Harvey Horigan couldn't help but chuckle. He walked back to his seat across from her, picked up his lukewarm coffee, and slowly drained the cup. Setting the cup down, he smirked.
"So, I'll be visiting often to see the kid? Staying the night whenever the weather is bad? Eloise... you can control your lust, but I fear I may not be as disciplined. Rumors about the CEO of Everest Technologies having an ongoing affair with his ex-wife could harm my reputation and our relationship!"
His insinuations infuriated Eloise.
To hell with him!
She didn't want to have this conversation with him anymore. It was pointless anyway!
At that moment, the grandfather clock downstairs struck seven. It was seven in the morning.
Harvey glanced at his wristwatch and told Eloise, "Go take a shower and change your clothes. We'll take Linda to school together later."
His expression was somewhat tender. "She will be thrilled!"
Eloise was usually compliant when it came to matters involving their daughter. She insisted on showering in the guest room, but didn't see the need to change her clothes. However, tragedy struck after she showered.
Her period had arrived. There were faint traces of blood on her beige dress.
Eloise stayed in the bathroom for a while. Harvey knocked on the door. "Eloise, are you done? Linda will be waking up soon. She will be upset if she doesn't see you..."
She might even have a meltdown!
Eloise was in a hurry.
She put on her original clothes, cracked the door open slightly, and said, "I need feminine hygiene products and women's clothes. Do you have any here?"
Harvey looked at her, his gaze intense. He scanned her from head to toe, then slowly said, "Why would I have such things here? And... I haven't been with a woman for years, so I certainly don't have women's clothes."
Eloise bit her lip. "No one asked about your loyalty! How am I supposed to go out now?"
Harvey stared at her for a while longer before saying, "Wait here."
His housekeeper, a woman in her forties, should have had some feminine hygiene products. As for clothes, Harvey picked a black shirt from his closet and a pair of sports shorts. The housekeeper brought her own sanitary pads, and her face was slightly flushed. "I'm not sure if ma'am will be comfortable using these..."
Harvey examined the pads. They were the same brand Eloise used to use. He smiled faintly. "She has used these before."
His smile surprised the housekeeper. She had heard that the couple had a tumultuous divorce and believed they would avoid each other forever. She hadn't expected Eloise to come over last night, and for Harvey to be in such a good mood.
Harvey went straight into the guest room.
Eloise was in the bathroom, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Her period was always accompanied by pain. She quickly changed into the clothes Harvey had provided. When she came out, she was surprised to find Harvey still there. He was sitting on the living room sofa, browsing the news on his phone. As Eloise approached, he looked up.
She was wearing his black shirt, the hem covering the sports shorts and revealing her long, slender legs. She had tied her waist belt around her waist.
Harvey swallowed, his voice husky. "You look good."
Eloise was about to find a bag for her clothes when Harvey casually said, "Let the housekeeper wash them."
Eloise would never let someone else take care of such a personal matter, especially not in Harvey's house. She insisted on finding a laundry bag, but before she could find one, Linda woke up. The little girl was running around barefoot looking for her mother. Finally, she found her in the guest room, and immediately clung to her, refusing to let go.
Eloise held her soft little body. She kissed Linda's forehead and picked her up, warming her little feet with one hand while saying, "You mustn't walk around barefoot, understand?"
Linda buried her face in Eloise's neck, not saying a word.
Harvey tried to take Linda from Eloise, but she refused. She carried Linda back to her room to dress her.
In the hallway outside, Linda's soft voice could be heard. "Are Mom and Dad taking me to school together today?"
Eloise wished she could disappear.
The housekeepers, who were dusting vases and mopping the floor, quickly left the room.
Harvey coughed lightly. "Linda!"
Linda obediently sat down. Under Harvey's usual discipline, Linda, their little girl, was pretty obedient. At breakfast, she no longer dared to cling to Eloise, begging her to feed her. There was a pitiful look in her eyes, though.
Eloise's heart ached. She couldn't help but tell Harvey, "She's only four. There's no need for her to be so independent."
Harvey responded quite seriously, "She's already eating on her own, washing her own little clothes and socks, taking her own baths. There's no reason for her to regress just because you're back."
Linda was digging into her bowl of cereal, sulking.
Eloise didn't push further. She patted Linda's head, a silent comfort.
Linda, however, was keen to use Eloise’s charm to get her way. For instance, last night, her mom would just say the word and her dad would agree, so if she gave him a little kiss, he'd hang the moon for her!
Eloise was oblivious to her daughter's little scheme.
After her meal, Eloise was about to ask the housekeeper for the laundry bag when Harvey nonchalantly said, "I've washed and dried your clothes for you. They're right here for the next change."
Eloise was taken aback, her cheeks turning warm. Those were her clothes stained from her period. Harvey... had washed them?
Linda, who was still eating her cereal, suddenly jumped up. Dad was so biased! Mom was a grown woman, and Dad was still willing to do her laundry!
Harvey gave her a glance, then went back to reading his newspaper. "When you grow up, find a man to do your laundry! If you can't, then wash it yourself!"
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