Chapter 4

Before I could react, something cool touched my lips.

My scattered thoughts snapped back at once. I realized the person in front of me was Leo, not Leopold, and I quickly pushed him away.

"Who said you could kiss me?"

Leo curved his index finger and lightly wiped his thin lips, a faint smile on his face. "You didn't object just now, did you?"

I choked on my words and turned my face away in annoyance. "That doesn't mean you can kiss me whenever you want!"

Leo nodded compliantly. "Fine. Next time, I'll ask for your permission first."

Furious, I glared at him. "You—" Remembering that we had just entered into a partnership and it wasn't time to break things off yet, I restrained myself and issued a stern warning instead. "Leo, I don't care how you've acted with others before, but this cannot happen again!" 

"Also, our agreement lasts three months. During this time, you are not allowed to touch me without my permission. You cannot touch my belongings, and you absolutely cannot enter my bedroom without an invitation. If you can't follow these these three rules, we can end our arrangement early."

Leo didn't answer immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on me, as if he were trying to see through me. I disliked that look. Leopold used to look at me that way, making me believe he had deep feelings for me.

"You—"

"I agree." Leo cut me off. I had just started to relax when he suddenly stood up.

He leaned forward, bracing one arm on the table, the tense muscles straining his sleeve. His tall, straight figure loomed over me.

"Ms. Wipere, you're my first client. I have no prior experience, so if you have any other requirements, please state them all now."

His first client? I was surprised. His performance that night certainly hadn't seemed like a first-timer's. My thoughts began to wander, but I quickly pulled them back.

"That's all for now. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know."

But Leo didn't back away. He smiled and leaned closer to me, lowering himself a little. The distance was too close. I could almost feel the warm breath from his nose.

"You..." I grew nervous involuntarily. "You can sit back down now."

"Since I'm supposed to be a proper boyfriend, I should get to know you better and understand your preferences so we can build our chemistry." Leo spoke slowly, his magnetic voice like an invisible hand, silently teasing my heart. "Ms. Wipere, don't you agree?"

His warm breath suddenly brushed across my face. My breathing faltered. I didn't dare move.

Just then, my phone on the table rang. The intimate atmosphere shattered instantly. I grabbed it like a lifeline. Seeing that it was the Percy Manor landline, I immediately stood up. "I have to go now."

This time, Leo didn't try to stop me. He straightened and raised one arm slightly in a gentlemanly gesture, indicating that I could leave. It was a simple movement, but he performed it with an innate elegance. 

Wasn't he supposed to be that sweet, innocent type who hung around bars? He shouldn't have this kind of aura. I must have been mistaken.

Outside the restaurant, I finally answered the call. It wasn't Donovan but the butler.

"Ms. Wipere, Mr. Donovan Percy had a sudden angina attack this morning. The doctor wants to hospitalize him for observation, but he refuses and insists on seeing you. Would it be convenient for you to come over?"

Hearing that Donovan was ill, I immediately agreed. "Of course, I'll be right there."

I took a taxi directly to Donovan's hospital. Just as I was about to open the car door, I saw Leopold and Sophia arm-in-arm, getting out of a luxury car ahead. I silently withdrew my hand from the door.

Through the car door, I heard Sophia say to Leopold. "Don't rush. Your clothes are all wrinkled. Let me fix them for you, or your grandfather will scold you for being sloppy again."

She smiled tenderly, her movements gentle. Leopold usually hated being touched by others, but although he frowned in displeasure, he stood still and allowed her to fuss over him. They looked every bit the loving couple.

My nose stung with emotion as I forcibly shifted my gaze away from them. During our ten years together, Leopold and I had seemed inseparable, but in reality, there had always been clear boundaries. 

He never allowed me to freely enter his study or touch his personal belongings without permission. On the surface, he claimed it was to spare me the trouble. Now I realized the issue was the person, not the principle.

"Ma'am, we've arrived at your destination."

The driver gently reminded me when I failed to get out. I quickly snapped back to reality, thanked him, and got out of the car.

As soon as I entered the hospital ward, I overheard nurses talking about Leopold and Sophia.

"Oh my god, that was the Percy family's son! Rumor has it he adores his fiancée. I didn't believe it before, but now I see it's true."

"Yes! In the elevator just now, Mr. Percy was so protective of his fiancée. So thoughtful!"

"They make such a perfect couple. They're the very image of what love should be."

My heart tightened unexpectedly. So, in other people's eyes, Sophia was the one who truly matched Leopold.

I kept my head down and walked quickly into the elevator, taking several deep breaths to calm my emotions. I was here to see Donovan. I'd see him and leave. There was no need to dwell on these things.

Having prepared myself mentally, the elevator reached the floor, and I stepped out.

"Leo, I was right. That was Cindy in the taxi just now."

Sophia's words stopped me in my tracks. She had seen me?

Leopold gave me a cursory glance. "Since you're here, why didn't you come up sooner? Don't you know grandfather is waiting for you?"

My eyes flashed with anger. Was he blaming me?

"Leo." Sophia affectionately patted Leopold's shoulder, smiling persuasively. "Cindy probably didn't mean it. She's probably still upset, which is why she didn't prioritize your grandfather's illness and arrived a bit late."

Her passive-aggressive tone irritated me, and I retorted, "Sophia, with your acting skills, it's a real waste you're not in the film industry."

Sophia's eyes reddened at once. "Cindy, I was just trying to help explain. How could you say that to me?"

I wasn't falling for her act. "Don't pretend you know me so well. We're not close."

Sophia lowered her head in feigned hurt, covering her mouth and falling silent.

"Lucinda, are you done making a scene?" Leopold stared at me expressionlessly, as if all this were my fault.

I was disgusted and didn't want to engage with them any further. "Mr. Percy, please tell your grandfather I'll visit him another day."

"Lucinda!" Leopold's tone darkened. "Did I say you could leave? Stand still. I have something to say to you."

I ignored him and walked away without looking back. There was nothing left to say between us. Staying would only make me feel worse.

"Lucinda!"

Leopold didn't give up and followed me. I rushed to the elevator, saw that it was still stopped on the second floor, and without thinking, yanked open the emergency exit door. I ran down from the sixth floor to the first without stopping.

Seeing a taxi waiting at the hospital entrance, I dashed toward it without hesitation. But just as my fingertips touched the door handle, a powerful force yanked me back!