Chapter 332

Chapter 332

The car stopped in an upscale private residential area.

Entry and exit were heavily secured. Not only did they verify license plates, but machines also performed facial recognition on residents.

"Is this another one of your properties?"

The more I looked around, the more suspicious I became.

Leopold turned the steering wheel while explaining, "Yes, I bought this place when I was studying here."

I tensed immediately. "Will Ethan be able to track us here?"

"No. When I purchased this property, I didn't use my own name. I used a friend's."

I was surprised. "Brady?"

"No, a friend from Gravenford Kingdom."

I understood. Anyone Leopold trusted this much couldn't be an ordinary friend.

"Later, I'll find a chance to introduce you," Leopold added.

My heart softened. I nodded gently, then asked, "Orion's here?"

"Yes. I arranged to have him brought here early on. Otherwise, I wouldn't have felt at ease."

The car slowed in front of an ornate gate.

Once the gate slid open automatically, Leopold drove through.

The moment we entered, I noticed the surrounding cameras all swiveling toward us.

"Don't be scared. It's the security system, to prevent anyone from sneaking in."

Seeing my tension, Leopold reassured me.

I relaxed.

In the distance, I could see lights on in the living room and figures moving inside.

Before the car even stopped, someone hurried out.

They stood in the light, watching us.

After looking carefully, I recognized Fanny.

"Mom!"

I couldn't wait to get out. I rolled down the window and waved to her.

"Cindy." Fanny waved back, her other hand holding Orion's.

When Orion saw me, he waved his little hands excitedly. "Mommy!"

"Orion!" I waved back enthusiastically.

The moment the car stopped, I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt, ran out, and pulled Orion into a tight embrace.

At the same time, I reached out with one arm to hug Fanny.

"It's good you're back, so good you're back..." Fanny's voice choked as she held me tightly.

Orion lifted his chubby little arms and wrapped them around both of us.

"Grandma, Mommy."

My emotions collapsed instantly.

I cried uncontrollably.

"Mommy, don't cry." Seeing my tears, Orion lifted his small hand and gently wiped them away.

Hearing his comfort made me cry even harder.

I'd waited so long for this moment.

I'd almost thought it would never come.

Leopold watched us crying together. He didn't want to interrupt, so he just waited nearby.

Finally, James spoke up, his eyes red. "It's windy outside. Cindy just got back—let's go inside to talk."

"Yes." Fanny immediately agreed, releasing me and guiding me inside with her arm around my shoulders. "My fault for being so emotional. Sweetheart, come inside."

Orion clung to my neck, settling into my arms. His little hand brushed my stray hair behind my ear.

Embarrassed, I wiped away my tears as they ushered me in.

Once inside, my emotions had settled.

"Mom, Dad, Ethan said you were at the hotel. How are you here?"

As I spoke, I shot Leopold a look. Why hadn't he told me beforehand?

Leopold shrugged, as if to say, "Didn't have time."

James caught our silent exchange and explained, "When Leopold found out Ethan had put us in a hotel, he knew something was wrong. He sent people to get us out that same night."

"He was worried Ethan would get suspicious, so he had makeup artists impersonate your mother and me and stay at the hotel."

"Fortunately, Ethan was too busy to come in person. Otherwise, we might not have pulled it off."

I was shocked. "You trusted him that easily?"

"Leopold grew up right before our eyes. He wouldn't lie to us," Fanny said. "Besides, if it weren't for Leopold, our family would probably be bankrupt by now."

I looked at Leopold. "When did you figure out Ethan's plan?"

If he hadn't known in advance, Leopold couldn't have solved our family's problems so quickly.

Leopold sat down beside me, ruffled Orion's hair, then took my hand.

"Before you told me David was secretly starting his own business." Leopold explained, "So much had already happened between the Percy family and the Wipere family. Plus, I always suspected Ethan had ulterior motives, so I had people watching him secretly."

I couldn't help saying, "You knew that early and didn't warn us? My parents could have prepared themselves."

James and Fanny heard the displeasure in my tone and quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Cindy, Leopold has his own way of doing things. Don't blame him."

"That's right. Even if he'd told you earlier, you might not have believed him. The important thing is our family didn't suffer any real losses. Don't hold it against him."

I stared at them in shock. "You're taking his side already?"

Before, when they heard Leopold had kept things from me or lied, they'd stood up for me. Why the change now?

Leopold saw how stunned I was and chuckled. "Because now I'm family too."

I was both annoyed and amused. "Toot your own horn."

Fanny quickly reassured me, "Leopold grew up right before our eyes. Now that we know he truly cares about you, of course we trust him."

Orion's big eyes shifted. He cupped my face with his small hands. "Mommy, Orion supports you."

Looking at his innocent, sincere eyes, my heart melted instantly. "Thank you, sweetheart."

Once the atmosphere warmed, Leopold spoke up.

"This place is safe, but there's no guarantee Ethan won't track us down. We need to leave as soon as possible. Only when we're back in Silverlight City will we truly be safe."

His words made us all tense.

James asked, "What's your plan?"

"Before I arrived in Gravenford Kingdom, I already arranged for a private jet. On my way back, I had it come here to pick us up. We can leave in twenty minutes at most."

Fanny looked delighted. "That's wonderful. I'll go pack right now."

"I'll help you." James stood up with her.

Orion looked at us with wide eyes. "Orion has luggage too. I'll pack with Grandpa and Grandma."

With that, he climbed down from me using his hands and feet.

Watching the three of them tactfully leave, I glanced sideways at Leopold. "Did you arrange this too?"

Leopold gripped my hand and pulled me onto his lap in one swift motion.

"Not this. Mom and Dad know we've been apart too long. They're giving us time alone."

"My parents are still here. Don't start." My face flushed as I tried to get up.

But Leopold locked his arms around my waist and pressed me firmly against him.

"Cindy."

His voice was hoarse and low. "Thank God I got you back today. Thank God you're safe. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what to do."

My heart felt like it had been submerged in warm water, heat spreading through my entire body.

I leaned my head against his and said softly, "I knew you'd come. So I kept waiting."

We held each other tightly.

The lamplight flowed peacefully over us. Time itself seemed to stop.

After a moment, I told him about Sophia and Brielle coming to see me.

"I didn't arrange that." Leopold frowned. "Brielle did that to drive a wedge between you and Ethan, to stop the wedding from happening. As for Sophia..."

"Something's wrong! Orion's missing!"

Fanny's panicked shout cut off Leopold's words.