Tangled Temptations

Chapter 385

Harvey had left for the office that afternoon. It was a chilly day, and Eloise, preferring the warmth of indoors, hadn't ventured out. Instead, she made a call and summoned someone over.

Tiara.

Driving up to the mansion, Tiara barely stepped out of her car when a smiling servant greeted her with, "Mrs. Horigan is in the study on the second floor. Please, Ms. Tiara, she's expecting you."

With a nod, Tiara followed the servant's lead, climbing the grand staircase. Her feelings about the opulent mansion were entirely different from before.

...

Reaching the second floor, the servant knocked on the door. "Mrs. Horigan, Ms. Tiara is here."

Eloise's soft voice responded, "Let her in."

As the servant opened the door, Tiara's gaze fell upon the vintage-styled study with its floor-to-ceiling windows and a set of hunter-green leather sofas that screamed luxury.

Dressed in a floral maxi dress with her caramel locks cascading down her waist, Eloise exuded a lazy charm and seductive maturity that spoke of a man's affection —Harvey's, Tiara thought. But now, she dared not entertain any improper thoughts.

While Tiara took in Eloise's appearance, Eloise lifted her eyes and welcomed her with a faint smile, "Come in, have a seat!"

Tiara sat across from Eloise, her posture a bit stiff.

Eloise tilted her head and instructed the servant, "Brew a coffee for Ms. Tiara, please."

Nursing her coffee, Tiara still felt uneasy. She needed a favor from Eloise. She had come from Ravenna's camp, and Ravenna, holding a grudge, made life difficult at every turn. "Ravenna sure knows how to schmooze. She's got some big shots on her side now, making my life miserable. I nearly couldn't get out of a dinner party last time," Tiara said, the words tumbling out amidst her nerves. She could have just played along, but since signing with Eloise, she didn't want to do those things anymore. She wanted a clean slate.

Eloise looked out the window, where snow had started to fall gently. She traced her finger on the glass, musing, "We've had a lot of snow this year."

Tiara was puzzled by the change in topic.

Eloise's gaze was serene, betraying none of her thoughts. Her voice grew even softer, "You may be signed to me now, but that doesn't mean you can't play nice with Ravenna."

Tiara didn't quite understand.

Eloise pulled out two tickets from a book and smiled. "Next week's Formula 1 race. I hear the drivers are quite young and handsome. Ms. Ravenna might enjoy that."

Tiara began to see Eloise's point.

Eloise, however, preferred to keep her counsel, asking in a soft voice, "Would you be willing to help me with this?"

After a few seconds of thought, Tiara nodded firmly. Eloise beckoned her closer and whispered a plan that took Tiara by surprise. Eloise, seemingly gentle and vulnerable, was playing a deep game. Tiara believed it was only a matter of time before Ravenna, the toxic figure of the circle, would fall.

Tiara stayed a moment longer. The sound of a car pulling into the driveway was followed by children's laughter.

Soon, Linda and Luca scampered up the stairs. Linda rushed to the nursery to wake up the sweetly sleeping Darrien, chilling his little hands and cooing, "Time to wake up, Darrien!"

room at the

it and wiping him down with

"Got it?" he asked.

her cherubic face in her hands, Linda

Linda and

now comfortably in a fresh diaper, Linda and Luca brought him to

a word, she prepared a bottle of milk and fed

the side, and Linda, unable to resist, joined him. The scene

her youth, was tied down by her children. Then again, with wealth, leisure, and a loving husband, this was Eloise's own

...

days later, Tiara encountered Ravenna at a

the heavy-set man beside Ravenna, couldn't

of

"Not pleasant, is it, Tiara? I truly wanted to

the faucet, splashing water over her face to sober up. Once she felt a bit better, she rasped, "But

leaning against the wall and lighting a slim cigarette, her demeanor exuding allure and confidence. She thought of Harvey, a man who rarely mingled with women as if made solely for

had never encountered such a

long as I'm

Tiara's eyes reddened.

the wrong horse. Eloise may have strong connections but lacks

Tiara pondered this.

left her with something to think about before

few steps, Tiara called out hesitantly, "Ms.

but feel

wiped her face clean, her gaze fixed on Ravenna as she spoke, "I've crossed you before, Ms. Ravenna. If I want to come back into the fold, I need to bring something to the table, some kind of victory or glory, so everyone else will accept me

taken aback

a

saying you

Tiara shook her head.

Ravenna's disappointment, she quickly added, "I know a way

F1 race and whispered conspiratorially, "These races are all rigged. The

was skeptical.

She reapplied her makeup in front of the mirror, her

dazzling celebrity with her good looks, would undoubtedly have some wealthy admirers eager to win her favor. It wouldn't be

day of the F1

there too, in the best seats in the house, just a private box

with Ravenna holding a pair of binoculars and peering into the distance. She murmured, "I've placed a small

the binoculars, his racing suit and helmet

"Quite young," Ravenna muttered.

sole heir of

off the market now-married!"

but then shrugged it off. What did it matter? Men