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

Judging by his expression, Sean Yates knew the man was cursing him out in his head. He quickly pulled out his phone to message Gavin Holt and ask where they were. Gavin replied that they were at Nightfall Bar. Sean told him not to tell Leah Sinclair, and the two of them headed toward the bar.

Leah Sinclair, Mason Grant, Liam Peyton, and Cecilia Peyton were having drinks at Nightfall Bar. Liam had recently been busy opening a new company in Eldoria, so he hadn’t returned to the country. Meanwhile, Cecilia, who had been away having fun for a long time, was also finally back.

She had brought a souvenir for Leah, and since Leah hadn’t seen her in a long time, the four of them had arranged to meet at Nightfall Bar.

Cecilia Peyton chattered on about her recent travels. Finally pausing for breath, she took a sip of her drink and asked Leah, "Leah, are you heading back home right after your graduation ceremony?"

"Yeah, in a few days."

Cecilia was sad to see her go. They hadn’t met often over the past three years, but Leah had always looked out for her. Whenever Leah gave Mason things she’d made herself, she always made sure to include a share for Cecilia. Plus, Leah was so gentle and kind, and Cecilia really liked this girl who was only three years her senior.

"Well, don’t forget about me when you go back. When I return to Kingsford for the New Year, I’ll come hang out with you," Cecilia said, clinging to Leah’s arm like a spoiled child. She still didn’t know that Leah wasn’t returning to Kingsford.

"In that case, you’ll have to go to Riverfall to find her," Mason Grant interjected, and then explained that Leah was returning to Riverfall.

"Huh? Why not go back to Kingsford? What’s so great about Riverfall, anyway?" Cecilia pouted, her face a mask of displeasure.

"Because I..."

"Boss! What are you doing here?" William froze, staring dumbfounded at Asher Keating as he pushed open the door.

The moment Leah heard William, she whipped her head toward the entrance and saw Asher Keating standing there in casual attire.

"Asher." After a moment of stunned silence, a wide smile spread across Leah’s face, and she ran toward him.

"Third Master Keating!" Mason Grant also shot to his feet in surprise.

Liam Peyton glanced toward the entrance, just in time to see Leah dive into Asher Keating’s embrace. The man looked weary from his journey, yet his eyes held a warm smile.

Cecilia Peyton’s eyes went wide. ’Wow, he’s so handsome! He’s every bit as good-looking as my brother—who I thought was the most handsome man alive. He might even be... more handsome.’

Asher Keating gave William a nod, then led Leah back to their table. Leah introduced everyone, and Cecilia finally snapped out of her daze. "Leah, is... is he your boyfriend?"

"Yes. He’s from Riverfall."

"So that’s why you’re going to Riverfall instead of back to Kingsford? From Riverfall, and his last name is Keating? Don’t tell me he’s with the Keating Group, is he?"

Cecilia sized Asher Keating up and down. Though she was far away in Eldoria, she kept up with some of the goings-on back home. Most of her knowledge was centered on Kingsford, however; she wasn’t at all familiar with Riverfall. She only had a vague impression of the Keating Group because she’d heard her father and brother mention it a few times in the last two years.

"Third Master Keating is the president of the Keating Group," Mason explained.

"So young? He’s not just a figurehead, is he?" Cecilia was incredulous. Her own brother was still just the vice president of the Peyton Group, and this man looked even younger than him.

"Cecilia!"

Liam Peyton’s voice held a clear warning. He then turned to Asher Keating with a slight smile. "President Keating, please don’t mind her. My sister has been spoiled by the family, and since she’s been out of the country for so long, she doesn’t really understand the current state of affairs."

"It’s fine. Compared to Kingsford, Riverfall does still have some catching up to do."

Asher Keating’s lips curved, but his eyes remained distant. It wasn’t intentional—he was tired, and without his glasses to soften his features, his expression looked a bit cold. Liam Peyton’s brows furrowed slightly.

Sitting close by, Leah noticed the barely perceptible exhaustion in Asher’s eyes. ’He must have worked overtime to make it to my graduation,’ she realized. The thought made her restless.

"Mason, Wynn, Cecilia, we’re going to head out. Asher has had a long flight and must be tired. You all can stay and hang out for a while longer."

Since she’d put it that way, Mason and the others felt it would be rude to insist they stay. Asher stood up, took her hand, gave William a look that said to comp their bill, and after saying their goodbyes, they walked out.

Only after they were gone did Cecilia speak. "What the hell! What’s he so arrogant for? He’s just from some company in Riverfall, the Keating what’s-it, and he’s giving *me* an attitude?"

Mason explained awkwardly, "Third Master Keating didn’t mean it like that. He just has a naturally cold expression, and he must be tired from the flight. When I saw him before, he was wearing glasses, which made him look a little more approachable."

Liam Peyton’s phone chimed. He glanced at it and saw a text from Leah: "Wynn, please don’t mind him. Asher didn’t mean anything by it. He’s just really tired, so he comes off as a bit cold."

Liam smiled faintly and texted back, "Don’t worry about it. Cecilia really has been spoiled rotten."

After replying, he looked up at Cecilia. "Cecilia, Father has told us time and again, there’s always someone out there who is better than you. Asher Keating reached his position entirely on his own merit, and in just over two years. Even if that weren’t the case, you shouldn’t have said what you did."

"Okay, fine. I get it."

Cecilia pouted, feeling aggrieved. She hadn’t said it maliciously; she had just been genuinely surprised, that’s all.

Asher Keating held Leah’s hand as they walked toward her apartment, with Sean Yates and the other two following at a distance. Watching their shadows stretch out long under the streetlights, Leah chuckled softly.

Asher turned to her, asking with an amused smile, "What are you laughing at?"

"I’m just really happy."

Leah linked her arm through his. "Asher, don’t mind what Cecilia said earlier. She was probably just in disbelief because you’re so young."

"Am I that petty?" Asher stopped and gently pinched her cheek with his free hand.

Leah burst out laughing. She resumed walking, her arm still linked with his, and started telling him about everything that had happened recently. Asher listened, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Watching from behind, Louise Holt’s face was a mask of horror. She jabbed Sean Yates with her elbow. "Has our Young Master been... body-snatched?"

Sean Yates rolled his eyes at her. "You’ll get used to it."

Louise clucked her tongue in amazement. She had been with Asher Keating for two years, and in all that time, he had been mostly expressionless. Even at the airport last time, he hadn’t acted too out of character.

But tonight, from the moment he saw Leah to now, it seemed to her that the corners of Asher’s mouth had been constantly lifted in a slight smile. He still wasn’t saying much, but the entire aura around him felt incredibly... gentle.

The thought alone was enough to make her shudder.

With Asher Keating and Sean Yates’s arrival, Gavin and Louise Holt were free to return home the next day. For that one night, Sean and Gavin shared a room.

Leah and Asher hadn’t seen each other for almost a month. And though Asher was exhausted, he still couldn’t bear to let her go.

Meanwhile, Leah, conscious of the people in the next room, held herself back, not daring to make too much noise even though she knew the apartment’s soundproofing was excellent.

Asher chuckled softly in her ear. "Holding back this much? Then I’ll have Sean move out tomorrow."