Chapter 429
This topic had been previously discussed between Seraphina and Andrea.
Andrea had sensed Seraphina’s intention to take Valerio away, so she asked her, “Do you think Valerio could bear to
part from Leandro?”
“He would definitely miss him,” Seraphina replied. “But I never planned to cut off their relationship. Leandro can
visit him anytime.”
Andrea remained silent for a moment before speaking again. “Valerio might not get used to it though. After all, he
has grown up in a large family.”
“What large family? He used to live only with Leandro. Just the two of them and a nanny, it was a lonely existence,”
Seraphina retorted.
“But he has experienced the warmth of a large family now,” Andrea added. “It would be hard for him to return to
that lonely life.”
“I understand that for a child, a complete family is important,” Seraphina said. “But if a child cannot even feel safe
in this so-called complete family, how can he grow up happily and healthily? In this case, what’s more important? A
complete family or safety and health?”
Though Andrea had tried to consider the situation from Seraphina’s perspective, she had to agree. “Of course,
safety and health are more important.”
“That’s why…” Seraphina sighed softly.
“Will Leandro agree to this?” Andrea asked.
Seraphina rubbed her forehead, “He probably won’t.”
“You need to have a serious talk with him,” Andrea advised. “You are doing this for Valerio’s good. Valerio is also his
child. He needs to consider his child’s life too.”
Seraphina nodded slowly.
She had initially planned to discuss this with Leandro later. After all, the incident with Gloria had just occurred and
she expected everyone to be on high alert to prevent Valerio from getting hurt again.
But the arrival of the other relatives from the Reynolds family that day made Seraphina change her mind. Because
Valerio was scared when he saw these people.
The large Reynolds family, if only Conway and Leandro could provide him with warmth, then the existence of this
family was more of a threat than a comfort to Valerio.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn the past seven years, he had encountered too much neglect. Seraphina couldn’t imagine how much more his
tender heart could bear.
As a mother, all she could do was try to heal his wounds and let him grow up like a normal child, happy and
carefree. But in the Reynolds family, where he could be frightened at any time, this healing was too difficult.
Maybe a change of environment would bring about a completely different life.
Seraphina had plenty of reasons, but she didn’t know if these reasons would be enough to convince Leandro.
“I also hope that Valerio can grow up safely and happily,” Leandro said in a deep voice.
Seraphina, who had been leaning against him, couldn’t help but turn to look at him when she heard this.
Leandro’s eyes were deep, but when he said this, his tone was extremely firm and serious.
Seraphina was taken aback for a moment.
Leandro looked at her for a long time before finally speaking again, “So, you can take Valerio to Summitville.”
Seraphina’s heart contracted suddenly.
She had never mentioned this topic to Leandro before, but as soon as Leandro opened his mouth, he hit the nail on
the head. Obviously, he had guessed her thoughts a long time ago, even the city she planned to go to, he had
figured.
She and Valerio had lived in Summitville for a while. There were familiar people and things there, and he had been
very happy there.
The harmony, warmth, and cozy vibe of the old house in Summitville were all the environment that Seraphina
wanted to create for Valerio.
That place was indeed her first choice, but Leandro’s attitude still made her a bit dazed, “You agree?”
Leandro looked at her, “Valerio is also my child. If it’s for his good, I have no reason to disagree.”
“Yes…” Seraphina murmured, “And in the coming time, you would be very busy… You wouldn’t have much time to
spend with Valerio…”
She softly enumerated some reasons she had prepared in advance, but they seemed disjointed and lacking in
confidence when she said them out loud.
Seeing her like this, Leandro gently reminded her, “I have already agreed.”
“I know.” Seraphina responded, then took a deep breath involuntarily before looking at him and saying, “I can bring
Valerio back on weekends.”
“Okay.”
“You can also visit us when you have time.”
“Sure.”
Seraphina couldn’t think of anything else to say for a moment, so she fell silent.
Leandro then reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear, saying softly, “When things get sorted out,
bring Valerio back.”
Seraphina wasn’t sure what he meant by ‘things getting sorted out’ or how long it would take.
But she didn’t ask, and she just responded softly, “Okay.”
Seraphina’s plan to take Valerio away was put into action the next day.
Valerio initially thought that the trip that had been canceled the day before was back on. However, when he found
out that they were going to Summitville, and that it would be just him and Seraphina, he was slightly disappointed.
“Dad’s busy, and he’ll come find us as soon as he’s done,” Seraphina reassured her son. “And the kids back at the
old house are all missing you, especially Susan. She’s always asking when you’ll come find her.”
Upon hearing his friend’s name, Valerio smiled faintly and nodded.
Conway, sitting nearby, found himself at a loss for words in this situation.
Seraphina, however, scolded him first. “Grandpa, don’t you dare break the rules when I’m not around. I’ll be calling
every day to keep an eye on you and I’ll be back on the weekends for spot checks. If you dare to mess around and
not take care of your health, don’t blame me for being tough on you.”
“Look at her,” Conway said to the nanny, “she treats me like I’m a child, even smaller than Valerio!”
10:58
Chapter 429
“Yeah, yeah,” Seraphina retorted. “If you don’t behave, I’ll even spank you!”
At this. Conway playfully hit Seraphina with his walking stick.
“Hey, I’m a mother now, how dare you hit me?” Seraphina responded. “Watch out, my son might avenge me!”
“Come here, Valerio, let’s see how you’re going to avenge your mother,” Conway teased.
Hearing his name, Valerio looked from Seraphina to Conway, then decisively leaned in and gave Conway a big kiss
on the cheek.
Conway’s face immediately lighted up with laughter, and the sadness of parting was subtly washed away in the
playful banter.
That day, Leandro left early in the morning and didn’t return until after Seraphina and Valerio have left.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTheir travel plans were arranged by Keen, who informed Leandro when it’s time for them to depart. “Mr. Reynolds,
your wife and Valerio are off to the airport,” he said.
“Okay,” Leandro responded without looking up from his papers.
Keen hesitated before asking, “Do you want to see them off at the airport?”
“No need,” Leandro replied without raising his head.
Keen, having been dismissed, quietly left the room. Once the office door was closed, Leandro finished reviewing the
document in hand before lifting his gaze.
After a moment of silence, he picked up his phone and called Seraphina on video chat.
The call was quickly picked up and Seraphina and Valerio appear on screen from the backseat of their car.
“It’s your dad,” Seraphina handed the phone to Valerio. “Tell him to hurry up and come find us.”
Valerio, blinking at the phone for a moment, eventually uttered two words, “Dad… Dad…”
Leandro smiled and replied, “Take good care of your mom. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done with work.”
Hearing this, Seraphina was taken aback. It’s a familiar phrase-Carney had said the same to her before he passed,
asking her to take care of her mother.
Carney’s deep love for Magdalen made him worry more about her than Seraphina when he couldn’t be there. Was
it the same for Leandro now, was he more worried about her? Lost in thought, Seraphina was jolted back to reality
when Valerio handed the phone back to her.
“Message me when you arrive,” Leandro instructed, not mentioning anything else.
“Okay,” Seraphina agreed.
“Call me anytime,” he added.
“Alright,” she assented.
“Good,” Leandro concluded, “I’ll get back to work now.”
“Okay,” Seraphina handed the phone back to Valerio, “say bye.”
Valerio said “bye” into the phone, then hung up the call.
The video chat was light and casual, as if the family of three would be reunited in just a couple of hours.
That’s exactly what Leandro intended.
After all, this separation was hardly a separation-they were just apart for a short while, Everything remained the
same, except for their physical presence. There was no need to stress or make a big deal out of it.
A message, a call, a video chat, were all methods of communication for them, but also… proof that they’d never
truly been separated.