Chapter 4
Before I could react, a cool sensation touched my lips.
My scattered thoughts instantly snapped back. I realized the person in front of me wasn't Leopold but Leo, and I quickly pushed him away.
"Who said you could kiss me?"
Leo curved his index finger, lightly wiping his thin lips with a half-smile. "You didn't object just now, did you?"
I choked on my response, turning my face away in annoyance. "That doesn't mean you can just kiss me whenever you want!"
Leo nodded compliantly. "Fine. Next time I'll ask for your permission first."
Furious, I glared at him. "You—" Remembering we'd just established our partnership and it wasn't time to fall out, I restrained myself and issued a stern warning instead. "Leo, I don't care how you've acted with others before, but this cannot happen again!"
"Also, our agreement is for three months. During this time, you are not allowed to touch me without my permission, you cannot touch my belongings, and you absolutely cannot enter my bedroom without invitation. If you can't abide by these three rules, we can terminate our arrangement early."
Leo didn't answer immediately. His eyes fixed on me, seemingly trying to see through me. I disliked that look. Leopold used to look at me that way, making me believe he had deep feelings for me.
"You—"
"I agree." Leo cut me off. I had just started to relax when he suddenly stood up.
He leaned forward, his arm pressing against the table, the tense muscles straining his sleeve. His tall, straight figure loomed over me from above.
"Ms. Wipere, you're my first client. I have no prior experience, so if you have any other requirements, please state them all now."
His first client? I was surprised. His performance that night certainly hadn't seemed like a first-timer's. My thoughts began to wander, but I quickly pulled them back.
"That's all for now. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know."
But Leo didn't back away. He smiled, lowering his center of gravity and leaning closer to me. The distance was too close. I could almost feel the warm breath from his nostrils.
"You..." I grew nervous involuntarily. "You can sit back down now."
"Since I'm supposed to be a proper boyfriend, I should get to know you better—understand your preferences to develop our chemistry." Leo spoke slowly, his magnetic voice like an invisible hand, silently teasing my heart. "Ms. Wipere, don't you agree?"
His warm breath suddenly fanned across my face. My breathing faltered. I didn't dare move.
Just then, my phone on the table rang. The intimate atmosphere shattered instantly. I grabbed my phone like a lifeline. Seeing it was the Percy Manor landline, I immediately stood up. "I have to go now."
This time, Leo didn't try to stop me. He straightened up, slightly raising his arm in a gentlemanly gesture for me to leave. It was a simple movement, but he performed it with an innate elegance.
Wasn't he supposed to be that sweet, innocent type who hung around bars? He shouldn't have this kind of aura. I must have been mistaken.
Outside the restaurant, I finally answered the call. It wasn't Donovan but the butler.
"Ms. Wipere, Mr. Donovan Percy had a sudden angina attack this morning. The doctor wants him hospitalized for observation, but he refuses and insists on seeing you. Would it be convenient for you to come over?"
Hearing Donovan was ill, I immediately agreed. "Of course, I'll be right there."
I took a taxi directly to Donovan's hospital. Just as I was about to open the car door, I saw Leopold and Sophia arm-in-arm, getting out of a luxury car ahead. I silently withdrew my hand from the door.
Through the car door, I heard Sophia call to Leopold. "Don't rush. Your clothes are all wrinkled. Let me fix them for you, or your grandfather will scold you for being slovenly again."
She smiled tenderly, her movements gentle. And Leopold, who typically despised being touched by others, though frowning in displeasure, stood still and allowed her to fuss over him. They looked every bit the loving couple.
My nose stung with emotion as I forcibly shifted my gaze away from them. During our ten years together, Leopold and I had seemed inseparable, but in reality, there had always been clear boundaries.
He never allowed me to freely enter his study or touch his personal belongings without permission. On the surface, he claimed it was to spare me the trouble. Now I realized the issue was the person, not the principle.
"Ma'am, we've arrived at your destination."
The driver gently reminded me when I failed to exit the car. I quickly snapped back to reality, acknowledged him, and got out.
As soon as I entered the hospital ward, I overheard nurses discussing Leopold and Sophia.
"Oh my god, that was the Percy family's son! Rumor has it he adores his fiancée. I didn't believe it before, but now I see it's true."
"Yes! In the elevator just now, Mr. Percy was so protective of his fiancée. So thoughtful!"
"They make such a perfect couple—the very image of what love should be."
My heart unexpectedly constricted. So in others' eyes, Sophia was the one who truly matched Leopold.
I kept my head down, walking quickly into the elevator, taking several deep breaths to calm my emotions. I was here to see Donovan. I'd see him and leave. No need to mind these things.
Having prepared myself mentally, the elevator reached the floor, and I stepped out.
"Leo, I was right. That was Cindy in the taxi just now."
Sophia's words stopped me in my tracks. She had seen me?
Leopold gave me a cursory glance. "Since you're here, why didn't you come up sooner? Don't you know grandfather is waiting for you?"
My eyes flashed with anger. Was he blaming me?
"Leo." Sophia affectionately patted Leopold's shoulder, smiling persuasively. "Cindy probably didn't mean it. She's likely still upset, which is why she didn't prioritize your grandfather's illness and arrived a bit late."
Her passive-aggressive tone irritated me, and I retorted, "Sophia, with your acting skills, it's a real waste you're not in the film industry."
Sophia's eyes immediately reddened. "Cindy, I was just trying to help explain. How could you say that to me?"
I wasn't falling for her act. "Don't pretend you know me so well. We're not close."
Sophia lowered her head in feigned hurt, covering her mouth and falling silent.
"Lucinda, are you done making a scene?" Leopold stared at me expressionlessly, as if all this were my fault.
I was disgusted and didn't want to engage with these two any further. "Mr. Percy, please tell your grandfather I'll visit him another day."
"Lucinda!" Leopold's tone darkened. "Did I say you could leave? Stand still. I have something to say to you."
I ignored him and walked away without looking back. There was nothing left to say between us. Staying would only make me feel worse.
"Lucinda!"
Leopold didn't give up and followed me. I rushed to the elevator, saw it was still stopped at the second floor, and without thinking, yanked open the emergency exit door. I ran down from the sixth floor to the first, never stopping.
Seeing a taxi waiting at the hospital entrance, I dashed toward it without hesitation. But just as my fingertips touched the door handle, a powerful force yanked me back!