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.”

the trash can next to the coffee table with a loud

quickly stepped back, putting some distance between herself

his face. “The Warren family has supported you for years, and now I see you never really considered us family,” he said,

streaming down her face as her emotions spiraled out of control. “If you really saw me

have left me alone on a strange street during a storm, not caring what happened to me. And if you truly thought of me as family, you wouldn’t embarrass us

Alex’s palm. “I may not have

Ellie’s wrist. “Tell me. What do you really mean? he demanded, his voice steady yet

If we can’t do it all at once, we’ll pay

clutched the bracelet tightly. This was the first time Ellie

up the broken computer on the floor. “Targue with my grandpa and

wrist away from Alex’s grip, her determination stronger than when she had left the Warren family over