Chapter 98
I focused my gaze.
The silver bullet struck Ethan's shoulder. Blood sprayed instantly.
"Ethan!"
I pulled back my hand and ran to his side.
I'd just started to crouch down to check his injury when my waist tightened—a powerful force yanked me backward.
I began struggling frantically.
"Let go! Let go of me!"
But no matter how hard I struggled, the force restraining me remained immovable.
"Lucinda, how dare you?"
Leopold's voice dripped with chilling menace.
I looked at Ethan, pale-faced and clutching his shoulder in pain, shaking my head continuously.
"Leopold, I hate you."
The grip on my waist suddenly intensified, nearly breaking me in half.
Leopold's voice grew impossibly tight.
"You'd hate me—for him?"
"Mr. Guise!"
A tall, imposing foreign man radiated menace as he emerged from the cabin door.
Seeing Ethan on the ground, clutching his shoulder, his expression transformed. He rushed over.
Other bodyguards poured out.
Each one held a handgun.
"Stand back! Or we open fire!"
Simultaneously, Leopold's bodyguards arrived.
Both sides faced off.
I'd never witnessed anything like this. Terror seized me completely, and I forgot to struggle.
"Stop."
After being helped up, Ethan immediately looked at me.
"Cindy, don't be afraid. If you don't want to stay, I'll still take you with me."
Looking at his shoulder drenched in blood, I couldn't bear it.
"Ethan, don't worry about me. Just go."
Hearing my words, Ethan's face paled even further.
"Cindy, you can't stay here..."
"Ethan, this is Silverlight City. Keep talking, and you won't make it back alive!"
Leopold radiated murderous intent like a demon from hell.
"Leopold!" I turned to him. "If you dare hurt Ethan again, I'll never forgive you!"
Leopold laughed coldly, his voice devoid of warmth. "Do you think I still care?"
That counter-question cut like ice to the bone.
The situation had spiraled out of control.
I couldn't let things escalate further.
I wanted to leave, but if the price was Ethan's life—I'd rather stay!
Ethan seemed to read my thoughts. His expression shifted as he immediately threatened Leopold.
"Leopold, Cindy is free now. You have no right to imprison her."
"If you insist, I'll do whatever it takes to rescue her!"
I shook my head at him, silently mouthing the words.
Go. Leave now...
Stop standing up for me. Leopold will actually kill you!
After being provoked, the murderous aura around Leopold intensified, his eyes turning bloodthirsty.
"Whatever it takes?"
"Fine. Then leave your life here!"
Both sides suddenly drew their weapons.
My heart nearly stopped from terror.
I bit down hard, turned, and threw my arms around Leopold, using my body to block his gun.
"I won't leave. I'll stay, I'll stay..."
Leopold immediately dropped his gun, one hand gripping the back of my neck, the other clamping around my waist.
His deep voice regained a hint of warmth.
"That's a good girl."
The next second, he swept me up in his arms and headed back to the hallway.
His bodyguards followed.
"Cindy!"
Ethan clutched his shoulder and took two steps forward before his people held him back.
I quietly looked over Leopold's shoulder, silently telling him again: Go.
Don't stay.
I knew Leopold was furious about my escape attempt tonight.
But I never expected him to be this unhinged.
Once inside the hotel room, he threw me onto the bed. My hands braced on either side as I tried to escape, but he grabbed my ankle and dragged me toward him.
My back scraped against the bedding, igniting a burning sensation.
"Leopold, what are you doing?"
Panic and fear flooded through me.
Right now, he possessed a viciousness and bloodlust I'd never seen before.
"Do you know what I've been thinking this whole time?"
I shook my head silently. Tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
He stripped off his jacket and violently tore open his shirt collar. His deep brow bone shadowed intense hostility.
He leaned down, his defined arms braced on either side of my body, veins bulging in a terrifying display.
"Why are you crying? Weren't you so tough just now?"
"Don't worry. Tonight I'll show you what 'tough' really means!"
Seeing the coldness in his eyes, despair washed over me.
"Leopold, please don't do this to me. Please?"
Leopold's laugh was hollow, his gaze even colder than before.
"Regretting it now? Too late!"
"Since you can't recognize your place, I'll help you figure it out."
His weight pressed down on me.
I nervously pushed against his shoulders, trying once more to reason with him.
"Tonight is the Percy Group's eightieth anniversary. All the guests are waiting for you."
"And Sophia—she's carrying your child. Don't you care anymore?"
Leopold gripped my waist. Hearing this, his smile turned increasingly sinister.
"I'm not the Percy Group heir anymore. Why should I care about any of that?"
My mind went blank from that statement.
Wasn't he the Percy Group heir?
Impossible!
He'd been the Percy Group heir for years now, with support from numerous board members.
How could tonight he suddenly not be...
I suddenly thought back to what had just happened. "You..."
"Shh!"
Leopold cut me off. His hands slid along my wrists into my palms, then suddenly clenched tight, palm against palm.
"Quiet. Otherwise, I can't guarantee I won't hurt you."
My breath caught. My heart twisted in agony.
That night was endless and excruciating.
I cried until my voice went hoarse.
Finally, I passed out completely.
When I woke again, everything in my vision was dark—I couldn't see anything clearly.
After several attempts, I finally pried open my thousand-pound eyelids.
The moment I sat up, the curtains automatically parted.
Outside was gray and overcast, not even a trace of sunlight visible.
I reached for my phone, then unexpectedly caught sight of my dress crumpled on the floor. My gaze paused.
Then I looked to the other side.
Empty.
As if nothing had happened.
But my body's reactions and the marks told me—last night had been all too real.
After a long while, I finally found my phone.
Opening it, I saw no messages at all.
I didn't even know if Ethan had made it back safely.
I wanted to message and ask, but when I opened my contacts, I found not a single number—even the phone itself wasn't my original one.
The model was right, but the software and contents were completely different.
I didn't need to guess—Leopold had done this.
To imprison me, he'd even replaced my phone.
Psycho!
After showering, I opened the closet to find it filled with various outfits.
All in my size.
I couldn't help but laugh coldly. So, the gilded cage life begins now?
I randomly grabbed something and changed.
I opened the door, planning to go downstairs for food, only to discover a bodyguard stationed outside.
"Ms. Wipere, how may I assist you?"
I leaned against the doorframe with a mirthless smile. "I'm going to eat. Want to chew my food for me, too?"
The bodyguard immediately stepped aside. "No, I'll accompany you."
I said nothing more.
After finishing breakfast in the dining room, I tried to leave the hotel, but the bodyguard blocked me.
"Lucinda, you conniving witch—are you trying to come between Leo and me again!"
Sophia spotted me from outside and stormed in, clutching her purse.