Chapter 288: Extra: We’re Going to Be Parents

Leah Sinclair’s eyes curved into crescents as she looked at him. “I was just thinking about how we came to check this before. Back then you asked me… if I was afraid of having your baby.”

Asher Keating remembered, too. A smile touched his lips as he squeezed her hand, a teasing glint in his eyes. “So, were you afraid back then?”

“Of course I was.”

Leah Sinclair traced his palm with her finger. “I was so young. And given our relationship at the time, if I had really gotten pregnant, would you have let me keep it? I remember you changed the subject back then.”

“I wasn’t changing the subject, I just didn’t think it would happen,” Asher Keating said, smiling as he tightened his grip on her hand to stop her fidgeting. “But if you had really been pregnant then, I would have let you keep the baby.”

“Keep the baby and get rid of the mother?”

Asher Keating clicked his tongue internally. ‘Where does she learn all this nonsense?’ He reached out and pinched her cheek. “What are you talking about? I already had feelings for you back then. You think I would have let you get away?”

Leah Sinclair froze. She hadn’t realized Asher had taken her to heart so early on. She broke into a smile, but just as she was about to speak, her name was called from the window. Asher stood up to get the report.

Seeing Asher standing there with a slight frown, Leah Sinclair stood up nervously. Asher looked up at her, and Leah reached for the report.

Asher reached out, took her hand, and pulled her into his arms, his eyes brimming with a smile. “Leah, we’re going to be parents.”

Leah Sinclair’s mind went blank. She pushed at Asher uncertainly, and he let her go, showing her the report.

The progesterone and HCG levels were both within the pregnancy range. She looked up at Asher, her voice a little panicked. “This… there’s no mistake, right?”

Asher took her hand and carefully guided her toward the doctor’s office, an unconcealable smile in his voice. “What do you think?”

Leah Sinclair snuck a glance at him and noticed that Asher was walking stiffly, his arm and leg on the same side moving in sync. She couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Chairman Keating, are you excited right now?”

“Yeah.”

Asher Keating grunted in acknowledgment. All he could feel was his heart thumping wildly and erratically. ‘I’m going to be a dad…’ He looked down at Leah, who still had her head bowed, studying the report, and the corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably.

When the two of them got home, everyone else crowded around. Mason Grant looked at them nervously. “Sis, brother-in-law, how did it go?”

Leah Sinclair was a little embarrassed. Asher Keating handed him the report. “Congratulations, you’re going to be an uncle.”

“AHHH!!! I’m going to be an uncle! I’m going to be a real uncle!!! I have to tell Mom and Dad! Wow, they’re going to be grandparents!”

“Ahh, Leah! You’re pregnant!”

“AHHHHHH, am I going to be fucking busy again???”

The last exclamation was Shawn Grant’s howl of despair. How long had his happy days lasted? With Leah pregnant, knowing Asher’s personality, he would definitely be like Chester Hale was, forbidding Leah from going to the office for months.

Thinking of this, he threw an arm around the neck of Mason Grant, who was about to call Mabel Grant, and said through gritted teeth, “You’re going to promise me right now that you’ll manage Baystream!!”

“I will, I will! I’ll manage it! Shawn, let me go! I have to call my mom!” Mason Grant shouted, shaking off his hand.

Mabel Grant and Ruth Hughes both got the news. In an instant, both were thrilled. Ruth Hughes even came straight to Asher’s place.

She pulled Leah Sinclair this way and that, talking about what supplements to buy, the need to rest well, and even started discussing with Leah which postpartum care centers were the best. Mabel Grant, on the other hand, immediately started a shopping spree, buying all sorts of things for the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy.

That night, after everyone had left and the two had showered, Asher Keating pulled her into his arms, his large hand resting gently on Leah’s still-flat stomach.

Leah had gotten an ultrasound that afternoon, which showed she was about six weeks pregnant. His gaze was deep as he looked at her stomach. ‘His little Leah was now carrying their child.’

His fingers rubbed unconsciously, tickling Leah. She laughed and placed her hand over his to still it, then looked up and asked, “Asher, do you want a boy or a girl?”

Asher Keating looked into her beautiful eyes, which seemed to hold the stars. He leaned down and kissed her eyelid, chuckling softly. “As long as you’re the one giving birth, I’ll love it no matter what.”

“You’re lying.”

Leah Sinclair sat up straight, mercilessly exposing him. “You’re always disdainful toward Seth and Sylvester, but you’re so patient with Tanya and Cynthia. I’ve always thought you’d be completely wrapped around your daughter’s little finger.”

“Seth is older now; he needs a good spanking. As for Sylvester… Hah. That guy Ethan Shaw has been showing off to me ever since he found out his wife was pregnant. Can’t I be a little disdainful of his son?”

Asher Keating pulled her back into his arms. ‘Hmph, let Ethan Shaw show off,’ he thought. ‘I know he actually wanted a daughter. I’m sure this baby in Leah’s belly is a girl. Then it’ll be my turn to show off to him.’

Leah Sinclair nestled in his arms with a disbelieving look on her face. She placed a hand on her belly, her heart melting, and said softly, “Asher, I’m having your baby.”

“Yes. You’re having our baby.”

Asher Keating hugged her tighter and kissed her on the forehead. His large hand covered Leah’s as it rested on her stomach. His voice was full of tenderness. “This is the best birthday present I’ve ever received.”

—————–

If it weren’t for Leah Sinclair’s slowly growing belly, no one around her would have even thought she was pregnant. She had no morning sickness, ate well, and slept well. Aside from her belly, which began to swell noticeably after six months, her arms and legs remained as slender as ever.

One day, when Asher Keating was returning from a business trip, he called Leah Sinclair after getting off the plane. The sounds on her end were noisy, and Asher felt a vein throb in his temple. He asked through gritted teeth, “You went to the construction site again, didn’t you?”

“I just came to take a look.”

Leah Sinclair sounded a little guilty. She had taken on this project two years ago and had seen it through from start to finish. It was now at the critical stage of final inspection, but there was a piece of data that, no matter how they recalculated it, was significantly different from the initial figures. She had nothing else to do today, so she had come with Juanita Coleman to check it out.

Juanita Coleman had initially disagreed, but she couldn’t win against Leah. Under the condition that Leah repeatedly promised she would only take a look, Juanita brought her along. Louise Holt followed her every step of the way, terrified she might have the slightest problem.

Asher Keating hung up and told Sean Yates to drive to Leah’s location. By the time Asher arrived, Leah was coming down the stairs with her large belly.

She broke into a wide smile the moment she saw him, waving. Seeing that she looked like she was about to break into a trot, Asher immediately strode over in a few large steps to catch her.

“Asher, I missed you so much.” Without a second thought, Leah Sinclair looped her arm through the man’s and acted cute.

Asher Keating snorted coldly and reached out to pinch her cheek. With Leah’s belly so big now, it was awkward for him to hug her properly. He could only embrace her from the side, placing one hand on her stomach to feel it.

As if it could sense him, the little one inside gave his hand a gentle kick. Asher’s expression immediately softened.