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, tiptoeing patiently.

tall, impeccably dressed man emerged

called him. When he turned around, she raised the cigarette in her

me a light?”

the breeze in her red

there for a while

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

Mr. Lawson,” she said with

seem surprised that she recognized him. He just smiled slightly,

hardly

switch on his lighter, the blue flame flickering

then looked up at the man in front of her and smiled slightly. “Thank you, Mr.

put away

her arm around his, looking at him with a sweet smile.

was fixed behind

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

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

answered politely, “What can I do for you, Mr. Ike?”

with a smile, “I was hoping

answer, Seraphina was already clinging to him, cooing, “Mr. Lawson promised to take me home. He can’t drink

seemingly understanding something, and

said goodbye to Ike, arm in arm with Seraphina,

his wife passed away, he’s been avoiding women,

behind Ike said.

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

towards the

still early, the dance isn’t over yet, Ms. Bennett, are you sure you want to leave?”

and looked

just a slight movement, her heels

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

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

no, I can’t do that. After all, I paid for these shoes. The more uncomfortable they make me feel, the more I want

didn’t say anything

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

Balch smiled slightly.

they got in the car, Balch whispered something to the driver. Soon, the driver took