Chapter 108
By the time everything settled down, night had completely fallen.
Due to Sophia's unstable pregnancy, she was ordered to stay for observation.
Alicia and Donovan had both suffered severe emotional shock, and their bodies couldn't handle the stress. They also needed to remain under observation.
The farce was finally over.
Exhausted physically and mentally, I didn't want to say another word to Leopold.
While he was busy, I found Brady.
"I can't help with the rest. I'm heading home."
"Lucinda." Brady stopped me. "Leo isn't the type to dodge responsibility. While I don't think the report should be wrong, he keeps denying it. Maybe there's more to this story."
I said flatly, "No one's stupid enough to stake their life on a lie. Besides, you said yourself the report can't be wrong."
"You shouldn't be trying to convince me. You should be talking to Leopold."
"Tell him to face reality. Stop running away, and stop hurting the people who care about him most."
Brady looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.
I turned and left.
Getting in the car, I wanted to call Leo.
But picking up my phone, I remembered this wasn't my own.
It didn't have any saved numbers.
Frustrated, I realized I should have had Leo save his number last time.
But before long, my phone rang.
A familiar number.
Instinct told me it was Leo calling.
I answered quickly.
"Leo."
"Are you coming back to Bayview Villas tonight?"
His voice sounded raspy and exhausted.
Something was off. I pressed immediately, "Did something happen? You sound upset."
"Yeah, something came up. If possible, I'd like to see you."
Leo had always been gentle and understanding with me. Hearing him this distressed, I couldn't just ignore him.
"Okay. I'll be home in ten minutes."
"I'll wait for you."
After hanging up, I directed the driver to take a shortcut.
Halfway there, my phone rang again.
Unknown number.
I hesitated before answering.
"Cindy, it's me."
Ethan's voice came through.
It sounded heavy, like he was suppressing something.
"Ethan, are you sick?" I asked worriedly.
"It's nothing. My wound got a little infected." Ethan coughed violently a few times before continuing. "I got the message you sent through your friend. This time, no matter what it takes, I'm getting you out of this godforsaken place."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Thank you, Ethan. I'm sorry for the trouble. Don't worry about me—just take care of yourself."
From the moment we'd met, Ethan's life had been smooth sailing.
I never thought I'd drag him into getting hurt.
And I certainly never expected that after everything, he still hadn't left.
I owed him so much.
"We don't talk like that with each other. You want to achieve your dreams, and as your senior, I'll do everything in my power to lift you up."
The more he said things like that, the worse I felt.
After quickly hanging up, I saved his number and deleted the call log, just in case Leopold checked my phone.
After finishing, we arrived at Bayview Villas.
I paid the fare and rushed inside.
The living room was dark, only faint light spilling from upstairs.
Without hesitation, I headed up.
Pushing open the bedroom door, I saw Leo sitting alone on the sofa, head in his hands.
His normally straight back was bent, as if someone had crushed his pride.
"Leo, what happened?"
Hearing my voice, he finally looked up.
He stared at me blankly as I approached, tentatively reaching out.
"Cindy?"
I naturally took his hand and sat beside him. "What's wrong? Talk to me."
Leo pulled me into his arms, burying his face in the crook of my neck, as if drawing courage from me.
"It's nothing. I ran into some trouble, but I handled it."
I didn't believe him. He didn't look like someone who'd handled things.
More like someone who couldn't.
"The Wipere family has pull in Silverlight City. If you need help, just ask. I'll do whatever I can."
Leo's arms tightened slightly around me, his hot breath against my neck.
"Cindy, will you leave me?"
The question caught me off guard.
When I didn't answer, he spoke again. "Let me rephrase that. If you want to leave, could you take me with you?"
I couldn't respond to that.
"Why are you asking? Did someone say something to you?"
Had Leopold gone behind my back to find him again?
Leo shook his head. "No. Just a feeling."
"I feel like I can't hold onto you anymore."
Those words pierced my heart without warning.
Moisture crept silently into my eyes.
I sniffled lightly, forcing a smile. "Why would you think that? I'm right here with you, aren't I?"
Leo released me, his usually gentle eyes now brimming with sorrow.
"I know everything."
"These past couple of days, when you didn't come back—someone set you up, and Leopold saved you."
"He stayed with you all night and even had a huge fight with his family over you. You two have ten years of history. He and I don't even have half a year. I can't compete with that."
My gaze turned cold. "Did he come see you again?"
Leo lowered his head in silence.
"Don't believe him." I lifted his chin. "He's a liar. He got someone pregnant, and he's still trying to sweet-talk me with lies."
Leo's eyelids trembled. "Really? He didn't seem like that kind of person to me."
"You can't judge a book by its cover. He's not someone you can read."
Leo hesitated. "How can you be sure he's lying? What if someone's deliberately framing him?"
I shook my head. "Who in Silverlight City would dare cross him? Besides, even Sophia—who loves scheming—was driven to prove her innocence by threatening suicide. That proves it's true."
"But—"
I stared at him coldly. "Stop talking about him. And don't see him again."
Leo's gaze flickered before he quietly lowered his head.
I released him and checked his right hand instead. "Have you changed the bandage?"
Leo nodded, then immediately shook his head. "No, I've been really busy. I forgot."
I wanted to be angry, but seeing that ring of gauze, my heart softened.
"I'll change it for you."
I grabbed the first aid kit and expertly redressed and rebandaged his wound.
"Tonight, don't get this hand wet. Tomorrow, when you're free, we'll go to the hospital for a checkup."
Then I added, "Just a nearby hospital."
Leo had no objections, letting me fuss over him obediently.
After putting the kit away, I suddenly asked.
"Leo, are you close with Amelia?"
Leo froze, then said, "Yeah, pretty close."
"Amelia may be part of the Percy family, but she's straightforward and genuine. When you first met her, those good qualities must have attracted you, right?"
Leo nodded again.
I pressed my lips together. "When you two met, she must have had lots of people pursuing her, right?"
Leo gave me a suspicious look. "Yeah, she was popular at school. Her bag was always stuffed with love letters."
My heart sank.
Of course. He and Amelia were close—otherwise, he wouldn't remember these small details so clearly.
Since I'd decided to leave, I needed to find him some protection.
That way, even if Leopold wanted to take his anger out on him, someone would have his back.
So the next day, I arranged to meet with Amelia.