Tangled Temptations

Eloise stumbled into the villa well past midnight. The dimly lit foyer framed Harvey, who sat nursing a glass of cabernet.

Exhausted, she shrugged off her coat and sank into the seat beside him."Pour me a glass, Harvey," she murmured, her voice feather-light.

His dark eyes held a storm, but eventually, he obliged, watching as she drank it down.

The warmth of the wine spread through Eloise, and she leaned back on the couch, her eyes fluttering shut. "Now I think I get it. I get why you kept throwing yourself into the fire for Joan. Why you felt like you had to save Monika," she breathed, the sadness of it all heavy in her heart.

As Eloise opened her eyes, they glowed with a halo-like beauty. "Max is gone. No more jealousy will be necessary," she said, a trace of humor in her exhaustion. She then made her way upstairs.

Harvey stayed put, watching her poised silhouette disappear into the soft light of the second floor.

The amulet was tucked away. Maybe, when she opened the safe from time to time, a memory of someone named Max would cross her mind.

When she shut the door of the safe, Harvey was standing behind her. "I'm tired tonight," she whispered, not flinching from his presence.

He didn't anything, pressing her against the safe, kissing her. Toward the end of their kiss, he let his face rest against the back of her neck, whispering, "Are you very sad?"

"A little."

Eloise tilted her head slightly, her fingers tracing his handsome features. She spoke softly, "After his betrayal years ago, we met. Harvey, you lost your memory for me. In the past, I always felt that you were mine, that you should recover your memory and return to my side. But now, I think you should be happy! If you like someone else, I really won't mind, as long as she is a good girl! ... I will let go.

"

Harvey gently bit her finger. He did not contradict her, simply carrying her to the bed. It was still a silent lovemaking. Not a single word was spoken as he vented his inner dissatisfaction.

As she succumbed to confusion and infatuation, Eloise wrapped her arms around his neck. With her voice hoarse and low, she called his name.

"Harvey... Harvey..."

In the aftermath, as he lay beside her, he whispered, "Do you still love me, Eloise?"

As the sweat cooled on their skin, Eloise lay flat, her breath soft. She turned towards the night outside, where the autumn rain scattered the moonlight. She thought of Max, who was gone too soon, but the man beside her was alive and warm. She smiled faintly and said, "I do."

Her words were the truth-her love was as intense as liquor and as gentle as a flowing stream.

Under the dim light, Harvey watched her for a long while before murmuring, "Don't lie to me, Eloise..."

Eloise stopped his advances, her slender fingers tracing his handsome features. "Shouldn't you explain that business card?" she asked, her voice sultry.

Harvey recalled the night in question, pulling her close for another kiss. "That night, even the chauffeur had sharper eyes than me. Eloise, you're the only woman for me, there will be no other girls."

Eloise didn't ask again. Perhaps it was just an uninteresting story.

Eloise skipped Max's funeral, which was a grand affair. The Velona Corporation

was now without its leader and soon drowned in the business world.

Olga had sought her out twice. She was there on account of the Velona Corporation's financial records. Olga couldn't comprehend any of it, stressing herself out during the financial adjustment.

Eloise summoned Olga to her study on the second floor. Olga had not expected Eloise to be willing to assist her. She sat in the study, sipping on floral tea, and simply watching Eloise.

Eloise was bent over the ledger. Her face, as beautiful as a painting, was even more attractive than it was years ago.

As Olga watched, she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Her brother hadn't left an heir for the Velona family. Thus, she softly confessed, "Eloise, I actually approached Ravenna! She was wailing and crying when my brother left, but when I asked her for help, she wouldn't even see me!"

Eloise couldn't bear such talk. "I'm helping for the sake of the 2000 employees," she said softly, many of whom were her father's colleagues.

Olga dared not speak further.

Harvey returned home with Linda, who rushed into her mother's arms with a new certificate of achievement, something none of the other children had.

Eloise lifted her beautiful daughter, asking, "What award did our sweet Linda get?" Linda beamed, "Best Hygiene Helper. I swept the floor so well."

Just then, Harvey arrived with Darrien. Seeing Olga, he paused slightly, then politely nodded his head.

Eloise had also finished her review of the ledger. She closed it, handed it to Olga, and said, "You can give this to the company's accountant, and have him double check it."

Olga thanked her profusely. As she was leaving, she explained things to Harvey.

Harvey simply smiled, not saying much. After all, with Max gone, there seemed to be nothing left to quibble over. Arguing with a dead man was beneath him.

Eloise didn't explain further. Instead, she took Darrien in her arms, and they played for a while. Meanwhile, Harvey was keeping Linda company.

In the study, a sense of warmth enveloped them, and Harvey couldn't resist whispering, "Does this mean we're alright now, Eloise?"

She smiled softly in response.

Life went on serenely. Harvey managed Everest Technologies while Eloise was busy filming. The children were well cared for, and the past arguments seemed distant.

Occasionally, Eloise's thoughts drifted to Max, and sometimes, she woke from dreams of him. When she did, Harvey was away on a trip to Hong Kong. Wrapped in her robe, Eloise approached the window. The night rain intensified the autumn chill, and she felt a shiver down her spine.

She punched in Harvey's number, and after a few rings, he picked up. His tone carried a hint of warmth. "Eloise... did you have a nightmare?"

She hummed an acknowledgment. She had dreamt that Max was in a car crash. Harvey's voice dropped a notch. "Do you want me to come back?"

She said it wasn't necessary.

Silence stretched between them over the line until she broke it with another question. "Have you gone to bed yet?"noveldrama

Harvey glanced at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. His voice sounded rough with fatigue. "Not yet. I'm trying to wrap up these negotiations and get home."

They exchanged a few more words. In the end, Eloise hung up first. She thought,

if she were a few years younger, she probably would have wanted him to come back.

On the other end, after the call ended, Harvey pulled out a photo of Eloise and gazed at it in silence for a long time.

Their relationship had seen much improvement lately. Perhaps it was Max's passing that made them reflect.

He knew deep down that Max still held a place in Eloise's heart. He couldn't begrudge her that, not when the man was no longer of this world.

Harvey was slowly coming to terms with this subdued form of love, but what he didn't know was how much love Eloise still had for him.

Adult love always involved weighing the pros and cons. After such considerations, the choice usually leaned towards stability.

Furthermore, he hadn't entertained any inappropriate thoughts about other

women.

Harvey had pocketed his phone and was about to return to work when there was

a soft knock at the hotel room door. Assuming it was room service, he went to answer it.

Standing there, surprisingly, was Tiara.

She had learned that Harvey was on a business trip in Hong Kong and had conveniently booked herself into the same hotel.

Tiara was clad in a silky nightgown, looking undeniably seductive. "Mr. Horigan, my room's water heater is busted. May I use yours?"

Harvey stood in the doorway. His impeccable image remained unbroken even in the dead of night. In a white shirt and black slacks, the 35-year-old man exuded mature handsomeness.

His response was icy. "Ms. Tiara, how much do you charge? If you don't mind, I have single colleagues who might need company."

Tiara was deeply humiliated. She hadn't expected such a venomous retort from Harvey.

The last time they met, he was distant but gentlemanly towards her. She thought that by now, as a leading actress, he would regard her more favorably.

Tiara's lips quivered. "Mr. Horigan, I do not sell my body."

Harvey was merciless. "Really? Then perhaps you should cover up more and stop loitering at men's doors in the middle of the night. Also, if any rumors spread by tomorrow, you and your little agency won't see the day after."

With that, he slammed the door in her face.

In the middle of the night, Tiara stood outside, shivering with cold and shock. She

couldn't believe Harvey's fidelity to his marriage was this strong; she refused to believe that men didn't stray. Of course, she wouldn't heed his warning. She doubted he would be so ruthless towards her. Tiara decided to spread some rumors anyway. It would irk his wife and stir up publicity for herself. The next morning, Eloise saw the news, released by Hong Kong media. [Peterborough's Wealthiest Man's Late-Night Rendezvous with Leading Actress] The photo showed Tiara, scantily clad, standing at the hotel room door. Opposite her, Harvey was with a slight frown.

Eloise clocked the timestamp. It was immediately following their call from the previous night. It had to have been Tiara who initiated all this, and as for whether or not the offer was taken up, Eloise need not rack her brain too much over it. If Harvey had indulged, there would be no rumors. A discreet man would have kept it under wraps.

Eloise set the paper aside, continuing breakfast with the kids. Linda scooped up a

big spoonful of oatmeal, feeding it to Darrien while persuading him, "Darrien, eat up, sweetheart."

Darrien gobbled it down.

Linda went for another spoonful. She noticed the newspaper and whispered, "Mommy, is that Daddy's mistress?"

Eloise couldn't help but laugh. Where did Linda pick up such ideas?

Linda's voice was soft and concerned. "Luca's daddy has a mistress just like her,

not dressed properly, looking like a skeleton."

Eloise smiled gently. "No, sweetheart. Daddy doesn't have one."

Linda scooped another big spoonful. She thought as much. Her mom was way

prettier than that skeleton, and her daddy wasn't blind.

...

After her afternoon nap, Eloise freshened up and changed clothes, planning to

take a stroll in the backyard when a housekeeper approached. "Ma'am, a Ms.

Tiara is here to see you."

Ms. Tiara...

Eloise looked down, a faint smile showing on her lips. So eager, wasn't she?