Tangled Temptations

Eloise gazed down with a hint of a smile, a light of resolve in her eyes. "Let's call it a day, shall we?"

As her lashes lowered, that delicate skin near the corner of her eye seemed almost translucent, touched by the faintest hint of blue, captivating in its ethereal quality.

Jacob had wandered through a garden of beauties, never lingering long enough to cherish any of them, but something about Eloise's face made him pause and take a longer look.

After a moment, even he felt his stare was too intense, and with a gruff voice, he admitted, "I trust you."

With graceful steps, Eloise approached the car.

Jacob, a gentleman despite himself, reached to open the door for her.

Eloise was taken aback by the gesture, and as their eyes met, she could discern a whisper of affection in his. Before slipping into the car, she said softly, "Jacob, some things are better left undone." With that, she settled into the vehicle.

The door glided shut, and the sleek black limousine eased away into the night.

Jacob stood smoking. Mr. Velona was ready to leave as well. He descended the stairs to find his son standing in the biting night wind with a cigarette. He couldn't help but add, "Ms. Ravenna might be fun to play with, but don't you think of bringing her home."

Jacob chuckled dryly. Methodically, he flicked the cigarette butt away and stamped it out. "Don't worry, when it comes to playing the field, I'm always one step ahead."

Mr. Velona's face clouded over.

As his car pulled up, Jacob opened the door for him. Mr. Velona stared at him, and after a moment's hesitation, he boarded the car without another word.

Inside, the driver tried to make conversation. "Mr. Jacob seems in good spirits." Mr. Velona replied, "That boy resents me, that's for sure. If not, he would have taken over the family business by now. He's just trying to secure a proper standing for his mother, but tell me, can I afford to give her that so easily? Wouldn't that be admitting to my past indiscretions?"

Mr. Velona's wife had passed, but her father was still influential. Would he let Mr. Velona off so easily?

Mr. Velona acknowledged his own predicament, and that's why things had been strained with Jacob these past few years.

The driver remained silent.

After a while, Mr. Velona added softly, "Now that he's getting along with Eloise, I can rest easy. I've heard Stuart talk about her... you see, Dwight has changed completely because of her."

The driver nodded in agreement, and Mr. Velona's mood seemed to lighten.

...

Back at home, Eloise received a call from Mr. Velona, who essentially asked her to watch over Jacob. Mr. Velona had said, "I haven't engaged with Ms. Ravenna much, but Eloise, I trust you. If you could guide Jacob, I'd be forever grateful."

Still in her evening gown, Eloise stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of her living room, a faint smile on her lips. "Don't worry, Mr. Velona, I will."

Mr. Velona went on for quite some time.

After hanging up, which was a good 10 minutes later, Eloise rubbed her neck. "These social events sure are exhausting."

Her pergnancy this time was somewhat easy, but she was, after all, an expectant mother, and her energy was not what it once was.

Just as she was about to freshen up, Harvey came back from tucking the kids in and caught her in her tired state. "Tired?" he asked, coming over to support her as

she sat down. He began to gently massage her neck.

Eloise leaned back into the sofa, enjoying her husband's tender care, and hummed, "A little."

After Harvey had massaged her for a while, Eloise whispered to him, "Ravenna took the bait. Just needs a little more time to cook."

"Hmm?" Harvey hummed lazily, a hint of playfulness in his voice. "Do tell, Mrs. Horigan."

Eloise held his hand, her voice devoid of warmth. "Tomorrow, I'll have Natalia place a bet of two hundred million on Jacob."

That would largely dispel Ravenna's doubts and secure her commitment.

Harvey's brows twitched. With his slender fingers, he gently stroked his wife's cheek and asked in a husky voice, "Taking a loss doesn't seem like your style, does it?"

Eloise smiled faintly. "Before the channel closes, I'll place another billion on Dwight." She planned to sweep up every dime Ravenna wagered.

Harvey had anticipated this, but still, his heart skipped a beat, half for his wife's dazzling beauty and half for her cunning intellect. He couldn't resist leaning in to nibble softly at the tender spot behind her ear.

"The saying 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' is spot on," he murmured. "My little vixen."

His words were enticing, and his hands began to roam with a mind of their own.

Eloise blushed. She snuggled against him, her voice soft as silk, "Harvey, we're talking business."

"The business talk is over." He lifted her in his arms and headed towards the bedroom. "You look stunning in this dress."

Eloise knew his intentions well. She was pregnant, so he wouldn't overstep, but he always looked for chances to be close.

Their eyes met, and despite the familiarity, their hearts raced. Harvey bent down to kiss her, his voice hot as if holding a mouthful of warm sand. "Don't look at me like that when you know I can't resist."

Eloise wrapped her arms around his neck, returning his kiss.

They kissed deeply and softly. The bathroom was forgotten as they tumbled onto the bed.

Eloise had long understood Harvey's preferences; he liked to be intimate at the foot of the bed. It's convenient and exciting.

Her eyes glowed with allure as she gently unbuttoned his blue shirt, whispering, "Mr. Horigan, you've been working hard lately. I think you deserve a little reward."

Harvey's gaze darkened. He softly caressed her soft cheek. "Mrs. Horigan, show some restraint."

Eloise pushed back her brown hair. Cradling her husband's handsome face, she kissed him. "Not tonight."

No man could refuse such flirtation from his wife, and Harvey was no exception. He relished this side of Eloise.

...

A night of indulgence followed.

When Eloise awoke, a white rose and a small gift lay beside her pillow, sweet tokens of affection.

As the holiday season approached, Harvey took time off from work to be with the children, avoiding the usual social engagements.

Eloise noticed her social calendar becoming less packed. Mr. Horigan had his ways, subtly ensuring their world centered around each other.

In the soft morning light, Eloise lounged in bed, basking in the winter sun's warmth. Eventually, she rose, wrapping herself in a blanket, and dialed Natalia's number.

Investing two hundred million? Natalia was speechless. When had Ms. Laurent ever been so bold?

Eloise knew what was on Natalia's mind and said with a wry smile. "Just do as I told you."

Natalia nodded. She immediately transferred a whopping $200 million to the club's account, betting on Jacob, of course. This was insider information that no one else was privy to; the majority were still placing their bets on Dwight. Eloise's $200 million shook up the entire betting pool, especially for Ravenna, who was taken aback when she found out that it was Eloise who had placed the bet.

Ravenna had been hesitant at first. Eloise's bold move was like a shot of confidence for her, and she arranged to meet with Tiara at a café.

At the café, Ravenna cut to the chase, "Did you hear about Eloise's bet?"

Tiara, peeling off her leather gloves, pouted, "I've been preoccupied with entertaining company these past few days and haven't paid much attention to such matters. What, does Ms. Laurent want a piece of the club action, too? Can she really be bothered with such chump change?"

Ravenna gave her a sharp look. Then she stirred her coffee gently, speaking softly, "This kind of money comes much faster than grinding it out in the business world. It's not surprising she's interested. I was just thinking, for someone as cautious as her to suddenly drop $200 million, means the tip must be solid."

Ravenna was no fool. Last night, Eloise had been the center of attention at the banquet. She had a high status in the elite circles, especially given her young age. Ravenna was both envious and jealous.

She leaned in closer to Tiara and whispered, "Last night, she had a private word with Jacob. I bet she got the scoop from him, so I'm thinking of placing a bet, too."

Tiara's laugh was faint, "Secrets? Hardly."

She then shared another piece of gossip, "On the day of the competition, Dwight won't even show up. So, what are his odds of winning? As for the other competitors, they don't stand a chance against Jacob."

"Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? You think I've been keeping company these days for

nothing?"

Tiara's smile faded, "The price I paid should earn me some benefits." She mentioned she had bet her entire fortune of $80 million on Jacob.

"If things go smoothly, it could double," Tiara said.

Ravenna craved a cigarette. The chance to double her money was tempting; she could never make that much from making movies.

She looked at Tiara. Tiara, carelessly flipping her hair, said, "That's the game. The bold thrive, and the timid starve. Ms. Laurent has placed her bet; what are you

afraid of?"

Ravenna said nothing. When she got back to her place, she smoked half a day's worth of cigarettes before finally making a call to her financial advisor. She emptied her account of $400 million and bet on Jacob.

If she succeeded, she would double her money. If not, she would be ruined. But Ravenna was confident she would win. She had too much information.

She couldn't afford to lose.

When Ravenna placed her $400 million bet, Eloise was immediately informed.

She held her phone in silence for a long time.

Ravenna's fate was sealed. She wouldn't be getting her money back.

Eloise said softly into the phone, "Understood."

After hanging up, she asked Baron to take her to the cemetery. Baron hesitated, "Harvey won't be happy if he finds out."

Eloise smiled gently, "I'll talk to him later."

She had been laying her plans for so long, and now that Ravenna had taken the

bait, she was pleased. She wanted to share the news with Max, to let him know

and to let him rest in peace.

Baron continued to mutter.

When they were leaving, Linda clung to them like glue. Eloise decided to bring hernoveldrama

along.

The morning was bright, but a somber atmosphere settled in as they approached

the cemetery.

Eloise led Linda by the hand, followed by a few bodyguards. As they neared Max's grave, they found Aliza and Olga already there for Max.

Eloise approached, holding a bunch of daisies, and laid them down gently.

Linda stood quietly by her side, recognizing the man from the photos. It was the man who wanted her to call him "Daddy."

When the Velona women saw Eloise approach, they stood up. Aliza looked conflicted. "Why do you come in your condition?"

She patted Linda's head. "Look how much you've grown."

There was a note of wistfulness in her voice. If Eloise had been with Max, their

child would be about Linda's age now. A lovely little girl like Linda would have

been calling her "grandma." The thought alone was enough to bring tears to her

eyes.

Eloise also stroked Linda's hair, speaking softly, "I came to see him. Just to have a few words."

With tears in her eyes, Olga said, "Eloise, you're the only one who still remembers my brother."

Eloise was aware of how tough these past years had been for Olga, and without holding onto past grievances, she simply said softly, "The coroner found that he had ingested a stimulant before his car accident."

Max's last days were spent with Ravenna. They had sex.

Ravenna knew he shouldn't have been driving but didn't say a word. In other words, Max's death was indirectly caused by Ravenna.

The Velona women were stunned. They had never known any of this. Eloise turned to look at Max's photo, whispering, "The incident involving me and Jeffrey is also connected to her."

Aliza spoke sharply, "She can't get away with this. Eloise, you must not let her."

She was so agitated tshe moved to kneel before Eloise. "Please, for my son, you must deal with that witch. Max suffered so much. His body was broken... he

struggled for an hour, unwilling to let go... He was so pitiful." Olga supported her mother, also in tears. Ravenna was truly malevolent. What kind of woman was she? Eloise helped Aliza to her feet, her smile faint. "Soon. It will all be over soon."

Aliza and Olga stared blankly at Eloise, even forgetting to wipe away their tears as they gazed at her.

Eloise had been in love with Max for four years, They knew Eloise well. She was gentle and soft, but the Eloise before them now was completely different..Aliza was lost for words and finally agreed, "Right, her good days are over."

Aliza tried to thank Eloise again. Eloise shook her head. She said nothing more

because her relationship with Max was complicated.

...

Even though Harvey found out that Eloise had visited the cemetery, he didn't

reprimand her. He was only worried that the energy there might've harmed his precious Stephanie.

Eloise lounged on the living room couch, savoring a steaming mug of milk, a

homey comfort in the chill of the morning. She chuckled, "Oh, come on, it's not like I'm made of porcelain."

Harvey, who had been gearing up for a playful argument, stopped short at her

words. He watched her with a soft laugh, tenderly tapping her nose. "Aren't we bold today, Mrs. Horigan?"

Eloise met his gaze with a poised, yet alluring smile that was utterly tantalizing.

Harvey cursed under his breath - their bustling household was brimming with kids, and some things just weren't as easy to indulge in as they used to be.

Eloise leaned in, whispering a promise, "Let's wait until the hustle and bustle settles down, shall we?"

Harvey grinned mischievously.

...

The next day heralded the grand finale of the F1 winter season. Harvey, ever the doting husband, accompanied Eloise to the event, securing the best VIP box for the occasion.

As fate would have it, their box was directly opposite Ravenna's, who was there

with Tiara.

Ravenna was confident; her meeting with Jacob the night before had been strained, but she had gleaned that Dwight wouldn't be racing – or so Jacob had

led her to believe. With sunglasses perched on her nose, she was all but ready to

cash in.

At 10 AM, the betting was about to close.

Eloise leaned over to Natalia, "Put a billion on Dwight."

Natalia blinked in surprise.

Harvey spoke with casual assurance, "Put a billion on Dwight for me, too. I'm

riding the wave of fortune with you ladies."

Eloise couldn't help but feel a mix of exasperation and amusement. Natalia glanced at them, hesitated, but went ahead and placed a two-billion-dollar

bet. She eyed the board, thinking that if Dwight won, this would clean out her boss' book.

Once she completed the transaction, the betting was closed.

Ravenna had her own informants and got wind of the massive wager as soon as it

hit the books. Someone had bet two billion on Dwight. Impossible. How could this be? Wasn't Dwight sidelined by an injury?

As Ravenna's heart raced and her eyes reddened with panic, Dwight emerged

from the pits, donning his signature helmet...