Chapter 282: I Want to Keep Third Brother Company

Leah tried to speak but discovered her throat was still so sore she couldn’t make a sound.

Mabel Grant quickly said, “The doctor said your throat will probably need a day or two to recover. Third Master Keating is still in the ICU, but he’s stable for now, so you don’t have to worry. Ethan and Riley just stopped by. They said Sheila is awake too.”

“Shei… la?”

Leah asked nervously. Ever since she’d gotten back yesterday, she had been so focused on Asher’s critical condition that she hadn’t had a chance to ask about Sheila.

Mabel Grant propped a pillow up behind her, handed her a cup of water with a straw, and said slowly, “When you were abducted, Sheila tried to save you. She was stabbed twice…”

“Don’t move.”

Seeing Leah’s panicked expression, Mabel Grant quickly held her in place. “It’s not life-threatening. They operated yesterday, and she’s already awake. Relax.”

Leah finally let out a small sigh of relief. After taking a few sips of water, she threw back the covers to get out of bed. Whether it was Asher or Sheila, she had to go see them.

Mabel Grant frowned, her hand still holding her down. Her voice held a hint of suppressed anger. “Leah, eat something first. After you’ve eaten, I’ll take you to see Third Master Keating and Sheila. Otherwise, don’t even think about leaving this room.”

Mabel was genuinely angry. She knew Leah must be anxious, but right now, nothing was more important to her than her daughter’s health. Leah’s fever still hadn’t broken, and she was still being treated for an infection.

Leah stopped moving and pursed her lips. “Okay, I’ll eat.”

She knew she had to eat. She had hypoglycemia; if she didn’t eat, her body wouldn’t be able to take it. Seeing that she was no longer resisting, Mabel Grant breathed a sigh of relief. She had been genuinely afraid Leah would refuse to listen to her.

Now that Leah had relented, Mabel quickly called Brandon Jacobs. He had gone home earlier to personally make soup for Leah and was already on his way. After getting the call, he urged his driver to go even faster.

After Leah finished eating, Mabel finally let her leave the room. She had a wheelchair brought over and personally pushed her to see the others. Leah went to see Sheila first.

Ethan was in the hospital room with Sheila. Her parents had arrived around midnight the day before, and after Sheila woke up, Ethan had sent them home to get some rest.

Sheila still couldn’t move much. Tears streamed down her face when she saw Leah’s pale complexion. Leah quickly grasped her hand, her voice raspy. “Sheila… I’m so sorry.”

“Sorry for wha— HISS, OWW!”

Agitated, Sheila tried to move and cried out in pain. Ethan shot to his feet and rushed to her side. “What is it? What’s wrong, Sheila? Where does it hurt? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“I’m fine. It just hurts a little.”

Sheila said, wincing. Then she grabbed Leah’s hand again and said, a hint of anger in her voice, “What are you apologizing for? Don’t you consider me a friend?”

“No, that’s not it… Of course I do,” Leah said quickly.

“It’s okay, Leah. I’m… HISS… I’m fine. And Third Master… I’m sure he’ll be fine too. Don’t worry too much.”

Sheila comforted Leah softly. She had already heard about Asher’s condition from Ethan and knew Leah’s heart was with him. Insisting she was fine, she didn’t let Leah stay for long. Leah told Ethan to take good care of her, then rushed toward Asher’s room.

Outside the ICU, Ruth Hughes sat with a worried frown. Theodore Keating had returned to the office; with Asher confined to a hospital bed, he had to go back and manage the company’s affairs.

He had called Alan first thing in the morning. Talia’s condition was responding well to treatment, so it was fine for Sharon Shaw and a maid to continue caring for her in Kingsford.

Alan would take the earliest flight back to Riverfall. With Theodore and Alan at the helm, and with Edward Yates and the others assisting, the Keating Group’s operations would run smoothly.

Leah walked over and said softly, “Auntie.”

“Leah, what are you doing here? How are you feeling? Mabel told me last night you had a high fever and an infection. Why aren’t you in bed resting?”

Ruth Hughes quickly took Leah’s hand. When she saw the red marks on her wrists, still visible from where she’d been bound, her eyes reddened again, and she let out a faint sigh.

“I’m all right now. I wanted to come and be with Asher.”

Leah peered through the glass window. Inside the room, Asher lay quietly, his body connected to all kinds of tubes. The heart monitor steadily displayed his pulse.

A nurse would periodically enter to check on his condition and record his vitals. As Leah watched, her vision started to blur. She quickly wiped her eyes, telling herself, ‘I can’t cry. How can I cry? Asher’s just resting.’

And so, the two women who loved Asher most in the world held hands, watching him through the glass window, each praying that in the next moment, he would open his eyes and look at them.

This day was nine days before Leah and Asher’s engagement. Yet of the two people who were so close to being engaged, one lay in the ICU, with no telling when he would be out of danger, while the other sat outside its doors, her heart and soul fixed on the man lying within.

「November 24th」

Asher was finally transferred from the ICU to a regular ward, but he still hadn’t woken up. The doctors said the infection had cleared and his vital signs were currently stable.

As for why he hadn’t woken, it was likely due to the severity of his injuries. When he might wake up—today, tomorrow—they couldn’t say for sure.

That same day, Leah’s dress was ready after alterations. When she got the call from the bridal shop, she felt a moment of disorientation before it hit her: her engagement to Asher was only three days away.

With Asher’s condition, everyone knew the engagement party was essentially off the table. When Mabel heard the dress was ready, she had the bridal shop deliver it directly to the hospital.

There was no way Leah would leave the hospital; for days, she had barely left Asher’s side. So even though the engagement party wasn’t going to happen, Mabel still wanted to see her daughter in the dress.

Ruth Hughes was there as well. When Leah came out wearing the dress, both Mabel’s and Ruth’s eyes filled with stunned admiration.

One was Leah’s mother, the other her future mother-in-law. As they looked at her, both women’s eyes reddened at the same time.

“Leah, you look beautiful… so beautiful.”

Ruth turned her head to wipe her eyes. Her gaze fell on Asher, lying so still in the bed, and the tears she’d just forced back began to flow uncontrollably.

“Yes, beautiful. She’s my daughter, after all.” Mabel stepped forward to smooth Leah’s hair. Though her eyes were red-rimmed, her gaze held a deep sense of pride.

Leah walked slowly over to Asher and gently took his hand. “Asher, I’m wearing the dress. Mom and Auntie both said it’s beautiful, did you hear? Sheila said it looked nice, too. When are you going to wake up and take a look?”

Asher lay on the bed, unconscious. He had lost some weight in the past few days; his face was a deathly pale, and his breathing was shallow.

Leah simply sat there, watching him in silence. Seeing her like this, Ruth and Mabel were overwhelmed with a heart-wrenching sorrow, unsure of what they could possibly say to comfort her.