Chapter 202: Do You Think I’m Blind?
For the past few days, Louise Holt had been bragging to Sean Yates about what Leah Sinclair had cooked, boasting about what she made today and what she’d made yesterday. She claimed she’d gained a few pounds in just a short time, which made Sean so upset he kept shooting Asher Keating mournful glances, asking why *he* hadn’t been the one sent abroad to protect Leah.
When Mason Grant opened the door and walked in, Gavin Holt was already by the entrance, watching him with a wary expression. Mason froze at the doorway for a moment. Realizing this must be the bodyguard Asher Keating had arranged, he quickly introduced himself. "I’m Mason Grant."
Gavin Holt relaxed his guard, nodding as he said, "Second Young Master Grant. I’m Gavin Holt. President Keating assigned me to protect Second Miss Grant."
"I know."
Gavin Holt made way for him and Liam Peyton, who was right behind him. Mason put down the things he was carrying and called out toward the kitchen. Hearing the commotion, Leah came out and told him and Liam to make themselves comfortable, explaining that she was still busy. Mason then headed into the kitchen to see what she was up to.
Liam Peyton sat on the sofa while a random domestic drama played on the TV. Gavin Holt was a man of few words, and with his brawny, muscular build, he sat there looking like someone you wouldn’t want to cross.
At the door, Liam had heard Gavin mention he was assigned by President Keating. He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, asking, "You’re with the Keatings?"
"Yes."
After that single-word reply, Gavin Holt fell silent. He didn’t know this man, but since Mason had brought him and Leah seemed to know him well, he turned his attention back to the television.
Life abroad was rather dull. His mission was to protect Leah, and since there wasn’t much else to do, he could only pass the time by watching dramas from back home.
Leah finished cooking shortly after and called everyone to eat. Mason led the way, offering a toast to congratulate Leah on successfully passing her defense, and the group drank together in a lively celebration.
"Wynn, try my sister’s cooking. It’s amazing."
Mason himself was eating happily. When Leah had been here on her own, she rarely cooked. She would only make a meal when Mason came to visit, and he absolutely loved her cooking.
"Mm, it’s excellent," Liam Peyton said, smiling at Leah.
"Wynn, are you here to see Cecilia again?" Leah asked Liam as she ate.
"I am. I was planning to surprise her, but the kid ran off to Arcadia with her classmates, so I missed her."
Liam Peyton had a younger sister, Cecilia Peyton, who attended the same school as Mason. He came to Eldoria to visit her every so often.
Each time he visited, Mason would drag Leah along to have a meal with him and his sister. Over time, she and Liam had grown quite familiar with each other.
"Leah, once you graduate and head back, are you returning to Kingsford?" Liam asked.
"No, I’m going back to Riverfall."
Liam raised an eyebrow. "Riverfall? Why not Kingsford?"
"I never planned on staying in Kingsford. I was always going to go back to Riverfall," Leah said with a shrug.
"Exactly. Besides, when Second Miss Grant goes back this time, she’s probably getting engaged to our President Keating, right?" Louise Holt mumbled, her mouth full of food.
"Engaged!?"
Mason looked completely shocked. He shot a quick glance at Liam, whose hand, holding a wine glass, faltered for a second.
Leah looked a little embarrassed, the tips of her ears turning red, but she still answered, "When I went back last time, Mom came, remember? She told Third Master Keating it was still a bit early for marriage and that we should get engaged first."
Mason shot another sympathetic glance at Liam. Liam, however, had already composed himself. He raised his glass, smiled at Leah, and said, "Well... congratulations."
"Thanks, Wynn."
Not long after dinner, Mason and Liam took their leave. Once they were outside, Mason hesitated before speaking. "Wynn, I told you before that my sister likes Third Master Keating. Back when they were apart, if you’d made your move, you might have had a chance. But you didn’t say anything, and now they’re about to get engaged... My sister... she really, really likes Third Master Keating."
"It’s fine. Isn’t this for the best? Since I never said anything, Leah doesn’t know I like her. We can still be friends." Liam smiled and patted Mason’s shoulder, then lit a cigarette and started walking.
Liam had told Mason he liked Leah in the spring of her second year in Eldoria. At first, Mason had been thrilled.
He really liked Liam. The thought of him becoming his brother-in-law seemed perfect. But after his initial excitement, he remembered Leah and Asher Keating, and his mood soured.
Mason had awkwardly explained that Leah already had someone she liked. Liam said he knew but still wanted to try. Previously, Liam had only visited Eldoria once or twice a year.
But because of Leah, his visits became an almost bimonthly affair. The official reason was to see Cecilia, but Mason knew he was really coming for Leah.
Mason later told Mabel Grant about it, but she told him to stay out of it. It wasn’t even certain if Leah and Asher Keating’s separation was final; ultimately, the decision had to be Leah’s.
Ever since Leah’s last trip home, Mason knew she and Asher Keating had gotten back together. He had tried to talk Liam out of it, but Liam had insisted he still wanted to give it a shot.
’Well, that’s that,’ Mason thought. Leah was about to get engaged to Asher Keating. Liam had definitely lost his chance. A secret crush, never even voiced in a confession, had simply fizzled out. He sighed internally and hurried to catch up.
With her defense completed, Leah was finally free. Mabel Grant, however, had no intention of letting her stay idle. She sent Leah a pile of documents and instructed her to use the time to understand the structure and various industries of the Grant Group. Before returning home, she had to decide which department she would work in and what position she would hold.
Leah had no real interest in any of this, but she knew that given her current status, Mabel Grant would never let her just go out and get a job as a low-level clerk at some random company.
Yet, the idea of jumping straight into a management position seemed unrealistic to her. She was self-aware enough to know her limits. She had come to Eldoria to study her original field of expertise. Mason, on the other hand, had been groomed from the very beginning to take over Mabel’s position, so his studies were far more complex than hers.
Finally, after agonizing over it for days and consulting with Asher Keating and Nathan Grant, Leah made her decision. Upon her return, she would join Baystream Construction Group, a company under the Grant Group that had opened in Riverfall last year. As for her specific role, Nathan told her not to worry about it, promising he would take care of the arrangements.
And with her defense behind her, the date for Leah and Asher’s engagement was set after discussions between Mabel Grant and Ruth Hughes: November 27th. According to the lunar calendar, it was the 18th day of the tenth month—an auspicious day for engagements and unions.
On the evening of July 15th, after a solid week of being swamped with work, pulling two all-nighters, and enduring a flight of more than ten hours, Asher Keating finally appeared downstairs from Leah Sinclair’s apartment.
Before he left, Ethan Shaw had told Asher that all girls love a good surprise. He’d advised him to show up in front of Leah unannounced, insisting she would be ecstatic. Asher had thought it was a great idea.
But now, staring up at the dark, unlit apartment, he was lost in thought.
"Sir, it looks like no one’s home," Sean Yates said, looking at him with a deadpan expression.
"..."
’Do you think I’m blind?’ Asher wanted to retort.