Chapter 111
I stared at my hands in stunned disbelief.
I barely touched her. How did Sophia end up on the floor? And clutching her stomach?
Donovan's expression darkened as he immediately pressed the call button.
Within seconds, doctors and nurses came running. Right behind them were Alicia and Amelia.
When they helped Sophia to her feet, a small pool of blood stained the floor beneath her. My entire body went rigid.
"Sophia's bleeding!"
Alicia's fury boiled over. Her hand flew across my face with a vicious slap.
The sharp crack echoed through the hospital room.
Before I could process what happened, the entire side of my face went numb, my ear ringing like a bell.
I watched helplessly as the medical staff eased Sophia into a wheelchair and rushed her toward the operating room.
"Grandmother, you can't just hit people!" Amelia was shaken, quickly pulling Alicia back.
Alicia was livid. "Hit her? I want to do worse than that!"
"Lucinda, you better pray nothing happens to my great-grandchild, or you'll wish you were never born!"
She stormed after the doctors.
"Cindy, are you okay? Does it hurt?" Amelia saw my continued silence and hurried to check my face.
Donovan looked equally concerned. "Cindy, say something. Talk to us."
I finally snapped back to reality, mechanically touching my cheek.
It hurt. It burned like fire.
"Grandpa, I didn't push her hard. I swear I barely touched her..."
Both Donovan and Amelia froze.
Just then, urgent footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A chill shot up my spine.
Was Leopold coming to make me pay?
When the footsteps stopped at the doorway, I stiffly turned my head.
Leopold stood in the doorway, radiating lethal fury.
His terrifying gaze made me instinctively shrink toward Amelia.
Amelia was frightened, too, but she still tried to shield me.
"Leopold, what happened to Sophia isn't Cindy's fault."
Leopold's eyes narrowed, locking onto me.
Without a word, he strode in and dragged me toward the door.
"I'm not going! Let go of me!"
His grip was painful. I struggled desperately.
Leopold wouldn't release me. His knuckles turned white from the force, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
Terrified, I grabbed the door frame, trying to explain.
"Leopold, I didn't push her hard. I swear I didn't. I don't know why she fell."
Leopold whipped his head toward me, eyes savage and frightening. "So you're saying she deliberately used the baby as bait to frame you?"
I shook my head. "I don't know, but it's possible. She's done plenty of things to frame me before—"
Before I could finish, Leopold yanked harder, tearing me away from the doorframe.
My fingertips scraped painfully against the wood.
Before I could speak again, Leopold slammed me against the wall.
"Lucinda, when did you become so ruthless?"
"Did that precious mentor of yours teach you this, too?"
The pain in my chest was eclipsed by confusion at his words.
"Why are you bringing up my mentor?"
The fury in Leopold's eyes blazed hotter. "Don't play dumb with me. You've been secretly contacting him this whole time, planning to run away with him abroad, haven't you?"
"You worked with Sophia before because of him. You drugged me for him. I let all of that slide."
"But now you're willing to hurt an innocent child to get to him? What's next—are you going to quietly kill me too?"
My breath caught. How did he know everything?
I'd been so careful. How could he possibly know?
Leopold stared at me, dark storms churning in his eyes.
"I've been waiting for you these past few days."
"I thought once you calmed down, you'd come find me. Even if it was just to yell at me. But you never once thought about reaching out!"
"Instead, you've been using every opportunity to send messages to your mentor, making preparations to leave me."
His accusations left me speechless.
I thought I'd been so careful. I was certain he hadn't noticed.
I never imagined he'd known all along.
A bitter laugh escaped me. "You and Sophia have a child together. What's there to ask about?"
"But I've told you countless times—that child isn't mine. Have you ever believed me?" Leopold ground out through clenched teeth.
I paused for two seconds before responding. "How could it not be yours? You were drugged that night and spent it with Sophia. Who else could it be?"
Leopold's expression grew even more dangerously intense.
"Leo, let go of Cindy right now!" Donovan appeared with Amelia's support, his voice thundering with authority.
Leopold's chest heaved violently. Slowly, he released his grip.
He fixed me with a piercing stare, then deliberately stepped back.
"I can't do anything about you. But dealing with that manipulative Ethan? I have all the means in the world."
He turned on his heel and strode away.
His sharp silhouette radiated deadly intent, as if he were about to go harvest a life.
My mind flashed to that night when he'd shot Ethan in the shoulder.
Fear wrapped around my heart like strangling vines.
"Leopold, stop!"
I chased after him without a second thought.
But I couldn't catch Leopold in time.
Afraid something would happen to Ethan, I fumbled for my phone and dialed the number I'd deliberately memorized.
As it rang, my anxiety spiraled out of control.
With each ring, my breathing grew heavier.
Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, the call connected.
"Ethan, Leopold's coming for you! Get to the airport now!"
Ethan coughed before asking, "How would he find me? He shouldn't even know I'm still in Silverlight City."
"There's no time to explain. Just go! If he catches you, it's over!"
My voice broke into a sob by the end.
Ethan fell silent for a few seconds before agreeing.
"Alright. I'll listen to you."
Hearing his consent, my overwrought nerves relaxed slightly.
"Where are you right now?"
Ethan gave me an address. I froze.
Wasn't that a hotel near the hospital?
Why was he hiding there?
Before I could think further, I heard the distinct sound of a door being kicked in through the phone.
The brief relief I'd felt vanished instantly.
Before I could speak, Ethan's cold voice came through.
"Leopold. You actually found me."
"Ethan, you—"
The line went dead.
My heartbeat spiraled into chaos.
Without thinking, I ran toward the hotel.
I'd just reached the entrance when panicked guests came fleeing out.
I rushed inside, bypassing the elevator for the emergency stairwell.
By the time I gasped my way to the eighth floor, the sounds of crashing and fighting were deafening.
That had to be them!
I shoved the door open and burst through.
The moment it opened, two groups of men were locked in violent combat, the scene utter chaos.
Leopold and Ethan stood facing each other with guns drawn, murder gleaming in both their eyes.
As if the next second, one would end the other's life.
Just as Leopold's finger pressed the trigger, I screamed in horror and threw myself toward Ethan.
"Leopold, don't kill him!"
A gunshot exploded through the air.