Chapter 235: Leah, What’s Wrong With You?

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Leah, What’s Wrong With You?

After greeting a few more people, Leah Sinclair pulled Sheila Hughes aside and said she was heading to the restroom. Sheila knew she just wanted to get away for a bit, so she let her go.

She reminded her to come back soon, as the Keating and Peyton Group collaboration was about to be announced, and Asher Keating would be taking the stage.

Leah Sinclair nodded and hurried to the restroom. The moment she was out of the main hall, she breathed a sigh of relief. She really wasn’t cut out for scenes like this. There were too many people, and she couldn’t keep track of who was who.

She shook her head with a wry smile and headed for the restroom. After washing her hands, she came out and wandered over to a small, nearby garden, planning to linger for a few minutes before going back inside.

As she rounded a corner, she heard a man and a woman chatting. They mentioned Asher Keating and Phoebe Peyton.

The woman seemed to be marveling. "Who would have thought? After all these years, Asher Keating and Phoebe are not only reunited but are also going into business together."

"Yeah, but this collaboration..." The man clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk. If you ask me, Phoebe Peyton begged Asher, and he, uh... indulged her, and then agreed." The man finished with a suggestive laugh.

"What do you mean, ’indulged her’? It couldn’t be... But didn’t they only sleep together once? You think Asher Keating agreed because he’s still hung up on her?"

"It was just once, yeah. But the thing is, that was Asher’s first time! You think only women find their first time unforgettable? A man’s first is just as memorable, okay? So I’m guessing Asher is still hung up on it. Otherwise, think about it—does the Keating Group really need to partner with Peyton Group on overseas warehouses? What a joke."

"Now that you mention it, that does make sense. Hahaha! You have no idea. When she came back after... that... we asked her how it was. She was blushing so hard! Said it felt amazing, that Asher Keating was so gentle. So many people envied her back then for getting to sleep with him."

"Hey, but keep this between us. Asher has a girlfriend now. If she found out, she’d definitely cause a scene."

"Relax, of course I know. But speaking of Asher Keating’s girlfriend, I heard... she used to be a bar hostess or something, right? Only became the Grant family’s second daughter after they took her in."

"Is that so? No way. Go on, tell me more..."

Leah couldn’t hear what they said after that. The moment she heard that Asher Keating’s first time had been with Phoebe Peyton, her mind went blank with a deafening buzz. All she could make out were fragments of words: ’Phoebe Peyton... felt amazing... Asher Keating’s girlfriend... bar hostess.’

Leah’s face was pale as she started walking back. Her mind felt thick, as if filled with glue. Her thoughts were a tangled mess she couldn’t break free from; she was moving on pure instinct.

When she got back to the banquet hall, the first thing she saw was Asher Keating and Phoebe Peyton. Their hands were together on a single bottle of champagne, pouring it over a tower of glasses.

He was in a black suit, she in a white evening gown, and both were smiling. Phoebe Peyton seemed to say something, and Asher Keating pressed his lips together as the hint of a smile spread across them.

Leah didn’t know how long she stood there. She wanted to move forward, but her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, completely refusing to move.

"Leah? Leah? What’s wrong?"

"Excuse me, please."

"Watch out!"

"I’m so sorry, so sorry."

A jumble of voices suddenly flooded Leah’s ears. She snapped back to reality to see a waiter pushing a cart laden with drinks, trying to get past her. Before she could react, she stumbled backward, and alcohol sloshed all over her gown. Liam Peyton pulled her aside.

"It’s all right. It’s my fault, I was spacing out."

Leah looked up at the panicked waiter and quietly told him to go, assuring him she was fine.

Liam Peyton looked at her pale face and frowned. "Leah, you look terrible. What happened?"

Leah turned to look at him. ’Does Liam Peyton know about this?’ she wondered, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She was also wearing a white gown, and she had thought it would be a good match for Asher Keating’s black suit.

But now it was a mess, stained with red wine and champagne. The sight was bitterly ironic.

"Wynn, I think I’m going to head home. In this state, I can’t..."

Liam Peyton took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "I’ll have my driver take you home. Leah, are you sure you’re okay? You’re trembling."

"I’m fine. It’s just... a little cold."

Leah was, in fact, trembling all over. She only felt a little better after Liam Peyton’s suit jacket was draped over her. Liam bent down, gathered the hem of her gown in his hand to keep it from dragging, and half-supported her as he led her out, calling his driver to come around.

As they stepped outside, they were suddenly met with a barrage of camera flashes. Liam Peyton frowned, tucking Leah closer into his side and raising a hand to block the lenses pointed straight at her.

Nearby bodyguards moved in to disperse the reporters. Leah bit her lip and climbed into the car. Once Liam Peyton was settled beside her, he told the driver to go.

Leah was silent the entire ride, simply leaning against the seat and watching the scenery pass by. Liam Peyton held back for as long as he could before finally taking her hand. "Leah, what’s really wrong?"

Leah snapped out of her daze and withdrew her hand. "It’s nothing, Wynn. I think I’ve just been a bit tired lately."

Liam Peyton felt the sudden emptiness in his palm. He flexed his fingers before slowly drawing his hand back. "If you’re tired, you should rest. There’s no need to rush things. You’re already making great progress, and we’re not in that much of a hurry."

"Okay. Thank you, Wynn."

Leah lowered her head and fell silent again, and Liam Peyton didn’t press her further. After a while, Leah’s phone rang. It was Sheila Hughes, asking why she hadn’t come back. Leah simply said her dress had gotten dirty and she’d gone home, asking Sheila to let Asher Keating know for her.

Sheila immediately grew concerned and asked what had happened, but Leah didn’t feel like talking. She gave a few perfunctory answers and hung up.

When they arrived at her apartment building, Leah took off the jacket and handed it back to Liam Peyton with a word of thanks. She knew he must have been busy tonight, and felt a little embarrassed that he’d gone out of his way to bring her home. "Wynn, you should get back. I’m fine from here."

Liam Peyton took the jacket, confirming one last time, "Are you sure you don’t want me to see you upstairs?"

"I’m sure. You should hurry back, Wynn. I’m heading up."

After saying goodbye, Leah went upstairs alone. She got off the elevator in a daze and paused before the door to Asher Keating’s apartment, hesitating.

In the end, she turned and went into her own apartment instead. Neither she nor Asher Keating were supposed to be home for dinner tonight, and Mrs. Lowell had gone to the Keating family’s main residence for an errand, so the apartment was empty. Without turning on any lights, Leah curled up on the sofa and stared into the darkness.

’I knew I wasn’t Asher’s first,’ Leah thought. ’I never minded that. It all happened before he met me, after all. But... why did it have to be Phoebe Peyton?’

’Phoebe Peyton is in love with Asher Keating. Even though she denied it, I could feel it. She’s always bringing him up in front of me, deliberately or not. I know it’s one of her ploys.’

’But I trusted Asher. So, since Phoebe denied it, I didn’t press the issue. There was no point.’

’Even if Phoebe Peyton was in love with Asher Keating, so what? Asher wouldn’t love her back.’