Chapter 51
In an instant, a gust of icy air slams into my face.
I lift my head slightly to see Leopold standing in the doorway, his expression glacial.
He certainly got here fast.
Instinctively, I look past him. Leo didn't come.
"Are you alright?"
Leopold strides over quickly, pulling me close to examine me carefully.
I resist, pulling away from him.
"I'm fine. Sophia's on the bed."
Leopold's expression freezes abruptly. Only then does he look behind me.
"Leo, you're finally here! Save me, please!"
"I came in good faith to help Cindy, but she thought I was working with whoever drugged her. No matter how I explained, she wouldn't believe me. She even tied me to the bed, saying she'd make me take her place... take her place..."
Sophia trails off in distress, dissolving into quiet sobs.
Leopold looks at her, then at me.
"What the hell is going on?"
I've already braced myself for his mockery and humiliation.
Except this time, he's not following the script.
I don't quite understand.
Is this still Leopold—the one who protects Sophia at every turn, treats her like his precious treasure?
"Didn't Sophia just explain? I'm the one who hurt her."
Leopold's expression grows even stranger. His voice turns cold. "I want to hear your explanation."
The words are right there in my throat, but then I remember all the times he's questioned me, humiliated me.
I don't dare gamble.
"Leo."
At that moment, Sophia struggles off the bed and stumbles over to Leopold, tears streaming down her face.
"Everything I said is true. Why won't you believe me?"
Leopold counters coldly, "You said you'd wait for me at home. How did you end up here alone?"
Sophia's prepared for this. She explains through her tears, "Mr. Wood called me to come."
"He said he was specifically inviting Cindy, and it would be more fun if I came too. Later, Cindy had a sip of wine and said she felt dizzy. Worried she'd feel worse, I brought her here to rest."
"How was I supposed to know she'd suspect me of trying to hurt her? She tied me to the bed and said she'd find other men to get revenge on me—to settle the score for me framing her last time!"
She sobs softly, her thin shoulders trembling with each breath.
She looks utterly fragile.
The more Leopold listens, the darker his expression becomes.
"Lucinda, did you really say those things?"
I see straight through to the disappointment lurking in his eyes. I'm grateful I didn't bet on this rigged game.
"That's right. I said all of it."
The moment I admit it, Leopold's face becomes covered in frost.
He's never believed me anyway—one more time or one less, what difference does it make?
Maybe I've been hurt by him so many times that while my heart still aches, the pain isn't as sharp as before.
For me, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Just then, a voice calls out from the doorway.
"Mr. Percy, this man was lurking suspiciously by the door. Very questionable behavior."
I don't need to look to know who it is.
Sure enough, Asher's trembling voice follows immediately.
"Mr. Percy, this is all a misunderstanding! I just came to see what was happening here—no other intentions."
"You're busy. I won't disturb you."
He turns to bolt.
But his foot barely clears the threshold before the bodyguard yanks him back.
Seeing him so spineless, I can't suppress a cold laugh.
Asher first glances at Sophia's red-rimmed eyes, then at me—completely unharmed. He immediately turns to beg.
"Lucinda, please explain to Mr. Percy."
"Tonight, I really was just apologizing to you. I had no malicious intent."
"Why were you apologizing to her?" Leopold's brow furrows.
"I..." Asher doesn't dare speak.
Watching him continue to cower, I shake my head silently.
Leopold's patience is thin. The more Asher hedges, the worse his fate will be.
Sure enough, Leopold issues a direct order to his bodyguard.
"Break his legs. Dump him outside Silverlight City."
All color drains from Asher's face. He shrieks hysterically, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"
Sophia's expression twists slightly before she pleads weakly with Leopold.
"Leo, my hand hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?"
I don't look at Sophia, just lower my gaze quietly.
Sophia said that as long as she shows even a hint of being wronged, Leopold drops everything.
I never expected Leopold to do anything about tonight anyway.
"Not yet. Let's hear what he has to say."
"Leo..."
Sophia tries to stop him.
"I'll have my bodyguard take you." Leopold suddenly says this.
My eyes flicker. Slowly, I raise my head.
Why isn't he leaving?
Is his insistence on interrogating Asher because he genuinely wants the truth, or just passing curiosity?
"Tonight..." Sweat pours down Asher's face as he wipes frantically and speaks. "Tonight I invited Lucinda and others from the dance company. I wanted to..."
"Mr. Percy!"
Just then, director Samuel appears at the door. Seeing our varied expressions, he startles.
"What's going on here?"
"Mr. Flores, please help me explain to Mr. Percy why we're having dinner here tonight." Seeing him, Asher looks like he's spotted a savior.
Not understanding the situation, Samuel honestly explains that Asher was treating everyone to thank the dance company for their hospitality.
I look at Samuel in confusion. Why is he hiding the fact that Asher was apologizing?
Leopold's gaze sweeps over me as he voices my question.
"Mr. Wood just said he was apologizing to Lucinda. What's that about?"
Samuel walks over to stand beside me, explaining with perfect composure.
"It's because Mr. Wood previously promised to write Lucinda a recommendation letter, but now that Lucinda's won first place in the semifinals on her own merit, winning the championship is just a matter of time."
"So Mr. Wood plans to give the recommendation slot to someone else, so more people from our company can reach better platforms. He felt guilty about it."
"But Lucinda was gracious and said she didn't mind. She even said that as our principal dancer, she should contribute to the team."
I know these words are meant for me.
Samuel isn't oblivious to what Asher did—he just deliberately looks the other way.
Single-mindedly trying to leverage Asher's influence to elevate the dance company.
"Lucinda, is that right?" Leopold turns his pointed question back to me.
All these years, I've clawed my way up on my own.
Whether I stay with this dance company doesn't mean much to me.
If the international ballet competition didn't require registration under a company's name, I would have left long ago.
But remembering how almost every dance company in Silverlight City rejected me before—
Only Samuel extended an olive branch.
I still owe him for that.
"Yes. Mr. Flores is telling the truth."
"Mr. Percy, see? I told you it was a misunderstanding." Asher's overjoyed, excitedly explaining to Leopold.
Leopold's gaze presses down on me, dark and heavy.
The storm passes. Asher leaves with Samuel.
Not wanting to linger, I follow them out.
"Leo, but what about Cindy tying me up earlier..."
Hearing Sophia still trying to hold me accountable for what just happened—
A mocking smile curves my lips. Leopold's not stupid.
If Sophia wasn't lying, then the person who should have entered that room was Asher.
But both Samuel and I confirmed Asher had nothing to do with this. Her lie fell apart on its own.
Only now the rift between Sophia and me runs even deeper.
Add Asher—that rabid dog—to the mix.
My days ahead probably won't be peaceful.
The more I think about it, the more suffocated I feel.
These people just won't give it a rest!
Suddenly, something strikes my head.
Reflexively, I turn around and spot a familiar figure in the distance.