Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 23

Their eyes locked, and Alex felt a surge of irritation. “What are you trying to say?” he asked, his voice sharp.

Ellie stepped back, opening the door wider for him to leave. But he just stood there, staring at her.

She pressed on. “From the moment Carlos brought me into the Warren family, everyone has been kind to me. But no matter how nice you all are, it’s not my home.”“

“Do you really have the nerve to say that again? Alex’s expression darkened as he stepped closer.

Ellie instinctively backed away until she was near the living room sofa.

Tears streamed down her face, and she choked out, “Tll say it a hundred times, a thousand times–the Warren family has been good to me and you’ve all treated me well, but you’re not my family and that’s not my home.”

trash can next to the coffee table with a loud bang, sending it flying across

stepped back, putting some distance between herself and Alex.

family has supported you for years, and now I see you never really considered us family,” he said,

of control. “If you really saw me as family, you wouldn’t force me to help you chase Haley,

storm, not caring what happened to me. And if you truly thought of me as family, you wouldn’t embarrass us in public by demanding we repay

and shoved it into Alex’s palm. “I may not have much, and

grip on Ellie’s wrist. “Tell me. What

sobs broke through as she replied, “My brother and I owe the Warren family, and we’ll pay it back. If we can’t do it all at

tightly. This was the first time Ellie had spoken so passionately to him since they

broken computer on the floor. “Targue with my grandpa and my mom all the time,

strength, Ellie yanked her wrist away from Alex’s grip, her determination stronger than when she had