Tangled in his Obsession novel Chapter 114

In the early morning, he returned from Seashore Haven and quickly went back to his office after freshening up. After grinding all day, he realized he hasn't slept for two days straight.

Yet under such circumstances, he found himself wide awake half an hour after he dozed off.

He didn't have any dreams, and nothing was physically wrong. He just woke up, out of the blue.

After a moment of silence, Leandro got up, got dressed, and went downstairs.

Unexpectedly, the living room was still lit, with Karan watching TV on the sofa.

Hearing his footsteps, Karan turned to look at him, frowned and asked, "Didn't you just go to bed? Why are you up again?"

"Can't sleep, thought I'd have a drink." Leandro walked over to the liquor cabinet, got himself a drink, and then asked her, "Why are you still up?"

Karan exhaled, "I'm getting old, don't need as much sleep. I can't sleep either, so I'm watching TV."

Leandro settled down on the couch with his drink, taking sips while watching the lively family drama on TV.

Karan looked at him and asked, "Does the drink help?"

"A bit," Leandro replied.

After a while, Karan said again, "You're putting too much pressure on yourself. You don't have to handle everything personally. Don't your employees do anything?"

Leandro didn't answer, just swirled his drink.

"Didn't the company run just fine when you were away at Seashore Haven for a few days? You don't have to take everything on yourself. The Reynolds Group of today isn't the Reynolds Group before. Although I don't know the specifics of the company, its foundations are solid. It's not going to crumble easily. Why are you working yourself to the bone?" Karan paused, then said, "You need to move on from the past."

Leandro finished his drink and put down the glass.

"Take some time to relax, live a normal life. Spend more time with Valerio, or... try dating," Karan suggested.

She hesitated a bit at the end.

Leandro looked at her, "What's up with you?"

"I know if you were to date, you'd choose someone I wouldn't like," Karan said, "But if you really like her, who can stop you?"

After a moment, Leandro softly said, "That's not happening."

"Don't bullshit me!" Karan looked at him, "I watched you grow up. You've become more reserved these years, so I might not understand you as well as before, but I can still tell some things. In all these years, which woman has had the freedom to come and go from your house like she does?"

Leandro didn't speak, just listened quietly.

Karan turned back to the TV, slowly saying, "Actually, I sometimes think it's nice when she's here. At least since she returned... you've been more like a normal person."

After she finished, they both fell silent.

Leandro sat on the sofa, finishing an episode of the drama with her, before he got up and returned to his bedroom.

He lay back down on his bed. The room was as quiet as usual.

But there was no one to sneak out from under his covers anymore, no warm presence or sweet scent to accompany him to sleep.

......

Before Seraphina visited the Adams family, Nadine not only prepared a gift for her but also arranged for her own driver to take her there.

"Why are you here?" Cooper looked surprised. He glanced at Melisa.

Melisa laughed, "Don't you two know each other? Since you're friends, what's the harm in inviting her over? Cooper, have a chat with Seraphina. I'll go make some afternoon tea."

Melisa got up to leave, leaving Seraphina and Cooper alone.

But when she left, their conversation halted until Seraphina couldn't help but laugh, "why are you not saying anything? Not happy to see me?"

"Not that," Cooper looked up at Seraphina, "We haven't seen each other for three years. You've... changed."

Seraphina smiled, "That's because you never come out. If you saw me more, you wouldn't think I've changed."

Cooper just gave a quiet chuckle, then asked, "What brings you here?"

"Something about my mom. You know about it, don't you?" Seraphina asked.

Upon hearing this, Cooper just casually nodded, "Yeah."

Suddenly, Seraphina leaned in closer, "Do you know what happened when she was rescued? What exactly did those people do to her?"

Cooper quickly caught on to her question, replying, "As far as I know, she just got roughed up for a bit, nothing more than that. You don’t have to worry."

Upon hearing this, Seraphina nodded, feeling slightly more at ease.

"Why are you asking my family about such a thing?" Cooper said, "Shouldn't you be asking your mom?"

Seraphina broke into a laugh, saying, "There are things you just can't blurt out to the person involved. Like... I had no idea you had a thing for me."