Tangled Temptations

Eloise was in no mood for a chat. And she knew exactly what he wanted to discuss. He wanted to get back together with her.

After all they had been through, and three years post-divorce, Eloise's feelings had faded. She didn't hate him anymore, but the love they once shared had evaporated as well. Because of Linda, she wanted to coexist peacefully with him.

She murmured, "I want to see her first!"

Under the dim lamplight, the hand he was tightly gripping slowly loosened, and then he whispered, "Go ahead! Don't wake her up."

Eloise nodded lightly, bypassing him to head upstairs. When she was far enough, Harvey lowered his gaze to his own hand, which still held traces of Eloise's warmth that he cherished.

...

Second floor, outside the children's bedroom.

Eloise's fingers rested on the doorknob, she hesitated for a moment, then gently pushed the door open.

Linda was indeed asleep. In the light pink bedroom, a bedside lamp was on. The little munchkin was sleeping on her side, her tiny mouth slightly open, and even her breath was sweet-smelling.

Eloise's heart filled with a mixture of sorrow and tenderness. She sat by the bed, extending her delicate fingers to gently caress the little one. She couldn't get enough.

Three years, she had missed three years of this child's life, particularly the two years when Linda was in the lab, and she, her mother, wasn't there.

Guilt overwhelmed her. Even though she knew Harvey had acted for her best interest back then, she still resented him. A tear slipped from the corner of Eloise's eye. She didn't bother to wipe it away, leaning over to plant a kiss on Linda.

Linda, who looked so much like her, but her temperament was entirely inherited from Harvey.

Unable to resist, Eloise laid down next to Linda. Inhaling her faint milky scent, her heart slowly calmed down. It seemed as though, at this moment, all her pain had been soothed.

Harvey stood at the doorway, quietly watching them. He knew he should give Eloise time to adjust, but he couldn't resist. He was desperate to get close to her. Not merely out of desire, but because he wanted to own this woman. After three years, he wanted to know if she still wanted him!

Harvey turned off the light. The room instantly plunged into darkness; Eloise was startled. Then, the soft mattress beside her sank deeply, and Harvey braced himself above her. In the dim light, neither could see the other clearly.

Eloise whispered harshly, "Harvey, are you insane!"

He stared at her. Then, under her scrutiny, he leaned down to kiss her. Eloise was caught off guard as his tongue invaded her mouth, gently teasing. It had been a long time since they had been intimate.

Harvey was clearly a bit rusty, he relied on his memories to please her.

Eloise pushed him away. But Linda was sleeping right next to them. Any big movement would wake her, and she didn't want her daughter to witness this scene. In her moment of hesitation, Harvey cupped her face and started kissing her deeply.

Eloise couldn't escape. Getting frantic, she bit down on him.

Harvey pulled away. In the darkness, his dark eyes locked onto hers, he said in a hoarse voice, "Eloise, you responded just now! You still feel something for my body!"

Eloise's breath hitched. Their current situation was a mess; even her breath caused their bodies to press together. She was both embarrassed and angry, "Harvey, didn't you say we were going to talk in the study? What is this now?"

He moved closer. His face buried in her neck, and he was silent for a long time. After a while, he finally said, "Eloise, I've missed you so much! I admit I want you and to sleep with you. Which man wouldn't want to be with the woman he loves after being apart for years?"

Eloise's mind was clearer. She kicked him, "Get off! We're divorced!"

She thought he would insist on staying, but he moved away gently, not forcing her. It was a close call.

Eloise went to the bathroom to freshen up, then headed to the study to talk with him. There was too much they needed to discuss. Linda's past, present, and future. As parents, even if they were divorced, these were things they needed to consider.

Clearly, Harvey was prepared for a long conversation with her. When Eloise entered, he was making coffee. Hearing her footsteps, he casually said, "Still Americano, right?"

Eloise nodded, settling herself on the sofa. She watched his back. This was the first time she really looked at Harvey after she came back. He was still as handsome as ever, but his demeanor had become much more reserved, except when he was being shameless, which was exactly like before.

Harvey placed the coffee in front of her. He then took out a thick file from the bookcase and handed it to her to read. Eloise was already primed by Brett. But when she took the file, her fingers still trembled uncontrollably.

As Eloise flipped through the pages, he sat by her side. At the break of dawn, Eloise closed the file, fatigue etched on her face.

Harvey's handsome face fell into contemplation. He murmured, "Back then, you were in poor health, I was afraid you couldn't handle it! Later, Linda got better, but the first two years were tough! It wasn't until this year that Linda's condition stabilized. Although she has a few minor ailments, she will grow up well!"

Eloise gently placed the file down. She looked at him, softly asking, "The minor ailments you mentioned, what are they?"

Harvey found it hard to reply, "Autism, coagulation disorders, and she's also AB- negative!"

He felt dazed as he said these.

Eloise was even more stunned. Her slender fingers dug into her flesh. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and her heart hurt terribly.

Harvey moved behind her. He gently held her, resting his chin on her thin shoulder, "Eloise, let's start over! This time I'll be a good husband and a good father. I won't let you down again!"

He knew she wouldn't agree easily. Still, he couldn't help but say it, as such nights were perfect for courtship.

Eloise rejected him without a second thought. She composed herself, speaking calmly, "Harvey, it's impossible for us! And I won't fight you for custody. Because Linda was raised by you, I can't hurt her feelings. So the best solution is for us to co-parent! We can schedule our time. I'm okay with it. It's up to you!"noveldrama

Harvey's heart went cold. Eloise had even thought about scheduling time. She didn't throw a fit, or even slap him. He would rather she slapped him!

In such an circumstance, it wasn't fitting for him to continue his flirtations. He took

a step back, saying, "We'll talk about this later! For now, let's focus on Linda! She has autism, and we take her for monthly check-ups. You should come along next time."

Eloise didn't object. She was Linda's mother. The moment she stepped into this mansion yesterday, she knew her freedom would be somewhat curtailed. But she didn't regret it.

Eloise had her own motives too. She tentatively suggested, "Harvey, I'm not planning to get married. If you're considering remarrying, why don't you let me take care of her? I promise I won't leave the country, and you can see her anytime you wish!"