Chapter 201
"Cindy, what's wrong?" Amelia noticed my complexion had changed and immediately spoke up.
The next second, Leopold also rushed over, bending down to examine my expression. "Lucinda, where does it hurt?"
Strangely enough, the moment he spoke, the pain stopped.
"Lucinda?" Not getting a response, Leopold called my name again.
Only then did I lower my hand and look at the two worried faces. "I'm fine."
Amelia didn't believe it. "Your face just went completely pale. How could you be fine!"
Leopold also pressed, "Is it a headache? I'll have the doctor do a detailed brain scan."
I quickly refused. "No need. It just hurt a moment ago, but I'm fine now."
"Maybe I haven't been resting well lately. I've had this problem before."
Leopold looked dubious. "Really? I never heard you mention it before."
I looked at him with cold eyes. "Before, your mind was entirely on Sophia. It's normal you never heard me mention it."
Hearing me say this, Amelia looked nervously at Leopold.
Leopold's gaze paused. "Then you can tell me from now on."
Amelia looked excited.
Listening to Leopold's words, I felt nothing inside.
Sensing the atmosphere growing cold, Amelia took my arm proactively.
"Cindy, Leopold's right. From now on, whenever you feel unwell, you have to tell us. You absolutely can't hide it."
I nodded lightly. "Okay, I'll tell you next time."
Amelia pressed on. "Then will you come back to Silverlight City with me? I just escaped with my life. I haven't recovered yet. I definitely won't dare sleep alone when I get back. It would be wonderful if you could stay with me."
I suspected she was saying this deliberately to try to bring Leopold and me back together.
But looking at her bloodless face and the crisscrossing blue-purple bruises, I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
Amelia saw right through me and squeezed my hand.
"You need someone to take care of you, too. If you stay alone in Gravenford Kingdom, your parents will worry."
"Besides, Jason just escaped. What if he's hiding somewhere, planning to hurt you? You definitely couldn't handle him alone."
"I don't want the nightmare I just went through to happen to you."
Leopold spoke up at just the right moment. "She's right. Jason hasn't been found yet. It's not safe for you to stay here."
"Even if Ethan protects you, he can't watch you every moment. You'd be safer in Silverlight City."
Their analysis made sense, but I still hesitated. "Let me think about it some more."
Amelia was about to say something when I raised my hand to stop her.
I turned to Leopold. "Leopold, come outside. Let's talk."
Leopold immediately stood and went out with me.
In the corridor, I was about to head toward the window when he pulled me back.
"The wind's picked up. You can't catch a chill."
I froze, letting him pull me further inside.
"What did you want to tell me?"
I reorganized my thoughts before speaking. "Do you understand why I left Silverlight City?"
Leopold's eyes deepened slightly. "I know. You didn't want to be imprisoned."
"Not just that. I can't let go of every moment of your entanglement with Sophia these past three years. I also can't forgive that you knew what the problem was but didn't tell me, letting me walk into a dead end."
Leopold looked down at me, trying hard to soften his tone.
"Everything you've said—I have no defense. The fault lies entirely with me. I'm willing to make any amends, as long as you'll forgive me."
"And if I don't forgive you?" I countered, my tone steady and flat. "Are you going to lock me up again?"
Leopold lowered his eyes, his tone slightly heavier. "No. I won't make the same mistake twice."
"I didn't have enough confidence in our relationship, which is why I used the wrong methods to repeatedly test you. Now I have my answer. I won't doubt you again."
A bitter taste quietly spread through my heart. "But you got your answer too late."
"Late is better than never knowing at all." Leopold was rarely so unassertive, his tone even gentler than before. "I've wronged you. No matter how you want to punish me, I accept it. But I can't just stand by and watch you take risks."
"I can't bear to imagine what Amelia went through, happening to you."
His eyes held undisguised sincerity and concern.
His gaze clearly reflected my face, as if I were the center of his entire existence.
I'd seen such devotion before.
Back when we'd just gotten together, he was considerate in every way, caring for me at every turn.
Everyone who knew about our relationship thought I was his little princess, held in the palm of his hand.
But all that changed three years ago.
The misunderstanding was real. The hurt over these three years was real.
And there was my promise to Alicia, and that baby not even two months old...
All of it was real.
I was truly afraid now.
"Cindy."
Seeing my prolonged silence, Leopold spoke again. "Rebuilding trust requires a process. You can't judge my words, but you can observe me, scrutinize me."
"If I still show no improvement or change, you can leave me at any time."
My rational mind frantically reminded me—he was advancing by retreating.
After years immersed in the business world, he was extremely skilled at grasping an opponent's mindset and breaking through their defenses one by one.
This was his tactic.
But even knowing all this, my heart couldn't help wavering.
Just as I was torn with indecision, Leopold's phone rang.
He glanced at the number and immediately answered.
"Mr. Wipere, what's happened?"
I immediately looked at him. My dad was calling?
Leopold's expression darkened sharply. "Cindy's with me. Talk to her."
I quickly took the phone. "Dad, what's wrong?"
"Cindy, I just got a call from the driver saying your mom suddenly collapsed. She's in emergency care at the hospital right now. I don't know how serious it is."
My heart was in chaos. I immediately couldn't care about anything else. "Dad, don't worry. I'm coming back right now."
My dad, worried something would happen to me, kept telling me not to panic.
But my mom was in the emergency room—how could I not panic?
"Leopold, I'm going back with you!"
Half an hour later, Amelia, Leopold, and I boarded the flight back to Silverlight City.
Before boarding, my dad specifically contacted Leopold, asking him to take care of me and not let me worry.
I was so concerned about my mom's condition that I couldn't sit still.
Amelia kept trying to comfort me, but I couldn't relax.
Until Leopold came to find me.
"Your dad just sent me a video. He said your mother is fine now."
I quickly opened the video. My mom had already come out of emergency care, though her complexion was somewhat pale.
"Sweetheart, I'm fine. I was just in such a rush this morning that I didn't eat breakfast and had a low blood sugar episode. Don't rush back. Once I've recovered, I'll come visit you."
Hearing my mom's voice, tears immediately fell.
Nothing was more important than family being healthy.
After watching the video, I felt considerably lighter.
Over ten hours later, the plane landed at Silverlight City Airport.
Before I could speak, Leopold said to me, "The car's already arranged. We'll go straight to the hospital."
I glanced at him without speaking, my throat slightly warm.