Tangled in his Obsession novel 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."