Tangled Temptations

Chapter 319

Two months later.

Pauline loved her theater. Her favorite leading lady, Miss Olea, was performing in three plays that month.

However, poor Pauline fell ill, so she passed her tickets to Orlena, asking her to deliver a basket of flowers and bring back a signed playbill.

Orlena had no better plans, so she accepted. In the afternoon, she invited Eloise to join her.

Lately, the tension between Elois and Harvey had lessened, and she always had a soft spot for Orlena. To make it even more fun, she brought Veronica along.

They were going to the Pearl Opera, the best opera house in town.

That day, Miss Olea's performance was so impeccable that the audience gave her thunderous applause. But Orlena couldn't help being bored. She would've left if it wasn't for her mother's request for a signed playbill.

When the show was over, Miss Olea retreated backstage. Once there, she was like a different person, casually telling her assistant, "I'm not seeing fans today. Tell them to come back another day."

Miss Olea came from a prestigious opera family, so she had a certain air of elegance and pride about her, making her inaccessible to ordinary fans.

Her assistant, however, seemed troubled and softly said, "Well, there's one fan you might want to meet."

Intrigued, Miss Olea asked, "Who is so important that I have to meet them?"

"It's Miss Horigan. Her mother is ill and couldn't make it, so they wanted a signed playbill."

Upon hearing this, Miss Olea paused, then her face bloomed into a smile. "Ah, Miss Horigan. Yes, I should meet her. Pauline always gives face when it comes to my plays. Bring her backstage, and I'll sign her playbill."

She lifted the curtain and walked inside. Inside, a male voice with elegance could be heard.

Meanwhile, Orlena and her group followed their assistant to the backstage area. Ms. Olea was truly astonished. A long corridor was filled with flower baskets, numbering in the hundreds. Among them, the majority were sent by a certain Mr. Brett, with a surprising count of 32.

Mr. Brett... Orlena's heart skipped a beat. Was this the same Mr. Brett she was thinking of?

Following Orlena's gaze, the assistant chuckled and said, "Mr. Brett is an old friend of Miss Olea's. Whenever he's in Peterborough, he always comes to support her. I heard Mr. Brett is quite influential and doesn't usually mingle with the common crowds. Only Miss Olea has that privilege."

Orlena listened quietly, suddenly with an urge to leave. But they were already at the dressing room door. The assistant ushered them in with a smile. "Miss Horigan is here."

The scene inside took Orlena by surprise.

a form-fitting dress, her long, dark hair was tied up, and her

dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, looking handsome and gentle. He held a golden hairpin in his hand, lightly touching Miss Olea's hair. It was an

She hadn't

one she knew. He was with Miss Olea,

as well. Despite Eloise being there, he put down

silent, her lips trembling slightly, unwilling to

glancing between Brett and Orlena. To her knowledge, they didn't have much

hand at dealing with awkward social situations, so he defused the tension. "I didn't know Ms. Orlena was coming

more difficult, so she

the tension and said

"Why don't I host a dinner for everyone at Tango's Tapas Bar across the

and

could respond, Orlena spoke up, "I have a headache. I

silence. Donny quickly offered, "I'll get some medicine for you,

but I don't see you offering to help me." Though she

enough people around

"If I had a headache or a cold, you would make

turned ghostly

deftly steered the conversation away from the tension, and they all ended up at Tango's Tapas Bar. They were led to

Olea, hoping to marry into the Noland family, was particularly attentive to Eloise.

of steamed pork rib in her bowl. At

at the two pieces of ribs, Orlena

said, "Eat more meat. It's

leaning against Brett, joined in, "Yes, children should eat more meat. It helps them

of doubt. After all, Orlena was the younger one, and she heard her call out

hold back any longer. She excused herself to the restroom, and as soon as she was inside, she turned

help but

word. She was a bit upset but knew she had no

such humiliation?

then gently locked. She was

realized Brett had entered and locked the

voice was gentle. "Are you

the flirtatious look

was such

her eyes rimmed with red. "I have nothing to do with you, why would I be mad? I'm not good