I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Cripple Him

Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman came out first. Mr. Langdon hurried over to ask what was going on, and Todd explained the situation in detail. However, neither Todd nor Zion knew why Leah Sinclair had gone to the hotel in the first place. They would have to wait for Leah to come out to find out.

When Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman saw that Asher Keating was also there, they exchanged a look and greeted him. After all, the incident involved the company’s HR director, and Todd was the one who had called the police. They had no idea what Asher’s stance on the matter was.

”Mm. Are you two all right?” Asher Keating asked coolly.

”We’re fine. It’s Leah... Luckily, we got there in time. The worst didn’t happen, but...” Zion Sawyer replied quickly.

”But what?”

”She... was definitely hit. There’s a clear handprint on her face, and a lump on her forehead.” The situation had been too frantic earlier, so Zion Sawyer hadn’t had a chance to check on Leah properly. She had only been able to see these two obvious marks.

The corner of Asher Keating’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t speak. For some reason, however, seeing his expression sent a chill down Zion Sawyer’s spine. She and Todd Coleman didn’t dare say another word and sat down beside him.

Inside, Leah Sinclair told the police in no uncertain terms that she was pressing charges against Winston Lawson for attempted rape and would absolutely not accept mediation.

The police had already pulled the hotel’s security footage and saw that Leah Sinclair had entered the room on her own. When they asked why, Leah explained that Winston Lawson had threatened her regarding her probationary review; if she didn’t go, he wouldn’t approve her permanent position. That was why she went.

But that didn’t really matter. Whether Leah had entered the room willingly or had been coerced, as long as she had not consented, Winston Lawson’s actions could definitively be classified as attempted rape.

Winston Lawson had initially been clamoring that Leah Sinclair had seduced him, but she had already produced an audio recording from her phone. She told the police she had started recording from the very beginning. She had gone to the hotel not only because he threatened her but, more importantly, because she wanted to get evidence of him threatening female employees.

After hearing her out, the lead officer couldn’t help but feel a certain admiration. ”Young lady, what were you thinking? You were so focused on getting evidence, did you ever consider what would happen if you couldn’t get away? If your two colleagues hadn’t arrived in time, you would’ve regretted this for the rest of your life.”

Leah Sinclair clutched her collar, her head lowered in silence. A wave of delayed fear washed over her. Winston Lawson had torn the buttons off her shirt, and even while wearing Todd Coleman’s jacket, she felt waves of cold.

Another twenty-some minutes passed before Leah Sinclair came out. She quietly thanked the officer who opened the door for her. Zion Sawyer and the others hurried over, and when Zion asked if she was okay, Leah just shook her head.

When she looked up and saw Asher Keating watching her in silence, the emotions she had been holding back nearly shattered. An overwhelming sense of grievance filled her heart. She fought to keep herself from crying, but her eyes still turned red.

Asher Keating took in her appearance and drew a deep breath, managing to restrain himself from yelling at her in front of so many people. Just as he was about to speak, Winston Lawson also came out. The moment Winston saw him, he was so scared he nearly dropped to his knees.

”P-President Keating.”

Asher Keating gave him a cool glance, and Winston instantly felt as if he had been plunged into an icy cavern. Asher’s gaze was just that cold.

He had been planning to try and offer Leah Sinclair a settlement, figuring he could pay her off. He assumed a young woman like her would surely drop the charges for a bit of money.

As long as Leah agreed to a settlement, this whole affair wouldn’t reach the company. But he hadn’t expected to see Asher Keating the moment he stepped out. He stood there with his mouth half-open, not knowing what to say. His face turned the color of pig’s liver, which only made him look more like a pig.

Winston Lawson assumed Asher Keating was displeased that this matter had escalated to the police station. He hurried over and explained in a low voice, ”President Keating, I... I’ll arrange a settlement with that woman. I’ll pay her off and guarantee she won’t go blabbing about this to anyone!”

But Asher Keating just turned directly to Leah Sinclair and asked, ”Do you need to settle with him?”

”No settlement!”

”You!” Winston Lawson was so enraged he tried to rush forward, but an officer immediately blocked him.

Asher Keating scoffed. ”Why the hell should she settle with you? Because of your fat face? Because of your gut full of lard and your head full of pig shit? Or is it because of your limp dick that can’t even last three seconds?”

...

Everyone present fell silent. No one had expected Asher Keating to say something like that. Those words... they really didn’t sound like something he would say. He was the president, after all.

Asher Keating turned to the police officer and said, ”Officer, there’s no need for a settlement. Just let him stay here.”

”Oh, all right then!” the lead officer said. ”Leah Sinclair, come sign this and you’ll be free to go. As for Winston Lawson, take him to a holding cell.”

He didn’t know why Asher Keating was the one to make the final call against a settlement, but he figured that since the man was the boss of this whole group, there was nothing more to be said.

”President Keating! President Keating, let me explain!” Winston Lawson tried to struggle one last time, but the police were already escorting him away.

After Leah Sinclair signed the papers, the group left the station. Since there were too many people to fit in Asher Keating’s car, Todd Coleman said he would just grab a scooter. The others got into Asher’s car to head back. Asher was silent the entire ride, so Mr. Langdon and the others didn’t dare to speak either.

As they neared the company, Mr. Langdon finally spoke up. ”Leah, you... why don’t you just go home for now? Rest up this afternoon.”

With her clothes in such a state, it really wasn’t a good idea for Leah to go to the office, so she agreed in a low voice.

When they arrived at the company building, Asher Keating said he would drive Leah Sinclair home himself. Mr. Langdon figured that since this matter concerned the company’s reputation, Asher probably wanted to give Leah a few instructions. He didn’t object, simply thanking him before getting out of the car with Zion Sawyer.

Once it was just the two of them and Sean Yates left in the car, Leah finally spoke, her voice low. ”Asher.”

Asher Keating didn’t look at her or say a word. Leah knew he was angry, so she didn’t dare to speak again. He remained silent all the way home. After changing her clothes, Leah sat down beside him, feeling a little awkward.

Asher Keating lit a cigarette. His face was obscured by the smoke, his expression unreadable. Leah gently tugged on his sleeve and called out, ”Asher.”

He remained silent. Leah grew nervous. Thinking about what had just happened, she felt another pang of grievance. Only after he had finished his cigarette did Asher Keating finally turn to look at her.

Leah’s eyes were still a little red. Seeing him finally look at her, she quickly said, ”Asher, please don’t be angry.”

”Reason.”

Seeing that Asher Keating was finally willing to speak, Leah quickly recounted the day’s events. She told him everything, holding nothing back: from Winston Lawson threatening her in his office, to her idea of using this opportunity to help Asher get rid of him, to what happened later in the hotel room.

”Play the recording for me,” Asher Keating said after a moment’s pause when she had finished.

Leah took out her phone and started playing the recording for him. On it, you could hear the THUD of Leah’s head hitting something hard, her shouts for Winston Lawson to let her go, and her heart-wrenching screams for help.

Especially when he heard Winston Lawson shout that she wasn’t a virgin, followed by the sound of a slap, Asher Keating’s eyes darkened completely.

He reached for his own phone and dialed a number. ”Find someone. When Winston Lawson is transferred to prison, cripple him.”