Tangled in his Obsession novel Chapter 408

Bowen gave a low chuckle, deeply inhaling from his cigar, before slowly exhaling the smoke and turning to look at Leandro. "Seraphina must be swamped today, isn't she? I suppose that would make Mr. Reynolds even busier, hmm?"

Someone nearby offered Leandro a cigar, which he promptly refused with a raise of his hand. Only then did he turn to look at Bowen. "I wouldn't say I'm particularly busy. After all, not everything requires a hands-on approach."

At this, Bowen slowly nodded, maintaining his lighthearted demeanor. He appeared relaxed, and yet there was a certain caution in his eyes that never quite matched his smile.

Leandro, on the other hand, seemed to barely acknowledge Bowen, his attention mostly centered on Seraphina, occasionally glancing over to watch her sip her wine or nibble at her food.

As the host of the dinner, Hanley couldn't let this tension persist, so he quickly lifted his wine glass and walked over to Bowen, getting him a glass of wine. "Bowen, why don't you and Leandro have a drink together? You're both men of action, there's no need to cling to those old grudges."

Upon hearing this, Bowen indeed lifted his glass in Leandro's direction. "Mr. Reynolds, let's leave the past in the past. The future is uncertain, so let's just take care of each other, shall we?"

Seraphina gave Bowen a look, noting his lazy posture. His words seemed harmless at first, but she knew better. This wasn't him backing down; it was a challenge.

"Leandro, time to pick up your glass, have a drink." Hanley quickly moved to Leandro's side, determined to play the peacemaker.

Leandro, ever respectful of his elders, accepted the glass from Hanley. "I have no hard feelings on my side," Leandro slowly said, glancing at Seraphina. "After all, I've gotten everything I wanted. But I wonder if you truly believe you can move past our history, Mr. Smith?"

Bowen laughed lightly, responding, "Let's leave the past in the past, and focus on the future."

Leandro raised an eyebrow, saying, "Fair enough."

Seraphina let out a small snort of laughter. "All this talk about the past and the future, it's all so ethereal. I don't know what you two are planning, but thankfully, I'm just a simple woman, and it's not my place to interfere."

"A simple woman?" The woman sitting next to Hanley chimed in. "How many women in the world are as fortunate as Mrs. Reynolds? Mr. Reynolds is so accomplished and adoring, it's almost too much to envy!"

Seraphina sighed. "A woman's happiness isn't determined by the man at her side, but rather whether she has her own life plans and joys."

With that, Seraphina pretended to be drunk and reached into her purse for a tissue, accidentally pulling out a brightly colored ticket that fluttered down to Bowen's feet.

Bowen picked it up and read it, his gaze hardening at the words printed there. "A cruise ticket? So you were at the airport this morning to go here, Sera?"

"Oh, dear, you've found me out," Seraphina laughed, covering her mouth. "I've never been good at lying. Just a few minutes and I'm already exposed. But for some people, they can keep a lie for over a decade and nobody would know!"

Leandro said, "Usually, those who can keep a lie for that long have deceived themselves as well."

"But if a man lies to a woman about loving her, and keeps up that lie for over a decade, does he truly love her, or does he just think he loves her?"

Leandro looked at Seraphina, replying, "It's a hypothetical question, I can't answer that."

"Boring." Seraphina huffed, turning to Bowen. "What about you, Bowen?"

Bowen, his eyes dark, responded with a wry smile. "Considering the nature of the question, Sera, I imagine you already have your answer in mind. Does mine really matter?"

Hanging up the phone, Bowen found himself standing at the end of the hallway by the window, lighting up another cigarette to calm his nerves.

The flame from the lighter flickered, casting a shadow across his troubled face.

Seraphina stepped out from the private dining room, catching sight of Bowen's lone figure by the window. Despite his stoic demeanor, she could sense an undercurrent of melancholy.

Regrettably, he was one man she could never forgive in this lifetime.

"Bowen, you sure have a temper," Seraphina approached him slowly, her laughter filled with sarcasm. "I could hear your rage all the way from the dining room."

Only then did Bowen turn to look at her. He decided to cut to the chase. "Where's Sandra?"

"At this very moment, she's out at sea," Seraphina replied truthfully. "As to where she'll be in the future, I'm not certain."

Bowen scoffed at her answer, clearly not buying it. After a moment of silence, he finally asked, "Do you really think this is what's best for her?"

"Anything would be better than being with you," Seraphina retorted. "Without you, she will have better days ahead."

Bowen took a couple of drags from his cigarette before looking at her again. "Do you all really believe that this is revenge against me?"

"Revenge or not, I wouldn't know," Seraphina shrugged. "All I know is that the person who's alcoholic and chain-smoking, losing his temper and suffering from sleepless nights won't be me."