Tangled Temptations

Harvey had flirtation on his mind, but Eloise found it hard to fend off. Eloise was pregnant and didn't want to encourage him. They embraced quietly for a moment before she whispered, "It's time to head home! Linda and Luca still have homework to do."

Harvey held her in his arms, clearly reluctant to let her go.

Eloise softly promised, "I didn't mean it like that! Going home doesn't mean you can't hug me again." She felt her cheeks warm at her own words.

Harvey gave a gentle smile, finally releasing her. Before leaving, he picked out a white, loose-fitting down jacket for her. With her delicate skin, Eloise looked lovely in it.

Harvey helped her into it, his gaze deep. "Let's go home!"

He had taught the kids well; at the mention of going home, they all put on their coats. Linda even helped Darrien put on his hat. Holding Darrien's hand, she skipped towards the car.

Eloise watched them from behind, her gaze tender as a soft snowfall.

Harvey took her hand. He whispered softly, "Linda's doing so well now."

Linda used to be somewhat withdrawn, but these past two years, she had blossomed, especially with Darrien and Luca around. She hadn't been a cause for concern since.

Eloise's look grew even softer. She gently gripped Harvey's hand; it was quite

warm.

In the car, the kids were all seated neatly, especially Darrien. Linda had buckled him snugly into his child seat.

Harvey eased onto the accelerator. With his wife and children in tow, he drove slowly, wanting Eloise to enjoy the romantic touch of the fine snow.

But to get home, they had to take a certain road. It was there that Max had his accident.

The temperature difference fogged up the windows, and Eloise couldn't help but trace her finger across them.

Her writing was a blur, but Harvey didn't mind as he occasionally glanced back, even slowing the car down further.

Back home, Eloise took a bath, while Harvey watched the kids do their homework. Linda and Luca were sharp as tacks, so Harvey was there just for support.

Later that night, when he returned to the bedroom, Eloise was up from her nap, lounging in her robe, chatting on the phone. It sounded like she was talking to Tiara.

Harvey didn't intrude. He just poured himself a glass of water and sipped slowly.

"I understand," Eloise said softly, then hung up.

Harvey, still in place, asked her, "Is it about Ravenna?"

Eloise nodded. She knew Harvey was itching to handle it his way, forcefully. She didn't want that for him.

Even though Harvey was now a businessman, he had been an excellent lawyer. She couldn't let him soil his hands with the same dirty tricks as Ravenna.

Harvey finished his half-glass of water. He looked down at the glass and said, "Eloise, can you guarantee your safety? If you're unsure, let me take over."

Eloise walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, her voice soft, "I've been burned once; do you think I'd let it happen again?"

She had people watching Ravenna. There was nothing about Ravenna she couldn't find out!

Time, tender and swift, moved on. As the festive season approached, the Noland family approached the Horigan family with a marriage proposal.

Brett's intentions were genuine, his manners impeccable, and the Horigan family was quite pleased.

Once the hustle was over, Eloise could finally let go of a worry. The kids' preschool was out for the holidays. Harvey had a meeting, and Eloise took the chauffeur-driven car to pick up the kids.

It was dismissal time. The little kids came out in a line. Eloise spotted Linda following Luca, her little head held high, calling Luca's name from time to time.

With two tiny backpacks, Luca saw Eloise and came over, steadying himself as he placed the bags on the back seat and greeted her with "Auntie." Eloise patted his head. "Today, I'm taking you out for some fancy food!"

Linda immediately asked, "What about Darrien?"

Eloise smiled, "Darrien's at Grandpa's house! Tonight, it's just the three of us!" Linda clambered into the car, thrilled to bits.

...

It was just a dinner at a restaurant, but Eloise hadn't expected to run into acquaintances. Several at once, in fact!

This was Peterborough's finest establishment, where the average cost was

around two grand a head. Eloise walked in with the two kids.

The ambiance was cozy and warm. Eloise shed her coat and let the waiter guide them to their reserved spot.

And then, the surprise.

At the next table, there was a group of men and women. Dwight and Blake, Jacob, Ravenna, and also Landon...

Seeing Landon again made Eloise a bit uncomfortable. His memory was too deep; in her moment of disgrace, he had said-

"Eloise, give me a chance!"

"Eloise, take your pick!"

Now here they were again, each with their own families...

Although Landon kept looking at her, Eloise wasn't the naive girl she once was. She smiled politely in greeting and then turned her attention to Jacob and Ravenna with a light smile. "I didn't expect to see you two together!"

With that, Ravenna gave a demure smile. Before, Ravenna had only used Jacob and slept with him for mutual benefit. She was attracted to his potential usefulness, but she had never anticipated Jacob's background to be so impressive.

His father was a billionaire!

She was determined to keep him tied down, so lately, she'd been clinging to Jacob, casting aside all other men. She knew he had plenty of women, but she was confident she could secure him.

Ravenna had transformed. She wasn't confrontational with Eloise anymore, her demeanor as gentle as water. "Eloise, would you like to join tables?"

She was putting on an act, and Eloise didn't call her out. Eloise simply smiled. "The kids can be quite the handful. We better not."

Jacob sat there boldly, his eyes alternating between the two beautiful children, asking, "Are they both yours?"

Eloise didn't deny it. She stroked Linda and Luca's heads.

Linda didn't like his peacock-like attire; she held her little head high and snorted, "Jealous, aren't you?"

Jacob was taken aback.

He gazed at the little girl's rosy cheeks and those caramel-colored curls, which were just unfairly adorable, but boy, did that kid have a temper-a chip off the old block!

Inside, Jacob bristled with a touch of jealousy.

Linda's eyes, dark as ripe grapes, swept over him and Ravenna before she cooed in her squishy voice, "If you're so keen on kiddos, why don't you have the lady besides you pop out a few for you? Though they'd never match up to the looks and smarts of me and Luca."

Jacob couldn't care less.

Ravenna, meanwhile, looked like she'd swallowed a lemon. She couldn't have children anymore. Years ago, she'd had a child—not Gunner's—and had left the baby at the orphanage.

Whether that child was dead or alive, she hadn't a clue. Nor did she want to.

At that moment, she couldn't help but think that if she married Jacob, she'd have

to figure out a way to bring that child back into her life. She needed something of her own, after all.noveldrama

While she mulled this over, Eloise had already taken a seat at the next table.

Eloise tended to the children with such gentleness; her nurturing aura showed no signs of the hardened CEO of Everest Technologies she once was. She had been formidable in her day.

Ravenna figured Eloise had gone soft with all the high-society living and was no match for her own cunning. She was dead set on snagging Jacob.

At seven o'clock on the dot, Ravenna took the initiative to sit at the piano and started to play a piece. Her fingers danced over the keys with practiced ease. But her performance fell on indifferent ears.

When she returned from her little recital, she shot Eloise a challenging glance. Jacob rewarded Ravenna with a kiss and a sprinkle of compliments.

With feigned tenderness, Ravenna handed him a glass, coaxing him to sip some aperitif.

Blake watched their display, visibly taken aback. Wrapping an arm around her slender waist, Dwight said carelessly, "We'll head back, and I'll treat you to

something special, too."

Landon shot him a look.

Dwight clammed up instantly.