My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 114

Chapter 114: I wanted to make it memorable.

Nicholas brought her to a small restaurant nestled along the bank of a sprawling lake. The countryside air was fresh and cool, carrying the faint, calming scent of earthy aroma.

Ava stepped out and was immediately captivated by the setting. Strings of tiny, sparkling lights adorned the palm trees that lined the border. The wooden fence surrounding the area was also wrapped in lights, twinkling like stars scattered on the earth.

Her lips curved into a soft smile as her eyes roamed over the peaceful scenery. The sound of the breeze blowing and the gentle ripples from the nearby lake added to the tranquil ambiance.

“This place is beautiful,” she said quietly. Then, as her gaze settled on the lake in the distance, a flicker of recognition crossed her face. “This place seems familiar.” Her brows furrowed slightly.

Nicholas felt his heart skip a beat. A mixture of excitement and anticipation coursed through him. “What do you remember about this place?”

Ava’s eyes scanned her surroundings, the wheels of her memory turning. “I came here when I was young,” she said with a tinge of nostalgia, her thoughts clearly lost in the past. “Papa brought me here on vacation. We camped by the lake and had a picnic.”

Nicholas watched her intently, his pulse quickening.

Ava turned her gaze to him. “There is an orphanage nearby,” she added.

Nicholas stopped breathing, his thoughts racing. He wanted to ask if she remembered saving a boy from the lake, but before he could gather the courage, she said something that made him swallow his words.

“Ethan grew up there. He used to visit this lake often, and I accompanied him a few times back then.” She looked around at the peaceful diners scattered throughout the restaurant. “But I never knew about this restaurant. It’s beautiful—so serene. A perfect place to unwind after a tense day.”

She met his gaze with a smile. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

He chuckled, though his mind was still humming with unspoken questions. “This restaurant has opened recently,” he mumbled. “They say the owner wanted to make this place unforgettable.”

He gestured toward the glowing sign above the entrance, where the name ‘ANGEL’S HUB’ blinked in alternating red and white lights.

“The owner met his angel right here by the lake,” Nicholas explained. “And he wanted to create something that would always remind him of her.”

Ava’s eyes widened as she took in his words, astonished. “Wow! You know so much about the owner. Do you know him personally?”

Nicholas’s lips curled into a mysterious smile. Instead of answering, he gestured toward a path that led to the far end of the restaurant. “Let’s sit down first.” He guided her with a gentle nod.

As they walked down the walkway, Ava’s eyes were drawn to a patio-shaped platform at the edge of the restaurant. Strings of lights hung like delicate curtains from the roof, casting a golden glow over a single table set in the center. The setup was enchanting—almost magical.

The quiet ambiance and romantic setting tugged at Ava’s nerves. Her steps faltered slightly, her mind spinning.

‘Is Nicholas planning to propose?’ she wondered to herself, her chest tightening with unease. She had come here to thank him, nothing more, but this… this felt like too much.

Starting another relationship was no, no to her, but she didn’t want to upset him either. She bit her lower lip, her nervousness growing with each step she took toward the table.

When they finally reached the secluded platform, Ava stood stiffly by the wooden fence that bordered it. She turned her gaze toward the lake. The faint silver reflection of moon on the water’s calm surface was mesmerizing, but it failed to calm Ava’s restless mind. Her fingers gripped the wooden railing tightly as she struggled to steady her thoughts.

“Ava, please have a seat,” Nicholas said as he pulled out a chair for her.

Ava managed a strained smile and lowered herself into the seat. Her nerves betrayed her calm façade, and she folded her hands in her lap to stop them from fidgeting.

“Do you like this place?” Nicholas sat across from her.

“Yes,” Ava replied after a brief pause. “This place is beautiful.” But her words lacked conviction, and the tension in her posture contradicted her praise. Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she asked, “Why did you bring me here?”

Nicholas held her gaze. He had planned to remind her of the past and tell her that she was the angel who had saved his life. But her direct question caught him off guard. Did she already remember something?

He glanced toward the lake, his expression softening with nostalgia. “When I was a child, I almost drowned in this lake,” he started slowly. “I cried out for help, but the friend I was with… he ran away, leaving me alone. I thought I was going to die.”

Ava held her breath as she listened to the disturbing story.

Nicholas turned his gaze back to her, his expression steady yet emotional. “Then, a girl appeared. She pulled me out of the water. She saved me.”

Ava’s brow furrowed, her mind spinning as a faint memory flickered. A faint and fragmented scene from her past surfaced. She remembered rushing to a boy’s aid by this very lake.

“That girl is you,” Nicholas said with quiet reverence.

Ava’s jaw fell apart. “You are the boy!” she exclaimed, surprise and disbelief flashing across her face.

Nicholas confirmed with a nod. “You came when I had lost all hope…You saved me, like an angel. This place is important to me—it reminds me of that day. It reminds me of you.”

It was the place where he had lost his best friend but gained something far more meaningful—his angel. It taught him a tough life lesson. His eyes flickered with rage momentarily when he recalled him Ethan pushing him into the water. But he masked the anger with a calm smile.

Ava stared at him. The connection between them suddenly felt deeper, tied to a moment she had almost forgotten but he had cherished all his life.

“I wanted to make it memorable,” he continued. “This restaurant is dedicated to you, my angel.”

“What?” Ava’s eyes widened in disbelief. “This restaurant – you own it!”

Nicholas nodded, his smile turning sheepish. “Yes. I wanted to transform this place—not just for myself, but for others. I wanted it to be a romantic destination for couples, a place where love stories could be celebrated. And, in a way, I wanted people to remember our story.”

Ava smiled awkwardly, her emotions tangled. She wasn’t sure how to respond to his heartfelt words.

Meanwhile, Nicholas reached out across the table and held her hands. His warm touch contrasted sharply with her rising discomfort.

Ava froze in her place, every muscle locking up in a defensive reaction. Her heart raced—not from affection, but from sheer panic.