Chapter 130: Why Are You Here Alone?
Leah Sinclair composed herself and presented the gift to the old Mr. Keating with a gentle smile. "Grandpa Keating, I wish you a life free of worries, with enduring peace and joy. May your blessings be as boundless as the Eastern Sea, and your life as long as Southmount."
"Haha, so the young lady has finally arrived! Your presence is gift enough, what’s all this?" The old Mr. Keating accepted the gift with a broad smile, his complexion rosy and his spirits high.
"Grandpa, Leah spent a long time picking this out. Take a look." Asher Keating helped him open the gift.
"Is this... Qinan?"
The old Mr. Keating took out the prayer beads and sniffed them delicately. "Excellent! This is fine stuff indeed. I like it very much. Thank you, young lady."
As he spoke, the old Mr. Keating slipped the prayer beads onto his wrist and stroked them repeatedly, seeming genuinely pleased. The people nearby immediately chimed in with fawning praise.
Some praised the gift, while others complimented Leah to Ruth Hughes and the old Mr. Keating. Ruth Hughes’s smile never faltered. Watching Leah stand demurely by Asher Keating’s side, a gentle smile on her face, she felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
"Old Mr. Keating! Many happy returns! May your fortune be great and your life be long, as eternal as the crane and the pine!"
"Old Mr. Keating! Happy birthday! May you have the longevity of the pine and crane, and may your future blessings be without limit!"
Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling came over together to offer the old Mr. Keating their birthday wishes and present their gifts.
"Hahaha, good, good, you’re all here. Look, your Third Brother has brought his girlfriend home. When are you two rascals going to bring a girlfriend for this old man to meet?" the old Mr. Keating said to them, gesturing toward Asher Keating and Leah Sinclair beside him.
"Hehe, don’t you worry. If we had girlfriends, we’d bring them for your approval immediately. So, Old Mr. Keating, what do you think? Leah’s beautiful, isn’t she? A perfect match for our Third Brother, no doubt," Ethan Shaw said jokingly, leaning in close to the old man and massaging his shoulders.
"Mm, yes, very good. Grandpa is very pleased."
The old Mr. Keating’s face was wreathed in smiles as he watched Leah Sinclair and Asher Keating. Leah had tilted her head back slightly to say something to Asher, who was listening intently, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
They made for a delightful picture standing together. And yet, a flicker of puzzlement entered his mind. There was something about the way Leah’s eyes crinkled when she smiled... He felt as if he’d seen it somewhere before.
Guests kept arriving to offer their birthday wishes, and Asher Keating had to go and greet them. Ruth Hughes told Leah Sinclair to stay with her. Asher was hesitant to leave her, but Ruth waved him away.
Leah Sinclair stuck close to Ruth Hughes, her nervousness apparent. Noticing her unease, Ruth patted her hand and said softly, "Leah, don’t be tense. I’m just going to introduce you to a few people you absolutely must meet. You’ll inevitably be dealing with more of them in the future. Just say hello and that’s it. We’ll ignore the ones who aren’t important. When we’re done, I’ll take you to Asher’s room."
Leah Sinclair had no parents and had never been so doted on by an elder. Seeing how thoughtful Ruth Hughes was being, a warmth spread through her chest, and she quickly replied, "It’s alright, Mrs. Hughes."
Ruth Hughes smiled and led her around to meet a few people. Leah stayed dutifully by her side, a gentle smile fixed on her face until she felt her cheeks were about to freeze. Finally, panting slightly, Ruth guided her to a less conspicuous corner.
"I can’t do this anymore, Leah. Let’s sit for a minute." Ruth Hughes tapped her own shoulder. ’These events are just exhausting.’
Seeing this, Leah hesitated for a moment before standing up and beginning to gently massage Ruth’s shoulders. "Mrs. Hughes, is this any better?"
"Mmm, yes, that’s much better. You know how to do this, too?" Ruth Hughes relaxed, visibly pleased.
"Third Brother used to have constant social obligations, so I’d help massage his shoulders when he came home. I learned a little."
There was a time when Asher Keating had endless social events and would always come home exhausted. He didn’t have to entertain so much later on, but Leah’s skill remained.
"That’s wonderful. Asher may seem powerful and decisive out in the world, but it hasn’t been easy for him. Sigh. It’s his father and I who are to blame. Back then, his father didn’t want to compete with his elder brother over... all this. And I’m from an ordinary family, so I couldn’t offer much support. Now, he has to rely on himself for everything."
As Ruth Hughes spoke, a bitter feeling welled up inside her. She knew her son’s character perfectly—he wasn’t one to fight and scrap for things. If it weren’t for what happened a few years ago... She sighed inwardly.
Leah Sinclair glanced up toward the main hall, where Asher Keating was speaking with Shawn Grant. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored, custom-made dark suit, his white shirt unbuttoned twice at the collar. A pair of silver-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his high nose, giving him an air of effortless and noble composure.
"Mrs. Hughes, Third Brother is a good man. I’m sure he understands how you feel," Leah Sinclair said, trying to comfort her.
Before long, a staff member came to ask Ruth Hughes to confirm something. She stood and patted Leah’s hand. "Leah, there’s a small garden out back. If you don’t want to stay here, you can go sit there for a bit. It’s quieter."
"Okay."
Ruth Hughes hurried away. Leah Sinclair sat alone for a moment. She was starting to get hungry; she hadn’t eaten anything through all the hustle and bustle. She eyed the food display table up front, debating whether she should get a little something to eat, but felt too self-conscious to go by herself.
"Miss?"
Leah Sinclair looked up, her mind racing. ’I feel like I saw him a few days ago... He’s from the Grant family. Is his name Mason Grant?’
"Mr. Grant," Leah Sinclair said, quickly standing to greet him.
"Hi. Why are you sitting here all alone?" Mason Grant had been watching Leah for a while, but he hadn’t dared to approach while Ruth Hughes was with her.
"Third Brother and Mrs. Hughes are busy, and I’m not familiar with the place..." Leah Sinclair trailed off with an embarrassed smile.
"Same here. I’m not a big fan of these events either." Mason Grant gave a shy smile, radiating the innocent air of a college student.
"Well... Mrs. Hughes just mentioned there’s a small garden out back. Shall we go sit there for a while?"
Leah figured that since he was a guest of the Keating Family and had been the one to approach her, it would be rude not to make conversation.
"Great idea! Miss, you’re hungry, aren’t you? I noticed you kept looking at the cakes over there."
"Er..."
Leah flushed. "A little," she admitted.
"Let’s get something to eat, then. I had some earlier, and it’s quite good," Mason Grant said, already heading toward the food display.
Leah hesitated for a moment, then followed. Mason Grant stared at the little cakes on display, feeling a headache coming on. ’Why did I say I’d already tried them? I hate sweets, how would I know which ones are good?’ he thought. But when he caught a glimpse of Leah’s sparkling eyes in his peripheral vision, his heart clenched. ’She... she wouldn’t have been so excited over something so small back then.’
Mason Grant picked out the one that looked the prettiest—a small, pink cake—and offered it to Leah. "How about this one?"
Leah quickly took it, thanking him. Mason Grant then picked up a chocolate one, and the two of them headed to the garden Ruth Hughes had mentioned.
The weather was pleasant today. A warm sun was shining, and although Leah was only in a formal gown and an overcoat, she didn’t feel especially cold.
They sat down in the garden, and an awkward silence fell between them. Leah wasn’t sure what to say, racking her brain for a way to break the tension. While she thought, she took a small spoonful of cake. The instant it hit her tongue, her eyes lit up. ’It’s delicious!’
"Is it good, Miss?" Mason Grant asked.