Tangled Temptations

Eloise gave birth to a baby girl. The baby, Linda was immediately placed in an incubator.

Parker and Brett barely caught a glimpse of her before rushing to Eloise's side. Eloise had been moved to a different room and was lying there quietly, seemingly asleep, her body frail and weak.

Brett approached her, placing his hand on her blanket. He didn't utter a word, and just sat by Eloise's bed, watching her intently, worried she would wake up and find no one by her side.

Meanwhile, Orlena had been on the phone for 16 hours. She made hundreds of calls, all to Harvey. Finally, she got through.

Harvey was in Britain at the time. He had headed straight to the court after landing with his phone switched off. After winning the case in London, Griffin and his wife thanked Harvey profusely and invited him over to their place.

Harvey politely declined. As they were negotiating, Harvey took out his phone, smiling. "My family must be waiting for me!"

He switched on his phone, expecting to see missed work calls as usual. Maybe Eloise was still upset. But as soon as he turned it on, his phone started vibrating frantically. He had over 500 missed calls, all from Peterborough.

Orlena's call came in again, and he quickly answered, "Orlena, what happened?"

Orlena sobbed over the phone. "You need to come back! The villa exploded...your wife went into premature labor, and the baby is so small. Eloise was in labor for 16 hours. Why did you go to Britain? Why did you leave her alone at home? Do you have any idea how she looked when she was taken to the hospital..."

Harvey was frozen in shock. He was practically paralyzed. Just then, a group of journalists, eager for an interview, shoved their cameras in his face. He pushed them away rudely. He hurried out where a car was waiting to take him to the airport. In the back seat was a bouquet of white roses that he had planned to give to Eloise. Maybe it would've made her less angry.

But deep down, he knew it was over between them.

He stumbled along the way.

It was 20 hours later when Harvey saw Eloise. She was standing outside the newborn nursery in her hospital gown, staring at the tiny baby through the glass.

In just a few short hours, she had lost a lot of weight. Her clothes hung loosely on her, her face was gaunt, and her chin sharp. She had been so healthy before. Harvey croaked, "Eloise!"

Eloise remained frozen, not moving an inch. She knew he was back. But what difference did it make? She didn't know how to face him; she couldn't even cry.noveldrama

Harvey slowly approached her. He removed his coat and draped it over her shoulders. “You just gave birth. You should be careful, or you'll get sick."

She shrugged the coat off. The black coat fell to the floor. Harvey silently picked it up, and then he saw the baby girl, tiny and wrinkled, lying in the incubator, barely moving, and her complexion pale.

Eloise spoke softly, "The doctor said her chances of survival are less than ten percent."

Harvey's heart ached. He and Eloise had been so excited about this baby's arrival, but now she was alone in the incubator, without her mother's arms around her, her fate uncertain. He put his arm around Eloise's shoulder. "I will..."

Eloise turned and slapped him across the face, her chest burning with rage. "You will what? Save her? Harvey, where were you when we needed you?"

He took the slap. He'd rather have Eloise hit him or scream at him. But Eloise remained silent after slapping him. She just stood there, staring at Linda, as she could only see her for half an hour each day, the doctors wouldn't allow her more time.

Linda. She would even trade her own life for hers.

Harvey once again wrapped his coat around her, Eloise tried to push it off, but he held her tight. "Eloise! Don't move!"

He was staring at their daughter, just like her. Linda was beautiful. She resembled Eloise with her delicate eyebrows.

As Harvey held her, Eloise knew she had to make herself clear. "Harvey, every time I need you, you're busy with Joan's things! AB-negative, divorce lawsuit...Is it that she can't live without you, or do you want to give a perfect ending to your first love? My child shouldn't pay for this relationship. You didn't put me first, so what gives you the right to say you'll spend your life with me?"

She said all this calmly. It felt like torture to Harvey. Eloise didn't lose her temper, she didn't have the energy to, and she didn't want to fight with him. She continued calmly, "What does it matter if you love me or if I love you? How strong should my heart be to stay with you? If I stay with you, I'll be betraying myself and this child! Harvey, let's end it here! Let's talk about the divorce when the baby gets better. I don't have the energy to deal with it now!"

Harvey held her, feeling like he was holding a block of ice. Just then, the blinds were lowered in front of the glass.

Eloise couldn't see her baby anymore. She turned to face Harvey. "Because of Linda, we will inevitably meet again, but Harvey, don't ever say those sweet words to me again!"

Harvey was as pale as a sheet. At that moment, Brett came in. He was holding a coat, and as soon as he saw Eloise, he quickly put it on her. "I've been looking for you! Why are you dressed so lightly? What if you catch a cold?" Eloise silently walked with him.

From start to finish, it was as if Brett didn't even see Harvey. Harvey called out urgently, "Uncle!"

Brett paused. He turned around, his usually polite face filled with mockery. "I thought you only recognized Griffin!" With that, he left with Eloise.

Harvey stood rooted to the spot, his fist slowly clenching. If he were to be asked what he regretted most in his life, the answer would be leaving Eloise behind to go to Britain.

Members of the Horigan family approached him. In front of his wife and daughter, Parker took a swing at his son, slapping him hard across the face. "You good-for- nothing!" He spat, his eyes gleaming with rage.

Pauline, tear-streaked, tried to intervene but was roughly shoved aside by Parker.

In the bustling hospital, Parker, oblivious to the stares of others, removed his belt and lashed out at his son. "Do you know how dangerous it was for your wife? Her calls to you went unanswered. If she hadn't called Brett, we wouldn't have even known about the explosion. The result could have been fatal for both your wife and child. Her mom and the housekeeper were seriously injured too. Where were you? You're the man of the house, but where the hell were you? Eloise was in labor for 16 hours, risking her life to give you a child, you jerk... I'll beat you to death today!"

Pauline didn't try to stop him anymore.

Orlena was crying too, her sobs choked with emotion. "Harvey, if you don't love

my sister-in-law, just let her go!"

Harvey was taken aback. Didn't he love Eloise?

He loved her; he was sure of it. But he had left her behind.

Now... Eloise didn't need him anymore!