Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 112

Chapter 112

B

In the early evening, the sky was covered in a thin layer of gold. Alex stood at the temporary parking area in front of the hospital, watching the plane fly away overhead, his eyes unknowingly welling up with tears.

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His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he answered Haley’s call. “I’ve spoken with your mom, and she’ll be there soon. I have something to do, so I’ll come by later.” After hanging up, he drove straight toward the overpass.

As dawn began to break, Layton was slumped on a bench along a riverside walkway, struggling to stay awake. “Alex, you’ve been searching for those emerald fragments all night. I think the missing piece might have fallen into the river.”

Alex sat wearily at the edge of a flowerbed, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the place in the river where Ellie once struggled. He clenched the emerald fragment tightly in his hand.

Seeing Alex’s downcast look from afar, Layton came over and sat next to him by the flowerbed. They both lit a cigarette, and Layton glanced at Alex. “I could believe it if you told me Haley hit Ellie, but Ellie hitting Haley? That’s a tough sell.”

Alex stared at the calm river, his deep eyes obscured by a light smoke, hiding his emotions. “Not only did Ellie hit Haley, but she did it more than once.” His voice was rough, carrying an undertone of helplessness.

smile. “Ellie’s so soft–hearted; if she actually hit Haley, Haley

face, Layton quickly explained, “If a normal person gets slapped, they’d understand they’re not liked. But Haley, with her bossy nature, keeps pushing forward even after

ease the heaviness in his chest. “Haley doesn’t want me caught in the middle.

so, you can’t just push Ellie

“I’m not crazy. Do you think I’d push her into the river knowing she can’t swim?” Layton

Layton, who gave him a look that screamed, “You’re in deep trouble.” There was a brief silence before Alex lit another

Ellie, Alex. If you can’t decide, it’s better to just see her as a

how bad things get between us,

as girls grew up, they were bound to have a few moods. Even if Ellie felt a bit hurt, she wouldn’t

had had countless arguments since they were kids. Ellie has been brought to

the end. Besides, Ellie had liked him for seven years now–it was not just a day or two,

made up

years.

long time, feeling like this guy was on a self–destructive path. Tossing away his cigarette butt, Layton cautiously asked, “We’ve been like brothers since

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