Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie)

Chapter 179

Layton was nearly choked to death by Alex's casual remark! He grabbed a pen from his desk and pointed it at Alex, "Can you speak like a normal person! Are you cooking up some scheme again!!"

Alex, starsding by the wine cabinet with his back to Layton, leisurely potired hi

himself a drink. "What do you think!

in frustration. Layton tossed the pen onto the desk, and in a twist of fate, it bounced bark and hit him right on the forehead, leaving a gash that made him yelp in pain.

Twenty minutes later at Jaslands Hospital Layton entered Ellie's consultation room, holding a registration slip. He saw Ellie sitting there, her expression unchanged as she assessed the wound on his forehead. Layton's face darkened as he took a seat. "This little issue doesn't even warrant a specialist. Just get some scar cream from a regular clinic," Ellie sand. Despite her words, she still followed protocol and prescribed medicine for Layton

Once the prescription was ready. Layton didn't leave. He stared at Ellie and asked, "Do you know about Alex's potential marriage with family

Ellie avered her gaze. After all, Nalani lived in the Thompson residence; she definitely knew.

Is the York

Noticing that Ellie had shown no reaction, Layton looked at her with an expression that screamed annoyance. "You seriously have... absolutely no feelings about him at all?" Ellic

shrugged. "Anyone is better than him."

Layton was still fuming when another one of Ellie's comments left him speechless again!

After Layton left. Ellie received a phone call. That evening, she arranged to meet her good friends, Lacey and Diana, to introduce them to Nalani. At a restaurant in the city ce

center, Diana ordered an entire feast of meat. From now on, we're all sisters, so don't be shy. I'm treating today." Nalani took a few discreet glances at Lacey before ordering a bottle of wine. "Since y better be there" you offered, I won't hold back. When I get married, you both

"No need to be so polite! How about inviting your partner over so we can meet him? Diana chimed in, her usual bluminess shining through, Nalani replied, "You should know him. He's from the Warren family."

"That jerk?" Diana and Lacey exclaimed in unison, jumping to their feet in shock!

Seeing their synchronized reaction directed toward Ellie, Nalani couldn't help but glance back at Ellie. "Ellie, is he really as bad as they say?" Elie frowned, clueless about how to respond. Typically, when men gath

gather, they talk about women. When women gather, they tend to bash men. These three weren't exceptions to the rule While most guys were manageable, Alex was way off the charts. Not only was he a jerk, but he was also downright evil-insane, reckless, and seemingly unlizable.

Lacey and Diana exchanged glances and sat back down. The atmosphere turned icy, with awkwardness hanging heavily in the air.

Lacey couldn't take it anymore! Every time Alex came up in conversation, she felt the need to vent. "Nalani, do you know why we call Alex a jerk"?

Think about in

Diana added with a smirk, "He's not just a jerk, he's completely out of his mind?"

Lacey circled back to deliver her point, "Diana's right. He's crazy, wild, and disturbed-seriously unwound?"

Nalani nudged Ellie next to her. Is it really true?"

cide if Alex was good or bad-it had nothing to do

Ellie glanced at the three of them but remained silent. It was up to the York family's elders to decide with her.

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Chapter 179

"Of course, it's true?" Lacey assured her, pounding her chest for emphasis, "Just ask my brother. He's been friends with Alex since childhood. He knows all about Alex's character" Nalmi raised an eyebrow and said, "Your brother!"

Lacry nodded vigorously. "Yeah! My brother is Layton, and he's heen best buddies with Alex for ages.

Nalani let out an ambiguous scoff that hinted at her thoughts: Birds of a feather Block together... Not a single decent person in that bunch!

Lacey and Dana exchanged another glance. "Nalani, do you know my brother?" -

Nalani took a small sup from her wine glass, "Of course.... I don't know him!"

After din. Elle and Nalani returned to the Thompson residence around right o'clock

Ellie frowned at the familiar license plate of the luxury car parked out front. She entered the main hall quietly, and as expected, the Warren family

all there.

Ellir exchanged a glance with Nalani.

"Ellie, I prepared some snacks for you in the kitchen, and I saved some of your favorite treats, Nancy said, getting up and taking Ellie's hand, her eyes filled with concern and guilt. Ellie calmly chatted a bit with Nancy and politely greeted Nathan

Shr

wanted nothing more than to steer clear of Alex and everything associated with him.

Yet, that night, Jason had told her that although her father's death was indirectly caused by Alex, the reason he was able to come back unscathed was that Nathan had exchanged his own life for it.

Jason said that every encounter, every bond, every

ery tangle in life was preordained, destined to happent

He also:

in time

d that life is both long and short, and she should let things take their course, reminding her that everyone would bear their consequences

After thinking it over for many days, she had begun to understand. The highest state of letting go is having a heart like still water, finding peace within oneself and not looking back, accepting reality, and releasing oneself.

*Ellie, go cut some fruit in the kitchen, Whitney said when she noticed Alex's unwavering gaze on Ellie, subtly signaling her to leave.

Ellie turned and headed for the kitchen. They hadn't moved in long, and the Thompson residence didn't have any cleaning and cooking were done together. As the youngest member of the family, it was her responsibility to help when guests were over. servants yet. Daily chores like "Aaron, go get the kettle, Whitney said as she poured water, placing the kettle on the table in front of Aaron.

"I got it Aaron reached for the kettle just as Alex stood up first.

They both grabbed one side of the small kettle's handle.

"Alex, you're a quest; it's better if I handle this, Aaron said, still holding on.

Alex didn't let go either. "No need to be polite, we're all family here," he said casuall

00

The two men held each other's gaze for a moment, then each looked away. In the living room, the remaining few seemed to wear different Expressions

The atmosphere grew somewhat awkward, and Nancy quickly chimed in, "Aaron, you don't need to be polite, just let him go.

Aaron hesitated

hesitated four finally released the kettle.

In the kitchen, Ellie was busy slicing up fruit. When she noticed Alex come in, she continued her work, ignoring him. He stood next to her with the teapot, keeping a distance of two or three steps, not advancing any closer. He held the teapot, silent and rooted in place, watching Ellie. She pretended not to see him, focusing on her task.

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Silence lingered in the kitchen, punctuated only by the sound of Ellie's knife slicing through the fruit.

"The water bar is outside," Ellie said, finally finished, as she carried the fruit platter out of the kitchen.

As they brushed past each other, Alex instinctively raised his hand, wanting to grab hold of Ellie. Their fingertips lightly touched, sending a jolt through his heart. But by the time he hesitated, Ellie had already exited the kitchen. His back straightened, his gaze fixated on Ellie's retreating figure, his hand still suspended in midair, unable to reach her.