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.

Max's funeral, which was

and soon drowned in the

She was there on account of the Velona Corporation's financial records. Olga couldn't comprehend any

the second floor. Olga had not expected Eloise to be willing to assist her. She sat in the study, sipping on floral tea, and simply watching

Her face, as beautiful as a painting, was even more attractive than

watched, she felt a wave of sadness wash over her. Her brother hadn't left an heir for the Velona family. Thus, she softly confessed, "Eloise, I actually approached Ravenna!

bear such talk. "I'm helping for the sake of the 2000 employees,"

dared not

rushed into her mother's arms with a new

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

Darrien. Seeing Olga,

She closed it, handed it to Olga, and said, "You can give this

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

saying much. After all, with Max gone, there seemed to be nothing left to quibble over. Arguing

she took Darrien in her arms, and they

the study, a sense of warmth enveloped them, and Harvey

softly in

Technologies while Eloise was busy filming. The children were

and sometimes, she woke from dreams of him. When she did, Harvey was away on a trip to Hong Kong. Wrapped in her

rings, he picked up. His tone carried a hint

that Max was in a car crash. Harvey's voice dropped a notch.

said it

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

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

the end, Eloise hung up first. She

younger, she probably

the other end, after the call ended, Harvey pulled out a photo of Eloise and gazed at it in

much improvement lately. Perhaps it was Max's passing that made them

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

love, but

pros and cons.

he hadn't entertained any inappropriate thoughts about

women.

was about to return to work

at the hotel room door. Assuming it was room

surprisingly, was

was on a business trip in Hong Kong and had

silky nightgown, looking undeniably seductive. "Mr. Horigan, my room's water heater

dead of night. In