Chapter 10
Seraphina stepped out of Leandro’s place and spotted Balch’s house.
They lived in the same neighborhood, with every house having its own unique style despite the unified villa design. Balch’s villa was just to the east of Leandro’s, a mere fifty meters apart.
Seraphina silently followed Balch, causing him to turn around, “What’s up?”
Seraphina let out a sigh, “Nothing, just thinking it’s too much of a coincidence. It makes me a little uneasy.”
Upon hearing this, Balch chuckled, “Yeah, it’s quite the coincidence.“.
They were now at Balch’s doorstep. He stopped and said, “Hang on a sec. I need to get my car.”
Seraphina looked up at his door and laughed, “We’re right at your doorstep and you’re not gonna invite me in for a cup of joe?”
Balch adjusted his glasses and grinned, “I didn’t want to be too forward. You wanna come in for a bit?”
As he was about to unlock the door, Seraphina grabbed his arm, “I was just joking. Look at me, all wrinkled up and not exactly presentable. Better just take me home.”
So, Balch drove Seraphina home himself.
As they passed Leandro’s house, Seraphina turned to see Valerio, the young boy, leaning on the second–floor balcony railing, seemingly watching her car. The car quickly passed and Seraphina looked away.
“Do you know Leandro?” Balch suddenly asked.
Seraphina chuckled lightly, “Kind of. If not, I might have been left on the curb after mistakenly getting into his car last night.”
“I didn’t expect him to let you stay the night.” Balch commented.
Upon hearing this, Seraphina blinked, “Actually, I lived with the Reynolds family for a few years when I was young. But if you’re asking if I have any connection to them, nope, I just lived there till I was eighteen…”
“And then?”
“And then…” Seraphina glanced forward, “My absent mother suddenly had a change of heart and took me abroad to live with her.”
At a red light, Balch turned to Seraphina, “Didn’t have a good time at the Reynolds‘?”
“Could I?” Seraphina looked at him, “I was neither here nor there, neither fish nor fowl. How many people in that house do you think liked me?”
Balch looked at her, his eyes soft as if they could soothe her soul.
Seraphina immediately laughed, “But that’s all in the past. Luckily, I have a knack for self–regulation, or you wouldn’t be seeing me as I am now.”
The light turned green. Balch slowly moved the car, looking forward, he murmured, “You’re doing pretty good
now.”
Seraphina leaned back in her seat, looking at him with a natural smile and a twinkle in her eye.
After saying goodbye to Balch, Seraphina got home and had just taken a shower when the doorbell rang. She opened the door to see Sandra standing there, visibly relieved to see she was home.
“What happened?” Sandra walked in, shutting the door behind her, “Where were you last night? I called and called and you didn’t pick up. I was worried sick!”
Seraphina, drying her hair, sat down on the sofa, “I’m fine, aren’t I? Relax, I’m not that easy to get rid of.”
“So, you were with Balch last night?” Sandra asked again.
“Nope.” Seraphina slowly dried her hair, “I spent the night at Leandro’s.”
At the mention of “Leandro“, Sandra’s face went pale, she looked at Seraphina as if she couldn’t believe her own ears, “Leandro?”
Seeing Sandra’s reaction, Seraphina couldn’t help but laugh.
“You…you’re pulling my leg, right?” Sandra looked at Seraphina anxiously.
Seraphina calmly looked back at her, “Nope. I had a few too many last night, called Balch to pick me up but ended up in Leandro’s car by mistake.”
Sandra was left speechless with shock. After a while, she managed to ask, “So…everything okay?”
Seraphina sighed, “Yeah, just a bit surprised to meet his son.”
“What did you say?” Sandra looked at Seraphina in confusion, “Whose son?”
“Leandro’s.” Seraphina glanced at her, “You’re also from a wealthy family, but how do you not know he has a
son?”
Sandra has been Seraphina’s desk mate since primary school and they’ve been besties since they were ten. Even though the Smith family isn’t exactly high society, they’re well off. Sandra, despite being low–key, is a trust–fund baby. The two have been tight even after Seraphina left Sunburst City for Starhaven, with Sandra sticking by her side through thick and thin.
“I…” Sandra looked confused, “I never heard… How could Leandro have a son? I’ve never heard any rumors!”
“Looks like the Reynolds have been good at keeping this kid under wraps.” Seraphina slowly said, “Of course, it could also be because the kid’s identity can’t be revealed.”
“Who’s the mother?” Sandra frowned, “Could it be Vivian?”
Seraphina looked at her helplessly, “Sandra, why are you being so slow today?”
Vivian, the girlfriend Leandro brought home seven years ago, but on that very day, she fell off the balcony of the Reynolds family and was severely injured, leaving her in a vegetative state from which she has not woken up since. “Yeah, no way it’s her…” Sandra mumbled distantly, then snapped back to reality, “Hold on, what does it matter to us who the mother of his kid is! Don’t talk about it!”
Seraphina let out a sudden laugh, “But I am curious.”
“Sera!” Sandra looked at her, “Don’t tell me you’re still hung up on Leandro?”
“It’s not like that.” Seraphina replied nonchalantly while applying body lotion, “I’m just curious, what kind of woman can catch Leandro’s eye?”
Sandra clearly looked anxious upon hearing this, “Why do you care about what kind of women he’s into?”
“Even if I tried to be nice to him today, he was still as cold as ever.” Seraphina laughed, “He didn’t fancy me seven years ago, and he still doesn’t now… I feel kind of like a failure!”
Sandra jabbed her head hard, “The whole city’s men are attracted to you, why do you care about one Leandro!”
“Then why can I attract so many men, but not Leandro?”
Sandra was about to get angry, “Seraphina!”
“Alright, alright!” Seraphina glanced at her and burst into laughter, “I was just kidding. After seven years, do you think I would allow myself to be troubled by him again?”
Sandra listened, but still just stared at Seraphina, who ignored her and started rummaging in her handbag. She couldn’t find what she was looking for, and Sandra couldn’t help but ask, “What are you looking for?”
Seraphina looked up at her and slowly said, “I can’t find my voice recorder in my bag.”
Chapter
