Chapter 23: So What if I’m Fallen?
Asher Keating, who was driving, was stunned for a moment when he heard her last sentence. He then laughed speechlessly. ’This girl really is something else.’
He had left the moment he saw Leah Sinclair curled up on the sofa, hugging her knees. He didn’t know why he felt a sense of urgency.
But seeing her curled up into a small ball, he suddenly had the urge to hold her.
The monitor screen was black. A moment later, he heard the CLICK of a lighter. Leah hadn’t turned on the lights.
In night vision mode, he saw Leah light a cigarette—one of the ones he had left there before. He couldn’t help but step on the gas.
After finishing the cigarette, Leah Sinclair just sat on the floor in a daze. The lights were still off. The glow from the balcony outside barely penetrated the darkness, and she had no idea how long she’d been sitting there.
When Asher Keating flipped on the lights, she squinted against the sudden brightness. She stared, stunned, at his sudden appearance. Asher frowned at her, not saying a word.
After her initial shock, she suddenly broke into a smile. "Third Master."
Asher Keating pulled her up and sat her on his lap. Because she had been sitting on the floor for so long, a sharp, tingling numbness shot through her knees as she stood up. She couldn’t help but hiss in pain, and Asher began to rub her legs for her.
Leah suddenly hugged him. Asher’s hands stilled. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, and after a long moment, she spoke, her voice a bit hoarse.
"Why do you always see me when I’m at my worst?"
Asher didn’t want her to know he had seen the security footage, so he just said coolly, "Is it your birthday? What are you crying for on your birthday?"
Leah felt a little embarrassed. She didn’t want to talk about what had just happened, so she could only say, "I wasn’t crying. It just feels a bit sad, celebrating it alone."
Asher wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. This time, his kiss wasn’t domineering or rough at all; it could even be described as gentle.
Leah was a little surprised, but a kiss like this slowly soothed the sadness in her heart.
After a long time, Asher Keating finally let her go. "Let’s go. Third Master will take you out to celebrate your birthday."
"There’s no need. It’s getting late."
Leah said hurriedly. Earlier that afternoon, she had wanted to ask Asher if he could come over that night, but she’d decided against it. She never expected him to actually show up. She felt quite content; at least she wasn’t alone tonight.
"Late? The night is just getting started. Or are you saying that since we haven’t seen each other in half a month, you’d rather spend it in bed?"
Asher Keating pinched her cheek, watching with satisfaction as her face instantly turned red.
"I... I’ll go get changed," Leah stammered, jumping up.
A faint smile played on Asher Keating’s lips as he watched her run into the bedroom. He sent a text to Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling: "The Dynasty Club. Book a private room. Leah’s birthday."
Ethan Shaw replied immediately, "Whoa, Third Master! You weren’t even this enthusiastic for my birthday! I’m jealous!!!"
"Get lost. Just hurry up."
Riley Sterling: "Got it! Arranging it now."
On their way out, Asher Keating saw the cake on the coffee table and found it particularly unsightly. He picked it up and tossed it directly into the trash can downstairs. Leah tried to stop him, but Asher just led her away by the hand.
"What’s so good about such an ugly cake?"
Leah silently glanced at the cake. ’It’s such a beautiful cake, how is it ugly?’
But her attention was quickly drawn to the fact that Asher was holding her hand.
This was the first time Asher had ever held her hand, and it was also the first time a man had ever held her hand like this.
His hand was large and warm. The warmth from his palm spread, bit by bit, into Leah’s heart. She could feel her face blushing.
After Leah Sinclair left Azure Bay, Ethan Shaw and the others stopped going there too, changing their usual spot to The Dynasty Club, which was a bit more upscale than Azure Bay.
It was just that Morgan Sterling and his group used to frequent this place, and Ethan’s group didn’t want to run into him. But ever since the last incident, Asher and Morgan had more or less openly fallen out, so they didn’t hold back anymore.
’Hey, no need for anyone to hide! If we run into them and nothing happens, fine. If something does, we’ll deal with it.’
High-end clubs are certainly efficient. By the time Asher brought Leah over, everything was already set up, right down to the cake.
The entire private room was filled with all sorts of balloons and flowers. The moment the two of them walked in, Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling set off party poppers. "Leah, happy birthday!"
Leah, startled, stared blankly at the scene before her. Asher stood beside her, watching her with a quiet smile, and she felt the last bit of her sadness melt away.
’So what if this is depraved? At least I’m living in the moment, and it feels pretty good.’
"Thank you, Third Master," Leah said, looking at him earnestly.
"A thank you requires sincerity," Asher Keating whispered in her ear. "The whole night. Don’t run off."
Leah’s face flushed red. Ethan and Riley started hooting, "What are you two whispering about? Why don’t you tell us!"
Asher turned back with a smile. "If I told you, would it still be a secret?"
Then he led Leah to the cake and lit the candles for her. "Birthday girl, make a wish."
The cake was a full twelve inches. Ethan had ordered it on short notice. He didn’t know what kind Leah liked, but figured bigger was always better.
Leah closed her eyes and made a new wish in her heart. ’I hope Grandma stays healthy, I hope Sheila and I get rich overnight, and I hope Third Master Keating has a safe and smooth life... and that he stays interested in me for a long time.’
Then, amidst cheers, she blew out the candles. Ethan asked her what she wished for, but the girl he’d brought with him chided him playfully, "You can’t say a wish out loud! It won’t come true if you do."
"Oh, oh, then never mind. Anyway, you young ladies all wish for pretty much the same things," Ethan said, giving her a smooch.
Asher had already heard her wish, so he wasn’t curious. He just took her hand and made the first cut. The dozen or so people in the room all got a piece of cake.
Ethan and the others were used to partying, so the atmosphere was lively. Asher knew she hadn’t eaten dinner, so he also ordered a bowl of birthday noodles for her, insisting she eat before she could drink.
Leah looked at the bowl, which was bigger than her face, and asked hesitantly, "Do I have to finish it all?"
Asher hadn’t expected such a large portion either. "Just eat as much as you can," he said with a helpless sigh.
Leah ate about half and really couldn’t eat anymore. Ethan then dragged her off to drink. Asher chuckled and opened his phone to check a message.
Half an hour earlier, he had asked Sean Yates to go back to the villa and get his gift for Leah. It was a newly released necklace he had seen at a Bvlgari store in the airport during a business trip a few days ago.
He thought it looked quite nice, and figuring he had never seen Leah wear a necklace, he bought it.
He hadn’t had a chance to see her since he got back, so it had just been sitting there. It was her birthday today. ’She should accept a birthday gift, right?’
Asher glanced at Leah, suddenly feeling a bit unsure. He had never seen her use the card he had given her before, not even once.
They were playing Truth or Dare, and it was Leah’s turn. Ethan asked her which she would choose, and she picked Truth. Ethan immediately asked, "What’s the most times you’ve done it with Third Master in one night?"
"...Is it too late for me to switch to Dare?"
"Sure. French kiss Third Master for five minutes."
"..."