Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

Chapter 447

Police cruisers once again lined the driveway of the Reynolds Vista Retreat, their blue and red lights casting an eerie glow over the opulent estate. For the staff of the Reynolds family, a visit from law enforcement was nothing novel.

But this time, the incident was unprecedented.

The last casualty was Valerio Reynolds, who had suffered only minor injuries;

This time, however, it was Leandro Reynolds, the family patriarch, who was seriously hurt. The amount of blood he’d lost had been so substantial that despite the cleanup, the living room still resembled a crime scene.

In the midst of this chaos, the officers were meticulously gathering evidence and taking statements.

Standing alone by the grand entrance, Seraphina gazed out over the expansive private gardens and driveway, her eyes reflecting the bright lights with a cool, clear sharpness.

Herman stepped out of the house and positioned himself beside her, lighting up a cigarette with a contemplative frown.

The night breeze carried a wisp of smoke to Seraphina, prompting her to suddenly ask, “Got another one for me?”

Herman, taken aback, glanced at her before hesitantly pulling out another cigarette and handing it to her.

Seraphina took it, placed it between her lips, and leaned in to catch a light from Herman’s lighter. She drew back after a deep inhale, her movements betraying a practiced ease that left Herman momentarily speechless. After a beat, he managed to ask, “Aren’t you going to the hospital?”

With a cigarette pinched delicately between her fingers, Seraphina let out a low chuckle. “What for?”

Leandro was in surgery, racing against death itself. She was unable to enter, unable to see him. If she went, she would merely be another anxious spirit wandering the hospital hallways, eyes glued to the status light above the operating room door.

And even if she could enter, what then? She’d be powerless, a silent witness to his struggle on the operating table.

Waiting made time stretch into an eternity, morphing into something monstrous.

She knew that feeling all too well. So she preferred to distract herself with something else, anything to divert her focus. Perhaps then, when she least expected it, she’d get the news that the surgery was over, and he was going to be okay… After a moment of silence, Herman finally said, “Yeah, Leandro’s a tough guy. He’s come through worse than this. He’ll pull through.” At that, Seraphina laughed again but offered no response.

She had only taken a couple of drags from the cigarette before letting it burn down between her fingers, the ember glowing and fading slowly.

Herman on the investigation’s progress. “We’ve pretty much wrapped up collecting evidence, and we’ve finished taking statements, except

room, unseen

longer,” Herman suggested before taking the statements from the

me have a look,” Seraphina

her, and with a slight smile, she said, “I might as

hesitation, he handed her one of

then went back to

day had started

mind, and Bruce, who had been away from

to the point of aggression, was uncharacteristically

nerves, but gradually, she had settled down. Her mood even seemed to lift, and she joined Bruce for lunch.

considerate that day, tiptoeing around Gloria as if afraid to trigger

had even gone out of his way to purchase Gloria’s favorite greenhouse-grown cantaloupe and had taken it upon himself to slice it in the kitchen.

moment that his phone, left unattended on the coffee table, lit up

1/2

09:07

on the sofa, Gloria caught a glimpse of the caller ID-Tina.

another woman, sent Gloria spiraling out of control

was prepared for

the most serene and harmonious the Reynolds Vista Retreat had seen in

who had just

yet he was still unable to anticipate Gloria’s fierce outburst, or perhaps he had been trying to protect too many at once and had

was just a man. He wasn’t made of steel, nor was he impervious to injury. He

and walked away to stand by herself, her back to everyone. Herman, concerned, took a few steps towards her and suggested, “Should I call Andrea to keep you company?” Without

a

also noticed and looked in the same direction.

arm. Her face was deathly pale, her lips devoid of color, but her eyes were

volatile demeanor, Gloria now appeared unnervingly composed

other hand, Karan was inconsolable,

moment, promptly led the officers inside to