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

Asher Keating tore down the road, making several sharp, sudden turns that startled pedestrians. But once they saw the car’s emblem, all they dared to do was curse after it was long gone, "Think you own the road just because you’re rich?"

He drove straight into Azure Bay, screeching to a halt right at the lobby entrance. After getting out, he yelled to Ethan Shaw, "You park it."

Ethan Shaw quickly got out. A security guard, seeing a car charge toward them, rushed out with his baton, completely confused. He only saw Asher Keating hurry through the doors. The guard scratched his head, then rushed over to greet Ethan, who just waved a hand and got into the driver’s seat to park the car.

Chester Hale was on his way out, carrying Leah Sinclair, when they ran into each other right at the entrance. Asher Keating stared coldly at Chester Hale, who stared coldly back.

Their gazes clashed in mid-air like sparks flying. The air was thick with an invisible tension, like gunpowder waiting for a match. The security guards inside watched them nervously, terrified a fight would break out. In Chester Hale’s arms, Leah Sinclair stirred.

Seeing Leah move, Asher Keating was the first to break eye contact. He took a step forward. "Thank you for tonight, Second Young Master Hale."

"Third Young Master Keating, you’re late." Chester Hale turned to the side, not yielding an inch of ground.

"Am I?"

Asher Keating raised his wrist and glanced at his watch. "Right on time."

With that, he ignored Chester Hale’s posture and forcefully took Leah Sinclair from his arms.

Leah Sinclair, in her daze, thought she smelled a familiar, crisp scent and murmured, "Asher..."

"Yes, I’m here."

"That bastard."

Leah muttered hazily. Asher Keating froze for a moment, then a smile touched his lips. His cold, hard demeanor softened slightly at her words. He sighed internally. ’She only dares to curse me like this when she’s in this state.’

Asher Keating didn’t spare another glance for the silent Chester Hale, simply carrying Leah out the door.

Ethan Shaw, having parked the car, rushed back just in time to see them emerge. He quickly returned to the vehicle. "Third Master, where are we headed?"

"Europa Gardens."

Asher Keating settled her into the car, letting her lean against his chest. Ethan Shaw got in and glanced in the rearview mirror. Asher’s gaze was fixed on Leah, whose brow was tightly furrowed as she mumbled something. Asher had to lean closer to hear what she was saying.

She kept repeating in a daze, "Why doesn’t anyone want me anymore? Why did you throw me away... I’m not trash, don’t abandon me..."

Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, falling drop by drop onto Asher Keating’s clothes, and drop by drop onto his heart.

Asher Keating kissed the corner of her eye. "I won’t abandon you."

’Well, there it is. The Third Master has truly fallen for Leah Sinclair.’ Ethan Shaw sighed quietly to himself, then started the car and drove toward Europa Gardens.

Asher Keating didn’t let Ethan see them upstairs, carrying Leah up himself. He paused when he opened the door. The heat was off, and all the clothes that had been on the balcony were gone.

The card Leah Sinclair had given him before was still sitting quietly on the coffee table. It suddenly struck him that the apartment felt like it had been vacant for several days.

Frowning, he took off her coat, laid her on the bed, and covered her with the blanket before turning on the heat. He slowly looked around the apartment. It seemed most of Leah’s things were still there.

But her watch, necklaces, and other jewelry were all put away in her jewelry box. He went to the walk-in closet and opened the wardrobe. His clothes were there, as were the clothes he had bought for Leah, but all of her own clothes were gone.

’No, that’s not right.’ He reached in and rummaged through the clothes. The shirt of his that Leah used to wear as a nightshirt was gone. It looked like she had really moved out.

’She took nothing, except for that one shirt of mine.’

Asher Keating grabbed a shirt from the closet and returned to the bedroom. The room was gradually warming up. Leah was curled up under the covers, her face streaked with tears.

He came back with a warm, damp towel and gently wiped her face. "You never know to call me. What is this terrible habit of yours? Is it really that hard to break?"

Then he remembered her phone was broken. He sighed in gentle frustration and pinched her cheek. Leah frowned and turned away, still muttering hazily, "That bastard... he doesn’t want me."

"Tsk."

Asher Keating clicked his tongue. "Still not done cursing?"

He pulled off her clothes and slipped the clean shirt on her. Feeling the cold, Leah instinctively burrowed into his arms for warmth. Asher Keating restrained himself, then again, before finally leaning down to slowly kiss her forehead.

Leah gradually settled, and after a long while, her furrowed brow finally relaxed. He laid her down properly, went to take a shower himself, and then came out and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn’t help but frown. "How did you get thinner again?"

Asher Keating hadn’t slept well the past few days, and he’d just spent the whole afternoon on a flight. He had been planning to go straight to bed after his shower, but then this happened.

When Ethan Shaw had relayed Chester Hale’s words, he hadn’t even realized it himself, but it had been years since he had felt that frantic.

Now, with Leah nestled safely in his arms, he finally relaxed completely, and drowsiness began to wash over him.

Right on the verge of sleep, he suddenly remembered Leah saying that Morgan Sterling was pursuing her. He fumbled for his phone and sent a message to Edward Yates: "What’s the deal with Morgan Sterling and Leah Sinclair? Get back to me tomorrow."

He then set his phone to Do Not Disturb, gave Leah a soft kiss, and fell into a deep sleep.

Edward Yates’s heart leaped into his throat when he received the message. ’Morgan Sterling? Leah Sinclair? Since when was there a "deal" between them? Didn’t Morgan Sterling only show up that one time and never again? What happened?’

When Sean Yates found out, he gave Edward a look that said, *you’re on your own*. "Good luck, bro!"

"What’s going on? Didn’t the Young Master and Leah break up?"

"Who said they broke up? Tsk, bro, you’re still too new to this. Let me tell you, our Young Master... he’s completely fallen for her this time."

Sean Yates put on an expression that clearly said, *I’ve been around longer, so I get it*, then leisurely drank his milk and went back to bed, leaving Edward Yates standing there, completely dumbfounded.

When Leah Sinclair woke up, her first thought was that her head was killing her. Her second was... ’How did I get back to Europa Gardens?’ And her third... ’Holy shit, did I steal one of Asher’s shirts again?’

She tried hard to recall the events of last night. She remembered her phone was broken, and she’d had a hard time getting to Azure Bay.

She was in a foul mood, so she’d chugged a bottle not long after arriving, then opened another. After that... she thought she ran into Chester Hale. ’Or did I?’

She was confused again. ’Could it be that Chester Hale didn’t know she’d moved out, so he brought her back to Europa Gardens? But what’s with this shirt? Was I so drunk out of my mind that I stole one of Asher’s shirts to wear again?’

Leah couldn’t remember anything else. As she was about to get out of bed, she heard a noise from the living room and froze.

’I didn’t... I didn’t fucking bring Chester Hale back to Asher Keating’s apartment, did I?! Asher would kill me if he found out!’

The shock jolted Leah completely sober. ’Drinking is nothing but trouble! Why did I get drunk? What was I thinking?! I just want to die right now!’

When she saw the doorknob turn, Leah trembled, wondering if she should run or what she should do. The moment the door swung open, she pulled the covers over her head. ’Just let me die on the spot. Please, I’m begging you.’