Chapter 203
Sophia took a slap, all her arrogance frozen on her face.
She covered her cheek, looking at Leopold, who'd just entered in disbelief.
Tears welling in her eyes, she said, "Leo, how could you treat me this way? I already did what you asked—went with you to Gravenford Kingdom and helped you lure out Jason. You said you'd let me go."
Hearing this, I was somewhat surprised. "You lured Jason out?"
Only then did Sophia notice my presence. Her expression immediately changed. "Lucinda, what are you doing here?"
Then, realizing something, she looked at Leopold again.
"Leo, you deliberately had them tie me up and bring me here—for Lucinda?"
"You're not completely stupid." Leopold's mockery was cold.
Sophia immediately looked at me, her eyes full of wariness and apprehension. "Lucinda, why did you call me here so late?"
I didn't speak. My gaze slid from her face down to her visibly rounded belly.
Sophia was extremely sensitive. She immediately turned sideways, protecting her abdomen.
"Don't you dare touch my child! It's the Percy family blood. If anything happens to it, the Percy family won't let you off."
I smiled faintly. "Just a bastard child. It doesn't rank in the Percy family."
As if I'd crossed a line, Sophia immediately shot back, "Shut up! You're just jealous of my good fortune—that I can give birth to a Percy family child, unlike you, who couldn't keep yours even after getting pregnant."
My smile vanished instantly.
Leopold's gaze was like an icy blade, stabbing straight at Sophia. "You're admitting you killed Lucinda's and my child."
Sophia's face went deathly pale in an instant.
She instinctively denied it. "It wasn't me. I already explained—my brakes failed, which is why I lost control. And she was the one who deliberately rushed out when she saw my car. It had nothing to do with me..."
The more she spoke, the more guilty she became, her words increasingly incoherent.
But from her rambling, I pieced together something else.
No wonder that day Leopold had rushed to the hospital room and immediately demanded to know if I'd deliberately given up the baby.
It was because Sophia had lied, saying I'd deliberately rushed out.
How could a person be so vicious?
Unable to bear it any longer, I jumped out of bed and slapped her hard across the face.
Sophia staggered several steps back.
Only by grabbing the bed rail did she barely manage to steady herself.
"That slap was for killing my child!"
Sophia gripped the rail, her face full of defiance, but with Leopold present, she didn't dare act out.
But one slap—how could that be enough?
The grievances between Sophia and me had long been irreconcilable.
I stared at her, my tone terrifyingly calm. "Now you have two choices."
"This is the second floor. Either you jump down yourself, or I'll have someone throw you down."
"Whatever the outcome, I'll let bygones be bygones!"
Sophia's eyes widened in shock. "You're insane!"
She immediately turned to Leopold for help. "Leo, we've known each other since childhood. Plus, this is a Percy family child in my belly. You won't let Lucinda act recklessly, right?"
Leopold didn't even look at her properly. He said coldly, "Make your choice."
His response made Sophia's shoulders slump. She objected loudly, "I... I won't choose! This is murder. I can sue you both!"
I remained unmoved. "Then you can try—see if you can make it out that door."
Sophia's pupils trembled, her emotions on the verge of collapse.
Just then, Leopold glanced at the bodyguards.
Understanding the signal, they stepped forward.
"Don't come near me," Sophia broke down completely, tears streaming down her face. "Leo, I was wrong! I shouldn't have lied to you. I know I was wrong. Please let me go..."
Leopold stared at her coldly, expressionless. "You're begging the wrong person."
Sophia immediately understood and turned to me.
Her eyes held some unwillingness, but she had no choice but to yield. "Lucinda, I was possessed that day—that's why I hit you. It wasn't my intention. Please forgive me."
"You've had a child, too. Please don't hurt mine. It's innocent..."
I looked at her coldly. "I won't forgive you. And you don't deserve to be a mother."
Sophia quickly shook her head. "I... I can still compensate you. Name your price—no matter how much, I'll scrape it together. Just please, spare the child and me..."
I took a step toward her.
Sophia fell back onto the bed in fright.
Seeing her finally afraid, I felt neither satisfaction nor pity.
"No amount of money can compensate for what I lost."
The pleading on Sophia's face instantly twisted into something vicious. "Lucinda, I won't let you have your way!"
She suddenly stood up and shoved me aside.
"Cindy." Leopold quickly stood and caught me.
We'd barely steadied ourselves when we heard a thud.
I turned to see Sophia sprawled on the ground, clutching her belly in obvious pain. "It hurts—my belly hurts so much..."
I saw blood flowing from between her legs and immediately said to Leopold, "Get a doctor, quickly."
Leopold looked slightly surprised but said nothing, ordering the bodyguards to find a doctor.
I moved to check on Sophia.
Leopold held me back. "Don't go near her. Wait for the doctor."
"It's fine." I pushed him away and walked to Sophia.
She was already curled up completely from the pain.
"Sophia, this is what losing a child feels like. Do you understand now?"
Sophia's face was covered in cold sweat.
Hearing my words, her eyes filled with hatred.
I didn't care. "I said before—as long as you got a taste, whatever the outcome, the account is settled."
"Whether you can keep this child depends entirely on you."
Sophia's eyes flew wide open. She bit down hard, refusing to let herself pass out.
Soon, the on-call doctors came in and were startled by the scene.
But seeing Leopold there, they didn't dare ask questions. They quickly mobilized staff to take Sophia away.
"Do you feel better now?" Leopold came up behind me, asking in a low voice.
I let out a slow breath. "If something really happens to this child, how will you handle David?"
Leopold came around to face me, looking down at me. "The Percy family doesn't need bastard children. Even if it's my uncle, he can't gamble with the entire Percy family."
I understood then. This child wouldn't be born.
Even if the baby was safe now, there were plenty of ways to deal with it.
Just like my child had been dealt with.
"I'm tired. I want to rest."
Leopold supported me, helping me back to bed.
After I sat down, seeing he had no intention of letting go, I reminded him, "You can let go now."
Only then did Leopold release his grip.
I lay down. My lower abdomen still ached faintly, as if my body was frozen on the day I lost the child.
Seeing Leopold still standing by the bed with no intention of leaving, I spoke again. "You can go now."
Leopold seemed to want to say something, but ultimately only said one thing. "Rest well."
I didn't respond.
Only after the door closed gently did I place my hand lightly on my abdomen.
It used to be warm there. Now it was only cold.
Mending a broken mirror—how could it be so easy?
After spending a week in the hospital, I couldn't stand it anymore and went home to recuperate.
My parents also thought I'd recover better at home and handled my discharge procedures.
They waited for me downstairs while I gathered my personal belongings.
Just as I walked out of the room, I suddenly froze.
Looking at what was in my hands, I suddenly couldn't remember what I was supposed to be doing.