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.

start to understand her

a huff, she ducked into

directing the driver

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

amidst the merriment, Simon's

stepped out of the hall to the entrance and spotted Andrea

instantly read the question in Simon's eyes and quickly explained, "Sera was busy at the gallery today, too swamped even for a phone call. I guess she won't make

to the banquet, when suddenly a security guard came

Simon's expression softened momentarily.

lit up with a smile. "Dad,

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

them. Seeing Seraphina, Simon smiled warmly. "Sera, I'm

cool. "It's just dinner,

resistance. Leandro simply tightened

then said, "Exactly, it's just dinner. So, feel at home here,

Seraphina and

past the usual time for such a dinner to begin. The guests,

to look for Simon when he saw

behind her, there were Leandro and

Martins understood the implications at once, their expressions turning complex. To the other guests, the situation

wait with nearly everyone present, it was apparent they had been waiting for

led the couple directly to the head table, placing

guests whispered and speculated

them, Leonard and Ferne shared in the shock. As partners soon to collaborate with the Martin Group, they had been seated at

a

the host. Yet,

ove

had taken their place at the

and Ferne exchanged a