Tangled Temptations

Harvey's shamelessness was no news to Eloise. She blushed slightly, "Jerk."

Harvey pulled her onto his lap, lightly chuckling, "Who was it that couldn't let go of me this morning in the shower?"

Eloise simple didn't want to deal with him. She pushed him away. Just as she was about to go back to the couch to sort out some paperwork, Harvey's phone rang. It was a call from Parker.

His words were short and restrained, "Griffin just passed away."

The implications were clear - Griffin was, after all, Eloise's biological father, and it would be better for Harvey to break the news to her.

Harvey understood. He ended the call and pulled Eloise back into his embrace. Resting his head on hers, he whispered, "Griffin is gone."

Eloise stiffened noticeably. She didn't say anything, just leaned against Harvey's shoulder silently. Harvey knew this must be tough for her. Regardless of everything, Griffin was the man who had once been involved with Louise and the man who had fathered Eloise.

In a soft voice, Harvey asked, "Do you want to go? I'll go with you."

After a long while, Eloise shook her head, "No." It wasn't that she was heartless, but if she went, she'd have to face the Lynch family. Besides, what role would she be playing there?

With this turn of events, Eloise was bound to feel down. Harvey was there to comfort her.

The next day, Griffin was laid to rest.

Eloise visited Louise's grave. Staring at the image of Louise's youthful, smiling face, she placed a bouquet of lilies on the grave and murmured, "Mom, he's gone."

Harvey stood by her side, silently comforting her. Eloise leaned against him, whispering, "Four years ago, when dad was buried, Griffin spat out blood here. It seems like this ending was destined. Harvey, he betrayed mom. I think these years have been hard for him, or else he wouldn't have fallen ill like this."

Harvey just hummed in response. He hoped Eloise could let go and find peace.

...

Around noon, Harvey led Eloise out of the cemetery. As they got into the car, he said, "Dad asked us to come home for lunch. Orlena has already picked up Linda."

Eloise's heart softened, "Linda really likes Orlena." Mentioning Orlena reminded Eloise of her own uncle, and she sighed lightly.

Harvey gently stepped on the gas. He chuckled, "Let them handle their own affairs. They're both not young anymore."

Eloise said, "You really had a sharp tongue."

Harvey held her hand, unabashedly saying, "You didn't seem to mind when you were using it."noveldrama

Eloise looked away with a blush.

Half an hour later, they arrived back at the Horigan Mansion. In the hall, Parker was sipping tea. Seeing Harvey and Eloise return, he gestured for them to sit down.

Parker's feelings were quite complicated. He genuinely felt sorry for Eloise. Griffin's death had brought the Lynch family knocking on their door. Jane had made quite a scene, demanding Eloise to mourn for Griffin. But Parker had managed to ward off these demands.

Knowing that Eloise was feeling down, he gently smiled, "Don't take it too hard."

Eloise nodded in agreement.

Parker then changed the subject, "When are you two getting married?"

Getting married?

Harvey glanced at Eloise, smiling, "Dad, Eloise and I just got back together. Isn't it

too early to talk about marriage? Let's have a few more years of fun."

Parker snorted, "A few more years of fun? Do you think you're still young? Besides, is marriage going to stop you from having fun?"

Harvey scratched his nose.

Eloise took the initiative to answer, "Let's wait until Linda grows up a bit more."

Parker nodded, "That's more like it. Unlike Harvey, who can't speak anything nice and takes cheesiness as fun. Only Eloise could tolerate you."

His words lightened the mood and everyone laughed.

Eloise felt a bit more relaxed.

On the drive home, Harvey held Eloise's hand and asked softly, "When will you marry me?"

Linda was all ears in the back seat. Eloise caught her in the rear-view mirror and laughed, "Maybe next fall."

At the red light, Harvey parked the car. He turned to tease her, "Not getting any younger, huh Eloise? If we delay any longer, I'm afraid no one would want me." Eloise didn't take the bait. She humphed, "Plenty of people would."

Harvey fell silent, his gaze on Eloise softened.

Eloise felt a bit flushed. No matter how many times he looked at her like that, she could never get used to it.

That night, after tucking Linda in, Harvey fucked Eloise twice. Afterwards, he held her close and whispered, "I have to go to Sydney on business tomorrow. It'll take about ten days. I'd love to take you and Linda with me, but she has school."

Eloise was actually quite tempted. But she also thought it would be too clingy, so she didn't voice her thoughts.

Perhaps knowing they'll be apart for a while, Harvey couldn't resist his desires and made love to Eloise until she wept and pleaded for him to stop. Afterwards, she fell asleep in his arms, worn out.

The next morning, she woke up to find a white rose on the pillow next to her, but Harvey was already on his way to Sydney.

Eloise lay in bed for another ten minutes before getting up to take care of Linda. Linda was very obedient. She dressed herself and brushed her little curls.

Eloise dropped her off at kindergarten, where she saw Luca, the boy Linda had been talking about non-stop. He was quite a good-looking boy.

Eloise winked at Linda. Linda blushed, lifted her little chin, and marched into kindergarten.

Eloise got back into the car. She sent Harvey a text on Facebook: [I saw Luca.]

Harvey was quite busy, and it was almost noon before he replied: [Is he more handsome than me?]

Eloise chuckled.

In Harvey's absence, Eloise took the opportunity to visit Encore Soundworks and

go over the accounts with Dwight.

In the afternoon, she had coffee with Veronica.

Veronica was late and as soon as she came over she started talking, "There's been a murder in Northville. Traffic was all blocked off, and I was stuck in my car

for hours. The poor soul bled out from seven stab wounds."

Eloise couldn't help but ask, "Did they catch the culprit?"

Veronica shook her head, "Not yet. What kind of grudge makes a person kill like that? I bet it was a crime of passion."

A crime of passion? Eloise felt a chill down her spine. She stirred her coffee absentmindedly, trying to shake off her unease.

Veronica continued chatting, but Eloise wasn't really listening.

That night, she lay in bed feeling scared, and couldn't resist calling Harvey. After

chatting with him for half an hour, she finally felt sleepy.

In the morning, her eyes were shadowed with fatigue, which took a lot of foundation to cover up.

After dropping off Linda at school, Eloise got in her car.

The chauffeur had stepped away for a moment. At that moment, Eloise's phone rang. It was Veronica.

Eloise answered with a smile, "We just saw each other yesterday. You want to meet for coffee again?"

Veronica's voice was tense, "No. Do you remember the case in Northville yesterday? They haven't solved it yet, and there were three more last night, all done by the same person apparently."

Eloise paused - four people. Something wasn't right! She had a bad feeling about

this.

Veronica gave a soft sigh, "You won't believe it, but all four victims were AB- negative. How strange is that?"

Eloise felt her blood turn to ice.

AB-negative. All the people with AB-negative blood in Peterborough were being murdered, and the next target could be Linda.

Just then, a commotion erupted at the school gate. Screams, metallic smell and a gaunt woman in a red dress.

Joan stood in the crowd. She held a sharp knife in her hand, grazing Linda's little leg, blood trickled down the child's soft skin.

Everything seemed to freeze, and Eloise's heart skipped a beat.

From across the crowd, Joan smiled chillingly, "AB-negative and coagulation

disorder, it only takes one wound to kill your baby girl."

And she, Joan, was mentally ill and had no legal liability.

"Eloise, what I can't have, you can't either."

A teacher quickly fed Linda a coagulant, but the cut was too deep. The blood

wouldn't stop.

Blood... AB-negative blood was needed!

Joan looked at Eloise, with a twisted smile on her face, "All the AB-negative donors have been killed by me."

She turned to run.

Eloise clenched her fists, her body shaking. After a moment of chaos, her mind suddenly cleared.

AB-negative. Joan was AB-negative. She was the only one who could give Linda

a transfusion quickly. She had to stop Joan; she would draw Joan's blood to save

Linda.

Eloise climbed into the driver's seat, kicking off her high heels. Years ago, she had hurt her foot, and the doctor had told her never to drive again. She hadn't driven in five years, but now, she had to take the risk for Linda.

Eloise fixed her eyes on Joan, slamming down the accelerator. The black SUV sped towards Joan, hitting her with a loud crash.