My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Bouquets of roses.

When Ava stepped into her office, she froze at the sight of her desk, covered with vibrant bouquets of roses in every shade imaginable. The rich reds, soft pinks, creamy whites, and sunny yellows created a stunning display that momentarily left her speechless. The soft fragrance wafted into the air.

“What on earth…” she murmured, walking toward her seat, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her fingers brushed against the delicate petals of one bouquet. Confusion knit her brows as she picked up the bouquet. “Who could have sent these?”

She saw a card amidst the flowers and took it in her hand, but there was no name, no note. Just flowers. ‘Could this be Dylan’s doing?’

Knock-Knock…

A soft knock interrupted her musings. The door creaked open slightly, and Justin peeked inside.

“May I come in?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ava replied, setting the bouquet back on the desk as she took her seat.

Justin stepped in, holding yet another bouquet. “Good morning, Madam,” he greeted warmly, extending the fresh bunch of roses toward her. “This is for you.”

Ava accepted the bouquet, her mind spinning. The sight of flowers in her hands was surreal. Dylan had been cold, distant, and often dismissive—had never once made such a gesture. Why now? And was it really his idea?

Her gaze sharpened as she looked up at Justin, suspicion flickering in her eyes. “This was your idea, wasn’t it? You probably nudged Dylan into buying flowers for me.”

Justin’s grin faltered, and he waved his hands frantically. “No, no! Absolutely not my idea. Mr. Brooks called me himself and told me to arrange flowers for you. He even picked the colors! I just carried out the order. I hope you like these.”

Ava blinked, stunned. ‘So, it really was Dylan’s idea!’ Her lips parted slightly in disbelief.

All this time, she longed for a single token of affection—a flower, a small note, anything. But back then, he had never cared enough to ask what I needed. Now, with their relationship teetering on the brink of divorce, his gestures felt hollow. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the edge of the desk as her thoughts turned bitter.

“I think he wants to make you feel special.” Justin’s voice pulled Ava from her swirling thoughts. “And he also sent this for you.” He put a small tube of ointment on her desk.

Ava’s gaze fell to the ointment, her mouth slightly agape. Blush crept on her cheeks as she recalled what had happened that morning. She quickly averted her eyes.

“If you’re feeling any discomfort, please let me know,” he continued. “I’ll arrange for a doctor to see you.”

“I’m fine, Justin,” she replied, forcing a smile. “Express my gratitude to your boss.”

Justin nodded, a hint of amusement in his expression. “I will, madam. Have a good day.” With that, he came out of the office, his lips curling into a smile. “Not bad… Mr. Brooks finally realized the importance of showing some care for his wife.”

Left alone in the quiet of her office, Ava glanced at the ointment, her emotions swirling anew. “Why is he acting so weird all of a sudden?” she muttered under her breath. The Dylan she had known rarely bothered about whether she was sick or not. This newfound thoughtfulness felt foreign, raising more questions.

‘Does he really care for me now? Or all his acts are just phony?’ She shoved the tube of ointment into the drawer and pouted. ‘I don’t need it.’

The door knocked again, interrupting her thoughts.

“Come in.”

The door creaked open, and a woman in a sleek, professional outfit entered with a stack of files in her hands. “Good morning, ma’am.” Her eyes flickered to the colorful bouquets on the desk. “These flowers are lovely. Mr. Brooks is quite the romantic, isn’t he?”

Ava rolled her eyes and turned on her laptop. “What do you need, Jodie?”

“These documents require your review,” Jodie said, stepping closer.

“Keep it aside,” Ava replied curtly, her attention seemingly glued to the laptop. “I’ll check them later.”

Jodie hesitated, her brows furrowing slightly. “But ma’am, these are urgent. Mr. Brooks might not be pleased if they’re delayed.”

Ava’s gaze snapped up, irritation evident in her expression. “I said I’ll check them,” she stated coldly. “You can leave now.”

The sharpness in Ava’s tone seemed to unnerve Jodie. Her face turned bleak under Ava’s stern glare. She didn’t dare to argue. “Alright, I’ll keep them here.” She put the files on the table but deliberately knocked them down. Papers scattered across the floor in a chaotic mess.

Ava scowled at the mess, displease. “What are you doing, Jodie?” she snapped. “Can’t you be more careful?”

Jodie crouched down hurriedly, scrambling to pick up the papers. “I’m so sorry, ma’am,” she stammered. “It was an accident. I’ll arrange them right away.”

She put back the files on the table, but one file with the loose documents was still in her hands. “These…” She looked down at the papers. “I’ll organize these and return them to you shortly.”

Ava gave a curt nod, dismissing her. “Fine. Just make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Jodie dipped her head slightly. “I’ll be back right away.” She turned and slipped out of the office.

Her face, which had been carefully composed moments ago, shifted into a mask of tension as she hurried down the hallway. Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

“Hello?” she said in a hushed tone. “She is different—nothing like the last COO. She won’t sign anything without reading it thoroughly. It’s risky.”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses.” The voice on the other end was sharp and commanding, cutting through her excuses. “Find a way to make her sign those documents.”

Jodie swallowed hard, her fingers trembling slightly. “I… I don’t think it’s possible,” she stammered. “Maybe I can assist you with something else?”

There was a moment of silence before she cautiously continued. “Have you heard about the port development project? Mr. Brooks is very enthusiastic about it. I can provide information on it.”

“Hmm…” A cold, calculating hum came from the other side. “You are smart but don’t make a mistake. If you fail me, you know what will happen.”

“I won’t fail,” Jodie promised hastily. “You have my word.”

As the call ended, Jodie let out a deep sigh and sank into her chair. “What trouble have I gotten myself into?” she muttered as she busied herself in arranging the documents.

At Ava’s office…

Conflicting emotions overwhelmed Ava as she glanced at the flowers. If Dylan had given her in the past, she would have jumped in joy. Back then, even the smallest gesture from Dylan would have sent her spirits soaring. But now, it only made her heart ache. Forgetting the bitter past wasn’t easy for her.

“Okay, Ava, you can’t let this get to you,” she encouraged herself to stay strong, blinking her tears away. “This is just another phase. It will pass.”