Tangled Temptations

Eloise lingered, without replying.

She was aware of Harvey's fondness for her, but it was unreliable. Joan's shadow lurked in his heart, and he had crossed her boundaries, which Eloise couldn't overlook.

He had her too easily. Marriage and children were his bargaining chips.

...

She tidied up her office and left to pick up Linda. The bouquet Harvey had sent remained untouched.

Upon reaching the lobby, she found it quite chaotic. A couple of security guards were barring two girls from entering. They insisted on seeing Eloise, causing quite a ruckus.

Natalia whispered, "Shall I send them away? This scene is rather ugly."

Eloise's gaze fell on Monika. Monika's gaze met Eloise's gaze, and an invisible standoff was occurring across the crowd. After a moment, Eloise quietly instructed, "Bring her to the guest lounge."

Five minutes later, Monika and her friend Ana walked into the large, extravagant guest lounge. They were a little overwhelmed by the grandeur of the room. Ana, in particular, nervously tugged at Monika's sleeve, whispering, "Maybe we should back out. Mrs. Horigan seems formidable."

Monika bit her lip.

Eloise sat on the sofa as Natalia served her herbal tea.

Eloise's gaze was fixed on Monika. Despite her leg not being fully healed and her hand wrapped in bandages, she was still out to compete for a man.

Eloise's eyes dropped; Monika must've been desperate.

Monika also looked at Eloise, who was beautiful, elegant, and had an excellent figure. But what did that matter? She was younger.

With a show of bravado, Monika didn't sit but placed a stack of cash on the coffee table. "Mrs. Horigan, I've come to repay the debt."

"Attorney Horigan covered my 300,000 dollar medical expenses, and there's an excess of over 60,000. I believe I should return it to you."

She said much, and Eloise listened quietly, sipping her tea. Setting down her cup, Eloise smiled lightly. "Ms. Monika, you've miscalculated."

Monika was taken aback.

Eloise took the stack of cash and counted it. "Shouldn't you owe me 300,000? I remember you just mentioned that my husband covered your 300,000."

Monika didn't expect her to quibble over this. Her pride shattered, her lips trembling. "Mrs. Horigan, that was Attorney Horigan's contribution, and you have no right to claim it."

Eloise laughed. "Is that so? But that was our marital property. I have the right to reclaim it. Besides, how would I know about this 300,000 if you didn't show up? Now, tell me, did you two hook up?"

Monika's lips trembled, unable to lie.

Eloise casually tossed the cash back on the table, scoffing, "If you two did have sex, I'll forget about this money. Consider it as Harvey's payment for a hooker. But if nothing happened, I'm sorry, Ms. Monika, please return the 300,000 within a month."

Monika was utterly humiliated. Her friend, noticing Eloise's fury, whispered, "I told you not to come. Apologize to Mrs. Horigan. She won't make things difficult for you."

Monika stood straight, deciding to throw caution to the wind. "Mrs. Horigan, I love Attorney Horigan. I think he also has feelings for me, otherwise. He wouldn't have stayed with me at the hospital for days. I know this makes you uncomfortable, but I want to tell you, that even if you try to stop us, it's useless. Mrs. Horigan, I don't ask for a title, I just want to stay by Attorney Horigan's side. You can't be that petty, can you?"

...

Natalia was astounded. This girl was fearless.

Eloise lowered her gaze, and her eyes were filled with coldness. Monika had

indeed crossed her line. It wasn't about Harvey anymore, Monika purely disgusted

her.

When Eloise looked up again, she smiled slightly. "Of course, I can be that generous. From now on, not only will I not hate you, Ms. Monika, but I will also treat you well."

Monika was flabbergasted.

As Eloise raised her hand slightly, Natalia asked gently, "What can I do for you, Ms. Laurent?"

Eloise's tone was light. "Assign a few top-tier bodyguards to protect Ms. Monika day and night, ensuring her safety until she can repay my 300,000. And this Ana, she seems quite capable..."

Eloise had already stood up. "Send the recording we made to their school. It seems they are unfit to stay at the school, don't you think?"

Natalia nodded. "Yes, Ms. Laurent."

Monika was stunned. She didn't expect Eloise to be so ruthless. Was she not afraid that Attorney Horigan would be angry with her?

Eloise had already left.

Monika, dragging her injured leg, chased after her. "Mrs. Horigan, you have no right to treat us this way. You are a cold-hearted person and cannot understand my feelings for Attorney Horigan. Do you genuinely love him? No, you just love that he gave you Everest Technologies."

Eloise stopped in her tracks. Her voice was icy. "Monika, I've been very restrained."

She disappeared through the door.

Monika stood there, dazed. She had come today to provoke and annoy Eloise, and to create a rift between her and Harvey. However, she had underestimated the power of influence. Eloise didn't play into her hands.

Monika clenched her fists in disbelief, refusing to believe that Eloise could actually harm her.

At that moment, Natalia approached. She pointed at the two burly security guards standing nearby and politely said, "Ms. Monika, from today, these two gentlemen will accompany you everywhere. Whether you're eating, sleeping, or even going to the restroom, they'll be right by your side to ensure your safety. Please cooperate, and don't disappoint Ms. Laurent's good intentions."

Monika was livid. She made to knock over the vase beside her.

"This vase is a genuine collection piece from the 17th century, worth 2.16 million dollars," Natalia kindly reminded her.

Monika's eyes were bloodshot as she spoke with the last shred of her pride. "I don't need your protection. She just wants to keep an eye on me, to get me."

Natalia laughed lightly. She looked down at the girl in front of her. True, she was pretty, but what gave her the confidence to compare herself with Eloise? Yes, Everest Technologies was a gift from Attorney Horigan to Eloise, but she had to be capable enough to run it. Since Eloise took over, Everest Technologies' business had been booming. All the shareholders were satisfied.

Natalia pulled out a voice recorder from her pocket, a faint smile on her face. "If you have anything to say, just speak with your school leaders."

Disgusted, Monika stormed out of Everest Technologies. Bystanders gossiped as two bodyguards followed closely behind her.

Ana was the first to break down. She regretted crossing Eloise.

Monika took out her phone and started calling Harvey repeatedly. Unfortunately, his line was always busy, and unreachable. Ana realized that Attorney Horigan had blocked Monika.

Harvey was in Rossland. He was at a celebration, clinking glasses with others. Normally, he enjoyed such events, but that night, he was out of sorts. He had sent a Facebook message to Eloise, and she hadn't replied.

Even as he accepted people's congratulations, he couldn't help thinking about Eloise, remembering how she looked playing the piano with her eyes closed.

Their principles were at odds, but she still attracted him. Was it just because she was his wife?

Beyond her beautiful face, he knew there was something else, something that deeply attracted him, that he yearned to possess.

Half an hour later, he ended the celebration early. Declining the host's kind offer, he drove back to the hotel. Probably because it was Valentine's Day, the streets were bustling and filled with couples in love.

Driving his white Bentley, Harvey felt a sense of loss. He parked the car by the roadside and smoked a cigarette by the window. He thought he was going crazy. He actually wanted to be in love.

Ahead of him, a woman was holding a little girl. They were dressed in rags, and their faces were covered in dirt. The mother and daughter looked pitiful. The mother had a bowl in front of her, begging passers-by to give her some money so she could buy some bread for her sick child.

At first, Harvey didn't take notice. But after a while, he realized that he knew this mother and daughter. Years ago, he had won an economic case, causing the defendant to go bankrupt. The bankrupt man jumped off a building right after the trial, leaving behind his pampered wife and daughter.

Years had passed, and this was what they had become.

In the past, he wouldn't have cared, but looking at the little girl, he thought of Linda. His Linda, the apple of his eye. The girl on the street had once been like Linda, the golden child of a billionaire.

If he had shown a bit of mercy back then, would the girl's fate be different? Would she still be lying on the street, unable to afford treatment? Would she still have lost her father?

Snapping back to reality, he found the cigarette in his hand had burned down to the filter.

Harvey got out of the car. When he stood in front of the mother and daughter, they looked up at him. Under the dim night sky, he looked incredibly handsome and expensive.

Behind him was the car, a brand the woman recognized. Her husband had loved driving that brand of car.

Harvey placed his hand on the little girl's forehead. It felt hot. He said softly, "I'll take you to the hospital."

The little girl stared at him with teary eyes. The woman was sobbing with gratitude, and Harvey felt a pang in his heart. She didn't recognize him, the lawyer from years ago.

Without saying another word, he picked up the girl. The woman nervously followed him into the luxurious car. The leather seats exuded a faint smell. She said anxiously, "We can take the bus."

Harvey didn't say anything and gently stroked the girl's head. Her soft hair was

like Linda's.

The expensive car sped along the bustling streets, quickly arriving at the children's hospital.

The little girl had pneumonia. Fortunately, it wasn't severe. She would be fine after

a week in the hospital.

Harvey arranged for them to stay in a private room. He went out for a while, and when he returned, he was holding a bag. The little girl happily called him, "Mister." He went over and patted her little head. "I have to go now."

The woman thanked him profusely. She saw the stranger off, standing there for a long time before returning to the ward.

Inside the bag Harvey left, there was hot food and the girl's favorite cake, 50,000 dollars in cash, and the keys to an 800-square-foot house. He had arranged for the house to be transferred in a few days.

Looking at all these, the woman, who had seen the world, knew there was no

such thing as a free lunch. She thought hard and finally remembered who the man was.

She wept loudly in the ward. The little girl anxiously held her hand. After a long

time, the woman calmed down and gently hugged her child. "Don't be afraid. He is a good man."

Harvey walked out of the hospital. Sitting in his car in the night, he quietly smoked

a cigarette. For some reason, a few words echoed in his head - "Your relationship with your family is fragile."

He was taken aback. As he closed his eyes to calm down, he really wanted to see

Eloise.

...

That night, Harvey returned to Peterborough.

The Horigan Mansion was bustling, but Eloise wasn't home. He asked a servant

and learned that she had taken Linda out to celebrate the holiday.

It was Valentine's Day, and Eloise was spending it with Linda. Harvey sat in his car, gently stroking the steering wheel. After some thought, he

decided to go to the French restaurant. It was late into the night, but there were still many customers in the French restaurant Eloise owned.

Eloise was sitting at the piano. Under the chandelier, her skin was dazzling and very delicate.

She had a great figure. She wore a bohemian long dress, which looked incredibly charming and classy on her.

Linda sat upright, proudly watching her mother. Harvey took off his coat and sat

across from Linda. The little girl turned her gaze to him, blinked lightly, and then threw herself into his arms, happily calling out, "Daddy!"

Her small, soft body was so endearing.

Harvey gently kissed Linda's soft cheek, his voice husky and low. "I'm here to pick

you and Mom up."

Perched on his knee, Linda counted on her fingers. "There have been four, no, five men who wanted to date Mom tonight."

Harvey's eyes followed her gaze. Eloise was still playing the piano, and her profile

was radiating warmth

His eyes reflected fondness. He quietly told Linda, "Mom and I are married, so

she can't date anyone else."

Linda scrunched up her little face. After a long moment, she managed to squeak

out, "I'm not married to Luca. Can he still date other people?"

Harvey chuckled, "In theory, yes."

Linda decided she better get married soon.

Eloise finished her piece and looked surprised to see Harvey. She approached

him, giving him a soft smile. "Attorney Horigan, congratulations. Weren't you supposed to return tomorrow?"

Harvey stared at her face. After a while, he finally said, "I missed you both, so I

came back early."

Eloise, always poised in public, smiled warmly. Even when he pulled out a gift from his pocket, she did not refuse. She opened it to reveal a pair of pearl earrings.

Her eyes welled up. After all this time, he had forgotten the past, but his taste had

not change.

Harvey watched her reaction, speaking softly, "I noticed you often wear those

earrings. Margo told me you lost one and searched for it for a long time, so I

bought you another pair."

"Thank you."noveldrama

Harvey took her hand, his voice softening. "Did I win your favor?"

Eloise gave him a faint smile, and put on the pearl earrings.

Harvey couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment. Eloise was obviously

just humoring him and was not willing to give him a chance. She was just playing

the part of Mrs. Horigan in front of others, nothing more.

In the car on the way home, with Linda present, he couldn't say any teasing

words. He just watched Eloise in the rearview mirror at each red light.

The emotions stirred up at Rossland tonight. On such a night, he wanted to share

his feelings, all of himself, with his wife.

When the car stopped, Linda was the first to jump out.

Harvey lightly stroked the steering wheel, whispering, "Eloise, it's Valentine's Day.

Let's spend it together..."