Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie) novel Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Is This The Reason?

Ellie turned to face him, their eyes locking. She could feel the tension in the air, and the mocking smirk on his face was unmistakable.

Soaked to the bone, Ellie tried to find her footing under the awning, but before she could steady herself, Alex pushed her back out into the rain.

The shove caught her off guard, and she stumbled, falling hard onto the pavement. Wincing in pain, she looked up at Alex, disbelief written all over her face.

She knew Alex could be harsh, but he had never actually hurt her before. Seeing him push her down like that, just to impress Haley, made it clear how deep his feelings ran.

Alex loomed over her, his expression dark and intense. "Is this why you're not helping me?" he demanded, his voice low and threatening.

Ellie clenched her hands in the muddy water as she struggled to get up and move under the awning to escape the rain. She wasn't one to wallow in self-pity; standing out in the rain to talk to him was the last thing she wanted.

Covered in mud and looking a mess, she quickly checked the scrapes on her hands and arms, then pulled out an alcohol wipe from her bag to clean them.

"Seriously? A little scrape and you're making such a big deal out of it?" His voice was cold and laced with sarcasm.

Ellie looked up, meeting his gaze. Despite her best efforts to hold back her emotions, her eyes began to water. She knew her place, but hearing it from him still hurt.

The dangerous look in Alex's eyes made her uneasy, but since he already knew, she figured it was better to be honest. Under his intense stare, she took a deep breath and said, "Haley is Aaron's girlfriend. They're happy together and will be meeting the parents soon."

Alex's laughter was sharp and mocking. "What does your brother have that could compete with me?"

"Aaron doesn't need to compete because Haley likes him," Ellie shot back, her voice rising with urgency.

Alex looked at her like she'd just told the funniest joke. "Haley's bags alone cost a fortune. What can your brother possibly offer her?"

Ellie was at a loss for words. Aaron was juggling his job at a law firm while pursuing his PhD, sending most of his paycheck home to their parents.

Since he started dating Haley, he had been saving for ages just to take her out to a regular restaurant, let alone buy her anything nice.

"Even if she's your brother's girlfriend, you still have to help me," Alex insisted. "Set up a meeting with Haley for tomorrow morning."

His commanding tone made Ellie feel both anxious and angry. But her frustration gave her unexpected courage, and she met his gaze without flinching. "You know Haley is with Aaron. Why should I help you? If you really like her, go after her yourself. You know where she lives."

Alex seemed taken aback by her boldness, but it didn't take long for his arrogance to resurface. With a proud look, he said, "The more she's with your brother, the more I want to win her over."

"Ellie, the less you want to help me, the more I want you to help," he added.

"I won't help you," she replied firmly, then turned and dashed into the rain.