Tangled Temptations

Chapter 407

Orlena threw herself into his arms, hugging his arm tightly. She was seeing her own brother after being so far from home, so it was only natural for her to show such warmth.

Harvey wrapped an arm around her shoulders and turned to Jacob with a smirk. "And whose home-wrecker are you aspiring to be today?"

Jacob's gaze remained fixed on Harvey. Despite his own rebellious nature, he had to admit there was something undeniably dazzling about him. Harvey had been blessed from birth with all the good fortune one could wish for.

Feeling a sting of jealousy, Jacob retorted, "What? You scared?"

Harvey pulled out a pack of cigarettes with one hand, lit one up, and took a long drag. His cool, narrow eyes squinting through the smoke as he stared at Jacob, and chuckled, "Scared of you? Not in the slightest. I'm just worried Eloise might not approve. She's pretty particular about her space and cleanliness."

Jacob wasn't about to back down. "I heard you used to be a lawyer. Got a tongue sharper than your years?"

Harvey nodded nonchalantly. "Good enough. Eloise has a taste for mature men. With your boyish looks, you might want to try growing up a bit more."

The two men continued their verbal sparring, neither willing to pull any punches. Orlena watched, wide-eyed and astonished.

As if on cue, Brett returned home early, Eloise and a gaggle of kids in tow. He was carrying little Linda in his arms.

Linda was the family's darling. With her chubby cheeks pressed against Brett, she affectionately greeted him.

Brett held her tiny hand in his, warming it, and surveyed the lively scene with a smile. "What a lively day we have here."

At the sight of Brett, Jacob didn't dare to step out of line, respectfully addressing him, "Mr. Brett."

Brett glanced at Orlena, who immediately moved to his side.

Tracey and Mr. Velona also returned from their stroll. Assuming the role of host, Brett invited Mr. Velona and Harvey to the drawing room for a chat, leaving Jacob, who had no place sitting with them, to stand by and listen.

Orlena watched them leave. She whispered to Eloise, "Your uncle just doesn't seem to be from the same generation as my brother."

Eloise was pregnant. Standing in the quaint garden of Noland's Mansion, she gently caressed her belly and smiled softly, "What's the matter? Do you think my uncle's too old? I recall you quite liked him over the years."

Orlena couldn't argue with that logic, nor would she dare.

Michelle joined them, draping a woolen shawl around Eloise's shoulders, "You ladies chat. I'll accompany Tracey for a bit."

Eloise hummed in agreement, her eyes and smile radiating warmth and beauty.

Orlena felt a twinge of envy and gently touched Eloise's stomach, thinking to herself how pregnant women seemed to have a certain charm. If only she had looked and felt half as elegant when she was pregnant with Daniel.

Eloise sent the kids off to play, with Luca, her little helper, leading his siblings away.

Eloise and Orlena went inside to the warmth of the south-facing bedroom. Orlena helped Eloise sit down and shrugged off her coat. "Taking it easy?"

Eloise gave her a playful glance, teasing, "No gift for me this year, auntie?"

Orlena poured her a glass of water, whining playfully, "Don't bring that up again, Eloise. My brother would kill me."

Eloise wouldn't let her talk nonsense. "It's a festive time, and besides, you'll be married in just over a month. Don't jinx it."

Orlena nodded obediently.

Eloise handed her a gift. "A New Year's gift."

Orlena opened it to discover a beautiful pair of pearl earrings, clearly top-notch Southern Sea gems. They matched her woolen dress perfectly, making her shine.

She loved them instantly and touched her earlobes. "Eloise, you have such great taste."

Eloise repeated the instructions from Parker and Pauline, her tone carrying the authority of an elder sister-in-law. Orlena, completely subdued by the family ties, didn't dare to act like a cheeky auntie anymore.

Eloise, seeing her point taken, gently changed the subject. "Are you settling in well?"

Orlena, touched by Eloise's genuine concern, replied softly, "Tracey's been really kind to me, and so has Brett."

drifted to Jacob. "Him hanging around won't affect you and

head and chose not to

excused herself,

feast was laid out in the grand

were noticeably disappointed at

and suggested, "Pregnant women often lose their appetite.

her a plate of her favorites. Entering the bedroom, he found Eloise sitting by the window on a plush couch, a book in

lingering a little longer before approaching. He set

grandma's famous mini meatballs, a couple of

down her book and smiled faintly. "I didn't want to play

her to the dining table. She picked up a meatball and offered it to Harvey.

haven't

looked up at him and said softly, "After Linda

aback. He covered her hand with his, his voice slightly hoarse, "Eloise,

heavy, not something they discussed

I don't blame you anymore. What's important is that we're happy

tense air with a playful quip. "Then I owe you a debt of

then she he urged him, "Go entertain our

to her cheek, Harvey departed for the living room,

to network, found an agile conversational partner in Brett. The two

new renewable energy project that would be

children to another room, leaving the men to their whiskey

Velona kept bringing up Eloise, suggesting she mentor young Jacob, while Harvey deftly steered the conversation back to the

intentions, save for Jacob, who was bored

tipsy Harvey returned

bothering to remove his shoes, he clambered into bed beside her, enveloping her in his arms with his face buried in the warmth of her belly, and his hand sneaking

hands are cold," Eloise whispered

They

neck, negotiating in a soft voice, "Tonight, I'm staying with Grandma."

him, eventually agreeing to some rather

in Harvey's system made him too eager, which Eloise,

any further advances that night, managing only

"Well, Ms. Laurent. You have big plans tonight, and as your husband, I wouldn't dare not support you-not if I want to end the year on a good note."

melted, caressing his handsome face. "How did you know I had something

softly, "I

Laurent-you can't hide

Eloise also felt the warmth. If not for pressing matters, she would have loved just to hold him and chat into the

delighted to see Eloise and quickly

granddaughter spoke intimately. Tracey admired Eloise's complexion and noted the solid relationship

and as Tracey reminisced, she quickly

aside.

unspoken until Tracey, with a

eye, teased about Eloise's newfound depth and

"What's so troubling about that? It's all

also trying to

all just a dance of interests and

playfully flattered her grandmother,

I think I'm more like you, Grandma—smart because I

you."

This charmed Tracey immensely.

with Linda being the sharpest and Luca the most stable. Eloise expressed concern over

had their own fortunes. Eloise was content and about to settle in for the night when Tracey, citing her age and stiffness,

the night.

morning, Eloise awoke to find Harvey, dapper in a navy shirt and charcoal overcoat, unaffected by the previous

asking why he was

put on a good show," Harvey replied,

her.

snow outside and the children playing with