Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 386

The atmosphere in the hospital room was suffocating like the air had frozen solid.

Everyone’s eyes were locked on Alex, waiting for his response.

Alex stood frozen, his back stiff as a board.

He avoided Ellie’s gaze, hesitating as he knelt by the hospital bed. Leaning his elbows on the edge of the bed, he carefully reached for Ellie’s hand.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to speak, remaining silent for what felt like forever. Finally, he took a deep breath, summoning all his courage. “Last winter… Mr. Thompson passed away.”

Slap! Ellie’s hand shot up, striking Alex hard across the face.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shouted, “You’re lying!”

Her words hung in the air, plunging the room back into an eerie silence.

Ignoring the burning pain on his face, Alex locked his red–rimmed eyes on Ellie. “Yesterday, you went out with friends and fell into the water. You hit your head and forgot some things. Even if you don’t believe me, your brother Aaron and Mrs. Thompson wouldn’t lie to you.”

Ellie’s lips trembled as large tears fell endlessly. She turned her blurry gaze toward Aaron. “Aaron?”

Aaron’s eyes were red, his lips moving slightly, but instead of speaking, he turned to glance at their uncle, Jason.

Jason frowned deeply.

“Joanna!” Ellie’s voice cracked in panic as she saw Aaron’s reaction. She struggled to get out of bed, but Alex quickly stopped

her.

Joanna spoke up gently, “Ellie, he’s not lying to you.”

Ellie froze, stopping all movement. She sat there on the bed, stunned, whispering to herself, “It’s my fault. I couldn’t make enough money to buy Dad his medicine. He must’ve decided he didn’t want to be a burden…”

Alex stayed by her side, listening to her every word.

Each one was like a knife stabbing into Alex’s heart, leaving him gasping for air.

“It’s my

their expressions changing instantly. No one expected Alex to

about, Alex?” Ellie stared at him in

hands trembled as he gripped Ellie’s tightly. Meeting her disbelieving gaze, he forced himself to speak. “It was my fault! I caused Mr. Thompson and

to them, and that’s why Mr. Thompson went to the station late at

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Chapter 386

Ellie cut him off sharply. “Haley is Aaron’s girlfriend. She’d never say awful

interrupted, leaving Alex to continue explaining.

I gave you. I mistook her for the person who

faltered, his eyes meeting Ellie’s. He opened his mouth,

else to say,

finally spoke with authority. “Aaron, help Whitney

standing not far away, but she couldn’t focus on who he was. All she wanted was to figure out how she ended

her tightly as if someone was trying to take her away. “Please, I’m begging

You’re not worthy!” Jason shot Alex a sharp warning glance before helping Joanna leave the room.

been too embarrassed to speak, rushed after

truth,

ignored Aaron’s attempts to stop him. He hugged Ellie tightly, whispering the words in her car before slowly letting go. He stood by the bed, numb, watching Aaron carry Ellie

fingers gripping

hit the wall.

Smack!

mother, Nancy, slapped him hard across the face. “Alex, listen to me! Ellie might have lost her memory,

her family behind our backs before. Now that Jason’s back- someone even the mayor respects–you’re on thin ice. Don’t

lowering his head to hide the emotions in his eyes. He stayed silent while Nancy scolded him, not uttering

his body, only

from a headache,

felt stifling, the

abroad for a while. It’d give her time to calm down and keep her away from

sighed. “Ellie seems soft, but her temper’s just like her dad’s–stubborn as a mule. Until

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