Tangled Temptations

Chapter 242

Griffin came over and stood at the entrance of the grand hall, his heart pounding in his chest. His voice shook as he talked to Parker, "Are you really cutting ties with me, Parker?"

Parker looked at him, his face pale and sickly. His heart ached for his old friend, but he knew what he had to do. As the patriarch of the Horigan family, he had responsibilities to his daughter, Eloise, and his granddaughter, Linda. They couldn't afford to have any more attachments with the Lynch family. It would be the greatest injustice to his daughter and granddaughter.

With a heavy heart, Parker nodded, "Yes, Griffin. Our friendship ends here."

Griffin's hand trembled on the doorknob, his body swaying. He couldn't believe that their relationship had come to this. Was he really such a failure? Why couldn't he hold onto the people he cared about?

As Griffin voiced his self-doubt, Parker replied solemnly, "As a man, you need to know when to cut ties. If you had chased after Louise when she misunderstood all those years ago, we wouldn't be in this situation now. You loved one woman but felt guilty towards another, and your mistakes piled up. You wanted to acknowledge Eloise as your daughter, but you were so greedy that you want to have her and Joan be sisters. Griffin, you're a fool."

Griffin's face turned deathly pale. His eyes flickered to Eloise and the little girl by her side, Linda. At least he got to see them one last time.

Just before he left, he asked in a shaky voice, "Eloise, could you call me 'Dad' just once?"

Eloise stared at him calmly. She was never one to beat around the bush, and rejected him gently, "Mr. Lynch, take care."

Griffin's face went even paler. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small, beautiful trinket. It was a glass figurine he had bought for Linda. His trembling hands dropped it, and the sharp shards cut Linda's delicate leg. Bright red blood seeped out slowly.

Harvey swiftly picked Linda up and pressed a tissue against her leg. He whispered to Eloise, "There's a coagulant in her bag."

Eloise quickly found it and gave it to Linda. The little girl whimpered in Harvey's arms, scared of the sight of her own blood. She complained in a soft, pitiful voice, asking her dad to make it stop hurting.

Harvey comforted her, his eyes soft and gentle. But his irritation towards Griffin was clear.

Griffin was taken aback. He hadn't meant for this to happen. He just wanted to give the child a toy.

Parker was pained to see his granddaughter in distress. He said calmly, "I don't blame you, Griffin. Just leave. Don't bother Eloise anymore. She's suffered enough. Let her live a peaceful life."

Griffin left in a daze. As he walked out the door, Jane couldn't help but grumble, "It's just a small cut, no need to make such a fuss. The look Harvey gave you, it was like he wanted to eat you alive."

Diana added, "That child is too spoiled."

Griffin didn't respond.

hall

with kisses and words of comfort, "Does

face scrunched up in discomfort, "Blow

Parker held his granddaughter close, turning to Eloise,

blood and a clotting disorder. I can't give her a blood transfusion because we're directly related, and her lood type is rare. We have to be extra

to elaborate. Eloise understood. Between the two of them, someone would have to sacrifice their career to take care of

becoming too heavy, decided to change the subject. She suggested

grand hall was left to the men. Parker, with Linda on his lap, asked his son, "What are your plans, Harvey?

they? I can't just drag Eloise to the city hall right now. We're living together and

"Mama sleeps with

Harvey sighed in exasperation.

him, "And

granddaughter, "Don't worry, darling.

on Parker's lap. She kissed his cheek, her small and rosy face was rubbing against

are you going to take over my position, Harvey? Eloise has her own career too. Why

his coffee, replying leisurely, "Running Everest Technologies is enough work for me. Adding Horigan Inc.

wouldn't die from working a little harder. You

of energy." His keen eyes could tell that Harvey and

were just pretending

Pathetic. Useless.

a beautiful and dignified woman, but there was a touch of sadness

more tea. Her smile was gentle

softly, "I've been wanting to visit you two, but

Harvey. He did make mistakes in the past. But if you're still

against her kindness. Her eyes met Pauline's. Just then, Harvey arrived, standing by Eloise's side, his hand naturally resting on her shoulder, saying softly and

Eloise hummed in response.

feel uneasy

...

the afternoon, Linda stayed in the