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

Their anger flared as they watched her. They all felt it was an injustice and began plotting to pull a prank on Leah Sinclair later to get even on Madeline’s behalf.

Madeline Sterling pretended to wipe away tears, but the corners of her lips curled into a contemptuous smirk. ’Hmph. Leah Sinclair, just you wait.’

As Asher Keating walked, he noticed an unending stream of men staring at Leah Sinclair, their gazes a mixture of awe and unconcealed lust. He suddenly regretted letting her take off her jacket, a feeling that peaked the moment he saw Morgan Sterling.

Morgan Sterling had been standing with Aaron Keating, but the moment he saw Leah Sinclair and Asher Keating enter, his gaze locked onto Leah and didn’t waver. A smirk played on his lips.

Aaron Keating followed his gaze, and a flicker of interest lit his eyes.

"How have I never noticed before? Third Master Keating’s little girlfriend is gorgeous. Is she even prettier than the last time we saw her? Hmm... Seems like Third Master is really helping her blossom, eh?"

Though his words were veiled, his tone was utterly sleazy. Morgan Sterling chuckled. "Yeah. I wonder what she’d be like in bed."

"Tsk. Don’t do anything stupid. This is the old Mr. Keating’s birthday, after all. If you want to mess with her, don’t do it here."

Aaron Keating at least had that much sense. If anything happened today, forget the old Mr. Keating—his own father wouldn’t let him off the hook.

"What are you thinking? Am I the kind of person with no self-control?"

Morgan Sterling shot him a glance. ’What an idiot.’ He was, after all, the heir of the Sterling Family. Pulling something like that at the Keating Family’s birthday banquet? Did Aaron think he was a complete moron?

With that, he walked over to Leah Sinclair and Asher Keating. Seeing him approach with that blatant look in his eyes, Leah’s fingers tightened on Asher’s arm.

Asher Keating sensed her nervousness and patted her hand reassuringly before lifting his eyes to look coolly at Morgan Sterling.

"Third Master, Leah. Long time no see. Leah, you’ve really grown... even more beautiful and captivating."

Morgan Sterling brazenly scanned Leah Sinclair from head to toe. His eyes paused on the rose-gold necklace resting on her elegant collarbone. He remembered that necklace—Leah had been wearing it the day they’d played pool.

"You seem to have a lot of time on your hands, Mr. Sterling?" Asher Keating’s expression chilled.

"Now, now, Third Master, don’t look at me like that," Morgan Sterling said with a smile, his praise sounding almost genuine. "One can’t help but look twice at a beautiful woman. The two of you truly are a perfect match."

"I think so, too." With that, Asher Keating led Leah Sinclair toward Ethan Shaw and the others.

Leah Sinclair hadn’t said a single word, but she was still tense. She could feel Morgan Sterling’s eyes fixed on her from behind, like a viper’s stare.

"Don’t wander off later, and don’t be alone with him," Asher Keating whispered, having also sensed Morgan’s unwavering gaze on them.

"Okay, I’ll be extra careful," Leah Sinclair whispered back.

"Whoa! Whoa! Is this really our little Leah? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think a superstar just walked in!" Ethan Shaw cried out with theatrical flair.

Now that she was with familiar faces, Leah Sinclair finally relaxed. His teasing made her laugh. "Do you have to be so dramatic?"

"What’s so dramatic? Asher, isn’t Leah gorgeous?"

"When is she not?" Asher Keating replied, a smile playing on his lips.

...

And just like that, Ethan Shaw had another public display of affection shoved in his face.

"Well now, Third Master Keating, you sure are lucky, snatching up such a pretty girl."

While they were speaking, Nash, Shawn, and Mason Grant walked over. Nash even gave Leah Sinclair’s chin a playful lift and burst out laughing.

Leah Sinclair had met Nash a few times recently and knew her personality, so she just laughed. "Nash, you’re teasing me again."

"What do you mean, teasing? Isn’t she gorgeous? Isn’t Third Master Keating a lucky man?" Nash shooed Asher Keating aside and linked arms with Leah Sinclair herself.

"Mm, I’ve always been lucky," Asher Keating agreed, smiling at Leah Sinclair, whose ears turned a little red under his gaze.

"Nash, where’s Second Master Hale? Haven’t seen him around," Riley Sterling asked with a knowing tone.

For once, Nash looked flustered. "Why are you asking me? How would I know?"

Leah Sinclair was surprised to see her reaction. She had been suspicious earlier that afternoon when she saw Nash with Chester Hale, and now she looked at Nash with a mischievous glint in her eye. ’Looks like there’s a story there.’

Nash clicked her tongue. "What’s with that look? Why is everyone so nosy? Fine, yes, I’m pursuing him. There, I said it."

"Oho! Second Master Hale doesn’t know what’s good for him! How could he make our Nash do the chasing?" Ethan Shaw exclaimed excitedly.

Nash gave him a light smack, then broke into a slightly embarrassed laugh herself. Meanwhile, her brother Mason Grant had been watching Leah Sinclair. Noticing his gaze, Leah offered him a small, friendly smile.

"You’re really beautiful. Asher is a very lucky man," Mason Grant said, clinking his glass against hers.

"Nash is just teasing. I’m the lucky one to have met Asher," Leah Sinclair replied, her smiling gaze landing on Asher as he chatted with the others nearby.

"Don’t say that. Oh, by the way, my mom will be here later. I should introduce you two!" Mason Grant said, suddenly perking up.

"Oh, okay."

Leah Sinclair was a little baffled. She recalled Asher Keating mentioning Mason Grant’s mother before—a very impressive woman. As Asher’s girlfriend, she figured she would be introduced to her anyway. She just couldn’t understand why Mason was so excited about it.

Theodore Keating called Asher Keating away. Before leaving, Asher made a point to ask Nash to keep an eye on Leah Sinclair for him.

Nash glanced at Morgan Sterling, who wasn’t far off, and scoffed. "Don’t worry. With me here, Morgan Sterling won’t get anywhere near Leah."

"Thanks, Nash."

Asher Keating breathed a small sigh of relief. He said a few words to Leah Sinclair and then left. Thank goodness for Nash; most of his own close acquaintances were men.

Plus, it was the old Mr. Keating’s birthday, so neither he nor Ruth Hughes could stay by Leah’s side indefinitely. And it wouldn’t be appropriate for Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling to be with her the entire time, either.

"Nash. Leah."

Chester Hale had arrived. After greeting him, Leah Sinclair gave him a mischievous look.

He grew a bit flustered under her gaze, clearing his throat. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"What look? Dr. Hale, you’d better be careful what you say. You don’t want Nash getting jealous." With a single sentence, Leah Sinclair managed to tease both of them.

"Well, well, Leah. Looks like you’ve been learning bad habits from Ethan and the boys, huh? I knew you shouldn’t hang around those three," Nash said, pinching Leah’s cheek.

...

...

...

The three guys in question, who had been drinking and chatting nearby, found themselves randomly catching flak. They all clicked their tongues and decided to move elsewhere, lest they remain an eyesore to Nash and get chewed out again.

"Mason, you stay here. Don’t go picking up their bad habits," Nash said to her brother.

"Okay. I’m not going anywhere tonight. I’ll stick with you, sis."