Chapter 335

Chapter 335

The metallic smell of blood rushed into my nostrils.

My mind went completely blank.

At the same moment, a silver flash swept past.

"Cindy, get back!"

Leopold charged forward, grabbed my wrist, and yanked me behind him.

I turned instinctively and saw him pull his gun from his waist, aiming forward.

The deathly silence around us shattered instantly.

Heavy, chaotic footsteps emerged from the shadows on all sides.

The exit of the abandoned parking garage was completely sealed off by dozens of armed men in black.

Brielle was also surrounded by her people in the center, watching warily.

The next second, two figures slowly emerged from behind the crowd.

One was David.

The other was a mature woman who bore a three-point resemblance to Brielle.

Though I'd never seen her before, I knew she was the head of the Seymour family—Brielle's mother, Lauren Seymour.

She was so powerful that her children all took her surname.

And no one dared question it.

"Mr. Percy, it's been a while."

Lauren's red lips curved upward as she walked elegantly toward Leopold.

Leopold kept me behind him and responded calmly, "Mrs. Seymour."

"Still calling me Seymour?" Lauren's tone was teasing. David stepped out from behind her, smiling as he corrected him. "Leopold, you need to change how you address her now. You should call her 'Aunt.'"

Leopold didn't respond.

"Mommy." Brielle lost her earlier arrogance and walked respectfully to Lauren.

Lauren nodded faintly. "Thank you for your hard work."

Brielle quickly shook her head. "It wasn't hard."

Though they were mother and daughter, their conversation felt like that of superior and subordinate.

I grew nervous and gripped Leopold's sleeve tightly.

Suddenly, David spoke again. "Leopold, I went to great lengths just to meet with you."

"For the sake of family, give me what I want, and I'll let you leave safely."

David had made too many empty promises like this. I didn't believe a single word.

If he hadn't secretly worked with Sophia, Orion wouldn't have been captured and brought here.

And judging by today's setup, they were clearly here to ambush Leopold.

Leopold's grip on my hand tightened.

He seemed to see through their intentions as well.

"David, with this kind of setup, it doesn't look like you plan to let us walk away easily."

"Mr. Percy misunderstands." Lauren's tone was unhurried, maintaining perfect composure. "I brought people in because I thought Brielle was in danger. I was anxious and accidentally injured your man."

She didn't even glance at the dead guard. "But to show my sincerity, I'm willing to pay compensation. I hope Mr. Percy won't be angry..."

"Mrs. Seymour's words lack sincerity." Leopold cut her off coldly. "I need to remind you that all the Seymour family's criminal evidence is stored on my encrypted server. If I don't walk out of here, that information will immediately be sent to the authorities and hundreds of media outlets, both domestic and international."

At those words, Lauren, David, and Brielle's faces changed dramatically.

David lowered his voice. "Leopold, no matter what, we're family. You don't need to go this far."

"David, 'better safe than sorry'—that's what you taught me. Though you've probably forgotten now."

Leopold swept his cold gaze toward David, his tone like ice. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have done these heinous things behind Grandpa's back."

"Mr. Percy, lecturing my people in front of me—isn't that a bit disrespectful?" Seeing David was no match for Leopold, Lauren deliberately challenged him.

She was trying to seize control of the conversation.

If it were me, I wouldn't have been able to find a reasonable response.

But Leopold refused to be led. He scoffed. "If I truly didn't respect you, you'd be at the police station right now, not here."

Their verbal sparring instantly tightened the air.

Everything around us went quiet.

I faintly heard weak sobbing coming from the small door leading to the basement.

"Mommy... Orion's scared..."

That was Orion's voice!

Maternal instinct shattered my reason instantly.

I gripped Leopold's arm. "Orion's crying. Did you hear him?"

Leopold heard it too. He turned to me. "Don't worry. We'll rescue him soon."

"How can I not worry?" I stared intently at that small door, my heart filled with guilt and self-blame. "Orion's right there. I can't leave him alone anymore."

I suddenly pulled away from him. Leopold's face changed. "Cindy, wait—"

I didn't listen. I rushed toward the half-open door regardless of everything.

Behind me, chaotic sounds erupted.

I didn't look back. I pulled the door open, slipped inside, and quickly shut it behind me.

"Orion, Mommy's here."

The moment I turned around, everything went black.

Before I could react, a dull pain struck my forehead.

Then someone shoved me to the ground.

"You ran pretty fast, Lucinda."

Sophia's voice echoed from the corner.

She walked out slowly in high heels, holding a bloody glass bottle in her hand.

Ignoring the pain, I flipped over and scrambled to my feet, staring at her intently. "What did you do to Orion!"

My peripheral vision searched frantically for any sign of Orion.

"Relax. That little bastard's in the room inside. He won't die just yet."

Sophia sneered disdainfully and moved closer to me. "Lucinda, I knew you'd come in here. I've been waiting specially for you."

My forehead throbbed. I had to hold my head to steady myself.

"Lucinda, do you know why I've been waiting here for you?"

Sophia looked at me with a smile, her eyes full of contempt.

"After today, Leopold will be crushed under David's foot and lose everything."

"And I'm the only one who can help him rise again! By then, he'll naturally realize who's truly right for him. He'll kick you and that bastard child to the curb!"

Sophia suddenly raised the glass bottle, her eyes wild as she swung it toward me.

Seeing her crazed expression, I laughed bitterly. "Sophia, is your brain full of water? David can't even tolerate Leopold. Do you think he'll tolerate you?"

Sophia froze, glaring at me viciously. "Stop trying to turn us against each other. I'm not falling for it."

I noticed a figure in the corner diagonally across from me.

But because it was so dark there, I couldn't confirm if it was Orion.

"Outside, David and Lauren are working together to ambush Leopold. Do you think they'll keep you around after this is over? You're just bait they used to lure us in. Soon you'll be a discarded pawn no one cares about! You're not even worthy of carrying their shoes, and you're dreaming about helping Leopold rise again?"

"Shut up!"

Sophia reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her face twisting.

"David promised me he'd make Leopold marry me! But first, you have to die!"

She roared and lunged at me with a knife.

Just as the blade was about to pierce me, another deafening roar came from outside.

Like more people had arrived.

The light hanging overhead swayed violently from the tremor.

Sophia was distracted by the sudden change. I seized the opportunity, got to my feet, and kicked her knee.

She screamed and lost her balance, collapsing to the ground.