Tangled Temptations

When Harvey returned to bed, he noticed the steady rhythm of Eloise's breathing and knew she was awake.

"Can't sleep?" He leaned in to kiss her.

Eloise's body nestled against his. Her slender fingers traced the white pillowcase in the dim light. "You don't have to control yourself, you know. I'm not that frigid."

She could feel something, more or less

Harvey tightened his hold on her waist, remaining silent. He knew Eloise was somewhat responsive but if she had enough, she would stop. Unlike people truly in love, where enough was never enough.

They wished they could hold each other all night long. His body was cool, comforting against hers.

Harvey whispered gently in her ear, "Eloise, you can tell me anything. I'm your husband. You can tell me anything... and from now on, I'll listen. I won't do anything you don't like."

Eloise remained silent, so he had heard what she had said to her therapist.

Harvey was somewhat nervous. He was worried about triggering her by bringing it up, but after a while, Eloise responded, "Harvey, find me a new therapist, please. I'll go by myself from now on."

They had two children and had no plans to divorce.

Illness needed treatment, but as a woman, Eloise did not want her husband to know everything about her. Some wounds did need to heal on their own.

Harvey agreed. Before falling asleep, he whispered in her ear, "I'll take Linda for a run tomorrow morning."

Eloise's wounds were brutally exposed. She did not avoid it, but sought help from the new therapist Harvey found. There was some progress, but very little. Perhaps, as the doctor said, they needed to have another child, or they needed time.

Veronica was worried about her and invited her out for tea.

In a five-star hotel patisserie, Veronica pushed a plate of pastries towards her with a playful grin. “Try this. It's their signature dessert. If you like it, we can get some for Linda to take home."

Eloise took a bite. She smiled. "It's pretty good. The flavor is really rich."

Veronica immediately called the waiter over and ordered two more servings to go. As she was doing this, Eloise watched her. When Veronica noticed Eloise's gaze, she touched her own face. "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that? It's a bit creepy."

Eloise stirred her coffee. Her lips curled into a gentle smile. "Veronica, we've known each other for 12 years."

Veronica was taken aback.

12 years... She touched her face delicately, finally understanding Eloise's sentiment. In their college days, Veronica was certainly the most dazzling among them.

When she was with Gunner, she enjoyed a life of leisure. In recent years, after her marriage to Riley and the birth of their son, she often looked into the mirror and lamented that she was no longer as slim as before. Her face had also become rounder.

Eloise, however, had barely changed. She was still so slender. No wonder Harvey couldn't let go. Even if he couldn't touch her, he wouldn't let go. Veronica couldn't tell if this was good or bad.

As they were reminiscing, a familiar face stepped out of the elevator.

Dressed in expensive clothes, with a personal assistant by her side, Ravenna looked every bit the star.

Ravenna was also surprised. She didn't expect Eloise to still dare to go out. Wasn't she afraid of people pointing fingers over the scandal?

She was confident that she had covered her tracks well. Even if Eloise knew she was behind it, what could she do? Her husband, Stuart, was rich and famous in the southwest, and even the Horigan family's influence couldn't reach there.

Ravenna walked over, wearing a lavish fur coat despite the early autumn weather. She sat down opposite Eloise, lighting up a long, slim cigarette.

A waiter came over and reminded her in a soft voice, "Madam, we don't allow smoking in our shop."

Ravenna just laughed. "Small-minded!"

When the waiter left, she turned to Eloise and Veronica. Her smile was full of confidence. "What a coincidence, old classmates! Veronica, you've put on so much weight after just a few years of marriage. Are you at 110 pounds now? Doesn't your second husband mind? And Eloise... Harvey is in his prime. Do you think he'll stay faithful to you? Do you think he won't cheat?"

Veronica's weight had changed, but not her temper. She really wanted to smack this woman!

Eloise stopped her, smiling at Ravenna, "You really don't need to worry about that, Ms. Ravenna. Now that you've achieved such success, aren't you supposed to be at home taking care of your own husband? Why are you always concerned about other people's husbands? Is it that marriage hasn't cured your old habits?" Ravenna was furious. Eloise was really annoying!

In her anger, she was about to say something even more offensive, but her arm was suddenly pulled. She looked up and it was Max.

Max, dressed in a business suit, obviously here for a meeting, had a complicated look in his eyes.

Ravenna hadn't seen him in a long time. She murmured, "Max!"

Max dragged her out of the patisserie. His rough manner left Veronica stunned. She quietly said to Eloise, "See, this is what 'an eye for an eye' looks like! I really want to see Max sleep with her, and then she could be caught by her husband."

Eloise glanced at her. Veronica grumbled, "What? She always messed with you! Even if you don't say it, I know it was her. There aren't many people in the world worse than her."

Eloise smiled softly, slowly drinking her half cup of coffee.

At the hotel emergency exit, Max pressed Ravenna against the wall. His eyes were burning with anger. Ravenna stared back at him.

They were lovers in the past, but their reunion was far from pleasant.noveldrama

After a long silence, Ravenna sneered, “Max, you're really loyal. Why can't you forget her? You heard about her and Harvey's issues and your heart started to flutter again? Let me tell you, even if Harvey can't touch her, it's not your turn!"

Eloise's innocent, naive appearance earlier had provoked her.

Why! Why could Eloise, who couldn't give men pleasure anymore, still hold Harvey's heart so tightly, and even make such a proud man bow his head to her willingly?

She refused to believe! She couldn't possibly believe Harvey's words.

How many men could actually resist temptation? Max or Gunner, hadn't they all ended up in her bed after just a few seductive glances?

Ravenna was determined to see Eloise's home shattered.

Max abruptly released Ravenna. There was a hint of embarrassment on his face, because Ravenna was right. When he heard the recording of Eloise's voice slowly admitting that she no longer believed in Harvey's love, discussing their marital issues, mentioning their once-a-month intimacy, he felt a perverse sense of exhilaration!

He knew his thoughts were absurd and twisted, but he couldn't control himself.

One's face can't lie. Ravenna saw his joy all too clearly. She wiped her face resentfully and challenged, "Max, what is it about her that you actually like?"

Max was silent. What he liked about Eloise? He himself couldn't quite pinpoint. The only thing he was sure of was that no matter how many women came and went, the four years he spent with Eloise were etched in his memory, impossible to erase.

Perhaps it was the regret that made it all the more poignant.