Chapter 3: The Mysterious Power Within

"Tina, what's wrong?" Jessica downstairs heard Tina's scream and thought Leo was bullying her. She rushed upstairs immediately.

"Oh no!" Leo rasped out unconsciously.

Summoning the last bit of his strength, Leo crawled off the bed, locked the door, and dashed into the bathroom.

As the hot water streamed over him, Leo felt an immense sense of relief.

The old man hadn't lied. Not only could Leo speak again, but he also discovered a mysterious energy within him, a force he could seemingly use for anything!

Besides, Leo noticed that his mind was suddenly filled with knowledge about traditional medicine.

Jessica had already reached the second floor. Seeing Tina's panicked face, her heart sank, and she asked, "Tina, did Leo bully you?"

"Mom, Leo... he…" Remembering what she had just witnessed, Tina stammered.

"What happened to him?" Jessica asked, fearing Leo might have died from a relapse.

"He's a monster!" Tina responded as she finally found a fitting description.

"A monster?" Jessica was stunned.

Jessica walked to Leo's bedroom door and tried the handle, but it was locked.

He actually dared to lock the door from the inside. Jessica was infuriated. She banged on it furiously, yelling, "Leo, what are you doing in there? Open the door!"

"Just a moment, I'm showering," Leo's voice came from inside.

"Humph, who does he think he is…" Jessica muttered, then suddenly realized something, and added, "Leo, did you just speak?"

There was no response from the bedroom.

Jessica hurried to Tina, exclaiming, "Tina, did you hear that? Leo spoke!"

"Mom, let's just go downstairs and wait for him to come out," Tina suggested, still shaken by what she had seen.

Downstairs, Gilbert approached them, asking, "Is Leo not coming out? He ignored even your words. That's just too much."

Jessica frowned, understanding Gilbert's implication, and replied, "We'll wait for him to come out. I want to see what he's up to!"

Gilbert sneered inwardly. A loser like Leo utterly was unworthy of Sophia.

Before long, Leo came down the stairs. He had changed into clean clothes, and his hair was still damp.

Tina jumped up from the sofa, pointing at Leo and stammering, "Leo, your… your body…"

Leo casually sat on the other side of the sofa and poured himself a glass of water.

"Leo, stand up!" Jessica demanded.

Leo stood up obediently, looking innocently at Jessica.

Jessica couldn't stand his expression, shouting angrily, "Leo, stop pretending. You've been faking it for three years, aren't you tired? Speak up."

"Mom," Leo's face showed a slight smile as he uttered the word.

This left Tina and Gilbert dumbfounded—the mute could talk!

Had he been pretending all along!?

"Leo Bloomer, you are no longer mute?" Tina's face was full of disgust, adding, "You fraud, faking being mute! If you didn't want to talk to us, then keep pretending for life!"

Though she was furious, Tina noticed something different about Leo. He used to hunch, but today he stood straight, and his once frail frame now exuded a sense of power.

It felt bizarre.

To Gilbert, Leo's demeanor seemed like an act, prompting him to sneer. "You must be Leo, just as pathetic as I imagined."

He then turned to Jessica, adding, "Aunt Jessica, this kind of person can't bring Sophia happiness. His very existence harms her. Don't you agree?"

Jessica remained silent, although she agreed inwardly. However, it was a family matter for the Henleys, not something for an outsider to judge.

Seeing Jessica's silence, Gilbert grew bolder, stepping directly in front of Leo, looking down at him with disdain, and continued speaking, "Do you find it fulfilling to live off the Henley family? If you truly care about Sophia, you should leave her."

Leo clenched his fist, as if watching a clown perform.

"If you leave Sophia, I can find you a decent job and give you 200,000 dollars. How about that?" Gilbert laid out his offer.

After making the offer, Gilbert stepped back, ready for a fight. He expected any man provoked like this would hit him, giving Gilbert a reason to beat him up.

After all, Gilbert had a black belt in Taekwondo!

To Gilbert's disappointment, Leo just stared at him, with an expression of indifference.

Gilbert felt unnerved by Leo's gaze, stepping forward and grabbing Leo's collar, and exclaimed, "What are you staring at, you useless freeloader?"

Leo continued to look at him indifferently.

This completely enraged Gilbert. He swung his other hand towards Leo's face.

Jessica didn't intervene, allowing it to happen as an onlooker.

The next moment, Gilbert's fist stopped in mid-air, inches from Leo's cheek.

Leo's hand had grabbed Gilbert's wrist with precision.

Gilbert struggled but couldn't break free, feeling the pain in his wrist, and yelled, "Let go of me, you worthless piece of trash!"

"Worthless?" Leo repeated, mocking himself.

At this, Gilbert released Leo's collar and threw a punch towards Leo's head.

But Leo was faster. His other hand seized Gilbert's throat.

The choking sensation rendered Gilbert motionless.

"Let… let go of me!" Gilbert managed to gasp out, terrified by the force on his neck.

Leo looked coldly at Gilbert, saying, "Who do you think you are, daring to meddle here?"

"Leo, stop it!" Jessica, fearing Leo might kill Gilbert, yelled urgently.

Leo turned to Jessica, sneering coldly.

Jessica, when Gilbert was hitting Leo, why didn't you stop him?

Leo casually tossed Gilbert aside like garbage.

At that moment, Jessica's phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and answered it.

"What, something happened at Sophia's company?" Jessica cried out anxiously.

Everyone was stunned by this news.