Tangled Temptations

Harvey didn't want a divorce. For the several days that followed, he doggedly pursued Eloise, faithfully appearing at Everest Technologies as soon as work was

over.

To outsiders, they seemed like a happily married couple.

Eloise was just exhausted. She could tolerate his temper and his wicked behavior

in bed, but what he did with Monika crossed a line she couldn't ignore. He knew about Monika's ambitions, but he still allowed her to get too close.

He was disrespectful to his wife, and he even thought that as long as he didn't engage in a physical relationship, he was still loyal.

On Friday, at half past five...

Eloise handed over the signed documents to Natalia, "Distribute these, and then you can leave."noveldrama

Natalia smiled. "Ms. Laurent, Attorney Horigan called. He said he wants to pick up Linda with you."

Eloise didn't respond. Natalia, not daring to say more, took the documents and left.

Eloise sat in silence, lost in thought before she gathered her belongings and left.

As she took the elevator down, she contemplated - Harvey had been pestering her, unwilling to get a divorce, using their child to soften her heart. But he didn't realize that it was because of their child that she made this decision so quickly.

In the lobby of Everest Technologies.

Harvey sat leisurely on the couch, looking expensive. He wore a light gray shirt and a classic black suit. His handsome face was full of cheerfulness, showing no sign of a man about to be divorced.

Eloise descended the stairs. Harvey immediately stood up, took her briefcase, and said gently, "The daycare has an activity today, so Linda will be late. We can go pick her up now."

He was smart. In front of everyone, Eloise also didn't want to make a scene. Besides, she also wanted to make Linda happy, so Eloise got into his car.

He noticed that she obviously didn't want to talk to him, and only asked when he would sign the divorce papers.

He wouldn't sign them.

He cleared his throat, his voice slightly deep. "Fasten your seatbelt."

Eloise snapped out of her thoughts. As she fastened her seatbelt, he started the car and tentatively suggested, "Shall we take Linda out for some pizza tonight? She was upset last night, and said she wanted to eat with both of us."

He was hinting at something, and Eloise understood. She remained silent for a while before saying, "After the divorce, you can see her and Darrien anytime you want."

Harvey's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white. He softly asked, "And what about you? Can't I see you anymore?"

Eloise was also upset. She had once promised not to give up on him, but now she was breaking her promise. She turned her face away, murmuring, "Of course you can see me, but things will be different."

Harvey didn't say anything more. They drove in silence for a long time before he finally spoke in a low voice, "Eloise, can't you forgive me just this once?"

Eloise's lips quivered. There was so much she wanted to say, but in the end, she chose not to say anything.

After a while, he also fell silent. Between them, there was only silence.

When they arrived at the daycare, many parents were picking up their children. Eloise couldn't possibly show her anger in front of them, so they went to pick up Linda together.

But the moment she saw Linda, Eloise felt her blood freeze. Linda was standing still, not moving. Her large dark eyes had lost their sparkle, and her small fingers were gripping her dress tightly.

She was having an autistic episode.

Monika was squatting in front of Linda, with a smile on her face, seeming to gently talk to Linda.

"This is the candy that I bought for you, Linda. Do you like it? Why aren't you talking? Don't you like me? Your daddy likes me very much..."

Ms. Chelsey from the daycare was also panicked. She didn't know where this woman had come from, but she had scared Linda. She was about to call Eloise, but Eloise was already there.

She was trembling with anger. Monika, how dare she?. She couldn't get Harvey, so she harassed their child. What made her different from Joan?

Monika slowly realized that something was wrong. She was a little scared. When she looked up, she saw Eloise and Harvey. Striving to defend herself, she said in a pitiful and innocent tone, "Attorney Horigan, Mrs. Horigan, I didn't mean to... I don't know why she's like this. Should we... take her to the hospital?"

Eloise softly hugged Linda. She raised her hand and slapped Monika twice.

Monika's mouth was bleeding, and half of her face was swollen. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said in a trembling voice, "Mrs. Horigan, I didn't mean to..."

Eloise kept her emotions in check. "If anything happens to Linda, I will make you pay with your life."

After saying this, she picked up Linda.

Harvey tried to take Linda. "Eloise, let me hold her." Without a second thought, Eloise forcefully pushed him away. At that moment, she didn't even want to glance at him.

If it weren't for his constant indulgence, his constant misguidance to Monika, the arrangements and rides he gave Monika to her home, and his subtle flirtations, how would she have the courage to harass Linda? She was only relying on Harvey's indulgence.

Enough was enough!

Harvey immediately followed her. Someone grabbed his arm. It was Monika. She mumbled, "Attorney Horigan, I didn't mean to..." Harvey didn't have the patience to deal with her and pushed her away.

Eloise was already in the car. Harvey opened the car door and got in, turning to check Linda. She was motionless in her mother's arms, refusing to speak or react. This was the first time Harvey had seen Linda have an episode of autism since he lost his memory.

He gritted his teeth and started the car. The black SUV slowly pulled away. Monika touched her swollen face and was frozen in place. Harvey had just pushed her away, roughly. His eyes were filled with disgust.

Why would he be disgusted with her? Didn't he like her face?

Eloise took Linda home. She gave Linda some soothing medicine and then tried

to get her to sleep, but Linda refused.

In her tiny frame, she stood under the tree in the courtyard, ruthlessly pulling off the leaves. Her curly brown hair hung low.

Eloise's heart ached. She wrapped Linda in a thick coat and crouched beside her. Linda spent half the night stripping a small tree bare.

Eloise gently held her small body. A down jacket lay over her, and behind them

was Harvey's husky voice. "Put on a coat. It's chilly outside."

He repulsed Eloise. She threw the jacket aside, and with a swift movement, pushed him away.

Caught off-guard, Harvey stumbled into a stone column, and a decent amount of blood was flowing from his forehead. Under the night sky, it was quite a sight. He wiped it off, unfazed.

Suppressing her emotions, Eloise spoke in a low, harsh voice, "Linda has been hurt by Joan twice. Monika got close to Linda to please you, scaring her and now Linda was like this. Do you know she hasn't had an attack for a very long time? Harvey, this is the consequence of your indulgence, the price for your flirtations."

How was it that his youthful romance always had Eloise paying for the consequences?

How was it that Joan could die, yet her sister emerged and continued to hurt Eloise?

Now, Eloise had one single thought, to leave Harvey.

...

It was late into the night, and Linda finally came to. She whimpered and clung to her mother. Eloise knew she was scared, and held her, gently comforting her. The spring night was cold. Linda's cheeks were red from the chill as she was clinging to Eloise's neck. She whispered through her tears, "I'm hungry." Eloise kissed her. "I will make you something yummy." She carried Linda inside.

Parker and Pauline, too, were crying tears of joy. Their sweet Linda was finally speaking again.

Parker had been out in the cold for as long as Linda. Then he took her in his arms, showering her with kisses, wishing he could have taken her place. Eloise went into the kitchen to prepare a meal for Linda.

As Linda scooped up her food, enjoying it thoroughly, Pauline made some pasta, offering it to Eloise, her voice warm and loving. "Eat something to warm yourself up."

"Thanks." Eloise sat down, quietly eating her pasta.

Harvey watched all this, feeling like an outsider.

Parker sternly said, "You, come here."

...

After a while, father and son were speaking in the study.

Harvey had just cleaned up the blood, and Parker threw another paperweight at him. He pointed at his son, furious. "You bastard. What's so special about that woman? Look at how Eloise loves her children. If she didn't love you, do you think she would be so good to them?"

Harvey was somewhat confused.

Parker laughed coldly, "Yes, you don't remember. But you are Eloise's husband,

and Linda and Darrien's father. That woman Monika brought her fate upon herself, why did you intervene?"

Parker had vented his anger. Suddenly, he, too, felt weary. In the middle of the night, the light cast on his face made him look especially old.

He waved his hand and sat down, speaking in a low voice, "Perhaps this is destiny. Eloise wants to divorce you. Your mother and I are reluctant, but she had postpartum depression after giving birth to Linda, so Harvey... do as you please, but I won't accept any woman of ill repute. Also, the Horigan family's assets belong to Linda and Darrien. Those women out there won't get a penny." Harvey also sat down quietly. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. After a while, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "Dad, I don't want to divorce Eloise." Parker sighed softly. He spoke in a tired voice, "Harvey, I'm a man too. I can guess what you're thinking, but you don't remember how you and Eloise used to love each other. Your feelings for Joan are nothing compared to what you and Eloise had. Eloise loves you as much as she is disappointed in you."

...

Harvey sat in the study until dawn. When the sky was clear, he went to check on Linda. The little girl was asleep.

With a row of adorable lashes under her eyes, her soft, tender cheeks were warm to the touch, so inviting it made you want to take a bite.

Harvey watched for a while, then gave her a kiss. He genuinely loved Linda; she was so smart and adorable.

He had an important court hearing in the morning. When it was time, he went back to his room to change into a suit. Unexpectedly, Eloise was in his room, sitting quietly on the living room sofa, as if she had been waiting for him for a long

time.

A divorce agreement lay on the coffee table.

Harvey was taken aback. Was she skipping the separation and going straight to

divorce?