Chapter 300
Herman eyed Seraphina, sensing some plot brewing in her head. “Don’t stir the hornet’s nest with the Martin family,” he warned, frowning.
“No worries, Seraphina reassured him with a smile. “I’m a very simple and direct person. I won’t mess with anyone unless they mess with me first.”
Herman wanted to continue, but was interrupted by Mrs. Garcia standing nearby, “Watch your tone, Herman. Can’t you be more polite when you’re talking to Sera?”
Seraphina smirked at Herman, clearly relishing the moment. Herman, abruptly silenced, didn’t know how to respond. He knew arguing with Seraphina would lead nowhere, so he let the matter rest.
It wasn’t until the elder members of the Garcia family gradually dispersed and the room cleared out a bit that Seraphina had the chance to discuss Naylor with Herman.
Since Naylor had shot himself in the arm that day, he too was in the hospital. The police hadn’t been able to interrogate him properly during his hospital stay, so until now, Naylor hadn’t said anything yet.
“Has he been informed that Keeley has spilled everything?” Seraphina asked anxiously.
“What do you think?” Herman retorted.
Seraphina knew she had asked a redundant question, but she couldn’t help but worry. And asking had only made her more anxious.
His crimes were already public knowledge. What else could Naylor possibly be hiding?
Unless he was still protecting someone behind the scenes!
Seraphina suddenly thought of Simon, who had just arrived here.
If Naylor had truly been manipulated by him, then Simon would naturally be implicated once Naylor said everything. Simon’s visit to see Herman to prove his innocence would be pointless.
But would a man like him do such a useless thing? A sense of foreboding crept over Seraphina.
That day, she stayed in Herman’s room the entire day, waiting to hear about Naylor. But till the night, the news was still that Naylor hadn’t talked.
By the time Leandro arrived at the hospital, it was already 9 PM.
There was likely no progress to be made today, but Seraphina was reluctant to leave. Valerio had already claimed Herman’s bed for a nap and Herman was stuck on the couch.
Herman’s injuries weren’t serious, so sitting on the couch was fine. But when he saw Leandro, he couldn’t help but say, “Leandro, you’re finally here.”
Leandro glanced at the sleeping Valerio but didn’t see Seraphina, so he asked, “Where’s she?”
Herman nodded towards the bathroom, “She’s been here all day, said she was waiting for you…”
Leandro immediately got the gist, “Naylor hasn’t confessed yet?”
Herman sighed softly.
Just as Seraphina emerged from the bathroom, she saw Leandro sitting by the bed, watching Valerio./
“You’re here?” she said, somewhat unhappily, “Let’s go hom
Hearing her words, Herman visibly relaxed.
then.”
Leandro scooped the stirring Valerio into his arms. Seeing Seraphina, Valerio relaxed again, and nestled against Leandro’s shoulder, falling back to sleep.
As they were about to leave, Seraphina reminded Herman,
“me immediately if anything happens.”
Herman made a gesture of assurance. Only then did Seraphina reluctantly leave.
On the ride home, Valerio slept soundly in Leandro’s arms, while Seraphina seemed lost in thought, continually staring out the window. “You don’t need to go to Herman’s tomorrow, Leandro said. “I’ve arranged with his people. They’ll notify you immediately if there’s any
news.”
“Really?” Seraphina turned to look at him..
Leandro glanced at her, and she blinked a few times before leaning against his shoulder.
With one arm around Valerio, Leandro reached out with the other to hold her hand.
After a moment of silence, Seraphina spoke again, “To them, capturing Naylor and Keeley means they’ve dismantled a notorious
/criminal gang. They might not care much about who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, or even if they’ll get results from
investigating further. But to me, it’s important.”
Leandro knew why Seraphina was so keen on exposing the criminal gang and its mastermind – it was all for Sandra Smith. He knew just how crucial the information from Naylor was for her.
Even though all signs now pointed to the Martin family, such a vague answer wasn’t enough for Seraphina.
That night, because Valerio was sick and also learning from the morning’s experience, Seraphina let him sleep in her bed.
When she came out of the bathroom after her shower, there was an extra person on the bed.
Valerio was on the left side of the bed, Leandro was sitting on the right, and the middle space was probably for her.
Seraphina hesitated for a few seconds at the foot of the bed. Leandro, who had been looking at his tablet, looked up at her, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Seraphina rolled her eyes, climbed onto the bed from the foot, and let out a small sigh when she felt squeezed on both sides, “I never realized how small my bed was…”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Leandro put down his tablet and lay down, pulling her into his arms.
The two of them snuggled up close, freeing up some more space. It was small, but at least Valerio could turn around freely now.
“Do you still think it’s small?” Leandro asked.
Seraphina glanced up at him, grinning mischievously, “Mr. Reynolds, are you flirting with me?”
Leandro, hearing this, pulled her closer into his arms and leaned in, sealing her lips with his.
Around five in the morning, Seraphina, who was sleeping in Leandro’s arms, suddenly jerked awake.,
Before she could open her eyes, Leandro had already wrapped her in his arms, turning on the bedside lamp to look at her.
Seraphina had a dream about falling, and it was so real that she woke up in a cold sweat. It took her a while to recover.
Leandro was stroking her back, and when he saw her calm down, he asked, “Did you have a nightmare?”
Seraphina nodded, not wanting to say much, just feeling a bit hollow, and instinctively snuggled into Leandro.
Both of them were speaking and moving quietly, but Valerio was woken up by the noise. He stretched and slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Leandro’s gaze and Seraphina’s back.
Seraphina was quietly nestled in Leandro’s arms, while Valerio quietly watched Leandro for a while before suddenly sitting up.
But her thoughts were shattered, and it was hard to get back to normal.
Leandro knew what she was thinking, and he reached out to hold her.
“You don’t have to worry too much about this.” He said, “Naylor is not the only clue. You’re already very close to the truth, aren’t you?”
Seraphina listened to him, understanding his meaning.
She was very close to the truth, just one step away.
The person who ordered Sandra to be attacked must be related to Bowen and the Martin family, but she wanted to know who the real culprit was, who could be so cold-blooded.
Naylor was the closest clue, but now this clue was cut off.
This kind of obstacle was insignificant in her previous investigations, just a minor issue.
But this time, because it involved Sandra, she couldn’t calm down.
She felt guilty for Sandra, very guilty….
Leandro was stroking her head, and Seraphina leaned on him, feeling a bit sad and silent.
When Valerio got dressed and returned to the room, he found this situation.
He had never seen Seraphina like this before, depressed, sad, and powerless.
Valerio was a bit at a loss. He looked at Seraphina, then at Leandro.
Leandro looked at him and gestured for him to come over.
Valerio slowly walked over and gently tugged at Seraphina’s sleeve.
But Seraphina didn’t react, she didn’t even look at him.
Valerio was a bit flustered, and he started tugging harder at Seraphina’s sleeve.
Seraphina’s mind was already somewhere else, but Leandro’s grip brought her back to reality.
Slowly, she lifted her gaze and caught Leandro’s eyes. He was motioning for her to look aside.
Following his cue, she turned her head and saw Valerio’s concerned look.
But this time, it was different. Valerio was not just looking at her. His mouth was open.
He opened his mouth and did not utter a sound, but the lip movement was too pronounced. Seraphina instantly figured out the word he was mouthing over and over – Mom.
He was calling her mom. For a moment, Seraphina thought of Betty.
Betty had been gone for a while, but now, there was another child calling her mom.
As Seraphina watched this child, who couldn’t make a sound but was still trying to call out to her, to comfort her, her tears began to flow like a fountain.
She reached out and held Valerio tightly, feeling his warmth and breath. Her heart, which felt so lost and alone, was suddenly filled with warmth and comfort.
Leandro watched quietly. After a while, he bent down and embraced both Valerio and Seraphina, then planted a gentle kiss on Seraphina’s face.
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