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

As if sensing his stare, Asher Keating looked over. Liam Peyton met his gaze, and the two men looked at each other in silence.

In the end, it was Liam Peyton who offered a slight smile. He nodded in greeting, then left the lakefront.

Asher Keating looked down at a beaming Leah Sinclair, and his expression darkened. ‘Liam Peyton is different from Chester Hale. Chester’s feelings for Leah back then were mostly pity after learning her story. But Liam…’

‘On the surface, he treats Leah like an older brother would a younger sister. Aside from bringing her a gift from Kingsford one time and taking her out for a private meal, he hasn’t done much else.’

‘As far as Asher knew, Liam had only interacted with Leah alone no more than three times. All of those times were at the Peyton Group’s renovation site, and he never stayed for more than twenty minutes. For the most part, he only saw Leah at group gatherings.’

‘But Asher had caught the look in his eyes during those rare moments his gaze fell upon Leah. It was definitely not the affection a brother feels for a sister.’

‘As the heir to the Peyton Group, Liam Peyton was a master of restraint and patience. Asher knew that if he weren’t the one Leah had chosen, Liam would use any means necessary to destroy their relationship—just as he had destroyed his own marriage alliance with the Chase Family.’

Asher had his people investigate the matter. He refused to believe that a man of Liam Peyton’s stature would suddenly call off his engagement.

The matter had been kept very quiet. The official reason both families gave for the breakup was a personality clash. Asher’s men had to pay a hefty price to a servant from the Chase household to get the real story.

Apparently, Miss Chase had thrown several tantrums at home, so some of the family’s servants knew the truth.

‘And the timing was just too perfect, happening right when Leah was in Eldoria. Heh… Going from flying to Eldoria once or twice a year to once every two months… Asher didn’t believe for a second that Liam was only going to see Cecilia Peyton.’

‘As for his history with Phoebe Peyton, no one should know about it except for their classmates from their time abroad. Asher wondered if Phoebe had ever told Liam.’

‘If she had, then he had every reason to suspect that Liam was behind those two people at the banquet. After all, just because Liam was capable of restraint and patience didn’t mean he was without ambition.’

‘If he truly had no ulterior motives, he never would have shown up in Riverfall, knowing full well that Asher was the one Leah loved.’

“Asher, what are you thinking?”

Leah waved a hand in front of Asher’s face, pulling him from his reverie. A faint smile touched his lips as he took her hand. “Just some work things. Done playing with the swans?”

“The swans swam away. Let’s head back. It’s getting a little hot.”

Leah tilted her chin, gesturing toward the swans that had already drifted far away.

“Mm.”

As the two of them headed back, they ran into Ethan Shaw and the others. They were in the middle of discussing when to leave when Sean Yates hurried over.

“Sir, I just received news. Madeline Sterling is dead, and Morgan Sterling is critically injured.”

The words struck the group like a bolt of lightning. Everyone stared at Sean Yates in disbelief.

Asher’s brow furrowed. “What happened?”

Sean Yates quickly recounted the events. “The Sterling Family had previously arranged for her to serve her sentence outside of prison on medical parole. She was staying at one of the family’s villas. Morgan Sterling went to visit her today, and for some reason, she had a psychotic break. She took him hostage, stabbed him, and was… fatally shot.”

“And what about Morgan Sterling’s condition?”

“He was rushed to the hospital and is still in the operating room. The Sterling Family has the story on lockdown, so we haven’t been able to find out the exact nature of his wounds, only that they’re severe.”

After hearing the report, all eyes turned to Asher. His mind raced, processing the information. He scanned the group and asked, “Where are Liam and the others?”

“Wynn didn’t come with us. Phoebe and Cecilia are still swimming,” Shawn Grant said quickly.

“Okay, let them know we’re heading back. Keep digging for information from the hospital and confirm his condition…”

Asher then lowered his voice. “Review all the projects you’re currently fighting the Sterling Family for. Force the prices down and buy them out. Remember, only acquire what’s necessary. Sean, have someone leak that Morgan Sterling is on the verge of death. The more dire, the better.”

Ethan Shaw chuckled. “Asher, planning to kick him while he’s down? Or in this case, finish him off?”

Riley Sterling clicked his tongue. “Watch your mouth. This is called strategy! If Asher were the one lying in that hospital bed, Morgan Sterling would probably try to bankrupt the Keating…”

Seeing the icy glares from the group fixed on him, Riley Sterling immediately backtracked. “Crap, crap, crap! My stupid mouth. Of course, our Asher will live to be a hundred!”

Everyone got on the phone with their assistants. The Sterling Family had always been thin on heirs. Thomas Sterling had been ruthless enough to have his own brother, Tobias Sterling, killed, to say nothing of how he treated extended family. Now, Morgan Sterling was the only one left.

With Morgan Sterling in the hospital and his survival uncertain, any of the Sterling Group’s partners would be in a state of panic. Asher and his allies had to seize this opportunity to gain a controlling position.

It was just as Riley Sterling had recklessly blurted out: if Asher were the one in the hospital, Morgan Sterling would have seized the opportunity to bankrupt and absorb the Keating.

This world was never as harmonious as it appeared on the surface; it was all about who was better at seizing opportunities.

Shawn Grant called Liam Peyton, gave him a brief rundown, and told him they were heading back first. Liam didn’t seem to mind.

He had already realized that the waters in Riverfall ran deep. There was no need for him to make a move just yet. He said it was fine and that he would wait for Phoebe and Cecilia on his own.

But when Phoebe Peyton received Liam’s call, her face instantly went white. Cecilia looked at her, confused. “Phoebe, what’s wrong?”

“N-nothing. I might have just been in the water too long. I feel a little dizzy.”

Phoebe wanted to leave immediately, but she couldn’t let Liam notice anything was amiss. All she could do was quickly send a message to Hugh Sterling asking about the situation. When he didn’t reply, her panic grew.

On the way back, Leah asked Asher curiously, “Why would Madeline Sterling take Morgan hostage? I thought he always treated her well.”

Asher scoffed. “That ‘good’ was all superficial. Do you know why the Sterling Family pushed her into show business?”

Leah thought for a moment. She didn’t really follow celebrities—or rather, she hadn’t had the time to. But even so, she had still heard of Madeline Sterling.

Before all this, Madeline Sterling’s fans were always praising her ethereal looks, calling her a red-carpet icon, someone who could be sweet and innocent one moment, then cool and edgy the next.

Leah looked puzzled. “I think I remember hearing an interview where she said she was a natural beauty from a young age and always dreamed of being in show business. Plus, being an actress brings fame, right? The more famous she became, the more recognition the Sterling Family would get.”

Sean Yates, who was driving, laughed. “Leah, be a little bolder with your guesses.”