Chapter 10
I gritted my teeth against the pain and pulled myself up using the edge of the chair, watching Leopold escort Sophia away. Even as my eyes burned, I stubbornly refused to blink.
Only by facing reality, no matter how painful, could I finally break free from the prison that was Leopold.
"Miss, would you like me to call a doctor for you?" A kind passerby approached me.
"Thank you, but I'm fine," I shook my head, politely declining as I slowly stood up. The moment my left foot touched the ground, a stabbing pain shot through my knee, making me suck in a sharp breath.
"Young lady, that leg looks pretty bad. You really should see a doctor," the stranger insisted.
After catching my breath, I nodded. "You're right. I'll go now."
The doctor reviewed my scan results and sighed. "Ms. Wipere, your leg injury is worse than your last examination. It appears to have suffered a forceful impact."
"Take my advice—you're so young, you need to take better care of your body. Your traumatic arthritis is already severe. If you don't start treatment soon, by the time you're in a wheelchair, it'll be too late."
My heart tightened. "Doctor, if I start treatment... does that mean I can't dance anymore?"
"That's right. Once treatment begins, you'll need complete rest. Forget dancing—even extended walking will be off-limits."
That wouldn't work. The international ballet competition registration opened in just ten days. I had to seize this opportunity.
"Is there any way to manage it temporarily? Medication or injections—anything that could get me through the next three months?"
The doctor thought for a long moment before relenting. "Alright, I'll prescribe some medication to control your condition. But if you experience any discomfort, you must come to the hospital immediately."
"Of course," I agreed instantly. As long as my condition didn't worsen, I could manage.
Leaving the doctor's office, my knee still throbbed with dull pain. All thanks to Sophia. Originally, I hadn't cared who would be the lead dancer in next week's performance, but now I'd changed my mind.
After picking up my prescription, I went to visit Donovan. Despite my efforts to walk normally, he spotted my injury immediately.
"Cindy, is your leg injured? Let me see."
When he started to rise from his hospital bed, I quickly said, "Grandpa, I'm fine. Please rest."
But Donovan was insistent. "You don't need to pretend to be strong in front of me. If you won't let me look, I'll call the doctor in."
Unable to refuse, I rolled up my pant leg, revealing my badly bruised knee.
"How did this happen?" Donovan was furious. "You're injured and where's Leo? I told him to pick you up! Where is he?"
Not wanting to worry him, I didn't mention Sophia, just said I'd accidentally bumped it.
Donovan was both concerned and angry. "That worthless boy is getting more and more irresponsible. Don't worry, Cindy. When he shows up, I'll give him a piece of my mind!"
I was about to object when Leopold appeared, pushing Sophia in a wheelchair. The moment they entered, Sophia smiled sweetly at Donovan. "Mr. Donovan Percy, I've come to see you! You're looking much better today, I'm so glad."
Donovan ignored her pleasantries and didn't even ask why she was in a wheelchair. He simply dismissed her. "Ms. Guise, I need to speak with my grandson and future granddaughter-in-law. Outsiders shouldn't be present. Ben, please show our guest out."
The color drained from Sophia's face. Leopold couldn't bear it and tried to intervene. "Grandfather, Sophia means well, you—"
"Silence," Donovan cut him off sharply.
Leopold's expression darkened, but he said nothing more.
"Ms. Guise, please excuse us," the butler Ben said, wheeling Sophia toward the door.
Sophia gave Leopold a look of wounded innocence. Leopold's face grew even more troubled.
As soon as Sophia and Ben left, he turned on me. "Lucinda, have you been complaining to Grandfather again?"
Before I could answer, Donovan thundered, "Disgraceful! I told you to pick up Cindy, and you deliberately disobeyed me for some outsider, then had the nerve to blame Cindy! Do you have any respect for me at all?"
"Grandfather," Leopold frowned. "Sophia also grew up under your care. You never treated her this way before, but this time..."
He didn't finish, but Donovan and I both understood his meaning.
"Cindy didn't tell me anything!" Donovan defended me fiercely. "I'm not stupid. When she arrived alone with an injured leg, I knew you hadn't followed my instructions."
Leopold's gaze snapped to me, scanning my body. "Where are you hurt? Have you seen a doctor?"
The concern in his eyes seemed genuine. If I hadn't witnessed how he cared for Sophia, I might have fallen for it again.
"Just a minor knee injury. It's nothing."
"Then why are you standing? Sit down over there." Leopold moved around to my side, trying to guide me to the sofa.
"No need." I pushed his hand away. "I have to go anyway."
Leopold frowned disapprovingly. After a moment he said, "Then I'll take you."
Guessing he was putting on an act for Donovan's benefit, I didn't refuse. Donovan was pleased to see us reconciling and urged us to leave.
Once outside the hospital room, Leopold and I reverted to our familiar cold distance.
"Let's go. I'll drive you," he said stiffly.
Not wanting to be trapped in a car with him, I refused outright. "I don't need your help."
Leopold grew irritated. "Are you always this fickle? Agreeing one minute and changing your mind the next?"
I reminded him, "Leopold, the show is over."
Something in Leopold snapped. He grabbed my hand and began pulling me toward the exit. "I don't need your input on what I do!"
With his height and stride, and my injured knee, I couldn't keep up. By the time we reached the entrance, I couldn't take it anymore. I yanked my hand free, steadying my knee as I coldly mocked him. "Don't project your own behavior onto me. I'm not you."
Leopold glared at me angrily. Just when I thought he'd lash out again, he suddenly crouched in front of me, reaching for the hem of my pants.
Startled, I backed away immediately. Leopold's face turned ashen as he stood up. "Where are you going?" he asked coldly.
Knowing another refusal might cause a scene, I told him Bayview Villas. To my surprise, his expression darkened instantly.
"I need to go to the Percy Group Building. It's not on the way. You can get your own ride."
With that, he got in his car and drove off. I was baffled by his bizarre behavior. Then again, realizing I wouldn't have to share a confined space with him actually came as a relief.
Soon, I was in a rideshare heading back to Bayview Villas. About a thousand feet from the hospital, I happened to glance outside and froze.
That tall figure by the roadside looked strangely like Leo. To confirm, I quickly rolled down the window.
His profile was almost identical to Leo's.
"Leo!" I called out urgently.
He didn't respond. A second later, he disappeared from my sight.
Leo was usually either at the bar or at my place. What was he doing here? Who was he meeting?