Chapter 6
Seraphina smiled and didn’t seem to care about the people around her, just looking intently at Ike. At first, Ike was somewhat cautious, but seeing Leandro engrossed in conversation with Ira, he gradually relaxed and began to toast Seraphina continuously.
Seraphina, however, was a champion drinker. She matched Ike drink for drink, until his vision began to blur. Yet, she remained unperturbed.
Naturally, Ike was not about to let her drink hirn under the table without a fight. He signaled to those around them to toast Seraphina. Suddenly, members of the Whitman family were coming up to toast, making the atmosphere lively. Seraphina accepted all the toasts. Feeling she had drunk enough, she took out her phone and texted Balch: Can you send a driver to pick me up?
A few minutes later, Balach replied with a single word: OK.
Seraphina, smiling at the message and rubbing her forehead, looked up to find Leandro’s deep, calm eyes on
her.
Throughout the night, Leandro had been chatting with Ira. Now that he seemed to be done, he lit a cigarette, silently watching her.
Taking a deep breath, Seraphina rose, holding her glass aloft.
“Mr. Reynolds, I never thought I’d have the chance to share a table with you. It’s a real honor.” Her words slurred slightly, her gaze slightly blurry. The earring on her ear shone, catching attention just like her gaze. “This one’s for you.”
Before Leandro could react, Seraphina had already downed her drink.
A hint of awkwardness flashed across her face as she turned to Ike, saying, “Mr. Reynolds is still as cold as
ever.”
Hearing this, a slightly tipsy Ike laughed. Ira gave Seraphina a longer look.
Leandro, however, just puffed on his cigarette, his usual calm undisturbed.
“Mr. Reynolds may be cold, but I’m not!” Ike slurred, slinging his arm around Seraphina’s shoulder, whispering in her ear with a smirk, “Whatever you give me, I’ll drink. Even if it’s poison.”
Seraphina laughed.
As the dinner ended, Seraphina was the first to leave.
She knew she had reached her limit and needed to leave immediately to get home safely. Nevertheless, Ike was hot on her heels, insisting on taking her home. As she was halfway out, Ike pulled her back into his arms.
“Why are you running?” Ike asked, his eyes glassy. “Didn’t you want to see how much I could drink?”
He began to laugh at his own words. Seraphina joined him, “I said I have a second round to attend. If you really can handle it, come with me!”
With that, she broke free from Ike and continued to make her way out. Ike wanted to follow, but was stopped by
Ira.
Walking side by side with Leandro, Ira stopped Ike, whispering, “Cut it out!”
“Why?” Ike was visibly annoyed. “I’m definitely going to sleep with that woman tonight!”
Ira chuckled sarcastically, “How dare you touch a woman connected to Leandro?”
Ike stiffened, his eyes widening.
As Seraphina hurried to the exit of the “Enchanted Petals Club“, she saw a black car – Balch’s car.
Chapter 6
Before Ike could catch up, Seraphina quickly headed towards the car. She was at her limit, having been holding It together to avoid Ike. Now that she could finally escape, she felt herself relax. By the time she reached the car door, her head was spinning.
Using the last of her strength, she climbed into the car, managing to tell the driver “Wake me when we get there” before collapsing on the back seat.
When Leandro appeared at the car, the black car calmly pulled up.
Kearney, the manager of the “Enchanted Petals Club“, personally escorted Leandro to the car, “Uh, Mr. Reynolds, I think you arrived in a different car.”
“Yes,” Leandro replied calmly, “I swapped it out.”
As Kearney held the door open for him, he caught a glimpse of a dark green dress in the back seat but didn’t give it a second thought.
Soon after, Ike and Ira emerged, the black car was already gone, swallowed by the night.
The car drove smoothly on the wide streets of Sunburst City, heading south.
In her sleep, Seraphina seemed to smell something. It was the smell of tobacco mixed with minty, old and familiar, like someone’s scent…
That man wasn’t familiar to her.
In a deep sleep, Seraphina suddenly laughed, then fell silent again….
Her dreams were long and repetitive. Seraphina slept heavily, and when she finally woke up, she felt as though a lot of time had passed. She was in a soft bed, the room around her dim. She had no idea where she was. Sitting up, she fumbled for the light switch.
She found herself in a cold, grey bedroom. Even the bedding was dark grey. The room was large but without any extra decorations, giving no hint to the identity of its owner.
Seraphina got out of bed, walked over to the closed curtain and pulled back the thick curtain.. At noon, the sun was shining, and outside was a private pool, its surface shimmering. It looked like a private villa.
Seraphina came back to herself, her heart racing as the memory of last night flashed back to her.
