Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

“I’d rather die than stay here!” Ellie yelled back at Alex, stepping cautiously back.

Standing by the ocean, Alex watched in disbelief as Ellie retreated into the deeper waters. His brows furrowed, his blood boiled. “Ellie, don’t think you can scare me like this!”

Ellie continued to stare at him defiantly, retreating further until the water reached her knees.

Alex, fuming with anger, spun in place, pointed at her and shouted, “You’re standing in a spot where even a frog wouldn’t drown–if you want to die, just walk in!”

With tears brimming, Ellie gritted her teeth and kept backing away.

Watching from the beach as the water crept up to her thighs, then her waist, Alex cursed under his breath, “So damn stubborn!”

Ellie focused on Alex, analyzing his every expression. Biting her lip, she closed her eyes and pressed on farther into the

water.

That summer, she nearly drowned after falling into a chemical waste pool while trying to save someone. From that day on, she developed a deep–rooted fear of water–especially deep water.

massive wave crashed over her. Ellie heard Alex shouting her name, but

Alex’s arms. Panicking, she clutched desperately at the edges

carried her to shallower water. He set her down, looking at her pale face that

and bloodshot eyes revealed an underlying emotion–concern. Seeing that Ellie was silent, he released her, pretending to toss

back to safety. Looking down at

die, you’re coming with me,” Ellie

you,” Alex remarked, the tension within him easing as he

Alex to hold her all the way back to the house. She glanced up at him;

sea–one moment all calm, the next a storm. In the bedroom upstairs, Alex stepped out of the bathroom,

noticed Ellie on the bed, wrapped in her blanket like a quail, her eyes glued to him. He sat on the edge of the bed and

“can

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Chapter 172

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window, where the sky was beginning to lighten with the dawn. Only two days

face and lowered his voice. “Why do you have