Tangled Temptations

Chapter 395

Hearing the words, Harvey let out a soft chuckle. "Do you think Eloise fancies you?" he asked in return.

Jacob was silent. He played the field, yet he'd found himself enamored with a married woman. He toyed with emotions but was at a loss on how to disentangle

his own.

Sitting in his car, he fished out a cigarette and stared blankly at the falling snow outside, a tightness in his chest. After a while, Harvey spoke gently, "Jacob, if it's causing you this much trouble, you don't have to get involved with Ravenna's stuff."

Jacob's throat bobbed. He forced out the words, rough and strained, "It's alright." Harvey didn't say anything more and hung up. This was a conversation between men, and he believed Jacob wasn't that weak and couldn't handle a little emotional turmoil. Besides, this sort of problem shouldn't even exist.

Meanwhile, Jacob tossed his phone aside, his fingers trembling slightly as he lit his cigarette.

Strange. When talking to Harvey, he felt calm, devoid of any petty jealousy. It was Landon he envied, because, like him, Landon couldn't have her, yet he held a place in her heart.

Jacob finished his cigarette. He dialed a well-known model he knew. After a brief chat, he drove to her apartment. The door barely closed behind them before they were stumbling into a passionate kiss.

This, he thought, was his life. Eloise was not someone he should get involved with, not even a sliver of sentiment.

After the fling, he leaned against the headboard and lit another cigarette. His phone buzzed-it was Ravenna.

Jacob found her annoying, and he knew she wanted more than just a fling. She aimed to marry into the Velonas, a prominent family.

He scoffed as he saw the incoming call. Did she think the Velonas were so grand?

After a moment, he answered the call. Ravenna's voice was soft and ingratiating, "Jacob, are you home? I made some late-night snacks, and I'm downstairs. If it's not too much trouble, could you come down and grab some?"

Late-night snacks? Jacob exhaled smoke, his response blunt, "I'm in someone else's bed."

Ravenna was taken aback. She hadn't expected Jacob to deny her even that small dignity. Trying not to sour their arrangement, Jacob's tone softened a bit. "Let's talk tomorrow." With that, he hung up.

After the call, his expression darkened. He was reminded of his collaboration with Eloise.

Jacob's mother had been deceived by a certain Velona scoundrel, only to find out after five years that he had a wife. That man never considered letting them live in the light. Now, that man's short-lived son was gone, and he begged Jacob to take over the family business, but still wouldn't acknowledge Jacob's mother, even though his wife had been dead for years.

Thanks to Tiara's introduction, Jacob had the chance to work with Eloise. What he couldn't secure for his mother, Eloise could.

Jacob knew that business was just business, and unnecessary feelings were against the rules, but he couldn't help himself. Maybe he'd never seen a woman as pure as Eloise in his chaotic world.

finished his cigarette

wrapped in a towel, looking alluring. Seeing him ready to leave, she wrapped her

belt with swift precision and pinched her cheek with a wicked grin. "Got another girl."

cursed behind

A cold smile curled his lips. Of course, he was a bastard. With his background, hanging around shady places since he was 15, being anything but a bastard would

sports car was parked downstairs. Ravenna

beside her and wound down the window, casually resting his elbow.

lazy, sated look she knew came from a man who'd been satisfied by a woman. She felt a pang of jealousy and said with a hint of annoyance,

to test her standing

turned off her engine, and stared at her with deep eyes. "Not happy? It's not like you didn't know what kind

like that, he reminded her of Max. Before she knew it, she was wrapping

of women. It wasn't that he didn't mind; he simply didn't care. So he kissed her back and slid into

sports car

sliver, one could see Ravenna's seductive allure and hear Jacob's husky breaths

lay in his arms. Her slender fingers traced his

reached for his pack of cigarettes, took one out, and lit it without

body, unable to let go. Maybe she loved this

just your background I'm after, Jacob. I'm sincere." She even promised to boost his image, to make his father see him in a new

at handling women -neither committing nor rejecting. The more distant he seemed, the more they laid everything

ambiguous line. "We'll

Ravenna stroked his handsome

her voice

race are

gave a

a man of his stature, such a sum was trivial. She wasn't keen

him, but

must invest to

she truly

settle down with him.

she'd have to get on good

to marry into the

...

side, Harvey hung

He watched