Tangled in his Obsession novel Chapter 4

After the main part of the engagement ceremony, the dance party was up next. After Peterson and Edith finished their first dance, more youngsters joined in the fun on the dance floor, having a whale of a time.

Upstairs in the lounge, the Whitmans and the Millers were sitting together, their faces grave after a heated argument. Ike Whitman, the second son of the Whitman family, was nonchalantly leaning against the window, intrigued by the scene on the dance floor.-

Among the sea of soft, muted colors, a lady in a red dress stood out, her skirt swirling with her dance moves, oozing artistic flair.

The party had been going on for just twenty minutes, and Seraphina had already had five dance partners. Yet, there were still plenty of dudes lurking around, hoping for a chance to dance with her.

The door was pushed open, and Peterson and Edith came in. Edith's dad immediately picked up a glass of water and threw it at Peterson's feet.

Ike turned around when he heard the noise.

The parents started arguing again, but Edith and Peterson remained silent, one with a stiff face, the other puffing away on his cigarette, frowning.

The lounge door was pushed open again, and the bridesmaid Amelia appeared, panting.

Edith looked at her with a poker face. "Where have you been?"

"I... I was locked in the toilet. I just managed to get out." Amelia was startled by the tense atmosphere in the room. "What happened?"

Edith sneered, then turned to look at Ike.

Ike smiled and said, "Come on, it's a day of celebration. Don't frown all the time. As for Seraphina... I'll take care of it."

As soon as he finished speaking, Peterson looked up at him, his face dark.

Ike had already turned his head, his gaze returning to the banquet hall.

The dance floor was still buzzing.

*

Apart from the boisterous atmosphere, the open garden at the end of the corridor seemed serene and tranquil.

Seraphina was leaning at the entrance of the garden, holding a slim ladies' cigarette in her hand, but it wasn't lit.

She was in no hurry, tiptoeing patiently.

Soon, a tall, impeccably dressed man emerged from the nearby restroom.

"Sir," Seraphina gently called him. When he turned around, she raised the cigarette in her hand. "Could you lend me a light?"

The night wind swept through the garden. Standing in the breeze in her red dress with the skirt fluttering, she was stunning.

The man stood there for a while before approaching her.

It was then that Seraphina got a good look at him. He was about thirty-five or six, tall and thin, dressed in a well-fitted black suit. He was wearing black-rimmed glasses, and he had long, gentle eyebrows and eyes, giving him a refined and scholarly look.

"So it's Mr. Lawson," she said with a smile, her voice soft.

Balch Lawson didn't seem surprised that she recognized him. He just smiled slightly, his eyes unwavering.

After all, as a tycoon like him, there was hardly anyone in Sunburst City who didn't know him.

Balch elegantly flicked the switch on his lighter, the blue flame flickering between his fingers.

Seraphina tilted her head slightly, lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, watched the smoke slowly rise, then looked up at the man in front of her and smiled slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Lawson."

"You're welcome," Balch said calmly, put away his lighter, and turned to leave.

But Seraphina suddenly grabbed his sleeve, then draped her arm around his, looking at him with a sweet smile.

Balch seemed somewhat surprised, looking at her without any hint of disgust.

Seraphina's gaze, however, was fixed behind him.

Balch turned to look, and at the end of the hallway, Ike was coming this way with two others.

Seeing Balch standing next to Seraphina, Ike seemed somewhat surprised, but the smile on his face remained. "Mr. Lawson, I couldn't find you in the banquet hall. You came out for some fresh air, I see."

Balch answered politely, "What can I do for you, Mr. Ike?"