Chapter 283: The Grand Finale, Happy Wedding

「November 27th. The eighteenth day of the tenth lunar month. Auspicious for engagements and marriages.」

Early that morning, Asher Keating’s hospital room was jam-packed with people.

From the Grant Family’s side, Mabel Grant, Brandon Jacobs, Mason Grant, Shawn Grant, and Nathan Grant had come. From the Keating Family’s side, there was the old Mr. Keating, Theodore Keating, Ruth Hughes, Alan Keating, Sharon Shaw, Seth Keating, and Talia Keating. In addition, Chester Hale, Ethan Shaw, Sheila Hughes, Riley Sterling, Edward Yates, and Sean Yates were also present.

They were here to witness Leah Sinclair and Asher Keating’s engagement. The engagement banquet hadn’t been canceled. Leah felt that whether Asher woke up or not, a mere banquet wouldn’t change the fact that they were getting engaged.

Besides, she knew that both she and Asher had been looking forward to this day for a very, very long time.

According to the customs of Riverfall, the new couple would serve tea to their elders on the day of the engagement and change how they addressed them. After Leah Sinclair changed into her formal dress, the old Mr. Keating, Theodore Keating, and Ruth Hughes sat on the sofa to one side.

Mabel Grant and Brandon Jacobs sat on the sofa on the other side. Since Asher Keating wasn’t awake, Seth Keating would serve tea to Mabel Grant and Brandon Jacobs in his place.

Sheila Hughes placed a cushion in front of Leah Sinclair. Leah slowly knelt, took a teacup from Ethan Shaw’s hands, and presented it with both hands, her smile radiant. “Grandpa, please have some tea.”

“Good, good. Good girl, Leah.”

The old Mr. Keating cheerfully took the teacup from Leah Sinclair, took a light sip, then pulled out a red envelope and handed it to her. “Leah, you and Asher must live well together.”

“Thank you, Grandpa. Don’t worry, we will.”

Leah Sinclair smiled, accepted the red envelope, and handed it to Sheila Hughes. She then took another cup of tea from Riley Sterling and presented it to Theodore Keating. “Father, please have some tea.”

“Haha, good, good.”

Theodore Keating took the tea, also took a sip, and handed a red envelope to Leah Sinclair. “Leah, I believe Asher will wake up soon. You two will definitely be happy together.”

“Thank you, Father. I also believe that Third Brother will wake up soon.”

Leah Sinclair accepted the red envelope and once again took a cup of tea from Ethan Shaw, presenting it to Ruth Hughes. “Mother, please have some tea.”

“Mm, Leah. You’re a good child.”

Ruth Hughes took the teacup, had a sip, and lightly dabbed her eyes. She handed a red envelope to Leah Sinclair. “Mother hopes that you and Asher will grow old together.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. We definitely will.” Leah Sinclair accepted the red envelope, and Sheila Hughes helped her to her feet.

Next, it was Seth Keating’s turn to serve tea. Mason Grant placed the cushion on the floor. Seth Keating knelt down properly, and Shawn Grant handed him a teacup.

Seth Keating took it and said in a clear, crisp voice, “Grandpa Jacobs, on behalf of my Third Uncle, I invite you to have some tea.”

“Good boy, Seth.” Brandon Jacobs smiled as he took the teacup. After drinking the tea, he handed him a red envelope and patted his head.

Seth Keating then took the tea handed over by Mason Grant and turned to Mabel Grant. “Grandma Grant, on behalf of my Third Uncle, I invite you to have some tea.”

“Alright. Seth is such a good boy.” Mabel Grant’s lips curved into a smile. After drinking the tea, she handed him a red envelope.

Seth Keating stood up, handed the red envelopes to Leah Sinclair, and said earnestly, “Third Aunt, don’t be sad. Third Uncle will definitely wake up soon.”

Leah Sinclair took the red envelopes, patted his head, and gave a faint smile. “Mm, he definitely will.”

Turning her head to look at Asher Keating on the hospital bed, Leah Sinclair took a velvet ring box from Sheila Hughes and slowly walked over.

When she opened it, everyone, whether from the Grant or Keating families, was a little surprised. These weren’t the engagement rings, but… the wedding rings.

But no one said anything. Even Mabel Grant didn’t say a single word. When she had previously insisted on an engagement, it wasn’t because Mabel Grant wanted to make things difficult for Asher Keating, but simply because she couldn’t bear to part with Leah Sinclair.

For her, the daughter she had finally found hadn’t even been by her side for long. It didn’t make sense to marry her off so quickly.

But she also knew that Leah Sinclair’s heart and eyes were filled with nothing but Asher Keating. It was impossible to keep dragging things out and not give them a proper, official relationship, which was why she had suggested getting engaged first.

Besides, for the two of them, whether they were engaged or not didn’t seem to make much of a difference.

Ruth Hughes, however, after seeing the rings clearly, turned her head and leaned on Theodore Keating’s shoulder, secretly wiping away tears. Theodore Keating sighed inwardly, his own eyes a little red. He patted her shoulder comfortingly and whispered words of solace.

Leah Sinclair looked at the rings in the box. Their design was actually very simple. They were platinum bands. The men’s ring had a single small diamond in the center, while the women’s ring had a full circle of tiny, delicate diamonds set into the middle. And on the inside of the bands were the engraved initials of Asher Keating and Leah Sinclair.

Sunlight streamed in from outside, and the small diamonds on the women’s ring reflected several glints of light. Leah Sinclair took Asher Keating’s ring from the box, gently took his left hand, and slid the ring onto his left ring finger.

Then, she took her own ring and carefully guided Asher Keating’s fingers to hold it, slowly sliding it onto her own left ring finger.

After putting on the rings, Leah Sinclair gently caressed Asher Keating’s hand. Looking at his closed eyes, she began to speak softly, “Third Brother, today is our engagement day. I took out our wedding rings without your permission. I’ve imagined you putting this ring on me so many times. I thought I’d definitely cry from happiness.”

“Third Brother, when we were little, we all heard the fairy tale Snow White. The princess in the story fell into a deep sleep after eating a poisoned apple. Later, she met a prince who kissed her, and the princess woke up. You’ve been sleeping for a long time now, too. If I kiss you, will you wake up like the princess?”

As she spoke, Leah Sinclair’s eyes slowly reddened. Sheila Hughes couldn’t hold back and started crying softly in Ethan Shaw’s arms. While comforting her, Ethan’s own eyes grew red. Riley Sterling also turned his head away and wiped his face.

No one in the room spoke. There was only Leah Sinclair speaking gently to Asher Keating.

After she finished speaking, she leaned over and gently placed a kiss on Asher Keating’s lips. “Third Brother… happy wedding day.”

Ruth Hughes finally couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst into tears. Theodore Keating held her, taking a deep breath to force his own tears back.

“Move… Third Uncle… moved.”

Talia Keating suddenly pointed at Asher Keating and said a few words in her high-pitched, childish voice.

“What? Tanya, what did you say?” Sharon Shaw asked in surprise.

Everyone looked at Asher Keating. Leah Sinclair saw that Asher Keating’s fingers had really twitched twice. Her eyes filled with tears, and her voice began to tremble. “Third Brother? Third Brother, can you hear me?”

Asher Keating’s eyeballs moved slightly, his long eyelashes trembling. For a moment, everyone was too afraid to even speak, watching him nervously.

What felt like an eternity, yet also like just a few seconds, passed. Asher Keating finally, slowly opened his eyes. His amber eyes flickered a few times before gradually focusing on Leah Sinclair’s anxious face.

He had no strength. The hand Leah Sinclair was holding could only give the faintest squeeze. His lips moved, trying to speak. Leah put her ear close to his mouth and just barely heard him say, extremely slowly, “Happy… wedding… day.”

End of Chapter.