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.

into a playful smile. “Ellie’s so soft–hearted; if she actually hit Haley, Haley must have really provoked her.”

the dark look on Alex’s 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 Ellie

thin ring of smoke that didn’t ease the heaviness in his chest. “Haley doesn’t want me

exclaimed, “Even so, you can’t just push Ellie into

the river knowing she can’t swim?” Layton shot back, “Then how do

screamed, “You’re in deep trouble.” There was a

up with Ellie, Alex. If you can’t decide, it’s better to just see

between us, as long as I choose to,

have a few moods. Even if Ellie felt a bit hurt, she wouldn’t let

has been brought to tears by him countless times,

had liked him for seven years now–it was not just a day

made up

years.

a self–destructive path. Tossing away his cigarette butt, Layton cautiously asked, “We’ve been like brothers since we were kids. Can you tell me the truth?

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