Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

Chapter 501

As Simon's car rolled away from the Reynolds' estate, Valerio was perched at the second-floor window, tracking the vehicle's departure until it was out of sight. Only then did he turned to Seraphina.

Seraphina had been mechanically unwrapping presents, her movements devoid of enthusiasm, when Valerio's voice pierced her reverie. "Mom, is Mr. Martin really my Grandpa?"

Startled back to the present, Seraphina met her son's inquisitive dark eyes and, after a brief pause, slowly shook her head.

"No?" Valerio scooted closer, his curiosity piqued. "Then why did he say he was? Isn't Grandpa supposed to be Mom's dad?"

Seraphina fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Maybe one day, I'll let you call him Grandpa. But remember, your real Grandpa's name is Carney Bet."

Valerio blinked, a gesture of half-comprehension, and nodded his head.

By the third day of the New Year, Seraphina had thrown herself back into the hustle of preparing for her art exhibition at the Sunburst Art Gallery, working from dawn till dusk.

Throughout the day, Andrea had phoned several times, but Seraphina had been so tied up that she couldn't answer.

Finally, as the gallery emptied and night descended, Seraphina packed up her things, ready to leave. To her surprise, she found Leandro waiting for her outside.

She hastened towards him, asking, "Here to pick me up from work?"

Leandro reached out to hold her hand. "To go to a banquet with you."

As a prominent former figurehead of the Reynolds family, Leandro never lacked for banquet invitations. Seraphina asked, "Whose is it?"

"The one you've been wanting to attend," Leandro replied.

Seraphina hesitated momentarily as she was about to get into the car, then turned to him, "Why would you think I want to go? If I wanted to, I would have gone by now, wouldn't I?"

"Waiting until now seems perfect, doesn't it?" Leandro said, holding the door for her.

After a brief stare-down, Seraphina bit her lip in resignation.

this man start

huff, she ducked into the

the driver towards their

Martin estate. Centered around Simon's villa, guests milled about inside and out. As dinner time approached

amidst the merriment, Simon's smile barely

out of the hall to

at the gallery today, too swamped even for a phone

nodded, about to return to the banquet, when suddenly a security

Simon's expression softened momentarily.

face lit up with a smile. "Dad,

later, Seraphina, on Leandro's arm, appeared at the

to greet them. Seeing Seraphina, Simon smiled warmly. "Sera, I'm glad you could make

expression was cool. "It's just dinner, it doesn't matter

her eyes at Leandro, clearly showing resistance. Leandro simply tightened his grip

just dinner. So, feel at home here,

Seraphina and Leandro into

was almost eight o'clock, well past the usual time for such a dinner to begin. The guests, already seated and waiting, began

growing restlessness, was about to look for Simon when he saw him enter

by Andrea, and behind her, there were

complex. To the other guests, the situation was less clear, but they sensed

wait with nearly everyone present, it was

table, placing them beside him, a clear

and speculated more

and Ferne shared in the shock. As partners soon to collaborate

a position

the host. Yet, unexpectedly, Leandro

ove

had taken their place at the head table, immediately adjacent to Simon

a moment, Leonard and Ferne exchanged a glance, their expressions a