Chapter 199
Ethan looked confused, but still reached out to take it.
"Grandfather."
The moment he spoke, his expression turned extremely ugly.
The look he gave Leopold was one that seemed ready to tear him limb from limb.
This was the first time I'd seen someone as gentle as Ethan wear such an expression.
What on earth had his grandfather said to him?
Leopold, however, acted as if he'd known this call would come. He swept me up into his arms and walked straight past Ethan.
The other guards, unclear about what was happening, looked somewhat bewildered.
Reaching the roadside, I saw a black Mercedes G-Class parked there.
"Put me down. I can walk on my own."
Even though no one else was around, I didn't want him carrying me.
Leopold acted as if he hadn't heard and carried me directly into the car.
"You..."
"Cindy."
Just as I was about to get angry, I heard Amelia's voice.
I turned to look and saw her wrapped in a blanket, her face deathly pale as she leaned against the seat.
I couldn't be bothered arguing with Leopold anymore. I slid directly off his lap.
Unexpectedly, he let out a muffled grunt.
My face instantly burned. He'd done that on purpose!
I didn't dare look at him. I could only grip Amelia's hand. "Amelia, how are you? Are you hurt?"
Amelia shook her head gently. "Not dying."
I gently brushed away the hair that had fallen across her face. Only then did I see the bruises covering her temples and cheeks.
Fury instantly consumed me. "Did Jason do this?"
"Yes, but don't be angry. Leopold already got revenge for me."
At Amelia's words, I finally noticed that Leopold's knuckles were covered in cuts.
His lip was also split, red, and swollen.
He'd gone to save me with all these injuries?
I suppressed the surge in my chest and said softly to Amelia, "Then don't talk anymore. Rest well."
Even so, I didn't want to speak to Leopold.
I leaned gently against Amelia.
And as I leaned there, I actually fell asleep.
When I woke again, I was back in the hospital room.
The difference was that this time I wasn't alone—Amelia lay sleeping beside me.
"You're awake?"
The moment I moved, Leopold strode quickly to the bedside.
The injuries on his face and hands had all been treated. His right hand was even wrapped in bandages.
Seeing my silence, Leopold sat down on the edge of the bed and explained, "You caught a bit of a chill, but otherwise you're fine."
"Amelia suffered quite a few injuries, but they're all superficial—not life-threatening. She'll be fine after some rest."
Only then did I relax. Then I remembered Teddy. "What about Teddy?"
Earlier, half his face had been covered in blood.
Leopold lifted his gaze slightly to look at me.
After a few seconds, he said, "His forehead was split open. He needed five stitches, but he's fine now."
"That's good." I nodded lightly. Otherwise, I'd have felt terribly guilty.
The air suddenly grew silent. An inexplicable awkwardness flowed between us.
Leopold sighed softly. "You've asked about everyone except me."
"Didn't you already get bandaged up?" I countered.
Leopold's gaze deepened. He didn't continue that topic. "Once Amelia wakes up, we'll head back to Silverlight City."
Panic rose in my chest. "I never agreed to go back."
"Then you can agree now."
Hearing Leopold's firm tone, I clenched my fists hard. "I have no relationship with you. What gives you the right to make decisions for me?"
Leopold didn't get angry. He bent down, bracing his hands on either side of my body.
His domineering presence instantly enveloped me. I instinctively pressed back against the pillow.
Leopold's eyes were like the deep sea—calm yet unfathomable. "What kind of relationship do you want?"
That wasn't what I meant at all.
Leopold moved closer until our noses nearly touched. "Or rather, what would it take for you to have a relationship with me?"
My breathing rhythm became erratic.
In desperation, I said deliberately, "Didn't you blame me for killing your child? How can you still want a relationship with me? Are you that cheap?"
Leopold's pupils contracted sharply. His gaze shifted from profound to piercing. "I already know. You didn't give up the baby willingly."
I froze. How did he know?
The moment that thought emerged, Jason's words before I fell into the sea suddenly echoed in my ears.
The baby's abnormality was because in Silverlight City, Leopold had given me too much medication.
"How do you know?"
Leopold didn't rush to explain. His fingertips landed gently on my brow bone, tracing down along the contours of my face. "Lucinda, what do you want to ask me?"
My eyes widened in shock. "Why would you say that?"
Was he about to admit it?
Leopold's fingertips stopped at my chin, caressing it with a hint of nostalgia. "Did Jason tell you something again? You can verify it with me. I promise I won't hide anything from you."
We were too close. My ears began to burn. "Get off first."
"Lucinda, I want the truth." Leopold didn't move. He continued to press me.
His words were somewhat strange—as if he knew what Jason had told me and was deliberately testing me.
Caught between Ethan and him, I was rapidly losing my grasp on reality.
Rather than endlessly second-guessing here, I might as well speak plainly. "Since you know I didn't willingly give up the baby, you must also know about the fetal abnormality?"
Leopold's fingertips paused on my chin. His gaze lifted slightly, looking straight into my eyes. "I do know."
"Jason said it was because I took too much medication in Silverlight City that the baby developed abnormally." After speaking, I stared into his eyes, trying to discern the truth within them.
Leopold's expression didn't change from beginning to end. Instead, he withdrew his hand and let out a soft, mocking laugh. "You believed him."
I stared at him blankly. "I believed him at first."
Leopold's playful gaze paused, his tone taking on deeper meaning. "At first? So now you don't believe it."
I didn't deny it. When I'd first learned the baby's abnormality was related to the medication I'd taken, I had indeed suspected Leopold.
But he valued this child too much.
For it, he could not only set aside his resentment but was willing to reconcile with me—even chase me all the way to Gravenford Kingdom.
Anyone in the world might have wanted something to happen to this baby. Anyone except Leopold.
After that, the answer wasn't hard to guess.
In the silence, Leopold leaned in close again.
His low, magnetic voice wrapped around me with tenderness. "Lucinda, I'm very glad that this time you didn't listen to provocation. You chose to trust me."
"When we return to Silverlight City, I'll make it up to you properly."
I avoided his intoxicating gaze and refused coldly. "No need."
Leopold stopped half an inch from me, asking in confusion, "Why not?"
"I already told you. We're finished."
Before, I'd been torn because of the baby. Now that the baby was gone, I had no reason to go back.
Whether it was the misunderstanding from three years ago or my agreement with Alicia, I couldn't start over with him.
I'd expected Leopold to get angry, but instead he said, "That's okay. There's still time."
I didn't know if he meant I had time to consider, or that he had time to convince me.
But for now, I had more important things to do.