Chapter 232: Should Be Called Third Aunt

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Should Be Called Third Aunt

But when Mason Grant saw it, he immediately fired off a voice message, wailing about why no one had told him. That was his sister! His sister!

He was not happy. Not happy at all. By the time Leah Sinclair finally managed to coax him, it was nearly dawn.

After Asher Keating got out of the shower, he wrapped his arms around her. She fiddled with the ring on her finger and whispered, "Asher, what was the speech you prepared?"

Asher Keating suddenly became a bit shy, but seeing her expectant look, he finally gave her cheek a gentle squeeze and spoke.

"I was going to say, ’Leah Sinclair, before I met you, I never thought about things like dating or marriage. But ever since I met you, whether it’s dating or getting married, the only person in my heart has been you.’"

Tears flooded Leah Sinclair’s eyes, and she choked out, "Asher."

But Asher Keating wasn’t finished. He kissed the moist corners of Leah Sinclair’s eyes. "I love you. I love who you were, I love who you are, and I love who you will be. I love you in every form. So, will you marry me?"

Once he finished speaking, Leah Sinclair could no longer control her tears and nodded frantically.

Asher Keating pulled her into a kiss, a smile in his voice. "Good thing I didn’t say all that during the actual proposal. Crying like this, anyone would think I was strong-arming you into marriage."

Asher Keating wasn’t one for sweet talk, but when men like him did say such things, they were the most devastating.

His words made Leah Sinclair laugh through her tears. She gazed at Asher Keating with glistening eyes, making his heart melt. Just as he leaned in to kiss her, she gently pushed him back. "Asher, I’m so grateful fate brought me to you. I love you. It has always been you."

Her clear, soft voice coaxed a smile from Asher Keating. He began placing a series of soft, delicate kisses on her forehead, her eyes, the tip of her nose, and finally, her tender lips.

Leah Sinclair was most vulnerable to his tender, lingering kisses. Her body quickly melted into a puddle. Since the next day was the weekend, Asher Keating completely let go, and Leah was just as eager. The two didn’t stop until just before dawn.

Gazing at Leah Sinclair sleeping soundly in the crook of his arm, Asher Keating felt a profound sense of contentment. He gently tweaked her nose. Leah shifted slightly, snuggling closer to him as she continued to sleep.

Asher Keating chuckled softly. ’How did I end up falling so hard for you?’

「The next day」

Mrs. Lowell reheated breakfast again and again, but neither of them emerged. She had already finished preparing lunch, yet their bedroom door remained shut. She found it a little strange; Leah Sinclair might occasionally sleep in on a weekend, but she was always up by lunchtime.

And as for Asher Keating, since she had started working here, she had almost never seen him sleep in. For him to wake up as late as ten on a weekend was a miracle.

Just as she was debating whether she should knock, Asher Keating finally emerged. Mrs. Lowell quickly greeted him and urged him to eat.

Gazing at the closed door, Mrs. Lowell asked hesitantly, "Sir, is the young madam still not awake?"

"Yes, she’s... tired. Let her sleep in," Asher Keating replied, a trace of amusement in his voice.

"Oh! Of course. In that case, I’ll prepare a restorative soup for the young madam."

Mrs. Lowell beamed, a knowing look on her face. ’At this rate,’ she thought, ’the madam’s wish for grandchildren won’t be far from being fulfilled, will it?’

"And, Leah is easily embarrassed. There’s no need to say certain things in front of her," Asher Keating added.

"I understand, sir. I understand."

Saying this, Mrs. Lowell headed into the kitchen to start on the soup. ’On second thought,’ she mused, ’the master needs some replenishment too. After all, his role is more physically demanding.’

When Leah Sinclair finally woke up, she was dumbfounded to see it was nearly one in the afternoon. She rushed to get ready, but the moment she got out of bed, her legs felt like jelly. She bit her lip, her face flushing, dreading having to face Mrs. Lowell.

But Mrs. Lowell’s expression was perfectly normal. When she saw Leah emerge, she simply brought out the food she had kept warm. Leah thanked her and asked where Asher Keating had gone.

"The master went back to the family estate. The eldest master is there with his son and daughter for a meal, so the old Mr. Keating called him over as well."

Leah Sinclair hummed in acknowledgment. Thinking it had been a while since she’d seen the old Mr. Keating and Ruth Hughes, she grabbed her phone and texted Asher Keating to ask if she should head over.

Asher Keating hadn’t brought it up, assuming she disliked such formal gatherings. But since she was willing to go, he told her he would have Sean Yates pick her up.

Leah quickly finished her meal and gathered some health supplements and other gifts. Then, remembering the two children and realizing she had nothing at home suitable for them, she asked Sean Yates to stop at a mall on the way so she could buy something.

Sean Yates offered to go with her, but she told him not to worry and dashed off. After buying the gifts for the children, she suddenly remembered she hadn’t bought presents for the Peyton siblings yet. A quick glance at the time told her she could still make it, so she called Sean and asked him to wait a bit longer.

She ended up buying a fountain pen for Liam Peyton and an elegant tea set for Phoebe Peyton. With her shopping done, she rushed over to the Keating family estate.

When Leah Sinclair arrived at the Keating estate, Asher Keating was already waiting for her at the door. He raised an eyebrow at the mountain of bags she was carrying.

Panting, Leah asked him, "Asher, am I late?"

"Nope. Went on another supply run?"

"..."

Seeing the teasing look on Asher Keating’s face, Leah recalled how he’d said the exact same thing when she first returned to the country—that she’d gone abroad on a supply run.

"There’s no such thing as being too courteous!"

Leah huffed. Asher gave her cheek a squeeze, then picked up her bags and led her inside.

The old Mr. Keating was taking his afternoon nap, and Theodore Keating was busy with his own affairs. Only Ruth Hughes and the couple, Alan Keating and his wife, were in the living room. Leah greeted Alan and his wife formally.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, this is a gift for you. Big Brother, Asher told me you enjoy tea. This is a Silver Needle from this year’s harvest. I hope you both like it."

The couple stood to accept the gift, thanking her. Alan Keating was a tea aficionado, particularly fond of white tea, so Leah’s gift had perfectly hit the mark.

Sharon Shaw had a gentle demeanor. Leah had heard from Asher before that Sharon had hemorrhaged badly while giving birth to her second child, leaving her health permanently compromised. Despite constant care, she had never fully recovered, which was why Leah had brought bird’s nest. Their daughter, too, had suffered from a lack of oxygen in the womb, leaving her with slightly slower reflexes.

Alan Keating called his son over from where he was playing in his room, telling him to greet their guest. Seth Keating looked at Leah and said brightly, "Hello, Miss Grant."

Alan Keating clicked his tongue and ruffled the boy’s hair. "You should call her Third Auntie."

"But Miss Grant looks so young! And she and Third Uncle aren’t even married yet. Why do I have to call her ’Auntie’?"

Asher Keating’s expression soured at the boy’s words. He spun Seth around to face him. "Is your third uncle so old?"

"No, no! That’s not what I meant, Third Uncle! You’re so handsome! All my classmates think you’re cool," Seth Keating immediately began to brown-nose.

When Leah went abroad, Seth Keating had only been four years old. Now, at seven, he had just started elementary school and had become quite the silver-tongued charmer. With just a few sentences, he had everyone laughing.

Leah smiled as she handed him his gift and ruffled his hair. Seth shrieked with excitement. "This is the Lego set I’ve wanted forever! My dad would never buy it for me! Thank you, Miss Grant! You’re the best, Miss Grant!"