My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 140

Chapter 140: How rude is he?

Ethan clenched his hands into fists, the tension radiating through his body. Dylan’s possessive outburst now made sense—not just pride but genuine feelings for Ava had fueled his jealousy and insecurity.

The thought sent a ripple of unease through Ethan. If Ava and Dylan truly reconciled, his own hopes of being with her would crumble entirely. Ethan grew restless.

“Join hands with me.” Lydia’s voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts.

Ethan turned his sharp gaze to her, suspicion written all over his face. Although her offer sounded tempting, he wouldn’t trust Lydia. He wouldn’t work with her and betray Ava. If Ava ever discovered such a betrayal, it would destroy the bond they shared.

“Why would I trust you?” he retorted. “You’ve made it clear you hate the Williams. You’re driven by revenge, not reason. And as a member of the Williams family, I’d never align myself with someone like you. And let me make one thing clear: don’t you dare think about harming Ava.”

With those cold, final words, Ethan yanked the car door open and stepped out, slamming it shut behind him.

Lydia watched him through the tinted window. “How dare you talk to me like that,” she muttered through her gritted teeth, her jaw tightening.

The insult stung her pride deeply. She wouldn’t have even considered lowering herself to approach someone like Ethan if not for her desperation to sever the bond between Ava and Dylan.

“I’ll need to find another way,” she murmured. Her mind churned, already crafting new strategies to achieve her goal.

Meanwhile, the driver entered the car. He glanced back at her briefly. “Where to, ma’am?”

“Take me home,” Lydia commanded.

The driver nodded, turning his attention back to the road as the car rolled forward.

Inside Dylan’s car…

Ava fumed as she glared at Dylan, tension crackling like a live wire. “Why are you so violent?” she huffed. “You hit him!”

“I’ll do that if he lays hands on you,” Dylan growled, his nostrils flaring.

“I can’t believe this.” Ava rolled her eyes. “Ethan is like a brother to me.”

“Oh really?” Dylan let out a sharp, humorless snort. “Ask him if he thinks the same way about you.”

“Of course,” she said with confidence. “I trust him.”

“I see.” He gave a curt nod. “You’re willing to trust anyone in this world—except me.” Bitterness dripped his words.

“Hah…” She let out a derisive chuckle. “You don’t get to demand trust. You have to earn it. Over the past year, you lost mine.”

Dylan rolled his hands around the steering wheel. A muscle ticked in his cheek as he fought to rein in his temper.

“He only wanted to share some information. Nothing else,” she added fiercely. “If you had been honest with me, I wouldn’t have needed to meet him.”

He shot her a quick, frowning glance. “Honest? When was I not honest with you?”

Ava couldn’t help but scoff. “Oh, please. That’s rich, coming from you. When it comes to Gianna, you’ve never been honest.” She tilted her head and asked, “Why didn’t you tell me that she escaped from prison? Did you know that the attacker was in contact with the prisoners who broke out with Gianna?”

Dylan’s frown deepened with each word she spoke. He had been fearing that Ethan could manipulate Ava, twisting the information and evidence. That was why he had tried to shield Ava, to keep Ethan from delving into the accident’s murky depths. But that man was relentless.

Dylan’s fear seemed to come to the reality. It seemed that Ethan wouldn’t stop until he turned Ava completely against him.

Ava’s sharp voice pierced through his thoughts. “This can’t be just a coincidence. Ethan thinks Gianna orchestrated the attack on me. Not only him, but I also have the same doubts. And now I wonder why you didn’t say a word about it. What are you hiding, Dylan?”

“Nothing,” he barked, his voice ringing loudly inside the confines of the car. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you.”

“Yeah.” She smiled scornfully, turning her head aside.

“Come on, Ava. You’re suspecting me because I kept it from you?” Dylan’s disappointment was palpable. “Or is there something else?”

A shadow crossed his face as a disturbing thought pierced his heart. “Do you think I had something to do with Gianna’s escape?” His eyes bore into her, desperate for denial, for reassurance. But Ava remained silent, not even looking in his direction.

Her silence hit him like a blow. Her refusal to answer spoke louder than words, confirming his doubt. His heart ached, bitter bile rising to his mouth.

“Ethan said something, and your trust in me swayed.” His chest tightened with a pain he couldn’t contain. “If I had known this is where we’d end up, I wouldn’t have fought that goon. I would’ve stepped aside and let him take you.”

Ava’s expression suddenly changed, her gaze moving in his direction. The hurt look on his face was like a punch to her gut; a pang of guilt twinged her heart. She had let suspicion cloud her mind and forgotten the undeniable fact that he had saved her from that attacker.

“I’m working with the police to find her,” Dylan continued. “Gianna can’t hide forever. And that man—the one who dared to touch you—he will pay for what he has done.”

The resolve in his voice chipped away at the wall of doubt she had built, but regret gnawed at her.

“I don’t know how to prove to you that I’m not your enemy,” Dylan breathed; his tone carried a note of desperation. “I won’t let anyone hurt you. If you can, have faith in me. I know I’ve failed you before. I’ve made mistakes. But at least, don’t let someone else twist the truth and manipulate you.”

Ava opened her mouth and found herself unable to respond. The lump in her throat grew, choking back the apologies she wanted to utter. She was already embarrassed and couldn’t meet his eyes. Dylan sighed and returned his focus to the road.

The rest of the journey went in silence. Neither of them made an attempt to speak. When they reached the villa, Ava unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle. Dylan, however, remained frozen in his seat, his hands resting on the steering wheel, the engine still running. It was as if he had no intention of getting out of the car.

Ava glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Are you going somewhere?” she asked tentatively.

“Do you care?” he shot back coldly, his tone cutting and his eyes refusing to meet hers.

Her stomach clenched at his response. “I just wanted to know.” Her reply was as cold as his voice. “If you don’t want to answer, fine.” Without waiting for a reply, she pushed the door open and stepped out of the car.

As soon as the door slammed shut, the car sped down the driveway Dylan couldn’t wait to leave.

Ava stood frozen, her mouth agape as she stared at the taillights disappearing around the corner.

“How rude is he?” she muttered. “After all his big talk about making it up to me, this is what he does? Drives off like I’m nothing?” She pouted, fuming in frustration. “If he thinks he is going to win me back like this, he is dreaming. I won’t give him the chance.”

Turning sharply on her heel, Ava stormed into the villa.