My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: Someone deliberately manipulated me.

“She called you!” Still dazed, Dylan blinked, trying to process everything, his mind clouded by the warmth of her unexpected closeness.

“Mm-hmm,” Ava confirmed with a small nod. “I had to rush to the airport. If you had told me earlier, she wouldn’t have had to wait there so long.”

“Ava, stop teasing him,” Lilianna chimed in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “He didn’t know.”

“But he called you, right? Without informing me!” Ava’s gaze turned sharp this time, almost accusatory.

Dylan felt a pang of tension as he caught the faint hint of disapproval in her gaze. “Look, I was…”

Ava placed a hand on his chest, silencing him.

Dylan pressed his lips tightly, his heart thumping in his ears.

She leaned in slightly and murmured so that only he could hear. “She is pregnant, Dylan. So be careful with her.”

Dylan felt an overwhelming rush of emotions—surprise, joy, and a wave of tenderness he hadn’t felt in ages.

“You are pregnant!” He broke into a wide grin.

Lilianna nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, it’s still early, but… I couldn’t wait to share it with you two.”

Dylan walked over to her and took her into a caring embrace. “I am happy for you.”

He had not been happy like this for a long time. His life was full of stress – strained by work, his complicated marriage with Ava, and his own struggles. But this news lifted that weight, filling his heart with a rare sense of peace and happiness.

Then his smile disappeared as he pulled back and looked at her carefully. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. “I shouldn’t have troubled you. Sorry.”

‘Sorry!’ Ava, who stood nearby, felt a jolt of surprise ripple through her. It was so rare to hear Dylan say “sorry” that the word sounded foreign coming from him.

‘Only his sister can make him feel guilty!’ Ava thought. It was amazing to watch the soft side of this arrogant man.

“Don’t be sorry,” Lilianna said. “I wanted to come and I’m glad I did. After so many days, I can finally have time to spend with Ava.” She stretched her hand to Ava, who took it and sat down next to her. “It has been too long since we last caught up. With Henry’s hectic schedule, I rarely get the chance to visit. So I’m happy to be here, with you both.”

“Why didn’t he come with you?” Ava asked curiously. “Will he be joining later?”

Lilianna sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance. “Oh, Henry is off at another medical conference. Busy surgeon, you know. But he did promise to come and take me home afterward. Until then, I’ve got a few days to spend with you two.”

With a bright smile, Lilianna reached out and took both Ava and Dylan’s hands in hers, bringing them together in a gentle clasp. The gesture made Ava and Dylan glance at each other.

“I was worried when I saw the news about Gianna and everything,” Lilianna said. “But seeing you here together now… it’s such a relief.”

Dylan’s hope grew deeper. He would take this opportunity to clear things up with Ava. On the other hand, Ava was distressed. She wouldn’t stay with Dylan for a minute, let alone pretend to be a normal couple. But she had no choice. She would endure it for a few days.

After ushering Lilianna into the guest room, Ava finally returned to the bedroom. She stood frozen in front of the bedroom door, her hand hovering over the knob.

Ava had spent the entire evening avoiding this moment, trying to keep her composure, but the thought of sharing the same room—and the same bed—with Dylan filled her with a sense of dread. She wasn’t sure how she was going to endure it.

“Take a deep breath, Ava,” she whispered. “Just a few days. You can do this. For Lilianna…”

With one final deep breath, she clasped the doorknob tightly. But before she could turn it, the door clicked open on its own, and Dylan’s imposing figure filled the doorway. His presence was overwhelming.

For a moment, neither of them moved, just standing there, silently staring at each other.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Dylan was the one who broke the silence.

Ava, caught off guard, looked away quickly. It was awkward, and she didn’t know how to keep herself calm. She responded with a sharp edge to her voice, trying to mask the unease inside. “If you move aside, I will enter.”

Dylan didn’t argue. He simply stepped aside, allowing her to pass, his eyes following her as she entered the room. There was something almost too calm in his demeanor, something that only heightened Ava’s discomfort.

“Thank you.”

Ava’s breath hitched in her chest. ‘Is he thanking me?’ She whirled and faced him, stunned. Dylan’s originally cold look was replaced by a warm smile, his eyes shining with something akin to gratitude.

Ava blinked, sure she must have imagined it.

Dylan stepped toward her. “I don’t know what to say…” He paused as if searching for the right words. “It’s good that you didn’t tell Lilianna about the tension between us. Thanks for that—and for coming back, for giving me a chance.”

“Don’t mistake it as a chance,” she quickly cut him off. “I already told you—we’re done. We can never get back together.” She squared her shoulders. “I am here only for Lilianna. I don’t want any complications in her pregnancy. You won’t know the pain of losing a child.” Her voice trembled slightly, emotions overpowering her.

Ava turned away, the sting of tears rising in her eyes. She wasn’t sure if she could keep her composure much longer.

“But we can still try,” Dylan insisted, not willing to give up. “I’ve realized my mistakes. I’m ready to make things right with you.”

He stepped forward and stood in front of her, grabbing her shoulders. “I agree, I hurt you in the past. Because of my suspicion…”

“Your suspicion!” Ava’s temper flared, and she sneered, shrugging his hands off with a forceful motion. “Without even getting to the truth, you blamed my father and tried to ruin my family!”

“Listen to me.”

“Why?” Ava snarled, stepping back. “Why would I listen to you? Over the past year, I’ve been listening to you—your harsh comments, your accusations, your humiliations. What else do you want me to hear?”

“I can explain…”

“Explain!” she repeated with a mocking chuckle. “You never believed me, Dylan. Not once. Whenever I tried to explain myself, you dismissed me and accused me. Why would I believe you now?”

Dylan fell silent. He had lost the right to ask her to believe him. But he wouldn’t stop trying.

“It’s up to you whether you want to believe me or not, but I am serious,” he said with desperation. “But I’m serious. Someone deliberately manipulated me and fed me fake evidence to make me believe your father was the one who orchestrated the accident all those years ago. I’m looking into it.”

“What did you say?” Ava narrowed her eyes, a mixture of disbelief and skepticism flashing in her eyes.

“I know it’s hard to believe,” he said softly. “But I’m going to find the truth. I’ll prove it to you.”