Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 267

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Harold stepped into his room. Alex stood in the hallway, gripping the promissory note, lost in thought. His eyes landed on the crutch beside Harold, and he recalled how the village woman had called him a “cripple“.

Alex walked towards Harold’s room. He lowered his head in respect, and said, “Mr. Thompson, I really came to apologize. I was a fool last time, and I promise it won’t happen again.”

Alex stood at the door for a long time, but Harold did not answer. As thunder rumbled outside, Alex realized he needed to help Joanna cover the chicken coop with a tarp.

“It’s thundering, you should go back,” Joanna said, busy with her hands and urging Alex to leave.

After they finished, Joanna stepped back inside while Alex lingered outside, staring at the old wooden door for a long while. It wasn’t until raindrops started to fall on his head, soaking his forehead, that he sprang into action.

Alex settled into the driver’s seat, resting his arm on the window, a cigarette pinched between his fingers. He kept this position until deep into the night.

+5

Darkness surrounded everything, with only the continuous sound of

continued to evade him. Checking his phone, he saw it was two in the morning. He leaned his seat back, getting ready to

surprised to see Joanna outside in the rain at

her surprise, Joanna noticed he hadn’t left yet. “What are you doing here in this storm? Go home,” she exclaimed and pushed past Alex to knock on the neighbor’s

Alex heard Joanna was planning to borrow a car from the neighbor in

to borrow your car again; I’m taking Harold

was still broken, Alex grabbed Joanna’s hand and pulled her

Alex struggled for several minutes, but

squatted in front of Harold.

to pull back. Without thinking, Alex grabbed Harold’s arm and lifted him onto

down. It’s over an hour on foot,” Joanna

night, Alex carried Harold, whose body was wrapped in a raincoat, while Joanna walked beside them for support. The three of