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

Chapter 236: Chapter 236: How Will You Reward Me?

Even now, she still believed Asher Keating had no improper thoughts toward Phoebe Peyton. But she felt so oppressed and miserable, it was as if she couldn’t breathe.

Phoebe Peyton, Phoebe, Phoebe...

’No wonder Phoebe Peyton had once said my nickname, ”Leah,” shouldn’t be used. It wasn’t just because Phoebe had an intimate nickname of her own that sounded identical, was it? Liam Peyton and Nathan Grant both called her Phoebe. Shawn Grant and the others called her Sis Phoebe. I’ve never heard anyone call Phoebe by that other, more intimate name.’

’So it must be because... Asher Keating had called her that.’

Leah Sinclair’s head ached, so much that her vision blurred. She suddenly had a desperate urge to smoke, but this was her own room, and there were no cigarettes. And she didn’t want to go to Asher Keating’s room.

In a daze, she went downstairs. ’I’ll buy a pack of cigarettes. Yes, I need a smoke to calm down.’ she thought.

Liam Peyton was leaning against his car, smoking. He’d seen Leah go inside, but when the lights in her place didn’t come on, he grew uneasy and decided to wait. A moment later, he saw her walk out like a wandering spirit, not even having changed her clothes.

He quickly extinguished his cigarette and walked over. ”Leah, where are you going?”

Leah Sinclair smelled the scent of tobacco. She dazedly turned her head and, seeing it was Liam Peyton, moved her lips. ”Wynn, do you have a cigarette?”

Liam Peyton took out his pack and handed her one, but Leah’s hand was still trembling. His brows knitted into a tight knot. ”Leah, what in the world is wrong? You’re not okay.”

”I... My head hurts. I feel awful. It might just be my low blood sugar acting up.”

Leah had just taken a single drag when she gagged and coughed. Her vision swam with black spots, and a ringing filled her ears as Liam Peyton lunged forward to catch her.

The last thing Leah Sinclair heard before she lost consciousness was Liam Peyton calling her name repeatedly. Then, she plunged into darkness.

Liam Peyton swept her into his arms, carried her to the car, and ordered the driver to rush to the hospital. Then, he pulled out his phone. Unsure if Asher Keating’s event had ended, he ultimately decided to call Shawn Grant.

Shawn Grant was startled by the call. He glanced at Asher Keating, who was still giving his presentation on stage, then said a quick word to Nathan Grant and Chester Hale before heading out. Worried, Nathan wanted to follow, but Chester Hale convinced her to let him take her home first, promising he’d go to the hospital himself.

Sheila Hughes, sitting nearby, saw the three of them leave in a rush and followed them out, confused. Shawn Grant quickly explained the situation, and she left with him. In the car, she called Ethan Shaw and told him to have Asher Keating come to the hospital the moment his presentation was over.

Asher Keating was nearing the end of his presentation. From the stage, he noticed several people leaving in a hurry. His eyes swept the room, but he couldn’t find Leah Sinclair. After a brief pause, he quickened his pace. To a burst of applause, Asher Keating offered his thanks and stepped down from the stage.

Ethan Shaw rushed forward to meet him. ”Asher, Leah’s in the hospital.”

Asher Keating stopped short, then immediately hurried toward the exit. ”What happened?”

”I’m not sure. The call came from Liam Peyton.”

Ethan Shaw didn’t know the details either. As they were walking out, Phoebe Peyton hurried after them on her high heels. ”Asher, wait! Are you leaving? There’s still the cake-cutting ceremony.”

”Have my older brother take my place. Something’s come up.”

Asher Keating didn’t break his stride. Unable to run fast in her heels, Phoebe Peyton struggled to keep up. ”Your older brother? Is that appropriate? What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?”

Ethan Shaw quickly explained, ”Miss Peyton, something’s happened with Leah, so we need to head over. Asher said his older brother can take over. I’ll call him right away. There’s no issue of appropriateness—they’re both members of the Keating family.”

As he spoke, Ethan Shaw was already calling Alan Keating to ask him to handle the cake-cutting ceremony in Asher’s place. Though surprised, Alan agreed. Phoebe Peyton stopped, watching the two men’s figures vanish into the distance. The corners of her lips curled into a slight smile as she turned back.

As she passed the entrance to another hall, a pair of hands shot out from inside and yanked her in. Phoebe Peyton was so startled she nearly screamed, but her mouth was suddenly covered by Morgan Sterling’s.

Realizing it was Morgan Sterling, Phoebe Peyton relaxed, wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him back. She was wearing a backless evening gown, and his hands began to wander over her waist and bare back.

”Chasing him so frantically just now? It made even me jealous,” Morgan Sterling murmured with a low chuckle, nibbling on her earlobe.

”Oh, really? With such a beautiful woman on your arm tonight, Mr. Sterling, you still get jealous over something like this?”

Phoebe Peyton laughed coquettishly, pushing lightly against Morgan Sterling to create some space between them.

Instead of backing down, Morgan Sterling lifted her up and set her on a nearby table, then started kissing her neck. ”Does that mean my Phoebe was feeling jealous too? Third Master Keating left in such a hurry. I assume something happened with Leah Sinclair?”

”That’s right. Chairman Sterling certainly has his ways. Ah, don’t bite... I still have to face people later.” Sensing that he was about to leave a mark, Phoebe Peyton chided him playfully, pushing him away.

”Then aren’t you going to reward me, Phoebe?”

”What reward did you have in mind?”

”Let’s do it. Right here.”

”...No. Let’s wait until we get back. I still have things I need to do.”

Phoebe Peyton’s body had already gone soft from Morgan Sterling’s kisses, but her mind was still on her later plans, and she didn’t want to get held up.

”There are still a few speakers to go. We have plenty of time. Isn’t it more exciting here? Phoebe, dressing like this today... who exactly were you trying to seduce?”

Morgan Sterling had no intention of letting her go. His hand was already inside her dress, making her body go even softer.

The banquet hall was right next door, and the voices from the stage were clearly audible. Morgan Sterling flipped Phoebe Peyton over, pressing her down onto the table. The thud of the table, the gasps and moans of a man and a woman—all of it was swallowed by the waves of applause from the adjacent hall.

When Leah Sinclair awoke, her vision was filled with white. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled her nostrils. She was dazed, unable to recall how she had gotten to the hospital.

She stirred, trying to sit up. Asher Keating, who was at her side, saw she was awake and immediately moved to help her. ”How are you feeling?”

Hearing his voice, Leah Sinclair froze and stared at him blankly. ’Why is Asher here? Shouldn’t he be at the banquet?’

Seeing the confusion in her eyes, Asher Keating gently pinched her cheek. ”You passed out. Liam Peyton brought you to the hospital. The doctor said it was heatstroke.”

”What time is it?” Leah asked, ignoring his question.

Asher Keating glanced at his watch. ”Two in the morning.”

’Two o’clock,’ she thought, her mind still fuzzy. ’How many hours was I unconscious?’

When Asher Keating had arrived at the hospital, Liam Peyton filled him in, though he couldn’t say what had actually caused Leah to collapse.

The doctors hadn’t found anything else wrong after their examination, concluding it was probably just heatstroke from the warm weather.

Asher Keating had sent the others home and stayed to watch over Leah himself. He’d also sent Sean Yates to investigate what had happened at the hotel. He didn’t believe for a second that this was simply heatstroke.

He just didn’t know the real reason yet. Leah had been sleeping restlessly the whole time. He had gently kissed her furrowed brow again and again, but the crease had never smoothed out. It was highly unusual.

Seeing the strange look on her face now, Asher Keating took her hand. ”What happened?”