Chapter 100
Thick smoke seeped through the door cracks, filling the entire room in the blink of an eye.
I looked toward the doorway and could only make out a tall figure rushing in.
But I couldn't see his face clearly.
"Cindy..."
Through the dense smoke, he ran urgently toward me.
"The place is on fire—why didn't you run?"
His breathing was labored, his voice hoarse beyond recognition, but his movements were swift.
He scooped me up from the bed in one motion, covered my head with his dampened jacket, and bolted outside like the wind.
The wet jacket blocked out the smoke.
His hand pressed me against his chest through the fabric.
Through the thin material, I heard his clear, strong heartbeat.
The sounds around us remained chaotic, but the arms holding me stayed steady the entire time.
Only when the scorching heat dissipated did the jacket come off my head.
A gentle, handsome face came into view.
"Leo?"
My eyes trembled slightly. I never would have imagined the person who rescued me from the inferno was him.
I'd thought it was Leopold.
Leo froze for a few seconds before reaching out to gently wipe my face. "It's okay now. Don't be afraid."
That reassurance pierced straight through my defenses, shattering the walls I'd carefully built, warming my unsettled heart.
"Leo."
I called his name once, then couldn't say anything more. I could only grip his clothes tightly.
Thinking I was frightened, Leo carried me to a chair in the outer area and sat down. While checking me for injuries, he responded patiently.
"I'm here."
"Whenever you need me, no matter when, I'll be here."
My tears wouldn't stop. I choked out, "I thought... I was going to die in there."
"You won't." Leo gripped my hand, his tone utterly certain.
I nodded lightly. "I won't think that way anymore."
He wiped the tears from my face. "That's a good girl."
I froze slightly. Leopold had said those exact words, too.
Thinking of Leopold reminded me of that empty contact list. My heart sank silently.
"Leo, how did you know to find me here?"
Last night I'd accompanied Leopold to the Percy Group anniversary gala and never went back. Leo shouldn't have known I was here.
"I came here today to meet a client. Just as I arrived, I heard about the fire. I didn't actually know you were here, but I happened to hear other people saying someone in one of the rooms still hadn't come out."
"The staff checked and found it was under Leopold's name. Remembering you didn't come back last night, I thought you might be here, so I came looking for you."
He explained it so casually, but any reasonable person knows how dangerous a fire is.
Normally, no one would risk their life based on an uncertain hunch to search for someone.
But he came.
Right when I needed help most.
This was the second time he'd risked his life to save me.
What had I done to deserve being treasured like this?
"Leo, I'm sorry."
I shouldn't have seen him as Leopold's shadow, and I definitely shouldn't have left without a word of explanation.
"Don't talk. You inhaled smoke—speaking too much could damage your throat."
I nodded obediently.
Soon, we arrived at the hospital.
The doctor examined me. Though I'd inhaled some smoke, I was fine.
Leo, however, had suffered minor burns on his right arm where the flames had scorched him.
By the time we finished getting treated, it was nearly dark.
Several hours had passed from the fire until now.
Leopold still hadn't appeared.
As if my life or death didn't matter to him at all.
In the bathroom, I tidied myself up, looking at the kiss marks on my neck in the mirror.
I couldn't help but mock myself. I really was a joke.
"Why can't I reach him? Mr. Donovan Percy collapsed—how could Leopold possibly not show up?"
Suddenly, Sophia's voice came from a stall behind me.
Immediately after, the sound of a toilet flushing.
I pulled open the nearest stall and hid inside, locking the door.
Sophia's voice came again.
"Then spread the news. I don't believe he won't care about his own grandfather!"
I leaned against the door, not daring to breathe.
Donovan had collapsed!
Leopold couldn't possibly not appear.
Earlier, I'd suspected he was deliberately avoiding me, but now it seemed that wasn't the case.
So where had he gone?
Only after Sophia left did I open the door and come out.
"Where did you go? The moment I turned around and didn't see you, I thought someone had taken you away."
Seeing me, the worry and anxiety on Leo's face finally dissipated.
I quickly explained, "I went to the restroom."
"You don't look well. Did something happen?"
I thought I'd hidden it well, but he still saw right through me.
"It's nothing. Maybe I just haven't recovered from the fire yet."
Afraid he'd press further, I quickly looked at his hand. "Did the doctor say when you need to change the dressing? Are there any other precautions?"
"Nothing serious. It's just a minor injury—I'll be fine in a few days."
Leo didn't seem concerned.
I was very concerned.
"No, burns are different from other injuries. They can get worse quickly. You can't take them lightly."
Hearing my words, Leo's mouth curved upward.
"Are you worried about me?"
My expression stiffened.
Leo's smile deepened. "If you don't want to answer, that's fine. Let's go home."
Seeing him about to release my hand, I gripped his in return.
"Yes."
I cared, and I worried about him.
Leo froze for a moment, then his eyes suddenly softened.
"Then getting hurt wasn't for nothing."
He made me laugh.
On the way back to Bayview Villas with him, I planned to explain what had happened before.
But halfway there, he suddenly received a call. His expression turned grave.
After hanging up, he told me, "I have something urgent to handle. I can't take you home, and I'll probably be very late tonight."
I nodded quickly. "Then you take this car to handle your business. I'll get another ride."
"No need. You take this car home."
Leo tried to argue, but I opened the door and got out directly, signaling the ride-share driver to take him.
Only after the car drove away did I hail another ride to the hospital.
After some effort, I learned Donovan was in a special ward on the sixth floor.
Just stepping out of the elevator, I noticed the security on this floor had been significantly increased.
Not only were there private bodyguards in the hallway, but also at the elevator entrance.
"Stop. Without an appointment, you can't go in."
A bodyguard blocked me. I couldn't help asking back.
"Don't you recognize me?"
The bodyguard answered honestly, "I do, but Mrs. Alicia Percy instructed that without her permission, no one may approach Mr. Donovan Percy's room."
My heart sank. I'd forgotten about Alicia being back.
Now seeing Donovan would be very difficult.
Just as I hesitated between leaving or continuing to wait, the elevator doors behind me opened.
Leopold emerged wearing a formal suit.
Two assistants followed behind him.
One was Teddy.
The other—I hadn't gotten a clear look at his face before he turned away.
I couldn't help looking twice.
The next second, a black figure blocked my view.
Leopold's expression was indifferent, his tone calm as he asked, "What are you doing here?"