Tangled Temptations

A sleek black sedan cruised steadily along the road. The children, worn out from

the day's excitement, slumped in their seats, a tangle of weary limbs.

Harvey glanced over at Eloise. She leaned back in her seat, gazing quietly out the window.

"Still mad?"

Harvey gently squeezed her hand.

Eloise offered a faint smile. "Why would I be? Keep your eyes on the road."

Releasing her hand, Harvey concentrated on the traffic ahead. After a while, he murmured, "You know, Brett and Orlena have had it tough."

They were two people who shouldn't have crossed paths. It could have been just a fleeting pleasure, but once you had tasted bliss, who would want to settle for less? And weren't Eloise and him the same?

Perhaps it was Max's passing that made him realize life's unpredictability. It made Harvey cherish this marriage, this love. If Eloise was holding back, he'd be the one to give in.

They drove back to the villa.

Eloise got out of the car, and Harvey carefully shed his coat, speaking softly to her, "You take Linda and Luca inside."

He wrapped Darrien in his coat, lifting the little guy from the car. Darrien, still a baby, snuggled against his father's shoulder, sound asleep. Being a dad, Harvey couldn't help but plant a kiss on Darrien's head.

Ever since Luca had come to live with them, Linda had become more

independent and tidier 7The young girl didn't need much looking after, and Luca took care of the little things for her.

Eloise often wondered, was this alright?

When Harvey returned to the bedroom, Eloise had finished her bath and was applying lotion at the vanity.

Their relationship was good lately, and they'd had sex often.

Harvey naturally wrapped his arms around her slim waist, sliding his hands up and down. His breath felt warm against the nape of her neck, half-teasing, half- flirting. "Seems like you've put on some weight."

Every woman liked to be slim. Eloise lightly swatted away his fingers, a touch annoyed. "Then go find someone without an ounce of fat."

Harvey just chuckled. He leaned against the wall, admiring the way she cared for her skin.

Truth be told, Eloise was already perfect, and he rather liked the feel of her curves. When she loosened her robe to apply lotion to her abdomen, he took over, spreading the cream on her soft, delicate skin, all the while nibbling on her shoulder. "With all our recent activity, maybe you're pregnant."

Eloise paused.

She thought back to her last period, realizing it had been over a month and a half.

She pushed him away, but Harvey was on fire; his mind was filled with lust, and he wasn't about to stop.

Eloise had to grab his hair and pull him back forcefully, panting. "I've missed my period for over a month."

Harvey visibly paused. Slowly, he looked up at her. "Really?"

Eloise nodded, her hand instinctively resting on her belly, contemplative. Was she really pregnant again?noveldrama

Harvey crouched down. His handsome face pressed against her belly. His voice was filled with excitement. "Is there really a little one of ours growing in here?"

Eloise was initially startled, but seeing his reaction, her heart calmed. She gently stroked his hair, her voice soft and coquettish, "You've been a father before, no need to get so worked up."

Harvey raised her robe gently. He stayed close to her belly, murmuring, "The previous times don't count. This one is ours, Eloise."

Eloise touched his face. "Linda and Darrien would be sad to hear you say that."

Harvey whispered, "I love them just the same. But this is different, Eloise, you know it's different."

Eloise did know. She caressed his cheek, leaned down, and kissed him. That night was filled with tenderness.

The next morning, Harvey took Eloise to the hospital. The test confirmed the pregnancy.

The doctor, a friend of the Horigan family, smiled and said, "Congratulations, Harvey, you're going to be a dad for the third time."

Harvey feigned indifference. "Third time's not a charm; nothing new here."

The female doctor just laughed. She prescribed some folic acid and calcium for Eloise.

As Eloise waited in the lobby and Harvey went to the pharmacy, she felt dizzy and swayed. She reached for her forehead, looking for a seat, but someone steadied her. Thinking it was Harvey, she smiled weakly. "I'm okay. Just a bit dizzy, probably anemia from the pregnancy."

The person remained silent. Confused, Eloise looked up and was taken aback. It was Jeffrey, accompanying an attractive

middleaged woman who lo i net

be his mother. Eloise recognized her; she was Max's cousin by marriage, a woman she had met often during her four-year relationship with Max.

The atmosphere was awkward.

Jeffrey helped Eloise to a seat, his eyes tinged with feelings. She was pregnant again. She truly loved Harvey. A woman wouldn't bear a child for a man she didn't

love.

Eloise, seeing Jeffrey nearly as a younger relative, nodded politely to his mother. "It's been a while."

Aliza's feelings were even more complex. She had witnessed Eloise and Max's relationship. Now, years later, Max was gone, and she saw Eloise again. She couldn't help but feel melancholic, saying softly, "You seem very happy." Eloise smiled in acknowledgment.

Just then, Harvey returned with the medication. He glanced at the Velona family, then at Eloise, and asked with concern, "Are you not feeling well?"

Eloise nodded. "Might be because of the anemia. Jeffrey and his mother were kind enough to help."

Harvey thanked them, his noble demeanor evident. Aliza studied him for a moment. After they left, she said to her son, "He looks like a good man. No wonder Eloise never looked back."

She had seemed very fond of Max and, with a sigh, added, "Your uncle thought of

her until his last day. You can't blame the girl though. Max didn't cherish her

enough."

Jeffrey remained silent, his gaze intense.

After a while, he said, "Mom, let's get you registered."

...

In the car, Harvey handed Eloise a water bottle and peeled a candy for her. It was one that Linda had left in the car.

Eloise felt much better now. Harvey turned to her, his hand gently caressing her cheek, murmuring, "Tomorrow, I'll find you a nutritionist. We can't let our little one come into the world undernourished, and besides, a bit of bloom does wonders for a woman's looks."

Pregnancy had rendered Eloise supple and soft. She leaned her face into the warmth of his palm and whispered, "You were teasing me about gaining weight last night."

A flicker of something unspoken crossed Harvey's eyes. After a moment, his voice came out a little huskier as he said, "A little bit of curves is sexier, you know? I like

it."

His straightforwardness flushed Eloise's cheeks a deeper shade of red. Harvey gently pulled her into his chest, cradling her close to his heart. In the chill of winter, his body was a comforting source of warmth.

Eloise snuggled against him, listening as he made a call back home. "Dad, guess what? Eloise is pregnant."

At the other end, Parker was in the middle of a meeting. The news threw him off balance.

What? Was Eloise pregnant again?

Parker did a quick headcount. They already had four grandkids at home, and now,

with another on the way that made five. Luckily, they had Luca over; he seemed

to bring prosperity to the family.

Parker made a swift decision. "If

Eloise is pregnant, she needs care. Here's what we'll do: bring your wife and kids over to the house. Your mom and I will make sure she's well-fed with hearty soups and nutritious meals every day. Don't you fret about Linda and Luca, just focus

on running Everest Technologies and Horigan Inc. smoothly."

Harvey chuckled, "Dad, it's my wife who's pregnant."

Parker laughed heartily. "And she's my daughter-in-law. Can't I dote on Eloise?"

Harvey looked down, gently pinching his wife's cheek. "My wife, my responsibility." With that, he ended the call.

Back at home, Parker huffed in mock indignation. Hmph, his son's wife was pregnant, and suddenly, it was a big deal. But even as he stewed, a smile crept onto his face. Harvey was finally acting the part of a husband.