Chapter 46
Fury ignited in my chest. Leopold was being completely unreasonable.
"Stop making things up! My senior and I went to see off our teacher. He was worried about me being alone, so he drove me home. There's nothing between us!"
"Sending someone off requires all that touching?"
"Which eye saw us touching?" My chest ached with anger.
He and Sophia had been all over each other at my celebration, and I'd said nothing.
Now he was mocking me for normal interaction with Ethan!
"Leopold, Cindy has nothing to do with you anymore. You have no right to control her!"
Even with his hands restrained behind his back and pressed against the car hood, Ethan still defended me.
"Leopold Percy!" I cried out. "Let him go! What gives you the right to treat him like this?"
Fury blazed in Leopold's eyes. His large hand dominantly gripped my waist, pulling me flush against him.
"This gives me the right—I have the power to do it."
Unable to break free, I could only glare at him furiously.
"Besides using force, what else can you do?"
Leopold's pupils constricted sharply, rage more terrifying than storm waves churning in their depths.
"I can lock you up!"
My heart plummeted. He was actually threatening to imprison me!
The moment that thought crystallized, I didn't hesitate—I raised my elbow toward his face!
Leopold didn't dodge. Sneering, he blocked my movement, then bent and effortlessly hoisted me over his shoulder.
"Leopold! Put me down!"
I fought with everything I had.
Leopold remained unmoved, carrying me steadily to his car and shoving me inside.
Seeing him slide into the driver's seat completely unfazed, I opened my mouth to curse him out.
"Say one more word, and I'll break Ethan's legs tonight!"
His voice dropped low, eyes bottomless.
My heart skipped.
I glanced through the window at Ethan, still restrained, and finally chose compromise.
The silent air felt like an invisible cage, imprisoning us both.
I had no idea where he was taking me.
While worrying, I suddenly noticed the scenery outside looked familiar.
When the car pulled up to a standalone villa, I confirmed where we were.
This was where Leopold and I had lived together.
Also, the place I'd chosen as our wedding home.
Before moving to Bayview Villas, I'd lived here for six years.
The first three years intermittently.
The last three from dawn to dusk.
"Why did you bring me here?"
This place held all my worst memories. I didn't want to be hurt by them, instinctively resisting going inside.
But Leopold didn't care.
"Move."
Not understanding his intentions, I could only follow him in.
When the front door swung open, familiar sights wrapped in the destructive power of memory crashed into my vision.
I could barely withstand it.
I'd thought I'd moved on, but returning here revealed I'd never let go at all.
One year, I'd wanted to see snow. This place had the highest elevation—you could see half of Silverlight City's snowscape.
Leopold had brought me here without hesitation.
We'd built snowmen and had snowball fights in this courtyard.
At sunset, when white snow took on warm tones, we'd kissed standing in that beautiful light.
Leopold didn't actually know how to take care of people, but here, he'd taken excellent care of me.
Knowing I feared the cold but loved playing in snow, he'd worked through the night building me a heated tent in the snow, blasting it warm with space heaters.
Whenever I got cold playing, I'd duck inside to warm up, then emerge when ready.
Back then, from his eyes to his heart, everything had been filled with love for me.
But now, dreams shattered, love destroyed.
Everything had become an illusion.
"Inside."
Leopold was economical with words, entering first.
This time I didn't obey.
"Why did you bring me here? What do you want?"
Leopold had just unbuttoned the first button of his jacket. At my question, he looked up.
No emotion flickered in his eyes.
"Lucinda, don't make me repeat myself."
Remembering his threat to lock me up, I grew even more reluctant to enter.
"I don't want to ask twice either."
"If you won't tell me, I'm leaving right now!"
Leopold's expression darkened ominously. He moved toward me.
"Leo, you're finally back?"
Sophia came running out barefoot, wearing the silk nightgown I'd bought.
All my emotions froze instantly.
Looking at them, I couldn't speak for the longest time.
"Cindy." Seeing me, Sophia immediately ducked behind Leopold, explaining frantically, "Don't misunderstand—I couldn't rest properly at the hospital, so Leo brought me here to recuperate."
"Please don't blame him. This is my fault..."
I turned my gaze to Leopold, my voice trembling. "You brought her here?"
Leopold's brow furrowed slightly. "Sophia's injury requires rest. What's wrong with bringing her here?"
I almost laughed. "And the nightgown she's wearing—you gave her that too?"
Leopold had clearly forgotten, dismissing it casually. "It's just a piece of clothing. What's there to fuss about?"
I laughed coldly. "Of course I'm going to fuss."
"I designed that nightgown myself and had it custom-made. Every single thread was purchased with my own money. What gives you the right to let her wear it without my permission?"
I'd been too rushed when moving before—hadn't noticed leaving it behind.
Sophia pressed closer to Leopold, explaining timidly, "Cindy, I didn't know you designed it. I'll change out of it right away—please don't be angry."
"No. Take it off now! I can't wait another second!"
Sophia looked helpless. "Can you wait just a bit? All my clothes are in the wash—I have nothing else to change into. I promise I'll wash it thoroughly for you."
I remained unmoved. "Can't you understand simple words? I want you to take it off NOW!"
Sophia bit her lip pitifully. "Cindy, are you still angry about that night? I wasn't lying about what happened. At the hospital, I really was desperate—I didn't deliberately let Leo find me..."
She grew increasingly distraught, sobbing, "I don't want to take anything from you. I just want Leo to be happy. If my existence makes you unhappy, I apologize—but please stop hurting Leo."
When it came to hurt, the wounds she'd inflicted were countless.
But seeing her pitiful act, then the tenderness that surfaced in Leopold's eyes for her—
I knew nothing I said would matter.
Just as I was about to say I wanted to leave, the sky opened up without warning.
Within ten seconds, hazy rain mist filled the air outside.
I was already getting soaked.
Unable to leave temporarily, I strode boldly into the house, heading straight for the guest bedroom.
My backup nightgown was still in the closet.
After retrieving it, I walked to the bathroom without sparing a glance at the two people entangled together in the living room.
Warm water gradually washed away the chill from my body.
Suddenly, thunder cracked explosively.
I flinched violently, instinctively clutching the faucet.
I'd been afraid of thunder since childhood—a fear that hadn't diminished with age.
I sped up my shower. Just as I wrapped myself in a towel and reached for the door handle—
The overhead light died without warning!
Thick darkness instantly flooded everything, pressing down until I couldn't breathe.