I'm Afraid I Won't Be Able to Leave

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Kneel Down, Kowtow, Apologize

While Leah Sinclair was unconscious, Asher Keating moved quickly. He already had plenty of dirt on Madeline Sterling, including the hot springs incident, what happened a few days ago, things from four years prior, and even some of her sordid affairs in the entertainment industry and Arcadia. He had it all released in one fell swoop.

The social media platform crashed almost instantly. Backed by the Sterling family’s money, Madeline Sterling had used all sorts of dirty tricks to suppress countless people in the entertainment industry.

Once the scandals broke, the people she had suppressed came forward one after another to prove what a piece of trash Madeline Sterling was. They exposed stories of suppression and bullying, revealing even more dirt than what Asher Keating had initially released.

They had been too afraid to speak up before because of the Sterling family’s wealth and power. But now, with Asher Keating taking the lead, they could finally vent their long-held grievances.

The Sterling family and her agency tried to suppress the news, but it was impossible. It wasn’t just Asher Keating; Mabel Grant had also stepped in. No matter how many times the Sterlings and the agency had the trending topics removed, Asher and Mabel would immediately push them right back to the top.

In just half an hour, Madeline Sterling had gone from a glamorous superstar to a reviled pariah. All the brands she collaborated with were demanding to terminate their contracts and be compensated. Even the Sterling family’s stock took a hit.

Leah Sinclair wasn’t about to let her off that easily. She forced herself to sit up. "I want her to apologize to Grandma."

"Alright. I’ll arrange it."

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a group of people arrived at the Sterling family’s gate. They were all dressed in black, their expressions solemn.

Leah Sinclair led the way, clutching a portrait of the late Grandma Sinclair. Behind her, Asher Keating, Chester Hale, Shawn Grant, and Mason Grant carried a pitch-black coffin.

Sheila Hughes, Ethan Shaw, Riley Sterling, Mabel Grant, Nathan Grant, Brandon Jacobs, and others followed in their wake.

When the knock sounded on the Sterlings’ door, their butler was still dazed. The household had been thrown into utter chaos the day before, and he had only managed to get a bit of sleep just before dawn.

The moment he opened the door and saw the scene before him, his legs started to tremble. Before he could even announce the visitors, bodyguards had already pushed him aside and cleared a path.

By the time Thomas Sterling and Morgan Sterling rushed out, they saw Leah Sinclair standing in their courtyard with a frosty expression, holding Grandma Sinclair’s portrait. Behind her rested the pitch-black coffin.

Thomas Sterling felt the urge to vomit blood again. Suppressing the sensation, he pointed a trembling finger at Leah and demanded, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Tell Madeline Sterling to come out."

Leah didn’t look at him. Her voice was quiet, but in the stillness of the early morning, it crackled like an explosion.

"Leah! No matter what, you’re my brother’s daughter. That makes you my niece, and you and Madeline are cousins! Don’t take this too far! Madeline was wrong, but she..."

"Tell Madeline Sterling to come out. I don’t want to say it again."

Leah cut him off flatly. Thomas Sterling choked on her words and began to cough, feeling as if he couldn’t keep the blood from rising in his chest.

While he and Leah were locked in a standoff, Jacqueline Vaughn and Madeline Sterling came out, supporting one another. Between Thomas Sterling suddenly vomiting blood and the swiftness of Asher Keating’s and Mabel Grant’s actions, Morgan Sterling hadn’t gotten around to dealing with Madeline yesterday. She had hidden in her room all night.

Upon seeing the scene, Madeline Sterling stared in stunned silence for a moment before letting out a frantic shriek. "Leah! Are you insane? What will it take for you to finally leave me alone?!"

"Kneel. Kowtow three times to my grandmother’s portrait. And apologize."

"In your dreams! Who the hell do you think you are? Why should I apologize to *her*?!"

Madeline Sterling hysterically shoved Jacqueline Vaughn away and screamed from the top of the steps. Her phone hadn’t stopped ringing since the night before; eventually, she’d had to smash it just to get a moment of peace.

And now, in the early morning, seeing the photo of Grandma Sinclair in Leah’s arms and the pitch-black coffin behind her, she finally broke down again.

"By virtue of the fact that I am the Second Miss of the Grant family! If you don’t kneel, kowtow, and admit your mistake to my grandmother, I guarantee the Grant family will make it impossible for the Sterlings to survive in Riverfall! You can try me if you don’t believe it." Leah’s expression was blank as she watched Madeline, her voice chilling as she spoke.

"You! You’re just throwing your weight around!"

"That’s right. I *am* throwing my weight around! When you were using the Sterling family’s power to bully others, did you not think you were doing the exact same thing? Scared now that someone with more power has come along? Who’s more noble here, hm? Eldest Miss Sterling?"

Leah watched her, the corner of her mouth curling into a sneer. "I’m running out of patience, Madeline Sterling. Kneel! Kowtow! Apologize! Do that, and I’ll let you and the Sterling family off the hook. Otherwise, this won’t end until one of us is destroyed!"

When she uttered those final words, a chill went through everyone present. Leah was only in her twenties, standing there quietly, and had spoken in a soft tone, yet not a single person doubted the conviction behind her promise.

"Madeline! Hurry up, kneel and apologize!" Thomas Sterling rushed forward, grabbing Madeline and trying to drag her toward Leah.

"I won’t—"

Panicked, Thomas Sterling slapped her hard across the face. "You wretched creature! Is this how I raised you? How could you target an old woman!"

Thomas Sterling had his men force Madeline to her knees. Was he afraid of Leah? Of course not. He was terrified of the Grant family.

He knew exactly what kind of person Mabel Grant was and dared not underestimate her resolve to protect Leah—especially since the girl was her child with Tobias Sterling.

In the end, weeping hysterically, Madeline Sterling slammed her forehead to the ground three times before Grandma Sinclair’s portrait. With each kowtow, she cried out, "Grandma Sinclair, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have sent people to find you and argue with you! I’m sorry!"

After kowtowing and shouting her apology, Madeline Sterling collapsed on the ground, sobbing wildly. She had never been so humiliated in her life. Since childhood, she had lived a pampered existence. As the Eldest Miss of the Sterling family, she was always the center of attention, adored by all.

But in the span of two short days, she had plummeted from the pinnacle of society to its lowest depths. Everyone was cursing her, calling her disgusting and vile!

Leah glanced at the sobbing Madeline on the ground, said nothing more, and turned to leave the Sterling estate.

Mabel Grant coolly lifted her eyes to Thomas Sterling. "Heard you’re dying? How convenient. We’ll leave this coffin for you. It was carried here by my Shawn and Mason, along with the third son of the Keating family and the second son of the Hale family. For you to lie in it... heh, you’d be getting off easy."

With that, Mabel Grant turned away without another look. The entire group departed from the Sterling estate. By this time, the sky had grown bright, and residents in the villa complex were beginning to stir. Seeing the procession leaving the Sterling home, they peered curiously toward the house, hungry for gossip.

Thomas Sterling stood gasping for breath, his face ashen as he stared at the coffin in his courtyard. "Send her back to Arcadia! And she is forbidden from ever returning!"

"Dad! Dad, I won’t go! I don’t want to!"

Madeline Sterling cried and screamed, but no one paid her any mind. Bodyguards came and hauled her up from the ground, dragging her back into the house. Morgan Sterling came to support his father’s arm. "Father, you need to take care of yourself."

"What about the kidney donor? Still no news?!" Thomas Sterling demanded, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the coffin, panting heavily.

"Not yet... Father, I’m still trying to find a way," Morgan Sterling said, lowering his head to hide his expression.

"Completely useless! Not one of you two gives me any peace of mind." Thomas Sterling shoved his hand away in disgust and stormed back inside.

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