Leather & Lark Chapter 17 (Chapter 20): Ascend – Summary & Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Lark and Lachlan visit a nightclub to gather files related to their investigation. On the way, Lark discovers that Lachlan has been listening to a romance audiobook—Death’s Obsession—as a way to learn how to communicate better with her (a suggestion from Sloane). Lark teasingly exposes this. At the club, they locate an invoice for fifty thousand dollars paid in cash to a contracting company. While hiding in a storage closet from an unexpected visitor, Lachlan reassures Lark as her claustrophobia spikes. He rejects a kiss, insisting he wants her full forgiveness first. On the rooftop afterward, Lark shares the traumatic story of her father’s murder during a home invasion and her subsequent loss of faith. Lachlan comforts her. Sloane sends a news article about the death of Dr. Campbell, the headmaster who covered up Lark’s abuse at Ashborne Collegiate. Lark feels a sense of justice. She and Lachlan part ways for the night; he sends her a photo of a gold star sticker, and she begins writing a new song.

Key Events

Lark discovers Lachlan has been listening to Death’s Obsession, a romance audiobook, on Sloane’s advice, and she teases him about it.
Lachlan and Lark break into a private club’s office; Lark photographs an invoice for $50,000 from a contracting company.
An employee enters the office; Lachlan pulls Lark into a storage closet to avoid detection.
In the closet, Lark’s claustrophobia surges; Lachlan soothes her and vows to protect her.
Lark leans in for a kiss, but Lachlan refuses, stating he will not act until she truly forgives him.
On the rooftop, Lark confesses the details of her father’s murder during a home invasion and how the trauma shaped her fear of small spaces and loss of faith.
Sloane texts Lark a news article reporting the murder investigation of Dr. Louis Campbell, the Ashborne headmaster.
Lachlan and Lark return home, but he goes to Leander’s instead of staying with her; he sends a gold star sticker photo.
Lark begins writing a new song, feeling a sense of catharsis.

Character Development

Lark opens up about her past for the first time in a long while, sharing the home invasion story that underlies her claustrophobia and mistrust. Her willingness to be vulnerable with Lachlan marks a significant step in their relationship. She also processes her feelings about Dr. Campbell’s death, feeling justice rather than guilt.

Lachlan demonstrates patience and emotional intelligence by refusing a physical connection until forgiveness is fully established. His actions in the closet—both protective and tender—show his growing commitment to Lark’s well-being over his own desires. The audiobook prank reveals his genuine effort to improve communication.

Sloane (via text) provides emotional support and validation, hinting that she understands Lark’s darker actions and accepts them unconditionally.

Themes, Symbols, and Motifs

Forgiveness as a prerequisite for intimacy: Lachlan’s refusal to kiss Lark until she forgives him underscores that emotional resolution must precede physical connection.
Claustrophobia and the past’s grip: Lark’s panic in the closet directly mirrors the trauma of the linen cupboard where she hid as a child, symbolizing how past horrors remain present.
Justice versus guilt: Lark feels no remorse for Dr. Campbell’s death; instead, she experiences accomplishment, challenging conventional ideas of morality.
Light and dark imagery: The rooftop view of the city lights contrasts with the dark closet and the darkness of Lark’s memories, suggesting hope and distance.
The gold star sticker: A symbol of earned trust and progress in Lachlan’s efforts to prove himself.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter serves as the emotional turning point for the central relationship. Lark finally reveals the foundational trauma of her life, and Lachlan responds with steady support rather than pushing for more. His restraint proves his sincerity. At the same time, the investigation advances with the discovery of the invoice, and Sloane’s message about Dr. Campbell’s murder deepens the mystery around Lark’s actions. The chapter balances intimacy, suspense, and catharsis, setting the stage for the couple’s eventual reconciliation.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Lachlan refuse to kiss Lark in the closet?
He wants her full forgiveness before they cross that line, believing that without emotional closure the relationship cannot be built on a solid foundation.
How does Lark’s childhood trauma resurface in this chapter?
The enclosed closet triggers her claustrophobia, which stems from the night of the home invasion when she and her sister hid in a linen cupboard while their father was killed and their mother was injured.
What does the gold star sticker represent at the end of the chapter?
It symbolizes Lachlan’s progress in earning Lark’s trust—a playful yet meaningful marker of his commitment to change.