Tangled Temptations

Chapter 217

Harvey yearned to see Eloise, but it was nearly impossible. Brett had dispatched people to prevent him from

doing so. Other members of the Horigan family could go in, but Harvey was the only one left on the outside.

Desperate, he went to Brett

for help.

In a small meeting room in the hospital, Brett was busy working. Despite being swamped with work, he had

moved his operations to Peterborough, as he couldn't leave Eloise alone in her current condition.

When Harvey cbegging, Brett brushed him off after a few dismissive remarks. Harvey, a man of pride, had

forsaken his dignity and knelt before Brett for hours.

After a while, Brett finally looked up and spoke. His tone was softer, albeit still cold. "Harvey, beggingwon't

help. You know very well that things are over between you and Eloise, regardless of whether this child... can..."

Brett's eyes reddened. He lit a cigarette to steady himself. Even so, it took him a while to continue. "Regardless

of how the child turns out, there's no future for you two. Not now, not ever. No woman would tolerate this unless

she's a fool!"

Harvey understood. Eloise had broken up with him, and it was only through his relentless begging that he had

this opportunity. Linda's arrival had eased their relationship. Over the past six to seven months, Eloise's attitude

towards him had shifted from coldness to warmth, to tender consideration. Their brief marital life had actually

been quite blissful.

Thinking about it, Harvey's heart ached. Lowering his posture, he said, "I just want a chance to take care of her."

Brett scoffed, "Are you sure you're not just making her sick?"

Harvey was embarrassed.

Just then, one of Brett's men cto report, "Mr. Brett, Mr. Lynch, and Ms. Joan have gone to Miss Eloise's room

and insisted on seeing her. Miss Eloise has agreed to see them."

Brett closed his files and walked out swiftly. Harvey followed him.

In the room, Eloise was standing quietly by the window. Ever since Linda's birth, she had been standing day and

night, with very little sleep.

She was hoping for the day when the doctor would suddenly tell her, "The child is out of danger and can be fed

normally."

Despite it being a fantasy, she was longing for it day and night. After two days, she had becworryingly thin.

Griffin and Joan cto see her, and seeing Eloise so frail, Griffin felt guilty. "Eloise, | didn't mean for this to

happen. Joan didn't expect this either. We all want you to be happy."

Eloise gave a weak smile. Wanted her to be happy? Ever since Griffin appeared, he never really considered her

well-being. Yet, he could still claim that she was his only legitimate child.

Eloise turned around. She had lost a lot of weight but was still beautiful. Her eyes were devoid of light though.

The once gentle girl now had eyes as still as a stagnant pond.

Eloise said in a quiet voice, "Do you know how | see you two?"

Griffin shuddered.

Eloise said softly, "I used to look up to you, but as tpassed, | realized that you're just an ordinary man with

your own selfish desires. You're like a salesman peddling garbage that no one wants. But of course, that's just

my wishful thinking. When | loved Harvey, | saw Joan as garbage. But after falling out of love with him, I realized

that Joan isn't garbage. She's junk food, repulsive to me, but still delicious for my husband."

Griffin's face turned pale. Joan's pretty face twisted in anger.

Brett and Harvey happened to reach the door. Eloise's gaze fell on Harvey, and

she gave a faint smile. "Harvey, take your trash and go. Your presence makessick."

Brett touched his nose.

Griffin exclaimed, "Eloise, this isn't Joan's fault!"

Harvey spoke in a low voice, "Griffin, you two should leave. Don't chere again."

Joan wouldn't give up. "Harvey... | don't believe that you don't have feelings for me! If you didn't, why did you

abandon her and go to Britain to fight a lawsuit for me?"

Griffin slapped her. He said in anguish, "Harvey did that out of old affection. How could you think like that?"

Joan still wouldn't give up. She was itching for a fight, thinking that she could beat Eloise. She had ctoday to

provoke Eloise.

But Eloise didn't care anymore. She threw out a bank card and scoffed, "Why beat around the bush? You just

want to continue seducing Harvey, right? Here's your chance. There's over $200,000 in this card. There's a five-

star hotel across the street. Ms. Joan, consider this aspaying for a hooker for Harvey! If you serve him well,

you might bechis wife after our divorce!"

Joan tried to play the victim, but Eloise threw the card at her. "Now you can take my husband and leave. Get out

of my sight!"

Joan looked at Harvey.

Harvey was pale. He said in a low voice, "Get out!"

Joan was shocked. She hadn't expected Harvey to be so ruthless. She thought he

would at least have sfeelings for her.

Griffin tried to intervene, "Harvey, Joan..."

"You can leave too!" Harvey's voice was even colder.

Griffin was stunned. Harvey had always respected him. How could he treat him like this?

Harvey had been shattered by Eloise's words. He knew that she had said those hurtful words on purpose. She

knew that he didn't really like Joan, yet she had said those words. She really wanted to divorce him.

Suppressing his heartache, he said to Griffin, "I've paid back my debts. There's no need for us to meet again. I'll

tell my father that the Horigan family and the Lynch family have no more dealings."

Griffin was completely stunned. He still didn't want to leave. Brett ordered his men to escort them out. Once

outside, Brett gave a sign, and Griffin was pinned to the ground. His piano-playing hand was held down.

Brett's boots, made of fine calfskin, gently took a step forward, slowly pressing down. A chill was etched on his

face.

This hand once bewitched his sister, Louise. This hand was once the object of little Eloise's admiration. What

good was a hand like this, attached to a good-for- nothing man?

Joan shrieked, but someone was already covering her mouth. Brett's foot suddenly applied force. Griffin's hand

instantly snapped.

"Your hand for Eloise's tendons, we're even! From now on, you and Eloise are the same. You can't play the piano

anymore!"

Brett looked down, his voice resolute. "Griffin, if you or your wretched daughter show up in front of Eloise again,

I'll smack you! Griffin, you're nothing but a coward in my eyes!"

He had always thought his sister Louise was blind for liking him. Fortunately, she married Angus and taught

Eloise well.

After carrying out his brutal act, Brett wiped his hands. As he turned around, he saw a delicate girl covering her

mouth as if she was scared out of her wits.

Brett recognized her. It was Harvey's sister, Orlena.

Although Orlena was frightened, she bravely stepped forward to plead for her brother. "Brett, could you let my

brother take care of his wife? Wait... till she recovers, then they can divorce!"