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

Nathan Grant and Chester Hale’s wedding in Riverfall was set for mid-May of the new year. They planned to hold one ceremony in Riverfall and then another back in Kingsford, inviting guests from each city accordingly.

This way, neither side would be left out.

After the wedding date was set, Nathan Grant asked Leah Sinclair several times if she would be coming back, but Leah would only say she’d try her best to make it.

Ever since she heard the rumor about Asher Keating keeping a female college student, Leah’s insomnia had returned. She didn’t dare tell anyone about it.

On New Year’s Eve, Sheila Hughes video-called her. Leah was drinking with Hanson and their friends at the time. During the call, Leah didn’t see Asher Keating, nor the girl he had supposedly brought with him. Sheila didn’t mention a thing about it.

’They’ve probably gone back.’

’That makes sense,’ Leah had thought at the time. ’New Year’s is over, it’s time to get back to business. It was the same routine that year she’d spent New Year’s with Asher, Ethan Shaw, and the others, wasn’t it?’

At that moment, Leah choked on her drink, her eyes turning red.

They wished each other a Happy New Year, toasted to their long-lasting friendship, and said "Cheers!" Through the screen, they downed three full glasses, one for each toast.

After finishing the drinks, Leah quickly hung up. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from asking Sheila where Asher was.

As the wedding drew closer, Leah grew increasingly anxious.

She’d revised her thesis countless times but could never seem to get it right.

Mason Grant knew how much pressure she was under and did his best to console her. He’d read her thesis and told her it was excellent, but she just couldn’t get over the hurdle in her own mind.

After another late night spent revising her thesis, Leah, fueled by the liquid courage from half a bottle of wine, finally submitted it.

In the quiet room, only the stereo played a soft song: "Don’t you worry about me, I’ll be alright on my own. Now that you’re far away, I’ll be slowly moving on..."

At that moment, with Nathan’s wedding just two days away, Leah felt lost. ’Should I even go back? Is there any point?’

’All that rushing to finish her thesis... was it really for the thesis? Or was it just an excuse to go back sooner and see him... even if only from a distance?’

’To know that he was doing well... and that the person by his side was... well, too.’

On the day of Chester Hale and Nathan Grant’s wedding, it seemed like everyone from Riverfall’s business world was in attendance, along with a number of government officials and various other industry figures.

The wedding was held at the G&S Silverwood resort. Asher Keating had a last-minute meeting, so he arrived a bit late. By the time he got there, Ethan and the others had already been there for a while.

Sheila had to make an emergency trip to her hometown, and her return flight today was delayed. She wouldn’t be able to make the ceremony; she probably wouldn’t even get to Riverfall until after midnight.

"Congratulations," Asher said with a smile, handing a gift to Nathan Grant and Chester Hale.

"Anyone who knows you knows you’re here to wish us well. Anyone who doesn’t might think you’re planning to crash the wedding, showing up this late," Nathan teased, taking the gift.

"...Nash," Asher said, looking at her with a helpless expression.

After shaking his hand, Chester Hale laughed as well. "Go on in. You’re the last one to get here, so you owe us three drinks later as a penalty."

"Alright." Asher smiled, patting Chester’s arm before heading inside.

When Leah arrived, the wedding ceremony was already underway. She’d been stuck in traffic, and by the time she finally made it, dragging her suitcase behind her, she was out of breath.

Leaving her luggage at the front desk, Leah stepped into the hall. It was dimly lit and packed with people, so she had to hunch over and weave her way toward the front, knowing Shawn’s table had to be somewhere up there.

Onstage, the emcee was working the crowd, and all eyes were on him, punctuated by constant applause.

Chester Hale stood in a perfectly tailored blue-gray suit, holding the bridal bouquet. He smiled toward the entrance, waiting for Nathan Grant to appear.

No one noticed Leah. Relieved, she continued to inch her way forward, but she couldn’t spot Shawn anywhere.

She was about to raise her head for a better look when she walked face-first into a large speaker. A sharp sting shot through her nose, and her eyes immediately started to water.

At this point, Leah was near the middle of the aisle. The spotlights were focused on the stage, so she didn’t dare make any sudden moves. All she could do was shrink down beside the speaker and rub her nose.

A wedding photographer crouching nearby stared at her in surprise. Leah gave him an embarrassed smile. ’This is so mortifying,’ she thought, feeling completely ridiculous.

The emcee’s excited voice boomed from the stage. "And now, let’s give our warmest round of applause to welcome the bride!"

A thunderous applause erupted. Leah, covering one ear with one hand and her throbbing nose with the other, straightened up slightly to look toward the entrance.

The large doors swung open slowly. There stood Nathan Grant, resplendent in a white, diamond-studded wedding gown, gliding into the hall through a shower of petals. A blissful smile graced her lips and shone in her eyes as she made her way toward the stage.

Leah’s eyes grew misty, though she couldn’t tell if it was from the sheer beauty of the bride or the lingering pain from her collision. As Nathan stepped onto the stage, she spotted Leah crouching by the aisle.

She narrowed her eyes, wondering what on earth Leah was doing crouched down there. A moment of bewilderment passed, but she kept the smile on her face and continued walking, only stopping when she reached the center of the stage.

Chester Hale gave her a surprised look, and the guests murmured, wondering why Nathan had suddenly stopped. All eyes followed her gaze to a single person in the audience.

Nathan’s lovely eyes were fixed on Leah. "What are you doing crouched down there?" she asked in a low voice.

The spotlight was already on Nathan, and now, by extension, all eyes were locked on Leah. She mumbled in embarrassment, "I couldn’t find my seat."

"...I’ll deal with you later. Now hurry to the entrance—Shawn is just inside the door on the right."

With that, Nathan continued her walk. Leah, mortified, quickly ducked her head. ’What a public execution,’ she thought.

"Leah?"

Ethan Shaw exclaimed, then immediately glanced at Asher beside him.

Asher saw Leah too, but after a brief glance, he coolly turned his attention back to Nathan and Chester Hale on the stage.

Seeing his reaction, Ethan exchanged a look with Riley Sterling, and they both fell silent.

Seeing Leah looking lost as she tried to sneak away again, Shawn tutted and got up to head her off.

"How did you even end up over there? And what were you doing, crouching like that? Planning to object?" Shawn asked, exasperated, as he led her in through a side entrance.

"It was too dark, I couldn’t see... and I figured, you know, groom’s side on the left, bride’s side on the right? Since we’re with the bride’s party... but I couldn’t find you anywhere." Leah’s explanation lacked conviction.

"...Wow, you’re a real genius," Shawn said, stunned by her bizarre logic.

The two of them furtively found their seats just before the house lights came up. Leah finally let out a sigh of relief. But just as she looked up at the stage, Ethan’s teasing voice drifted over. "Leah, long time no see!"

Her neck went stiff. Turning her head, she saw Ethan at the adjacent table, seated just in front and to her right. Asher’s seat was parallel to hers, but his eyes were fixed on the stage. He didn’t spare her a single glance.

"L-long time no see."

Leah quickly returned the greeting and whipped her head back around. She wanted to bolt. Why hadn’t Shawn told her she’d be sitting so close to Asher? If she’d known, she would have rather stayed crouching by that speaker.

She knew she’d inevitably run into him tonight, but she hadn’t expected it to be... this soon.

For a fleeting moment, Leah felt all the mental walls she’d so carefully built begin to crumble.

"Why are you crying?" Shawn asked, handing her a tissue.