Tangled in his Obsession novel Chapter 436

Leaving Valerio's school, Leandro had planned to take Seraphina to a cozy little bistro for lunch, but his plans were interrupted by a call from Herman.

"Leandro, you're in Summitville too?" Herman's voice came through the phone. "Let's grab some lunch together."

"With you?" Leandro responded bluntly, "No time for that."

He didn't visit Summitville often and certainly didn't want to waste his time with Herman.

Seraphina could hear Herman's whining through the phone and couldn't help but lean in close, cheek to cheek with Leandro, to listen in.

"Come on, don't be like that," Herman pleaded from the other end. "I know you're here to see Seraphina and Valerio, but we haven't caught up in ages. A quick bite won't kill you, will it?"

It would waste a lot of time.

Leandro was about to say just that when Seraphina snatched the phone from his hand and chuckled softly, "Tell me, are you looking to have lunch with Leandro or someone else? Because there's no one else with us."

"I know that," Herman responded, sounding like he was grinding his teeth.

Seraphina couldn't help but laugh, then said, "Well, since you're so pitiful, we'll accept your lunch invitation. Send over the address."

After hanging up, Seraphina handed the phone back to Leandro, who finally spoke up, "I don't recall agreeing to lunch with him."

"But I did," Seraphina glanced at him. "If you don’t want to see him, we can go our separate ways. I don't mind at all."

Leandro remained silent, just pocketing his phone. Then Seraphina leaned in closer to him and added, "The reason I agreed is that I know he's been feeling down lately. We should cheer him up."

"Him? Feeling down?" Leandro echoed thoughtfully.

"Yeah," Seraphina confirmed. "He's had a breakup."

She proceeded to tell Leandro about the vague and elusive tangle between Herman and Andrea.

"You call that a breakup?"

Seraphina replied, "Herman has been carrying a torch for that girl for seven years, turned her ringtone into his favorite song. Was that all just out of guilt? Over these years, she became a part of his life. He spent seven years fantasizing about her, falling for this imagined girl. But now, this girl has become real. Maybe Andrea doesn't match his dreams, and to him, that feels like a breakup. Or maybe he could accept Andrea as she is, but if she outright denies it, that's a breakup to him too. So either way, he's heartbroken."

Leandro looked at her with a slightly furrowed brow, "Since when did you become a relationship expert?"

"I've always been like this," Seraphina claimed. "I'm always logical and clear-headed when it's someone else's love life."

"And when are you not logical or clear-headed?" Leandro pressed in a deeper tone.

Seraphina turned her head to gaze out the window, "I hope I never have to be like that again. So no matter what, I try to avoid it."

Leandro didn't respond, just reached out and quietly held her hand.

As a civil servant, Herman chose a modest diner for their lunch, but thankfully they had a private booth, which offered some peace and quiet.