Chapter 99
The bodyguard immediately positioned himself in front of me, blocking Sophia.
"Get out of my way!"
Sophia grew even angrier.
"Do you know who I am? I'm the fiancée of the Percy Group's CEO! If you dare lay a finger on me, I'll make sure you can't survive in Silverlight City!"
The bodyguard remained unmoved.
From behind him, I smiled at her. "Stop wasting your energy. Didn't you notice the family crest on his chest?"
Sophia looked closer, her expression freezing instantly. "He's a Percy family bodyguard!"
She lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, then looked up and directly slapped the bodyguard across the face.
"You worthless piece of trash! You're Percy family, so how dare you block me?"
The slap turned half his face to the side, but his expression remained unchanged.
"I'm under orders from Mr. Leopold Percy to protect Ms. Wipere. If Ms. Guise has any complaints, you can take them directly to Mr. Leopold Percy."
"You think I won't? Who the hell are you to boss me around!"
Sophia grew more furious, about to hit him with her purse.
I couldn't watch anymore. "Sophia, what exactly do you want from me?"
Only then did Sophia's attention shift. She made as if to lunge at me, but the bodyguard blocked her again.
She stamped her feet in frustration. "Lucinda, you walking disaster—why won't you just leave Leo alone!"
"How far do you need to ruin him before you're satisfied?"
Watching her impotent rage, I took a step forward. "Sophia, you've got it backwards. He's the one who won't let me go."
"You're lying! If you hadn't refused to back down last night and forced Mrs. Percy and Leo into that endless argument, Leo wouldn't have impulsively given up his position as heir!"
Given up his position as heir?
My smile vanished instantly. "What position as heir? Say that again."
Sophia realized her slip, immediately covering her mouth.
"You heard wrong. I didn't say anything."
I signaled the bodyguard to step aside.
After a moment's hesitation, he lowered his arm.
"W-what are you doing?" Sophia held her purse over her stomach, full of wariness. "I'm carrying Leo's child. Don't try anything."
She stepped backward as I advanced.
When her heels hit the bench by the street, she fell into a sitting position.
Only then did I ask again.
"Why did Leopold give up his position as heir?"
"He..." Sophia's eyes darted around nervously, unable to meet my gaze.
I leaned down. "Tell the truth, or I can't guarantee your baby will be born safely."
Sophia's head snapped up. "You wouldn't dare."
I remained calm, speaking evenly. "Try me and find out."
Sophia's eyes widened. Her grip on her purse tightened again.
"You're bluffing. You wouldn't dare touch me, or Leo won't let you off!"
I laughed coldly. "Leopold doesn't even acknowledge that child as his. It has no hold over me."
Sophia seemed afraid of someone and didn't dare tell the truth, deliberately deflecting.
"You're lying. Leo was just angry. He didn't say he wouldn't acknowledge the baby."
"You really are—"
"My stomach hurts so much."
Sophia suddenly clutched her abdomen with a pained expression, bending over.
I immediately stepped back, putting distance between us.
"Stop acting. That performance might fool Leopold, but it won't work on me."
Sophia struggled to look up. "It really hurts. The baby... my baby..."
I frowned slightly, but I didn't dare gamble.
This was currently the Percy family's only great-grandchild. Both Leopold and Donovan valued it highly—nothing could go wrong.
I ordered the bodyguard, "Take her to the hospital."
"But my duty is to protect you..."
I reminded him coldly, "If anything happens to this baby, your life won't be spared either."
"Don't worry, I won't leave. I'm going straight back to the hotel."
Only then did the bodyguard agree.
I kept my word and went directly back to the suite.
Too much had happened recently. I needed to sort through everything.
Since I couldn't leave with Ethan, I'd have to find my own way out.
I didn't even know how Ethan was doing now, whether his injury was serious.
Instinctively, I reached for my phone, but seeing the lock screen, I remembered—this wasn't my original phone.
Now I couldn't contact anyone.
I paced beside the bed. As I walked, my legs suddenly felt drained of all strength.
Before I could react, I'd collapsed to the floor.
Everything above my knees felt numb. Below my knees... I felt nothing at all.
Panicked and shocked, I tried multiple times to push myself up, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. No matter how hard I tried, they couldn't support me.
"No..."
My panic intensified.
My heartbeat hammered like a sledgehammer, striking my nerves one blow after another.
"No, this can't be happening..."
"I still need to join the Royal Ballet Company. I still need to stand on higher podiums."
"I can't be defeated!"
I struggled with all my might, forcing myself to kneel, grabbing the edge of the bed to make myself stand.
But before I could get up, I toppled over again.
This fall was even harder than before.
My left shoulder slammed into the floor. The pain was so intense I didn't dare move.
After recovering slightly, I used both hands to drag myself forward, reaching the nightstand. I struggled to feel for the phone placed on top.
Once I found it, I immediately grabbed it and dialed emergency services.
While waiting for the call to connect, my heart pounded wildly in my chest.
The overwhelming tension pushed my emotions to their limit.
"Hello, this is the 911 call center. What help do you need?"
"Something's wrong with my legs. I'm at the Platinum Haven Hotel..."
My phone vibrated twice and shut off completely.
I frantically pressed the power button on the side, but it was useless.
In frustration, I threw the phone aside.
I didn't give up. Using every ounce of strength, I dragged myself onto the bed and grabbed the landline to call for help from the staff.
Before I could dial, the fire alarm outside suddenly blared.
"Run! There's a fire!"
Someone shouted. The quiet hallway instantly filled with chaotic footsteps.
My breathing quickened as I looked around frantically.
I couldn't see where the fire had started, but I couldn't judge how long before it reached this room. I quickly pressed the service button.
The phone rang and rang.
No one answered.
The first call was cut off by voicemail.
I rapidly dialed again.
Still no answer.
All the staff must have been deployed elsewhere.
What should I do?
I wanted to save myself, but I couldn't even get out of bed!
Why...
I'd never done anything evil in my life. Even when facing emotional betrayal, I'd tried to preserve everyone's dignity.
Why did I get this disease?
Why did it have to flare up now?
Was I going to die here?
The more I thought, the more terrified I became.
The more afraid, the more hopeless.
The fire must have spread this way—even through the door, I could feel a wave of heat.
My legs still wouldn't move.
Fine.
I closed my eyes in despair.
Maybe dying like this wasn't such a bad thing.
If I waited until the disease fully manifested, I wouldn't be able to face myself anyway.
"Lucinda!"
The sound of a door being smashed open accompanied a roar, cutting through the chaos and landing clearly in my ears.