Tangled Temptations

Eloise was caught between surprise and delight. Harvey stood outside the car, gazing at her with a look that turned her smile into a blooming rose.

His voice was husky. "Do you like it?"

Eloise buried her face in the roses; her voice was unusually sweet and alluring. "I love it." No woman could resist the charm of a man bearing flowers.

Harvey smiled faintly. He closed the car door, gracefully walked around to the driver's side, and got in. The sleek black sports car pulled away slowly, its silhouette against the streetlights like a shooting star.

At the hotel entrance, Jeffrey stood quietly for a long time.

...

Inside the car, Harvey played a soft melody. Eloise sipped some champagne and relaxed against the seat, feeling a bit tipsy.

They approached a red light. Harvey stopped the car and turned to her. "Home or the apartment?"

Eloise sobered up a little. She whispered into the roses, "Does it matter? If it's all the same, I'd like the hotel."

The atmosphere was charged with an unspoken tension.

Harvey watched her. Then, after a moment of silence, he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over to her. Eloise looked up, about to speak, but he was already kissing her deeply.

After a long while, he lifted his head. His voice was a deep rasp. "Eloise, do you know what you're saying?"

With one hand clutching the flowers and the other around his neck, she seemed torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. Behind them, impatient car horns blared. Harvey buckled up, his Adam's apple rolling seductively. "Then, to the hotel it is."

Perhaps it was the rarity of Eloise taking the initiative that had Harvey so excited. He drove to the nearest five-star hotel and checked in with efficiency.

No sooner had they entered the presidential suite than Eloise found herself pinned against the door, possessed by him. He was more forceful than usual, having held back for so long. Making love once would not be enough.

Harvey carried her to the main bedroom and laid her on the bed's edge. Her designer gown soon joined the white roses scattered across the purple fabric on the carpet.

In the bedroom, passion reigned. It was not until the early hours of the morning that they finally rested.

Harvey held Eloise, kissing her, feeling thoroughly content, body and soul. "What's gotten into you tonight?" he murmured in her ear.

Eloise, damp with sweat, leaned onto his shoulder and said lightly, "It might be the champagne."

He kissed her again.

They both remembered that they hadn't taken any precautions that night, but neither thought to remedy it.

In the early winter chill, Eloise didn't want to move from the warmth of his embrace. Neither did Harvey. After a while, Eloise spoke softly, "We should get up. Time to go home."

Harvey kissed her, feigning displeasure. "That's the trouble with kids. If only we could just sleep in till morning after making love. But no, we have to head home in the middle of the night."

Though he spoke thus, he began to dress her. Her gown was ruined, so he gave her his shirt to wear. Finally, he draped his coat over her. And he, in a simple grey sweater, didn't look out of place.

He walked her down to the lobby to check out. It was 1:30 AM. The receptionist recognized them and discreetly processed their departure, wishing "Mr. and Mrs. Horigan" a warm welcome back.

Eloise flushed with embarrassment. Harvey, unfazed, casually inquired as he took the receipt. "Can we get a membership card for a discount next time?"

The receptionist obliged.

Back in the car, Eloise couldn't help but protest, "There won't be a next time." Harvey put the membership card away, adjusted his sweater, and then looked at Eloise. "Mrs. Horigan, are you not feeling good? Because I feel fantastic."

Eloise's cheeks turned pink, and she dropped the subject.

Harvey slowly started the car.

Just as Eloise was about to rest her eyes, she caught sight of a red sports car not far away with a woman inside who looked emotionless, staring at them. She had long black hair and a gaunt face, looking so much like Ravenna.

Eloise felt a chill down her spine and straightened up for a clearer view, but the red car had already turned the corner and sped off.

Harvey noticed her unease and asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Eloise was still shaken.

She leaned back in her seat and whispered, "I thought I saw Ravenna. Harvey, why would she be here in the middle of the night? Could she be following us?"

Harvey frowned. He gently patted her hand. "I'll have someone check the surveillance tomorrow."

Eloise nodded, but her mind was far from calm. Only when they arrived back home did she start to unwind a bit, especially after Harvey prepared a comforting glass of warm milk for her.

Under the dim lights, Eloise leaned against the headboard, looking vulnerable. Harvey gently stroked her head, saying softly, "I'll call about the surveillance right now. Don't worry, okay?" He told her to sleep while he went to the study.

Using his connections, Harvey obtained the hotel parking lot footage within half an hour. The woman in the red car wasn't Ravenna after all.

Harvey watched the footage several times before thanking his contact, "You've been a great help, Coen. Dinner's on me next time."

After a few polite exchanges, Harvey returned to the bedroom to find Eloise still awake. He touched her head. "I checked. It's not Ravenna. Just someone with a similar style."

Eloise placed her cheek against his palm and offered a faint smile. Perhaps she was just on edge.

Into the night, she fell asleep. She dreamed again, a troubling dream of Max.

On an endless highway with dim lights, Max's car was flattened by a dump truck. Through the window, he lay bloodied and motionless, but in his hand was an amulet, glowing a faint green in the night.

Eloise walked towards him. Her white silk nightgown was stark against Max's blood.

He was conscious, looking up quietly at her, reaching out. "Eloise."

Eloise crouched down. Her trembling fingers touched his warm body. "I'll call an ambulance!" She could hear the panic in her own voice.

Max didn't move, and his face was etched with sorrow. He spoke to her, voice heavy with finality, "It's too late, Eloise. It's just too late."

Eloise gripped his hand tightly. Despite the anger she had felt towards him, she never wished for his death. She began to drag him towards the car door, her tone laced with urgency. "Max, hold on, I'm getting you out of here..."

But no matter how hard she pulled, she couldn't budge him an inch. Tears streamed down Eloise's face.

"

Max's fingers twitched slightly, and a blood-stained amulet fell into Eloise's palm. He looked at her intently and whispered, "Eloise, this is for you... I have to go. With those words, his body slowly started to fade. In the air, red petals of blood began to float up, gradually fading away. Eloise tried to grasp them, but she couldn't catch a single one.

Max was gone...

He left her with the amulet, his final smile, and three silent words - I love you.

"Max! Max! Max!"

Eloise awoke from the dream. She was drenched in sweat, repeatedly calling his

name.

She was pulled into a warm embrace. "Eloise, you were dreaming." Harvey

soothed her gently, as tender as one would be with a newborn.

Eloise looked up at him, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, and her lips

quivering. She remembered everything from her dream.

"Harvey. I dreamt of Max." She clung to his nightshirt in a panic.

Harvey cradled her, continuously comforting her, "It was just a dream, Eloise, just

a dream."

Eloise's tears fell. She was afraid.

She nestled against his chest, her voice as fragile as a kitten's. "Harvey, I dreamt

he was covered in blood, sitting in the car. I tried to reach him, but then he disappeared."

She clung to his neck, sobbing. "In the dream, he gave me an amulet for protection."

Eloise felt a twinge of guilt. If she had accepted the amulet before, would Max have avoided that path? Would he still be alive?

They had parted ways. She couldn't wish him well anymore, but she didn't want

him dead.

Eloise opened up to Harvey about her feelings. Harvey kissed her ceaselessly.

As a husband, knowing his wife dreamt of a past love, he couldn't be entirely unfeeling, but he understood that Max's death cast a long shadow in Eloise's heart. Otherwise, she wouldn't have mistaken someone for Ravenna and often had these dreams.

Harvey stroked her back, whispering, "Let's visit the chapel tomorrow, okay?"

Eloise lay on his shoulder, silent. Later, she lay in his arms, unable to fall asleep. Outside, rain fell, just like the day Max died, a fine misty rain, the world gloomy. But in Harvey's arms, there was warmth. He hadn't fallen asleep either, and eventually began to stroke her hair, asking softly, "What was it like with him back then, huh?"

Eloise rested on his arm. "You wouldn't want to know." What man could be so magnanimous?

Harvey leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose gently, insisting, "I want to know."

Eloise nestled in his embrace. Her voice was soft as she recounted bits of the past, and Harvey listened patiently and tenderly. He was a man of high emotional intelligence, so he understood the subtext.

He could feel that Max had truly been moved by her once. Max and Eloise... had missed their chance.

Harvey's emotions were complex, and as he looked down, his wife had

fallen asleep. Perhaps this time, her dream of Max was of their college days, with no horrific car accident, just trees, bicycles, and the library. All the sweet stirrings of a first love.

To say Harvey wasn't jealous would be a lie, but he knew that Max was gone forever, etched in Eloise's memory. If she had no feelings left, she wouldn't have accepted Jeffrey's flowers.

Harvey rose quietly. He didn't left the bedroom, since he didn't want Eloise to be

scared if she awoke. He just stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, quietly watching the rainy night.

He pondered their marriage. It was improving, yet tinged with new regrets, regrets that only he could digest.

Just like how she dealt with Joan and Monica, Harvey had to process this alone

because that was their respective life journeys. If they wanted to live well, they had to accept what existed.

He hadn't thought of Joan for a long time, but Eloise might take a long time to forget Max. That was something Harvey couldn't begrudge.noveldrama

He stood through the night until dawn broke, then returned to bed. He was a bit

cold, and Eloise instinctively moved aside, but Harvey insisted on holding her close. She frowned. "You're too cold."

"I'll warm up in a bit. Eloise, give yourself to me, and I'll keep you warm every day,

okay?" He patted her back, coaxing her to sleep.

Eloise didn't fully awaken and soon drifted off again.

In the morning, she woke up. Harvey had already taken Linda to school and had

taken Darrien with him.

Eloise lay still for a while. The dream from last night was still vivid in her mind, so she got up and went to the closet to open the safe.

The amulet was lying there quietly. Eloise picked it up. She held it in her palm,

stroking it gently, feeling as though she could still sense its warmth. That was the last trace of warmth from Max while he was alive.

Just then, a voice from outside spoke, "Madam, are you awake? Mr. Harvey mentioned he'll be back this afternoon to take you to the hills to see Master Lee."

Eloise paused for a moment. She thought Harvey's suggestion was just offhand, but he had actually planned to go. She acknowledged the maid's message. Eloise looked at the amulet for a while longer before placing it back in the safe. Her phone rang at that moment. It was a call from Ms. Olea.

Ms. Olea's voice was excited as she shared that although the movie was only

halfway done, it had already been shortlisted for a major award and had garnered positive buzz within the industry.

This news was always a joy for Eloise, so she chatted with Ms. Olea for a few moments.

By noon, Harvey returned with Darrien. Darrien adored his father and didn't want

the nanny; he only wanted to be in his father's arms. Eloise suggested, "Let's not take Darrien with us this afternoon. The mountain roads are rough."

Harvey kissed his son. "Let's take him along. We'll have Master Lee take a look at him, too."

Eloise nodded. She prepared the offerings for the visit and brought some candles. At three in the afternoon, Harvey, accompanied by his wife and child, sought an audience with Master Lee.

As luck would have it, the Master was in. His piercing gaze fell upon Harvey, and his hands pressed together in a gesture of greeting. "In this meeting, I sense you've undergone a profound transformation."

Harvey wasn't a man of faith. Still, he held a certain reverence. He exchanged a

few words with the Master, made an offering, and even had Master Lee take a glance at Darrien.

In the end, Master Lee smiled. "Mr. Harvey, your visit today is not for yourself, nor

for the child, I presume."

Harvey gave a respectful nod.

Master Lee turned

his attention to

Eloise, his eyes brimming with

wisdom as he softly spoke, "Mrs.

an

Horigan, you ought to have amulet for protection. Why leave

home without it? Mr. Max was quite

devoted and acquired it for you after three days of earnest request. In matters of faith, sincerity is key. I believe this amulet will surely shield you from harm."

Eloise paused, taken aback. Then, it dawned on her the amulet locked away in

their safe.