Chapter 250
The moment I arrived at the hospital, I saw Brady's face, utterly devoid of will to live.
Looks like Leopold had forcibly summoned him again.
"I'm telling you, working people's lives matter too. I just pulled an all-nighter doing surgery last night, slept for barely five hours, and got a phone call dragging me back to work."
Hearing his sky-high resentment, I felt somewhat embarrassed. "Sorry. I didn't mean to trouble you."
Brady noticed Ethan getting out of the car to help me, and his lazy gaze suddenly sharpened.
He strode forward in two quick steps, shouldering Ethan aside and supporting me himself.
"You're Leopold's person. Taking care of you is what I should do. Why act like a stranger?"
I looked at him, then at Ethan rubbing his forehead, and smiled. "Then I appreciate it. But my injury shouldn't be serious—just want to check to be safe."
Brady didn't even look up. "You're right. I heard you got highest again at the Valeria International Ballet Competition. We definitely cannot be careless about this."
"Right. I don't want to affect tomorrow's competition."
Ethan had just circled around to the other side, preparing to walk alongside me.
"Ms. Wipere." Teddy appeared again, quite conveniently, carefully supporting my other arm while saying seriously, "Mr. Percy is on his way. He asked me to tell you not to worry—he'll handle everything."
Watching the two of them form an impenetrable defense, giving Ethan absolutely no chance to approach me, I was both exasperated and amused.
Leopold really did care about Ethan.
But in the next instant, my smile froze at the corners of my mouth.
What did it matter if he cared? He still had a child.
Brady knew about my old knee injury and didn't dare make assumptions, quickly calling in the attending physician who'd previously treated me.
After the two carefully examined me and confirmed it was only a superficial injury, they both breathed sighs of relief.
I quickly asked, "Will this injury affect my competition the day after tomorrow?"
Brady looked at the attending physician.
The physician said, "Probably not. But since your knee took the impact when you fell, observe it tonight. If there's no discomfort, then there's no problem."
I felt relieved too. "Alright, I'll observe it tonight."
Just as I finished speaking, urgent footsteps echoed through the corridor.
Drawing closer and closer, stopping outside the door.
I couldn't help but look up, just in time to see Leopold pushing through.
He wasn't in his wheelchair today. He gripped a cane in one hand. Seeing me, he strode quickly inside.
His gait was slightly unsteady, but extremely fast.
"Where are you hurt?" His hands pressed down on my shoulders as he examined me thoroughly from head to toe.
I looked up at him. "I'm fine."
Leopold still wasn't reassured. His gaze moved downward, stopping at my exposed knee.
Seeing the bruise there, his brow furrowed hard. "Does it hurt?"
His fingertips touched down lightly, but afraid of causing me pain, he only dared brush once.
"It hurt before. Not anymore."
Only then did I notice Brady and the attending physician had disappeared, leaving only the soft sound of the door closing.
Leopold's fingers tightened on my shoulders, his straight back tensing. "How did you suddenly fall? Did Ethan say something to you again?"
Sensing his emotions were off, I quickly explained, "He didn't say anything. I was distracted and fell on my own."
Noticing his expression ease, I pressed further. "Today is your grandmother's birthday banquet. You shouldn't be here. You should be keeping her company properly."
Leopold looked up at me, his hands sliding down from my shoulders to brace against the bed. "There are plenty of people keeping Grandma company. She doesn't need me. But you're injured. I had to come."
"But many important people attended the banquet today. If you're not there, it'll cause unnecessary speculation," I reminded him.
The Percy family was already highly scrutinized. If people found out Leopold had abandoned Alicia's birthday to come to the hospital, it would surely trigger another wave of public opinion.
Leopold frowned slightly. "Cindy, you consider so many other people—why won't you consider yourself?"
My gaze froze. I didn't quite know how to respond.
Would considering myself make any difference?
The facts couldn't be changed.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Leopold stared deeply at me. "You don't want me to stay?"
I avoided his gaze. "You really shouldn't be here."
By not inviting the Wipere family to the birthday banquet, Alicia had already made a statement.
Him doing this would only make the relationship between our two families more awkward.
Leopold's pupils contracted violently, cold emanating from his entire being.
He restrained his emotions, turned his palm upward, gripped my chin, and said in a low voice, "You really want me to leave?"
I had no choice but to look at him. I confirmed my response again. "Yes. I hope you won't come looking for me."
Instantly, the surroundings fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Leopold released his grip and straightened his back inch by inch.
Finally, he laughed softly. "Alright. I understand."
I stared at him blankly.
When he pulled open the door and walked out, my heart clenched painfully.
Instinctively, I got up and chased after him for two steps.
But just as I was about to cross the threshold, I stopped.
What good would catching up to him do?
Alicia was clearly frail with illness, yet she still insisted on holding this birthday banquet—wasn't it to announce to everyone that the Percy family had an heir?
Leopold coming to find me at this time wouldn't change anything.
Instead, it would only spark outside discussion about the Percy family or Percy Group, putting himself at a disadvantage.
The best thing for him now was to return. No matter how chaotic things were internally, appearances had to be maintained.
That way Donovan and Alicia wouldn't be put in a difficult position.
After thinking this through, I sat back down on the hospital bed.
"Lucinda, what's wrong? Are you crying from the pain?"
Suddenly, Arnold's voice came from the doorway.
I reached up to touch my cheek and felt dampness, only then realizing I'd been crying. "No, I was just sleepy earlier and yawned."
Arnold nodded in understanding and stepped inside.
Christian was with him.
I looked at them in surprise. "Dr. Moore, why are you here too?"
Christian was even carrying a medical kit. After setting it down, he explained, "Mr. Percy learned you were injured and had Arnold and me rush to the hospital to examine you."
A warm current surged through my heart without warning.
But before it could spread, it was replaced by an indescribable bitterness.
Leopold was so concerned about my injury that he'd risked censure and criticism to come to the hospital to see me.
And I'd been completely resistant, coldly telling him to leave.
This was undoubtedly trampling on his sincerity.
After Arnold and Christian re-examined me and confirmed I was fine, I left the doctor's office.
"Cindy, how are you?" Ethan hadn't left yet. He'd been waiting outside the door. Seeing me emerge, he quickly stood and asked.
"Ethan, I'm fine. But I have urgent business now. I need to go." After brief pleasantries, I headed straight out.
"Ms. Wipere, where are you going? I'll take you." Teddy also hadn't left, waiting by the car.
"To—" I'd just started speaking when my phone rang.
It was Amelia calling.
"Cindy, did Leopold come find you? Did you see him?"
Her voice sounded very anxious.
I stopped abruptly in my tracks, my heart sinking without reason.