Chapter 123
Leopold and I turned around simultaneously, just in time to see Alicia tipping backward, panic written all over her face.
"Grandma!"
Leopold didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, arms outstretched.
The bodyguards behind him sprang into action.
I rushed forward a couple of steps, my heart in my throat, and watched Leopold catch Alicia securely, preventing her head from hitting the ground.
Relief washed over me.
My gaze snapped to Sophia. She was pressing a hand to her chest, jaw clenched as she gasped for air—like she wasn't thrilled with how this turned out.
The moment she noticed me watching, Sophia dropped her hand and plastered on a concerned expression as she stepped forward.
"Mrs. Percy, are you alright?"
Alicia was trembling from the shock, her lips quivering wordlessly.
"Get a doctor! Now!"
Leopold's command cut through the air.
A bodyguard took off running.
Less than a minute later, Brady came jogging down the hall with the guard.
Seeing Alicia's trembling state, he immediately knelt to examine her.
"Mrs. Percy's condition is concerning. We need to run more thorough tests immediately."
"Let's go!"
Without a second thought, Leopold scooped up Alicia and followed him.
"Leo."
Sophia reached for his arm, but Leopold didn't even acknowledge her.
Given how things had escalated, I figured it was time to make myself scarce. But just as I turned to leave, Leopold called out.
"Lucinda, come with us!"
I froze, then quickly doubled back.
Sophia's stare burned into me, equal parts threatened and resentful.
I mimicked her earlier provocation, arching one eyebrow at her.
Fortunately, Alicia was more shaken than hurt. After about thirty minutes, she recovered.
But she immediately pinned all the blame on me.
"Leo, you saw what happened. As long as Lucinda's around, your grandfather and I won't have a moment's peace."
"Today I merely said a few words to her, and I nearly had an accident. If you actually let her into this family, will your grandfather and I even survive?"
Leopold's expression, which had just begun to relax, turned cold again.
"Grandma, stop being unreasonable. Your fall had nothing to do with Lucinda."
"And still you defend her!" Alicia sat bolt upright in bed, furious. "Does she have to actually kill your grandfather and me before you'll believe us?"
I couldn't take it anymore. "Mrs. Percy, didn't someone push you when you fell?"
Leopold looked at me in surprise.
Alicia's face stiffened momentarily before she snapped back at me. "You're making things up! I lost my balance because you upset me—no one pushed me!"
Without me saying another word, Leopold summoned the bodyguards.
"Pull the hallway surveillance footage from earlier."
"Don't you dare!"
Alicia quickly tried to stop him.
At that moment, Sophia burst into the room.
"Leo, this is my fault. I had stomach pain and lost my balance—I accidentally bumped into your grandmother."
After hearing her confession and seeing the guilt written all over Alicia's face, Leopold's eyes turned ice-cold.
"Grandma, you knew the whole time. How could you blame Lucinda so righteously?"
Caught in her lie, Alicia showed not an ounce of remorse. She doubled down instead.
"What did I say that was wrong! Right under our noses, she dared to attack Sophia, trying to kill my great-grandchild!"
"I was standing up for my great-grandchild!"
Sophia chimed in pitifully, "Leo, I don't care what Cindy does to me, but she can't harm our baby."
"She deliberately brought up what's been circulating online because she wanted you angry at me, so you'd send the baby and me away."
"Please don't let her fool you."
Leopold's voice was low. "Did you really pick on Sophia out of spite?"
My chest felt like something heavy was crushing it, making it hard to breathe.
He still believed Sophia.
"So what if I did?"
"Leo, you heard Cindy admit it herself—now you have to believe me!"
Sophia anxiously reached for Leopold's hand.
He stepped away from her grasp.
Then he walked toward me.
Every nerve in my body went taut.
Was Leopold about to demand justice for Sophia again?
When he raised his hand, my nerves reached their breaking point.
If he dared lay a hand on me, I wouldn't swallow my anger this time!
The next second, his hand touched my brow bone.
"It's all red. Does it hurt?"
I stood there stunned, staring at him in disbelief.
"I saw Sophia scratch your face earlier. I didn't realize she'd gone at you hard enough to almost scar you."
I stayed silent.
Could he even hear himself right now?
Sophia and Alicia both looked like they'd swallowed something sour.
After a beat, Alicia demanded, "Leo, she can't even tolerate your child, and you're still worried about her? Are you under some kind of spell?"
Leopold's gaze remained cold as he looked at his grandmother. "Sophia provoked her first. Cindy was just retaliating."
Alicia's anger flared. "Just retaliating? She nearly killed your child! As the father, shouldn't you get justice for your baby?"
"I could also just not be that child's father."
Alicia nearly choked.
Sophia broke down in genuine tears this time.
"Leo, why still won't you believe me? The baby I'm carrying really is yours!"
Leopold ignored her, instead tightening his grip on my hand. "Come on. Let me get that scratch looked at."
I hadn't fully processed his unexpected protection yet, and let him lead me away in a daze.
But his dismissal was like twisting a knife in Sophia's heart.
She exploded. "Leo, why are you protecting Lucinda? Have you forgotten how she treated you before?"
Leopold didn't even glance at her, addressing the wheezing Alicia instead. "Grandma, the doctor said you need proper rest. Lucinda and I won't disturb you any longer."
"Stop right there!"
Alicia tried to block Leopold's path.
But this time, Leopold didn't listen. He simply instructed Brady to take good care of her.
Brady, who'd been watching the whole drama unfold, gaped at Leopold in amazement and gave him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
He even winked at me when Leopold wasn't looking.
I wasn't in the mood to decode his intentions.
The moment Leopold and I stepped out, the sound of a water glass shattering echoed from the hospital room.
I glanced at Leopold. His expression remained unchanged. I kept my mouth shut.
When we reached the outpatient lobby, I pulled my hand free.
"This is far enough. Go back and take care of your grandmother."
I'd barely taken a step before Leopold caught my hand again.
"I need to talk to you."
I refused. "I don't have time."
But Leopold wouldn't let go. He practically dragged me to his car.
"About you and Ethan suspecting I was impersonating that pretty boy—don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
I turned my face away coldly. "There's nothing to explain. As long as you're not him, that's all that matters."
Leopold's jaw tightened. After a moment, he continued, "Then how do you plan to handle what's going viral online? Just let those internet trolls keep speculating?"
"I'll handle it. You don't need to worry."
My coldness clearly irritated Leopold. He reached out and turned my face back toward him.
"How exactly will you handle it? Send cease-and-desist letters? Wait for the buzz to die down?"
I bristled. "This is my business. I don't need to report my plans to you!"
Leopold's brow furrowed. "You think this is as simple as it looks? There's more going on here that you don't know about."
My expression grew serious. "What do you mean?"