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.

shouted, his voice cracking. “It’s my fault! I’m

their expressions changing instantly. No one expected Alex to take

are you talking about, Alex?” Ellie

he forced himself to speak. “It was my fault!

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

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Chapter 386

sharply. “Haley is Aaron’s girlfriend. She’d

interrupted, leaving Alex

I mistook her for the

opened his mouth, but no more words came

Alex has nothing else to say, then

now, finally spoke with authority. “Aaron, help Whitney pack Ellie’s

but she couldn’t focus on who he was. All she wanted was to figure out how she

to take her

a sharp warning glance before helping

after Jason and Joanna

the truth, come

tightly, whispering the words in her car before slowly letting go. He stood by the bed, numb, watching Aaron carry

his fingers gripping his shirt. He staggered

hit the wall.

Smack!

to me! Ellie might have lost her memory,

at him, Nancy warned, “You bullied Ellie and her family behind our backs before. Now that Jason’s back- someone even the mayor respects–you’re on

emotions in his eyes. He stayed silent

his stubbornness, visible in every inch of his body, only made Nancy angrier and more worried.

returned to the Thompson residence. After fainting from a headache, Jason had a military

living room felt stifling, the atmosphere heavy.

condition, suggested, “Maybe we should send Ellie abroad for a while. It’d give her time to calm down

her dad’s–stubborn as a mule. Until

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