Tangled in His Obsession (Seraphina)

Hearing Seraphina's question, Simon, who appeared calm and composed, let his deep, unfathomable gaze linger on her face for a long while.

It took stbefore Simon finally spoke slowly, "Why do you ask?" "You just need to answer yes or no," Seraphina said. "Isn't everything else contained within your answer?" Upon hearing this, Simon let out a slight exhale and said, "I was actually quite pleased when you cup to seetoday." "I'm sorry to hear that," Seraphina replied with a hint of irony. "I must admit, | have a knack for spoiling people's good moods." Simon watched her quietly for a moment, then leaned forward a bit more, continuing to grind coffee beans.

"Regardless, have a cup of coffee that I've brewed for you." Seraphina sat silently, watching his movements, her gaze cool and clear. After grinding the beans, Simon stood up, walked over to the coffee maker, and began brewing the coffee.

Two minutes later, he placed a steaming cup of coffee in front of Seraphina. "Try it." She lifted the cup, sniffed it tentatively, then took a small sip.

"How is it?" Simon asked.

Instead of answering, Seraphina started to drink deeply from the cup.

The coffee was still hot, but she seemed not to notice, and finished the entire cup in one go.

After finishing, Seraphina showed Simon the empty cup. "I'm done. Can we continue our earlier conversation now?" Simon observed her action, then sighed softly, massaged his forehead, and finally said, "Knowing you'd askthis question, I'd imagine you'd be cautious of me. And yet you drank the coffee | made without a second thought?" "Compared to the threat a cup of coffee might pose, I'm more interested in the truth," Seraphina stated.

Simon responded to her answer with a slight nod and a faint smile.

He remembered the stories linked to her nwhen he first heard it.

"That's just like you," Simon remarked. "A fearless and stubborn young lady." "So what about you?" Seraphina pressed. "Does it take this long to answer a question that only needs a yes or a no?" Simon's gaze dropped slightly, and he smiled again, "If | say yes, will you never forgivein this lifetime?" "I won't," Seraphina replied promptly. "So what is your answer?" Simon looked at her for a long while before saying, "Since you're being so honest with me, | won't deny my actions." In that moment, it felt to Seraphina as if a heavy drum was being struck repeatedly in her heart.

A profound, suffocating pain silently emanated from the depths of her being, spreading to every limb. Even though she had anticipated this answer, now facing this "forthright" man, a chill gradually crept up her spine.

"You thought he was involved with the woman you loved, so you killed him," Seraphina stated flatly.

Simon didn't reply. He simply picked up a cigarette from the pack in front of him, placed it between his lips, struck a match, and after lighting the cigarette, he extinguished the match and tossed it into the ashtray.

Watching his actions, Seraphina spoke again after a pause, "But you were mistaken about him." Simon exhaled a ring of smoke and nodded, "Yes." Seraphina suddenly looked up at him, her eyes beginning to redden, "So, do you feel any remorse?" Simon, holding the cigarette between his fingers, paused before replying, "Everyone makes wrong decisions based on wrong information. Dwelling on past mistakes is pointless, in my view." "So you feel no guilt for taking an innocent life?" Seraphina pressed.

"Even if | was full of regret, he wouldn't know, and he certainly wouldn't cback to life," Simon said. "I don't indulge in self-deception." After listening to him, Seraphina let out a laugh, which soon turned uncontrollable.

Finally, trying not to lose her composure, she covered her eyes with the back of her hand.

"He was a fool, an idiot..." After her laughter subsided, Seraphina muttered, "He was no match for you, and certainly not deserving of your apology or remorse." With that, Seraphina stood abruptly to leave. But she rose too quickly and collided heavily with the coffee table.

The pain caused her to lose her balance and she fell to the floor.

It seemed the collision with the table was severe, as Seraphina struggled to get up.

Suddenly, a hand appeared before her. She glanced at the hand and quickly turned away, pushing herself off the ground to stand, albeit unsteadily.

Simon clearly saw her pale face, devoid of any color. He wondered if the pallor was for the deceased Carney, or for him, her biological father.

After a moment, Simon finally spoke, "Now that you have the answers you wanted, what do you plan to do with me?" Seraphina sneered, "I'll do what | must... | will! | definitely will!" Her emphasis on "definitely" sounded more like a whisper, a desperate attempt to convince herself. After speaking, Seraphina limped towards the door, dragging her injured leg.

Simon didn't stop her or say anything more, only remarking, "I'll have someone escort you down." Seraphina didn't respond and quickly reached the door, opening the office door.

Upon opening the door, Lionel, who had been speaking with the secretary outside, suddenly looked up and saw Seraphina. His normally cold and sullen face darkened even further at the sight.

But Seraphina breezed by as if she hadn't seen him, heading straight for the elevator.

Simon then appeared at the doorway and signaled to Isaac with a glance.

Isaac immediately got the hint and followed the limping Seraphina.

It was only then that Lionel approached Simon. "Big bro, what's going on?" Simon watched Seraphina's silhouette disappear into the elevator before turning and heading back to his office.

Lionel followed suit, closing the door behind him.

"I thought she cup here for skind of family reunion with you. Doesn't seem like it, though?" Lionel remarked.

Simon settled into his office chair and took another drag of his cigarette before slowly saying, "What's the situation with Garrison?" "Leandro's guys have him under watch," Lionel replied. "Why? Did he spill everything to them? Is that why that girl clooking for you?" "It doesn't matter anymore." Simon flicked the ash from his cigarette, continuing, "Whatever she needed to know, she already does." Lionel's expression flickered subtly, but he quickly regained his composure and scoffed, "So what if she knows? It's been years without a shred of evidence. Even if Garrison revealed our names, his word alone won't even meet the criteria for a case." "Still, I'd rather not hear him talking out of turn anymore," Simon said indifferently.

Hearing this, Lionel furrowed his brows slightly, "Helena’s family filed a report to find her, and the cops are breathing down our necks. At a tlike this—" Before he could finish, Simon shot him a glance that cut through the tension, snuffing out the cigarette in his hand.

Lionel's gaze darkened as he said, "We'll just have to wait for Leandro to send him back to Summitville, then rely on our contacts there to handle it." "Sooner rather than later," Simon stated.

Lionel nodded and then added, "Seraphina just found out the truth about Carney's death. If anything happens to Garrison, she'll definitely suspect us. Aren't you afraid of completely driving away your daughter?" Simon turned away, his eyes fixating on the view outside the window as he said in a deep tone, "I just want to see if she truly has what it takes to be my daughter.” Inside the elevator, Seraphina leaned stiffly against the wall, her eyes glazed over, silent.

When the elevator reached the ground floor, she hobbled out, still in a daze.

The lobby was bustling, and although Isaac was there to guard her, Seraphina still bumped into several people without even realizing it.

It wasn't until Abbot and the others waiting by the entrance took her in that anything changed.

"What's going on?" Abbot reached out to steady Seraphina, but his gaze turned to Isaac.

Isaac finally responded, "Mrs. Reynolds banged her leg, | was just about to take her to the hospital for a checkup." Seeing the situation, Abbot said, "No need, we'll take her to the hospital." With that, Abbot guided Seraphina towards the exit.

Right on cue, the driver brought the car around to the front.

Seraphina, almost completely yielding to Abbot's support, settled into the car.

Isaac stood at the entrance until Seraphina's car slowly drove off, then he turned and went back inside the building.

And as the car pulled away from the Martin Group building, Seraphina, who had been staring down the whole time, finally lifted her head. She turned to look back at the towering edifice, her eyes now clear and resolute.