Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina) novel Chapter 476

By the time the wedding reception drew to a close, Seraphina, who had spent the evening fluttering like a social butterfly, was slightly tipsy.

Despite her eagerness to leave, she graciously entertained last-minute conversations, ensuring she had bid farewell to each and every guest before finally slipping into the backseat of the car.

As soon as she settled herself, she slumped into the plush leather, eyes fluttering shut. Leandro, having wrapped up his own farewells, returned to find her already half-asleep.

He slid into the car beside her, gently lifting her head to rest on his lap, and then signaled the driver to head home.

The car hummed along the quiet streets, its interior shrouded in silence. Yet, halfway through the journey, Leandro sensed something amiss.

Glancing down, he noticed that Seraphina, who had been resting peacefully, was now wide-eyed and staring blankly.

Without a word, he helped her sit up. She instinctively leaned into his embrace, still seemingly in need of more comfort, her hand reaching up to grasp at his shoulder, pulling herself closer.

"You know," Seraphina began in a hushed tone, "when I saw Bowen and Tania up there, exchanging vows, I had this urge to snap a pic and text it to Sandra. Ask her if betraying our friendship for a guy like that was really worth it..."

Leandro offered no reply, simply held her, his hand rhythmically patting her back in a soothing manner.

"But I didn't do it," she continued. "She's miserable enough as it is, and I know she's full of regret. She’s always been..." Seraphina's words trailed off into a whisper, her voice muffled against Leandro's chest.

And he listened, letting her vent the frustrations and disappointments of the evening, understanding that beneath her polished facade was a heartache she seldom showed.

He knew how adept she was at managing her emotions, when to cry, when to laugh, and when to let go. But in the vulnerability of her inebriated state, Leandro just let her be.

Sure enough, come morning, Seraphina was back to her usual self as if nothing had happened. Sandra, Bowen, all temporarily pushed to the back of her mind as she focused on the upcoming art gallery opening.

The next day, she had an appointment with Xavier, the city's renowned art collector, to discuss the possibility of showcasing some of his treasures at her event.

Xavier's studio was nestled in the western part of the city, an old factory district transformed into a trendy artistic quarter, now home to a myriad of quirky shops and studios.

Though the area was designed for tourists, it was rather quiet on a weekday, with most of the bars and cafes still shuttered, and only the occasional photography crew roaming around.

For Seraphina, this was a first-time visit, and she found herself fascinated, her eyes darting from one colorful mural to another, hardly knowing where to look next.

It wasn't until the car pulled up in front of a standalone building that the quiet of the place really settled in. A little girl, maybe three or four years old, was holding a kitten and playing.

Seraphina's heart went out to the child, who seemed to be all alone, and she was about to approach her when Abbot, her bodyguard, suddenly pulled her back with a sharp tug. "Watch out!"

As Seraphina stumbled backward, Abbot lunged forward, scooping the little girl into his arms just as a potted plant came crashing down from above, striking him squarely in the back.

Seraphina rushed to help, lifting the startled child and reaching out to assist Abbot, who was clearly injured but endured the pain.

"Call an ambulance!" she ordered the others, but Abbot protested, "No need, ma’am," he grunted through the pain. "I can handle it."

"You can handle it, but what if something serious happens? How would I explain that to your family?" Seraphina countered. "I can't bear that responsibility."

She then looked up towards the third floor of the building from where the pot had fallen. It was clear that it was no light impact.

Seraphina dared not move him herself, waiting desperately for the ambulance to arrive. The little girl, who had been playing with the kitten, stood by dumbfounded, clearly shaken.

Just then, footsteps echoed up the stairwell, and the bodyguards quickly formed a protective circle around her, eyes on the newcomer.

A man in his thirties appeared, pausing in surprise at the sight of them. "Who are you folks?"

Seraphina responded, "Do you live here?"

The man eyed them warily. "Why are you loitering at my doorstep?"

"A flowerpot fell from your balcony and hit my friend," Seraphina explained calmly. "We mean no harm; just wanted to make sure you're aware for safety's sake."

The man blinked, then his irritation flared. "It must've been that damn cat!"

With swift steps, he approached, fumbling with his keys to unlock the door.

As the door swung open, suddenly, something was hurled out, clattering to a stop at Seraphina's feet.

She glanced down sharply, spotting an object resembling a grenade right by her shoe.

The man who had opened the door quickly ducked inside, slamming the door shut with a loud "bang!"

"Ma'am, watch out!" A bodyguard shielded Seraphina with his body.

Boom! With a deafening blast and a blinding flash, Seraphina's world went dark.