Chapter 176
"Someone notify Mr. Percy—the patient's awake."
Suddenly, another voice sounded in the room.
I looked toward the source and saw a doctor in a white coat and mask approaching.
"Are you still in pain?"
I shook my head.
He made some notes, then continued. "Try lifting your leg for me."
I did as he asked.
He recorded more information, then asked other questions, mostly about my physical condition.
I couldn't help asking, "Who are you?"
He seemed to realize he hadn't introduced himself and quickly apologized.
"I'm Arnold Norman, your attending physician. You nearly miscarried earlier. Mr. Percy specifically assembled our medical team to treat you."
The name meant nothing to me. I was about to ask more when the bedroom door opened.
I turned to see Leopold enter, still wearing Leo's face.
Of course he was.
Arnold immediately began briefing him on my condition.
Learning he was an internationally renowned neurological and orthopedic surgeon, my heart sank.
Leopold knew about my condition!
Then I heard Arnold say my condition was extremely serious and required immediate systematic treatment and complete bed rest. Otherwise, it would not only affect my mobility but also threaten the pregnancy's stability.
This assessment was more severe than any previous examination.
So after all my efforts, I still couldn't achieve my dream.
"You're this sick—why didn't you tell me?"
Leopold came to my bedside, his voice hoarse.
Having my deepest secret exposed left me feeling helpless and desolate. I might as well be blunt.
"Back then, Sophia was all you could see or think about. How was I supposed to bring it up?"
Leopold's face went pale. "So when the hotel caught fire, you didn't miss the danger—your legs had no strength, so you just lay there waiting to die?"
I looked at him, remembering how he'd risked everything to pull me from the flames.
"Yeah. What else could I do? I couldn't even crawl out."
Turbulent emotions roiled in Leopold's eyes.
He closed them briefly to compose himself, then opened them again. "It's okay. Arnold says your condition hasn't completely spiraled out of control. If you cooperate with treatment, you'll recover in two years."
I gave a bitter smile. "Two years? I can't wait that long. I'm refusing treatment."
"Lucinda." Leopold sounded anxious. "You can't put this off anymore. I've brought in your previous doctor. He's told both Arnold and me everything about your condition. I know you really want this chance to join the Royal Ballet Company, but you can't gamble your entire future on it. Please, just listen—it's only two years. They'll fly by."
I looked at him sharply. "Only two years! Leopold, do you realize I'm already twenty-six? If I don't seize this opportunity now, in another four years I'll be too old to join any company!"
Leopold's expression froze, a barely perceptible flash of pain crossing his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I failed to take care of you. If I'd known about your condition earlier, I definitely would have—"
"Stop pretending." I quietly cut him off. "If you'd known earlier, I probably wouldn't have even qualified for the international ballet competition."
Leopold looked like he'd been struck, his face filled with disbelief.
"How could I possibly do that to you..."
"Why not?" I laughed coldly. "If you hadn't felt sorry for Sophia and pulled strings to get her that special guest position, I wouldn't have been injured onstage. My condition wouldn't have deteriorated so quickly."
Leopold's pupils trembled slightly, all the light in them dimming.
He opened his mouth to explain, but couldn't squeeze out a single word.
"If you'd known about my injury back then, can you guarantee you wouldn't have interfered with the judges' scoring?"
Leopold's lips pressed into a thin line. He remained silent.
I had to answer for him. "You can't. You wouldn't just interfere with the scoring—you'd use my condition as an excuse to steal my championship and give it to Sophia. Let her bask in the flowers and applause. Then you'd turn around and tell everyone it was for my own good."
"No!"
This time, Leopold didn't stay silent, though his voice was terribly hoarse. "I would have interfered with the judges because I didn't want you hurt, but I would never steal your glory."
I looked away from him. "None of that matters anymore. But I won't accept the treatment you've arranged."
"Leopold, if you really want what's best for me, let me go."
"Absolutely not!" Leopold refused without hesitation.
I'd expected as much. I wasn't angry.
"If I don't want to do something, no amount of forcing will make me submit. We'll see whose patience lasts longer. But if you let me go abroad, I'll not only cooperate with treatment—I'll have this baby. And if we ever meet again in the future, I'll remember this kindness and let the child coexist peacefully with you."
"Bottom line, you just don't want to stay by my side."
Leopold's pupils constricted sharply, his voice sounding like it was being dragged from the depths of his throat.
"Even if I let you go abroad, you won't be with me anyway. So why should I agree?"
"Lucinda, I know I made countless mistakes before. But precisely because I understand you, I don't dare let you go easily. I'm afraid you'll never come back."
If he'd known it would come to this, why did he act that way in the first place?
The composure I'd worked so hard to maintain shattered at his words.
Seeing we weren't getting anywhere, I closed my eyes, refusing to look at him anymore.
"Then we'll each do what we can."
I couldn't make the same mistake a third time. This time, I absolutely would not give in!
Though I'd made up my mind, Leopold had endless tricks up his sleeve.
At first, he came to see me every day wearing Leo's face, cooking different dishes for me, casually showing off the injuries on his arms—trying to use guilt to make me cave.
But I held firm and ignored him.
Then he brought my parents in.
Learning that pregnancy was worsening my condition, they were extremely worried and urged me to accept treatment.
I couldn't bear their anxiety and almost wavered.
But James told me, "Cindy, if you really don't want to, your mother and I won't force you. Worst case, don't have this baby. You're still young—there'll be other chances."
Fanny worried, "That makes sense, but what if we really push Leopold to his limit and he keeps Cindy locked up here forever?"
I shook my head. "He won't. After you leave, go find Mr. Donovan Percy and tell him everything."
Leopold had been raised by Donovan and Alicia. Even if he was reluctant, he wouldn't truly defy them—especially Donovan.
When my parents couldn't persuade me, Leopold proactively contacted my teacher, Victoria.
She sent me a message saying she'd be in Silverlight City in two days and wanted to meet.
I mentally prepared myself, getting ready to deal with my teacher.
However, I never expected that before Victoria arrived, someone else would show up—someone completely unexpected.
"Ms. Wipere, the marquess asked me to tell you: don't worry about the worst-case scenario. Keep Mr. Percy stable, and you'll get the best opportunity."