Chapter 62
After rushing out of the dance company, for a moment, I wanted to confront Leopold.
Why would he do this to me?
But I quickly came to my senses. It would be pointless.
Sophia was always his top priority. I was just an insignificant ex at best.
He would never change.
So what was I supposed to do?
Without the dance company, I couldn't compete in the International Ballet Competition, which meant I'd never catch the Royal Ballet Company's attention.
All these years of effort and dedication—for nothing.
I'd thought that with medication, I might manage to push through one more time.
Now, even that chance had been stripped away.
If I waited another four years, neither my age nor my leg could hold out.
And in three months, I'd very likely be in a wheelchair.
The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became.
Unknown fears crushed my spine, making it impossible to breathe.
What could I do?
Who could help me?
I wandered the streets like a lost soul.
Only when night fell did I drag my exhausted body back to the villa.
"Lucinda, you've got some nerve—ignoring my calls all day! Is this how you repay me?"
The moment I walked in, Leopold unleashed a tirade that left me unable to lift my head.
"I'm sorry." I apologized quietly. "My phone broke."
Leopold paused, seemingly noticing my mood. He commanded directly, "Come here."
I stood rooted to the spot.
Leopold grew impatient, got up, and walked over to me, lifting my chin.
Forcing me to look at him.
"What's with the attitude now! Do you know I've been all day..."
He stopped mid-sentence, swallowing the rest.
I didn't press him, just looked at him quietly.
Leopold's expression darkened as he examined me carefully. "What's wrong with you? Who hurt you?"
Seeing him act like he actually cared, something broke inside me, and I laughed.
"Leopold, how can you be such a good actor?"
Leopold's fingers tightened instantly, gripping my chin hard.
He enunciated each word. "What did you say? I didn't hear you clearly."
The pain made me frown, but the smile didn't leave my lips.
"I said you're a great actor. You're the betrayer, yet you keep playing the victim, pushing me into a corner step by step."
"When I'd already decided to give you up and let you be with Sophia, you staged a heroic rescue, pretending to care about me to confuse me, making my heart waver."
"Then, just when my heart was wavering, you stabbed me in the back."
"Leopold, how do you do it? Why don't you teach me?"
Leopold's eyes filled with a bloodshot fury.
"Lucinda, I risked my life to save you, and in your eyes it was just some ridiculous performance?"
His voice was hoarse to the extreme.
It sounded like his heart was breaking.
I didn't want to be deceived anymore. I covered my ears. "Yes."
On one hand, he recklessly saved me, making my heart waver.
On the other hand, he spared no cost helping Sophia reach the top, announcing his favoritism to the entire world.
I couldn't trust him anymore.
But Leopold forcefully pulled my hands down, destroying my heart just as he'd destroyed my dreams.
"So you figured it out."
"This was my miscalculation. I originally wanted to make you taste what it feels like to be used and discarded, but I didn't expect you to be so perceptive."
"Tell me, how did you figure it out?"
In that instant, my heart felt like it was pierced by thousands of arrows, the pain unbearable.
To kill someone and destroy their spirit—this was exactly that.
"Leo, I'm back."
Just then, Sophia's cheerful voice drifted in.
I immediately tried to push him away, but he wouldn't let go.
"You haven't answered yet."
I shouted angrily, "Sophia's about to come in. Let me go!"
"Cindy."
He suddenly used my nickname.
His low voice carried an intimate tone.
I was caught completely off guard.
"Tell me, how did you find out? Did Sophia tell you, or did someone else say something?"
The more he pressed, the more I refused to say.
Who knew what trap was hiding behind this?
"Leo! Move aside, I need to see Leo!"
Sophia was somehow being blocked outside, shouting in frustration.
Leopold had my chin gripped—I couldn't break free no matter what.
Just as I was considering whether to bite him, the landline in the living room rang.
A servant who hadn't dared show their face finally emerged anxiously to answer it carefully.
"Yes, please hold."
"Mr. Leopold Percy, Mr. Donovan Percy is on the line for you."
Only then did Leopold release me.
I could finally breathe, retreating to the dining room like escaping a flood.
Sophia also managed to get inside.
She immediately scanned toward where I was, her eyes narrowing.
"Lucinda, why are you still at the villa? This is Leo's and my home. What's an outsider like you doing here?"
Before I could speak, she pressed on. "What were you two doing in here just now? Why is your chin so red?"
I moved my jaw a couple times before responding. "If you want to know, go ask Leopold."
I wasn't planning to stay here tonight. I headed upstairs to pack my things.
But Sophia followed, continuing to interrogate me.
"Why won't you say? Did you two do something to betray me? Are you too ashamed to admit it!"
"Sophia." I stopped and turned to look at her. "Between us, you've always been the one betraying me. So I won't explain anything to you."
"You—"
Sophia was livid.
Just then, Leopold finished his call and spoke coolly.
"Lucinda, my grandfather's coming over later. Get dinner ready."
I'd reached the second floor. At his words, my fingers tightened on the banister.
But I said nothing, walking straight to the master bedroom.
On the way, I heard Sophia asking anxiously.
"Leo, what about me? Your grandfather's coming—what should I prepare?"
"You need to leave. My grandfather doesn't want to see you."
Leopold's emotionless voice carried up.
As if deliberately meant for me to hear.
I smiled silently and gathered my skincare products from the master bedroom, packing them in my bag.
Then I sent Leo a message.
[Come pick me up here in five minutes.]
Just after sending it, I heard rapid footsteps coming up the stairs.
Was Leopold coming?
I clutched my bag.
But soon, the footsteps retreated.
As if he'd turned back.
I wasn't sure, so I crept to the door to look.
The hallway was indeed empty.
Leo also replied.
[Okay, see you in ten minutes.]
If I left through the front door, I'd definitely be stopped.
I had to use the side entrance.
Bag in hand, I carefully climbed over the second-floor railing and slid down the pipe to the first floor.
Thank god I'd been practicing dance lately—my flexibility was better than six months ago.
Otherwise, I would've been caught climbing out.
I didn't go through the main door. Instead, I walked into the densely planted garden.
I followed a small path directly to the side gate, unlocked it with my fingerprint, and slipped out silently.
To avoid detection, I avoided the main roads the entire way.
Timing it right, I arrived at the front gate and saw an SUV parked by the roadside in the distance.
Heart racing with excitement, I ran to the car and pulled open the door.
"Drive quickly!"
"Cindy?"
An unexpected voice suddenly rang in my ears.