My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 131

Chapter 131: Danger outside the boutique

The idea made her cheeks heat up instantly. Imagining him stepping into the changing room, her heart pounded. She shook her head, trying to dispel the image. But the zipper still wouldn’t move, and her options were limited.

“Ugh, this is ridiculous,” she muttered, glancing at the curtain.

“Alright, let’s just get this over with.” Ava steeled herself. “Dylan! Are you there?”

“Yes.” His reply came instantly. “Do you need help?”

After a moment of silence, she said, “Yes…I am stuck in the dress.”

“I am coming.” Dylan entered the changing room.

Ava’s heart raced as Dylan stepped inside. His presence seemed to fill the small space, his tall frame almost overwhelming. She met his gaze briefly in the mirror before looking away, her cheeks burning.

He approached carefully, his eyes scanning her.

“The zipper,” she murmured, pointing to the spot where it was stuck.

Dylan’s fingers hovered for a moment before brushing lightly against her skin as he took hold of the zipper. The touch sent a shiver up her spine, and she gripped the sides of her dress tightly, her body instinctively tensing.

Dylan’s condition wasn’t different from hers. His fingers trembled slightly as he worked to free the zipper, his pulse rate quickening at the sight of her bare back as it was revealed inch by inch.

The woman in front of him was his own wife, but he couldn’t dare to touch her. He was afraid she would get angry with him again and leave him.

“It’s done,” he murmured, his tone hoarse. He cleared his throat awkwardly, stepping back. “I-I’ll wait outside.” He walked out instantly.

Ava stood frozen for a moment, staring at her reflection. Her fingers brushed her back where his touch lingered, the heat still warming her skin. That moment was brief, but it left an inexplicable flutter in her chest.

“Why is my heart beating so fast?” she wondered, her hands on her breastbone. “Ava – get a grip.”

When she stepped out of the changing room a few minutes later, she spotted Dylan lounging on a nearby sofa, his head bent as he fiddled with his phone. The moment he noticed her approach, he glanced up. Ava quickly turned her head to the side, avoiding his gaze entirely.

“Are you done?” Dylan asked, slipping his phone into his pocket and standing up.

“Yes.”

Meanwhile, the cheerful salesgirl arrived, her arms laden with shopping bags. “Here are the dresses, sir,” she chirped, beaming as she handed them to Dylan.

“Pack that one too,” Dylan said, motioning to the dress Ava still held.

“Of course!” The salesgirl carefully took the dress from Ava. She folded it meticulously and put it inside another bag, handing it to Ava. “Have a nice day, ma’am. Please visit us again!”

Ava offered a polite smile and then strode toward the exit without another word. Dylan followed close behind her.

“Do you need anything else?” he asked as they stepped out into the fresh air.

“No,” she said, her tone clipped. “I just want to go home.”

But Dylan had some other plan in his mind. Last night, they had missed the dinner date. Tonight, he wanted to take out somewhere special. He didn’t say it, though.

Dylan opened the car’s trunk and loaded the shopping bags. “I’m starving. Let’s grab a bite first.”

Silence.

“I know you’re tired, but the place I have in mind is really refreshing. You’ll love it—great food, peaceful vibe.”

There was no reply from Ava.

Dylan thought she was still a bit upset. He closed the trunk and added, “I think we should go there…” Dylan glanced in her direction, expecting her usual snark or a dismissive wave of her hand. Instead, he froze in horror.

A masked man gripped Ava from behind. A glinting knife pressed dangerously close to her throat. Ava’s wide, tear-filled eyes locked with his, her lips trembling as she gasped his name.

“Dylan!”

Dylan’s heart slammed into his ribs, his blood running cold. “Don’t… don’t hurt her,” he stammered, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. “Is it money you want? I’ll give you whatever you need. Just—just let her go.”

“On your knees.” The masked man’s voice was a harsh snarl.

“Look! You’re making a mistake,” Dylan said, stepping toward him. “If you hurt her, you won’t get away with this. But let her go, and I swear—I’ll meet your demands. Whatever you want.”

The knife inched closer to Ava’s throat as the man barked, “On your knees. Or she will die.”

“Okay, okay…” Dylan’s chest heaved as he sucked in a shaky breath, trying to steady himself. “Don’t hurt her.”

Slowly, he dropped to his knees, his eyes scanning the surroundings. His gaze never left Ava’s, the fear in her eyes cutting through him like a blade. Despair mingled with determination as his nostrils flared. He clenched his fists tightly as he muttered a curse inwardly.

“Don’t dare to move,” the man growled. He stepped back cautiously, dragging Ava with him, his eyes darting nervously around the parking lot. There was no one to stop him. “If you try anything, I’ll slit her throat. Right here, right now.”

His gaze flickered toward a black car parked nearby, and he began hauling Ava toward it. Ava’s heart trembled further as she saw the distance from Dylan growing.

“Dylan!” she shrieked.

Dylan clenched his jaw as he watched the man drag Ava away. He couldn’t let that man take her away. He had to do something – something to stop him. But he knew one wrong move could mean disaster. His eyes tracked the man’s every motion, calculating, waiting.

The masked man yanked open the backseat door and shoved Ava inside. Just as Dylan saw Ava was out of the knife point, he came to action. He jumped to his feet and surged forward with a ferocity.

Before the man could slip into the driver’s seat, Dylan yanked him backward with all his strength, sending him sprawling onto the hard floor.

The knife clattered from the man’s hand. Before he could get to his feet, Dylan charged at him and punched him in the face.

The masked man groaned, his head snapping back as he tried to recover, but Dylan was relentless. He pinned the man down, his eyes blazing with fury. “You’ll regret ever laying a hand on her.” He delivered another powerful punch. “I’ll kill you.”

With a vicious uppercut, Dylan’s fist connected with the man’s jaw. Blood splattered across the man’s mask.

Ava jumped out of the car. Her heart pounded in her chest as she watched, frozen in horror. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the brutal scene unfolding before her.

Dylan tried to pull the mask out of his face. “Who sent you? Tell me – or else, you will regret it.”

But the masked man refused to speak. With a growl of defiance, he lashed out, his fist driving into Dylan’s stomach with a sickening thud. Dylan staggered back, gasping for air as pain shot through his abdomen.

In that split second of weakness, the masked man seized the opportunity. He scrambled for the fallen knife.

Ava saw it, her breathing stopped as she saw him charging at Dylan. “Dylan!” she cried, terrified.