Chapter 169
Leopold followed her inside.
Hearing Alicia's words, he immediately looked at me, his voice low. "You're going abroad?"
My breath caught. I hadn't expected this turn of events, but I kept my composure.
"Yes, the Royal Ballet Company invited me. You already knew that, didn't you?"
"But right now..."
Seeing Leopold about to refuse, I immediately cut him off. "Four years ago, I gave up my dream for you. Are you going to make me give it up again?"
I didn't pull any punches.
Leopold froze, speechless.
Alicia, however, was furious. "What does a woman need a dream for! I didn't approve of you marrying Leo before, but now that you're carrying his child, you need to fulfill your duties as a wife and mother! Still dancing? What if you hurt my great-grandchild? How would you make up for that?"
Seeing her being unreasonable, I didn't hold back either. "Alicia, the baby I'm carrying isn't Leopold's."
"What?" Alicia's eyes went wide with shock. She turned to Leopold. "The baby isn't yours?"
Leopold avoided her gaze, saying nothing.
"Say something! Is what she's saying true?"
When Leopold still didn't respond, Alicia stomped her foot in fury. "Have you lost your mind? Claiming some bastard as your child—you're destroying the Percy family's reputation!"
"Alicia, please don't be so cruel. My child is not a bastard!"
Displeased with my retort, Alicia glared at me with burning fury. "Lucinda, you're from a respectable family—how could you do something so morally bankrupt? The Percy family has a reputation to uphold in Silverlight City, and you dare use a bastard to string Leo along? You've deeply disappointed me!"
"Grandma!" Leopold couldn't take it anymore. "Lucinda's baby is mine. It's not a bastard. Please stop saying such undignified things."
Alicia clutched her chest in rage. "She betrayed you and got pregnant with another man's bastard, and you're still defending her!"
Leopold's expression darkened. "Grandma, I'll say it one more time—Lucinda's baby is mine. I won't allow anyone to slander it, including you."
"You..." Alicia pointed at him, too furious to speak.
Amelia, who'd come in last, stood frozen in shock.
"Mrs. Percy, please don't be angry. Leo's just upset—that's why he's saying these things. Please don't hold it against him." Sophia took advantage of the tense atmosphere to walk in, moving to support Alicia.
When she looked at me, her eyes and brows couldn't hide her smugness, as if Alicia were her trump card.
I calmly looked away, not giving her any attention.
But Alicia, who had always supported Sophia before, now kept her distance. She not only pulled her hand back but also spoke with cold sarcasm. "Percy family business isn't for any random nobody to meddle in."
I was somewhat surprised, looking back at them.
Sophia's expression froze instantly, then she forced a smile at Alicia. "Mrs. Percy, what are you saying? The baby I'm carrying is true Percy family blood..."
Alicia snorted coldly with contempt. "So what? That bastard will never be recognized by the Percy family."
Sophia's face went pale instantly as she rushed to explain. "Mrs. Percy, that's not what you said before. You said as long as the baby I was carrying was a Percy, you'd accept me. You said I'd be the lady of the Percy family..."
"As you said, that was before. Things are different now." Alicia calmly interrupted her. "I supported you because I thought you were carrying Leo's baby. I never imagined you'd betray Leo and manipulate your way into David's bed! The fact that I haven't moved against you is already merciful. While I'm still feeling generous, get out now, or don't blame me for humiliating you!"
Sophia shook her head frantically. "No... that's not what you said before... I'm not leaving..."
Alicia didn't spare her another glance, ordering the people outside. "Take her away. From now on, no one from the Guise family is allowed in any Percy family properties—hotels, clubs, shopping centers, all of them!"
Sophia's face went ashen, but she still refused to give up, reaching out to grab Leopold. "Leo, please put in a good word for me. Don't let the Guise family suffer..."
Leopold was ready, stepping back to avoid her. "You brought this on yourself."
Sophia collapsed to the floor as if all her strength had been drained.
"Ms. Guise, if you would."
A black-suited bodyguard entered, gesturing for Sophia to leave.
Sophia snapped out of her daze, shifting from sitting to kneeling. "Leo, you can't do this to me... have you forgotten? I lost a baby for you, too!"
Her words made Alicia, Donovan, and Amelia's expressions all change dramatically.
I already knew about this, so I wasn't surprised.
"Leopold, is this true?" Amelia finally found a chance to interject, asking nervously.
Leopold immediately looked at me. Seeing no expression on my face, his brow furrowed tightly as he ordered coldly, "Take her away."
"Leo, how can you be so heartless! Leo..."
Sophia stumbled as the bodyguards forcibly removed her.
The room fell silent again, but this silence carried the tension of an approaching storm.
"Leo, what Sophia said..."
Alicia wanted confirmation, but Leopold reacted as if someone had touched a nerve. "Grandma, your health hasn't recovered. Staying at the hospital isn't good for you. I'll have someone take you back."
His voice was steady and calm, but it made my chest tighten. Something felt off about his state.
Alicia immediately grew angry. "I'm not going back! Your grandfather is still sick—how can I stay at the estate alone?"
"That's not up to you," Leopold called two more people in. "Escort my grandmother back to the estate. Without my permission, don't let her out again."
"You bastard!" Alicia was outraged. "How dare you restrict my freedom!"
"I'm just worried about your health, Grandma. I want you to rest properly." Leopold remained firm.
The two continued their standoff. Amelia wanted to mediate but didn't know what to say. As an outsider, I had even less business speaking up.
Just then, Donovan suddenly coughed violently.
Everyone rushed to the bedside.
Leopold helped Donovan catch his breath while telling Amelia to press the call button.
Once Donovan recovered, he immediately told Leopold, "Respect your grandmother's wishes. Don't force her."
Leopold's pupils constricted. He stared at him for a long moment before nodding.
"And..." Donovan looked at me. "Let Cindy go home. Hospitals are full of germs—it's not good for her to stay long."
This time, Leopold didn't budge.
My nerves pulled taut.
Was Leopold refusing because he wanted to force me to stay?
No. I had to leave.
"Grandpa, I'll come visit you again later."
With that, I quickly turned and left.
As soon as I stepped into the elevator, I rapidly pressed the close button.
Through the narrowing gap, I saw Leopold's bodyguards rushing out.
My heart jumped to my throat.