My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 109

Chapter 109: False evidence?

“M-Me!” Ava stammered, holding the lunch box awkwardly as if it were a ticking time bomb.

“Who else?” Lilianna’s expression was laced with mock seriousness. “Do you see anyone else here who can do it? I would, but—” she sank into the nearby sofa with a theatrical sigh, “Chicken soup makes me nauseous these days.”

Ava turned toward Dylan, her face set in a grim scowl. She slammed the lunch box onto the side table with a thud. “He is not that weak,” she muttered, crossing her arms. “He can feed himself.”

“Ugh, my head hurts,” Dylan groaned dramatically, pinching the bridge of his nose. He leaned back against the pillows, closing his eyes as though he was in genuine pain.

Ava seethed in anger, her nostrils flaring. She could see right through him—he was obviously pretending.

“Ava don’t be shy,” Lilianna teased. “I promise I won’t watch.” She picked up a tabloid from the coffee table, holding it up high to block her view, though the sly grin on her face suggested she was enjoying every second of this.

Ava shot a glare at Dylan, who opened one eye to sneak a peek at her. His exaggerated act was infuriatingly transparent.

Ava exhaled sharply, her irritation barely held in check “Don’t overreact,” she said in a hushed tone. “I can tell you’re faking it.”

Dylan peeked at her again with a look of wounded innocence. “Heartless,” he muttered. “I had an accident. Of course, my head hurts.”

Muttering a curse under her breath, Ava grabbed the lunch box with a huff. Popping the lid open, she scooped up some soup and thrust the spoon toward his mouth without bothering to check its temperature.

“Hiss…” Dylan’s tongue burned, his face twisting into a grimace as he pulled back sharply.

Ava froze, the spoon still in her hand. Guilt flashed across her face, her annoyance replaced by immediate regret. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t check properly,” she blurted out.

Dylan smirked, pleased to see the worry for him in her eyes. He took her hands in his and whispered, “You still love me. So stop lying to me… and to yourself.”

The worry in her eyes vanished, replaced by fiery annoyance. She yanked her hand back with a sharp jerk. “I can’t do this. Help yourself.” Without another glance, she turned and stormed out of the room.

Lilianna lowered the tabloid slowly, her eyes following Ava’s retreating figure. She had suspected that something wasn’t right between Ava and Dylan. Ava’s abrupt departure confirmed them.

She turned her attention to Dylan and found him sitting on the bed with a forlorn expression, his gaze fixed on the door Ava. “Are you going to tell me the truth?”

Dylan flinched slightly at her sharpness, glancing at her nervously. He forced a weak smile, trying to brush it off. “I teased her, that’s all,” he said, his voice attempting lightness. “She got a little angry, but it’s fine. She’ll cool off.”

Lilianna’s patience snapped. She tossed the tabloid down with a thud. “Enough with the lies, she snapped. “I am not stupid. It’s obvious you’re both hiding something. What’s going on? Is she upset with you because of what happened at Gianna’s birthday party? Or are you still holding a grudge against the Williams?”

Dylan dropped his gaze, his chin lowering to his chest. He realized he couldn’t hide it anymore. But he was worried it would affect her adversely.

“I warned you not to suspect them.” Lilianna rose from her seat and strode toward him. “Thomas was Dad’s best friend. You know that. He explained everything. He even apologized. And yet you’re still clinging to this baseless suspicion? After all these years?”

Dylan remained quiet, his shoulders sagging. He couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze.

“Dylan!” Lilianna gave his shoulder a firm shove. “I’m talking to you! Do you hear me?”

“I was wrong,” Dylan murmured with regret. His gaze remained fixed on the floor. “I believed in the false evidence I was given.”

“False evidence?” Lilianna echoed, her brows furrowing as a mix of confusion and worry.

Dylan finally looked up, his eyes meeting hers. “Someone is orchestrating all of this from the shadows. They used me against Thomas, planting false evidence to make me believe he was responsible. Whoever it is, they’re targeting him and using me as their weapon.”

“Who is it?” A flicker of fear passed through Lilianna’s expression.

“I don’t know. But it’s a deep, calculated conspiracy.” He sighed deeply. “And I’m afraid Ava could become a target. I’ve been trying to warn her, to talk to her, but… she doesn’t trust me.”

Lilianna’s body tensed, her face paling as her mind raced. The thought of someone lurking in the shadows, pulling strings to harm her family, filled her with dread. She had already lost her parents in a tragedy. Dylan was the only family she had left, and the idea of losing him too made her stomach churn. Her pulse quickened, her breathing shallow.

Dylan continued to speak, “I suspect the witness who testified against Thomas was bribed. His claims don’t add up. We are looking for him, but he is nowhere to be found. That only deepens my suspicion. Whoever is behind this could be a common enemy to both the Brooks and the Williams. And I think the Bakers are behind it.”

Dylan let out a deep sigh. “It’s just a theory for now. But they have the motive and the resources. I’ll get to the bottom of this before anyone else gets hurt.”

Lilianna didn’t hear the rest of his words. Her head spun, and her vision blurred before she collapsed on the floor, unconscious.

Dylan’s expression froze. “Lili?” A desperate cry escaped his throat. When he saw blood seeping from between her legs, his heart dropped to the bottom of the pit. “No, no, no, no…”

Dylan threw himself out of the bed, stumbling toward her. He dropped to his knees, gathering her limp form into his arms. “Doctor, help!”