Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 384

The following day, Harvey headed out to Brockville, unbeknownst to Eloise.

His private jet touched down at ten, and by noon, Harvey had reached the Noland estate. Upon seeing him, the butler was taken aback and scurried into the foyer to announce, "Ms. Tracey, your grandson-in-law has arrived."

Tracey's heart skipped a beat. Harvey's here again? She quickly asked, "What brings him here?"

Tracey had reason to be apprehensive. Brett had fathered a son with Harvey’s sister and never made it right, so it stood to reason that the Horigans might harbor some resentment. Tracey hoped this wasn't about another confrontation with Brett.

Pondering for a moment, the butler added, "He doesn't look happy!"

Tracey's concern grew.

When Harvey entered, he greeted Tracey with due respect.

Tracey was puzzled. Harvey usually called her by her first name. Why the formality today? Before she could ask, Harvey was guiding her towards the garden, his tone gentle, "There are things I'd prefer to discuss privately with you."

Tracey's worry eased, and she chided him with a laugh, "Harvey, you're being all mysterious these days."

Harvey offered a faint smile.

In the privacy of Tracey's garden cottage, with no one else around, Harvey produced a photograph from his coat and placed it in front of her.

Tracey put on her reading glasses to take a closer look. "It's an old photo of me! Harvey, how come you have this...?"

When she flipped it over, Tracey's questions ceased, her expression revealing a complex mix of melancholy, pain, and nostalgia.

Her voice trembled slightly. "Harvey, I recognize this handwriting. Only one person remembered to call me by my maiden name."

Then, with a tear in her eye, "Who gave this to you?"

Harvey's voice was low, "It was given to me by an old gentleman to pass on to you. He said... he said his biggest regret was never being able to apologize to you in person."

Tracey caressed the photograph, sighing, "Why bother with regrets! How is he, Harvey?"

There was a telling silence. Tracey sensed the worst was coming. Indeed, Harvey placed his hand over hers, whispering, "Master Lee has passed. You were the last person on his mind."

Passed away...

Tracey was stunned, yet she shed no tears, her fingers lingering over the words on the photo.

In their youth, she and Master Lee were well-matched, but feuding families and harsh words drove them apart. Tracey, headstrong as ever, married into the Noland family six months later. Master Lee left home, and she heard he had joined a monastery.

The bedroom was quiet, and Tracey sat alone. Her sorrow was palpable, though she made no show of it.

Harvey knew she was suffering. He recounted Master Lee's history with the Horigans, and Tracey listened with a detached expression, "He thought he had transcended it all, but in the end, he was still bound by thoughts of me."

As evening fell and Brett returned home to find Harvey present, he was surprised. He was even more puzzled when he heard that Tracey was upset and Harvey was with her. Without a moment's delay, he went to the garden cottage.

The bedroom door was locked. Brett called out tenderly, "Mom, why shut yourself away?"

The door creaked open, and out stepped Harvey, who quietly closed it behind him, advising, "Brett, please let Tracey be alone for a while."

Brett felt a pang of discomfort. After a few steps, he couldn't resist asking, "What happened?"

After a brief pause, Harvey replied, "An old friend of Tracey's has passed away."

Brett was skeptical, but then, having pieced together the clues, he had an inkling of who it might’ve been. After all, both families were well-known, and the scandal had been quite public.

Harvey intended to return to Peterborough that very night. His thoughts were on Eloise and the children. However, given the rare visit, Brett persuaded him to stay, "Tracey's upset, and it's better to have the family around, especially since she's so fond of you."

So Harvey agreed.