Tangled Temptations

Chapter 351

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.

was a grand affair. The Velona

without its leader and

Corporation's financial records. Olga couldn't comprehend any of it, stressing herself out during the financial

to her study on the second floor. Olga had not expected Eloise to be willing to assist her.

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

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

of the 2000 employees," she said softly,

dared not

rushed into her mother's arms with a new certificate of achievement, something

daughter, asking, "What award did our sweet Linda get?" Linda beamed, "Best Hygiene Helper.

Darrien. Seeing Olga, he paused slightly, then politely

also finished her review of the ledger. She closed it, handed it to Olga, and said, "You can give this to

thanked her profusely. As she was leaving, she explained things

seemed to be nothing left to quibble over.

Instead, she took Darrien in her arms, and they

a sense of warmth enveloped them, and Harvey couldn't resist whispering, "Does this mean we're alright

smiled softly in

on serenely. Harvey managed Everest Technologies while Eloise was busy filming. The children were well cared for, and the

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

few rings, he picked up. His tone carried a hint of warmth. "Eloise... did

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

said it

over the line until she broke it with another question. "Have you gone to bed

at the mountain of paperwork on his desk. His voice sounded rough with fatigue. "Not

few more words. In the end,

younger, she probably would have

the other end, after the call ended, Harvey pulled out a photo of Eloise

Perhaps

down that Max still held a place in Eloise's heart. He couldn't begrudge her that, not

was slowly coming to terms with this subdued form of love, but what he didn't know was how much

and cons. After

entertained any inappropriate

women.

was about to return to work

the hotel room door. Assuming it

there, surprisingly, was

business trip in Hong Kong and had conveniently booked herself

was clad in a silky nightgown, looking undeniably seductive. "Mr. Horigan, my room's

even in the dead of night. In a white shirt