My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 136

Chapter 136: We signed the divorce agreement.

When they arrived at the villa, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. Both Dylan and Ava greeted them with bright smiles, showing no signs of tension or discord.

“Hey, man! Long time no see,” Henry said, grinning as he pulled Dylan into a friendly embrace.

“Good to see you, Henry.” Dylan hugged him back.

Meanwhile, Ava gently took Lilianna’s hand, guiding her toward the plush sofa. “We’ve prepared a little something for you.” She handed her a sleek blue jewelry box. “Take a look.”

Curious, Lilianna opened the box, her eyes widening at the sight of a sparkling diamond set nestled inside. “Oh, my God!” she exclaimed, her fingers delicately tracing the edges of the jewels. A wide grin spread across her face. “This is stunning! But why did you get something so extravagant? This is way too much.”

“It’s from Ava’s store,” Dylan chimed in as he walked over, sitting down beside Ava and casually draping his arm around her shoulders. His expression was relaxed, even playful. “She picked it out for you.”

“Ava’s store?” Lilianna repeated, her jaw dropping in surprise.

“Yes,” Dylan confirmed, grinning. “I bought the store for her as a gift.”

Lilianna’s gaze flickered to Dylan’s arm resting comfortably around Ava and then back to Ava, who seemed perfectly at ease. There was no trace of awkwardness or strain between them. Instead, their gestures and expressions exuded warmth and contentment.

As she took in the scene, Lilianna’s thoughts raced. ‘They don’t seem like a couple heading for divorce.’ Her earlier doubts and fears began to clash with what she was witnessing, leaving her mind awash with questions and confusion.

Lilianna’s mind buzzed with swirling unanswered questions. She couldn’t shake the need to uncover what was truly happening between Dylan and Ava.

‘I have to find out,’ she murmured to herself.

“Thank you,” she said, plastering on a bright smile. “It’s beautiful. I like it.”

“Check this too.” Dylan handed her another box, smaller but equally elegant. “This is for Henry.”

“For me?” Henry exclaimed, his brows rising in surprise. “I don’t need any gifts,” he added.

Lilianna opened the box, her eyes widening in admiration. Nestled inside were sleek diamond-studded cufflinks that sparkled under the light. “Wow! These are… adorable.”

She turned to Dylan, her astonishment evident. Her brother had never been one for thoughtful gestures, let alone buying gifts for others. This unexpected act left her momentarily speechless.

‘Is this Ava’s influence?’ she wondered in her mind, glancing at the woman beside Dylan.

“You picked these?” Lilianna asked with a tinge of disbelief in her tone. “Or was it Ava’s idea?”

“I chose them,” Dylan replied smoothly. His response only deepened her surprise.

Henry rubbed his forehead, his sheepish smile lingering on his lips. “Dylan, you really didn’t have to.”

“Take it, Henry.” Lilianna quickly stuffed the box into his hands. “This is the first time Dylan has ever bought you anything. We should appreciate the gesture.”

Henry chuckled lightly, holding up the box. “Well, since you insist, I’ll accept it. Thanks, Dylan.”

They all were busy checking the other stuff Dylan and Ava had bought, but Lilianna couldn’t calm her mind. Her curiosity only grew as she observed the uncharacteristic warmth and generosity in her brother’s demeanor.

Unable to hold herself back, she asked, “Ava, why don’t you show me the dresses you bought yesterday?”

“Of course! Come with me.” Ava led Lilianna into the bedroom, leaving Dylan and Henry behind in the hall.

Once inside, Ava gestured toward a collection of shopping bags piled neatly on the settee. “These are the dresses he bought me.” A faint laugh escaped her lips. “It was exhausting trying on so many, but Dylan insisted. Now look at this,” she added with a dramatic sigh. “I’ve run out of space to store them. Thankfully, he promised the new wardrobe would be ready tomorrow.”

“Ava.” Lilianna’s tone softened as she gently touched her arm, causing Ava to turn and meet her gaze. “Is everything okay between you and Dylan? Tell me the truth.”

Ava’s cheerful mask slipped, her smile faltering. But she recovered quickly. “Yes, everything is fine. Why are you asking this?” Although she pretended to be normal, she couldn’t stop posing that question.

Lilianna didn’t buy it. She had known Ava well enough to recognize the subtle cracks in her demeanor.

“Dylan might have hurt you,” Lilianna said carefully. “He might have let you down.”

Ava’s expression froze, her heart skipping a beat. The certainty in Lilianna’s voice sent a ripple of unease through her. “What are you talking about?”

Lilianna stepped closer, taking Ava’s hands firmly in her own. Her eyes were full of sincerity and determination. “Ava, you can trust me. I swear, if Dylan is at fault, I’ll stand by your side. But I need you to be honest with me. Please, is everything really okay between you two?”

Ava’s thoughts spiraled, her composure wavering. Why had Lilianna suddenly become suspicious? ‘Had she discovered something?’

Pushing down her unease, Ava forced a soft smile, hoping to quell Lilianna’s concerns. “I’m telling you the truth, Lilianna. We’re fine. Everything’s good. Don’t worry, okay?” She squeezed Lilianna’s hands in an attempt to appear convincing.

But Lilianna’s patience snapped, her voice rising in frustration. “Then why did you divorce?”

The words hit Ava like a blow, and her grip slackened. Her mouth fell open in shock.

“Stop lying to me.” Lilianna’s voice trembled, her lower lip quivering as emotion welled up. “I know everything. I saw your signatures on the divorce papers.”

Ava was at a loss for words, but her mind churned with questions. ‘How did she find out about that? Has she been investigating on us? Or has someone told her?’

Ava stood frozen, her mind churning with disbelief and alarm. ‘How does she know? Did she dig into this herself? Or did someone tell her?’ She felt as if a storm crashed into her, ripping away her carefully guarded façade.

But what concerned Ava more was the strain this confrontation could place on Lilianna, especially given her pregnancy. ‘I can’t let this upset her,’ she thought. ‘I have to find a plausible excuse to dismiss the tension.’

“Both of you lied to me,” Lilianna continued fiercely. “You thought you could hide the truth from me. But I’ve been watching. I can see something is wrong between you two. Now I understand why.”

She reached out, grabbing Ava’s arms as though willing her to reveal the truth. “Is it because of Dylan? Did he hurt you? Tell me, Ava.” Her expression was a mixture of anger and worry.

Ava’s pulse rate quickened. ‘Tell her everything,’ the voice in her head urged. ‘Tell her you don’t want to be with Dylan anymore. This is your chance to escape his hold.’

But the other half of her reminded her to think carefully. She couldn’t afford to make an impulsive decision. Yes, she had her share of grievances with Dylan, but this wasn’t about her alone.

Lilianna was innocent. Ava couldn’t let her suffer because of her own turmoil.

Summoning every ounce of composure, Ava steadied herself. “Yes,” she managed, her tone measured. “We signed the divorce agreement. But…”