Chapter 125: Get Out
Mason Grant was indeed still young, but he had a good head on his shoulders. After the initial excitement faded and he calmed down, he knew this matter required careful verification. Otherwise, if they were wrong in the end, it would only make Mabel Grant more upset.
Her father, Brandon Jacobs, had married into the Grant family, but he never felt ashamed of it. On the contrary, Brandon Jacobs and her mother had always had a great relationship. Her father knew everything about her mother and didn’t mind in the least.
After their final discussion, the three siblings decided not to tell Mabel Grant about this for now. After all, the old Mr. Grant had already given the word, wanting the three of them to go to Riverfall for some training.
They planned to wait until they got to Riverfall to deal with it. Everything depended on getting proof first. If the girl really was Mabel Grant’s daughter, then they would tell her.
It was now the end of the Spring Festival, and Mason Grant hadn’t returned to Eldoria yet. Nathan Grant and Shawn Grant had arrived in Riverfall first. He would come in a couple of days, bringing a strand of Mabel Grant’s hair. They would first figure out a way to get a hair sample from Leah Sinclair and send them both for a DNA test to see the results.
Nathan Grant stood up, stretched, then kicked Shawn Grant’s leg. "Tomorrow, you go invite her to a meal. Figure out a way to get her hair or something else. Once Mason gets here, we can send it for testing."
"Me? Bro, are you sure Third Master Keating won’t kick me out?"
Shawn Grant looked speechlessly at his own brother. "Even though he didn’t act particularly special toward her tonight, who is Third Master Keating? She’s the girlfriend he publicly announced. If he didn’t really care about her, would he have made a public announcement?"
"Figure it out yourself. If we can confirm it, I remember the old Mr. Keating’s seventieth birthday should be in about two weeks. We’ll find a way to trick our aunt into coming over so they can meet. Now, get back to your room. I’m going to sleep." Nathan Grant rolled his eyes at him and ignored him, heading back to his room to sleep.
Shawn tutted, thought for a moment, and pulled out his phone. "Hello there, comrade Hale. I’m back in Riverfall! I heard you have a place in Europa Gardens. My brother and I are looking at properties. How about you show me around tomorrow? If it works out, we’re thinking of buying a place there."
Chester Hale on the other end of the line was surprised. "Looking at properties? Are you and your brother planning on staying in Riverfall for good?"
"Yeah. My brother was too embarrassed to ask you, so I had to be the one to call. So, is that a yes or no?" Shawn Grant said, crossing his legs with a roguish air.
Chester Hale was silent for a moment. "Alright. I’ll send you the address. See you tomorrow at ten in the morning."
"Sounds good. Hey, Hale, you got a girlfriend?"
"Shawn Grant! Get the hell out!" Nathan Grant yelled from his room.
"I’m going, I’m going."
Shawn Grant stood up, muttering, "Look at my brother acting like this. No wonder he can’t find a wife. Who would dare marry him?"
"Sent you the address. See you tomorrow," Chester Hale said and hung up.
"Tsk, one after another... Does the Grant family specialize in producing hopeless romantics?" Shawn Grant sighed, looking at his phone, and slowly walked back to his room.
The next morning, Leah Sinclair was pinned down by Asher Keating to make up for the final round she had begged out of the previous night, before she was finally allowed to get out of bed.
Her legs were like jelly as she came out of the bathroom. Asher Keating, on the other hand, looked utterly satisfied, leaning against the bed feeling refreshed as he scrolled through his phone.
Seeing the mournful look on Leah Sinclair’s face, Asher Keating laughed, pulled her over, and started massaging her legs. "I’m heading back to the old family home in a bit. The Grant Family is coming back, so I need to let my grandfather and my dad know."
"Okay. Will you be back for lunch?"
Leah Sinclair asked, leaning in his arms. During a break yesterday, Asher Keating had briefly explained the Grant family’s background to her. She now knew that the Grant family had once been the wealthiest family in Riverfall. And now, even though they were based in Kingsford, their sudden decision to return made even her feel that things weren’t so simple.
"We’ll see. Also, my grandfather’s birthday is coming up, and you have to be there."
"Me?" Leah Sinclair shot up in surprise.
"You’re my girlfriend. Of course you have to go to my grandfather’s birthday," Asher Keating said with a smile, pinching her cheek.
"But I..."
Leah Sinclair felt a little panicked. ’Asher Keating’s grandfather’s birthday... there will definitely be a lot of people there. I’ve never been to one of these gatherings for powerful, old-money families. I’m afraid I’ll do something wrong and embarrass Asher.’
"There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ll be there for you."
Asher Keating gave her a reassuring kiss, then pulled her back into his arms and resumed massaging her legs. But the massaging gradually turned into caressing, and Asher Keating’s breathing couldn’t help but grow a little heavier.
Leah Sinclair was still wondering what to do when the time came. Noticing the change in Asher Keating, she quickly jumped up. "I’ll go make breakfast."
Asher Keating tutted as he watched her run out. He glanced down between his legs and muttered, ’What are you getting excited for? We’ll deal with this tonight.’ Then he got up to take a shower.
After breakfast, just as Asher Keating opened his door, he saw that the door to Chester Hale’s apartment across the hall was open. He knew that Chester Hale had moved out some time ago.
He was a little surprised. Just as he was wondering whether to say hello, he heard Shawn Grant’s voice. "Tsk, Hale, this location really is great. Why don’t you live here?"
Asher Keating raised an eyebrow, stood at the entrance, and knocked on the door. The two men inside looked over. Shawn Grant’s expression was one of utter astonishment. "Third Master! What are you doing here?"
He was genuinely surprised to see Asher Keating here. His original plan was to check out Chester Hale’s apartment, then ask Asher Keating to a meal and see if he could get a chance to snag a strand of Leah Sinclair’s hair.
Asher Keating’s lips curved into a smile. "I live across the hall."
’...’ ’Don’t tell me Leah Sinclair lives here too.’
Leah Sinclair watched the three men on the living room sofa as she prepared the vegetables, lost in thought. ’Didn’t Asher just leave for the old family home? How did it turn into Asher, Chester Hale, and even Shawn Grant sitting on the sofa, waiting for me to make lunch?’
Asher Keating placed glasses of water in front of Shawn Grant and Chester Hale, then sat down and asked, "So, Shawn, you guys are planning to buy a place in Europa Gardens?"
"Not decided yet. My brother wanted to buy a villa, but I heard Hale had a place here, so I came to check it out. Renovating a big villa takes too long. If there’s a suitable move-in ready place here, we’ll buy it to use in the meantime," Shawn Grant said, lazily taking a drag from his cigarette.
"I just asked the property management. There shouldn’t be any move-in ready places in Europa Gardens right now. If you buy one, you’ll still have to renovate. If you don’t mind, you can stay at my place first. Move out after you’ve bought and fixed up your own," Chester Hale said, putting down his phone.
"I don’t mind. As for my brother... tsk... hard to say," Shawn Grant said, giving Chester Hale a suggestive look.
Chester Hale coughed lightly and shot Asher Keating a pleading look. Asher Keating’s lips curved. "I have other properties elsewhere, all fully renovated. Why not stay there for a while?"
"Huh, something’s up with you two. I thought you guys didn’t know each other well. How come you seem so familiar now?" Shawn Grant said, looking back and forth between them.
"Second Master Hale was Leah Sinclair’s grandmother’s attending physician," Asher Keating explained.
"Leah Sinclair’s grandmother?" Shawn Grant raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. But there was an accident before the new year, and she passed away."