Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

Chapter 4

After the main part of the engagement ceremony, the dance party was up next. After Peterson and Edith finished their first dance, more youngsters joined in the fun on the dance floor, having a whale of a time.

Upstairs in the lounge, the Whitmans and the Millers were sitting together, their faces grave after a heated. argument. Ike Whitman, the second son of the Whitman family, was nonchalantly leaning against the window, intrigued by the scene on the dance floor.-

Among the sea of soft, muted colors, a lady in a red dress stood out, her skirt swirling with her dance moves, oozing artistic flair.

The party had been going on for just twenty minutes, and Seraphina had already had five dance partners. Yet, there were still plenty of dudes lurking around, hoping for a chance to dance with her.

The door was pushed open, and Peterson and Edith came in. Edith’s dad immediately picked up a glass of water and threw it at Peterson’s feet.

Ike turned around when he heard the noise.

The parents started arguing again, but Edith and Peterson remained silent, one with a stiff face, the other puffing away on his cigarette, frowning.

The lounge door was pushed open again, and the bridesmaid Amelia appeared, panting.

Edith looked at her with a poker face. “Where have you been?”

“I… I was locked in the toilet. I just managed to get out.” Amelia was startled by the tense atmosphere in the room. “What happened?”

Edith sneered, then turned to look at Ike.

Ike smiled and said, “Come on, it’s a day of celebration. Don’t frown all the time. As for Seraphina… I’ll take care

of it.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Peterson looked up at him, his face dark.

Ike had already turned his head, his gaze returning to the banquet hall.

The dance floor was still buzzing.

Apart from the boisterous atmosphere, the open garden at the end of the corridor seemed serene and tranquil.

Seraphina was leaning at the entrance of the garden, holding a slim ladies‘ cigarette in her hand, but it wasn’t

lit.

in no hurry, tiptoeing patiently.

tall, impeccably dressed man emerged

him. When he turned around, she raised the cigarette in her hand. “Could you

me a light?”

swept through the garden. Standing in the breeze in her red dress with the skirt fluttering, she was stunning.

there for a

good look at him. He was about thirty–five or six, tall and thin, dressed in a well–fitted black suit. He was wearing black–rimmed glasses, and he had long, gentle eyebrows and eyes, giving him a refined and scholarly

Lawson,” she said with a smile,

she recognized him. He

him, there was hardly anyone in Sunburst

on his lighter,

lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, watched the smoke slowly rise, then looked up

said calmly, put away his lighter,

arm around his, looking at him with a sweet smile. Balch seemed somewhat surprised, looking at her without any hint of

however, was fixed behind him.

end of the hallway, Ike was coming

to Seraphina, Ike seemed somewhat surprised, but the smile on his face remained. “Mr. Lawson, I couldn’t find

“What can I do for you,

behind him and said with a smile, “I was hoping to have a few drinks with

already clinging to him, cooing, “Mr. Lawson promised

her, seemingly understanding something, and

goodbye to Ike, arm in

heard that ever since his wife passed away, he’s been

behind Ike said.

figures of the two, a smile still on his face, but his eyes deepened, “That depends on the ability of the woman he comes into contact

towards the hotel entrance, casually glancing back

walked steadily, looking calmly ahead, and said softly, “It’s still early, the dance isn’t over yet,

sighed softly and

movement,

want to, I couldn’t help it. I’m wearing a pair of shoes that don’t fit,

slowly, “If the shoes don’t fit, you should throw them away sooner. There’s no

a moment of silence, “Oh no, I can’t do that. After all, I paid for these shoes. The more uncomfortable they make me feel, the more I want to step on them, for as long as I

didn’t say anything

her head to look at him, “A nice guy like Mr. Lawson

that, Balch smiled

whispered something to the