Tangled Temptations

Chapter 284

In the dead of night, two figures ascended the wooden staircase. Harvey gently nudged the door to their master bedroom and shut it behind them, pulling Eloise into the warmth of his embrace. Her face, soft and delicate, brushed lightly against his shoulder, and her cheek was rubbing against the fabric of his cotton shirt, catching the faint scent of tobacco that always seemed to linger on him.

She knew what he wanted. And she had to admit, she missed this scent, this intimacy. But the timing wasn't right, and her heart wasn't ready. So she whispered, her voice barely audible, "What is it you want to say?"

Harvey looked down at her. The soft glow of the bedroom lamp was illuminating her features. "Monika is just a young girl, Eloise. There's no way I could have feelings for her. Please, don't be mad... Alright?"

Eloise, still nestled in his arms, murmured softly, "She cares about you, you know." She didn't want to make a scene. All she wanted was for him to make a decision, a decision she could be content with.

After a moment of silence, Harvey gently caressed her face. "Monika doesn't mean anything to me, Eloise. You know where my heart is. Let's move back to our old house after the New Year. It was good back then, wasn't it?"

His words were laced with affection and pleading, but Eloise couldn't help feeling disappointed. She felt a chill creeping up her spine, despite the warmth of their room. "Harvey," her voice was filled with fatigue, "you still don't understand."

She stood up, walking towards the door. As she reached for the doorknob, her voice sounded distant, "I'll sleep with the kids. Good night."

"Wait, Eloise!" Harvey called after her, but it was too late. She had already disappeared down the hallway.

Harvey sat in silence for a moment before making his way to the living room couch. He had plenty of work to attend to, but he couldn't focus, his mind filled with thoughts of Eloise.

He thought perhaps this was just his manly instinct. Once you'd tasted sweetness, it was hard to give it up. He had initially resisted their marriage, but after their relationship had evolved, he found himself enjoying this family life. He thought that having a wife and kids wasn't so bad.

He couldn't quite comprehend Eloise's feelings. He had no interest in Monika. It was just a simple act of kindness, nothing more. Perhaps, he felt a bit of sympathy for her, but that was all it was.

Eventually, he decided to tackle his paperwork, spending a couple of hours on it before heading to bed. As he drifted off to sleep, he felt a little figure crawling into his bed. Linda, their daughter, snuggled into his arms, her icy feet sending a chill through his body.

"Daddy, warm my feet," she mumbled.

Harvey lay there, his gaze falling on Linda's curly brown hair and chubby cheeks. She was so much like Eloise, but Linda was even more adorable, a hundred times more.

In the morning, Eloise returned to the master bedroom to change her clothes. The sight of Linda, nestled against Harvey, sleeping peacefully, reminded her of the old times.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her gaze lingering on Harvey, who was still asleep. At this moment, there were no arguments, no worries about his amnesia, nor any doubts about his feelings for her.

She felt a pang of nostalgia, whispering, "Harvey."

He woke up to the sight of Eloise's gentle gaze. She seemed startled and tried to

pull away, but Harvey was quick to catch her hand, pulling her towards him. "Eloise, it's been a long time since you've called me Harvey like that," he murmured.

Eloise struggled slightly. "We'll wake the kid."

to the side, then quickly flipped Eloise beneath him, pressing his

you lost

us

slow, but you're not

it then. We've been married for years,

was insufferable, and Eloise kicked at him in frustration. How could he do this, with Linda right there in

her fragmented voice, "Let go. I don't want to do

as he looked down at her vulnerable figure, "But I want to! I've wanted

full month, she

just wanted to

knock sounded at the door, followed by the housemaid's voice. "Sir, a young lady is here to deliver a

voice hoarse, he said,

He carefully slid off Eloise and reached for his robe, before turning to Eloise to say, "We'll continue this later. Why don't you wait for me in the guest

didn't reply. She got off the

freshened up and changed into a fresh set of clothes before heading

tone cold. "You no longer

descending from the upstairs, a tall and lean figure. His striking features were accentuated by

woolen trousers. He's a

with housekeepers and everything she had ever yearned for since childhood. Yet, all

picked up the fruit basket beside her, saying awkwardly, "Attorney Horigan, I heard that you

basket to him, her arm stretched out straight and long.

was a bit upset. He should've been enjoying his time with

actions... Harvey was not

a cup of black coffee, and then lightly said, "I think I need to clarify something. You don't have to thank me, and you don't need to bring gifts! Don't come here again, and don't bother my wife! She's

gasped, "Did she tell

embarrassed. Her affection was known to Harvey, but he did not care. His sympathy for her was merely

She bit her lip lightly, and her voice was trembling a bit. "I didn't mean anything, Attorney Horigan. I'll leave now... I won't bother you or your wife again!" After saying that, she got up and

second floor, witnessing all of this. She silently watched Monika make her way into the manor, just like Joan had done

that Monika was clever. She wasn't as willful as Joan. She knew her limits, and she

clever

gently wrapping

pushed him away. "I'm not

that. Don't let such a small matter ruin our relationship." "Do we have a relationship? She was able to find me yesterday, then make her way into our home today. What's next? Will she invite you to her apartment for a sleepover? Don't overestimate

a stand, then... let's just

...

around, she realized it was not that she didn't want to

rid of Monika