Chapter 58
I heard that familiar voice, and my mind went completely blank.
It was Leopold's voice.
How could he be here?
How was it even possible for him to be here?
Not until the man in front of me went flying, and Leopold's towering, mountain-like figure stood before my eyes—
Only then did I truly believe it. Leopold was here.
He'd come to rescue me!
"Are you hurt?"
Leopold extended his hand toward me.
My nose stung, tears instantly blurring my vision as I choked out, "I'm fine."
I let him pull me to my feet.
Just then, the two kidnappers locked in the room burst through the door.
Seeing Leopold and me, their expressions turned instantly vicious.
"You dare hit my partner and steal my prey? You're the one asking to die!"
The scarred man grabbed a nearby chair and came charging at us.
"Stay back."
Leopold immediately shielded me behind him, sweeping his leg up and kicking the man and chair flying backward.
Before I could feel relieved, I heard a violent gust of wind slice past my ear.
My brain hadn't caught up, but my body already reacted—I shoved Leopold away!
As a wooden plank came crashing down toward my head, I braced myself for the worst.
But I never expected Leopold to lunge back.
Like an enraged yet determined leopard, he wrapped me tightly in his arms.
Before I could speak, Leopold's entire body shuddered.
I could feel his frame go rigid, as if summoning every ounce of strength to fight against the pain.
"Leopold?" My voice came out panicked, trembling beyond control.
Tears spilled freely down my face.
"I'm fine. Don't be afraid."
His voice was weak.
I kept shaking my head. "You're hurt. Let me see your injury."
"I'm fine."
Leopold repeated in a low murmur.
But I could feel the weight pressing down on me growing heavier.
I tried to support him, but couldn't withstand his weight and ended up kneeling on the ground.
Leopold sank down with me.
In my panic, my palm touched something wet.
When I lifted it, blood covered my hand.
Crimson blood had soaked through his entire back.
The next second, my shoulder grew heavy.
Leopold had passed out.
"Leopold!"
In that instant, my heart felt like it was being carved with knives as I cried out in anguish.
"Mr. Percy!"
Leopold's assistant noticed what was happening and immediately pulled two bodyguards over to carry him away.
My legs went weak. After struggling several times, I managed to stand and stumbled after them.
The hospital.
The surgical lights seemed like a bloody maw from the abyss, making my heart race with fear.
Half an hour passed. I couldn't sit still, pacing anxiously outside the operating room.
"Ms. Wipere, the surgeon operating on Mr. Percy is the best in the Percy Group. He'll be fine. Please, sit down and rest."
The assistant couldn't help but speak up.
I shook my head. "No need. I'm more comfortable walking."
After a couple laps, something suddenly occurred to me.
"Why did Leopold show up at the warehouse? Wasn't he supposed to be at the banquet?"
He adjusted his glasses. "Forty minutes ago, Mr. Percy already left the banquet to head to the office. But halfway there, he received a message and immediately told the driver to change course."
"I only found out you were there when we arrived."
I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at him in disbelief. "Leopold received a message?"
"Yes—wasn't it from you?" The assistant looked surprised.
I quickly pulled out my phone and unlocked my private messages.
Right there was the location I'd sent.
I'd set his name as my emergency contact before, and I'd always thought I'd changed it—but apparently I hadn't.
So he'd detoured to the warehouse for me, and gotten hurt and hospitalized for me, too.
Why?
Why would he do this?
Wasn't Sophia the one he cared about most?
"How's Leo? I heard he was in surgery—why would this happen?"
Sophia rushed over, her face full of panic and worry.
I didn't want to deal with her and continued pacing.
The assistant stepped forward to block her. "Ms. Guise, hospitals require quiet. Please control yourself."
"Leo's in there with his life hanging in the balance—how can I control my emotions? You told me he went back to the office to handle urgent business. Why is he injured and in the hospital? How were you taking care of him!"
Already irritated and anxious, I turned around at Sophia's accusations and slapped her across the face!
After the sharp crack, the entire corridor fell silent.
I stared coldly at Sophia. "Being nice doesn't work with you. Apparently, you only listen when someone gets physical."
Sophia clutched her face, her lips trembling. "You dare hit me! When Leo wakes up, I'm telling him everything. Just wait for him to punish you!"
I backhanded her with two more slaps.
Without holding back any strength.
The force sent Sophia crashing to the floor.
"Sophia, once Leopold is okay, you're the first person I'm coming after!"
I looked down at the jealousy and resentment on her face, my voice cold. "Don't think I don't know who kidnapped me. You'd better erase every trace, or I'll make sure you're completely disgraced in Silverlight City!"
Sophia clutched her face, unable to speak for a long moment.
"What happened to Leo? I got the call and rushed right over."
At that moment, Donovan hurried over with his butler's support.
I was about to explain when Sophia burst into tears first.
"Mr. Donovan Percy, Leo got hurt while he was with Cindy. I just wanted to ask her where Leo was injured, and she slapped me three times. Mr. Donovan Percy, you have to stand up for me."
She deliberately didn't hide the marks on her face, crying pitifully.
But Donovan acted like he didn't see her at all, directly ordering the butler.
"She's really grating. Get her out of here."
The butler immediately responded, waving for the bodyguards to drag Sophia out.
"Mr. Donovan Percy! You can't treat me like this. When Leo wakes up, I'll be the first person he wants to see. Doing this will break his heart."
Sophia refused to give up, still shouting.
Donovan found her annoying and had the bodyguards gag her.
"Grandpa."
After they left, I stepped forward to explain Leopold's condition.
But the moment I opened my mouth, my throat closed up.
Donovan sighed and pulled me into his arms. "I know. Leo must have gotten hurt saving you. I don't blame you, and you shouldn't blame yourself. That boy's been confused for so many years—I'm relieved he finally came to his senses today."
My tears flowed even harder.
Having no other choice, Donovan had the assistant explain.
"Teddy, tell me exactly what happened."
The assistant called Teddy gave a concise report of the situation.
"Outrageous! Someone dared kidnap Cindy right under my nose. Investigate! Get to the bottom of this!"
"Yes, Mr. Donovan Percy."
Teddy acknowledged and stepped away.
Donovan asked me some more details, but I didn't want him to worry and didn't reveal much more.
Suddenly, the quiet operating room doors slid open on both sides.