Tangled Temptations

Chapter 354

Eloise was caught between surprise and delight. Harvey stood outside the car, gazing at her with a look that turned her smile into a blooming rose.

His voice was husky. "Do you like it?"

Eloise buried her face in the roses; her voice was unusually sweet and alluring. "I love it." No woman could resist the charm of a man bearing flowers.

Harvey smiled faintly. He closed the car door, gracefully walked around to the driver's side, and got in. The sleek black sports car pulled away slowly, its silhouette against the streetlights like a shooting star.

At the hotel entrance, Jeffrey stood quietly for a long time.

...

Inside the car, Harvey played a soft melody. Eloise sipped some champagne and relaxed against the seat, feeling a bit tipsy.

They approached a red light. Harvey stopped the car and turned to her. "Home or the apartment?"

Eloise sobered up a little. She whispered into the roses, "Does it matter? If it's all the same, I'd like the hotel."

The atmosphere was charged with an unspoken tension.

Harvey watched her. Then, after a moment of silence, he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to her. Eloise looked up, about to speak, but he was already kissing her deeply.

After a long while, he lifted his head. His voice was a deep rasp. "Eloise, do you know what you're saying?"

With one hand clutching the flowers and the other around his neck, she seemed torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. Behind them, impatient car horns blared. Harvey buckled up, his Adam's apple rolling seductively. "Then, to the hotel it is."

Perhaps it was the rarity of Eloise taking the initiative that had Harvey so excited. He drove to the nearest five-star hotel and checked in with efficiency.

No sooner had they entered the presidential suite than Eloise found herself pinned against the door, possessed by him. He was more forceful than usual, having held back for so long. Making love once would not be enough.

Harvey carried her to the main bedroom and laid her on the bed's edge. Her designer gown soon joined the white roses scattered across the purple fabric on the carpet.

In the bedroom, passion reigned. It was not until the early hours of the morning that they finally rested.

Harvey held Eloise, kissing her, feeling thoroughly content, body and soul. "What's gotten into you tonight?" he murmured in her ear.

Eloise, damp with sweat, leaned onto his shoulder and said lightly, "It might be the champagne."

He kissed her again.

They both remembered that they hadn't taken any precautions that night, but neither thought to remedy it.

In the early winter chill, Eloise didn't want to move from the warmth of his embrace. Neither did Harvey. After a while, Eloise spoke softly, "We should get up. Time to go home."

Harvey kissed her, feigning displeasure. "That's the trouble with kids. If only we could just sleep in till morning after making love. But no, we have to head home in the middle of the night."

Though he spoke thus, he began to dress her. Her gown was ruined, so he gave her his shirt to wear. Finally, he draped his coat over her. And he, in a simple grey sweater, didn't look out of place.

He walked her down to the lobby to check out. It was 1:30 AM. The receptionist recognized them and discreetly processed their departure, wishing "Mr. and Mrs. Horigan" a warm welcome back.

Eloise flushed with embarrassment. Harvey, unfazed, casually inquired as he took the receipt. "Can we get a membership card for a discount next time?"

The receptionist obliged.

Back in the car, Eloise couldn't help but protest, "There won't be a next time." Harvey put the membership card away, adjusted his sweater, and then looked at Eloise. "Mrs. Horigan, are you not feeling good? Because I feel fantastic."

Eloise's cheeks turned pink, and she dropped the subject.

Harvey slowly started the car.

Just as Eloise was about to rest her eyes, she caught sight of a red sports car not far away with a woman inside who looked emotionless, staring at them. She had long black hair and a gaunt face, looking so much like Ravenna.

spine and straightened up for a clearer view, but the red car had already turned the corner and sped

noticed her unease and

Eloise was still shaken.

I saw Ravenna. Harvey, why would

hand. "I'll have

was far from calm. Only when they arrived back home did she start to unwind a bit, especially

her head, saying softly, "I'll call about the

footage within half an hour. The woman in

thanking his contact, "You've been

exchanges, Harvey returned to the bedroom to find Eloise still awake. He touched her

cheek against his palm and offered a faint

the night, she fell asleep. She dreamed again,

lights, Max's car was flattened by a dump truck. Through the window, he lay bloodied and motionless, but in his hand was an amulet, glowing

white silk nightgown was stark against

was conscious, looking up quietly at

down. Her trembling fingers touched his warm body. "I'll call an ambulance!" She could hear the panic in her

and his face was etched with sorrow. He spoke to her,

the anger she had felt towards him, she never wished for his death. She began to drag him towards the car door, her tone laced with urgency. "Max,

matter how hard she pulled, she couldn't budge him an inch. Tears

"

into Eloise's palm. He looked at her intently and whispered, "Eloise, this is for you... I have to go. With those words, his body slowly started to fade. In the air, red petals of blood began to float up, gradually fading

Max was gone...

left her with the amulet, his final smile, and three

"Max! Max! Max!"

from the dream. She was drenched in sweat, repeatedly

name.

warm

as one would

up at him, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, and

everything from her

Max." She clung to his

continuously comforting her, "It was just a dream,

a dream."

tears fell.

chest, her voice as fragile as

covered in blood, sitting in the car.

clung to his neck, sobbing. "In the dream, he gave me an amulet for

amulet before, would Max have avoided that path? Would he

ways. She couldn't wish him well anymore,

him dead.

Harvey about her feelings. Harvey

wife dreamt of a past love, he couldn't be entirely unfeeling, but he understood that Max's death cast a long

stroked her back, whispering, "Let's visit the chapel tomorrow,

in his arms, unable to fall asleep. Outside, rain fell, just like the day Max died, a fine misty rain, the world gloomy. But in Harvey's arms, there was warmth. He hadn't fallen asleep either, and eventually began to stroke her hair, asking

his arm. "You wouldn't want to

the tip of her nose gently, insisting, "I

embrace. Her voice was soft as she recounted bits of the past, and Harvey listened patiently and tenderly. He was a man of high

that Max had truly been moved by her once. Max

emotions were complex, and as he looked down,

horrific car

he knew that Max was gone forever, etched in Eloise's memory. If

rose quietly. He didn't left the bedroom, since he

by the

their marriage. It was improving, yet tinged with new regrets, regrets that only he

with Joan and Monica, Harvey had to

was their respective life journeys. If they wanted to