Chapter 66
Hearing Ethan ask that, I knew he'd found out about me being kicked out of the dance company.
Embarrassment and bitterness welled up inside me.
"Why aren't you saying anything? Did you think you could hide it from me?" His voice carried a note of anger.
I felt guilty. "I didn't think that. I was planning to ask your opinion today—I just hadn't gotten to it yet."
After a moment, I heard him sigh.
"I thought you were distancing yourself from me, didn't want me interfering."
I quickly shook my head. "It happened so suddenly, and with the finals next week, I was afraid I couldn't handle it alone."
"Exactly." Ethan's tone finally softened. "I'm your senior. You don't need to be strong in front of me."
I nodded, warmth spreading through my chest.
"I'll figure this out. Now let's go to the police station and get those kidnappers arrested!"
Before I could speak, he instructed the driver to head to the station.
Actually, I wanted to say that since those people hurt Leopold, they'd probably been dealt with before any police investigation could begin.
But remembering how Sophia was still happily attending her interview, resentment flared in me.
That incident definitely had something to do with Sophia.
If Leopold's people couldn't find evidence, maybe reporting it to the police could get me justice.
After giving our statements at the station, the chief personally assured us they'd catch every culprit.
Leaving the police station, Ethan wanted to take me to dinner to discuss rejoining a dance company in detail.
"Sure, my treat."
Rejoining a company wasn't simple.
First, companies had their own ecosystem that an outsider like me could easily disrupt.
Second, I'd only be temporary, not truly sharing in their successes and failures—for many companies, I'd bring more trouble than value.
With so little time, nearly every company in Silverlight City was ruled out.
"What if I give you an internal recommendation to join the Royal Ballet directly?"
Hearing Ethan's words, I choked and started coughing violently.
"Take it easy." He quickly handed me napkins and patted my back.
After coughing for a while, I finally recovered, wiping tears from my eyes before managing to speak.
"Ethan, even if you're the Vice Director, you can't guarantee I'd get in, right?"
Ethan fell silent.
"It's okay. If nothing works, I have one last option."
Leopold had once established a dance studio for me under the Percy Group. After I joined the dance company, the studio had been abandoned.
If I really had no choice, I could ask him for help.
With Donovan there, Leopold probably wouldn't refuse me.
After dinner with Ethan, I headed to Percy Manor.
To get the studio running, I needed to communicate with Donovan first and get his help.
"Cindy's here! Perfect timing—I just brewed fresh tea. Come try it."
Seeing me, Donovan was delighted, pulling me to sit in the garden.
"Sure." I smiled and sat down. After tasting the tea, I nodded repeatedly. "Grandpa, this tea is excellent—clear infusion, fragrant taste, not bitter or cloudy."
"I knew you'd like it." Donovan poured me another cup, sighing. "It's been so long since we sat together like this."
His words triggered a sense of nostalgia in me, too.
Before, when Leopold was at work, and I wasn't busy dancing, I'd often come keep Donovan company.
Drinking tea, viewing paintings, cultivating ourselves.
Since Sophia's return, I hadn't spent time with Donovan like this.
"Leo's here. You two talk—I'll go upstairs and move around a bit."
Donovan's sudden announcement made me snap back to attention, immediately meeting Leopold's cold, emotionless eyes.
After Donovan left, Leopold sat down beside me.
His tall frame blocked the sunlight around me.
The air instantly chilled.
I drank three cups of tea, and seeing he still had no intention of speaking, I cleared my throat to break the ice.
"You..."
"Leo! You have to help me this time!"
Sophia suddenly rushed over.
Her dress was stained, her hair disheveled, with obvious finger marks on her face—like she'd just been abused.
I immediately looked at Leopold, seeing his expression visibly tense, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Sophia.
I quietly set down my teacup.
But the frustration stuck in my chest wouldn't budge.
It hung there, making me utterly miserable.
"What happened? Why do you look so disheveled?"
Leopold frowned, pressing her.
Sophia threw her arms around his, practically leaning into his embrace.
"My mom and I were forcibly taken by a group right after leaving the restaurant. After reaching some cellar, we were separated."
"They beat and berated me, forcing me to confess to kidnapping. I never did it, so I refused no matter what."
"Then they threatened me with my mom's life, telling me to think carefully about who I'd offended. I escaped when they weren't paying attention, but my mom's still in that cellar."
"Leo, please save her!"
Kidnapping?
My heart sank as I inadvertently met Leopold's suspicious gaze, a sharp pain piercing my chest.
"Why are you looking at me like that? You think I did this?"
Leopold's lips pressed into a thin line as he countered coldly, "You're the only one who's been kidnapped, and they told her to think about who she offended. Who else could it be but you?"
I knew he favored Sophia, but I hadn't expected it to be this extreme.
"Leopold, be reasonable!"
"I went to the police station this afternoon and came straight to Percy Manor. How could I possibly arrange to have them kidnapped off the street and locked in a prepared cellar?"
Leopold had no response.
But Sophia's expression changed. "Cindy, you were kidnapped before. When you went to the police station, did you say something someone overheard?"
"Even if you didn't do it, maybe a friend trying to stand up for you did."
Her twisted logic made me slam my teacup down on the table.
"I said this has nothing to do with me. Stop slandering me!"
Sophia's eyes immediately reddened as she dropped to her knees before me.
"Cindy, my mom's getting old. Even though she said terrible things to you at the restaurant, she was only thinking of me. I apologize on her behalf—can you please ask your senior to let her go!"
Her action startled me. I quickly stood to avoid her.
"Sophia, don't do this." Leopold tried to help her up.
But Sophia pushed him away, crawling on her knees toward me, her whole body trembling with sobs.
"Cindy, if you're angry or upset, take it out on me. Beat me, kill me—I'll accept it all. But not my mom. She's not well. In that damp, cold cellar, if she gets hurt, her life will be in danger!"
"Cindy, I'm begging you—please show mercy and spare my mom! I'll kowtow to you!"
I stood frozen, not daring to move.
"Lucinda, are you really going to let someone die before you're satisfied!"
Leopold's brow furrowed in fury as he reprimanded me with obvious displeasure.