Tangled Temptations

Two months later.

Pauline loved her theater. Her favorite leading lady, Miss Olea, was performing in three plays that month.

However, poor Pauline fell ill, so she passed her tickets to Orlena, asking her to deliver a basket of flowers and bring back a signed playbill.

Orlena had no better plans, so she accepted. In the afternoon, she invited Eloise to join her.

Lately, the tension between Elois and Harvey had lessened, and she always had a soft spot for Orlena. To make it even more fun, she brought Veronica along.

They were going to the Pearl Opera, the best opera house in town.

That day, Miss Olea's performance was so impeccable that the audience gave her thunderous applause. But Orlena couldn't help being bored. She would've left if it wasn't for her mother's request for a signed playbill.

When the show was over, Miss Olea retreated backstage. Once there, she was like a different person, casually telling her assistant, "I'm not seeing fans today. Tell them to come back another day."

Miss Olea came from a prestigious opera family, so she had a certain air of elegance and pride about her, making her inaccessible to ordinary fans.

Her assistant, however, seemed troubled and softly said, "Well, there's one fan you might want to meet."

Intrigued, Miss Olea asked, "Who is so important that I have to meet them?"

"It's Miss Horigan. Her mother is ill and couldn't make it, so they wanted a signed playbill."

Upon hearing this, Miss Olea paused, then her face bloomed into a smile. "Ah, Miss Horigan. Yes, I should meet her. Pauline always gives face when it comes to my plays. Bring her backstage, and I'll sign her playbill."

She lifted the curtain and walked inside. Inside, a male voice with elegance could be heard.

Meanwhile, Orlena and her group followed their assistant to the backstage area. Ms. Olea was truly astonished. A long corridor was filled with flower baskets, numbering in the hundreds. Among them, the majority were sent by a certain Mr. Brett, with a surprising count of 32.

Mr. Brett... Orlena's heart skipped a beat. Was this the same Mr. Brett she was thinking of?

Following Orlena's gaze, the assistant chuckled and said, "Mr. Brett is an old friend of Miss Olea's. Whenever he's in Peterborough, he always comes to support her. I heard Mr. Brett is quite influential and doesn't usually mingle with the common crowds. Only Miss Olea has that privilege."

Orlena listened quietly, suddenly with an urge to leave. But they were already at the dressing room door. The assistant ushered them in with a smile. "Miss Horigan is here."

The scene inside took Orlena by surprise.

Miss Olea had changed into a form-fitting dress, her long, dark hair was tied up, and her beauty was breathtaking.

She was nestled against a man. He was dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, looking handsome and gentle. He held a golden hairpin in his hand, lightly touching Miss Olea's hair. It was an intimate scene, and it was clear what their relationship was.

Orlena stood there, shocked. She hadn't expected to witness such a scene.

Brett had kissed her. But this Brett was different from the one she knew. He was with Miss Olea, a stunning beauty, and they looked good together.

Brett seemed surprised as well. Despite Eloise being there, he put down the golden hairpin and called out, "Orlena."

Orlena stayed silent, her lips trembling slightly, unwilling to respond.

Eloise looked puzzled, glancing between Brett and Orlena. To her knowledge, they didn't have much interaction. But the familiar tone in Brett's voice was suspicious.

In the awkward silence, Donny arrived. He was taken aback, but he was an old hand at dealing with awkward social situations, so he defused the tension. "I didn't know Ms. Orlena was coming too. Mr. Brett was thinking of visiting you."

Eloise didn't want to make things more difficult, so she simply greeted her uncle.

Veronica, who was close to Eloise, also sensed the tension and said with a laugh, "What a coincidence."

At this, Miss Olea offered, "Why don't I host a dinner for everyone at Tango's Tapas Bar across the street? They have great Spanish tapas."noveldrama

As she spoke, she opened her fan, and the scent of her perfume filled the room.

Before anyone could respond, Orlena spoke up, "I have a headache. I won't be going."

There was an awkward silence. Donny quickly offered, "I'll get some medicine for you, Miss Orlena."

His eagerness drew a teasing look from Miss Olea. "Donny, I get headaches and colds, too, but I don't see you offering to help me." Though she was speaking to Donny, she was clearly complaining about Brett's lack of attention.

Brett merely smiled, "Aren't there enough people around you to help?"

Miss Olea clung to his arm, whispering, "If I had a headache or a cold, you would make me feel better..."

Orlena's face turned ghostly pale.

Donny deftly steered the conversation away from the tension, and they all ended up at Tango's Tapas Bar. They were led to a private booth.

Miss Olea, hoping to marry into the Noland family, was particularly attentive to Eloise. However, Eloise remained indifferent.

Later, Miss Olea turned her attention to Orlena, gently placing a piece of steamed pork rib in her bowl. At the same moment, Brett also put a piece of rib into Orlena's bowl.

Looking at the two pieces of ribs, Orlena felt a wave of disgust.

Brett said, "Eat more meat. It's good for growth."

Miss Olea, leaning against Brett, joined in, "Yes, children should eat more meat. It helps them grow."

Ms. Olea didn't have a shred of doubt. After all, Orlena was the younger one, and she heard her call out to Brett as uncle.

Orlena couldn't hold back any longer. She excused herself to the restroom, and as soon as she was inside, she turned on the faucet, splashing water on her face.

She couldn't help but cry.

Two months ago, Brett had left without saying a word. She was a bit upset but knew she had no right to be angry. Seeing the scene today made her extremely uncomfortable.

Why should she have to endure such humiliation? She hated Brett now more than ever.

The restroom door was opened and then gently locked. She was still crying, her small face pale white, and her nose red.

After a while, she realized Brett had entered and locked the door. She stared at him blankly in the mirror.

Brett's voice was gentle. "Are you mad?"

Orlena stared back at him. She couldn't forget the image of him with Ms. Olea and the flirtatious look in his eyes. He hadn't done anything overt but was clearly enjoying Ms. Olea's company.

He was such a womanizer.

She abruptly turned around, her eyes rimmed with red. "I have nothing to do with you, why would I be mad? I'm not good enough for you, so you should go find a fully mature woman."

Her words were filled with childish resentment. Brett had no intention of pursuing her, but he wanted to placate Orlena. He didn't want her to know about his private life. So, he laughed. "She and I are just friends."

Orlena knew he was lying, probably because they were related by marriage, and he didn't want things to become too tense. She cooled down a bit, looking down. "You go out first. I need to wash my face."

Brett didn't feel great, either. He had made up his mind not to associate with her, but, they had run into each other.

He patted her head. "Be good, clean up, and we'll go out for dinner."

He left quietly, without alarming anyone. Orlena cleaned herself up and followed,

but her mood was off, and she didn't have much appetite.

Her unusual behavior wasn't lost on Eloise. She looked at Orlena, then at her uncle, contemplating.

After dinner, they said their goodbyes. Brett was still standing with Ms. Olea, looking like a perfect match.

Orlena got into her car. She gripped the steering wheel, her head slowly bowing down. Since the day she broke up with Max, she never thought she'd be upset over a man again.

She could feel that Brett had some feelings for her, but he treated her like a child, and he preferred the company of women like Ms. Olea. Was it because these women were gentle and understood him?

Just then, the door of the Audi in front of her opened, and Donny got in and drove away alone.

Orlena's heart pounded faster. She guessed that Brett had other plans, perhaps at that fancy club. Would he take Ms. Olea there, too? Would he kiss her in the restroom, or even do more...

She thought that maybe seeing it would make her feel less pain.

An hour later, she parked her car.

The club staff recognized her, knowing that she was a girl Mr. Brett had brought before. With the limited edition sportscar she drove, they let her in without question. The waiter opened the door for her, smiling. "Mr. Brett just arrived."

The door opened.

Brett was indeed there, playing poker with a group of people. Amid the glitz and glamour, he still looked suave. His white shirt rolled up to his elbows, his fair face tinged with a blush, and a cigarette held between his lips.

And there was Ms. Olea, leaning against him, her soft chest touching his arm, seemingly giving him guidance on his game. The tenderness in her eyes could drown a man...

Orlena didn't want to see them anymore. She turned around, ready to leave, but the people in the room recognized her. Mr. Moreno said, "Isn't that the Horigan family's little girl? Is she here to find Brett?"

Brett paused his game. He slowly put down his cards and looked towards the

door...