Leo."
Amelia froze. "Why would I compare them to him? Someone like Leo—you won't find another one in Silverlight City, let alone the entire country."
That perked me right up. "You think that highly of him, so why'd you break up? You two still have feelings—just get back together already."
"Hold up." Amelia rubbed her temples, looking confused. "What does my breakup have to do with Leo? Why would I get back together with him?"
Now I was the confused one.
"Didn't you two rekindle things?"
Amelia's eyes went wide with horror. "Are you kidding? Leo's always been into you!"
I went rigid. "What did you just say?"
Amelia hiccupped, her eyes glassy. She was clearly wasted.
"You didn't know? He came to the bar for you. I even heard you two got up close and personal. How can you still doubt him?"
I was lost. "Leo owns bars. He comes to bars for business. How could it be for me?"
Amelia looked indignant. "Why would I lie to you? Leo doesn't own bars. He's—"
She stopped mid-sentence and clapped a hand over her mouth.
Thinking she'd spotted someone, I instinctively turned around.