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

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: Will Have to Call Her Sister-in-law

Phoebe Peyton walked over with a drink. Hearing her, Leah Sinclair sat up straight. ”Phoebe.”

”Mm.”

Phoebe Peyton pushed her sunglasses up and sat down. Silence fell between them. Leah Sinclair felt a bit awkward. Aside from necessary discussions about the Peyton Group building’s renovations, she and Phoebe Peyton didn’t actually interact much.

Especially after that business with Asher Keating. Although Leah Sinclair wasn’t as bothered by it anymore, being alone with Phoebe still made her a little uncomfortable.

”Leah Grant, did you know that Asher wants to terminate his cooperation with our Peyton Group?”

Leah Sinclair looked a little lost. ”No, I didn’t.”

Phoebe Peyton’s gaze was scrutinizing. Leah Sinclair felt uncomfortable under her stare, her brow furrowing slightly.

Seemingly convinced that Leah Sinclair was genuinely unaware, Phoebe Peyton retracted her gaze and looked toward the man-made lake beside them, her voice tinged with frustration.

”The other day, before I went to the Peyton Group building with him, he suddenly came to me and said he wanted to terminate the partnership. I know it’s probably because of you. He doesn’t want you to be upset.”

”Phoebe, I...”

Phoebe Peyton turned and cut Leah Sinclair off. ”Do you have any idea how much money our Peyton Group and Keating have invested in this joint project?”

”If he terminates the partnership, it might just mean a longer timeline for our Peyton Group. But for Asher, not only will he lose the money he’s already invested, he’ll also have to compensate us. We’re talking a nine-figure sum at the very least, possibly more.”

”I know Asher cares about you a lot. He might not mind losing all that money for your sake. But Leah Grant, we’ve only just started working together. If he pulls out now, the impact won’t just be the financial loss. It will also damage his credibility as the president of the Keating Group. You wouldn’t want people to say that Asher abandoned all sense of professional integrity for a woman, would you?”

Phoebe Peyton spoke with earnest persistence. Seeing the color drain from Leah Sinclair’s face, she stopped talking. Morgan Sterling had told her that with Leah Sinclair, you had to strike where it hurt the most.

You couldn’t be forceful with her; the harder you pushed, the more she’d resist.

This was a lesson Morgan Sterling had learned from his many clashes with Leah Sinclair. With her personality, the only way was to make her feel guilty. Once the guilt set in, she would become vulnerable.

After hearing Phoebe Peyton’s words, Leah Sinclair felt a heavy, unsettling feeling in her heart. She didn’t know anything about the overseas warehouse project, or that Asher Keating had invested so much money, and that he was willing to terminate the partnership for her sake.

Her brow tightened. After a moment, she looked up at her. ”Phoebe, I’ll... I’ll talk to Asher about this. But ultimately, the decision is his to make. I’m sure that whether he continues the partnership or terminates it, he has his reasons.”

Phoebe Peyton was taken aback. She had seen the flash of guilt in Leah Sinclair’s eyes, but she hadn’t expected this response.

’I really thought that after hearing me out, she would feel like it was all her fault Asher Keating was about to lose so much money. She should have been distraught, maybe even begged me not to blame her.’

But what she didn’t know was that while Leah Sinclair did feel upset, she would never show her vulnerability to others, especially not to Phoebe Peyton.

’Asher is already considering terminating the partnership with the Peyton Group for me. How could I possibly let myself appear weak in front of Phoebe Peyton under these circumstances?’

Silence fell between them again. Phoebe Peyton sneered inwardly and turned to look at the man-made lake, her eyes filled with resentment.

’I suddenly regret my idea of setting Leah Sinclair up with Liam Peyton. If she really did get together with him, would that mean I’d have to call this woman ”sister-in-law” in the future?’

’The very thought fills me with jealousy and hate. But if Leah Sinclair doesn’t get with Liam Peyton, she’ll definitely end up back with Asher Keating. And then I’ll truly have no chance at all.’

A breeze swept past, making the surface of the man-made lake shimmer. A vicious thought suddenly popped into Phoebe Peyton’s head. ’What if Leah Sinclair died?’

’If Leah Sinclair dies, then neither Asher Keating nor Liam Peyton could be with her!’

’That way, not only could I have Asher Keating, but I also wouldn’t have to watch her get together with Liam Peyton and be forced to call her sister-in-law.’

She turned to look at the still-pensive Leah Sinclair. She was very close to the water’s edge, only a few steps away. ’If I just... give her a little push, she’ll fall in.’

’I know this lake is quite deep. And her leg hasn’t fully healed. No one else is around. No one would be able to save her.’

Once the thought took root, Phoebe Peyton felt the demon inside her beginning to slip its leash. Her hand trembling, she slowly reached out toward Leah Sinclair.

Leah Sinclair looked up, about to say something, and froze when she saw the movement.

Phoebe Peyton’s hand paused, then continued its motion naturally, picking a leaf that had just landed on Leah Sinclair’s head. Her expression was somewhat forlorn.

”I’ve also had a good talk with Asher, and he’s put the idea on hold for now. I just don’t want any misunderstandings to cause a situation like this to happen again. Leah Grant, I apologize to you again for what happened before.”

”I hope you won’t misunderstand me anymore. You know a bit about my family’s situation. I need the boost from this project.”

Leah Sinclair pressed her lips together. Phoebe Peyton’s words made her deeply uncomfortable. Frowning slightly, she said, ”That’s all in the past. I already made myself very clear at the coffee shop. If you and Asher are just having normal social interactions, I won’t say anything. I’m not so overbearing as to forbid him from interacting with other women besides me. It’s just...”

Leah Sinclair looked at her, a slight smile playing on her lips. ”Phoebe, we’re both women. I know you have feelings for Asher. You don’t have to keep bringing it up and then denying it in front of me. In fact, it would be better if you didn’t mention it at all.”

”I know about your family’s situation, and it’s perfectly understandable that you want to do well on this project. You don’t need to stress over it. As long as you don’t do anything that crosses a line, there won’t be any misunderstandings from my end. However, I’d also like to offer you some advice. Asher is a great man, but I’m the one he loves. You could easily turn your attention to someone else instead of staying hung up on him.”

With that said, Leah Sinclair stood up, gave Phoebe Peyton a nod, and walked away. She was tired. After what Phoebe Peyton had said, she couldn’t stop thinking about how Asher Keating was willing to lose so much money—and his reputation—for her sake.

Leah Sinclair’s heart felt like it was floating in water, unable to sink or to surface.

She was in no mood to continue talking with Phoebe Peyton. She just wanted to be alone and have some quiet time.

Phoebe Peyton watched Leah Sinclair’s retreating figure and clenched her fists tightly. ’Was she just showing off and warning me? Showing off that she’s the one Asher Keating loves, and warning me not to have any ideas about him?’

’By what right?!’

”Leah Grant, just you wait.”

Phoebe Peyton’s voice was filled with resentment. She would make her pay.

After dinner, there was a lively bonfire party at the hotel. Mason Grant asked Leah Sinclair to go, since it wouldn’t strain her leg—she could just sit and watch. She made the excuse that she was a little tired and wanted to rest early, so she didn’t go with them.

Mason Grant didn’t press the issue. After they had all left, Leah Sinclair took out some alcohol and began to drink slowly. Mason Grant hadn’t let her touch any alcohol earlier, but now that she was alone, she just wanted a drink to soothe her frayed nerves.

”Leah, why are you drinking?”