Chapter 116
Before I could make out what was happening on the floor, a warm coat settled over me.
I instinctively looked up to find Leopold's cold, handsome face.
My entire body went rigid.
"You..."
I opened my mouth to speak, but ended up choking and coughing.
"Easy. Don't rush."
Leopold's large hand hovered over my back.
I turned away, unwilling to be touched by him.
The struggle had drained all my strength. But seeing Asher pinned face-down on the floor by the bodyguard, I gathered what strength I had left and climbed out of bed.
Though my steps were unsteady.
"Don't push yourself. Tell me what you want to do—I'll do it for you." Leopold followed, sliding his hand behind my knees to lift me.
"I don't need your help."
I took quick steps away, bracing myself against the wall. I grabbed a vase from the cabinet and moved toward Asher.
"Stay back! Don't come near me!" Veins bulged on Asher's forehead as he shouted at me.
I smiled coldly.
Just moments ago, I was his prey. Now he was mine.
Remembering that slap, and the vicious way he'd grabbed my hair...
I raised the vase and brought it down hard on his head.
I'd used so much force that I couldn't pull back in time—shards cut into my palm.
Blood immediately streamed down.
The sharp pain brought a bit of clarity to my foggy mind.
"Who said you should do it yourself?" Leopold quickly removed his tie and grabbed my hand, wrapping it tightly.
Breathing hard, I said, "Leopold, I want him in prison."
Leopold's jaw clenched, his sharp gaze landing on Asher. "A piece of trash like this? I won't let him off easy."
"Mr. Percy!"
Asher remained pinned to the floor, unable to stand, but that didn't stop him from begging.
"Please, let me go! I can explain what happened today!"
"I didn't come after Lucinda on my own—it was your grandmother! She came to me, said she'd help me out, promised me money afterward if I'd take Lucinda away with me!"
Leopold's eyes went cold. He glanced at the bodyguard.
The guard's fist slammed into Asher's face.
Asher screamed in pain.
But he kept insisting Alicia had ordered him to do it, swearing that if anything happened to him, he'd expose her.
Watching Leopold's face darken, I couldn't help but laugh.
"Beating him to death won't change the fact that your grandmother set me up."
Leopold's brow furrowed. "I won't let you suffer for nothing."
"What good are empty promises?"
I gestured around the room, then touched my face, my laugh brittle. "I was still dragged out of your villa and beaten like this, wasn't I?"
Leopold stared at me, his throat working, but he couldn't say a word.
I wanted to say more, but my head grew heavier. Even the pain couldn't keep me conscious.
My legs gave out. I collapsed straight toward the floor.
But I didn't hit the cold ground. Instead, I fell into warm arms.
Burning heat raged through every nerve in my body.
When my face pressed against Leopold's firm chest, my parched throat seemed to find a cool spring.
I burrowed into his embrace desperately.
"Give me... I feel awful..."
"You drugged her!" Leopold steadied me while trying to restrain me, his voice dangerously low.
"It wasn't me!" Asher quickly denied it. "I didn't drug her. She was already drugged when she was brought here."
I gasped frantically, clawing at my clothes, mumbling unconsciously, "I feel terrible... can't breathe..."
"Lucinda." Leopold released me, cradling my face, looking at me seriously. "Look at me clearly. Who am I?"
My vision alternated between clear and blurry.
Hearing him, I instinctively raised my hand and touched his face.
"You're... Leopold..."
Leopold's deep eyes focused, then he ordered the bodyguards.
"Take him away."
The guards didn't dare ask questions. They grabbed Asher and dragged him out.
My rationality was shattered.
After Asher was taken away, I suddenly realized Leopold's intention.
I bit down hard on my tongue.
Soon, a metallic sweetness filled my mouth.
I regained a bit of clarity and used what little strength I had left to tell Leopold.
"Don't... take me to the hospital..."
Leopold had just picked me up when my words made him freeze.
"You don't want to sleep with me?"
I shook my head.
Leopold's gaze turned ice-cold.
I struggled to get the words out. "They injected me with something..."
Leopold's expression changed dramatically. He strode outside.
At first, I was still conscious, aware that Leopold was taking me to the hospital. He kept tapping my face, trying to keep me awake.
But then my body felt worse and worse, like being roasted alive, like thousands of insects gnawing at me.
I lost consciousness.
I only remember that at one point, there was heavy, rapid breathing near my ear.
My body seemed to reach some indescribable peak.
When I regained consciousness, I was already in the hospital.
Warm lighting filled the entire room.
My body was sore and aching, like I'd played badminton all night.
I'd just sat up when someone pushed open the hospital room door.
"You're awake."
Seeing me awake, Leopold quickly poured me a glass of warm water.
I didn't refuse. After drinking the warm water, I felt somewhat better.
"Why are you here?"
Shouldn't he be busy caring for Donovan, Alicia, and Sophia?
Leopold lowered his gaze. "Are you feeling better? The doctor said you were injected with an aphrodisiac. They managed to dilute the drug, but you might still feel uncomfortable for a while."
I shook my head. Compared to being delivered to Asher's bed by Alicia, this discomfort was nothing.
"How are you going to handle this?"
Leopold had just sat on the edge of the bed. At my words, his expression visibly darkened.
"I've already had my lawyer detain Asher. But she... she's my grandmother, after all."
Though I'd expected it, hearing those words still made my heart clench.
I didn't really want him to punish his grandmother. I just wanted him to take a stand.
But realizing this, I found it ridiculous.
Leopold and I had no relationship.
What good would taking a stand do?
With this thought, my expression became calm.
"Leopold, it was your grandmother who came to your villa and took me away. Her position is clear—as long as I haven't disappeared from your life, she won't leave me alone."
"Last time, she almost shipped me out of the city like cargo. This time, she got Asher to violate me. I can't even imagine what method she'll use next time to force me out."
Leopold started to speak, but I stopped him.
"Things between us are over. We both know who's right and who's wrong. I don't know why you won't let me go, but I don't want to be dragged down by you anymore."
"I don't want to live in constant fear. I just want to live the rest of my life in peace. So, can you let me go?"