Chapter 171
My entire body turned ice-cold, engulfed by an unknown terror.
"Leopold, Cindy's not going with you."
Ethan moved to shield me, facing Leopold's cold, imposing gaze head-on.
"If you actually cared about her, you'd let go and let her choose the life she wants."
"Our business isn't yours to interfere in." Leopold's tone was glacial. He didn't even spare him a proper glance.
"Cindy's my junior. I've always looked out for her like a little sister. Of course I'm getting involved." Ethan didn't back down, still standing firm to protect me.
Leopold's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing in their depths.
After a moment, he extended his hand toward me.
"Lucinda. Come here."
I didn't dare move.
My throat felt parched, as if invisible hands were choking me, cutting off my air.
Seeing my hesitation, the danger in Leopold's eyes intensified.
He arched an eyebrow, slowly lowering his hand. "Looks like we're doing this the hard way."
The moment the words left his mouth, synchronized footsteps echoed from behind the helicopter.
The next second, ten burly bodyguards with bulging muscles emerged, surrounding Ethan and me from both sides.
Ethan tensed too, but he didn't back down, keeping me firmly protected.
"Cindy, don't be scared. I won't let him take you."
But I was terrified.
Ethan wasn't just anyone. If something happened to him because of me, I couldn't bear the consequences.
"Ethan, forget it. I'll go back with him."
Ethan's gentle eyes suddenly went cold. "Cindy, you barely escaped—how can you go back? Besides, do you think Leopold will just forgive you because you went back willingly?"
My lips moved. Of course, he wouldn't.
Leopold wasn't a forgiving person, and I'd really angered him this time.
"If you know he won't go easy on you, then you definitely can't go back." Ethan made the decision for me. "Don't worry. I'll get you out of here."
Leopold's voice cut through the air like ice. "What are you all standing around for? Get her."
The bodyguards sprang into action.
At the same time, I heard hurried footsteps behind us.
I glanced back—another wave of uniformed security guards.
From the insignia on their uniforms, I immediately realized these were Ethan's own guards.
The two groups clashed instantly.
Fists and shouts filled the air around us. The scene descended into chaos.
Ethan tried to use the opportunity to get me away, but Leopold blocked our path.
Without a word, he lunged forward and landed a punch square on Ethan's face.
"Leopold!" I tried to stop him.
But Leopold didn't give me a chance. Like a hunting leopard, he pounced, pinning Ethan to the ground, raining down punch after punch.
Each blow whistled through the air as if he meant to beat Ethan to death.
"Leopold, stop it!"
I didn't think—I just rushed forward and grabbed him.
"Stop, please stop!"
Leopold's fist froze mid-air.
He turned to look at me, his voice hoarse. "You care about him that much?"
I froze. What did this have to do with caring?
"Cindy, don't beg him."
Ethan's face was covered in injuries, his split lip making his words unclear.
He'd barely struggled to his feet when Leopold's fist sent him crashing down again.
"You—"
The force pulled me off balance. Just as I was about to fall, Leopold's other hand shot out to steady me.
"If you don't want him dead right here, come with me."
I looked at Ethan, blood foaming at his mouth, then at Leopold's murderous expression.
In the end, I had no choice.
Leopold understood my silence and pulled me back toward the car.
"Cindy!"
Ethan pushed himself up, stumbling after us.
I couldn't help looking back, silently pleading with him to stop.
"Get in." Leopold opened the back door, gesturing for me to enter.
I didn't resist, bending down to climb inside.
Once Leopold got in, he ordered the driver to go.
The car had barely started when Ethan rushed to the front, spreading his arms wide to block the way.
"Leopold, as long as I'm breathing, I won't let you take Cindy. Either let her go, or run me over!"
"Ethan!"
I never thought he'd do this. I tried to lower the window to reason with him, but Leopold stopped me.
He stared at Ethan calmly. After a moment, he told the driver, "Run him over."
The driver looked stunned. "Mr. Percy, I—"
"Leopold, are you insane? Someone could die!" I couldn't keep my voice down.
"He owes me more than one life!"
Leopold remained unmoved, continuing his order. "Didn't you hear me? I said run him over."
The driver didn't dare disobey. He gritted his teeth and pressed the accelerator.
The engine roared louder, like a countdown to death.
Terror seized me. I grabbed Leopold's hand desperately. "Leopold, I'll go back with you—just let Ethan go! I'll do whatever you want, just please!"
Leopold's eyes instantly reddened, his gaze turning bloodthirsty. "The more you care about him, the more I want him dead!"
My chest constricted. Breathing became difficult.
The car was charging straight at Ethan.
As the distance closed, my whole body went numb. I could barely breathe.
Just as the hood was about to hit Ethan, a figure leaped agilely, grabbing him and pulling him to the side.
The two hit the ground just as the car roared over the spot where Ethan had been standing.
I whipped around to see Ethan and his rescuer rolling across the pavement before slamming into a flowerbed and stopping.
The suffocating pressure finally eased.
"Lucinda, this is the price of leaving. Next time, Ethan won't be so lucky."
Hearing Leopold's threat, I slowly turned back to look at his face.
For the first time, I felt like I was looking at a stranger—and I was afraid.
"How... how did you become like this?"
Leopold's pupils constricted sharply. The madness left his eyes, though a trace of viciousness remained.
He said nothing.
The car didn't stop in Ravenbrook City, heading straight for the highway to Silverlight City.
I watched the scenery fly past the window, my heart sinking deeper into an icy abyss.
By the time we reached Silverlight City, night had fallen.
When the car stopped, I realized we were outside Pansea Heights.
As Leopold got out, I followed.
He didn't speak. Neither did I.
Inside, the familiar warm-toned décor stirred nothing in my chest.
At this point, where I was didn't matter anymore.
"Mr. Percy."
I'd just changed my shoes when I heard two unfamiliar voices.
I looked back to see two middle-aged women in uniforms, their expressions stern as they greeted Leopold respectfully.
Who were they?
"She's yours now. Take care of her." Leopold's gaze swept over me coldly, his voice devoid of emotion. "Remember—without my permission, she doesn't leave this house. No one from outside contacts her. All communication devices—confiscate them all."
"Yes, Mr. Percy." They answered in unison, then turned to look at me, their eyes distinctly unfriendly.
It hit me instantly—Leopold was going to keep me prisoner.