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.

clung to his neck, "Daddy, can I really start calling

kissed the tip of Daniel's nose

soft son, Brett felt as if he was living a dream, a joy that washed over him with the same intensity as the previous

...

and opened the car door for her, gesturing for her to

seatbelt,"

buckled up, avoiding

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 outing without the

driving for a while, Brett softly took her hand

the backseat, Daniel's keen ears perked up.

she could disappear. Brett glanced at

"Linda says Auntie is always tired because

face flamed with

hand on the steering wheel and with evident pleasure, Brett said, "Linda sure knows a lot, but that kid is a little rascal. Our son, well, he's got a bit of your naivety about these matters. That's where

irked Orlena, who refused to engage

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

and lifted Daniel from the backseat. The little boy clung to him, his face glowing. "Can I start preschool

with a smile, holding his son in one arm and naturally

...

had connected them to the school. Even with Brett's status, they still needed to bring their child for an evaluation, as well

the school was quiet save for the headmistress

principal's office. The principal, a woman nearing her sixties, scrutinized the couple before her, then glanced at Daniel's

Father: Brett.

Mother: Orlena.

parents were

eyed them and inquired, "Are you Mr. Brett

calm smile,