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

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: I Want to Pursue You

Leah Sinclair didn’t say anything. At first, Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman were excited to have run into Madeline Sterling, but as soon as she spoke, they realized that Madeline knew Leah and was aware of the situation. No wonder Leah had been so reluctant to go over the last time they’d bumped into Madeline.

”Madeline, who’s this?”

Aaron Keating looked at Leah Sinclair and asked deliberately, thinking to himself, ’Tsk, she really is gorgeous. She’s not particularly dressed up, and she even looks a little pale, yet with that cool and distant air, she doesn’t lose out to the exquisitely made-up Madeline Sterling in the slightest. No wonder Third Master dotes on her so much.’

”Don’t you know, Second Master Keating? This is Third Master’s little Canary. Tsk, Third Master is really something else. Keeping her for fun is one thing, but why bring her to the company? What’s she doing at Aevon, serving as a vase on a desk?” Madeline Sterling’s red lips curled into a captivating smile.

”You...”

Zion Sawyer was finding it hard to hold back. ’How can Madeline Sterling talk like that? It’s completely ruining my impression of her.’

Leah Sinclair pulled her back and looked at Madeline Sterling. ”I came to Aevon because I passed the interview. I’m a graduate of Riverfall University. The quality of my school’s civil engineering program is well-recognized in the industry. You don’t need to be so sarcastic.”

After speaking, she glanced at Aaron Keating. At first glance, there was a slight resemblance between Aaron and Asher Keating in their eyes and brow, but he had a sinister air about him, completely lacking the forthright demeanor Asher possessed.

Leah Sinclair averted her gaze and said to Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman, ”Let’s go back.”

Morgan Sterling reached out to stop them, smiling at her. ”Leah, why didn’t you say hello to me?”

”Mr. Sterling.”

”Tsk, this is the first time I’ve heard you call me Mr. Sterling. It feels quite different. Leah, a word in private?”

Leah Sinclair told Zion Sawyer and Todd Coleman to go on ahead. Zion was a little worried, but Leah had Todd drag her away. ’This was the entrance to the Aevon Group. Morgan Sterling couldn’t possibly do anything to her here.’

Leah Sinclair followed him to the side, stopped, and asked, ”What can I do for you, Mr. Sterling?”

”I hear you and Third Master Keating had a falling out. He didn’t go back to your place yesterday, and today he flew straight to Everluck?”

Morgan Sterling lit a cigarette and chuckled, then asked her, ”Want one?”

’Asher Keating’s on a business trip?’

A bitter feeling welled up in Leah Sinclair’s heart, but she tried her best not to let it show on her face. ”I wouldn’t dare touch anything of yours, Mr. Sterling. As for my business with Third Master, that has nothing to do with you either.”

”How could it have nothing to do with me? Before, when you were with him, no matter how much I liked you, it wasn’t right for me to make a move. But now that you’ve broken up, well, Leah... how about you consider letting me pursue you?”

Leah Sinclair raised an eyebrow slightly. ”Are you joking, Mr. Sterling? Pursue me?”

”You don’t believe me? Third Master Keating just wanted to keep you, but I... I genuinely want to be in a relationship with you.”

Morgan Sterling took a step closer, leaning down slightly to speak to her. Madeline Sterling took out her phone, snapped a photo, and was about to send it to Asher Keating.

Aaron Keating spoke up from behind her. ”Your brother won’t want to see you send that.”

Madeline Sterling cursed under her breath and deleted the photo. She knew it had taken a lot to make Asher Keating angry enough to leave for Everluck; if she sent this picture, he might just come right back.

Just then, Edward Yates came out. ”Second Master, Miss Sterling, what brings you here?”

”Oh, Morgan, Madeline, and I were having lunch nearby. We figured since Aevon was close, we’d drop by to see Third Master. Is he in his office?” Aaron Keating answered casually.

”Third Master, he... he’s on a business trip today. He’s not at the company.”

Edward Yates saw Morgan Sterling and Leah Sinclair talking off to the side and grew anxious. He knew a little about the history between Morgan and Leah, and with Asher Keating away, he was deeply afraid Morgan would try something.

”I’m sorry, Mr. Sterling, but I decline. I have to get back to work. Goodbye.” Leah Sinclair gave a slight nod and walked away.

Morgan Sterling watched her go with a faint smile, only walking over after she was out of sight. ”So, what do you say? Shall we go up and hang out with Third Master Keating for a bit?”

Aaron Keating spread his hands in mock regret. ”Unfortunately, Third Master isn’t in.”

”Oh? Then we came all this way for nothing. Never mind, I have things to do anyway. How about we head back?”

”In that case, Second Master, Mr. Sterling, Miss Sterling, allow me to see you out.” Edward Yates couldn’t wait for them to leave.

”No need. Our car is right over there. You can go on back.”

Edward Yates waited respectfully until they were a good distance away before turning to go back inside. He considered it for a moment and decided not to tell Asher Keating about this just yet; after all, Morgan Sterling and his group hadn’t even set foot inside the company.

When Leah Sinclair got back, Zion Sawyer saw she was okay and breathed a sigh of relief. ”I can’t believe Madeline Sterling is that kind of person! That’s it, I’m unfollowing her. I’m not a fan anymore!”

As she spoke, Zion Sawyer took out her phone and started tapping away. Leah Sinclair just smiled without saying anything. She was thinking about Morgan Sterling’s words; her intuition told her that he wouldn’t let her go, and without Asher Keating’s protection, it would be incredibly easy for him to make a move on her.

She felt a wave of despair. ’So without Asher Keating, I really am just an ant.’

The thought of Asher Keating made Leah Sinclair’s heart ache again. She knew he was originally scheduled to go to Everluck on a business trip around New Year’s Day. He had even said he would take her with him—that the snowscapes in Everluck were beautiful, the ice sculptures were famous, and since it was the New Year’s holiday anyway, he would take her there to have fun.

But he had left early. ’Did he take that person from yesterday with him?’

That evening, Leah Sinclair returned to an empty house, feeling dazed. She walked through every room, slowly running her hand over the things inside.

This place held too many of her memories with Asher Keating, memories of their life together, both emotional and physical. She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t stop the tears. She didn’t dare go back to the bed. It was filled with his scent, and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from calling him.

Opening a local listings app on her phone, Leah Sinclair started looking for an apartment. Although Asher Keating hadn’t told her to move out—and she knew he was generous enough that he probably wouldn’t say anything if she stayed—she couldn’t be that shameless.

After spending the whole night searching for apartments and scheduling a few viewings with landlords, Leah Sinclair took out her materials and began to draw.

The day before yesterday, Mr. Langdon had, on a whim, decided to test her. He gave her an assignment: to draw a complete set of architectural designs for a high-rise office building. Knowing she worked during the day, he said she just had to finish it within a week.

Leah Sinclair had originally planned to start drawing yesterday, but things had happened so suddenly that she’d forgotten about it. Today, she had to keep herself busy. If she wasn’t busy, her mind would be completely filled with thoughts of Asher Keating.

She sketched out the framework several times but wasn’t satisfied with any of them. Leah Sinclair forced herself to calm down and began to draw again on the paper, little by little.

Gradually, her mind focused on the blueprints. Finally, she was satisfied with the framework. Rubbing her sore, tired eyes, she continued to hunch over the desk and draw. By the time the general structure was more or less complete, it was already four in the morning. She curled up on the sofa and slept for a while. The heating was on in the house, so it wasn’t cold.

The next afternoon, to the astonished gasps of her entire department, Leah Sinclair received a bouquet of 99 Cappuccino roses. She pulled out the card from among the flowers. It read, ”Leah, you are my most unexpected encounter.”