Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie)

The next morning, in the CEO's office at Warren Group, Alex had just returned from the conference room when Justin burst in. "Uncle Alex. look what she did to me!

putin pointed at the back of his hand, where the veins showed clear signs of being repeatedly jabbed by a large needle. "She said the nurse was new and might miss, so she would do it herself. She ended up stabdang me four times! Alex looked at the evident veins on Justin's hand. "What did you say to her?"

Justin pouted, looking aggrieved. "I just asked if she knew you. She said she didn't and then went ahead and stabbed me. It hurt like hell"

Justin puffed out his chest dramatically. "But you know what, Uncle Alex? The fierier she is, the more I like her. I'm going to make her my girlfriend"

"You're looking for trouble! Alex's threatening tone cut through Justin's excitement before he could finish his declaration.

Separated by the large desk, Justin froze, looking utterly confused "Why? Are you worried I can't handle her, Uncle Alex!!

"Shut up!" Alex snapped.

Justin glanced at Alex, then at Chris and Barry, standing not far away. The two exchanged a quick glance before immediately lowering their heads, pretending not to hear anything.

Tm your nephew, Uncle Alex. Why are you so mad?" Justin protested, lifting his leg and attempting to climb onto Alex's desk.

Alex planted both hands firmly on the desk's edge, leaning forward with an icy glare. His voice was sharp, each word cutting like a blade. "I haven't even won her over yet. What the hell are you doing trying to stir things up?"

Suddenly, Justin slipped off the desk, landing on the floor with an audible crash. Slowly, he pecked his head up, his expression a mix of fear and regret "Im so sorry, Uncle Alex. I'll go apologize to her right now!"

Without waiting for Alex's response, Justin bolted from the office, leaving as quickly as he could,

Alex took off his jacket and began pacing the office with frustration. Gripping his phone tightly, he typed out a message, stared at it for a few moments, and deleted it. This pattern of hesitation went on for several minutes before he finally texted Ellie. Unfortunately, a glaring red exclamation mark popped up, signaling that the message hadn't gone through. Alex's jaw tightened, and his temple twitched uncontrollably.

Chris, completely baffled, cautiously approached and asked, "Mr. Warren, please calm down. It takes time."

Alex shot him a cold glare. "What do you know about it? You've been single your whole life. Got any experience to share!"

Chris was stunned into silence, glancing helplessly at Harry, who acted oblivious, fiddling with the buttons on his shirt-unfastening and refastening them-as if deeply preoccupied.

Alex's attempts to contact Ellie were all met with failure. She had blocked and deleted him from every platform, culling off every means of communication. He tried every possible way to get closer to her, but she treated him like nothing.

His frustration grew into desperation, but he held himself back. He was terrified of crossing a line, afraid that if he pushed too hard, she would vanish from his world without a word

For the first time, he understood what it meant to feel helpless. The greatest distance between them wasn't the miles that could have separated them, but the cold detachment Ellie held despite their proximity.

Time passed, and soon, it was the end of the y year. Ellie traveled back to her hometown with Aaron to visit her father's grave.

The winter Landscape was harren and desolate. The fields stretched endlessly, painted in shades of ash and gray, devoid of vibrant colors. Standing before her father's grave, Ellie felt a wave of sorrow swell in her chest.

She will remembered the last time she saw her father-it was just as winter began. She bought him a leather jacket, and he said, "I'll wear it when Chrismus comes. It was Christmas Eve, but he would never luve the chance to wear it again. A sob caught in Ellie's throat as she slowly crouched in front of Harold's p

grave.

Far Crack-in

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Chapter Lis

"Even though Dad is gone, you still have me" Aaron said, "Whenever you're tired, you can always lean on my shoulder" He gently patted Ellie on her shoulder, stawing by her side for a long time as they both stared at the grave in silence.

Ales watched them from a distance. He didici nove until they finally disappeared from his sight. Only then did he shift his stiff body

Al Haroid i grave, Alex lit a cigarette, staring blankly at the tombstone. One cigarette burned out, so he lit another. As the evening twilight deepened, he remained there.

On Christmas Eve, Ellie sat at the dinner table with Aaron and her mother, Joanna, Joanna had worked tirelessly all day, preparing a feast, but no one seemned willing to pick up their fork.

Ellie belt extremely sad. This was the first Christmas Eve without her father, yet it was the most lavish dinner Joanna had ever made in all these

years.

In the past, even though she lived with the Warrens and couldn't go back to spend the holiday with her parents, she knew that they were always there. As long as she went back, she could see them

However, no matter how many times Joanna rifled through that worn-out wedding photo, how Aaron stood at the window staring off toward the direction of their old house, and how many nights Ellie cried herself to sleep with wet pillows, Harold would never come back. "Let's eat" Joanna was the first to pick up her fork. "Aaron, don't forget to visit Mr. Grant tomorrow and wish him a Happy Christmas."

"Don't worry. I already told him I'd come over on the second day. I'll play a few rounds of chess with him." Aaron glanced at Ellie before picking up the knife and serving Joanna a piece of grilled pork

Elle lowered her head, staring at the fish Joanna and Aaron had placed on her plate, tears falling uncontrollably.

Ellie remembered the first time she returned to her hometown during the summer vacation in college.

Harold asked her what she liked to eat, and she said she liked fish. From then on, whenever she said she was coming back, he would go to the supermarket to buy some fish.

Over time, the villagers had learned that whenever they saw Harold in the supermarket, buying fishing, they knew that Ellie was coming home. Tin full. I'm going out for some fresh air." Ellie said as she stood up from the table, Tll take out the trash. It's Christmas and we should keep the house clean"

Joanna followed her anxiously, but Aaron stopped her. "Mom, it's better for her to cry it out than to bottle it all in. Give her some space" Aaron gently pulled his mother back

Down in the small park beneath their apartment, the world was lit up. Countless lights twinkled around, and fireworks exploded in the night sky. Ellie tilted her head back, but she couldn't stop the tears that welled up in her eyes.

The colorful fireworks burst across the sky, leaving behind a fleeting, beautiful trail before fading into nothing. It reminded her so much of her father's brief life-bright, vibrant, and gone too soon.

The death of a loved one was just another grave, but for those who were left behind, it was as if the entire world was buried beneath that grave. The despair and helplessness of such pain was something no one else could truly understand. Hearing footsteps behind her. Ellie snapped out of her thoughts. She turned to see Alex walking toward her with his coat in his hand. She quickly wiped away her tears and, with her face a mask of indifference, turned to walk away. Behind her. Alex clenched the coat tightly in his hands, unable to bring himself to drape it over her shoulders. It wasn't until his phone rang that he snapped back to reality.

By 5 pm, in the large dining room of the Warren Manor, the table full of delicacies remained untouched. The TV was on, but Alex's parents sat in

living room with stern faces.

Nancy, who had been waiting for Alex to come home, finally couldn't hold back her frustration. "Did you see her?"

Alex stoppard in his tracks but didn't answer.

Todd, who had been watching silently, said, "Your grandfather is waiting for y

you in his room.

As Alex turned to head to Carlos' room, Nancy warned him, "Your grandfather's condition has worsened. Don't even think about pulling anything stupid, or I won't forgive you!"

Intro Check-in

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Charter 136

Vex came out of Carlos room late at night. In the muster bedroom on the second floor, he bent down, picking up

the chess scattered across the

tir tomembered that year when it had been just as cold. After the Christmas dinner, he went upstairs, only to find Ellie hiding behind the curtains, aving clinching a doll. When he pulled her out, he found out she was just homesick again.

He didn't know what to say, so he sat with her and played chess. He said, "Win one game, and I'll take you back to see them tomorrow."

Ellie had wiped her tears and they played round after round until, in the end, she had fallen asleep on the board from exhaustion, without ever wanting a smele round.

Alex slumped against the wall, completely drained. His back pressed against the cold surface, his legs curled up as he clutched the chess box tightly in his hands like a guilty child.

He let out a guttural growl, the kind of sound a trapped animal might make when it was out of options. The tears that had been burning in his eyes ninally spilled over.

Once upon a time, no matter what he said, she believed him and listened to him obediently. However, now she wouldn't even spare him a single glance