Chapter 37
"Grandfather?"
The moment Leopold spoke, Donovan's palm cracked across his face.
"You ungrateful bastard!" Donovan's voice thundered with rage. "I could hear you taking that outsider's side against Cindy from down the hall! Think I'm too old to discipline you anymore?"
Both Sophia and I jumped at the force of the slap.
"Grandfather." I found my voice quickly.
Donovan moved to my side, giving my shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don't be afraid, Cindy. I'm here to protect you now."
I could face Sophia's malice head-on, argue my case without flinching.
But Donovan's unconditional protection shattered something inside me. Tears blurred my vision.
"Leo." Sophia looked stricken, rushing to explain. "Mr. Donovan Percy, we weren't bullying Cindy. She was relentless, making things difficult for me. Leo was only defending me."
"Who the hell do you think you are!" Donovan's authority needed no raised voice as he turned to her. "I'm disciplining my grandson. It's not your place to interfere."
Sophia shrank back, pressing herself against Leopold.
Leopold worked his jaw before finally addressing us.
"Grandfather, this is between us, younger people. Stay out of it."
"Say that again. I dare you!" Donovan's face flushed dangerously red.
Worried his angina might flare up, I quickly intervened. "Leopold, please stop."
A vein pulsed at Leopold's temple, but he finally held his tongue.
I gently steadied Donovan. "Grandfather, don't get upset. Let me take you back to the Percy Manor."
But Donovan stood firm. "I came here today with something to say."
Neither Sophia nor I spoke. Leopold asked in a measured tone, "What is it, Grandfather?"
"I'm here to inform you and Cindy that tomorrow evening, I'm hosting a celebration at the manor. Cindy placed first in the international ballet competition semifinals."
"All these years, Cindy's put her own dreams aside to look after you and this old man. Now that she's achieved something remarkable, it's only right that her grandfather throw her a proper celebration."
I stood frozen. Donovan was throwing me a celebration dinner!
Which essentially meant publicly acknowledging my status.
That couldn't happen.
"Grandfather, I only made it through the semifinals. There's no need for anything elaborate."
"This isn't elaborate—I genuinely want everyone to celebrate with you. Someone as wonderful as Cindy shouldn't have her light dimmed by anyone."
Those last words seared straight into my heart.
All these years, I'd orbited around Leopold. To stay by his side, I'd dimmed my own shine, lowered myself.
I'd turned a blind eye to him and Sophia, even deliberately avoided their date nights on important anniversaries—all so he might spare me a little more time.
I thought only I knew about these private humiliations.
I never realized Donovan had seen it all.
My resolve to cut ties with Leopold cleanly began wavering again.
Emotions threatening to overwhelm me, I quickly turned away and discreetly wiped the tears escaping from the corners of my eyes.
"Grandfather, I appreciate the thought, but it's really not necessary."
Just as I finished declining, Leopold suddenly spoke up.
"If Grandfather wants to host something, let's do it. I'll have people make arrangements."
I stared at him in confusion. He had to understand Donovan's true purpose—why wasn't he refusing?
"Mr. Donovan Percy is so good to Cindy. If my grandfather treated me like that, I'd be smiling in my sleep." Sophia's voice dripped with theatrical envy.
Seriously? This again.
Donovan saw right through her, his face full of disdain. "I only have one granddaughter-in-law, and that's Cindy. If you want a grandfather like me, you'll have to keep dreaming."
Having just composed myself, I nearly choked at Donovan's bluntness.
Sophia's expression twisted momentarily before she lowered her head in staged disappointment.
"Maybe someday." Leopold's words were meant to comfort her.
Sophia's mood instantly brightened as she reached for Leopold's arm.
Donovan frowned, his tone turning grave as he addressed Leopold.
"Leo, you can't judge people by appearances alone. Otherwise, you'll come to regret it."
Something flickered in Leopold's eyes, but he didn't respond.
"Cindy, let's go."
"Okay."
I helped Donovan toward the exit.
At the Percy Group Building entrance, Donovan released a quiet sigh.
"Cindy, I can't read Leo's temperament anymore. He didn't used to be like this. I don't know what happened to change him so drastically."
"Grandfather, I heard from the butler that something happened three years ago that changed Leo's personality. But I have no memory of it, so I wanted to ask you about it."
At the mention, Donovan looked equally helpless.
"I don't know the details either. I just remember he called me that day, said he'd prepared a surprise for you, and wanted me there to witness it. I thought he was going to propose. But less than an hour later, he came back and locked himself in his room, refusing to see anyone."
"I tried to reach you, but you were at your teacher's birthday party and didn't answer. Later, I had people investigate, but came up empty—I suspect he sealed everyone's lips."
Proposal? My heart stuttered.
Thinking back carefully, Leopold's coldness toward me seemed to have started right around that time.
At first, he just delayed responding to my messages. I assumed he was still traveling for business and didn't think much of it.
Only when Donovan mentioned Leopold had returned did I realize something was wrong.
Shortly after, Sophia appeared.
And Leopold and I drifted further and further apart.
"Cindy, do you remember anything unusual happening around your teacher's birthday party?"
At Donovan's question, I shook my head dejectedly.
"Nothing special stands out. I brought a gift to the party, then had dinner and danced with my senior classmates. I got a bit tipsy, so one of the senior girls took me to a hotel room to rest. The next day, I went home with Ethan."
Donovan was at a loss. "Then maybe he just had some personal setback."
"Since he won't talk about it, we'll leave it be. But Cindy, remember this—you are the Percy family's granddaughter-in-law. Those others are nothing but distractions who'll never cross our threshold!"
I'd been about to mention that Leopold and I had separated, but the words died on my lips.
Donovan had his heart set on me marrying into the Percy family, on Leopold and me reconciling.
If he learned we'd already split, he couldn't handle it.
"I understand, Grandfather."
Only then did Donovan relax. "My driver will take me. You don't need to escort me all the way. Once the celebration details are confirmed, I'll contact you."
"Alright. Take care, Grandfather."
I saw him into his car and waited until it disappeared before hailing a cab home.
Halfway there, I suddenly changed my destination, directing the taxi to the hotel where Ethan was staying.
Donovan said Leopold had rushed back that night to prepare a surprise for me, but I'd never received anything.
And it coincided with my teacher's birthday party.
Could something have happened at my teacher's celebration—something I knew nothing about?