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

rain, was eerily quiet. Darkness surrounded everything, with only the continuous sound of rain breaking the silence. The surrounding stillness felt

two in the morning. He leaned

Joanna

noticed he hadn’t left yet. “What are you doing here in this storm? Go home,” she exclaimed

do you need a car?” When Alex heard Joanna was planning to borrow a car from the neighbor in

raincoat. “I need to

car was still broken, Alex grabbed Joanna’s hand and pulled her back. “Mrs. Thompson, I will drive Mr.

struggled for several minutes, but the car tires

the car and squatted in

away and tried to pull back. Without thinking, Alex grabbed Harold’s arm and lifted him onto his back. “Mrs. Thompson, lead the

an hour on foot,” Joanna

walked beside them for support. The three of them trudged through the pouring rain, navigating both mud and