Chapter 11
About two hours later, Seraphina found herself back at Leandro’s front door.
From the entrance, she could see the garage, and Leandro’s car seemed to be missing. Just as she was about to ring the doorbell, the door suddenly swung open from the inside.
Karan was slinging a big bag over her shoulder, yelling back into the house as she stepped out, “You stay put, no running around, got it? Your dad will be home tonight!”
Mid–sentence, she turned her head and saw Seraphina standing at the doorway, looking taken aback and then annoyed, “Didn’t you already take off? Why are you back here?”
“Karan, I think I left something here, so I came back,” Seraphina replied with a smile, then glanced at Karan’s bag. “You heading out?”
Karan grimaced, adjusting her bag and grunting in response.
Seraphina hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can I go in and look for my stuff?”
Looking like she was pressed for time, Karan shot her an irritable glance, “Just go in and find whatever you need, and leave as soon as possible! And don’t go chattering with Valerio, gol it?”
Seraphina nodded promptly, “Alright, got it. Take care, Karan!”
With that, Karan hurried off, looking like she was indeed in a rush.
spotted Valerio sitting at the table, working on a pile of art supplies. He looked at her, obviously having heard her exchange with
he quickly looked down and started to
no time. Despite having spent the night here, her recorder
Leandro. But how would he react
her but seemed to sense her approaching, his sketching grew
she picked up the assignment brief from the table.
a family album with the help of their parents, featuring a family portrait and individual pages for each family
obviously working on the family portrait four identical stick figures, big heads atop bodies made up of a few strokes
himself. But it seemed like a crucial person
Valerio’s
sighed, “You’re one lucky kid. I haven’t drawn for seven years, and now I’m picking up a pencil to help you
Gloria. When it came to drawing Leandro, she paused and handed the pencil to Valerio, “Would you like to try drawing.
her sketches of Bruce and Gloria for a moment before accepting the pencil from her and copying her style to draw Leandro. Despite his lack
13-26
resembled Leandro.
quickly averted her gaze and pointed to the last empty spot on the
in deep thought, but he didn’t make a
this, Seraphina took the pencil from him, “Let me help
chin, studying the little boy in front of her. Valerio was truly beautiful, with flawless skin, dark hair, and bright, clear eyes. He looked a lot like his handsome father,
her gaze, starting to sketch with her long
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