Chapter 36
The Percy Group.
After explaining my purpose to the receptionist, I asked her to contact Leopold's direct line.
"I'm sorry, I don't have clearance to reach Mr. Percy directly. I can only contact his assistant."
I nodded. "That works. Please dial and let me speak with him."
The call connected quickly.
"Mr. Ward, there's a visitor asking for you. She says she'll explain personally... Okay, one moment."
The receptionist handed me the phone.
"Hello, this is Lucinda Wipere. Mr. Donovan Percy asked me to deliver something to him. Could you come down to meet me?"
If I said I had personal business, Leopold would dodge me like last time.
Only invoking Donovan's name would guarantee I wouldn't be turned away.
Sure enough, the voice on the other end agreed.
"Of course. Please wait a moment."
Hearing that voice, I felt that strange sense of familiarity again.
After returning the phone to the receptionist, I asked one more question.
"How many assistants does Leopold have?"
This wasn't confidential information, so she answered readily.
"Mr. Percy has three assistants, each handling different areas."
"Which one does he rely on most?"
"Mr. Ward. He manages all of Mr. Percy's external affairs and some personal matters."
I nodded in understanding. "Thank you."
Minutes later, a composed young man in glasses emerged from the elevator.
"Are you Ms. Lucinda Wipere?"
"That's me."
He gestured politely. "Mr. Percy is expecting you. Please follow me."
I thanked him and accompanied him upstairs.
Leopold's office was decorated in muted grays—all business, all formality.
Just like the man himself.
"Mr. Percy is inside. You can go right in."
The assistant excused himself after speaking.
I pushed the door open directly.
The office temperature was comfortable. Leopold wore a crisp white dress shirt, bent over paperwork.
His features were sharp, his expression severe.
Hearing my footsteps, he glanced up coldly and cut straight to the point.
"Using my grandfather as an excuse to see me. What do you really want?"
I walked to stand across from him, studying him carefully. "Leopold, have you been at the office all day?"
He frowned impatiently. "Why would I need to explain my schedule to you?"
That cutting tone—only he could deliver it quite that way.
So my earlier suspicions were just paranoia.
"You're right. I'll go then."
If it wasn't him, there was no point wasting time.
"Lucinda Wipere!"
My inexplicable behavior clearly irritated him.
I reached the door, then suddenly doubled back. "Actually, I almost forgot something."
I lunged forward and grabbed Leopold's right hand firmly.
His eyes turned glacial. "What the hell are you doing?"
Leo's forearm abrasions had been pretty severe.
If Leopold were really Leo, there'd be some sign—some reaction.
Clearly, I'd let my imagination run wild.
That pretty boy who kept pursuing me, desperately trying to be with me—how could he possibly be Leopold?
"Sorry." I released his hand and pulled a document from my bag. "This is the agreement to terminate our arrangement early. Please sign it."
After a glance, Leopold's expression turned ugly.
"I told you—you don't get to call this off."
My heart gave a small, sharp twist, but my resolve held firm.
"I've already signed. Don't worry, I've told my parents we're done. They've accepted it. You don't need to force yourself to visit me anymore."
"And I won't accompany you to see your grandfather either."
I drew a careful breath, my tone almost pleading. "Leopold, for the sake of our ten years together, can we at least end this with some dignity?"
Leopold's expression turned thunderous, dark as storm clouds gathering.
"You want dignity?"
He snatched up the agreement, tearing it viciously into shreds and hurling the pieces at me.
"Lucinda, you don't deserve it!"
I closed my eyes, letting the torn paper rain down on me.
Each fragment felt like a blade driving into my heart.
Once the sharpest pain passed, exhaustion crashed over me.
The kind that seeped from my bones.
"I understand."
"Leo, my wound's all bandaged, you—"
Suddenly, Sophia pushed through the door.
Seeing me, mockery flickered in her eyes before she approached with theatrical concern.
"Cindy, when did you get here? What's all over the floor?"
I didn't want her near me. I instinctively raised a hand to stop her.
But Sophia's steps suddenly faltered, and she tumbled straight to the ground.
I stared in shock. I hadn't touched her.
"Cindy." Sophia sat on the floor, tears pooling in her eyes as she trembled with accusation. "I was just concerned about you. Why did you push me?"
"Lucinda, if you're angry with me, take it out on me—don't use her as your punching bag!"
Leopold rushed over and carefully helped Sophia to her feet.
"Leo, I'm fine." Sophia's voice wavered through her tears. "Cindy probably didn't mean it. I just lost my balance."
Leopold's face darkened. "You don't need to defend her. I know exactly what happened."
My whole body shook with fury. "Who's really attacking who here? Do you even know that ten minutes ago, Sophia ordered her driver to run me down?"
"If I hadn't been lucky, I might not even be standing here right now!"
Leopold stiffened, turning to Sophia. "Did you really do that?"
"No, Leo." Sophia shook her head frantically. "The brakes failed. I already explained this to Cindy, but she wouldn't believe me."
"She even got her boyfriend to hit me. Look—these marks on my face are from him. If the driver hadn't protected me, I might not have made it here to see you."
Sophia dissolved into quiet sobs.
I immediately shot back, "Stop twisting everything! You hit someone and wouldn't admit it, then cursed me to die young—that's why Leo slapped you!"
"Say one more word and I'm calling the police right now!"
Sophia glared daggers at me before turning to Leopold with a pitiful expression.
"Leo, I'm not lying. It was my first time experiencing brake failure—I was terrified. I was so scared I'd never see you again. I kept praying, and that's the only reason I survived."
"Cindy, I did say some things in the heat of the moment, but you deliberately twisted my words and refused to believe me. But it's okay—I did say things I shouldn't have. I apologize. I'm sorry..."
I knew Sophia was silver-tongued, but I never imagined she could distort reality this thoroughly.
"Sophia, you—"
"Enough!"
Leopold cut me off impatiently.
"Nobody wants accidents to happen. Sophia's been slapped, she's apologized, and you pushed her for good measure. Let's just call it even."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
That car accident that nearly killed me was nothing more than a petty squabble that could be smoothed over with an apology!
"Leopold, how can you treat me like this?"
He countered coolly, "What else do you want?"
I stared at him, realizing the Leopold before me was a complete stranger.
Just then, commotion erupted outside.
"Mr. Donovan Percy, please wait—"
Before we could react, Donovan stormed through the door, fury radiating from every line of his body.