Chapter 195
"Are you okay? I heard Leopold came looking for you. Did he give you a hard time?"
Ethan looked me over carefully, his face full of concern.
"I'm fine." I smiled and avoided his gaze.
Ethan relaxed slightly, then added, "I just saw the Percy family bodyguards stationed outside the room next door. Should I have the hospital move you to a different room so you won't be disturbed?"
I shook my head. "No need. Leopold didn't give me a hard time. I'll stay here."
"But..."
Ethan seemed about to say more when I emphasized again.
"Leopold thinks I came to Gravenford Kingdom for you. I have to clear up that misunderstanding, or I won't be able to let it go."
At my words, Ethan's expression darkened. "Why do you need to explain?"
I found his question strange and immediately countered, "It's a misunderstanding to begin with. Why wouldn't I explain?"
Ethan stared at me, then asked after a moment, "Cindy, do you really want to leave Leopold?"
I was even more puzzled. "Of course. Why else would I have gone to all this trouble to arrange everything?"
"If that's the case, then I'll tell you a way to make Leopold give up on you completely."
My train of thought derailed. "What way?"
A faint curve appeared at the corner of Ethan's mouth. "Get engaged to me."
My eyes flew wide. I thought I'd misheard.
"Ethan, what did you say?"
Ethan set down the medicine in his hand and looked at me earnestly and seriously.
"You didn't hear wrong. I said get engaged to me."
"No..."
I was about to refuse when he cut me off.
"Don't rush to turn me down. I have my reasons for suggesting this."
I suppressed my impatience and listened to his analysis.
"First, this is the Gravenford Kingdom. If you're engaged to me, I can do everything in my power to protect you."
"Second, once our engagement is public, even if Leopold won't let go, the Percy family elders won't let him act recklessly."
"Third, the engagement will also solve an urgent problem for me—it'll keep my relatives from interfering in my marriage matters so I can focus on my career."
At this point, Ethan's tense expression eased slightly.
"This would be mutually beneficial. Of course, once things settle down, if you want your freedom back, I can voluntarily break the engagement."
"If you're worried, I'll have a lawyer draft an agreement right away. If I go back on my word, you can have me thrown in prison."
Get engaged to him?
It was something I'd never considered.
But hearing his systematic analysis, I began to think about its feasibility.
By the end, realizing he'd even planned my exit strategy, I felt an indescribable heaviness in my heart.
After a moment of thought, I worked up the courage to say, "Ethan, about this..."
"You don't need to answer me right away."
Ethan interrupted gently. "Think it over the next couple of days. See if you can find another, better solution."
I nodded lightly. "Thank you, Ethan."
Ethan shook his head. "You don't need to thank me. I'm not making this suggestion purely to help you—I have my own considerations."
I knew that with Ethan's status and position, finding a cooperative partner in the Gravenford Kingdom wouldn't be difficult.
His willingness to choose me was still an act of kindness.
I could let his previous help slide, but engagement wasn't a small matter. It wasn't something to take lightly.
I couldn't agree.
At the same time, I couldn't bring myself to refuse outright.
After all, Ethan had helped me so much already.
"Cindy, don't feel burdened. I really don't have any ulterior motives."
"Ethan, I understand. I'll think it over carefully."
I nodded again, then remembered that he'd also been injured in the car accident. "Ethan, is your injury better?"
Ethan seemed surprised I'd asked about him. His expression softened instantly.
"It's nothing. Just some scrapes on my arm. I'm fine now."
"That's good." I finally felt relieved.
I already owed him too many favors. If he'd been seriously injured on top of that, I'd truly never be able to repay him.
Ethan stayed with me until evening before leaving.
Before going, still worried, he deliberately left one of his personal guards with me.
I couldn't refuse his earnest concern and had to agree.
The hospital room suddenly fell quiet.
Feeling bored, I picked up the book Ethan had brought me.
After a few lines, I realized I couldn't concentrate. I had to put it down.
Just then, hurried footsteps rushed past outside the door.
They seemed to be heading toward Leopold's room.
My heart clenched involuntarily.
Had something happened to Leopold?
Remembering how deathly pale he'd looked this afternoon, how he'd collapsed, my heart tightened bit by bit.
What else had Leopold come to Gravenford Kingdom for?
I'd forgotten to ask Ethan earlier.
Unable to sit still, I got out of bed and walked toward the door.
I happened to hear a nurse complaining, "The wound on the patient's back is already infected. No wonder he suddenly spiked a fever. Why didn't any of you mention this before?"
Then came the Percy family bodyguard's sheepish explanation.
"I... I didn't know either."
Realizing Leopold was injured, I couldn't help stepping outside and approaching his room.
But I didn't dare go in. I could only peer inside.
Leopold's face was completely blocked by the nurse.
All I could see was the Percy family bodyguard pacing anxiously at the foot of the bed, phone in hand, replying to someone's messages.
It was chaos inside. I didn't want to intrude, so I waited silently.
Finally, when the nurse came out, I quickly stopped her and asked about his condition.
Learning that Leopold's situation wasn't critical, my clenched heart loosened slightly.
Turning around, I looked at Leopold inside again. His face was pale, with an unnatural flush gathered on his features.
I hesitated between going in and leaving.
"What happened to Sophia?"
Suddenly, the bodyguard answered a phone call and mentioned Sophia.
The hesitation in my heart instantly dissolved.
An image floated before my eyes—Leopold and Sophia walking together at the clock tower against the setting sun.
Without hesitation, I turned and went back to my room.
Ten years together, and this was all it amounted to.
He was the one who'd been engaged to me yet still stayed with Sophia, but in the end, he pushed all the blame onto me.
Ridiculous.
I drained my water glass in one gulp.
Perhaps I should consider accepting Ethan's proposal.
The new phone on my nightstand suddenly rang.
I looked at the flashing local landline number on the screen, completely puzzled.
In Gravenford Kingdom, I didn't know many people.
Even Ethan didn't have my new number.
Who would be calling me?
I didn't answer.
I waited for it to disconnect automatically.
But whoever it was proved persistent.
When the first call went unanswered, a second immediately followed.
I couldn't help frowning.
Just as I was about to answer, the call disconnected on its own.
A prank?
Or harassment?
Before I could figure it out, sounds of a scuffle suddenly came from outside.
"You can't go in there."
"Get out of my way!"
I recognized the second voice as Leopold's.
I was about to get out of bed when the door was forcefully shoved open from outside!
Leopold, deathly pale and breathing unsteadily, rushed in.
"Did you just receive a phone call?"