Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 223

Harvey gently embraced her shoulders. Eloise, contrary to her usual demeanor, didn't resist him. She remained in his arms for a long time. As the sun reached its zenith, she finally spoke, "Harvey, when are we going to divorce?"

Harvey stiffened. He had anticipated that she would bring it up today, but he wasn't ready to let go so easily. He hoped to delay the inevitable, trying to salvage their shattered marriage. He remained silent for a long time before finally uttering, "Let's take it slow."

Eloise pulled away from him. She turned to face him, her mind already made up. She was determined to divorce him. "What's the point?" She asked in a choked voice, "Let's end this marriage as soon as possible. We both need to start new journeys. Our marriage existed because of Linda, now that she's not here."

Harvey cut her off. He stared at her intensely, inquiring with an almost pitifully quiet voice, "If Linda were still here, would you come back to me?"

His question was cleverly posed. He didn't ask, if Linda were still here, would she divorce him? He asked, would she come back.

Eloise didn't catch the nuance. She gazed at the fading sky, saying softly, "Unfortunately for us, there are no more 'ifs'."

Harvey stepped forward again, slowly embracing her. Before she could resist, he murmured, "I'll sign the papers, Eloise. Just let me hold you a little longer."

He held her quietly. At that moment, Harvey didn't know how long he would have to be apart from her. Two years, three years, or maybe a lifetime. But no matter how long. He should let her go.

He looked at her deeply, "Let's have dinner together at our old apartment. I'll have Denise bring the papers over."

Eloise finally pulled away from him. She smiled faintly, "I don’t think it’s necessary."

Harvey grabbed her hand, "Just one meal. Then I'll sign." He looked at her earnestly, insistent.

In the end, Eloise agreed. She got into his car and he called Denise, giving her a few instructions. It was clear that Denise knew what was happening, and quickly complied with his request.

Half an hour later, they arrived at their old apartment. Everything was as it used to be.

The Rococo-style curtains, the piano, and the blue vase... Even Milo, their injured pet, which he had brought back from the vet, was there. He was lazily basking in the sun on his cushion.

When Eloise entered, Milo sprang up to greet her, whining excitedly. Eloise reached out, gently patting his head. Harvey watched her slender hand, saying softly, "If you want, you can take him."

Eloise nodded slightly.

Since this was their last meal together, she didn't want to dine in her hospital gown. She picked out a dress from the wardrobe and even put on makeup.

They ate in silence. On the table, alongside the exquisite food, were two copies of the divorce papers, prominently placed. Harvey moved them aside, murmuring, "Let's eat first."

He served her food gently, always encouraging her to eat more. Eloise ate a little, then set down her utensils. She smiled faintly, "Harvey, let's sign the papers."

His hand, which was holding the fork, froze. After a moment, he said, "I'm not full yet."

Eloise waited patiently for him. Her demeanor hardly carried a trace of madness. No matter how sorrowful, people always need to return to reality and continue bravely. Now she had regained her courage. She wanted to move forward, alone.

The conditions Harvey offered were generous. Real estate, stocks, and cash added up to more than 2 billion. Eloise hesitated to sign. Harvey said calmly, "Take it. Don't drink yourself to oblivion over work anymore."

Eloise's eyes were slightly moist. She signed.

Harvey's vision blurred. He took a moment before asking casually, "What are your plans?"

Eloise didn't answer.

He paused, then realized his mistake. Of course, she wouldn't tell him her plans. They were divorced. It was over.

Eloise stood up, calling Milo and putting his leash on. As she was leaving, she said quietly, "I'm leaving."

After Eloise left, Harvey sat alone in the apartment. The place was eerily empty.

He was profoundly desolate. He knew Eloise was planning to go abroad. Brett had already arranged her visa to Switzerland. She would be away for three years.

Time would tell.

What would she be like when she returned? Would there be someone else by her side? Harvey didn't know. All he knew was that he had traded their marriage certificate for a future possibility. No matter how much he longed for her and no matter how much it hurt, he had to let her go.

He sat at the piano, playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata alone. He played for a long time, never tiring.

In the evening, he received a phone call, "Mr. Horigan, your daughter has opened her eyes. I thought I should be the first to tell you. Maybe you would like to see her and to talk to her."

Harvey gripped his phone. His Adam's apple bobbed as he fought to control his emotions, "I'll be right there."

Half an hour later, his black Maybach pulled up in front of a cutting-edge laboratory building. This lab was established by a certain doctor, who conquered the human genetic code. Linda was brought here half a month ago, with an exorbitant price tag for her treatment, counted by the second!

Harvey had just pushed open the glass door when a blond guy handed him a small incubator.

"She's lucky!" He said, "The survival rate is now fifty percent, but Mr. Horigan, this little girl is difficult to take care of, due to the uncertainty in what might happen during her growth process because of the treatment. In short, she has to stay in our lab for observation and monitoring till she turns two."

Harvey was holding the little incubator. Inside it, there was a tiny girl. She was paler than before, with little brown fuzz on her head. Her eyes were exceptionally beautiful and bright, and she had inherited a little bit of her mother's blue veins at the corners of her eyebrows.

Linda was gazing at the person above her. Suddenly, she broke into a tiny smile, revealing her adorable gums. At this moment, Harvey's inner restlessness was smoothed over, and he kissed the little girl through the incubator.

Linda, I’m your daddy!