Tangled Temptations

Chapter 391

In the cozy living room of a modest suburban home, the air was thick with emotions that words could scarcely convey.

Orlena's eyes brimmed with warmth as she watched her small family. The passion she once had for Brett, the resentment that followed, and the undeniable truth that she had been waiting for him all these years, waiting for him to fulfill the promise of a home, all swirled within her.

She was never one to hide her feelings. When she was happy, it showed in her beaming smile, and when she was sad, her face was an open book for the world to read.

Her son, Daniel, tugged at her hand and looked up at her with innocent eyes. "Mommy, why are you crying?"

Caught off guard, Orlena replied with a nasal voice, trying to maintain her composure. "Mommy's not crying, sweetheart."

Before Daniel could probe further, Brett swooped in, lifted their son with fatherly ease, and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "Daddy's taking our little man to preschool, bud!"

Daniel's cheeks flushed with a mixture of excitement and shyness.

Brett then turned to Orlena, a teasing twinkle in his eye. "You've got tear-stained cheeks. Go freshen up and put on some makeup. A girl should always look her best when stepping out."

The term "girl" made Parker roll his eyes at Brett's shameless flirting; after all, Orlena was well into her thirties.

Pauline, touched by the gesture, quietly dabbed at her tears-although their home could easily accommodate separate rooms for Orlena and Daniel, nothing mattered more to her than their happiness. Now that Brett was finally ready to commit, her heart swelled with joy.

Pauline smiled warmly. "Come back after the school visit, and I'll whip up a few dishes for lunch."

Brett responded with the ease of a son thanking his mother, "Thank you."

Both Parker and Pauline couldn't have been more pleased. Orlena felt a little embarrassed by the attention and her reddening eyes. She glanced at Brett and muttered under her breath, "You're not too old to be embarrassed?"

His response was a light chuckle and a playful slap on her behind. "Hurry up and get ready."

With her parents present, Orlena held back any urge to make a scene and headed upstairs.

to put Daniel in the car, the little boy clung to his neck, "Daddy, can I really start

kissed the tip of Daniel's nose

features of the Noland family, strikingly resembling his father. Holding his soft son, Brett felt as if he

...

gesturing for her to sit beside him. She felt a strange

your seatbelt," he

buckled up, avoiding his

gently pressed the accelerator, driving his family to preschool. While Daniel bubbled with excitement, the adults were in a tumult of complex emotions. This felt like their first genuine family

heart was heavy with emotion. After driving for a while, Brett softly took her hand and asked in a

Daniel's keen ears perked up. "Why would mommy

wished she could disappear. Brett glanced at her with a mischievous low

innocently, added, "Linda says Auntie is always tired because Uncle Harvey teases her

face flamed with

that kid is a little rascal. Our son, well, he's got a bit of your naivety about these matters. That's where I, as a dad, need to step

his advantage, Brett's smugness irked Orlena, who

car glided smoothly, and within half an hour, they arrived at a prestigious private

out and lifted Daniel from the backseat. The little

one arm and

...

catered to the elite. Donny had connected them to the school. Even with Brett's status, they still needed

school was quiet save for the headmistress and a

Brett and Orlena were ushered into the principal's office. The principal, a woman nearing her sixties, scrutinized the couple before her, then glanced

Father: Brett.

Mother: Orlena.

parents were listed as

inquired, "Are you Mr. Brett

a calm smile, Brett