Chapter 5


    Chapter b


    Seraphina chose the most luxurious private club in Sunburst City, Enchanted Petals Club, to treat


    Balch to a


    meal.


    Seraphina wore a tight dark green skirt and a pair of beautiful ck heels, looking like an elf in flowers.


    As a waiter led her down the club restaurant’s hallway, Seraphina’s phone started buzzing.


    The hallway was a winding path with a ss floor, surrounded by lush vegetation and unusually quiet.


    Rarely could she see anyone. Underneath was a deep blueke, with the moon hanging in the sky and


    casting a reflection on the water, creating an incredibly romantic scene.


    A clear voice came through from the other end of the phone. It was Balch.


    “Sorry,” he said, “some urgent work came up at the office, I’m afraid I can’t make it tonight.”


    “Is that so…” Seraphina slowed her pace, let out a sigh, and looked ahead.


    By theke, a tall figure was leaning against the railing, lighting up a cigarette.


    Probably he was a guesting out of a nearby box for fresh air. He had no coat, only a simple white


    shirt on his back, his hands raised, silver cufflinks glistening at the cuffs. As he moved his hand, the


    silver cufflinks on his sleeves sparkled. A flick of the lighter lit up his clean, slender hands. The


    flickering me revealed his deep.


    gaze.


    Theke shimmered, and the spring wind carried the dampness of the night, bringing a chill with it.


    Though Seraphina was not usually bothered by the cold, and for a beauty junkie like her, the spring


    night breeze was nothing. But at that moment, Seraphina felt a cold shiver run down her spine, as if her


    blood had frozen. She couldn’t help but shiver.


    It took her a while to recover, then she slowly said to Balch on the other end of the phone, “Well, since I


    was treating you tonight, if you’re noting, then you owe me a dinner.”


    Balch chuckled lightly on the other end, “Alright.”


    Seraphina hung up, halted, and told the waiter next to her, “My friend can’t make it, please cancel the


    reservation.”


    She was about to leave when she bumped into someone. He saw her and startedughing.


    “Ms. Bet?” Ike looked at her, grinning from ear to ear, “I was just thinking about when I could see


    you again, didn’t expect it to be so soon. We must be fated.”


    Ike stepped forward, “Since we bumped into each other here, why not have dinner together?”


    Seraphina just looked at him, not saying a word.


    “What’s the matter? Ike raised an eyebrow, put his hand on Seraphina’s shoulder, and yfully twirled


    a strand of her hair, “Are you scared I’m going to eat you up?”


    Seraphina, with a challenging look in her eyes, straightened up, retrieved her hair, and said in a soft


    and ambiguous voice, “That depends on whether Mr. Ike has the appetite.”


    Ike burst intoughter, threw an arm around Seraphina’s waist, and led the way forward.


    After a few steps, Ike spotted the man smoking by the railings. His steps faltered for a moment, then he


    hurried forward, “Mr. Reynolds, what brings you out here?”


    Seraphina, standing next to him, also looked at the man.


    Leandro held a cigarette between his fingers. Despite this, he still exuded an icy and serious


    demeanor. Dressed in a white shirt and ck pants, the moonlight shone on his back, making him


    seem timeless and devoid of warmth.


    When he noticed Ike, he cracked a contemptuous smile. His gaze was still cold, “Too many people


    inside, I came out for some fresh air.”


    Then, Leandro’s eyesnded on Seraphina’s face with a calm expression.


    Seraphina met his gaze and smiled naturally.


    Ike looked at Seraphina, raised an eyebrow, and introduced, “This is Ms. Seraphina, a new friend of


    mine.”


    Seraphina nodded slightly, “Mr. Reynolds, hello.”


    Leandro’s gaze lingered on Seraphina’s face, casually sizing her up, but his gaze stayed on her for a


    long time.


    Seeing this, Ike thought to himself: Seraphina is a real piece of work.


    Balch, the new noble in Sunburst City, was known for his deep affection for histe wife. It was said


    that he had been single for four years since her passing. Yet,st night, Seraphina was seen getting


    into his car arm


    in arm.


    Leandro, born into the prominent Reynolds family, was known for his aloof personality and indifference


    towards women. There were even rumors about his sexual orientation. But now, the way he looked at


    Seraphina, he didn’t seem like a gay man.


    Seeing this, Ike silently cursed under his breath.


    The Reynolds family was a rich and influential family, and the Reynolds Group was the leading


    company in Sunburst City. The Whitman family, although considered a nouveau riche, had always


    wanted to get in good with the Reynolds family. However, Leandro had always been cold and aloof,


    giving them no face. Today, for some reason, he agreed to attend this gathering, so naturally, Ike didn’t


    dare to offend him.


    Even if he was unwilling, if Leandro really fell for Seraphina, what could he say?


    “Mr. Reynolds?” Ike called out to him, “Shall we go inside and talk?”


    Only then did Leandro withdraw his gaze, nodded, and turned to go back to his private room.


    As he walked past Seraphina, she looked up and noticed a small ck mole on his ear, hidden behind


    his neatlybed hair.


    She had grown taller. If it were in the past, all she would have seen was his broad shoulders.


    Snapping back to reality, Seraphina realized what she was thinking about and couldn’t help but chuckle


    to herself.


    Ike led her into the private room. This time, he did not reach out to hold Seraphina’s waist.


    The private room was jam–packed with more than a dozen people making merry, with Leandro being


    the guest of honor smack dab in the middle. To his left sat Ira Whitman, the eldest son of the Whitman


    family, while the seat to his right was still up for grabs.


    Ike led Seraphina directly to Leandro and called out to her, “Sera,e here.” Most of the folks in the


    room were from the Whitman n who had witnessed Edith and Peterson’s engagement bash, hence


    had a vivid memory of Seraphina. Seeing Ike waltzing in with Seraphina was a bolt from the blue for all,


    even Ira furrowed his brow, shooting a stern look at Seraphina.


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    But Seraphina couldn’t care less. She shot Ike a nce, then picked an empty seat for herself, looking


    up at him, “You invited me to grub, so it makes sense for me to sit next to you. Parking me next to


    someone else, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m no social butterfly!”


    She didn’t bother to lower her voice, so everyone in the room heard it loud and clear, resulting in an


    awkward silence.


    Ike quickly scanned Leandro’s face, but he seemed oblivious, didn’t even bat an eye this way, only


    slightly turned his head, nonchntly listening to Ira.


    Only then did Ike park himself next to Seraphina, leaning closer to her ear, grumbling. “You’re such a


    pain in the


    19.50


    neck!


    “Are you scared?” Seraphina leaned back in her chair, “If you’re scared, then let me go. I don’t have to


    eat this meal.


    Ike was getting irked, so he sneaked another peek at Leandro, then murmured, “Alright, fine, I’ll stick


    with you!”