He Wouldn't Claim Me — Another Man Did-Chapter 148 - 135: Reasonable

After leaving Morgan Hayes, Annabelle Leighton felt an oppressive weight on her chest that she couldn’t seem to shake.

She headed straight for Nocturne Bar.

The complimentary VIP service Shane Sterling had given her had expired, so she’d renewed it herself for another year. Nocturne wasn’t cheap, but she liked drinking on familiar ground. If nothing else, she knew she’d be safe there.

Annabelle Leighton was so upset that she drank a lot, eventually passing out right there in the private room.

The bar manager knew Annabelle Leighton was a friend of the owner, Shane Sterling. So, when she passed out drunk, he immediately called Shane to ask what he should do with her.

When Shane Sterling got the call, he was with his wife, Isla Prescott.

Isla Prescott was very worried when she heard Annabelle had passed out drunk.

"Honey, she wouldn’t get this drunk for no reason. Something must have happened. You have to go get her."

Shane Sterling had no desire to let a drunkard interrupt their private time together, but he didn’t dare disobey his wife. He had no choice but to change clothes and head to the bar to pick her up.

Just as he arrived at the bar, Annabelle Leighton threw up.

Shane Sterling recoiled in disgust. "It reeks."

He complained, but he still carefully helped her into his car.

"Your car smells so nice," Annabelle Leighton mumbled. She was so drunk she was practically falling over, but she could still smell a scent in Shane Sterling’s car that was different from the usual air freshener.

It smelled like sandalwood. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Did you... go to a temple?" Annabelle asked.

"What are you, a bloodhound?"

"So I guessed right, then." Annabelle rubbed her throbbing temples, leaning back and chatting idly with Shane. "Why’d you go to a temple?"

"None of your business."

Annabelle let out a soft chuckle. "I know even if you don’t tell me. You must have gone to pray for Isla and the baby. You’re such a jerk... all talk, but you’re a real softie inside."

Shane Sterling froze.

’How is she psychic even when she’s drunk?’

He had, in fact, gone to the temple to pray for his wife and child.

Lately, Shane Sterling had been more on edge about Isla Prescott’s difficult pregnancy than Isla herself. He was worried about the baby and about Isla’s health, and his nerves were stretched taut every single day.

When his mother, Audrey Hughes, found out, she called to comfort him. "You could try going to the temple to pray for Isla and the baby," she’d suggested. "When medicine can’t give you a clear answer, we can try turning to faith. If nothing else, it might bring you some peace of mind."

From that day forward, Shane Sterling went to the temple every other day.

He secretly swore an oath before the Buddha: he would trade ten years of his own life for the health and safety of Isla and their child.

Of course, only Audrey Hughes and Ezra Sterling knew he was going to the temple; he had never told Isla. He never expected that Annabelle Leighton could figure out his movements just from a faint scent.

"Such impressive deductive skills. Did Officer Hayes give you private lessons or something?" Shane Sterling asked.

"Ugh, don’t even mention that bastard!" The moment she heard the name "Officer Hayes," Annabelle bristled like an angry cat. "That jerk isn’t like you! He’s hard-headed and hard-hearted! He’s just a cold, stubborn rock, and I never want to see him again!"

Seeing her reaction, Shane Sterling instantly put two and two together. So, she was this drunk today because of Morgan Hayes.

He quickly reported back to his wife, "It was Officer Hayes. He provoked the Eldest Miss Leighton, which is why she went out drinking to drown her sorrows."

Isla thought that didn’t seem right. Just a week ago, Annabelle was at Brieridge taking care of Morgan Hayes while he was in the hospital. How could they have had a falling out so quickly?

Misunderstanding or not, she felt that Morgan Hayes shouldn’t get off the hook so easily.

"Honey, take Annie back to her place. Then, call Officer Hayes and tell him to go take care of her."

"You think Officer Hayes will agree to that?"

"He has to."

’Annabelle took care of him when he was injured, so he can take care of her while she’s drunk. It’s simple reciprocity. Perfectly reasonable!’