Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie)

Chapter

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"After all that shouting, you guys can just make up?" Haley asked, raising an eyebrow.

Alex shot back. "What, do you stop being family just because you had a fight with your parents?" Layton had no time to mediate between them. He grabbed his car keys and went after Ellie.

Two days later, at the Warren Manor on the second floor, in the living room outside Alex's bedroom. Layton tossed something to Alex. "Ugh, what is this filthy thing?" Alex grimaced as he let it drop onto the carpet

Layton didn't bother picking it up and pointed to a handkerchief that Alex had discarded. That's the cash for gas that Ellie's mom gave me With that, Layton tossed the car keys to Alex. "Ellie absolutely refused to take it back. It's yours now,

After that, Layton pulled out his phone and opened a payment request. "I rounded off the cost of the nutrients I bought for Ellie's parents to seventy grand. Just sean it

Alex slowly took our his own phone and transferred the seventy thousand before Layton finally settled down in satisfaction.

"Let me show you something. Layton said, sending Alex several photos in quick succession. Alex stared at the pictures, his eyebrows furrowed tight. "Ellie's family is so broke they can't even afford to keep a dog." Layton continued. "But her parents are good people; her dad just comes down hard. The last time they went home, they made Ellie and Aaron kneel outside for a whole day and night. They didn't even celebrate Thanksgiving"

Layton sighed dramatically. "If you care so much about the money, then why are you spending on Ellic, buying her bracelets and a cart Why do you have to be so nasty, poking at people's wounds like that?" Alex shot back.

Once Layton left, Alex bent down and picked up the handkerchief. It contained a roll of cash-around five or six hundred bucks. Layton had said in was from Ellie's mom saving up from selling eRes

He absentmindedly opened a drawer under the coffee table and placed the handkerchief, cash, and car keys inside.

The drawer also held some of Ellie's belongings a pink diamond necklace worth millions, a promotional bracelet, a platinum tassel bracelet, and a broken red string. All of these were gifts he had given Ellie, which she didn't want. Suddenly struck by a thought, Alex slammed the drawer shut and stood up to leave.

At that very moment, Ellie and Aaron returned to Jaslands, back to their jobs.

Thanksgiving is usually a time for family reunions, but this year, the Thompson family's holiday felt unusually bleak.

Sitting around a bit of bread, the family was together, lacking turkey and smiles, only tears and sadness filled

the air.

When Ellie saw her proud parents, crying as they ate, she silently vowed to work hard and reclaim every ounce of their lost dignity!

Ellie filled every minute of her schedule. Besides her job, she doubled her part-time work from once a week to twice-Every night, she stayed up late studying for her graduate school exams, practicing frugality like never before. Time flew by quickly. Ellie and Aaron's jobs became more stable, and they found new goals in life

During the lunch break, Ellie was hiding in an empty conference room, reading. Just then, a gossiping coworker barged in, eager to show her a piece of entertainment news. It turned out that a video of Alex and Haley surfing together while on vacation abroad had been posted online. Unconsciously tightening her grip on the pen, Ellie quickly regained her composure. "You guys misunderstood; he's not my boyfriend." Alex was the only heir of the Warren Family, and everywhere he went, gossip reporters followed like hungry wolves. Haley, a socialite from the Owens family, was just as high-profile. With their constant public displays of affection, it was impossible for those reporters to look away.

Once her

coworkers left, Ellie couldn't help but check Haley's Twitter. It was flooded with posts about her and Alex's recent outings: They sat together on roller coasters, played pool, went to concerts, and attended overseas fashion shows... Alex gifted her fancy love songs, and held her close. Her Twitter was a gallery of flower, fine wine, flashy cars. and sparkling jewels,

fancy presents, sang sweet

She remembered reading a book saying, "As long as the person you love is happy, you will be happy" What a lie that was. Watching Alex and Haley basking in joy made Ellie feel suffocated.

Fearing she'd get tempted to scroll more, Ellie quietly blocked Haley's posts.

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Life was just different for everyone. While she and Aaron worked tirelessly to carve out their place in this bustling city, heirs like Alex were born into wealth, already owning these towering skyscrapers from the get-go.

That was the gap. That was their prideful advantage.

After work, Ellie

Ellie had plans to meet her part-time bar boss, Whitney, at a restaurant

Whitney had offered her an apartment rent-free, and even when Ellie tried to give her a gift, Whitney turned it down. Ellie wanted to trea nice meal as thanks

her to a

Ellie walked towards the restaurant. On her way, she unexpectedly spotted Alex and Haley leaving an upscale women's boutique arm in arm. Seeing Haley glowing with happiness as she clung to Alex made Ellie feel a strange twist in her chest. When Haley had been with Aaron, she'd never flaunted their relationship or tagged him in p

posts.

Trying to bury the overwhelming feelings deep down, Ellie focused on her path, picking up her pace.

"Ellie!" Haley's voice called from behind, but Ellie didn't stop or hum. She headed straight into the restaurant where she was supposed to meet Whitney.

"Ellie! Why are you walking so fast? Haley chimed with a playful tone in her voice.

r you."

Ellie hadn't expected Haley to follow her into the restaurant. Forced to halt, she replied, "I'm meeting someone and I didn't hear! Haley laughed as she linked her arm with Ellie's Ellie glanced back at Alex and instinctively stepped away. "Do you need something Haley awkwardly looked at Alex and then shrugged, "Not really. I just wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding between Alex and Aaron the other day, I didn't clarify things properly."

Haley continued. "I meant to reach out, but Alex kept dragging me around to have fun, so I hardly had any time. But now that I do, let's chat Taking another step back, Ellie replied, "I'm busy. I'm waiting for someone.

Haley stepped closer, a friendly smile on her face, "Do I know the person you're meeting? Can they join us?"

Ellie frowned, saying. "No!"

Haley persisted, "But Ellie, we've been friends for so many years. I really value our friendship. You're not still holding a grudge, are you?" As she spoke, she reached out to grab Ellie's hand

Ellie felt a wave of irritation towards Haley and shoved her away. "Haley, enough is enough!"

Haley stumbled back, landing in Alex's arms, looking up at him with big, innocent eyes. "See! I told you she wouldn't forgive me.

Alex's expression darkened at the sight of Ellie pushing Haley. "Ellic, don't be so ungratefull"

"Haley apologized to you. Don't go too far!" Alex stepped in front of Ellie, shoving her back with anger flashing in his eyes.

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