Chapter 165
Though Sophia was dressed properly, sitting there, she radiated a calm kind of madness.
I stopped in my tracks, not going any further inside.
Sophia's gaze locked onto me, her voice deliberately soft.
"Lucinda, do you have to destroy me before you're satisfied?"
I leaned against the doorframe, answering with detachment. "You trapped yourself. Don't blame others."
"Trapped myself?" Sophia let out a low laugh, then slowly stood and walked toward me. "If you hadn't sabotaged me and released that video, how would I have ended up like this?"
When she stepped into the light, I finally noticed the bruises on her face and neck.
Like she'd been viciously tormented.
"See this?" Sophia swept aside her hair, revealing the full extent of the marks. "These injuries, this pain—all thanks to you!"
"Lucinda, Leopold doesn't even want you anymore. Why are you still clinging to him? You're the Wipere family heiress—why are you so pathetic?"
"Desperately trying to keep a man who doesn't love you tied to your side!"
She questioned me with raw fury, her eyes and voice overflowing with hatred.
Seeing her teetering on the edge of madness, I instinctively backed out into the hallway.
Keeping my distance.
"Sophia, whether Leopold and I are together or apart has nothing to do with you."
"Where you've ended up is your own doing."
Sophia looked stung by my words and shouted, "Leopold is my fiancé! Everything about him concerns me!"
"If you hadn't been haunting him like a ghost, releasing that fake video, how could he be so heartless as to abandon even his own child?"
I asked coldly, "Is the baby in your belly really Leopold's?"
Sophia's eyes flickered with guilt.
But she quickly flew into a rage, reaching to claw at my face.
"Bitch, how dare you question my child!"
I grabbed her hand and shoved her against the nearby wall, holding her there as I reminded her coolly.
"Sophia, if you're sick, go get treatment. Don't have your breakdown on me!"
Sophia refused to give up, trying to break free from my hold.
"Lucinda, don't get cocky! I'm pregnant—I haven't lost yet!"
"Once this blows over, Leopold will forgive me. And when he does, I'll make sure you're dead!"
For the baby's sake, I hadn't planned to be too harsh with her.
But she kept spewing venom, even threatening my life—no need for mercy then.
I released her hand with a cold laugh. "You won't get the chance. Leopold knew from the beginning that the baby wasn't his. That's why he never acknowledged it."
"The only reason he didn't call you out was that the man in that video is connected to the Percy family. Considering the family's reputation and Mr. Donovan Percy's position, he agreed to the engagement."
Mean words wouldn't work on someone like Sophia.
Only crushing her hope could make her truly feel pain.
Sure enough, after hearing my words, Sophia's eyes went wide, her gaze unfocusing.
She stopped struggling, just kept shaking her head.
"Impossible! Leopold couldn't possibly know. You're lying..."
Seeing her still in denial, I couldn't help but laugh coldly.
"Believe what you want. Either way, you can't marry Leopold. That's a fact."
No one could accept being cheated on.
Especially not someone as proud and cold as Leopold.
Sophia's eyes instantly reddened, tears sliding down her pale cheeks.
Seeing her cover her face in desperate tears, no fight left in her, I finally let go and turned to have someone escort her out.
Suddenly, an icy chill exploded across my back.
I turned instinctively to see a flash of cold light cutting through the air, stabbing toward my heart!
"Lucinda, go to hell!"
"If I can't have him, neither can you!"
Sophia's twisted, manic face loomed larger and larger before my eyes.
We were too close—I couldn't dodge.
Watching that icy blade about to pierce my chest, I could only close my eyes in despair.
Just then—
Sophia let out a scream.
Something clattered to the floor.
I snapped my eyes open to see Sophia stumbling backward after being hit by something, falling to the ground.
A silver-handled folding knife lay beside her.
Her madness shocked me. I backed up sharply.
But my heel caught on something and I lost my balance, falling backward.
Then a warm, strong palm steadied my lower back, pulling me smoothly to his side.
"Are you okay?"
That familiar cold, deep voice.
I recognized it instantly. Leopold.
"I'm fine." I didn't look at him, answering flatly.
"Leo!" Sophia sat disheveled on the floor, her face full of grievance as she called out to Leopold.
But Leopold didn't look at her. Instead, he carefully examined my hands and legs.
Uncomfortable, I tried to pull back, but he tightened his grip on my wrist and drew me forward again.
"I just want to make sure you're not hurt."
I accidentally met his earnest, tender gaze and quickly looked away.
"I told you I'm fine."
"Okay. I believe you." Leopold's voice was gentle.
I tried to pull my hand free, but he held on tighter.
"Let go."
Leopold didn't listen. Instead, he wrapped my hand in his palm. "It's dangerous here. I'm worried."
Anger flared. He was my biggest danger.
"Leo, you finally came to see me." Sophia sat on the floor, crying pitifully. "That video was fake. I didn't betray you."
"Didn't that man already accuse Lucinda? Why won't you believe me?"
"Lucinda's jealous of us being together. She can't stand seeing me happy, so she used these despicable tactics to frame me. You have to stand up for me and the baby!"
The more she talked, the more aggrieved she sounded, as if she really believed herself the victim.
But Leopold didn't waver. He looked at her with cold, emotionless eyes, his tone icy and indifferent.
"Are you finished?"
Sophia choked, cautiously studying his expression before nodding and lifting her tear-stained face.
"Leo, I'm telling the truth. You can doubt me, but don't hurt our baby..."
"The baby isn't mine."
Leopold cut her off coldly.
Sophia froze, then continued shaking her head in denial. "You're mistaken. This baby is yours and mine—"
"I wasn't with you that night."
Leopold's words were like a sharp icicle, piercing through Sophia's lies and pretense.
Sophia's mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Leopold continued, "After I left, you ran into my Uncle David and went with him to the guest bedroom."
"I have a paternity test here proving the child is Uncle David's. If you don't believe me, you can see it for yourself."
Teddy appeared automatically, handing the paternity test to Sophia.
Sophia's hands trembled as she reached for it, wanting to see the final result.
But she ultimately didn't have the courage.
She dropped the document and crawled on her knees to Leopold's feet, clutching his pant leg as she dissolved into sobs.
"Leo, I truly love you. Please don't send me away."
"Lucinda cheated with another man, and you forgave her. You can forgive me, too, right?"