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.

no hurry,

tall, impeccably dressed man

he turned around, she raised the cigarette in her hand.

me a light?”

garden. Standing in the breeze in her red

for a while before

six, tall and thin, dressed in a well–fitted black suit. He was wearing black–rimmed glasses, and he

said with a smile, her voice soft.

recognized him. He just smiled

like him, there was hardly anyone in Sunburst City who

the switch on his lighter, the blue flame flickering

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

welcome,” Balch said calmly, put away

then draped her arm around his, looking at him with a sweet smile. Balch seemed somewhat surprised, looking at her without

was fixed

end of the hallway, Ike was coming this way with two

on his face remained. “Mr. Lawson, I couldn’t find you in the banquet hall.

“What can I do for you, Mr.

smile,

was already clinging to him, cooing, “Mr. Lawson promised to take me

understanding something, and nodded in

goodbye to Ike, arm in arm with Seraphina, they strolled away.

ever since his wife passed away, he’s been avoiding women, hasn’t

behind Ike said.

two, a smile still on his face, but

Balch, headed towards the hotel

looking calmly ahead, and said softly, “It’s still early, the dance isn’t over yet, Ms. Bennett, are you

and looked down at her

movement,

I couldn’t help it. I’m wearing a

and said slowly, “If the shoes don’t fit, you should

for these shoes. The more uncomfortable they make me feel, the more I want to step

anything

at him, “A nice guy like Mr. Lawson may

Balch

Balch whispered something to the driver.