Tangled Temptations

Eloise pulled her coat tightly around herself, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "How I treat my husband? What business is that of yours, Ms. Monika?"

Monika bit her lip, her naive demeanor reminiscent of an innocent school girl. "You're his wife, Eloise. You shouldn't always be flitting about, making a spectacle of yourself, and embarrassing him!"

Eloise let out a cold laugh. "What's this, has my husband been complaining to you? Has he been telling you what a hard life he has, how unhappy he is with a wife like me?"

Monika tried to speak. Eloise cut her off, her voice frosty. "Before you even begin to lie, think about the consequences!"

She took a couple of steps forward, leveling her gaze at Monika. "You've barely made it out of the water... if I were you, I'd cherish my current life, instead of constantly fantasizing about using your looks to seduce someone else's husband!"

Monika's lips trembled. "You've been investigating me?"

Eloise brushed off her coat. Dealing with a girl like this was easy for her, but for the sake of Harvey, she'd hold back a bit.

Monika, humiliated, protested, "Mrs. Horigan, you're too domineering!"

She added, "Harvey won't like a woman like you!"

Eloise gave a hollow laugh. "And what type do you think he'd prefer? A woman who cheats and sleeps around, or a young girl who seduces men, smokes, drinks, and scams money?"

She knew Harvey. When he was young, he liked Joan's fiery temperament. As he matured, he started preferring obedient and clever women, especially those who were submissive in bed. Of course, he didn't mind a bit of excitement every now and then. Harvey had always had high standards.

Eloise's smile faded. "Ms. Monika, I'm giving you one last chance! From now on, stay away from me and my family, including Harvey!"

"My patience has its limits!" With that, she signaled to Baron to open the car door. Baron, ever the gentleman, bent to open the door. Eloise found his unusual subservience amusing and annoying at the same time, shooting him a stern look. The bodyguards also got into other cars. Several luxury vehicles departed one after the other.

Monika was left standing in the chilly night, shivering in her thin dress.

She had miscalculated the situation. She thought Harvey, being the man he is, would fall for the allure of a young girl and easily share a bed with her. But not only did he refuse to sleep with her, he barely gave her the time of day!

She had no choice but to turn to Eloise.

Eloise turned out to be more cunning than she'd anticipated. No matter how much Monika provoked her, Eloise never retaliated. If Eloise didn't act, how could she play the victim and win Harvey's sympathy?

Eloise got into the car without a word. She felt somewhat nauseated.

Baron, in the driver's seat, prattled on. "It's normal for a man like Harvey to attract women, but that girl really lacks tact!"

Eloise turned away, murmuring, "She's Joan's sister."

Those sisters really did share some good genes!

Baron was speechless for a moment, then ventured, "Then, Harvey..."

Eloise's smile was tinged with bitterness. She muttered, "What does it matter if he knows that Joan hurt us? He didn't experience it firsthand, he can't understand!" That was why he was so easily swayed to help Monika.

Eloise was feeling down and didn't say anything else.

Half an hour later, the car pulled up in front of the Horigan Mansion. As Eloise got

out, she saw a figure standing outside. It was Harvey.

Eloise pulled her coat tighter around herself. "Back from your business trip?"

They hadn't seen each other for a week.

Harvey gave a noncommittal grunt. He could smell the faint scent of red wine and perfume on her, a unique combination that made her all the more enticing. To him, Eloise was like a ripe peach, irresistibly tempting.

But her face was slightly pale, and he couldn't help but express his concern. "If you can't handle your drink, don't force yourself. You're not obligated to attend every social obligation just because of your status!"

Eloise gave a weak laugh and closed the car door.

Baron got out of the car too, shouting out, "Ms. Eloise was quite happy at the party, but she ran into some strange woman on her way back, which upset her!"

Eloise held her forehead, pretending to be annoyed. "Enough!" She made to move away.

Harvey grabbed her hand. "What happened?"

"Nothing, just an irrelevant person."

Baron, as subtle as a bullhorn, added, "Some woman named Monika, kept going on about how much she cares for Harvey, saying Ms. Eloise is neglecting her husband!"

Harvey was clearly taken aback. Had Monika approached Eloise again? He tried to explain, "I didn't see her."

Eloise gave him a weary smile. "Your kindness towards her is a connection in itself! Otherwise, why would she be so obsessed with me? Harvey, I don't care whether you're still attached to Joan, or you pity this little girl... I'm telling you, if she dares to harm a single hair on any of our family members, I'll break her legs!"

With that, she strode towards the mansion. She would not allow another Joan to threaten their family.

Harvey watched her retreating figure, sensing her anger. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Baron sidled over, shamelessly asking for one. The two men smoked in silence.

After a while, Harvey asked casually, "Has she always been this fiery?"

Baron chuckled conspiratorially. "She's had her moments! You and Ms. Eloise have had your ups and downs, and every time it was you who couldn't resist going back to her. Finally, you had a child together and got married!"

It was always him who initiated it? Harvey exhaled a cloud of smoke.

Suddenly, Baron grew serious. "Ms. Eloise loves you too! Those few months when you slowly lost your memory, she really struggled." Remembering those times, Baron couldn't bear to say more. He waved his hand and walked away. Harvey finished his cigarette and slowly entered the mansion.

Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was warm and joyous. Brett had come over from Brockville, ostensibly to see the kids, but everyone knew he was using the opportunity to see Orlena. Their relationship was unclear and had been like that for over half a year.

Upon seeing Brett, Eloise walked over and gave him a gentle hug. "Uncle Brett, you're here!"

Brett touched her face, then turned to Parker. "She's had quite a bit to drink!" Parker chuckled. "Our Lou is quite the heroine these days! She's quite influential among the women, a bit more so than Pauline!"

After speaking, he playfully teased his wife, "Don't you agree, darling?" Pauline wasn't one to be jealous of her daughter-in-law. She doted on Eloise even more, personally instructing the help to bring her a hangover remedy, a bowl of chicken soup, and whispered, "You should drink less, you know. Darrien is still nursing."

Eloise responded with a soft, "Mm-hmm. It was just a bit of fun. Don't listen to Parker's nonsense."

Parker was in high spirits, having the servants set up a poker table. He was keen to play some cards.

Eloise descended the stairs in fresh attire to find Parker and Harvey already seated at the table, along with Brett. Harvey was staring at her with a slightly intense gaze. As he walked in, he caught Brett touching her face. Even though he knew Brett was her uncle, he was too young and too handsome. This man was not content with his sister, and now coveting his wife!

As soon as Eloise took her seat, Parker tossed a check her way, 50 million. He chuckled. "A little New Year gift from me! Linda and Darrien both have theirs. Nothing for Harvet. Let me help you get back at him!"

Eloise accepted it graciously.

Harvey noticed her bare face after she took off her makeup. Her childlike appearance was particularly attractive. He deliberately whispered, "Eloise, lend me some capital."

Eloise coldly responded while shuffling the cards, "I don't manage your regular expenses. I have no money to give you."

Harvey pulled out a wallet from his pocket and handed it to her. "From now on, it's all yours."

This blatant flirtation caused some blushes among the elders.

Pretending to be indifferent, Eloise opened his wallet and found a picture inside. It was a picture of her, Linda, and Darrien. In the wallet's grid, there was a small square item, beginning with the letter 'D.'

Harvey spoke softly, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "I've had it for half a month!

Never got to use it!"

He really had no shame.

Eloise's face flushed, and she tossed the wallet back to him. "Manage your own

things!"

She understood perfectly. He was trying to please her, all because of Monika stirring up trouble and him getting embarrassed.noveldrama

Eloise was somewhat displeased. What was this supposed to mean?

Did he still have Joan in his heart? What about Monika... a naive little girl who had taken the wrong path?

Throughout the night, Eloise was indifferent. Harvey gave her many cards, and in the end, Eloise won a large sum of money. Even Parker was so jealous that he

complained about raising his son for nothing.

The midnight bells chimed twelve times.

Harvey pushed away his cards. "I've lost too much. I'm done playing."

He glanced at Eloise. "Ready to head upstairs and rest?"

Eloise knew he was likely to bring up something. She was willing to give him this opportunity, so she smiled and said, "I am a bit tired. Dad, Uncle Brett, you guys should also rest early."