Chapter 119
After the bodyguards returned, I immediately rushed to Alicia's hospital room.
But when I arrived, it was empty.
Donovan's room was still there, but he'd been taken for tests and wasn't in.
I couldn't verify anything for the moment.
I sat in the hallway, waiting for Donovan to return.
That's when I noticed several people looking at me strangely, pointing and whispering.
My instincts told me they'd seen the video.
An unprecedented sense of shame washed over me.
I couldn't stay. I covered my face with my hand and headed back.
Halfway there, my phone rang again.
It was Ethan.
"Cindy, I saw the video. I have something very important I need to tell you in person."
I didn't want to see anyone right now.
So I politely declined.
"Ethan, why haven't you left yet? Stop worrying about me."
But Ethan persisted. "I really need to see you about something important. I promise, after I tell you, I'll leave immediately."
I had no choice but to agree.
I glanced at the two bodyguards stationed at my door.
If I wanted to meet Ethan, I'd have to lose them.
So I pressed the call button.
When the nurse arrived, I claimed my leg hurt and asked to be taken to the doctor who'd treated my leg injury.
The two bodyguards didn't suspect anything and quickly escorted me there.
Once the doctor's office door closed, I convinced him to let me stay for treatment.
Then, while he distracted the bodyguards, I slipped out of the hospital and headed straight for my meeting with Ethan.
Halfway there, I suddenly remembered what I'd told Ethan yesterday.
After hesitating, I finally called Leo.
"Leo, are you free? I need a favor."
Leo's voice was slightly subdued. "What is it?"
"I'd like you to come with me to meet a friend."
Leo didn't hesitate. "Send me the address. I'll be right there."
I quickly sent him the location.
The destination was a restaurant known for its privacy.
After getting out of the car, I didn't go in immediately.
Five minutes later, Leo arrived.
Today, he wore light-colored casual clothes, looking handsome and refined.
When we met, he smiled warmly. "This is the second time you've asked me to meet your friends. I didn't have time to change. Is this appropriate?"
"It's perfect. You look great." I smiled in praise.
Leo reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "Cindy, after we meet your friend, could we talk privately for a bit?"
"It won't take long. Just ten minutes."
I glanced at him and nodded slightly.
We went in together.
When we met Ethan, his expression stiffened for a moment.
But he quickly masked it.
He smiled faintly. "Leo, right? We met before. Do you remember me?"
Leo met his gaze, smiling gently. "I remember. You're Cindy's mentor. Should I call you by your name like Cindy does?"
The usually easygoing Ethan refused. "I'm afraid that won't work. We're not that close. You can call me Mr. Guise."
I could tell he was being deliberately difficult. I wanted to smooth things over for Leo.
But Leo quietly squeezed my hand, his smile flawless.
"Alright. I'll wait until Cindy and I are married. I can change how I address you then."
Ethan's smile froze instantly.
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself? Cindy's career is just taking off. Marriage would only hold her back."
Leo smiled without warmth. "She might think that about other people. But I won't hold her back. I support her doing anything she wants."
Watching the undercurrent of tension between them, I couldn't help but speak up.
"Ethan, didn't you say you had something important to discuss? Let's get to it."
"I only have twenty minutes."
Only then did Ethan pull his gaze from Leo, smiling at me.
"Cindy, what I have to say actually concerns him too."
I couldn't hide my confusion.
Leo's eyes lifted calmly, showing neither anger nor surprise.
Ethan leaned forward, bracing his hands on the table. "Don't you think Leo and Leopold are remarkably similar in build and demeanor?"
I nodded frankly. "They are somewhat alike, but you noticed that the first time you met him, didn't you?"
Back then, he'd immediately questioned whether I knew what I was doing.
Had he already forgotten?
But Ethan shook his head. "Before, I just thought they resembled each other. But now I think it's more than resemblance."
"Look more carefully. Their eyes, their speech patterns, even certain mannerisms—they're extremely similar."
I was starting to understand what he meant.
"Ethan, you're not suggesting Leo and Leopold are the same person, are you?"
Ethan paused, then asked, "Don't you think so?"
"Of course not." I explained, "I did wonder before, but I once ran into Leopold while I was with Leo. They're not the same person."
"Sometimes seeing isn't believing."
As he spoke, Ethan pulled out his phone.
"Look at this."
Curious, I leaned in to find a photograph.
More precisely, an ID badge.
It read "Percy Group Executive Assistant, Barry Gray."
The face on it looked ninety percent like Leo.
I whipped my head toward Leo, my voice unconsciously tight.
"Leo, do you know this Barry Gray?"
Leo also leaned in to look, his expression visibly stiffening.
"He..."
Ethan didn't let him finish, cutting him off directly.
"Leo, you and Barry could've been cut from the same mold. But according to my investigation, Barry is an only child with no siblings. Why do you look so much alike?"
"Also, I can't find any records of you attending school or living in Silverlight City. You're like you appeared out of thin air."
"Who exactly are you?"
My breath caught. How could a living person have no records and just appear from nowhere?
Unless... he was an imposter.
But why would Leo impersonate Barry?
Leo's smile faded as he looked into Ethan's eyes. "Just because you can't find records doesn't mean I appeared from nowhere."
Ethan laughed softly. "I knew you'd say that."
"I checked—you and Barry never appear at the same time. And from the moment you appeared by Cindy's side, Barry has rarely been seen in public."
"I looked into it. Barry was Leopold's most capable assistant. He'd never avoid you without special orders."
"The only person who could give Barry orders is Leopold. Why would Leopold issue such an order for no reason? There's only one possibility."
"Leopold wanted to use Barry's identity."
Here, Ethan's smile deepened.
"Just now, I had someone track Leopold's whereabouts. Coincidentally, he's not at the company—but Barry is there."
"So I shouldn't call you Leo. I should call you... Leopold!"