Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 199

Eloise had never encountered such a shameless man before.

Fuming, she stormed out.

Harvey didn't run after her, but he seemed to have a plan. As Eloise exited, a sleek black limousine was parked at the doorstep. The driver respectfully asked, “Where to, Ms. Laurent? Attorney Horigan instructed me to drive you.”

Eloise declined.

She had a feeling that Harvey had set a trap and was waiting for her to walk into it.

No way. She was not playing his game!

The night deepened, and she walked alone on the city streets. The neon lights were appealing, but she was in no mood to appreciate them.

She walked until she arrived near the city park, where a Ferris wheel adorned with colorful lights spun in the night air. The sound of children’s jubilant laughter filled the air, sweet and innocent.

Eloise stopped.

She watched quietly, thinking how in a few years time, the child of Riley and Veronica might be able to play here too. If Veronica was too scared to ride, Riley would accompany the child.

A happy family of three, that should be delightful.

Eloise decided to visit Veronica.

She bought some nutritional supplements and headed to Veronica's apartment. Riley happened to be out.

Eloise entered, placing her things down.

She noticed Veronica's pale face, probably due to recent stress and poor diet.

Eloise sat on the small couch, picking up a book that was left aside; a parenting guide. Veronica saw this as she returned, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

Veronica set down her coffee, her voice trembling. “Eloise, you don’t look down on me, do you?”

Eloise patted her hand, feigning nonchalance. “What are you thinking? Having a baby is a wonderful thing. Many people suffer from infertility, so you’re lucky. Once the baby is born, I bet it will be cute, just like you and Riley.”

Veronica’s eyes welled up with tears.

She hugged Eloise tightly, her voice choked with emotion. “Eloise, I’m scared. I’m scared I won’t be able to give this child a happy life. Its arrival is untimely. Riley… he is having a hard time with his family because of this, and I… I’m afraid he won’t be able to withstand it.”

Eloise held her, silently comforting her for a while.

She finally spoke, “Riley seems to love you a lot, and he’ll love the baby too. Veronica, keep the baby. Regardless of what happens with Gunner or Riley, when the child is born, I'll help you raise it."

Veronica leaned against her shoulder, sobbing.

She wasn’t usually a weak person, but she had gone through so much in the past year, and it had taken a toll on her.

Eloise didn’t say much more, and didn’t mention her negotiation with Harvey.

Before leaving, she left a check for two million dollars, claiming it was a dividend from the Crescendo Sound Workshop. But Veronica knew her investment couldn’t possibly earn that much in a year. Veronica hesitated to accept it.

Eloise pushed the check into her hand, “It is for the baby.”

Veronica laughed, “Then we'll let the baby call you Daddy.”

…

When she left, she ran into Gunner downstairs at the apartment.

He had no intention of going up, just sitting in his car, smoking. When he saw Eloise, he quickly got out.

“Eloise.”

Despite everything, Eloise harbored resentment towards him. But she didn’t want to say anything hurtful. She simply said, “Please let Veronica go. You know in your heart…”

Gunner looked lost. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, then tossed it and stomped it out.

He stared at Eloise.

Their relationship had been strained for a long time, but he was unusually polite now. “Eloise, don’t be fooled by Veronica’s tough exterior. She lacks your decisiveness, and she listens to your advice. I know I’ve wronged you in the past, but for the sake of my years of relationship with Veronica, speak for me. If she’s willing to come back, I’ll forget everything that happened, and I won’t mention a word."

Eloise looked at his appearance and also felt a bit sympathy.

She spoke calmly, “Gunner, you’ve never truly loved Veronica. You were with Ravenna while pursuing Veronica. True love means loyalty, which you’ve never shown.”

Gunner was stunned.

His eyes red, he pleaded, “Eloise, I was wrong. Please pass a message to her.”

Eloise gently shook her head. It was too late.

Even without the baby, Veronica couldn’t possibly go back.

Eloise returned home.

Riley had sent her a Facebook message, full of thanks but not asking for the result.

But Eloise knew that Riley actually wanted to know about it.

Later, she learned that Riley had a big fight with his family. The Colman family suggested that if they insisted on being together, they should abort the baby and have Veronica marry into the family after clearing her name.

There could always be another baby.

Eloise leaned on the balcony, staring at the crescent moon hanging on the horizon. Yes, Riley and Veronica were still young and could have more children, but it wouldn't be the one currently in Veronica's womb.

And without the baby, could they still be together?

Eloise was no saint, but every time she thought of Veronica's tear-stained face, her heart softened.

It was really late.

Harvey watched Eloise intently, telling the person on the other end of the line, "You take care of it. I have a client coming in."

He hung up the phone and gestured for Eloise to sit down.

Eloise settled into a leather armchair by the floor-to-ceiling window. A small coffee table in front of her held a few picture frames, most of which featuring Harvey in court, presumably from cases he was particularly proud of.

Eloise's gaze fixed on one frame.

In the center was a photo of her, taken while she was playing the piano at his apartment.

She remembered that day. It had been after their first sexual encounter, and he had gifted her a grand piano worth millions. She had shyly accepted his affection then.

But in the end, that affection had meant nothing.

Eloise turned her face away, not wishing to see any more.

Harvey came out from behind his desk and sat across from her, picking up the photo frame she had been looking at. "You didn't leave many photos behind," he said softly. "I chose this one because I thought it was the best. We should take more in the future. Once we have our wedding photos, I'll put one of us together here."

He laughed, "Then every female client will know I'm a married man. It will save me a lot of trouble."

...

"There won't be any wedding photos," Eloise said coldly.

Harvey chuckled and wasn't angry. At that moment, Taylor arrived with coffee, which helped ease the tension.

Harvey gave her some instructions.

Taylor left with a smile, gently closing the door behind her.

He picked up his coffee and took a sip before setting it down. His gaze fixed on Eloise, and he said softly, "Eloise, you know what I want. I have fame, wealth, and power. Why should I help others? Unless you come back to me."

With that, he focused all his attention on her.

He had been with her many times. Just seeing her seated across from him stirred up old feelings. The prospect of her becoming his again was thrilling.

Eloise could read his gaze.

He clearly wanted her.

She lowered her eyes and gave a wry smile, her voice trembling slightly. "Harvey, don't you just want to sleep with me? I can do that. How many times do you want?"

Harvey didn't move. He just kept looking at her.

After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice husky and unsteady. "Eloise, is that what you think of me? You think I just want to sleep with you?"

Eloise's face drained of color.

Harvey gave her a gentle smile. "What I want," he said, "is to spend a lifetime with you."