Chapter 454


    “Seriously, does it matter who told me?” Leandro drawled, a faint hint of fondnesscing his tone


    “Of course, it matters,” Seraphina shot back, crossing her arms. “I suspect the person who’s been


    whispering in your ear might be a bit hard of hearing. Probably got the whole thing twisted.”


    “Oh.” Leandro’s voice lifted in mock surprise. “So, you’re suggesting I should continue to manage


    Reynolds Group??”


    Seraphina’s brows knitted together before she softened, adding, “If you have enough energy to do it,


    go ahead. Can I really stop you?”


    “Alright, then. About Keen-” Leandro began, but before he could finish, a wince tightened his features,


    and he shut his eyes, inhaling deeply.


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    Seraphina’s face flickered with concern as she rose to her feet. “Is it the wound?”


    It took a moment before Leandroposed himself, his face paler than before.


    Watching him intently, Seraphina sighed as Leandro breathed out slowly and murmured, “I’m fine.”


    Her gaze shifted to the pain pump beside his hand. “Is that thing not doing its job? Or maybe the


    dosage is too low? Should I call the doc to up your pain meds?”


    Leandro just looked at her quietly for a moment before finally responding, “I can handle it.”


    Seraphina gave him a stern look, but seeing him gradually rx, she finally relented, “You still up for


    work? Want me to get Keen in here?”


    “It’s not out of the question,” Leandro admitted.


    Hearing that, Seraphina reached out and gave his good arm a yful twist.


    “Hmm?” Leandro raised an eyebrow at her.


    After a moment of silent confrontation, Seraphina let out a huff and said simply, “No way.”


    A low chuckle escaped Leandro, and he finally conceded with a single word, “Fine.”


    With only one good arm to use, he would have enveloped her in a bear hug if he could. However, all he


    managed was to reach out and grasp her hand tightly in his.


    Following his touch, Seraphina’s gazended on an inconspicuous scar on his arm, and memories of


    his medical reports shed through her mind. She had seen his scars before, especially the prominent


    ones from an old leg fracture.


    But she never dwelled on them, or rather, she chose not to.


    Now, tying those scars to the pain he had endured, she suddenly felt a wave of distraction wash over


    her.


    Before she could snap out of her trance, Seraphina leaned down and gently kissed the scar on his arm.


    Leandro’s muscles tensed at the contact.


    By the time Seraphina came back to her senses, the moment had already passed beyond salvaging.


    Without looking up, she could feel Leandro’s gaze on her, likely mixed with surprise and confusion.


    And she couldn’t help but wish she could pinch herself for being so embarrassingly forward.


    What was she thinking?


    In an attempt to reim some semnce of dignity, Seraphina opened her mouth and bit down on


    Leandro’s arm, grinding her teeth in for good measure!


    After releasing her bite, she looked up at him and asked, “Did that hurt?”


    Leandro just stared at her expressionlessly.


    Clearing her throat, Seraphina rambled, “If that didn’t hurt, it means the wound really hurts. You better


    rest up. I need you to get well soon so I can bring Valerio over-


    “You think because I’m stuck here, you can do whatever you want, huh?” Leandro nced at the teeth


    marks she had left on his arm and spoke calmly.


    Seraphina’s lips curled into a slight smirk. “What else? You gonna get up and hit me?”


    Leandro’s lips twitched into a smile. “This one, I’ll remember.”


    09:05


    “I’m not afraid of you,” Seraphina dered defiantly, her words dripping with challenge.


    Leandro relished that defiance, cherishing every word.


    The next day, after 24 hours of observation, Leandro was moved to a regr room, and visitation


    restrictions were eased. Conway and Karan took up residence in the room-Conway idly flipping through


    channels or reading, while Karan bustled with a never-ending list of tasks.


    Feeling somewhat superfluous, Seraphina returned to Reynolds Manor to oversee Valerio’s lessons


    with his new tutor.


    After a productive session, she retained a couple of teachers and politely dismissed two, temporarily


    resolving Valerio’s education concerns. He was a quick learner, deeply engrossed in his studies, yet


    always seemed to worry about everything else afterward.


    Just as Seraphina was debating whether to take him to the hospital, Conway’s call came through.


    “Sera, you bettere to the hospital.”


    Seraphina stiffened, “Grandpa, what’s wrong?”


    “Nothing serious,” Conway sighed. “I just don’t fancy ying spectator to the drama here anymore.”


    At Conway’s tone, Seraphina couldn’t help butugh. “Who’s bold enough to give you the cold


    shoulder?”


    “Who else?” Conway grumbled. “Just get over here!”


    Hanging up, Seraphina turned to Valerio and took a deep breath before saying, “I’m going to take you


    to see Dad now-”


    “Yay!” Valerio’s cheer erupted before she could finish.


    Quickly tempering his excitement, Seraphina said solemnly, “But Dad’s sick, in the hospital.”


    Valerio’s joy turned to concern, “What’s wrong with Dad?”


    “He’s had an operation because he wasn’t feeling well,” Seraphina exined. “So he has to stay in bed


    and can’t move, looks quite pitiful-”


    Valerio’s eagerness to see his father surged at the thought. “Let’s go see Dad right away.”


    “Aren’t you scared?” Seraphina asked him.


    “I miss Dad!” Valerio said, his voice cracking a little, “I want to see Dad!”


    Seraphina quickly changed Valerio into fresh clothes and grabbed a few necessities before leading him


    out the door.


    When they arrived at the hospital and were about to enter the patient’s room, they stumbled upon


    Karan exiting.


    “Lady Karan…” Valerio called out to her in a hushed tone upon seeing her.


    Karan froze, taken aback, ncing at Seraphina before reaching out to ruffle Valerio’s hair. “Say that


    again for me, kiddo.”


    “Lady Karan,” Valerio repeated obediently.


    In a heartbeat, Karan’s eyes welled up with tears, and she hastily dabbed at them with the back of her


    hand. After making a silent promise to Valerio, she turned her gaze back to Seraphina.


    That look was heavy with unspoken emotion.


    “You were right.


    It was after you came back that Leandro began to live like a normal person again.


    And now Valerio’s getting better too.


    It’s all good…” Karan murmured more to herself than to anyone, before addressing Seraphina, “Go on


    in. He’s been waiting for you for ages. Every time he wakes up and you’re not there, he gets this


    disappointed look on his face, like a little boy.”