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

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: This Mad Dog

Riley Sterling asked him with a gossipy look, ”What did Sheila Hughes ask you about? You look terrified.”

Ethan Shaw glanced at Sheila Hughes out of the corner of his eye. She was smiling, not looking unnatural at all, as if she had just been asking a simple question. He finally let out a sigh of relief and said mysteriously, ”My Sheila just asked me who my first time was with.”

”...”

The other three men looked over at the three women, completely baffled. Asher Keating wasn’t baffled, but he pursed his lips.

”How did you answer?” Chester Hale lit a cigarette. For some reason, he suddenly felt a little panicked too.

”I don’t remember! I really don’t! I just got drunk and took some girl home. Why are you all looking at me like that? You four actually remember yours?”

Seeing the disdainful looks from the other four men, Ethan Shaw grew anxious. He refused to believe the four of them could remember.

As expected, silence was their only answer. An ’I knew it’ expression appeared on Ethan’s face. ’We’re all cut from the same cloth,’ he thought. ’Who are we kidding?’

If Asher Keating hadn’t recalled it later, he wouldn’t have remembered either if asked so suddenly. But he knew this topic had definitely started because of him. Mr. Keating felt a little guilty looking at the innocently implicated Ethan Shaw.

Just as he was mentally lighting a candle for Ethan, his phone rang. It was Alan Keating.

Asher Keating stepped aside to take the call. ”Big Brother.”

”Third Master, there’s something I’ve been thinking about. I feel I should tell you, even though I’m not entirely sure.”

Alan Keating’s somewhat deep voice came through the phone. ”At the banquet the other day, I was passing by the hall next door and overheard Morgan Sterling on a call. I think he mentioned Leah Sinclair... something about her identity or status.”

Asher Keating frowned slightly. Hearing no reply, Alan continued, ”I was on the other side of the door, so I didn’t hear it very clearly. I was also worried I might have misheard, so I didn’t mention it to you. But with all the buzz from yesterday’s news, I thought it was necessary to let you know.”

”I understand. Thanks, Big Brother.”

”Nothing to thank me for. Whether it’s about what happened before or about Leah helping out this time, it should be me and your sister-in-law thanking you. We’re heading to Kingsford in a couple of days. I’ll let you know if there’s any news about Tanya. Okay, good. I’ll hang up now.”

After hanging up, Alan Keating sighed, lit a cigarette, and smoked it slowly. This matter had actually been weighing on his mind for two days. He really hadn’t heard clearly, so he wasn’t sure what he should warn Asher Keating to watch out for.

Back then, ever since Asher Keating had dealt with Aaron Keating, Alan had been constantly on edge. He knew Asher would surely make a move on him next, but after waiting a long time, Asher had done nothing.

Meanwhile, in his attempt to guard against Asher, Alan had decided to push forward two major investments, both of which ran into trouble. He was in charge of nearly all financial investments for the Keating, and if those two projects failed, the entire company would be severely impacted.

When his assistant told him that both projects had genuinely developed severe flaws, for a moment, Alan Keating felt like it was all over for him.

In the end, it was Asher Keating who dealt with the flaws in time, minimizing the losses. Alan still remembered how, back then, his eyes were bloodshot with rage as he asked Asher if he had done it on purpose—why hadn’t he told him about the flaws earlier when he clearly knew?

Asher Keating had simply looked at him coolly. ”Big Brother, I did warn you. You just didn’t listen.”

It dawned on Alan then. Asher had indeed warned him that those two projects were unsuitable. It was just that at the time, he had been completely unwilling to listen, thinking Asher was saying it on purpose to mislead him.

Seeing that he couldn’t be persuaded, Asher had said no more. He had simply intervened behind the scenes and brought the two projects under control.

”Alan, what are you thinking about?”

Sharon Shaw’s voice pulled Alan Keating back from his thoughts. He turned and pulled her into his arms. ”Nothing. Is everything packed for Tanya?”

”Yes, it’s all ready. If things go smoothly this time and Tanya gets better, we really have to thank Leah and Third Master properly.” Sharon Shaw leaned against Alan’s chest, a smile in her voice.

Alan Keating looked down at her. The Sharon Shaw of today looked so much better than before. Previously, a faint sorrow always seemed to hang in her eyes, and her health wasn’t great, so she always appeared listless and drained.

But ever since she learned there was hope for Talia Keating’s illness, a smile had returned to Sharon’s eyes, and her whole being seemed to brighten up. It made it hard for Alan to look away.

When he didn’t reply, Sharon Shaw looked up, a little puzzled. ”What are you looking at?”

”Looking at how beautiful my wife is.” Alan Keating smiled and gave her a kiss.

Sharon Shaw shot him a playful glare. ”When we get back from Kingsford, we must treat Leah and Third Master to a proper meal. When I was giving birth to Tanya, I was hemorrhaging, and the blood bank was low. Third Master was the first to rush over and donate blood for me. When you think about it, we owe them quite a lot.”

”I know. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange it.”

Alan Keating let out a soft sigh. He remembered how he had completely fallen apart when he heard the news of Sharon’s hemorrhaging.

On one side, the doctor had just told him that his newborn daughter had been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit due to hypoxia in the womb. On the other, his beloved wife’s life was hanging by a thread.

And when Asher Keating heard about it, he came straight to the hospital to donate blood. He had the same blood type as Sharon, giving her a chance at survival. Asher had been working around the clock for two days straight at the time, yet he insisted on donating 400 milliliters. Alan remembered that when Asher came out after donating, his face was incredibly pale.

While Alan was still fumbling for the right words of gratitude, struggling to express himself, Asher had simply waved his hand and rushed back to the company to continue working.

Watching his retreating figure, Alan Keating felt for the first time that this younger cousin of his was more suited to be the president of the Keating than any of them.

Back with Asher Keating’s group, Ethan Shaw and the others were also a bit bewildered after hearing what Asher said. They didn’t understand the meaning behind those few simple words.

”Leah Sinclair’s identity? Isn’t she Aunt Mabel’s daughter?” Riley Sterling asked, dumbfounded.

Hearing this, Shawn Grant threw a crumpled piece of paper at Riley Sterling’s head. ”Do you take us, the Grant Family, for fools? How could we get something like that wrong?”

”Then what identity is it? Isn’t that her identity right now?” Ethan Shaw also looked completely clueless.

Chester Hale suddenly sat up straight and knocked on the table. ”Hey, have you all forgotten? To Morgan Sterling, Leah Sinclair has more than just that one identity. Before she got with Third Master Keating...”

It dawned on Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling. ”You mean Azure Bay?”

Asher Keating sneered. ”That mad dog. He’ll probably try to make a big deal out of this.”

He took out his phone and called Edward Yates. ”Keep a close watch on the media. If any news about Leah Sinclair’s past at Azure Bay gets out, shut it down immediately.”

After a moment’s thought, he added, ”Also, get the press release about Derek’s scandal ready. Watch the Sterling Family’s movements. The second they make a move, release it.”

”Understood.”