Tangled Temptations

In the restroom, the partitions were paper-thin. Harvey leaned in close to Eloise, his voice hoarse. "Eloise, I can't tell if this is what they call 'liking someone,' but when I see you with other men, it makes me uncomfortable."

"Max, Gerald, and now I'm even jealous of Gunner." His lips lightly brushed her hair. "Eloise, I don't know how to love. Can you teach me?"

Eloise felt a pang of sadness. She wished he hadn't lost his memory, that Monika hadn't interfered, that he had confessed his feelings sooner. But she couldn't dwell on it.

"Eloise, you're such a fool." Her gaze softened as she tried to hide her sorrow.

Overwhelmed by his feelings, Harvey found himself drawn to her. He pressed her against the thin partition and kissed her passionately.

Eloise didn't want this. She pushed back but couldn't break free. In a fit of desperation, she slapped him.

After the slap, both were stunned. Eloise leaned against the door, her slender throat tense. "Harvey," she said, her voice nasal. "Do I need to spell it out? We can't happen. Not now, not ever."

Was divorce fun? Was moving out with two kids fun? No, not at all.

She exited the restroom, her eyes red.

Harvey stood there, watching her retreating figure. He realized he might never have her again, even if Eloise still loved the Harvey before.

Harvey didn't linger; he quickly followed her.

They had a heated argument in the hospital room, and even Veronica could tell something was wrong.

In the afternoon, Harvey went to pick up Linda. When he told Eloise about this, she was cold, and he felt discouraged.

Once everyone had left, Veronica whispered, "I can tell he's different from before."

Eloise knew it, too. Harvey was clearly showing interest in her, but she had lost faith in their marriage, and she didn't want to wait anymore.

She even thought that breaking up would be easier for both of them.

Veronica respected her decision and said no more.

...

Harvey was rejected. His mood was sour as he sat in his car, lighting a cigarette. Just as he was about to start the car, Monika appeared beside it.

"Attorney Horigan," she whispered. "I'm pregnant."

Harvey barely reacted, blowing out a ring of smoke with a cold voice. "I don't recall even touching your hand."

Monika quickly said, "It's Mr. Gunner's child."

Harvey immediately thought of Eloise's business deal with Gunner. Eloise, you really...

He looked at Monika's face, realizing how much Eloise despised Monika. Monika's heart pounded. She bit her lip, her voice barely a whisper. "If it wasn't for Mrs. Horigan's scheming, I wouldn't be pregnant with another man's child. Attorney Horigan... if I abort the child, can we... I heard you divorced her..." Harvey had run out of patience. Indeed, her face used to remind him of Joan. He once wished her well, but when a man's heart changed, everything changed. Lately, he rarely thought of Joan; instead, he constantly thought of Eloise.

He'd dreamt of Eloise several times. She was soft and warm in his arms, calling him by his name.

Harvey stubbed out his cigarette and said coldly, "Don't show up in front of me again."

He rolled up the car window. Monika tried to stop him, but her hand got caught in the window, bruising it.

Harvey rolled down the window, released her hand, and drove away. Monika

stood there, realizing that she was nothing more than an object of pity to Harvey.

...

Harvey picked up Linda. She was excited, holding her dad's hand, and said goodbye to Ms. Chelsey.

After Harvey carried her to the car, Linda hugged his neck and gave him a soft kiss. His heart melted, and he asked gently, "Have you missed me these past few days?"

"Yes."

Harvey kissed her back. "If you miss me, just call me. I'll be there within 30 minutes."

Linda sat in her seat. She looked up with her curly brown hair. "Daddy, do you miss me or Mom?"

Harvey grinned at his clever little girl. He ruffled her hair. "I miss Linda, and I miss Mommy."

He brought Linda back to the hospital and even bought her a chicken nugget meal

on the way. Linda chatted happily all the way, which lifted Harvey's spirits.

But as he pushed open the door to the hospital room, his mood sank.

Gerald was there!

He was sitting on the couch, discussing business with Eloise, their heads close together. Eloise laughed softly at something. She was beautiful when she laughed.noveldrama

Harvey cleared his throat.

Gerald looked up and met Harvey's stern gaze. "Ms. Laurent," he said awkwardly.

"I guess we'll end our meeting here."

Eloise glanced at Harvey and escorted Gerald out.

When she returned, shutting the door behind her, Harvey couldn't help but ask,

"Do you have to sit so close when you're discussing business?"

Linda munched on a chicken nugget. "Daddy's not happy."

Eloise didn't want to discuss these things in front of their child. She stayed with Linda and even helped her with some math problems.

Harvey was left feeling frustrated. He was jealous but had no reason to confront Eloise, and he didn't dare to ask more.

Late at night, Eloise was lying in the hospital bed, hugging Darrien, studying his chubby face and lost in thought.

Darrien looked so much like Harvey. His eyebrows, his eyes, they were exactly the same. Her slender finger traced his face, filled with longing.

Darrien was a good boy, but he became restless in the middle of the night, refusing to drink milk. His face was flushed red, but he still wouldn't drink.

Eloise touched his face, and the little boy seemed to snuggle closer to her, sniffing greedily against her chest.

Eloise felt a pang of regret. Darrien had been weaned when he was just over two months old.

She glanced at the door to the small room where Harvey and Linda were sleeping. After a moment of hesitation, she unbuttoned her nightgown.

Darrien found his spot and began to nurse contentedly, even if he didn't get much

to eat. In the dark night, the sound of his suckling, like a kitten lapping at cream, was both enticing and intimate.

Harvey wasn't asleep. He heard it all, and after lying there for what felt like an eternity, he couldn't resist getting up quietly.

Eloise turned her back to him. Harvey couldn't see, so he reached out and touched Darrien's soft hair, whispering, "Does it hurt?"

Eloise felt embarrassed. After a while, she said softly, "You go back to sleep."

Tomorrow...tomorrow Darrien would be discharged from the hospital, and she wouldn't need to be bothered by him all the time.

Harvey watched her slender back. He wanted to go up and hug her, but thinking of her rejection, he withdrew his hand.

Once again, he lay down on the small bed. Linda crawled over skillfully, and her small body was fully rested in his arms. Her little bottom was chubby, soft, and squishy.

Harvey couldn't describe his feelings. He wanted to spend every day with them, and perhaps he and Eloise could have more children. Eloise seemed to love kids...

He couldn't help but wonder, if he regained his memories, would Eloise reconsider being with him?