Chapter 89
"I'm borrowing your study to handle some business."
Leopold tossed out that line and headed straight for the study without a backward glance.
I let out a cold laugh. His memory was apparently photographic. He'd only been here once, yet he remembered my place's layout perfectly.
"Leo, I want to stay with you..." Sophia hurried after him with puppy-dog eyes.
"Didn't you come to take care of Lucinda? Just stay with her."
Sophia whipped around to glare at me, fury blazing in her eyes.
I raised an eyebrow nonchalantly and settled onto the couch with a sweet smile. "Perfect timing. I'm thirsty. Would you mind getting me some water?"
Sophia looked ready to combust on the spot, refusing to budge.
"Not willing?" I drawled deliberately. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave. Leopold, you don't mind, right?"
Leopold had just opened the study door. At my words, he turned his head to look at Sophia.
Sophia's fury vanished in an instant, replaced by a quick smile of agreement.
"Cindy, it's not that I didn't want to go. I was just thinking about what temperature you prefer your water."
"I see. Then 113°F would be perfect."
"Sure thing." Sophia headed toward the kitchen, her smile not reaching her eyes.
I grinned and pursed my lips, unexpectedly locking eyes with Leopold across the room. He stood there quietly, his gaze neither angry nor displeased—calm, as if he couldn't care less that I was giving Sophia a hard time.
I immediately looked away and settled back onto the couch.
"Here you go."
Soon enough, Sophia handed me a glass of lukewarm water.
I glanced at the rim and said coolly, "There's no steam. This definitely isn't 113°F. I'm not drinking it."
"Lucinda, don't push your luck!" Sophia's face turned livid with rage.
"Oh?" I raised a hand to cover my lips. "Getting impatient already? Maybe I should just tell Leopold to let you leave."
"You—" Sophia trembled with anger.
I laughed softly. "Can't take it? Then leave."
Sophia slammed the glass down on the coffee table. "You're only acting this way because you know I won't leave!"
"Believe it or not, I'll march right in there and tell Leo you're deliberately making things difficult for me. Let's see who he believes!"
The same old trick.
I steadied myself against the couch and stood up. "Friendly reminder—this is my home, not the Percy Manor."
"And right now, Leopold's the one insisting on staying here. If you're so capable, make him leave. Otherwise, you'll have to swallow your pride and take good care of me."
Sophia's chest heaved violently, looking like she might explode any second.
Before, I cared about Leopold, so I was always the one being manipulated. Now that I was letting go, I realized Sophia wasn't all that impressive after all.
"Familiarize yourself with the place and go buy some groceries to prepare dinner."
Seeing Sophia's eyes practically shooting flames, I added another line.
"Otherwise, Leopold will be the one cooking."
With that, I headed leisurely back to my room.
After locking my bedroom door, I pulled out my phone and messaged Ethan.
[Ethan, change of plans. I might not be able to leave tonight. You go ahead. I'll find a chance to leave in the next couple of days.]
The moment I sent the message, Ethan's call came through.
I hung up immediately.
The study and my bedroom were separated by just one wall. I was worried about alerting Leopold.
The next second, Ethan's message came flooding in.
[What happened? Is Leopold not letting you leave?]
Me: [No, just ran into a situation.]
Two minutes later, Ethan replied: [Are you sure you can leave in the next day or two?]
Me: [The chances will be better.]
Even if tomorrow didn't work, the day after would definitely work. Because the day after tomorrow was the Percy Group's eightieth anniversary celebration. Even if Leopold wanted to keep tabs on me, he couldn't be in two places at once.
[Alright, I'll wait for you.]
I was a bit surprised when I saw Ethan's message.
Ethan's schedule should be packed. Besides these few days as a judge, he should have other competitions or events. How would he have time to wait for me?
[Ethan, if you have things to do, go ahead. I'll make it to Gravenford Kingdom.]
[It's fine. I happen to have the next two days off, perfect for waiting. In case something goes wrong, I can help you out.]
His thoughtfulness left me with no reason to object. Another person meant more support.
After that, I rested in bed. Resting in name only—my mind kept churning through other matters.
Soon, darkness fell. I was hungry, so I opened the door and went out.
Just as I reached the study door, Leopold emerged.
Running into him so suddenly made me uncomfortable for a moment, but I quickly composed myself.
"It's about time for dinner. I'll go check if Sophia's finished cooking."
I'd barely taken a few steps when a sharp pain shot through my knee. I stopped immediately and leaned against the wall, rubbing it gently.
As I tried to move forward again, my waist was suddenly cinched tight, and my feet left the ground. The pressure felt like it might snap me in half, making me gasp involuntarily.
"Stay still."
Leopold's arm tightened, easily pulling me into his embrace from behind.
"What are you doing?"
I tried to struggle. The moment I moved, his grip tightened even more.
"Your injury hasn't healed. Why are you making a fuss?"
Something indescribable welled up inside me. I didn't say another word.
When we reached the living room, I finally spoke up. "You can put me down now, or Sophia will see."
Leopold froze, as if only just remembering she existed. As he set me down, he asked with an unreadable expression.
"Are you afraid of her?"
I adjusted my position. "I'm not afraid. I just don't want the hassle."
Leopold frowned in displeasure, one hand braced against the back of the couch, about to ask something else.
Suddenly, a loud crash came from the kitchen. Then Sophia came running out, screaming with her hands clutching her head.
Seeing us, her expression changed dramatically as she rushed over like a gust of wind.
"Leo, the oil splattered everywhere and burned my hand so badly."
She pitifully held out the back of her hand for him to see.
"I'll go check."
Leopold pushed her hand aside and strode quickly toward the kitchen.
"Lucinda, see how much Leo cares about me? The moment he saw I got burned, he personally went to the kitchen to clean up for me."
Sophia raised her hand, her face full of triumph.
I glanced at her unmarked hand and said coolly, "Ever consider he's just worried you'll blow up the kitchen and take everyone down with you?"
"You just can't accept the fact that Leo loves me most."
Sophia walked up to me, her eyes gleaming. "Lucinda, I truly pity you."
"You've been with Leopold for ten years, yet you can't even compare to my three months. And now you have to watch us being affectionate with your own eyes. Your heart must be bleeding, huh?"
I said flatly, "You're overthinking it. I accepted that fact a long time ago."
Sophia sneered. "Keep acting tough. Let's see how long you can keep it up!"
She turned and headed toward the kitchen, saying sweetly at the doorway.
"Leo, I'm coming to help you."
A chill ran through me, killing my appetite instantly.
I pulled out my phone and messaged Leo again.
[Remember to eat dinner before coming back tonight, or I'm afraid those two will poison you.]
A minute later, he replied with a question mark.
Me: [Don't ask, just do it.]
Several minutes later, he finally replied.
[Fine.]
At eight-thirty, Leopold suddenly announced.
"I still have a meeting. Don't disturb me."
I was stunned. If Leopold left, wouldn't all my carefully laid plans go to waste?