Chapter 132: Take Her Back to Kingsford
This was the first time Mason Grant had heard someone say this with his own ears. More than just sad, his heart ached for her.
Leah Sinclair was silent for a moment before speaking. "No, that’s not it. I did work as a bar hostess for a while after graduation. Then I met Third Master Keating and have been with him ever since."
"You..."
"Mason, Leah, what are you two doing here?" Nathan Grant and Chester Hale had just come out and were heading toward the garden when they ran into them. She looked at the pair with a confused expression.
"Sis, Second Brother Hale, I was just over there talking with Leah."
"Nash, Dr. Hale." Leah Sinclair was also a little surprised to run into Nathan Grant and Chester Hale here.
Chester Hale felt a bit self-conscious under her gaze and cleared his throat. "Third Master Keating was just looking for you."
"Oh, okay. I’ll head back then. You guys chat." After saying that, Leah Sinclair quickly turned and walked back.
"Sis, Second Brother Hale, I’m going to head back too." Mason Grant nodded at them and followed Leah Sinclair inside.
Asher Keating arched an eyebrow in surprise when he saw Leah Sinclair and Mason Grant trailing behind her.
Mason Grant walked over and greeted, "Third Brother Keating." Asher Keating nodded and pointed him toward Shawn Grant’s location, so Mason headed over to him.
"Were you in the garden?"
Asher Keating turned and took Leah Sinclair’s hand. ’Good, her hand isn’t too cold.’ He had just finished his business and couldn’t find her anywhere. He’d asked Ruth Hughes, who told him she might have gone to the back garden, and he was just about to go look for her.
"Yeah. Your aunt was introducing me to people earlier, but then she got busy. She said I could sit in the garden if I got bored, and I happened to run into Mr. Grant." Leah Sinclair noticed a speck of something on his shirt and moved closer to brush it off.
Asher Keating caught a whiff of her perfume—a fresh, grassy scent like the air after rain. Leah Sinclair had put on a little today. He found it pleasant and smiled. "It’s about time to head over to the banquet."
The thought of having to recognize all those people again at the hotel made Leah Sinclair’s head spin. Seeing her sour expression, Asher Keating knew exactly what she was thinking. He chuckled and gently pinched her cheek. "Don’t worry, you don’t have to deal with them."
"Really? That’s a relief. I haven’t even memorized all the people from just now. I was so afraid I’d run into them later and call them by the wrong name." Leah Sinclair stuck her tongue out playfully and smiled, a little embarrassed.
Seeing her playful expression, the trace of exhaustion from a long day of socializing vanished completely. Asher Keating smiled and led her inside by the hand.
Shawn Grant looked at Mason Grant’s cold face with confusion and pulled him aside. "What’s wrong? Weren’t you just trying to get closer to Leah?"
"I’m taking my sister back to Kingsford," Mason Grant said, his face tense.
Shawn Grant was surprised. He glanced at Leah Sinclair in the distance, standing with Asher Keating. She didn’t seem to be upset at all. He turned back to Mason. "What just happened?"
"We ran into Madeline Sterling."
"Madeline Sterling? What happened when you ran into her?" Shawn Grant was completely baffled.
"She provoked my sister. Called her a bar hostess and said she wasn’t good enough for Third Brother Keating."
Mason Grant’s heart ached just thinking about what he’d heard. Although he had started to take on some of the family business, he was still young. And since he was with Shawn, he didn’t hide his feelings.
"...Heh. That woman’s got some nerve. Didn’t Leah put her in her place?" Hearing this, Shawn Grant’s gaze turned cold as well.
"She did. I heard a few lines. But I’m sure she’s hurting inside. It’s the truth, after all. I want to take her back to Kingsford and never come back here."
"Tsk. Do you really think she’ll go with you? Can’t you see how much she likes Third Brother Keating?"
Mason Grant looked over at Leah Sinclair in the distance. She was smiling and talking to Asher Keating, her expression a mix of coyness and playfulness, while Asher watched her with a look of pure adoration.
"There are plenty of men in Kingsford. And plenty who are better than Third Brother Keating."
Honestly, Mason Grant quite liked Asher Keating. From his interactions with him over the past few days, he knew that although Asher had a somewhat reserved personality, he was flawless in every other aspect—looks, ability, family background. There was nothing to criticize.
"I have a feeling she’ll come with me."
He had seen the color drain from Leah Sinclair’s face earlier, which was why he had rushed over so quickly. Even though she acted fine afterward, he could feel that those words had truly gotten to her.
It was a thorn in her side, he was sure of it. He wanted to take her back to Kingsford, away from this place that brought her shame. As for Asher Keating, all Mason could feel was a slight sense of apology. After all, compared to Asher, Leah was his sister, his own flesh and blood. He didn’t care about anyone else.
On the way to the hotel, Leah Sinclair asked, a bit puzzled, why they hadn’t seen Morgan Sterling. Indeed, they had only seen Madeline Sterling, and afterward, she had kept her distance, sticking with her circle of socialites.
"He said he had a meeting to attend and went straight to the hotel." Asher Keating took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Leah Sinclair knew he didn’t particularly enjoy these kinds of social functions, so she had him turn to the side, intending to give him a shoulder massage.
Asher Keating grabbed her hand and leaned in for a kiss. Leah Sinclair glanced at Sean Yates, who was focused on driving, and silently accepted it.
After a long moment, Asher Keating finally released her. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his voice a little hoarse. "Trying to seduce me?"
"..."
Leah Sinclair shot him a reproachful look. ’How was I trying to seduce him? I just wanted to give him a shoulder massage, and this man has the nerve to accuse me.’
The banquet hall for the old Mr. Keating’s birthday celebration was brilliantly lit. Everywhere, people held champagne flutes, deep in pleasant conversation. The sounds of music, chatter, and laughter mingled together, creating a perfectly harmonious atmosphere.
The woman standing next to Madeline Sterling had just finished speaking when she looked up with a smile and exclaimed in surprise, "Isn’t that Third Brother Keating and his girlfriend? They actually look quite good together, don’t they?"
Madeline Sterling turned to look and saw Leah Sinclair on Asher Keating’s arm, gliding gracefully into the banquet hall.
Leah Sinclair had just taken off her coat. All afternoon, Madeline had only seen her wearing it, but now, without the coat, Leah looked even more radiant and captivating than before.
She had never taken Leah Sinclair seriously before. Every time she’d seen her, Leah had been dressed casually, relying solely on her youth to look passable even without makeup.
But the Leah of today, for the first time, made her feel that she actually looked fitting standing next to Asher Keating. She had shed the immaturity of their first meeting, her face now holding a woman’s charm and allure. And this transformation was Asher’s doing.
At that thought, Madeline Sterling’s nails dug so deeply into her palm that one of them snapped. She gave a cold smirk and flicked the broken piece away.
Another woman noticed Madeline Sterling’s dark expression and quickly chimed in, "What nonsense are you talking about? Her? How is she a match for Third Brother Keating? The only one who’s a match for him is our Madeline, okay? Hmph, our Madeline is the one who should be standing there today!"
"Exactly! A mere bar hostess actually dares to show her face in a place like this. Say, should we go and mess with her a little later?" a third woman added.
These three were the usual crowd who followed Madeline Sterling around, constantly kissing up to her. And Madeline thoroughly enjoyed it.
"Don’t you go causing trouble. The poor girl is here for the first time. Don’t frighten her."
Madeline Sterling said, her eyes turning slightly red. "I’m fine. It’s just... my heart aches a little. I like Asher so much, and he..."