Chapter 133
My face filled with confusion. Leopold had already left, hadn't he?
Sophia looked equally shocked. "Leo, what are you doing here?"
Leopold's lips curved slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "How else would I find out what game you're playing?"
Sophia shook her head frantically. "Leo, let me explain—Cindy forced me to do this! She said you definitely haven't gotten over her yet. She pressured me to stage all this to make me give up."
She clutched her belly, looking pitifully vulnerable. "I didn't want to agree, but she threatened the baby. Said if I didn't cooperate, she'd kill the child and me."
Watching her play her trump card again, my expression remained blank.
In the past, whenever she acted weak and pitiful, Leopold would believe her without question, deciding all the blame lay with me.
So I didn't bother arguing.
But to my surprise, Leopold glanced at the men restraining me, his tone almost mocking. "So you're saying Lucinda had someone lock her in a cellar and then had them drag her away—all to threaten you?"
Sophia was clearly panicking, scrambling for an explanation. "No, these two men—she brought them. I'm also confused about why she'd do something so pointless."
She turned toward me, shooting me meaningful looks while prompting gently, "Cindy, explain yourself. What exactly are you trying to do?"
I had no intention of explaining, but when I noticed the ring she was toying with between her fingers, I paused.
That looked like Amelia's.
What was she implying?
Had she locked Amelia up somewhere, too?
"Sophia's right. I staged all of this myself. If I can't be happy, neither can any of you!"
I played along with Sophia's narrative. The corner of her mouth lifted slightly.
When she turned back to Leopold, she put on a wounded, coquettish expression.
"Leo, you heard her. Cindy admitted it herself. This really has nothing to do with me."
I didn't look at Leopold, but I could feel his gaze boring into me—silent yet piercing.
"Lucinda, do you really think I'm an idiot?"
I didn't care what he thought.
Though I suspected deep down that Sophia wouldn't dare hurt Amelia, I was also afraid she might actually lose her mind and do something irreversible.
Besides, this kind of false accusation wasn't new to me. One more time didn't make much difference.
Strangely, Leopold seemed particularly invested this time.
He strode over to me, his gaze sweeping across my collar, his pupils instantly darkening.
The two men restraining me were clearly intimidated by his powerful presence and released me on their own.
Leopold looked down at me, his brow furrowed. "You're just going to let her push you around?"
I was rotating my arms when his words made me pause slightly.
Leo had once asked me the same thing.
But Leopold wasn't him.
I said nothing.
Leopold's breathing grew heavier, as if he was suppressing his anger.
"Leo, don't be angry. Cindy just hasn't thought things through—that's why she did this."
"Your grandfather's still waiting for you. Don't keep the old man waiting too long."
Sophia once again invoked Donovan.
Leopold's jawline tensed to the extreme. Finally, he exhaled.
"Then let's go."
He walked past me, heading straight outside.
My heart suddenly felt hollow—an indescribable sensation.
"Leo, wait for me."
Sophia shot me a triumphant glance and hurried after him.
But Leopold had only taken two steps before stopping again.
"Lucinda, why are you standing there like a statue? You're the person Grandpa most wants to see."
My head snapped up toward him.
Sophia gritted her teeth in fury, also turning to look at him. "Leo, but your grandmother said..."
"The Percy family's affairs are none of your business."
That single sentence left Sophia seething, practically grinding her teeth to dust.
I couldn't figure out Leopold's intentions, but I wanted to see Donovan.
So without hesitation, I followed.
This time at the hospital, before Alicia could speak, Leopold stated flatly, "Grandma, don't say anything I don't want to hear."
At his words, Alicia's expression instantly darkened.
True to form, she didn't attack me verbally, just shot me a vicious glare.
I didn't take it to heart. Instead, I scanned the area and realized Amelia wasn't there. My nerves went on high alert.
"Mrs. Harper Percy, isn't Amelia at the hospital?"
Harper instinctively looked around, puzzled. "She was just here a moment ago. Where'd she go?"
David also started searching. "Where did that girl run off to?"
I whipped my head toward Sophia. She showed no trace of guilt—instead, she flashed me a provocative smile.
"You—"
"Finally made it."
Amelia rushed in, breathless, carrying a delicate takeout box.
"Leopold said no one's had lunch yet, so he specifically sent me to get food."
"Here, Mom, Dad, this is yours. Grandma, this is for you—Leopold knows your appetite hasn't been great lately, so he specially asked me to get you chicken soup."
Alicia's expression immediately brightened.
"Leopold truly is my grandson. Even if he doesn't say it, I'm still the person he cares about most."
As she spoke, she shot me a pointed, triumphant look.
Amelia handed the rest to Leopold, smiling. "Grandma, it's windy here. I had someone set up tables and chairs nearby. Let's go eat over there."
Seeing my hands empty, Alicia looked thoroughly pleased and left with Amelia.
"Mom, Dad, come join us."
At Amelia's words, both David and Harper glanced between Leopold and me.
David seemed about to say something, but Harper pulled him away.
Suddenly, it was just Leopold and me.
The atmosphere turned awkward.
"This is from that restaurant you love—their hot dog. Want to try it?"
A takeout box appeared before me. Though still sealed, the aroma was already spreading through the air.
It really was my favorite.
But I didn't reach for it.
"Did Amelia actually go buy food just now?"
Leopold looked slightly confused. "Yeah, I sent her. Why?"
I exhaled quietly. "Nothing. I just suddenly remembered something. Are you really no longer the Percy family heir?"
Leopold looked at me, his gaze deep and unfathomable.
"Are you worried about me?"
I avoided his eyes, my tone neutral. "No. I just don't want to carry more blame. If it's because of me, I'm telling you it's not necessary."
Leopold's expression turned cold. "Am I a burden to you?"
I walked a couple of steps toward the window.
The sunlight hid behind heavy clouds, making the entire sky look oppressive.
"Leopold, we should go back to our respective positions. Stop this entanglement."
"Not a chance!"
Leopold quickly came to my side, his tone forceful. "Don't forget what you promised me. If you go back on your word, you'll pay the price."
"Fine. Then name your terms." I asked flatly.
A layer of frost formed in Leopold's eyes, cold enough to chill my heart.
Having opened this door, I was naturally prepared for him to make things difficult.
Whatever conditions he set, I'd do my absolute best to fulfill them. That way, we could finally be even.
"Log into social media. Look at the trending news."
At Leopold's words, I whipped my head toward him. "That's your condition?"
Leopold's eyes were dark and somber. "Yes. That's my only condition."
Suspicious, I opened the app. One glance and I froze.
A news story had appeared in the trending topics.
[SHOCKING REVERSAL! Rumors about Lucinda Wipere proven false and baseless. Assailants now in custody—official statement released!]