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!

in the room froze, their expressions changing instantly. No one expected Alex to take full responsibility

about, Alex?” Ellie stared

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

them, but Haley followed me. She said terrible things to them, and that’s why

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Chapter 386

Aaron’s girlfriend.

interrupted, leaving Alex to

Haley stole the necklace I gave you. I mistook her for the person who saved my

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

to say, then

spoke with authority. “Aaron, help Whitney pack

far away, but she couldn’t focus on who he was. All she wanted

to take her away. “Please, I’m begging you,

You’re not worthy!” Jason shot Alex a sharp warning

who had been too embarrassed to speak, rushed after Jason and Joanna without

truth,

in her car before

his fingers

hit the wall.

Smack!

hard across the face. “Alex, listen to me! Ellie might have lost her

behind our backs before. Now that Jason’s back- someone even

head to hide the emotions in his eyes.

visible in every inch of his body, only

the Thompson residence. After fainting from a headache, Jason

massive living room felt stifling, the atmosphere

while. It’d give her time to calm down and

seems soft, but her temper’s just like her dad’s–stubborn as a mule. Until she gets the answers

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