Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 331

Orlena’s slender figure was hidden beneath the sheets, dotted with red marks he’d left moments before. She was crying. Half out of sadness, half out of fear.

Brett rubbed his swollen eyes, taking a moment before he spoke out. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Eat something and then leave. Don’t come here again, Orlena. I don’t want you anymore.”

Her crying softened. She remained curled up in a tight ball for a while before slowly sitting up. She didn’t want to eat. In her state, she didn’t even want to face anyone.

After what seemed like an eternity, she began to dress up. Her hands were shaking, but she managed to put on her clothes and get out of bed. Brett followed suit. He lightly touched her elbow. His voice was hoarse. “Have something to eat. I’ll arrange for a cab to take you to the airport after.”

She brushed his hand away. Her voice was barely a whisper. “No need. I can manage.”

His hand hung mid-air for a moment before falling back to his side. He wanted to say something, but he held back.

The air was filled with an uncomfortable silence, and Orlena knew this was the end. To him, it was just a fleeting romance, but she had truly loved him. However, in that moment, Orlena knew she had no regrets. Those memories of being loved were real, and that was enough.

The door opened to reveal Tracey with a gentle smile. “Why are you crying, dear? Brett, she’s so much younger than you. You should be taking care of her, not bullying her.”

Tracey took Orlena’s hand and led her to the kitchen. Orlena tried to shake her off, but she couldn’t. “I want to go home,” she said through her tears.

Tracey turned to her son. Her voice was stern. “You will leave after you’ve had something to eat. Brett will arrange for a cab.”

In the end, the three of them ate together in silence. Orlena’s tears kept falling, and Brett couldn’t eat. He stepped outside for a smoke.

When she was done eating, he called for a cab to take her to the airport. Orlena got in the cab and left. Brett stood there. His heart was aching, as he watched the car drive off.

Tracey cried softly beside him, repeating the same phrase over and over again. “I finally thought you settled down. Why did you let her go?”

Despite her heartache, she knew her son had his reasons. She didn’t interfere, but her heart ached for both her son and Orlena.

Donny arrived to pick them up. He realized something was wrong and asked what had happened. When he found out, he frowned and whispered to Brett, “Ms. Stephanie is in the car. I came to pick you up, but she wanted a ride as well. I couldn’t refuse...”

Brett’s face changed. Stephanie was his old college friend, and also his first love. After Brett took over the family business, Stephanie was transferred to their company. She had three years of overseas work experience, and Brett was sure she was a spy sent by a foreign company.

He was about to instruct Donny when Stephanie walked over. She had spoken to Brett before and had met Tracey. In the past, Tracey would have been thrilled, but she knew her son’s heart was with Orlena. Therefore, she wasn’t very enthusiastic this time.

Stephanie didn’t seem to mind. She spoke softly, “Mr. Brett, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

Brett remained calm, simply nodding in response. He gave Donny a look, which Donny understood. He was both nervous and impressed. Only Brett could keep his cool and make decisions in such a situation.

Of course, Orlena must have been kidnapped. And Stephanie was the spy.

Donny stepped out and sent a message on his phone, [Kidnap Stephanie.]

After sending the message, he returned to Brett and Stephanie, acting as if nothing had happened. “Mr. Brett, Ms. Stephanie, it’s about time we go.”

Brett simply nodded. Stephanie followed him into the car, and the atmosphere was tense. No one spoke. Each person was locked in their own battle.

When they arrived at the tech center, Brett’s phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. “Mr. Brett, I hope you’re doing well,” said the distorted voice on the other end.

Brett’s grip tightened on his phone till his knuckles were white, but he kept his face calm, responding with a polite smile, “How can I help you?”

The caller chuckled. Then, he hung up and sent Brett a picture. It was a heart-wrenching image of Orlena tied to a chair, with her mouth taped shut, in an abandoned warehouse. The Noland family’s driver was lying at her feet.

The phone rang again. “Mr. Brett, I hope you haven’t forgotten how the Tucker couple died. They were stubborn, and Merlin didn’t care about his beautiful wife... What a pity.”

Brett gripped his phone tightly. After a moment, he replied coldly, “You think you can get the data just because of a girl? You’re dreaming. Do whatever you want. I don’t care.”

After saying that, he hung up.

On the other end of the line, a tall, dark man was taken aback. He glanced at Orlena. According to Stephanie’s information, she was Brett’s lover, but Brett didn’t care about her life or death. People in his position really were ruthless.

He didn’t believe Brett. He wanted to test him, but his companions stopped him. “Are you crazy? This girl is from the Horigan family.”

The man gritted his teeth, grabbed a turkey from the yard, and ruthlessly beheaded it. He put the head in a plastic bag. “Take this to Brett.”

At that moment, a subordinate approached with a phone, whispering, “Orders from above. They want us to kidnap Stephanie. She’s Brett’s first love. That’ll make him spill the beans.”

“Stephanie?” The burly man was taken aback. “Isn’t she one of us?”

“Orders from above,” the subordinate echoed, scratching his head.

The muscular man sneered, and gritted his teeth. “So, Stephanie has been playing us for fools, huh? She’s been in bed with Brett, and who knows where her loyalties lie now.”

He ordered his men to get her.

After giving the order, he turned to Orlena, kicking her twice in frustration. “Your boyfriend sure is something. Seems like he has a harem of women. Can he even handle them all?”

Orlena, bound and helpless, was in a daze. She overheard Brett’s words on the phone earlier. She could tell the information was essential, but would he really disregard her?

Just like that... he hung up the phone?

And then there was Ms. Stephanie, another of his lovers?

She stared blankly, forgetting even to cry.

Time ticked on. At four in the afternoon, a stunning woman was brought in, blindfolded by the goons.

She was indeed a beautiful woman, dressed in a royal blue coat. Her glossy hair was neatly tied back. She wasn’t as mesmerizing as Ms. Olea, but her aura was more striking.

Orlena trembled, staring at the woman. So this was Brett’s first love. This old fox, how many women did he have!

Stephanie initially put on a brave face, but when she realized the brutes were for real, she slapped the burly man. “You bastard, do you know who I am?”

The man was no pushover. He retaliated with a slap of his own, leaving Stephanie’s ears ringing. “What is this about?” she cried.

The man stepped forward, kicking her. “What’s this about? Damn, why didn’t you tell us you hooked up with Brett sooner? If we knew, we wouldn’t waste time on this young girl. We could just tie you up.”

“Who gave the order?” Stephanie hissed through gritted teeth.

“The higher-ups.”