Tangled Temptations

Orlena's slender figure was hidden beneath the sheets, dotted with red marks he'd left moments before. She was crying. Half out of sadness, half out of fear.

Brett rubbed his swollen eyes, taking a moment before he spoke out. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Eat something and then leave. Don't come here again, Orlena. I don't want you anymore."

Her crying softened. She remained curled up in a tight ball for a while before slowly sitting up. She didn't want to eat. In her state, she didn't even want to face anyone.

After what seemed like an eternity, she began to dress up. Her hands were shaking, but she managed to put on her clothes and get out of bed. Brett followed suit. He lightly touched her elbow. His voice was hoarse. "Have something to eat. I'll arrange for a cab to take you to the airport after."

She brushed his hand away. Her voice was barely a whisper. "No need. I can manage."

His hand hung mid-air for a moment before falling back to his side. He wanted to say something, but he held back.

The air was filled with an uncomfortable silence, and Orlena knew this was the end. To him, it was just a fleeting romance, but she had truly loved him. However, in that moment, Orlena knew she had no regrets. Those memories of being loved were real, and that was enough.

The door opened to reveal Tracey with a gentle smile. "Why are you crying, dear? Brett, she's so much younger than you. You should be taking care of her, not bullying her."

Tracey took Orlena's hand and led her to the kitchen. Orlena tried to shake her off, but she couldn't. "I want to go home," she said through her tears.

Tracey turned to her son. Her voice was stern. "You will leave after you've had something to eat. Brett will arrange for a cab."

In the end, the three of them ate together in silence. Orlena's tears kept falling, and Brett couldn't eat. He stepped outside for a smoke.

When she was done eating, he called for a cab to take her to the airport. Orlena got in the cab and left. Brett stood there. His heart was aching, as he watched the car drive off.

Tracey cried softly beside him, repeating the same phrase over and over again. "I finally thought you settled down. Why did you let her go?"

Despite her heartache, she knew her son had his reasons. She didn't interfere, but her heart ached for both her son and Orlena.

Donny arrived to pick them up. He realized something was wrong and asked what had happened. When he found out, he frowned and whispered to Brett, "Ms. Stephanie is in the car. I came to pick you up, but she wanted a ride as well. I couldn't refuse..."

Brett's face changed. Stephanie was his old college friend, and also his first love. After Brett took over the family business, Stephanie was transferred to their company. She had three years of overseas work experience, and Brett was sure she was a spy sent by a foreign company.

He was about to instruct Donny when Stephanie walked over. She had spoken to Brett before and had met Tracey. In the past, Tracey would have been thrilled, but she knew her son's heart was with Orlena. Therefore, she wasn't very enthusiastic this time.

Stephanie didn't seem to mind. She spoke softly, "Mr. Brett, I apologize for the inconvenience."

Brett remained calm, simply nodding in response. He gave Donny a look, which Donny understood. He was both nervous and impressed. Only Brett could keep his cool and make decisions in such a situation.

Of course, Orlena must have been kidnapped. And Stephanie was the spy. Donny stepped out and sent a message on his phone, [Kidnap Stephanie.] After sending the message, he returned to Brett and Stephanie, acting as if nothing had happened. "Mr. Brett, Ms. Stephanie, it's about time we go."

Brett simply nodded. Stephanie followed him into the car, and the atmosphere was tense. No one spoke. Each person was locked in their own battle.

When they arrived at the tech center, Brett's phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. "Mr. Brett, I hope you're doing well," said the distorted voice on the other end.

Brett's grip tightened on his phone till his knuckles were white, but he kept his face calm, responding with a polite smile, "How can I help you?"

The caller chuckled. Then, he hung up and sent Brett a picture. It was a heart- wrenching image of Orlena tied to a chair, with her mouth taped shut, in an abandoned warehouse. The Noland family's driver was lying at her feet.

The phone rang again. "Mr. Brett, I hope you haven't forgotten how the Tucker couple died. They were stubborn, and Merlin didn't care about his beautiful wife... What a pity."

Brett gripped his phone tightly. After a moment, he replied coldly, "You think you can get the data just because of a girl? You're dreaming. Do whatever you want. I don't care."

After saying that, he hung up.

On the other end of the line, a tall, dark man was taken aback. He glanced at Orlena. According to Stephanie's information, she was Brett's lover, but Brett didn't care about her life or death. People in his position really were ruthless.

He didn't believe Brett. He wanted to test him, but his companions stopped him. "Are you crazy? This girl is from the Horigan family."

The man gritted his teeth, grabbed a turkey from the yard, and ruthlessly beheaded it. He put the head in a plastic bag. "Take this to Brett."

At that moment, a subordinate approached with a phone, whispering, "Orders from above. They want us to kidnap Stephanie. She's Brett's first love. That'll make him spill the beans."

"Stephanie?" The burly man was taken aback. "Isn't she one of us?"

"Orders from above," the subordinate echoed, scratching his head.

The muscular man sneered, and gritted his teeth. "So, Stephanie has been playing us for fools, huh? She's been in bed with Brett, and who knows where her loyalties lie now."

He ordered his men to get her.

After giving the order, he turned to Orlena, kicking her twice in frustration. "Your boyfriend sure is something. Seems like he has a harem of women. Can he even handle them all?"noveldrama

Orlena, bound and helpless, was in a daze. She overheard Brett's words on the phone earlier. She could tell the information was essential, but would he really disregard her?

Just like that... he hung up the phone?

And then there was Ms. Stephanie, another of his lovers?

She stared blankly, forgetting even to cry.

Time ticked on. At four in the afternoon, a stunning woman was brought in, blindfolded by the goons.

She was indeed a beautiful woman, dressed in a royal blue coat. Her glossy hair was neatly tied back. She wasn't as mesmerizing as Ms. Olea, but her aura was more striking.

Orlena trembled, staring at the woman. So this was Brett's first love. This old fox, how many women did he have!

Stephanie initially put on a brave face, but when she realized the brutes were for real, she slapped the burly man. "You bastard, do you know who I am?"

The man was no pushover. He retaliated with a slap of his own, leaving Stephanie's ears ringing. "What is this about?" she cried.

The man stepped forward, kicking her. "What's this about? Damn, why didn't you

tell us you hooked up with Brett sooner? If we knew, we wouldn't waste time on this young girl. We could just tie you up."

"Who gave the order?" Stephanie hissed through gritted teeth.

"The higher-ups."

"Which higher-ups?"

"Why the hell are you asking so many questions? Tie her up, and secure her with

the young girl. This woman is much more valuable."

The men chuckled suggestively.

Stephanie knew Brett better than any of them. She slowly calmed down, breaking out in a cold sweat.

The higher-ups... it was Brett.

Brett had orchestrated her capture, then he would rescue her and conveniently save Orlena. This realization almost made her scream. She knew Brett's methods all too well.

Brett's ruthlessness was known only to her. He could capture her, so at the same time, he must have her family under control. If anything happened to Orlena, he would annihilate her entire family.

At that moment, jealousy consumed her. Brett, always cold and distant, who had never truly been moved by anyone, now fell for a little girl. She remembered when they broke up, he said to her, "I'm not meant for love."

For that statement, she fought hard. She achieved a significant position in a foreign company. She wanted to stand as high as him, to make him regret his choice, but he had her life in his hands, to save his precious girl.

Only Brett could do such a thing.

Late at night, Brett sat in his office, leaning slightly forward. His gaze was fixed on

the phone.

He was waiting for news.

Even though he hadn't slept for over 24 hours, his eyes didn't blink. His elegant face was filled with gloom.

Donny whispered at his side, "Why don't you rest a bit? I'll keep watch."

Brett said nothing.

Donny couldn't help but worry. "What if Stephanie...?”

"She wouldn't."

Brett's course of action was almost like declaring war on her. Unless she lost her

mind, she wouldn't say a word.

Donny nodded and continued to wait in silence.

At nine in the evening, the phone rang. It was the same voice. "Mr. Brett, your old

flame Ms. Stephanie is in our custody... You're quite the ladies' man. Your women are all so beautiful."

Brett's voice was stern. "Don't touch her."

The man chuckled, groping Stephanie. "To get your first love back in one piece,

you'll have to give us something. Otherwise, we can't promise she won't end up like Merlin's wife."

Brett lowered his voice. "Where? How do we trade?"

...

After hanging up the phone, the man was far from courteous, groping Stephanie ruthlessly. He even gave Orlena a disdainful look. "Seems like Brett prefers this

one."

Orlena stared blankly. She could hardly believe it. She had a faint feeling that Brett was coming for her.

Brett arrived late at night. The driver parked the car outside. The bodyguard and Donny stayed behind. He walked into the warehouse alone with a chip. As soon as he entered, he was hit by the dust. It was everywhere.

Brett looked around. His Orlena was tied to a chair, and her eyes were brimming with tears. The look in her eyes was full of trust.

Foolish girl. She still trusted him at a time like this.

Brett's heart was painful. It was a pain he had never felt before, but he didn't look

at her. Instead, he turned to Stephanie. His gaze was filled with concern.

The burly man approached, twirling a knife in his hand. Several people surrounded him, and their eyes were predatory.

Brett was dressed entirely in black. He was sophisticated and handsome, standing out even more in such an environment.

"Mr. Brett, quite the Casanova." The man grabbed Stephanie's hair and shoved

her forward, smirking, "Let's trade."

Brett held out a small chip. "All the project information." he said quietly.

The man was naturally suspicious, and Brett tossed him the item. "Check it first."

The man instinctively caught it. The object wasn't a chip. It was a tiny detonator. The moment he touched it, it exploded, sending him and Stephanie flying.

Everyone was dumbstruck. They were stunned by Brett's ruthlessness and audacity. Stephanie lay in a pool of blood. Her hand was mangled and bloody. Despite being covered in blood, she stared at Brett in disbelief and resentment. She couldn't believe that he would be willing to treat her this way. Without hesitation, he was ready to take her life for his beloved.

Almost simultaneously, the bodyguards outside rushed in, joined by several uniformed personnel.

Brett quietly looked at Orlena. So did she. She thought he would come over to embrace her, to untie her ropes, but instead, he walked towards Stephanie, bent over to lift her into his arms, and said gently, "Stephanie, I'll take you to the hospital right away." Stephanie was on the verge of passing out from the pain, but she held on with her

last breath. She stared at the man in front of her and managed to spit out a sentence, "Brett, you're ruthless."

Brett leaned into her ear. His words were sounding tender but his tone was cold. "You shouldn't have touched her."

Stephanie closed her eyes. She lost. She lost to Orlena, the innocent rich girl, in terms of love; and lost to Brett in strategy. It turned out that Brett had long infiltrated his people into the company. His tactics were a hundred times more potent than that of Merlin.

Stephanie was unwilling to accept it. "Why didn't you take on the task back then?"

Back then...

Brett looked down. A bitter thought crossed his mind. Back then, he wanted to

give the young girl a home. But instead, he indirectly caused the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Tucker.

Stephanie lost a hand, perhaps to console the spirits of the Tuckers in heaven.

But it was not enough. He also wanted to personally see the project succeed, and

personally contribute to the aerospace industry.

Brett carried Stephanie and stepped out of the warehouse.

Behind him, came Orlena's soft voice, "Brett..."