Leandro paused at the entrance, observing her silently. She remained still, not acknowledging his presence. Taking a step forward, he stopped right in front of her, tilting his head slightly as he inquired, "What's going on?"
When Seraphina finally raised her eyes to meet his, the raw emotion in them was evident. She appeared taken aback, a mix of sadness and confusion evident in her gaze. Without a word, her hands instinctively rose to cover the plunging neckline of her dress.
Suppressing a smirk, Leandro merely watched her, biting back a chuckle.
After a moment, Seraphina finally answered, "I don't want to wear this dress... They said every woman has to wear it, and they took my clothes..."
Leandro looked at her carefully and then asked, "You look great in it, why don't you want to wear it?"
Even though she had just started high school, she was tall and could pull off the dress perfectly—its beauty was even more striking because of her youthful innocence.
Hearing Leandro’s question, Seraphina looked down again.
Seeing her reaction, Leandro was even more curious, "Isn’t it every girl's dream to wear a wedding dress? Why are you the exception?"
It was a long time before Seraphina finally answered him,"I'm not looking forward to it."
"Why?"
Tears filled her eyes as she gazed at him, "I'll never get to walk down the aisle with my dad, so I don't look forward to it." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face. She quickly brushed them away, sitting in silence.
Leandro was taken aback, trying to grasp her words.
While most girls dream of fairy-tale weddings in these dresses, her thoughts lingered on her late father, absent from her future moments.
Although the Reynolds had taken her in, with Conway cherishing her like a granddaughter and Bruce as a daughter, it couldn't fill the void left by her lost parents.
After a moment of silence, Leandro left the room to find Rachel, "Where are Seraphina's clothes? Bring them to me."
"Why?" Rachel asked, "She's having fun, why does she need to change?"
Leandro's impatience was evident. "Just bring them," he ordered.
Not wanting to provoke him further, Rachel quickly collected the clothes Seraphina had taken off and handed them over.
Among them were a T-shirt, a school jacket, trousers, and a delicate pink piece of underwear.
Suppressing a giggle, Rachel hurriedly left after handing over the items.
Leandro sighed as he held the clothes, especially noting the underwear. He approached the dressing area and handed them back to Seraphina.
Her eyes widened momentarily when she saw the pink underwear. Swiftly, she grabbed the clothes and hurriedly disappeared behind the curtain.
Moments later, she emerged in her school uniform, meticulously zipped up to the very top, her face slightly flushed.
Without wasting time, Leandro escorted her to his car and drove her home.
Leandro met her gaze, taking a moment to process the situation. Then, he shifted his eyes to Conway and Magdalen, who were settled comfortably in the living room.
Catching his glance, Seraphina felt something was different about him today. But she didn’t think much of it, attributing the subtle change to his fluctuating mood.
“Conway.” Leandro walked over, looking at Conway seriously, “I know you sneaked out of the hospital this morning. The doctor called you. Why didn’t you answer?”
Conway sighed, “I’m going stir-crazy being in the hospital all the time. I just came out for some fresh air, it’s not a big deal. We’re planning a wedding at home, isn’t it normal for me to help out?”
Seraphina walked over and squatted down in front of Conway, "Conway, I know you’re bored out of your mind in the hospital. How about I move there to keep you company? I'll do all my prep work there and you can be involved in every step of the way, okay?"
"No, no, no!" Conway protested, smacking her forehead lightly, "You're about to be a bride, you can't just rot away in a hospital. Here's what we'll do, once I check outta this joint, I'll move back home and you guys can come back and keep me company."
"Conway..."
Seraphina was about to say something when Leandro suddenly cut in, "That’s not a half-bad idea."
A bit surprised, Seraphina turned to Leandro, her eyes asking what he's up to.
Leandro’s voice held a tone of firm decision. "If grandpa doesn't want to stay in the hospital, we should bring him home. I can ensure there’s a dedicated doctor and caregiver present at all times."
He paused, looking directly at his grandfather. "Endless days in a hospital can take a toll on anyone's spirit. Grandpa, your place is at home, relaxed and in familiar surroundings. Remember, you have an important duty coming up. In just a month, you'll be walking Seraphina down the aisle."
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