Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 74

This little chat sure did make things a bit awkward.

Eloise was planning to bail after hanging around for a bit.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Michelle, who was helping out Angus with his rehab, casually told Eloise, “Go answer the door, would ya?”

Eloise walked over to open the door.

As she did, the colour slowly drained from her face.

Standing outside was Max, with about seven or eight cigarette butts at his feet. It looked like he’d been standing out there for quite a while. His eyes had a dull look to them.

From inside the room, Michelle’s voice asked, “Who is it?”

“Just a pesky insurance salesman!” Eloise quickly lied, stepping outside and shutting the door behind her.

Seeing Max again, Eloise didn’t feel that same old spark.

She asked coldly, “What are you doing here? If you're here to see my dad, don't bother. Don't you think he's had enough shock?”

Max dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it under his handmade leather shoes, and his eyes locked onto Eloise. “I came to see you.”

He added, “Let’s go to our old apartment. There are still some of your things there. You can take them if you want.”

Eloise found his words ludicrous.

He had the nerve to bring that up!

She had once thought that apartment was a beautiful memory, only to later learn it was all sweet talk and deception. Without a moment’s hesitation, she said, “I don’t want them. Just toss them out.”

Max wasn’t surprised at her response.

His throat bobbed as he quietly said, “You know I won’t throw them away, Eloise. I can’t bear to.”

“Do whatever you want with them!” Eloise retorted.

She was about to go back inside when Max suddenly wrapped his arms around her from behind. His body pressing into hers, he whispered, “Eloise, don’t be so cold. You weren’t like this before.”

At that moment, Eloise really lost it.

But now, Eloise had moved on.

And him, Max, he was still stuck in the past, unable to let go.

Max was a proud man, after all. He reached into his pocket and tightly held onto a set of apartment keys.

The ones Eloise used to use!

He smiled and tried to sound nonchalant, “Yeah, we should both forget the past. It’s for the best.”

Eloise didn’t say anything.

Max leaned in closer, his tone laced with danger, “Do you really think Harvey loves you? Look at all the magazines and newspapers. How many women want to marry him?”

Max was feeling a bit shaky.

He’d never truly had Eloise, and it hadn’t bothered him until now. But now, he missed her every second!