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

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: I Haven’t Had My Turn Yet

Riley Sterling was starting to get it. ”Holy crap! Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

”I, uh, it just hit me,” Ethan Shaw said, rubbing his nose sheepishly.

”So what do we do? Should we go talk to Asher about it now?”

Riley Sterling started feeling guilty too. ’If Asher Keating and Leah Sinclair really broke up because of what I just said, what am I going to do?’

”Forget it. Just look at the time. Let’s wait until tomorrow. I’ll go find Asher tomorrow.”

Ethan Shaw glanced at the time. It was already past midnight. He had just messaged Leah Sinclair, telling her to get some rest and that Asher Keating wouldn’t be back tonight. After a long wait, she replied with a simple, ”Okay.”

Leah Sinclair hadn’t moved from her spot, curled up on the sofa, since Asher Keating left. When Ethan Shaw’s message arrived, she desperately wanted to ask where they were, where Asher was. But in the end, she only replied, ”Okay.”

’Where is Asher Keating? Will there be someone else in his bed tonight?’ She had no right to ask, and even less to meddle. All she felt was her heart clenching tightly, then slowly releasing, over and over. Staring at Asher’s photo on her phone, Leah Sinclair had never realized a heart could ache this much.

She forced herself to go to sleep. ’I still have work tomorrow, and everyone at the company already knows. It’s not going to be an easy day.’

Now that Asher Keating didn’t want her anymore, she had lost even the chance to be acknowledged as his Canary. ’How am I supposed to face my colleagues?’ Leah Sinclair had no idea, overcome with a deep sense of confusion.

After tossing and turning for over an hour, she found the bed was still cold. She slowly sat up and pulled out one of Asher Keating’s dress shirts. He had let her use it as a nightgown, and he had always seemed to like it when she wore it.

The memory sent another sharp pang through Leah’s heart. ’Is someone else lying beside Asher right now? His kisses, his body... are they...?’

Tears began to fall without warning. She cried with suppressed sobs as a heart-wrenching pain seized her, as vast and suffocating as the darkness in the room.

Asher Keating wasn’t asleep either. He sat at the desk in his room, smoking a cigarette and staring out into the pitch-black night.

’It’s so cold... I wonder if she’s warm enough in bed by herself.’ The thought had barely surfaced before Asher Keating scoffed at himself. ’What’s wrong with me? Now, of all times, I’m worrying about whether she’s warm or not.’

Shaking off the thought only made Asher Keating more agitated. He pulled out his phone and sent a message to Sean Yates: ”We’re going to Everluck tomorrow.”

When Sean Yates saw the message first thing the next morning, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. He looked again—the message had been sent at five in the morning.

Not daring to waste a second, he quickly packed his things. But when he arrived at Europa Gardens and messaged Asher Keating, Asher told him he was at Silverwood.

Sean Yates said he would head over right away, but Asher Keating told him to go directly to the airport. Sean drove in a daze. ’What the hell is going on? Did Leah Sinclair move to Silverwood? No, that’s not right. She wouldn’t move without having me help.’

It wasn’t until he saw Asher Keating at the airport that Sean Yates, taking in his boss’s icy expression, decided it was best not to ask about Leah Sinclair. He only ventured, ”President Keating, are we going to Everluck to...?”

”Inspect.”

Asher Keating uttered only a single word. He had barely slept the night before, making his temper even fouler.

Sean Yates silently pulled out his phone and sent a message to Edward Yates: ”Edward! Tell our two companies in Everluck to brace themselves. They need to be on their absolute best behavior today.”

”???”

”The Young Master is in a terrible mood. He’s taking me to Everluck for an inspection!!!”

”!!!”

Edward Yates was getting a headache too. He had run into Leah Sinclair on his way into the office earlier, and she had looked absolutely terrible. ’They must have had a fight,’ he thought. ’Why else would Asher Keating suddenly rush off to Everluck for an inspection?’

’So what am I supposed to do about Leah’s situation here? We fired everyone involved yesterday, and while things seem quiet on the surface, I know the gossip hasn’t just stopped.’

Aaron Keating had invited Morgan Sterling to lunch. He was now happily raising his wine glass to toast him. ”Hahaha, you’re really something, Morgan. I heard my third brother rushed off to Everluck on business first thing this morning. Didn’t even stop by the office.”

”Hmph. That little bitch Leah Sinclair must have had a fight with Asher when she went back yesterday.” Madeline Sterling had come along with her brother, Morgan.

Morgan Sterling took a slow sip of his wine and gestured at her. ”Madeline, how many times have I told you? Watch your language. Don’t sound like a common shrew.”

Madeline Sterling looked indignant, but she didn’t dare talk back to Morgan. Instead, she took out her frustration by viciously cutting the steak on her plate.

After mangling her steak, Madeline Sterling tossed down her knife and fork in disgust. Wiping her hands with a wet nap, she suddenly laughed. ”Still, I’d really love to see what Leah Sinclair looks like now that Asher’s thrown her away.”

”That’s not hard at all. After lunch, we can just drop by Aevon. Since my brother’s not around, we can just say we were looking for him. I’d also like to see just how beautiful this Canary he’s been keeping is.” Aaron Keating set down his glass, his interest piqued. He had never met Leah Sinclair, but he’d heard she was quite a beauty.

Morgan Sterling knew what was on his mind. He smiled, but his voice held a clear warning. ”Second Master Keating, don’t you touch her. I haven’t had my fun with her yet.”

Aaron Keating cursed him inwardly but kept a smile on his face. ”Of course. I know you’re interested. I won’t lay a finger on her.”

”Brother, you aren’t actually interested in that bitc—... in Leah Sinclair, are you?”

Madeline Sterling grew anxious. ’Asher Keating was one thing, but if Morgan is interested in Leah Sinclair too, how will I ever get a chance to teach her a lesson?’

She had waited so long for Asher Keating to finally get tired of Leah Sinclair. She knew his temperament well: you could cross him personally, and he wouldn’t care—he’d just ignore you. But you couldn’t touch the people around him.

Years ago, Ethan Shaw had been set up and taken a serious beating. When Asher Keating found out, he went after the culprit without a word. No one could hold him back, and he beat the man until he was crippled.

It was the only time Asher Keating had ever laid hands on someone himself. From that day on, everyone in their circle knew: you don’t touch the people around Asher Keating.

That was why, in all the time since Madeline Sterling had been back, she had only dared to provoke Asher Keating himself. She never dared to make a move against Leah Sinclair, limiting herself to verbal taunts, both subtle and overt.

Morgan Sterling let out a chilling laugh. ”Don’t worry. I just want to have a little fun. When someone rejects me over and over again... I get curious to see just how hard they are to break.”

A shiver ran down Madeline Sterling’s spine at the look in his eyes. But then she thought, ’If Morgan gets his hands on Leah, then no matter how much Asher likes her, he’ll never touch her again.’ A thrill of anticipation shot through her.

’She knew a few things about the way Morgan played with women. Once Leah Sinclair fell into his hands, she’d be lucky to get out alive. She would be put through hell.’

Leah Sinclair was keeping a low profile that day and hadn’t planned on eating lunch. Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman knew she was in a bad mood, but they still dragged her out to get a bite. By the time the three of them returned, Morgan Sterling’s party had arrived.

”Well, well, isn’t this Leah Sinclair?”

Madeline Sterling, who had been walking in with her arm linked through Morgan’s, spotted them and cried out in feigned surprise, ”You... you don’t actually work at Aevon, do you?”