Chapter 168: What Are You Really Thinking?
Asher Keating, who was fiddling with a lighter, paused. He pressed his lips together without a word.
Chester Hale lit a cigarette and sat down beside him, offering it to Asher Keating. "What’s really on your mind?" he asked, perplexed.
"What’s there to think about? She’s Second Miss Grant now," Asher Keating replied flatly, lighting a cigarette as well.
"Are you still being difficult with her? Don’t pretend you don’t know why she came back."
Chester Hale grew exasperated looking at him, but Asher Keating remained expressionless.
"Anyway, I’ve relayed the message. Leah’s car just left. If you want to go after her, you can still catch up. You two should talk things out face-to-face."
"If you really don’t care about her anymore, then tell her. Don’t let her keep foolishly thinking you still have feelings for her. Let her go home, go on her dates, and get married in peace."
Having said his piece, Chester Hale stood up, gave Asher a kick, and walked over to Nash.
"So? How’d it go?"
Ethan Shaw and the others crowded around to ask Chester Hale. When they saw him approach Asher Keating earlier, they knew it had to be about Leah Sinclair, but they hadn’t dared to go near.
"I think there’s a good chance. He’s just being difficult and pouty right now. I just told him Leah left. I bet he’ll go after her any minute now," Chester Hale whispered to the group, glancing back at Asher Keating.
"In that case, should I tell the driver to go slower? Or even better, have him pretend the car broke down so Leah has to get out? Then Third Master Keating can just happen to find her?" Nash mused, tapping her chin.
"Brilliant idea. You’re so smart," Chester Hale said, pulling her in for a kiss.
"Oh, stop it."
"..."
"..."
"...*Gag*..."
Ethan Shaw, Riley Sterling, and Shawn Grant all pretended to gag.
"Are you three looking for a beating?" With a single glare from Nash, the three of them immediately scattered.
The driver Nash had arranged was halfway to their destination when he told Leah Sinclair there seemed to be a problem with the car. Leah was now squatting beside the driver, asking, "Sir, can you fix it?"
"Pro-probably not."
The driver wiped the sweat from his brow. He’d received a message before setting off: no matter what, he had to pretend the car was broken down and couldn’t move.
He didn’t know why, but he had to follow orders. He pulled over mid-journey and got out to feign an inspection.
More than ten minutes had passed since he started his "inspection." Second Miss Grant, who had been waiting in the car, was now squatting right beside him. The driver was feeling the pressure.
Leah Sinclair sighed and stood up. The car was broken down in the middle of nowhere. She wondered if she should call Nash and ask her to arrange for another car. If she had to walk from here, how long would that even take?
Just as she was debating what to do, Leah Sinclair suddenly saw a car approaching from behind. She squinted against its headlights and saw it was a Maybach.
’It might be one of the guests from Nash’s wedding,’ she thought. ’I could probably hitch a ride down the mountain.’ She quickly began to wave.
"Young Master, up ahead... I think that’s Second Miss Grant," Sean Yates said, slowing the car.
Asher Keating looked up. Sure enough, there was Leah Sinclair, waving her arms frantically. The car beside her had its hazard lights flashing. He pressed his lips into a thin line and finally said, "Stop."
Leah Sinclair watched the car slow to a stop and quickly ran over. She knocked on the driver’s side window. "Hi, my car broke down. I was wondering if I could..."
"Second Miss Grant," Sean Yates said with a smile as he got out of the car.
"..."
Leah Sinclair glanced toward the back of the car. The rear window was tinted, but it wasn’t hard to guess that Asher Keating was inside. She hesitated, taking a couple of steps back, then glanced at the emblem near the rear window.
’It’s a Maybach, all right. Did Asher Keating get a new car?’
"The Cullinan is in for maintenance today, so he didn’t drive it. What are you doing out here? Did your car break down?"
Sean Yates saw her confusion and knew she was wondering why they hadn’t taken the Cullinan today, so he offered an explanation.
"...Yeah."
Sean Yates walked over to question Leah’s driver. Covered in a cold sweat, the driver fiddled with a few things under the hood and said it might be the engine, or perhaps the spark plugs.
Without asking further, Sean Yates returned to the Maybach and knocked on the rear window. When it slid down, he said quickly, "Young Master, Second Miss Grant’s car is broken. Should we give her a ride?"
Asher Keating glanced at Leah, who was standing silently to the side. She was looking up at him, but her gaze darted away the moment it met his. "There’s no need, I’ll just call Na—"
"Get in."
"..."
"Second Miss Grant, please get in." Sean Yates had already taken the initiative to open the rear passenger door for her.
"Then... just a second, I need to get my luggage." Leah walked back to her car to retrieve her suitcase.
"Let me help you."
Sean Yates went over to help her. Leah’s suitcase was massive; he grunted from the weight as he lifted it out. ’What on earth did she pack in here?’ he wondered. ’Isn’t it exhausting, running around with a suitcase this big and heavy?’
Leah said goodbye to her driver. After Sean Yates stowed the suitcase and started the engine, Leah got into the car, sitting awkwardly in the far corner.
Asher Keating didn’t look at her, merely resting his head on his hand as he stared out the window. Leah clutched her purse and also looked out her own window. They each kept to one side, leaving enough space between them to seat two more people.
The driver watched the Maybach disappear into the distance before quickly calling Nash to report. "Miss Grant, it’s about the Second Miss. She’s in President Keating’s car."
"Alright, got it. Nice work. There’s a red envelope waiting for you when you get back."
Nash hung up and gestured to Ethan Shaw and the others with her chin. "It’s done. You can let the others head down the mountain now."
"You got it."
After getting the signal, Ethan Shaw and Riley Sterling went to tell the staff outside they could now allow the cars that had been waiting to descend the mountain to leave.
Sean Yates glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror and sighed inwardly before asking, "Second Miss Grant, where are you staying?"
"Um... let me ask Nash."
Leah suddenly remembered she’d never asked Nash for the address. Her driver was supposed to take her there directly, but now she had no choice but to call.
Of course, Nash wasn’t about to pick up. The call went straight to voicemail. Leah then tried Shawn Grant, but he didn’t answer either. She stared at her phone, exasperated. After a moment’s thought, she tried Chester Hale. Perfect. He didn’t answer either.
"..."
Not one to give up, Leah tried calling everyone again. She even called Nash’s parents, but no one picked up. She let out a soft "tsk" and finally placed a voice call to Mason Grant.
Mason Grant was busy with an important project and wasn’t planning on returning until Nash’s wedding ceremony back in Kingsford. It was midday where he was, but since it was the weekend, Leah had no idea if he was still in bed.
"Heeey, Sis. What’s up?" Mason’s voice on the other end of the line was thick with sleep; he clearly hadn’t gotten up yet.
"I was just wondering... do you know the address of Nash’s villa here in Silverwood? I’ve been calling them, but no one’s picking up," Leah asked in a hushed voice, covering her phone.