Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 332

Brett paused in his steps. After a moment, he ordered Donny, “Find her a hotel room.”

Donny took it upon himself to untie Orlena. She’s mostly unharmed, and Donny felt relaxed. “It’s a relief you’re safe.”

Orlena, however, was staring in the direction Brett had left, lost in thought. Her heart sank gradually.

......

In the middle of the night.

Brett stood by the window. Donny thoughtfully draped a jacket over him, whispering, “Ms. Stephanie’s right hand is ruined. She’ll need to train her left hand from now on. How do you plan to handle her?”

Brett lit a cigarette. After a moment, he murmured, “Keep her. She’s still useful.”

He wanted her to be his “lover.” If anyone wanted to harm those close to him, the first person they’d target would be Stephanie. To put it bluntly, she was his shield. And she had no choice but to accept it.

Donny remained silent.

Brett turned around, giving a bitter smile. “Scared? This is who I am. What do people say about me? A ruthless hell-raiser.”

But even such a man had a weak spot. He was now about to meet his weak spot.

......

The best hotel in Brockville.

Outside the suite, several bodyguards were diligently stationed, not moving an inch. Inside the suite, Orlena was eating from a box of food. Her tears were falling freely.

Before she met Brett, she rarely cried. Even when she was dating Max and threatened to take sleeping pills, it was just a few pills to scare him. She thought her infatuation with Max was love, but once she experienced real love, she realized how superficial those feelings were.

She couldn’t eat. If she did, she felt nauseous. Eventually, she couldn’t stand even the smell of meat. She was retching violently in the bathroom. This was unusual because she had a good appetite.

Orlena touched her belly. Her heart skipped a beat. She remembered, over a month ago, during their last time together, he didn’t use protection.

Could she be pregnant?

Orlena lifted her face. Her reflection in the mirror was as pale as a ghost. She rushed out immediately; she needed to buy a pregnancy test. She wanted to know if she was carrying Brett’s child. If she was pregnant, she wanted to ask him something.

Did he want the baby?

The bodyguard at the door stopped her, politely saying, “Miss Orlena, Donny instructed that you cannot go anywhere.”

Orlena’s lips trembled. “I’m not feeling well. I need to go downstairs to buy medicine.”

The man hesitated. In the end, they let her go downstairs but sent two men to accompany her.

Across the hotel was a 24-hour pharmacy. She hurried in, bought what she needed and hid it in her pocket. Then she rushed back to her room. A minute later, two red lines appeared on the pregnancy test.

Orlena stared at it. After a while, she covered her mouth.

She was pregnant. She was carrying Brett’s child.

There was a knock at the door, followed by the sound of soft footfalls. She recognized it as Brett’s footsteps. She gently touched her belly and slowly walked out.

Only two hours had passed, but they already felt estranged. The corners of Orlena’s mouth trembled. She wanted to tell him she was pregnant.

But Brett spoke first. He sat on the sofa. His slender fingers lightly stroked the armrest. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully before he spoke, “Orlena, you’ve seen how dangerous it can be around me.”

She wanted to say she wasn’t afraid.

Brett smiled gently, looking at her. He asked, “Then what can you do for me if you stay? Can you shed blood for me like Stephanie? Orlena, I need people like her, not a crybaby like you.”

She murmured, “Do you like her?”

“I respect her.” Brett dusted off his pants, calmly saying, “She’s lost the use of her right hand. I did that.”

Brett thought, “That’s scary, isn’t it? Go back to Peterborough right away.”

Orlena’s lips trembled; she didn’t understand his meaning.

Brett chuckled, speaking bluntly yet cruelly, “I respect women like her. Orlena, you are very adorable, but you’re only good for passing the time during peaceful days. I am not destined to live in such peace. Do you understand?”

He suddenly said harshly, “You don’t understand anything.”

Orlena felt a bit dazed. She began to understand. He did like her a bit, but his fondness for her wasn’t enough for him to give up everything he had. He liked power and authority, and she wasn’t the woman for him.

Was Stephanie the right woman for him? Orlena didn’t ask this question. She slowly dropped her eyelashes.

He was a man of ambition. He had made it so clear. What was the point of tying him down with a little girl?

In the dim light, their final shadows were cast. She didn’t tell him about the pregnancy. She just looked up at him and quietly said, “I wish Mr. Brett a bright future.”

Brett watched her. She turned her head away. Her voice was broken and short, “Leave. Or I’ll keep following you around.”

Brett slowly stood up. He seemed to want to pat her head, but he gave up. It was only when he reached the door that he whispered, “Orlena, I’m sorry.”

He was apologizing for this relationship that was not fully prepared. He was apologizing for their lack of a happy ending. His little girl would surely find someone better. As for him, he deserved to live in the game of power, as a sort of punishment.