Chapter 39
I didn't understand which "he" Leo meant.
"Are you talking about my senior or my ex-fiancé?"
Leo fixed me with a sharp look. "That man just now."
Relief washed over me. "You're not inferior to him. Stop overthinking it."
"If I'm not, then why did you hesitate when making your choice?"
I couldn't understand why Leo was so fixated on this.
"I wasn't hesitating—I was embarrassed. I didn't expect our... arrangement to be exposed so quickly. I didn't know how to handle it in the moment."
"If you weren't ready to face these situations, why did you drag me into this?"
His anger came through clearly, laced with accusation.
My own temper flared. "Fine. Call it a moment of impulse, okay?"
"Besides, I already said we should end this. You're the one who refused, who kept pushing—"
Before I could finish, Leo grabbed the back of my head and kissed me.
His kiss was rough and urgent, completely lacking finesse—pure instinct.
I struggled initially, but he only tightened his grip, as if trying to overwhelm me into submission.
Furious, I deliberately pressed against his injured arm.
Leo flinched in pain, his hold loosening slightly.
I seized the opportunity to shove him away.
"Leo, you promised you wouldn't kiss me without permission. Did you forget?"
His eyes were bloodshot.
"Lucinda, you've always been heartless."
My chest tightened. "Why would you say that?"
"Isn't it true?" His stare turned icy. "This afternoon I nearly died saving you, but you don't give a damn."
"You knew I was waiting for you, but instead of coming to find me, you drove all the way to some hotel to laugh and chat with another man."
"Lucinda, do you even have a heart?"
Something twisted painfully in my chest.
But this kind of emotion—it shouldn't exist.
We were strangers who'd crossed paths. Even after spending some time together, there shouldn't be this kind of bond.
"I—"
I wanted to argue back, but seeing blood soaking half his sleeve made me swallow my words.
"Let's get your wound treated first. I'll explain everything after."
"No. I want an explanation now."
Seeing his determination, I had no choice but to give in.
"I went to see my senior because the competition format changed, and I wanted to ask about my former teacher."
Leopold was still just a suspicion—better not to mention him yet.
Leo looked skeptical. "Your teacher?"
"Yes. I once trained under an incredible ballet master. She saw real potential in me, wanted me to carry on her legacy at the Royal Ballet."
"But I let her down. She was so angry she expelled me from her studio, said she'd never see me again."
I'd meant to play it up a little, deflect his attention.
But as I spoke, genuine sadness crept in.
"My teacher was strict, but she was so good to me. No matter how late I practiced, she'd stay with me. Once during a competition abroad, I strained a muscle. I knew I couldn't win, so I hid under my blanket and cried."
"She comforted me while massaging and icing my injury—worked on me the entire night. Without her, I never would've won that championship, never would've qualified for the international ballet competition."
"So later, when I quit dancing and secretly withdrew my competition application behind her back, she was devastated. That's why she said such harsh things."
I'd never told anyone this before.
Because I'd thought once I chose to stay with Leopold, I had to accept the consequences.
But not talking about it didn't mean I had no regrets.
Especially after seeing my accomplished senior Ethan, the regret mixed with shame was overwhelming.
"If it hurts this much, why didn't you tell him?"
A warm hand brushed gently against my face.
Only then did I realize tears were streaming down my cheeks.
I moved away from his touch, wiping my face myself.
"Tell him what? So I can play the victim? I have my pride. I don't need other people paying for my choices."
Something tender flickered in Leo's eyes.
I quickly shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Anyway, it's in the past now."
But Leo said, "Have you ever considered that maybe you never needed to make that impossible choice in the first place?"
I froze.
I'd never considered that possibility.
If Leopold had never wanted my constant presence, then these four years of sacrifice and compromise were nothing but meaningless self-delusion.
Did I create that pressure, suffocating him until Sophia's return gave him an escape route back to old feelings?
Then I—
"Lucinda!"
As I spiraled into self-doubt, Leo's voice cut through the fog.
"That's not what I meant. I wasn't saying your efforts were meaningless."
"If I were him, I would've cherished your sacrifices. I would've worked harder to change our circumstances so you could pursue your dreams sooner."
"Once we got through that rough patch, I would've given you everything beautiful this world has to offer. I would've made you... the happiest person alive."
His words pulled me out of that dark place.
I looked at Leo, tears welling up again.
"Thank you."
"Too bad he's not you."
Leo's pupils contracted sharply, his expression becoming impossibly complex.
I thought he was pitying me. I wiped my face and smiled. "It's getting late. Let's get your wound treated."
This time, Leo didn't refuse.
His wound had indeed torn open, but thankfully, we'd caught it in time—no infection.
By the time we'd finished re-bandaging everything, darkness had fallen.
Leo offered to drive me home. I didn't refuse.
After today's running around, my knee was throbbing again.
It was mid-month now, with finals at the beginning of next month. That gave me two weeks to rest and prepare.
This time, I was taking home that championship!
"You were bawling like a drowned kitten earlier. How'd your mood bounce back so fast?"
At his question, I felt slightly embarrassed.
"Nothing, really. I'm just psyching myself up. I'm winning that international ballet competition this year—it's the only way I can face my teacher again."
Leo's lips curved upward. "You absolutely will. I believe in you."
I nodded firmly.
Soon, we arrived at Bayview Villas.
I assumed Leo would turn into the complex, but instead, he pulled over to the curb.
"You're... not coming in?"
Leo engaged the parking brake, smiling faintly. "I was teasing earlier. You said your parents are inside—showing up uninvited would be presumptuous."
Without thinking, I blurted out, "I could say you're my friend. I've brought friends home before."
The moment the words left my mouth, my face started burning.
God, what was I even saying?
Leo's gaze deepened. "So you really want me to meet your parents?"
"No—that's not necessary."
Not daring to linger, I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and got out.
"I'm home now, so you should go. I'll contact you if I need anything."
Without waiting for his response, I turned and headed into the villa complex.
After walking a bit, I noticed tonight's pathway lights seemed brighter than usual—I could even see the cracks between the paving stones.
Suddenly, I stopped and slowly turned around.
A beam of bright light was dispelling the darkness around me, silently escorting me forward.
Warmth bloomed in my chest.
This Leo—he wasn't half bad.