Chapter 9

The night was too wild, not ending until the early hours of the morning. I didn't even have energy to put on clothes, just lying motionless on the bed until Leo carried me to shower. Afterward, I fell asleep immediately.

By the time I woke up, daylight had flooded the room. Leo wasn't there, but he'd left a note saying breakfast was on the table.

My lips curved into a small smile as I ventured out to check, more curious than hopeful.

Breakfast was simple—a homemade sandwich and milk—but I took a bite and was surprised by how good it tasted. Who knew that bar was such a hidden gem? They hadn't just taught Leo professional bartending; they'd given him some culinary talent too.

With the warm breakfast settling in my stomach, I felt completely comforted.

I got dressed and prepared to head to the dance company. Just as I opened the door, I found Leopold standing there, his face dark with anger. My good mood evaporated instantly.

"Need something?" I asked.

Leopold glared at me with hostile eyes, then thrust his phone in my face. "You'd better explain this!"

One look, and my blood rushed to my head. On the screen was a photo of Asher pinning me against the cushions, violating me.

Furious, I demanded, "How did you get this photo?"

"You have the nerve to ask me?" Leopold pulled back his phone, shouting. "Lucinda, how desperate are you, doing this with him at the dance studio?! If I hadn't checked my phone today, I'd still be in the dark. Weren't you supposed to have standards? How did you become so cheap the moment you left me, accepting just anyone who comes along!"

My head buzzed with anger. After ten whole years together, he didn't have an ounce of trust in me.

"This has nothing to do with you. Don't forget, we canceled our engagement!"

Leopold's rage froze on his face. It took him a moment to recover.

"Even if the engagement is off, you took the money and agreed to play along. What you're doing is a breach of contract—you'll owe me ten times the compensation."

I was stunned by his shamelessness. "I don't remember agreeing to any ten-times compensation clause."

Leopold stated with certainty: "My rules. What I say goes."

"You—"

Leopold forcefully cut me off. "Since we've made a deal, you need to fulfill your obligations. Stop acting recklessly. If Grandfather sees this photo, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

I turned away, unable to look at him. "The photo isn't real. I'll get to the bottom of this."

Yesterday after leaving the practice room, I only ran into Sophia. I thought she'd been drawn by the noise, but now it seemed she'd been outside the door all along. Seeing me being assaulted by Asher, she not only failed to stop it but took photos and sent them to Leopold.

She really had it all planned out!

Leopold's expression softened slightly. "Grandfather wants to see you. Come with me."

With that, he practically shoved me into his car. Out of consideration for Donovan, I didn't resist.

However, halfway there, Leopold's phone rang. After two rings, the call connected automatically through Bluetooth.

"Leo, I twisted my ankle. Could you possibly come take me to the hospital?" Sophia's sugary voice filled the car.

Leopold's expression shifted subtly as he quickly disconnected the Bluetooth and held the phone to his ear.

I laughed silently to myself and turned to look out the window. In my head, I started counting down.

Ten... Nine... Eight... Four...

The car screeched to a halt at the curb. The passenger door unlocked.

"Get out here. Sophia's hurt and has no one with her. I need to check on her."

Once, when I'd spontaneously decided to bring him lunch, I waited a full thirty minutes in the Percy Group lobby before the receptionist finally took me up. Yet when Sophia mentioned a twisted ankle, he couldn't even wait ten seconds before rushing to her side. The comparison made me feel utterly insignificant.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out. Seeing that I said nothing, Leopold awkwardly tried to explain, "Lucinda, don't overthink this, I'm just..."

"No need to explain." I looked at him coldly. "I... don't care."

Leopold's face immediately darkened. He stepped on the gas, and the car roared away.

I took out my phone to call a ride, and a driver accepted immediately. In less than fifteen minutes, I arrived at the hospital. I thought I'd definitely beat Leopold there, but as soon as I reached the entrance, I saw Sophia sitting in a wheelchair with Leopold personally pushing her toward the examination room.

Logic told me to ignore them. But emotion drove me to follow.

I watched as Leopold delivered Sophia to the examination room door, then moved around to face her, leaning down to give her what looked like special instructions. Sophia nodded with a smile. Only then did Leopold leave, satisfied, walking in another direction.

Watching this scene felt like a stab to my heart. Leopold had never treated me with such tenderness. Even when we first got together, when I was sick, all he did was buy me medicine.

Once when I had a fever of 104°F, I called him, wanting him to take me to the hospital. But he said he wasn't on campus and couldn't make it back, telling me to find someone else to accompany me.

I burned with fever all night, and when I woke up, there was no one beside my bed. In the end, it was my parents who made the special trip to take care of me.

The more I thought about it, the colder my heart grew. I barely even remembered why I had liked him so much.

"Lucinda."

I snapped back to reality at the sound. Sophia was now in front of me, her eyes unable to hide their triumph.

"I told you before, you can't compete with me. Shouldn't you give up now and completely disappear from Leo's life?"

I laughed softly. "Sophia, a person's true nature can't be hidden forever. If Leopold knew you weren't actually as gentle and sweet as you appear, he'd definitely withdraw his affections."

Sophia's face darkened. "How I behave is none of your business. As for you, you've lost your position as lead dancer and hit Mr. Wood. Your good days are coming to an end."

My eyes narrowed. "So you really were hiding outside the door that day?"

"Yes, I was not only outside the door, but I also invited Mr. Wood over." Seeing me freeze, Sophia smiled with satisfaction and continued. "I knew he wanted to teach you a lesson but was held back by the director. So I specifically told him you'd offended Leopold, which is why he stormed in to find you."

I had always thought Asher came after me because he was narrow-minded and intolerant. I never imagined Sophia was behind it all, stirring up trouble!

I had never done anything to hurt her, yet she repeatedly tried to harm me, even putting me in danger!

Unable to contain myself any longer, I was about to retaliate when Sophia suddenly clutched her head and screamed, "Don't hit me! Lucinda, we can talk this out, please stop hitting me!"

Seeing her act this way, I knew Leopold must have returned. Without hesitation, I turned around, trying to intercept Leopold and explain. "Leopold, she's lying to you! I never—"

Before I could finish, Leopold shoved me aside. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and my knee crashed hard against a nearby chair. The pain was blinding, leaving me unable to move for several moments.

"Lucinda, your viciousness is truly disgusting."

Hearing Leopold's words, my entire body trembled uncontrollably.

It hurt. It really hurt.