Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie)

At the corner of the hospital corridor, Alex and Ellir stared at each other.

"What's wrong with you?" Alex Inoked at Ellie as she clenched her hands tightly, struggling to hold hack the tears that were now overflowing Frustrated, he reached out to grabs her hand, but just as he touched her fingers, his phone suddenly rang in his pocket. Ellie withdrew her hand and stepped back. Alex, clearly annoyed, answered the phone. "Baby, stay there and wait for me. I'll be over soon to pick. you up." he sa

Ellie watched as Alex's expression became gentle, his lips curving into a smile while he sofily called Haley "baby" Ferling humiliated, she rushed into the elevator.

"Ellier Alex was on the phone when he saw Ellie running into the elevator, tears streaming down her face. He quickly hung up and rushed in the elevator door, but it was already going down

That night in a luxury sure at the Earl Hoar, Layton noticed Alex had been losing at cards all night but still continued. He switched seats to sit next to Alex and said, "Alex, something's going on with you today. Why do you keep losing?"

With a cigarette hanging from has lips, Alex gave Layton a sideways glance and sail, "Afraid I can't take losing

Layton snatched the cards from Alex's hand, threw them on the table, and pointed to a nearby lounge area. "To grab a drink," he suggested.

"It's the middle of the night. Why are you hanging out with us bachelors instead of going out with Haky? Don't tell me she won't let you stay over tonight" Layton teased while handing Alex an empty glass.

Alex stared at the empty glass in his hand, remembering the unusual moment when Ellie cried while congratulating him. He tilted his head hack and finished the glass of red wine. But the uneasy feeling in his heart wouldn't go away, and he got up to open the window At the same time, in Ellie's apament, Aaron finally found a moment to visit, and Elise was busy preparing several dishes.

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"I've secured a paid exchange opportunity at the hospital, and I'm thinking of going abroad for a while." Ellie mustered the courage to tell Aaron midway through their mest.

Aaron looked at Ellie in surprise, and then his expression became serious as he asked. "Which city, and for how long?"

1. d. Tim going to Armeria for a year, but there will be breaks"

Ellie replied,

After a brief hesitation, Aaron decided to support her. "Don't worry abour Mom and Dad. I've got everything handled here. This as a wonderful opportunity"

Elle lowered her head to hide her expression. Two months ago, the department head had approached her, saying they had a spot but she had turned it down secured for her,

Aaron was in a crucial phase in his career at the time, busy with work and not making mach money. She only wanted to settle down, work part-time, and take on family responsibilities so Aaron wouldn't be distracted.noveldrama

But now, Ellie couldn't bear staying even one more day. Just thinking about the scene where Alex successfully proposed and kisser Haley lovingly on the forehead made her heart ache

She couldn't stand hearing Alex enthusiastically talk about how excited and happy he was in front of her. It hurt her, and the felt like she was going to lose control and burst into tears

Ellie didn't want to feel this way, but she couldn't control her feelings. Things that couldn't be fully expressed require time to heal. She wanted to leave for a while to see the world outside and let herself move on quickly. Aaron asked, "When are you leaving!"

Ellie replied. Td like

1. Td like to go

back home tomorrow to see Mom and Dad, then I'll leave the day after that"

The next morning. Ellie went back to visit her parents and stayed overnight, returning the following day. During this time, Alex sent her a message, telling her she was not allowed to go abroad but she could make any other requests. She read his message but didn't reply. In the morning. Ellie went to the bar and told Whitney about her plans to go abroad. At noon, she met Aaron for lunch. After that, she returned to her apartment and cleaned it thoroughly. When she checked the time, it was almost seven, leaving her less than two hours until her flight.

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Ellie stood in the empty room and instinctively moved to the balcony. In the closet there, she found the comics she had drawn-ber little secret and the proof of her long-standing crush on Alex that had endured for seven years.

While living with the Warren family, she had swatched hiding places for these items multiple times. When she went to Jinerity for college, she organized diem overnight and locked them in a suitcase

After finishing college and moving back, she brought them into her sanall rental. Once she moved to her current place, she fucked them away in the

Countless times, she had considered destroying them, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. No matter where she went, she always took the drawings along

She'd find a way to make room for them even in the smallest of spaces, Just like no matter how much it hurt, there was always a place for him in her

Ellie let her gaze fall back on the unfinished comic on the drawing beard. Even though it was just an outline without any features, that fare had long bern engraved in her heart.

rin half.

She stared quietly for a while, until her vision blurred and she realized she had cried again, With her eyes closed, she ripped the drawing i

AL&PM, Ellie reached the airport. She set her luggage down and urged her brother to go home. "You should go back and rest. I'll call you when i

arrive

After Aaron left, Ellie was waiting in the lounge for her turn at the security check when she suddenly got a call from her morn. She assured her mom was just worried and calling so check in, but it turned out her dad had fallen and hurt his leg ending up in a health center. "Mom, don't worry, I'll have someone send the medical booklet back to you right away, Ellie said before hanging up. The announcement for the security check was already being broadcast. After hesitating for a moment, she called Whitney:

It was a little after 8 PM, just when the bar was starting to get bay. Whitney answered Ellie's call but couldn't hear well, so she stepped outside to take it...

"Ellie, don't worry. I'll go find it now and love someone drive it over to your parents right away, Whinney reassured Ellie over the phone, just as Alex and Layton arrived at the bar.

"What happened to Ellier Alex asked, stopping Whitney as she was about to leave

Whitney said, "Ellie's dad broke his leg and he's in the hospital. The medical booklet Ellie got for him is in her apartment. She wants me to help find it and get it to her parents."

"I'm on it Alex offered, and before he could dish has sentence, he was already out the door of the bar. He rushed to Ellie's apartment at top speed, only to and it spotless, as if nobely had ever lived there.

He went into the bedroom to look for the booklet. After checking everywhere, he still couldn't find it. He tried calling Ellie, but the call went unanswered. Frustrated, He searched every possible spot he could think of, but found nothing Finally, Alex went to the balcony. It was completely tidy, even the clothes usually left out to dry and some potted plants were gune. He bent down to pick up a torn drawing Ellic had left behind, frowning as he discarded it like trash. Looking up, Alex noticed a wall cabinet. He tiptoed to open it. Like fluttering snowflakes,

wilakes, sheets of sketch paper came tumbling down onto him.

He bent down and picked up a sheet-it was a sketch of a boy's face. Actually, in looked more like a cartoon than a realistic portrait, complete with dares and writing. Staring intently at the drawing, Alex was struck by how much it looked like him. He slowly crouched down, staring at the floor covered in scattered papers. As he picked them up one by one, he realized they were all pictures of

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