Tangled Temptations

Chapter 399

Eloise gazed down with a hint of a smile, a light of resolve in her eyes. "Let's call it a day, shall we?"

As her lashes lowered, that delicate skin near the corner of her eye seemed almost translucent, touched by the faintest hint of blue, captivating in its ethereal quality.

Jacob had wandered through a garden of beauties, never lingering long enough to cherish any of them, but something about Eloise's face made him pause and take a longer look.

After a moment, even he felt his stare was too intense, and with a gruff voice, he admitted, "I trust you."

With graceful steps, Eloise approached the car.

Jacob, a gentleman despite himself, reached to open the door for her.

Eloise was taken aback by the gesture, and as their eyes met, she could discern a whisper of affection in his. Before slipping into the car, she said softly, "Jacob, some things are better left undone." With that, she settled into the vehicle.

The door glided shut, and the sleek black limousine eased away into the night.

Jacob stood smoking. Mr. Velona was ready to leave as well. He descended the stairs to find his son standing in the biting night wind with a cigarette. He couldn't help but add, "Ms. Ravenna might be fun to play with, but don't you think of bringing her home."

Jacob chuckled dryly. Methodically, he flicked the cigarette butt away and stamped it out. "Don't worry, when it comes to playing the field, I'm always one step ahead."

Mr. Velona's face clouded over.

As his car pulled up, Jacob opened the door for him. Mr. Velona stared at him, and after a moment's hesitation, he boarded the car without another word.

Inside, the driver tried to make conversation. "Mr. Jacob seems in good spirits." Mr. Velona replied, "That boy resents me, that's for sure. If not, he would have taken over the family business by now. He's just trying to secure a proper standing for his mother, but tell me, can I afford to give her that so easily? Wouldn't that be admitting to my past indiscretions?"

Mr. Velona's wife had passed, but her father was still influential. Would he let Mr. Velona off so easily?

Mr. Velona acknowledged his own predicament, and that's why things had been strained with Jacob these past few years.

The driver remained silent.

After a while, Mr. Velona added softly, "Now that he's getting along with Eloise, I can rest easy. I've heard Stuart talk about her... you see, Dwight has changed completely because of her."

The driver nodded in agreement, and Mr. Velona's mood seemed to lighten.

...

Back at home, Eloise received a call from Mr. Velona, who essentially asked her to watch over Jacob. Mr. Velona had said, "I haven't engaged with Ms. Ravenna much, but Eloise, I trust you. If you could guide Jacob, I'd be forever grateful."

Still in her evening gown, Eloise stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of her living room, a faint smile on her lips. "Don't worry, Mr. Velona, I will."

Mr. Velona went on for quite some time.

After hanging up, which was a good 10 minutes later, Eloise rubbed her neck. "These social events sure are exhausting."

Her pergnancy this time was somewhat easy, but she was, after all, an expectant mother, and her energy was not what it once was.

Just as she was about to freshen up, Harvey came back from tucking the kids in and caught her in her tired state. "Tired?" he asked, coming over to support her as

she sat down. He began to gently massage her neck.

Eloise leaned back into the sofa, enjoying her husband's tender care, and hummed, "A little."

After Harvey had massaged her for a while, Eloise whispered to him, "Ravenna took the bait. Just needs a little more time to cook."

"Hmm?" Harvey hummed lazily, a hint of playfulness in his voice. "Do tell, Mrs. Horigan."

Eloise held his hand, her voice devoid of warmth. "Tomorrow, I'll have Natalia place a bet of two hundred million on Jacob."

That would largely dispel Ravenna's doubts and secure her commitment.

Harvey's brows twitched. With his slender fingers, he gently stroked his wife's cheek and asked in a husky voice, "Taking a loss doesn't seem like your style, does it?"

Eloise smiled faintly. "Before the channel closes, I'll place another billion on Dwight." She planned to sweep up every dime Ravenna wagered.

Harvey had anticipated this, but still, his heart skipped a beat, half for his wife's dazzling beauty and half for her cunning intellect. He couldn't resist leaning in to nibble softly at the tender spot behind her ear.

"The saying 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' is spot on," he murmured. "My little vixen."

His words were enticing, and his hands began to roam with a mind of their own.

snuggled against him, her voice soft as silk, "Harvey, we're talking

talk is over." He lifted her in his arms and

well. She was pregnant, so he wouldn't

familiarity, their hearts raced. Harvey bent down to kiss her, his voice hot as if holding

wrapped her arms around his neck, returning

kissed deeply and softly. The bathroom was forgotten

long understood Harvey's preferences; he liked to be intimate at

unbuttoned his blue shirt, whispering, "Mr. Horigan, you've been working hard lately. I

softly caressed her

pushed back her brown hair. Cradling her husband's handsome face,

refuse such flirtation from his wife, and Harvey was no exception. He relished

...

of indulgence

awoke, a white rose and a small gift lay beside her pillow, sweet

from work to be with the children, avoiding

noticed her social calendar becoming less packed. Mr. Horigan had his ways,

light, Eloise lounged in bed, basking in the winter sun's warmth. Eventually, she rose, wrapping herself in a blanket, and

speechless. When had Ms. Laurent ever

knew what was on Natalia's mind and said with a wry

were still placing their bets on Dwight. Eloise's $200 million shook up the entire betting

Eloise's bold move was like a shot of confidence for her, and she arranged to

the chase, "Did you hear about Eloise's

entertaining company these past few days and haven't paid much attention to such matters. What, does Ms. Laurent want a piece of the club action, too? Can

than grinding it out in the business world. It's not surprising she's interested. I was just thinking, for someone as cautious as her to suddenly drop

banquet. She had a high status in the elite circles, especially given

with Jacob.

laugh was faint,

then shared another piece of gossip, "On the day of the competition, Dwight won't even show up. So, what are his

"Really?"

you? You think I've been keeping company

nothing?"

paid should earn me some benefits." She mentioned she

things go smoothly, it could double," Tiara

was tempting; she could never make that

game. The bold

afraid of?"

back to her place, she smoked half a day's worth of cigarettes before finally making a call to her financial advisor. She emptied

If not, she would be ruined. But Ravenna was confident she would win. She had too much

afford

Ravenna placed her $400 million bet, Eloise was immediately

held her phone in silence for

wouldn't be getting her money

into the

take her to the cemetery. Baron hesitated, "Harvey won't be happy

gently, "I'll

so long,

was pleased. She wanted to share the news with Max,

let him

Baron continued to mutter.

them like glue. Eloise

along.

was bright, but a somber atmosphere

the cemetery.

by the hand, followed by a few bodyguards. As they neared Max's grave, they found Aliza and Olga

a bunch of daisies, and laid them down

recognizing the man from the photos. It was the man who wanted

saw Eloise approach, they stood up. Aliza looked conflicted. "Why do you come in your

"Look how much

note of wistfulness in her voice. If

Linda's age now. A lovely little girl like

her "grandma." The thought alone was enough

eyes.

came to see him.

eyes, Olga said, "Eloise, you're the only one who still