Chapter 97
"This child isn't mine..."
Before Leopold could finish, Sophia quickly interrupted.
"Leo, I know this baby came at a bad time, but you can't just deny its existence because of that."
"Besides, the night you were drugged, I was the one with you the whole time. Have you forgotten?"
My heart clenched violently.
That day, Leopold had ordered me thrown out while simultaneously taking Sophia's hand and leading her back to the bedroom.
This child... came from that night?
Then what did all those years I spent with Leopold even mean?
"I said, this child isn't mine," Leopold emphasized again.
Sophia turned her face away, crying softly. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone back to your room that night."
"I shouldn't have hoped you'd acknowledge this baby..."
"Leo, shut your mouth!"
Alicia scolded Leopold furiously, then comforted Sophia.
"Dear child, don't be upset. I'm here. I won't let you and the baby be cast out to live a wandering life."
"The child must return to the Percy family!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Percy."
Sophia thanked her gratefully, then turned to me. "Cindy, everything before was my fault. You can resent me, hate me—it doesn't matter. But the baby is innocent."
"I'm begging you—let Leo go, and let my unborn child go too."
Alicia grew even angrier. "Why are you begging her?"
"This Lucinda is engaged to Leo but keeps a man on the side—she's absolutely ruining the Percy family's reputation!"
"Leo, announce it publicly later—the engagement between the Percy family and the Wipere family is void. From now on, the two families will have nothing to do with each other."
"Once Sophia's baby passes the three-month mark, you two can set a wedding date."
Donovan's eyes blazed with fury. "I don't agree!"
"Your agreement doesn't matter!"
Alicia forcefully cut him off. "All these years I haven't managed the Percy family, thinking you'd handle things well. I never imagined you'd choose such a fickle fiancée for Leo."
"If I hadn't stepped in to buy up these photos, the Percy family's decades of reputation would already be in ruins!"
"Donovan, how long are you going to stay confused?"
Donovan trembled with anger but couldn't refute a single word.
My heart ached for him. I released his hand and looked at Alicia.
We'd reached this point—my agreement with Leopold was automatically void.
"Mrs. Percy, Leopold, and I canceled our engagement two months ago. Leo is my new boyfriend, not some man on the side. Please show some respect."
"Lucinda!" Leopold's expression turned abruptly dark.
I wasn't afraid. I stared back at him. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
Leopold's eyes were unfathomable as he took two steps toward me.
Donovan erupted in anger, slapping Leopold's arm. "What do you mean, canceled engagement? Why didn't I know about this? You damned fool—who gave you permission to cancel the engagement on your own?"
Leopold's upper body shook from the impact.
Both Alicia and Sophia looked pained.
Sophia quickly stepped forward. "Leo, are you alright?"
Alicia pointed at me, saying furiously, "You're absolutely stubborn! Even now you're trying to pin the blame on Leo!"
"A woman of such poor character who doesn't know her place has no right to marry into the Percy family!"
I didn't care, but Sophia showed a flash of delight.
She pretended to be obedient as she tried to calm Alicia. "Mrs. Percy, please calm down. Your health is important."
Alicia collected herself, glaring at me viciously. But her words were directed at Leopold.
"Leo, stop hesitating. Since all the Percy family's friends and relatives are here today, just spread the news of your broken engagement now. That way, no one can tarnish the Percy family's name in the future!"
Leopold hadn't said a word from start to finish. His eyes were as deep as an ancient well, impossible to read.
"Since I'm not welcome here, I'll take my leave."
I seized the opportunity to drop that line and walked out.
I'd been worried about finding a chance to slip away—now was the perfect opportunity to leave.
But I'd barely reached the door when Leopold's hoarse voice rang out.
"Grandma, stay out of my marriage."
My steps faltered. I instinctively wanted to turn back, but restrained myself.
"Leo, Lucinda doesn't have you in her heart. Why haven't you let her go?" Sophia was also breaking down. "I'm carrying your child—don't you care about it at all?"
Hadn't Leopold let go of his feelings for me?
That statement felt like a joke.
If he cared about me even the slightest bit, he wouldn't humiliate me here, and he certainly wouldn't have gotten Sophia pregnant.
I kept walking.
I reached a less crowded terrace to catch my breath.
"Cindy."
Ethan's voice came from nearby.
I turned to see him in a server's uniform, watching the surroundings warily.
"My people are in position on the roof. Come with me."
Before I could react, he pulled me into the shadows.
Along a dimly lit corridor, we entered a private elevator.
The moment the elevator doors closed, I glimpsed through the gap someone rushing onto the terrace we'd just left.
"Were you exposed? Why is someone chasing you?"
"Yes." Ethan casually tossed his baseball cap on the floor and removed his jacket. "When I saw Leopold pull you into the inner chamber, I tried to find you. I accidentally ran into his people face-to-face, so now they're looking for me."
My heart tensed up immediately.
"So Leopold really knows we're leaving together—that's why he's so on guard."
Ethan nodded lightly. "That's why we must leave tonight. No matter what he does, you can't waver!"
I didn't hesitate, nodding firmly.
Leopold had gotten what he wanted now, and he had a child with Sophia.
If I stayed, it would only bring endless trouble.
But my heart was uneasy.
Leopold never fought battles he couldn't win. If he knew Ethan and me were leaving together, how could he be unprepared?
I watched the numbers climb higher and higher, my heart rising with them.
Finally, the elevator reached the top floor.
"Go!"
Ethan didn't hesitate, pulling me straight toward the door to the rooftop.
But at the same moment, the sound of another elevator arriving echoed through the quiet hallway.
My heart clenched instantly. My back ran cold with chills, but I didn't dare slow my steps.
Just as my foot crossed the threshold, Leopold's sharp shout, wrapped in the cold night wind, pierced my heart.
"Lucinda, stop!"
My breath caught. I instinctively turned back.
I met Leopold's murderous gaze head-on, unprepared.
"Cindy, don't look back!"
Ethan's grip on me tightened, forcibly pulling me forward.
I quickly collected myself and followed.
Less than thirty feet to the helicopter.
The air felt fresher.
This was the taste of freedom.
"Cindy, you go first."
Ethan half-pushed, half-pulled me forward.
The bodyguard, already waiting by the helicopter door, quickly reached out to help me aboard.
I had just extended my hand when my whole body suddenly shivered.
The next second, in my peripheral vision, a silver flash cut through the night, shooting straight toward us!