Chapter 230: Will You Marry Me?

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Will You Marry Me?

Phoebe Peyton gave Leah Sinclair a quick once-over, then smiled. "The renovation on the sixteenth floor finished today. My brother and I came to take a look, and I figured you’d be here, so I thought I’d bring you an invitation."

As she spoke, she pulled an invitation from her bag and handed it to Leah. Leah took it and saw it was for the Peyton Group’s grand opening celebration, inviting her to a dinner banquet in three days’ time.

"Congratulations. I’ll definitely be there."

Leah smiled, put the invitation away, and then began showing the two of them the project’s current progress. She explained everything in detail. Phoebe Peyton followed behind her, silently scrutinizing her, and she couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.

’She’d already learned from Morgan Sterling that Leah Sinclair’s relationship with Asher Keating had started as nothing more than a transaction.’

’At first, she was surprised that Asher Keating would do something like that, but her surprise quickly turned to fury. How could she, who had received the finest education and upbringing her entire life, have lost to a woman like Leah Sinclair—someone who grew up wild and had even been a bar hostess?’

’She had already looked down on Leah, feeling that after more than twenty years on the outside, Leah was not in the same league. Now, knowing this, she felt Leah was even more beneath her notice. How could she possibly be worthy of Asher Keating?’

Phoebe Peyton was so lost in thought that she didn’t watch her step and nearly tripped over something. Leah, who was beside her, quickly steadied her. "Phoebe, are you all right?"

"I’m fine, I’m fine. I just wasn’t watching where I was going."

Leah kicked the brick out of the way, then glanced at the high heels Phoebe Peyton was wearing. She smiled faintly. "If you visit the site next time, it’s best to wear more comfortable shoes. There are a lot of nails and other things around, and it’s easy to step on one."

Phoebe Peyton looked down at her white high heels, which she was wearing for the first time today. They were already covered in dust. She frowned slightly. ’If Liam Peyton hadn’t insisted on coming up to check the progress, she never would have tagged along.’

She looked up and said to them, "Sigh, I’m really not cut out for a place like this. Brother, why don’t you finish the tour? I’m going to head back. I have some things to take care of."

Liam Peyton nodded, and Phoebe Peyton left. Leah continued to show Liam Peyton the rest of the site. Louise Holt tugged on Miles Kessler’s sleeve. "What did Miss Peyton mean by that? ’I’m not cut out for a place like this.’ So, does that mean our Miss Grant *is*?"

Miles Kessler was confused. "Huh? Surely not. Miss Peyton was probably just saying it. She didn’t mean anything by it, right?"

Louise Holt rolled her eyes. "Tch, clueless men. If Doris were here, she’d definitely get it."

Miles Kessler opened his mouth, but in the end, chose to keep it shut. ’He was the youngest, so whatever the ’sisters’ said must be right.’

Once they had seen almost everything, Liam Peyton took off his hard hat and said to Leah with a smile, "Leah, at this rate, it looks like you’ll finish well ahead of our projected schedule."

Leah smiled playfully. "Wynn, if we really do finish ahead of schedule, doesn’t that mean we’ve saved you some money?"

"Of course it does. With the money we save, I’ll treat your whole team to a night out."

"Thank you, boss!"

Leah and Miles Kessler exclaimed their thanks happily. Liam Peyton was amused by the two of them, gave them a smiling, playful point, and then left.

As he was putting his hard hat away, he glanced back at Leah. She was looking up, observing something. Louise said something to her, and the corners of Leah’s mouth curled up. She looked down and gave Louise a light pat, and the two of them burst into laughter.

Seeing Leah’s radiant smile, Liam Peyton smiled as well, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

That afternoon, Asher Keating asked Leah out to dinner. Leah was glad, as she wanted to ask him what would be an appropriate opening gift for the Peyton siblings. After all, they were the client, and besides the requisite flower basket for the grand opening, a separate, personal gift would show more sincerity.

Asher Keating had booked a rooftop garden restaurant. When Leah pushed open the door, she was confused to see that it was pitch-black outside. She turned back, about to ask the waiter why the lights weren’t on, when an arrow lit up on the ground before her.

Somewhat dazed, Leah followed the arrow forward. The evening breeze caressed her skin, and she caught the rich scent of flowers in the air. She rounded a corner, but it was still pitch-black.

One by one, lights on both sides began to glow. As they brightened, the path ahead became clearer: a white carpet strewn with flower petals, flanked on both sides by a sea of blue and white blossoms. A soft, melodious tune began to play, and with it, all the lights on the rooftop switched on at once.

At the end of the path stood an entire wall of white flowers. In front of it, dressed in a simple white shirt and black trousers, Asher Keating stood exceptionally tall and straight. The bouquet in his hands was the same type of flower he had given Leah the very first time.

Leah watched Asher Keating walk steadily toward her, a faint smile on his lips. With each step he took, her heart began to beat faster and faster, spiraling out of her control.

"Third Master."

Leah felt her eyes well up with tears, blurring the man before her. Asher Keating’s warm thumb gently brushed the corner of her eye, his voice tinged with amusement. "I haven’t even started yet, and you’re already falling apart?"

His words were far too suggestive. A blush slowly crept onto Leah’s face. Asher Keating handed her the flowers and took her hand, leading her toward the flower wall.

Once they were standing in place, a drone carrying a small velvet box flew toward them. It circled them once before hovering beside Asher Keating. He turned, untied the box, opened it, and knelt on one knee. He looked up at Leah, his deep eyes filled with infinite tenderness.

"Leah Sinclair, will you marry me?"

"Yes!"

Tears welled in Leah’s eyes, but her beautiful gaze seemed to be filled with starlight.

"..."

"..."

"..."

The group of people hiding in the shadows was collectively speechless.

"Wait, that’s not what we rehearsed! How did it get shortened to a single sentence?"

"Damn! Leah isn’t playing hard to get at all! She agreed just like that?"

"AHHH!!! Our Leah is getting proposed to, I had my tissues ready, and this is all I get to see?"

"Third Master! What are you doing?"

Just as Asher Keating was about to slip the ring onto Leah’s finger, Shawn Grant shot out from his hiding spot. "Wait a minute!"

The loud shout startled Leah out of her tender reverie, and she almost pulled her hand back. But Asher Keating held it firmly. Only after he had secured the ring on her finger did he stand up, clasp her hand tightly, and turn to face the interruption. "Wait for what?"

Shawn Grant faltered under Asher Keating’s icy glare. "Er, Third Master, you went through all that preparation... wouldn’t it be a waste not to say it?"

"Prepared what?" Leah asked, confused.

"Leah! Third Master Keating prepared a long speech this afternoon that he was planning to say during the proposal!" Sheila Hughes rushed out too, followed by Ethan Shaw and the others, who all ran over to surround them.

Asher Keating looked at Leah and saw the anticipation in her eyes. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I did prepare a lot to say," he admitted. "But as I was walking toward you and saw you on the verge of tears, I just thought that today, I’m supposed to bring you happiness, not make you cry."

"You don’t like to cry, and I certainly don’t want to be the reason you do. If you still want to hear the speech, I’ll tell it to you when we get home. For now, all that matters is that you know I love you."