Tangled Temptations

Chapter 177

Denise was all set. She said in a low voice, "It was bought by an antique collector in Florence, Italy."

Italy...

Harvey's voice was calm and firm. "Bookthe fastest flight to Florence, and all the information about that

collector, including his family, friends and company..."

Denise nodded in response. "Sure, Attorney Horigan, I'll send his information to your email before you board."

That afternoon, Harvey flew to Italy. He stayed in Italy for a week, then flew back to Peterborough. When he

cback, it was already March.

He landed at two in the afternoon, and though he hadn't adjusted to the tdifference, he was eager to see

Eloise. According to Denise, Eloise was volunteering at a nursing htoday.

Harvey drove to find her. Due to the remote location, it was half past three when he arrived.

After parking, he walked into a courtyard with white walls and red tiles, where piano music was playing. The next

moment, Harvey saw Eloise.

She was sitting in front of an old piano in a white dress, playing with full concentration. She looked as beautiful

as the first tshe played the piano for

him.

Harvey clenched his fist, as he quickly noticed the difference. It wasn't the sound quality of the piano that was

off, but he felt that Eloise's playing lacked the previous vitality and strength. He thought, perhaps her foot hadn't

fully recovered. When she finished playing a piece, he softly called her name, "Eloise."

Upon hearing his voice, Eloise's body stiffened noticeably. However, when she turned around, her expression was

calm. "Attorney Horigan?" Her attitude was polite and indifferent, as if facing an old friend.

Harvey looked around. Most of the people were elderly, staring at him with curious eyes. He said softly, "Can we

talk alone?"

Finally, Eloise hosted him in the tearoom. It was a small wooden house with large floor-to-ceiling windows, filled

with various plants.

Harvey sat elegantly. Eloise poured him a cup of red tea. She said calmly, "There's no coffee or wine here. Only

red tea, you'll have to make do."

Harvey didn't mind; he wasn't here for the tea.

Eloise sat across from him. Between them, was just a cup of steaming red tea.

Harvey spoke first, "How have you been?"

Eloise sipped her tea, and it took a while before she replied softly, "Fine, pretty good."

Harvey pulled out a letter from his pocket.

Eloise recognized it as the invitation letter from The Conservatoire de Paris that she had received. She

remembered that she had lost it, so how did it end up in Harvey's hands?

Harvey's slender fingers tapped the envelope lightly. He looked at Eloise. "Are you still planning to go to France? |

just heard you play the piano, is your foot not healed yet?"

Eloise's fingers gently touched her leg. Her foot might not have recovered.

It's ironic that the only thing her relationship with Harvey left her was the injury on

her foot. She could no longer beca top pianist, didn't need to go to France, and couldn't drive anymore...

this was the price she paid. But Harvey was unscathed.

Eloise didn't complain. She just smiled slightly. "Thank you for caring! | think | won't be going to France

anymore."

Her tone was indifferent but firm.

Harvey felt a constant pain deep in his heart. Eloise had once said that what she wanted was wholehearted love,

not pity or pleasure. But now, when he wanted to give her all his love, she didn't need it anymore.

Harvey didn't ask anymore, he knew asking more wouldn't help, and might even make things worse. He slowly

savored a cup of red tea, watching the sunset, and then softly said, "I'll drive you home."

Then, he added, "Your car is still in the repair shop. It looks badly damaged. Letbuy you a new one."

Eloise's fingers tightly held the fine porcelain cup. She controlled her emotions to avoid losing control. She

looked at Harvey and smiled faintly. "Attorney Horigan, we've broken up. I've received the money you gave me

after we broke up, and I've moved all my things out of the apartment. Your things have been checked by Denise,

and we have no entanglements now. | don't need that BMW anymore. You don't need to spend money to buy me

a car."

Eloise stood up and opened the small wooden door behind her. She politely said, "I have a class in a bit, Attorney

Horigan, you can leave. There's no need for us to meet again."

She was tactfully asking him to leave.

Harvey's gaze darkened. He looked at Eloise, and he couldn't see the affection she once had for him anymore.

Was she still the bold Eloise who sat in his arms, kissed him, then entangled him for another kiss? Was she still

the Eloise who blushed at the sight of him and would be shy at his slightest touch? She had withdrawn all her

feelings for him, leaving him no attachment.

Harvey suddenly realized that the person who had truly been cherished was himself, not Eloise. Eloise left, and

he was still stuck in place.

At that moment, Harvey thought of Max. When Max realized his mistake and regretted it, was his mood the same

as Harvey's now?

A few days later, Harvey did meet Max. They met at a banquet in a luxury box at The Mirage Club.

Max slowly exhaled smoke rings, looking at Harvey. He had been feeling down for a long time, and now seeing

Harvey downcast, he couldn't help but want to mock him.

Max enthusiastically poured wine for Harvey. "Harvey, you look down today." Harvey picked up his brandy and

downed it in one go. "I'm feeling pretty good." Max chuckled lightly, scooting a bit closer, then pulled out a photo

from his phone gallery. It was Eloise when she was still 22. In the photo, she was dozing off at the dinner table,

looking a bit more innocent than now, and the background was not the Laurent family's home.

Harvey squinted.

With a cigarette in one hand, Max eagerly said, "She used to cook for me, wait up late for me, even tie my tie.

So, we're not that special. Soon, she'll forget about you and start liking Landon. She'll cook for Landon, tie his tie,

and might even marry the guy."

Max smirked, "Landon and her are pretty tight, you know?"

As soon as Max finished his sentence, Harvey punched him, and they began to tussle. The room was filled with

big shots, all witnessing a fight. Harvey was usually cool and collected, but once he threw a punch, he was

incredibly rough.

Max was a notorious playboy, but physically inferior to Harvey, so he took quite a beating.

Riley was also there. He was enjoying the spectacle but pretended to cbetween Max, saying while holding

him back, "Man, you're asking for trouble. You know he's ticked off, and still, you push his buttons!"

Max might've been drunk. He scoffed, "Harvey, this is your karma! | am indeed a mess. | owe Eloise, but I really

like her! If she asks, | can drop everything right now to find her, to be with her again. You can even kill me, but |

still want to be with her. And you? You hurt her over the smallest thing!"

Riley couldn't bear to listen anymore. He couldn't help but say, "Enough! Shut up!"

Max felt stifled. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, then barked, "Every tyou meet Joan, did

you ever think about how Eloise would feel? | don't get it. How could someone like her agree to go to France with

Parker? Now she's woken up... you dumbass, | can't wait to see you regret!"

Max was about to charge again. Nobody could hold him back! Seeing Harvey ready to throw a punch, they

stopped trying to intervene, letting them have it out.