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

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: It’s the New Year

Asher was also a bit puzzled. He had been surprised when he learned the Sterling Family hadn’t won the bid. In Riverfall’s hotel industry, besides the Sterling Family’s Creston Hotel, L&C was the best.

’It’s just that this Fatty Lawson fellow loves to gamble,’ he thought. ’The empire built by the older generation is almost completely ruined in his hands, leaving only an empty name. Looks like I’ll have to investigate this thoroughly when I get back.’

Before long, Jacqueline Vaughn came to call them to dinner, and the group went to the dining room. Throughout the meal, Madeline Sterling kept trying to test the waters and curry favor, but Asher didn’t take the bait in the slightest. By the end, Madeline was on the verge of throwing down her chopsticks and storming out, but he simply continued to eat, completely unbothered.

Leah Sinclair spent a full half a month on vacation in The Westerlands. She only returned after the Lantern Festival, just in time to start work. Sheila Hughes came back with her.

Sheila had passed her interview before the New Year holiday. With the vacation over, she came straight to Riverfall with Leah. Ethan Shaw had arranged her housing. He had a small apartment near Verdant Company, and when Asher learned that Sheila had passed her interview, he asked Ethan about renting it.

Ethan immediately said, ”Why rent? The place is just sitting empty, she can stay there for free.” Sheila felt it wasn’t right and insisted on paying rent, so Ethan agreed to take a token amount each month.

Asher had someone clean the place before they returned, so Sheila could move right in.

The two of them arrived in Riverfall in the evening, and Asher came to the airport to pick them up. Sheila thanked him, ”Thank you so much, Asher, and your good friend Ethan. Let me treat you both to dinner tonight.”

Asher looked at Leah, a slight smile on his face. ”Some other time. Ethan’s already made plans for tonight.”

The UV rays in The Westerlands were still strong. Even though it was winter, Leah seemed to have gotten a bit tanner. While Sheila was putting away her luggage, she grabbed Asher’s collar and planted a kiss on his face. ”Asher, I missed you so much.”

Asher immediately cupped the back of her head and kissed her for a long moment before letting go. ”Missed me? While you were off having fun for half a month?”

Leah felt a little embarrassed under Sheila’s teasing gaze and gently hooked her finger around his.

Asher pinched her cheek, then ushered them into the car. Knowing that Leah’s mourning period was over, Ethan had already made arrangements. They had dinner first, then went directly to the Zenith Club. He declared he wanted to have a drinking contest with Sheila to see how a girl from The Westerlands could hold her liquor.

Upon entering the Zenith Club, Sheila marveled at the place, lamenting the extravagant lifestyle of these rich kids while whispering in Leah’s ear. The party was mainly to welcome Sheila to the city, so Ethan and the others hadn’t invited many people. Just as they were in the middle of having fun, the door was pushed open.

Leah looked up and was surprised to see Morgan Sterling. He was followed by Ben Coleman and two other men.

”I thought I heard Ian’s voice. I can’t believe it’s really you guys.”

Morgan said with a smile, ”We got here late, so there were no rooms left. It’s just a few of us. Mind if we join?”

The group exchanged a look. They clearly didn’t believe him, but no one refused. It was the holiday season, after all—no one wanted to make a scene.

After sitting down, Morgan raised his first glass directly to Leah. ”Leah, long time no see.”

”Eldest Young Master Sterling, a pleasure.” Leah picked up her glass and lightly clinked it against his.

Sheila Hughes raised an eyebrow, her look a clear question. ’The legendary Morgan Sterling?’

Leah’s eyes flickered back: ’Yep.’

Sheila’s gaze sharpened. ’He looks like bad news.’

Leah’s expression communicated her full agreement. ’You’ve got that right.’

After finishing his drink, Morgan Sterling looked up at Sheila Hughes and asked, ”And who might this be? I don’t believe we’ve met.”

”Leah’s friend.”

Asher spoke, then patted Leah on the waist. ”You two go have fun over there.”

Leah had no desire to interact with Morgan Sterling either, so she nodded and pulled Sheila to another part of the room. Sheila had heard Leah’s stories about Morgan and wanted no part of the conversation, so she happily went with Leah to choose some karaoke songs.

Morgan watched Leah with great interest. ’She seems a little different today.’

’In the past, whenever I saw her in this kind of setting, she was always so reserved. Even after she got together with Asher, she would just stick obediently by his side every time.’

’But today’s Leah, perhaps because her friend is here, is completely relaxed.’ She was squeezed into a single seat with Sheila, the two of them smiling as they looked at the karaoke screen, whispering to each other.

Asher leaned forward slightly, blocking Morgan’s view of Leah. ”What are you drinking?”

”Whatever.”

Morgan smiled and shifted his gaze to Asher. ”Third Master, she’s your girlfriend now. Relax, I’m not going to do anything to her.”

”I hope so.” Asher raised an eyebrow, setting a glass down in front of Morgan.

Morgan smiled and shook his head, then gestured with the glass he’d picked up. ”Let me be the first to wish you and Leah a happy union. Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding.”

”PFFT... COUGH, COUGH, COUGH...”

Ethan Shaw had choked on his drink and broken into a fit of violent coughing. Leah and Sheila looked over, curious. His date patted him on the back, and it was a good while before he finally stopped.

”Ian, what’s with the reaction? Don’t tell me you didn’t know?” Morgan asked, looking at Ethan in amusement.

”I know, of course I know... I just choked on something.”

’Like hell I knew! Third Master never mentioned a thing,’ Ethan thought. He secretly glanced at Riley Sterling, who looked just as stunned. ’Tsk, Third Master is already thinking about marriage? Isn’t that a little too fast? They’ve only known each other for, what, a little over six months?’

While scrolling through the karaoke machine’s screen, Sheila whispered to Leah, ”Leah, that Morgan Sterling... the way he looks at you is weird. You’re Third Master Keating’s girlfriend, but he’s still staring at you like that.”

”From the day I met him, I’ve always felt he only wants me because I belong to Third Master.”

Leah glanced at Morgan out of the corner of her eye. He was chatting with Ethan and the others. ”If I weren’t with Third Master, he probably wouldn’t give me a second glance.”

”You never know,” Sheila said, then brushed it off. ”Anyway, forget him. It’s been so long since we’ve sung together. I really miss it. I wish Cherie and Dana could come to Riverfall, then it would be just like old times,” she said wistfully.

Leah couldn’t help but smile as she remembered the four of them from their dorm room, all going out to sing together.

Sheila selected the song *Tonight, I Feel Close to You*. ”Leah, shall we sing this one?”

”Sure.”

The two girls each grabbed a microphone and sat on the high stools off to the side, their soft voices weaving through the song.

At first, Asher and his friends continued their own games, but slowly, their attention was drawn to the duet. They fell silent, listening to them sing. The two girls didn’t even notice. As they sang the line, ”When I need a friend, you are there right by my side,” they glanced at each other, simultaneously raised their glasses in a soft toast, and then smiled as they continued singing.

Only when the song ended did the two of them realize how quiet the room had become. They turned back, a little embarrassed, to find everyone on the sofas watching them. Even the normally unflappable Sheila couldn’t help but blush.