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

"Absolutely not!"

First Uncle Sinclair shot up to his feet. "I’m not dead yet, how could it be her turn—"

"Well?"

Asher Keating took a stack of cash from the file folder and placed it on the table.

"N-No."

"Well?"

Another stack of cash hit the table.

First Uncle Sinclair’s voice trembled. "What do you mean by this?"

"Well?"

A third stack.

"Y-You think you’re so great because you have money!"

Jack Sinclair yelled, swallowing hard as he stared at the money on the table. ’Has it even been two minutes? That’s thirty thousand yuan just sitting there.’

Asher Keating shot him a look and produced a fourth stack. "Well?"

"Asher!"

Leah Sinclair rushed over and grabbed his hand. Asher Keating squeezed her hand back, but his eyes were on her aunt. "Well?"

A fifth stack was tossed onto the table.

The aunt’s eyes went wide, and she forgot all about her fake crying. Her lips trembled with the urge to snatch all the money. ’Fifty thousand! In just a few minutes, this man threw down fifty thousand yuan!’

Tired of pulling out one stack at a time, Asher Keating simply dumped the rest of the money onto the table. "One hundred thousand. Tomorrow, Leah shatters the basin and signals the start of the procession. You have two minutes to decide."

The aunt immediately rushed over and scooped all the money into her arms. She had never seen so much cash in her entire life. "Fine, fine! Let her shatter it! Let her give the call!"

"Leah Coleman!" First Uncle Sinclair shouted furiously.

"What are you yelling about! The woman is dead! Let her do it, what’s the big deal?" the aunt shouted back at First Uncle Sinclair, hastily stuffing the money into her bag.

Asher Keating scoffed, then stood up, took Leah Sinclair’s hand, and walked out. They went straight through the main gate, and no one dared to follow.

Asher Keating let out a long breath, finally suppressing the feeling of disgust. He turned to Leah Sinclair, who was looking at him with red-rimmed eyes. He pulled her into his arms. "Tomorrow, you’ll be the one to shatter the basin. If you don’t do it, no one will dare start the procession."

Leah Sinclair buried herself in his embrace, her whole body trembling as she clutched his shirt. After a long moment, she choked out his name, "Asher."

Asher Keating tilted his head to kiss her. He didn’t want her to stay here a moment longer. "Come back to the hotel with me tonight?"

Leah Sinclair shook her head. "It’s okay. It’s the last night. It will all be over tomorrow."

Asher Keating sighed as he looked at her. "We’ll be here first thing in the morning. I’ll drive the lead car. Ethan Shaw and the others will follow."

"Asher, that’s not appropriate. This is a funeral, after all," Leah Sinclair said urgently, looking up from his embrace.

"She’s your grandmother. There’s nothing inappropriate about it. She loved you so much."

Asher Keating gently stroked her face, and his words nearly brought Leah Sinclair to tears. Later, Asher and his friends headed back to the city. Sheila Hughes was worried about leaving Leah alone, but since there was nowhere for her to stay, she ended up returning to the city with them as well.

Before five the next morning, Asher Keating and his friends had all arrived. The Feng Shui master had scheduled the lifting of the coffin for six-thirty, declaring it the most auspicious hour to ensure Grandma Sinclair a smooth reincarnation.

When they arrived, Leah Sinclair was kneeling alone before Grandma Sinclair’s memorial altar, slowly burning joss paper. The other relatives were bustling about. One by one, the friends went to pay their respects with incense.

Asher Keating stood beside Leah Sinclair and placed a hand on her shoulder. She leaned against his leg, and they both gazed silently at Grandma Sinclair’s memorial portrait, waiting for the appointed hour.

At six o’clock, Leah Sinclair rose and went inside to change into mourning garments, covered by an outer layer of sackcloth. An older woman draped a white mourning cloth over her head.

Asher Keating walked over and tidied her hair. He wore a small white flower on his chest and was dressed in somber, all-black attire. Ethan Shaw and the others behind him were dressed similarly, and all of them watched Leah Sinclair in silence.

Leah Sinclair looked up at Asher Keating. He gave her hand a squeeze. "Don’t be afraid."

"Mm."

Leah Sinclair nodded firmly. With everything prepared, she lit three incense sticks and bowed reverently. Looking up at the black-and-white portrait of her smiling grandmother, she whispered, "Grandma, I’m here to see you off."

"Shatter the basin!" the master of ceremonies called out loudly.

Leah Sinclair took the earthenware basin that had been used for burning joss paper, gave her grandmother’s coffin one last look, and smashed the basin hard against the ground. "Grandma! May you have a safe journey!"

Tears streamed down Leah Sinclair’s face. She had thought she wouldn’t cry, but in that moment, she couldn’t hold them back. The little old woman who had doted on her for over twenty years was gone forever.

"Lift the coffin!"

Mournful music began to play at once. First Uncle Sinclair handed Grandma Sinclair’s memorial portrait to Leah. For a moment, even his face seemed to hold a faint trace of sorrow. Leah lowered her head, took the portrait without a word, and silently stepped out the door.

The wind was strong that day, making the funeral banner flutter with a sharp RUSTLE. Leah Sinclair straightened her back and walked at the head of the procession in silence, clutching her grandmother’s portrait.

First Uncle Sinclair, Jason Sinclair, and Jack Sinclair followed behind, scattering yellow joss paper and calling out words of mourning. Meanwhile, Asher Keating, Chester Hale, Ethan Shaw, and Riley Sterling, all four dressed in solemn black, served as pallbearers for Grandma Sinclair’s coffin.

This wasn’t something they were required to do, but after the events of the previous night, Asher Keating had insisted. Ethan Shaw, Riley Sterling, and Chester Hale had all agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

Their first stop was the funeral home. The hearse driver was already waiting there. When he arrived and saw the five-car motorcade at the front, his eyebrows jumped.

Sean Yates had also brought the car Asher Keating had left parked at the hospital. As the procession slowly drove out of the village, pedestrians turned their heads, speculating about which prominent family was holding the funeral.

Before Grandma Sinclair was taken in for cremation, Leah Sinclair pulled the peace charm she had obtained for her from her pocket. She tucked it into the pocket of her grandmother’s burial clothes, hoping the charm would keep her safe on her journey through the underworld.

While they waited, Asher Keating and his friends stood outside, smoking. Leah Sinclair knelt with her uncle’s family at the entrance to the cremation hall, burning the clothes Grandma Sinclair had worn in life. Sheila Hughes stayed silently by Leah’s side.

Suddenly, a large butterfly flew toward them. It circled near Leah Sinclair before slowly landing on her shoulder, its wings coming to a rest. Sheila Hughes gasped.

Leah Sinclair turned her head to look at the butterfly and asked with trembling lips, "Grandma, is that you?"

The butterfly gently fluttered its wings, and Leah’s eyes grew red. She didn’t dare move, terrified of frightening it away. It rested quietly on her shoulder, a silent presence like the countless times her grandmother had gently patted her for comfort.

After a long while, the butterfly began to beat its wings again and took flight, circling in the air. Leah Sinclair got to her feet and followed it with her eyes, softly calling out, "Grandma."

The butterfly circled the group for a long time, as if unsure where to go. As if sensing something, Asher Keating slowly took two steps forward. The butterfly fluttered over and, to everyone’s surprise, landed gently on the white flower pinned to his chest.

Leah Sinclair watched the scene with tear-filled eyes. Asher Keating gave her a meaningful look and then spoke slowly, "Grandma, I will take good care of Leah."

The butterfly stirred its wings, flew back to Leah Sinclair, circled her one last time, and then slowly flew away. Asher Keating went to her side and pulled her into his embrace. "Grandma’s gone."