Chapter 196
Seeing Leopold's expression was off, I asked half-confused, half-probing: "Someone did contact me from a local number, but I didn't answer. How did you know?"
Although the two rooms were only separated by a wall, it shouldn't have exposed my every move.
"You didn't answer!"
Leopold's features twisted slightly as he snatched my phone and dialed the number back.
His expression scared me so much that I forgot to even question him.
Soon, someone picked up on the other end.
It was an unfamiliar man's voice.
Leopold demanded to know who had just called.
The person hung up directly after hearing this.
Leopold was so angry that veins bulged on his forehead, and he dialed back again.
But this time, no one answered.
"Damn it!" He punched the bedside table, making a dull, loud thud.
I stared at him in shock, seeing a terrifying storm churning in his eyes, and nervously pressed my lips together.
After hesitating for a moment, I asked: "Is there... something wrong with this call?"
Leopold suddenly looked at me, his eyes mixing rage with some unknown panic.
It was a look I'd never seen before.
"It's Amelia."
"What?" My face changed drastically. "Isn't she in Silverlight City? How..."
"She was kidnapped by Jason." Leopold's voice was hoarse and trembling, as if he couldn't bear this fact.
I was shocked by this news and couldn't help thinking about what he said yesterday—that Jason hadn't left the country and was most likely still in Silverlight City.
"Did you realize Jason was still in Silverlight City because something happened to Amelia?"
"Yes." Leopold gripped the railing tightly, then used it to support himself as he stood up and continued: "Jason's original target was you."
"While searching for Amelia, I discovered he appeared multiple times on the routes Amelia took to see you, so he took advantage of the Percy family bodyguards not being with Amelia and made his move."
I gasped. Before I left Silverlight City, Amelia did come to see me often.
"The last time she came to see you was when you went to the hospital for a checkup."
Leopold's words made my heart clench.
"I didn't see her."
Leopold looked at me again, those bloodshot eyes churning with complex emotions.
"I suspect she noticed someone following her, so she deliberately changed direction."
I was thunderstruck.
Then, enormous guilt and panic nearly drowned me.
"The call just now was from Amelia, so she was trying to... ask me for help?"
I could barely get the last words out.
Leopold looked at me silently, saying nothing.
But the silence itself was the answer.
A suffocating feeling came over me.
I clutched my collar tightly, breathing lightly.
I had actually hung up on Amelia's call for help!
Jason wasn't a good person. Bringing her all the way from Silverlight City to Gravenford Kingdom, she must have been in life-threatening danger multiple times along the way.
Now she had finally found a chance to call me, and I had hung up on her lifeline!
How could I do such a thing?
But the next second, I remembered something else.
I quickly said, "Wait, I'm using a new number now. Even Ethan doesn't know it. How would Amelia know?"
"I know it."
Leopold's answer made me freeze in place.
"How did you..."
"You changed to a new phone and got a Gravenford Kingdom SIM card at the airport. I know all of it."
My brain couldn't process this.
Seeing me stunned, Leopold explained in a low voice: "I knew you would definitely go to the airport, so I had someone check all your movements."
Only then did I understand.
But the guilt in my heart didn't diminish one bit.
"I... I didn't know it was her..."
If I had known earlier that something had happened to Amelia, I definitely wouldn't have deliberately ignored the call.
Now I wanted to slap myself!
"Mr. Percy."
At this moment, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
I looked over—it was Teddy.
Behind him was a man who looked half-familiar, half-strange: Barry.
Looking at his face, which was almost identical to Leo's, my feelings were mixed.
I belatedly remembered how Leopold had used Leo's identity to get close to me and make me fall for him again.
For a moment, all kinds of emotions surged up, making me embarrassed and at a loss.
"Speak." Leopold had already returned to his usual cold expression.
Even though his face hadn't regained its color, his aura was still powerful.
"Through location tracking technology, I've traced the landline to a specific neighborhood. Sir, should we contact the Gravenford Kingdom police now, or should our people go there first?"
"Go there first. Make sure to find all the locations Amelia has been to in the shortest time possible."
Leopold gave orders while walking out.
"By plotting these points, map out her activity range and deduce her location from that."
Watching him walk out, I got out of bed without thinking and chased after him.
"Wait, take me with you."
In the hallway, Leopold stopped abruptly.
But he didn't turn around, coldly rejecting me.
"You stay at the hospital."
"No!" I shook my head. "Amelia is in danger because of me. I won't be at peace for the rest of my life unless I see her safe."
Leopold seemed not to hear me and continued walking forward.
Instead, Teddy, who was following behind him, smiled and tried to persuade me.
"Ms. Wipere, it's very dangerous there. You should rest and recover at the hospital."
After speaking, he and Barry followed Leopold again.
I wasn't willing to give up and quickly chased after them.
But after a few steps, my lower abdomen suddenly cramped with pain.
I had to stop, bending over and holding onto the railing, forcing myself to endure the pain.
"Going like this, you'll just be trouble."
Suddenly, a low voice without emotion came from above my head.
I looked up sharply and saw that Leopold had returned.
Not caring about anything else, I grabbed his sleeve.
"Please take me with you, okay?"
"I promise I won't cause trouble. I'll just stay in the car and absolutely won't run around."
Leopold first looked at my hand. "You think staying in the car means you'll be fine?"
I was at a loss for words.
Right now Amelia's life was hanging in the balance, and they had to race against time to save her.
Even if I stayed in the car, I might still be exposed and cause them trouble.
With no choice, I could only let go.
Lowering my eyes to hide the self-mockery in them, I took a deep breath.
"Then go quickly to save Amelia. I won't cause you trouble."
I bent over and slowly walked back toward the hospital room.
It seemed like I always brought misfortune to people who were good to me.
Donovan was one, and so was Amelia.
Maybe I really was a jinx.
The pain in my lower abdomen became more obvious, and my internal organs ached along with it.
The pain made it hard to walk. Just as I wanted to catch my breath,
Suddenly, my waist tightened, and my feet left the ground.
Before I could react, I was picked up horizontally.
As soon as I looked up, I met Leopold's cold, indifferent eyes.
"Why are you..."
"Shut up, or I'll change my mind immediately."
I obediently stayed quiet.
After leaving the hospital, he carried me into the car.
I thought this position wasn't appropriate.
Just as I was about to speak, he let go first and settled me in the seat next to him.
I was stunned for a moment.
I vaguely sensed that this time, Leopold really wanted to draw a clear line with me.
Seeing he had already closed his eyes to rest, I quickly sat properly.
My phone suddenly showed a new message.
It was from Ethan.
[Cindy, I've found out who was behind the car accident.]