Tangled Temptations

Harvey didn't dodge. A trickle of bright red blood flowed down his face. Brett, standing in front of Harvey, trembled with rage, "Harvey, have you thought about the consequences of this? Can Eloise handle it? If the baby is really gone, Harvey, you'll have no way out! You're utterly done!"

Harvey closed his eyes slightly, "I know! I know it all!"

He was out of options! Eloise despised him, he couldn't give her anything, or bear to see her suffer anymore. If a change of environment could make her better, then he was willing to set her free!noveldrama

Brett remained silent for a long time. But Harvey knew, he had agreed. Wiping the blood from his forehead, Harvey got up and left.

Once the door closed, Brett was alone, raging, scattering papers all over the floor and swearing, "Madman! He bloody well loved her so much, but why didn't he act sooner?"

As he cursed, Brett slumped down. He teared up. He knew deep down that this was the only way to save Eloise's life.

Harvey returned to the ward, where Eloise was still fixated on the baby. Harvey lost count of whether she was getting three hours of sleep a day. She was gradually draining her life for this child.

Making such a decision made Harvey feel a kind of sorrow he had never experienced before, but now he had tasted it. He failed as a husband and as a father. He let his wife become like this.

He held her tightly, perhaps for the last time he could in broad daylight. Eloise naturally resisted, but Harvey held onto her stubbornly, his chin resting on her shoulder as he murmured, "Let me hold you for a while, just this once. Eloise, don't push me away!"

She had no strength to resist, quietly letting him hold her.

He seemed to be holding a block of ice. Yet he still nestled in the crook of her neck, relishing her scent. It reminded him of many memories, and the beautiful past he had with Eloise.

He loved her; he really did. She was his first love. He kept her at home, showered her with gifts and fought Max for her. He was jealous of Landon, Callum, and Dwight. Every time she cried, his heart ached. Every time she left, he regretted it.

He loved her.

Harvey kissed her hair, his voice trembling slightly, "Eloise, I love you!"

Eloise stiffened. Whether he loved her or not, it meant nothing to her now. She didn't respond, and he just held her tighter, as if he wanted to use all his strength. His grip was so strong it hurt Eloise. She barely managed to say, "You're hurting me!"

"I'm in pain too!" Harvey said, "Eloise, I'm in pain too!"

In the past, she would always feel sorry for him, but now no matter how much he hurt, she remained indifferent.

The nurse brought in medication, the scene making her somewhat flustered. So, she quickly put down the medicine and left.

Harvey looked at the two pills on the tray, Eloise's antidepressants. But today, they were replaced with sleeping pills. Once Eloise took them, she would sleep for over ten hours.

Harvey slowly let go of her. His voice trembling slightly, "Eloise, it's time to take your medicine!"

Eloise didn't resist taking the medicine, she knew she was sick, and she was willing to be treated. Soon, she swallowed the two pills with some lukewarm water. Drowsiness slowly crept up. She felt an unprecedented fatigue, as if she could sleep forever.

"Harvey." Eloise whispered. Why did she feel like sleeping?

Her body gradually softened and was caught by him, held in his arms. He placed her on the bed, watching her silently.

Before giving birth, Eloise weighed 120 pounds, now she was only 90 pounds, skin and bones. Her face was so thin it was heartbreaking.

Harvey caressed her face gently, feeling her warmth. After a long while, he took off her necklace. The ring he gave her was on it. She was asleep, allowing him to slip the diamond ring onto her ring finger.

Now, they finally became a real married couple!

Harvey laid down and held her, burying his face in her neck, which turned wet after a bit. How, he wished he could freeze time at this moment, when Linda was fine, and he and Eloise were still husband and wife.

Eloise slept for 24 hours. She slowly opened her eyes, her mind was blank at first, then her body seemed to remember as it stood up and ran towards the glass window.

Linda. How was Linda?

But when she saw the other side, she froze. The incubator was empty. All the equipment had been removed. Only the little blanket that had wrapped Linda was left, spread out there. The little one called Linda was gone.

When Eloise came back to her senses, her face was wet with tears. She knocked on the glass door calling Linda's name. "Linda... Linda..." Eloise murmured.

Mummy was here. Linda, where had she gone?

Her body was taken into a warm hug. Harvey's lips were against her hair, not allowing her to hurt herself. He hoarsely told her, "Linda is gone."

Eloise froze. She blinked lightly, tears on her lashes; she could hardly see anything.

She didn't believe it! She had just woken up. How could Linda be gone? She kept knocking on the glass. Her palm got swollen from the impact, but she didn't give up. She kept thinking it was all an illusion, just a dream. When she woke up from the dream, Linda would still be there!

Eloise started to frantically smash things. The shattering sounds surely would wake her up, bring her back from the dream. It must be a dream!

Harvey held her as everything in the ward was smashed. His arm was covered in blood. Eloise looked at the scene in front of her, as she slowly accepted the reality. Linda was really gone, not here. She disappeared from this world!

Harvey held her tight. "Eloise, calm down!"

Eloise went crazy. She slapped him a few times before breaking down in tears, "Harvey, Linda is gone! She's gone!"

Harvey endured it all. He knew Eloise despised him, but he had no other choice. He held her, holding onto their last warmth.

After a long time, Eloise felt dazed and confused, asking in a soft voice, "Where is she? I need to see her." Linda was so small, she must have been terrified.

Harvey didn't want Eloise to go. He worried another shock would be too much for her, "Give it a day. You need to rest right now."

But Eloise was insistent, "I have to go! Harvey, she's my child, I have to go!"

...

In the evening, twilight was setting in.

Inside Horigan Memorial, the tall trees cast long shadows over the ground, as the sun began to wane. Beside Grannie Joy's fresh grave, there was an additional, smaller mound.

Eloise got out of the car, stumbling as she hurried over. Upon seeing the small mound, she froze. Her legs gave way and she knelt on the ground, trembling as she scooped up a handful of earth. It was fresh and moist, with a few sprouts.

In that moment, Eloise finally understood. Linda was really gone.