Chapter 289 Lifesaving Straw
The next second, Leopold's fist landed squarely on Bodhi's face. Blood instantly spurted from his nose and mouth as he let out continuous wails of pain.
Bodhi covered his bleeding nose, pointing at Leopold, making sounds but unable to form coherent words.
Leopold immediately followed with a kick, sending Bodhi flying. He fell to the ground in a pathetic heap. Just as he tried to push himself up, his collar was grabbed and he was yanked upright. Painful pleas escaped his mouth. "Stop hitting me, stop..."
Leopold gave him no chance to explain—or rather, he had no interest in hearing Bodhi's explanations. Two more punches landed on Bodhi's face. His left eye instantly swelled shut, and he coughed up a mouthful of bloody foam.
The sounds of the scuffle drew the secretary's attention. Opening the door to the bloody scene of Leopold beating Bodhi, he quickly rushed forward to pull them apart, urging, "Mr. Wipere, stop! If you keep this up, someone's going to die."
Die? As if!
Leopold shoved the secretary aside. "None of your business. Get lost!"
Seeing the vicious look in Leopold's eyes and knowing he couldn't stop him, the secretary turned and ran out.
Leopold knew he'd gone to get help. Gripping Bodhi's collar, he looked down at him with contempt, saying through gritted teeth, "Bodhi, you think marrying my dad's daughter makes you my equal? Should I call you stupid or naive?"
Bodhi, resentful from the beating, muttered, "You're a bastard child."
Leopold laughed coldly, his eyes dark and dangerous. "So what if I'm a bastard? Even the closest son-in-law can't compare to a real son. Can't you understand that simple truth? If you can't figure it out, just look at why my position is higher than yours today."
"What's there to be proud of? You're just his pawn," Bodhi sneered.
Leopold stared at him for two seconds. "We're all pawns, but I'm useful and you're not. You're worthless. Remember this—what lets you throw your weight around in this company isn't the career Xiomara begged for you. It's because I, Leopold, tolerate you."
Bodhi, who had always been arrogant and never respected this bastard child, had been an excellent student since childhood, the model of success in others' eyes. He'd clawed his way to his current position, crossed class barriers, only to have Leopold tear away his fig leaf with a few words, reducing him to a worthless person who could only survive in the company by reading Leopold's moods.
Bodhi's pride wouldn't allow him to be outdone by a bastard.
Ignoring his pain, he stood up and grabbed a crystal ornament from the desk, swinging it at Leopold's head.
Leopold dodged by tilting his head, seized Bodhi's wrist, snatched the ornament, and pressed it against Bodhi's face, threatening, "Xiomara fell for you because of this face. If I carve a couple of scars on it, do you think she'll find a better-looking man to play with?"
Bodhi froze.
His mouth was torn, the pain freezing his facial expression. After a moment, he continued, "You're really devious."
Leopold's eyes were cold as an endless abyss, his tone contemptuous. "Only people without brains call others devious. As for this beating today, you deserved it. You know better than anyone why I hit you. When Mr. Preston Wipere gets here, you'd better put on a good show."
Just as he finished speaking, the office door was pushed open.
Leopold didn't turn around. From the footsteps, he knew it was Preston.
Erik, seeing the chaos inside, quickly closed the door and stood guard outside.
Preston walked steadily to Leopold's side. First noticing the blood on Leopold's knuckles, then looking at Bodhi on the floor, beaten bloody, he frowned with a flash of disgust. "Family members fighting in the company—what does this look like? You two really went all out."
Preston's words carried natural authority, implying both were at fault.
Leopold remained unmoved, eyes downcast and expressionless.
But Bodhi, beaten and miserable on the floor, his face twisted in pain, let out a restrained groan. Pretending to be strong, he gripped the desk edge and stood up, respectfully calling out, "Dad, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. Leopold had nothing to do with it. It's all a misunderstanding."
Leopold's lips curved slightly. As expected, Bodhi was following the script he'd anticipated.
Preston bent down slightly to examine Bodhi's face more closely. Bodhi quickly covered it with his hands, stammering, "It's nothing, Dad, really nothing. I fell on my own. Leopold had nothing to do with it."
His explanation only made things worse, painting Leopold as even more villainous.
Leopold looked at Bodhi with a contemptuous smile, but Bodhi didn't understand its meaning.
Preston straightened up, his tone reproachful. "How could you beat him like this? Can't you talk things out calmly?"
Leopold had been waiting for this. At that moment, Bodhi's pupils contracted as he finally understood why Leopold was smiling.
"Dad." Bodhi endured the pain and said, "Don't blame Leopold. It's nothing. I don't blame him. Let's just drop it."
Before Preston could respond, Leopold interrupted, "Don't be so quick to forgive me. Since Mr. Preston Wipere is here, why don't you explain exactly why you got beaten?"
Preston, sharp and perceptive, darkened his expression, his eyes turning cold. "Let's hear it. This beating shouldn't be for nothing."
Bodhi was at a loss. If he explained everything, this beating really would be for nothing.
"...Because," faced with the situation, he could only deny everything, "Dad, honestly, I don't know."
After hemming and hawing, he finally said he didn't know. Leopold knew Bodhi was stupid, but he hadn't expected him to be this stupid.
Did he think saying nothing would end it?
Leopold wouldn't let him off that easily. Seizing this perfect opportunity, he said, "Mr. Preston Wipere, a couple of days ago when the news about Summer and me broke, I'd already had someone take down the trending topic and delete all the photos. But this afternoon, a bunch of fake accounts suddenly stirred up the heat again and spread photos and videos everywhere."
He jerked his chin. "Bodhi did it."
Preston's face suddenly darkened, his gaze sharply turning to Bodhi. "Was it you?" he asked coldly.
Bodhi, with only one eye able to see clearly, his mouth moving, "...Dad, this, this matter... there's, there's a misunderstanding."
Preston stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head. "Was it you?"
Bodhi felt the overwhelming pressure, head bowed low. "This matter..."
"I'm asking—did you do it or not?" Preston suddenly shouted, making Bodhi flinch. "Dad, let me explain, this matter..."
A gleam flashed in Leopold's eyes as he said unhurriedly, "The exchange just updated its data. Celestial Waters Group's stock price has dropped."
Hearing this, Preston's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his eyes sharp as knives. "Look at what you've done! Idiot!" he said viciously.
Bodhi instantly felt suffocated, as if someone was squeezing his heart, the oppression making it hard to breathe.
Looking at Leopold again, he saw the barely perceptible smile at the corners of his mouth, his eyes filled with a victor's satisfaction.
Leopold's arrogant appearance made him hate him even more.
Suddenly, Gemma's voice came from outside the door. "Let me in. Why are you blocking me? Let me in."
Bodhi quickly looked toward the door, as if his lifeline had arrived.