Tangled Temptations

"Let her in," Eloise said with a serene voice.

The maid nodded and stepped outside to call for Tiara.

Tiara, despite being a rising starlet, couldn't help but feel overwhelmed in the face of the multimillion-dollar mansion. She stood there as if rooted to the spot until the maid beckoned her.

As Tiara entered the grand foyer, she was struck by the opulent, tasteful decor. Eloise was at the piano, fingers dancing across the keys.

Tiara, a student of the performing arts herself, had her own modest talents, but Eloise played the piano with such finesse that she momentarily froze. She had assumed that a woman of Eloise's status would be content with high tea and social calls, not possessing such refined skills.

The woman before Tiara was Eloise. Her brown hair cascaded down her slender back. Her profile was delicate, a touch of pink enhancing her perfect skin, her nose aquiline, and her lashes thick and curled. She exuded an effortless elegance.

Self-consciously, Tiara touched her own hair, which was also dyed chestnut but lacking the natural luster of Eloise's. To mimic Eloise, Tiara had to refresh her color every two months.

Before Tiara could speak, the housekeeper brought in some tea.

Taking a seat, Tiara eyed the exquisite bone china with a twinge of envy. She longed for such a life.

"Ms. Laurent," she called out to Eloise.

The music ceased, and although Eloise's fingers remained on the piano keys, she smiled gently. “Ms. Tiara, you don't even wish to offer me the courtesy of calling me 'Mrs. Horigan?' Are you so certain of your stance?"

Tiara blushed with embarrassment.

Eloise rose and took a seat opposite her, speaking softly to the maid, "Could you make me a cup of coffee? It's been a while since I've had one."

The maid hurried off to fulfill the request.

Once the coffee arrived, Tiara, with a frosty tone, asked, "Mrs. Horigan, is this some sort of power play?"

Eloise inhaled the coffee's rich aroma and smiled slightly. "You could say that. What brings you to me, Ms. Tiara?"

Tiara, young and unseasoned in the ways of the world, cut to the chase. "I don't believe you missed the scandal about last night. I came here for a statement from you, Mrs. Horigan."

Eloise just laughed softly, sipping her coffee before setting the cup down. "Are you insinuating that my husband slept with you?"

Tiara's expression darkened. Finally, she lied through clenched teeth. "Yes!"

Eloise remained unfazed, smiling faintly. "Then you should take it up with him. Why come to me? Ms. Tiara... if you wish to take my place as Mrs. Horigan, you should focus your efforts on Harvey. If you're ready to lower yourself, let me make it clear-I won't stand for it."

Tiara's face flushed with humiliation and anger. She hadn't expected Eloise to be so shrewd and composed.

Unable to retaliate, Tiara just stood there as Eloise studied her calmly.

Anyone would be upset seeing someone else mimic their appearance to seduce their spouse, especially when that face then appeared on every major media outlet.

Eloise pulled a file from the coffee table drawer and tossed it in front of Tiara. "Take a look at this before you decide how to proceed with our conversation." Tiara's expression stiffened. Hesitantly, she reached for the file, a thick dossier detailing her scandals.

Freshman year, she was dating two men at the same time, including a married one. When she was exposed, her official boyfriend had beaten her, and she was hospitalized. The married man gave her an apartment, but she lost the ability to bear children after that.

This year, she signed with Ravenna's company. She underwent surgery to look like Eloise.

Tiara turned ashen, and her voice was trembling. "Mrs. Horigan."

Eloise finished her coffee leisurely, smiling lightly. "Once I release this information, your career is over. I assume you wouldn't want to destroy all your hard work because of... illicit ambitions?"

Feeling defeated, Tiara conceded, "Mrs. Horigan, I won't appear before Mr. Horigan anymore. Last night was unrequited, he didn't even let me into his room."

Eloise remained calm.

Tiara, staring at Eloise's delicate face, couldn't fathom what she was thinking. She backed down, pleading, "Mrs. Horigan, any demands you have, just say them. As long as you... let me off."

Eloise's demands came lightly. "First, revert your surgery. Second, break your contract with Ravenna and sign with my agency."

Tiara paled. The severance fee was 50 million, almost all her savings. Returning her face to its original state meant losing her star status. But she had no choice. Eloise held her fate, and Tiara couldn't understand why Eloise was giving her a way out.

When she asked, Eloise was lost in thought, playing with her coffee cup. Finally, Eloise murmured, "Because those who covet Harvey are neither the first nor the last. It's too tiring to eradicate each one."

Besides, Tiara was Ravenna's pawn. Eloise's real target was Ravenna. After investing so much to groom Tiara, seeing her leave with nothing would be the ultimate defeat for Ravenna.

Tiara left the mansion, crossing paths with Harvey in the foyer, who had just returned, travel-weary, yet carrying large toys that any little girl would adore.

He hardly glanced at her, proceeding to the living room to place his gifts down and kiss Eloise's lips tenderly, whispering, "Did we have a visitor?"

Eloise looked up. "Your guest. Shall you see her out?"

Harvey nipped her lip with a hint of annoyance. Eloise laughed softly, drawing him into a deeper kiss.

Tiara stood frozen, tasting the bitterness of her defeat. Her first encounter with Harvey was at a social gathering, where he was pleasant but detached. Now, she saw a domestic Harvey, bringing toys for his daughter, with eyes only for his wife.

Then, the maid arrived, carrying a strikingly handsome boy. The child ran to embrace his father's legs. Harvey lifted him with gentle affection. "Darrien seems a bit heavier."

Eloise watched from the sofa, an affectionate smile playing on her lips as she observed her family. Her expression was soft.

Tiara suddenly couldn't bear the sight of her own face; she felt a wave of shame wash over her. For a long time, Tiara had been smug about her looks. She thought that having Eloise's beauty was like holding an ace up her sleeve. But now she realized that no matter how similar she looked, it meant nothing to Harvey because he had a complete life with Eloise and a picture-perfect family. They would never get divorced.

Sitting in her car, Tiara's hands trembled as she called her assistant to book a flight.

The house was warm and cozy. Harvey was playing with their son when Denise dropped off some luggage, staying only briefly before leaving.

Eloise spoke softly, "Came back early because of the scandal?"

Harvey chuckled lightly. After a long pause, he replied, "No. I came back because you were scared last night."

Eloise didn't even question Tiara or the perfume scent on him from their last encounter. To Eloise, Harvey was calm as a still pond, but she knew him wel. Some people weren't worth fretting over.

Eloise basked in the warmth of their home. It was only at night, when they were alone, that she told him she was considering signing Tiara.

Harvey was slightly taken aback. He removed his watch, started unbuttoning his shirt, and walked into the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind him. His voice filtered through. "Eloise, aren't you being too magnanimous?"

Their relationship had improved lately, and Eloise didn't want to fight with him. She leaned against the clear glass door of the bathroom, murmuring, "Harvey, maybe I'm just getting old and too tired to stir up trouble. I don't want to drive someone to madness."

Like Monika...

Eloise didn't like this, but she knew that peace would only come when everyone found their rightful place.

The sound of the shower filled the bathroom. Eloise listened quietly, wondering if Harvey would be content with this tranquility, and stay with her through thick and thin. Her heart was riddled with wounds, yet his passion remained intact.

The shower stopped. The bathroom door swung open, and Harvey emerged in a bathrobe, carrying the scent of moisture.

Eloise was still standing there. Harvey looked down at her, his height giving him a commanding presence. After what felt like an eternity, he wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "I won't upset you anymore."

He had wanted to test Eloise. Tiara shouldn't have been a part of their life.

...

A week later, Tiara returned to the country.

At the airport, Ravenna was already waiting for her. She was on the verge of hysteria at the sight of the bandages on Tiara's face.

Tiara had ruined her face. The face that resembled Eloise's was destroyed.

All the scripts and the future Ravenna had envisioned for Tiara now were gone. They were surrounded by reporters, and cameras trained on Tiara. Ravenna couldn't control her emotions as she demanded, "What are you doing? You're destroying your future!"

Tiara was calm. "Ms. Ravenna, did I ever have a future? I changed my face to look like someone else, to get close to Mr. Horigan. And... perhaps my rapid rise

to fame gave you the wrong idea, but many of my opportunities were given to me

by Ms. Laurent."

Ravenna didn't believe her.

Tiara smiled faintly. "From the very beginning, Ms. Laurent watched us play our parts. I was never a match for her in love, and you were no match for her in business."noveldrama

Even that noble man, Harvey, was thoroughly ensnared by Eloise. Some might say it was because of the children, but who wouldn't take care of their children? It was all about loving the mother of his children. Rumors were they were even planning for a third child.

Tiara's words caused a sensation, and even more so when she announced she was breaking her contract with Galaxy Entertainment and willing to pay a $5 million termination fee. She didn't know if signing with Eloise's brand would keep her in the spotlight. Nonetheless, Eloise had told her honesty was the best PR during a crisis, so she spoke out.

Tiara revealed her own pettiness and her journey of self-discovery. After speaking her truth, Tiara felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Whether she remained a star or not was unknown, but she could finally be herself, not Eloise's shadow. That day, Tiara topped the trending searches. However, she gained infamy and didn't lose her fanbase. Her fans supported her while digging into Eloise and Harvey's past, shipping them, and even starting a sort of cult following for Tiara and Eloise, a powerful female CEO and a manipulative starlet.

Tiara was still famous, and the contract she signed with Eloise was a 30/70 split. Eloise took seventy percent.

The outcome shocked everyone, even Parker, who called his son to probe. He coughed lightly. "Harvey, there are no issues between you and Eloise, right?"

At Everest Technologies.

Harvey sat in his spacious office, working to earn money for his wife. He skimmed through documents while dealing with his father. "What issues could there be?" Parker was half-joking and half-serious. "Harvey, I must compliment you on your wife-taming skills. You caused a little scandal, but Eloise's magnanimous reaction is enough to make any man envious. If it were your mother, she'd be crying and accusing me of infidelity every day. Good to hear there are no problems. Otherwise, I might think your wife doesn't value you."

The pen in Harvey's hand paused. With a forced smile, Harvey replied, "Eloise

doesn't like to cry." She rarely did, except in bed.

Parker laughed and chatted for a few more minutes.

After hanging up, Denise reminded Harvey, "Ms. Laurent is having a celebratory dinner. Will you be attending?"