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!"

filled the room at the abrupt

diaper before efficiently changing it and wiping him down with a wet wipe. "He's not

"Got it?" he asked.

Linda grinned,

glanced at Linda and then

a fresh diaper, Linda and Luca brought him to Eloise. "Mama, Darrien's hungry," Linda

a word, she prepared a

unable to resist, joined him. The scene was so peacefully beautiful that Tiara

the mansion, Tiara thought about how Eloise, despite her youth, was tied down by her children. Then again, with wealth, leisure, and a loving husband, this

...

encountered Ravenna at a

inebriated. Tiara's agent, intimidated by the heavy-set

misery of retching

lipstick with a slight smirk. "Not pleasant, is it, Tiara? I truly wanted to help you, but you chose

a bit better, she rasped, "But what did you ask me to do? Harvey's not

and lighting a slim cigarette, her demeanor exuding allure and

had never encountered such a

a smoke ring, she taunted, "As long as I'm around, you won't have a good

Tiara's eyes reddened.

what you get for backing the wrong horse. Eloise may have strong connections but

Tiara pondered this.

Tiara's shoulder, Ravenna left her with something to think about before walking

few steps, Tiara called out hesitantly,

feel a surge of

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

eyebrow, taken aback

in funding a play, but you're

you saying you can secure an investment for

Tiara shook her head.

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

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

skeptical. "You know

smiled. She reapplied her makeup in front of the mirror, her beauty

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

the day of the F1

best

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

was driving car number five. Through the binoculars, his racing suit and helmet couldn't

"Quite young," Ravenna muttered.

heir of the Arellano family down south,

off the market now-married!"

a twinge of disappointment but then shrugged it off. What