Tangled Temptations

Chapter 248

Brett stared at Orlena. She had changed, a lot. She used to be as radiant as a blooming rose, but now she was

noticeably thinner. Her dresses were no longer the soft, delicate colors of before, but instead had taken on a

more mature hue. She had transformed from a girl into a woman.

In that instant, Brett knew that he still desired her.

He focused intently on her face, whispering, "It's been a while, hasn't it, Orlena?"

Orlena lost control of her emotions more than he did. Her voice choked up, using all her strength to say, "Mr.

Brett, it's been a long time."

Their dialogue continued back and forth.

Caught in the middle, Eloise found it difficult to handle. She picked up Linda, asking the driver and trustworthy

nanny to take her to kindergarten. Linda was especially well-behaved, giving her a kiss, "Goodbye Mommy!"

Eloise also gave her a kiss, "Mommy will pick you up in the evening!"

Linda hopped down from her lap, holding the nanny's hand and obediently went off to school.

Eloise turned back around, coughing lightly, "I'll make schamomile tea!"

Orlena seemed to rely on her, holding her back, "Eloise!"

Eloise smiled, "You two need to talk."

Brett looked at Orlena, murmuring, "Let's go in."

Orlena lowered her head and walked in, but as soon as she entered, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the

bathroom.

The bathroom door closed, creating a small, confined space. And her back was pinned against the wall. Brett's

arm was propped up above her head, his body trapping her. His faint scent of tobacco lingered, making her feel a

bit dizzy.

For a long time, nobody spoke.

Finally, Orlena stuttered, "Letgo!"

Brett gazed at her, his voice low, "I waited for you all night!"

She stared at him sharply. Her eyes were full of tears, ready to fall at the slightest blink. So she didn't dare to

blink. She didn't want to cry in front of him anymore. She'd struggled so much after they'd parted ways. Now,

crying in front of him, what was that for?

Brett wasn't doing well either. He glanced towards the door, then back at her face, whispering, "Why haven't you

been hin two years?"

Orlena offered a faint smile, "What does it matter to you? If I'm not home, it means I'm out having fun. What

right do you have to question me?"

Fun.

Brett's gaze was inscrutable. He reached out and touched her face, but as soon as he did, her whole body

started to tremble. Her teeth were even chattering.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

"Do you dislike my touch this much? Have you found a boyfriend?" Brett asked.

Orlena's face turned pale. She stared at him, forcing a word out through gritted teeth, "Yes!"

In that moment, Brett's eyes darkened. The force with which he held her lessened.

Orlena struggled to compose herself, asking, "Can you letgo now? With your charm, there's no shortage of

women around you!"

"Mr. Brett? Orlena, you used to callBrett!" Brett said.

"That was when | was young and naive!" Orlena said.

Orlena's hand was on his chest, pushing him away bit by bit, "Eloise is coming. Letgo. Let's save some

dignity for each other!"

Brett let her go.

She held the door handle, gritting her teeth to open it. Behind her, his voice rasped, "Orlena, do you really want

us to part ways? We can go back to how things were. You callBrett, and I'll take care of you!"

He always felt that he owed her. He thought, if she found a good man, he would bless her. Whatever she wanted,

he would give her!

Orlena looked up at him, suppressing her emotions for a long tbefore finally whispering, "No need! | don't

need it!"

She would never forget what happened back then. She'd secretly gone to Brockville to surprise him, only to be

kidnapped. She was kept in a dark room for 36 hours, with no water to drink, and even unable to use the

bathroom. She was tied to a chair. The kidnappers wanted the chip from him.

She was terrified, and she believed that he would cto save her at all costs!

But on the phone, Brett was calm and composed, "I'm sorry, | don't know her." She was rescued later. She

thought he had come, that she was still his girl. But when she cout of the rundown house, she wasn't

greeted by his embrace, but a beautiful picture of him standing side by side with another woman.

Turns out, she wasn't the only one who'd been kidnapped.

He said he didn't know her, leaving her to fend for herself, but used the chip to save another woman. She saw

him take that woman into his arms, his gaze tender.

Later, she learned that woman was one of his old flames.

In Brockville, the women who admired Mr. Brett were like a da dozen. Which

of them wasn't more enchanting than her? Which of them wasn't more gentle and considerate?

She stood before him, looking pitiful. She could no longer call him Brett.

He had someone settle her in, and it wasn't until late at night that he entered her room. His first words when he

saw her were, "Orlena, let's end this!"

She looked up at him, still asking for the reason. Brett sat on the sofa, watching her quietly for a long tbefore

finally saying, "We're not suitable for each other!"

Tears welled up in her eyes. She didn't try to make him stay!

Choking back tears, she said softly, "Goodbye, Brett!"

That was the last tshe called him Brett, and the last tshe saw him. Brett couldn't bear it in the end. He

wanted to give this innocent girl, who had wholeheartedly loved him, a final hug. But she avoided him. Her voice

was restrained, "I'm leaving tomorrow."

Brett was taken aback, staring at her for a while before finally leaving. The moment the door closed, she started

crying.

There was a used pregnancy test stick on the bathroom counter, with two faint pink lines. Before he came, she

had thought about telling him that she was pregnant. But he said they were not suitable.

As she recalled the past, her heart still ached. When she cout, Eloise was sitting on the living room couch,

with two cups of chamomile tea in front of her.

Seeing the tears in Orlena's eyes, she smiled gently, "Done talking? Chave stea!"

Orlena whimpered, "Eloise!"

She sat next to Eloise, utterly broken. She had once loved this man so fervently, from beginning to end, but she

was nothing more than a fling to him. The saddest part was she still loved him, but because she loved him, she

couldn't forgive herself, or him!

Eloise let her lean on her shoulder.

When Brett walked out, the atmosphere was tense. There were things he couldn't explain to Orlena, and things

he couldn't tell Eloise. In the end, no matter what, he had let her down.

Brett whispered, "Take good care of her! I'm going back to Brockville."

"Uncle, have you ever considered settling down?" Eloise asked her Brett in a soft voice.

Brett paused, his stride faltering slightly.

Yes, he had. During the six months he was with Orlena, he had thought about it. Those times were too beautiful,

intoxicating like a potent brew he couldn't resist. But what did it matter now? He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"No." Brett answered, his voice cool.

"I see." Eloise nodded, "Oh, by the way, grandmother is here. She's on her way to

the Horigan Mansion."

Brett turned abruptly at this news, his face paling.

Eloise took a sip of her tea, a faint smile showing on her lips, "It wasn't my idea.

She insisted on coming over to apologize. You know how the older generation can

be quite conservative."

Brett's gaze fell on Orlena, who was also staring back at him. They hadn't anticipated that their reckless past

would catch up with them now.

"Let's go." Brett finally said in a low voice.

Orlena insisted on taking a separate car, one driven by their chauffeur. Eloise said

she needed to change first before heading over. After both cars left, she dialed Harvey's number to call him over.

Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm

Half an hour later, Brett arrived first. He bumped into Tracey at the entrance of the Horigan Mansion.

Tracey's entourage was impressive, inlcuding eighteen sleek, black cars and a dozen servants to carry gifts. She

claimed it was to apologize, but it looked more like a proposal.

Brett was a successful man, but he was particularly respectful towards his elders. One stern look from Tracey,

and he'd back down.

The Horigan Mansion was huge, enough to accommodate twenty cars. Soon, the driveway was filled with

vehicles.

When the butler reported this, Parker was playing with Daniel on the lawn. Daniel was happily chasing a soccer

ball, seemingly never tiring of the game.

"Let them come." Parker said, puffing out a ring of smoke from his cigarette. It was tfor them to meet his

grandson.

The butler promptly invited Tracey and Brett over, saying, "Mr. Parker is playing with young master. There's a

gazebo over there. Perhaps you can sit and wait."

Tracey immediately led her son towards the gazebo.

From a distance, Parker watched. He still remembered the first tBrett cto the Horigan family. His

grandeur and arrogance were as if he intended to flatten the Horigan family. But today, he was meekly following

his mother.

As Tracey ccloser, the butler led them to the gazebo and served them sweet

tea.

Parker carried Daniel over. The boy was sweaty from all the playing. Parker took a towel from a servant and

wiped his grandson's forehead before holding him close.

Tracey initially didn't pay much attention, focusing on how to start the conversation. But then she caught sight of

the boy. His features and hair color were as if he was made from the smold as Eloise. And on closer look, he

bore a striking resemblance to Brett as well, particularly in his expressions. Tracey was taken aback, and so was

Brett. Seeing the child, Brett felt as if his blood had frozen. He couldn't believe his eyes. This was a child from the

Noland family. But he was certain, he wasn't Eloise's child.

Brett was in his forties. It wasn't that he didn't long for a family or a child of his own. But his demanding career

left him no tfor such dreams. Now, there was a child right before his eyes. He crouched down in front of

Daniel, his voice

trembling slightly, "Who's your mother?"

Parker told him directly, "Orlena."

Brett clenched his fists. Orlena had had his child. He wanted to touch his own flesh and blood, but Daniel stared

at him with strange, somewhat frightened eyes. Brett suppressed his emotions and slowly stood up.

Just then, Orlena's car returned. She rushed over and swept Daniel into her arms. No words were necessary.

Tracey's mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed to stammer out, "This is Brett and Orlena's

child?"

She had cto apologize, considering her son had toyed with someone's daughter. But now, she suddenly

found herself with a grandchild.

Tracey, now in her seventies, had thought she would never see her grandchild.

But now, a healthy, handschild was right in front of her. She suddenly felt that eighteen cars were not

enough. They didn't reflect her sincerity enough.