My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Birthday celebration (Part – 1)
Every fiber of Ethan wanted to stride over and throw Nicholas out of the hall, but he knew that would only upset Ava. Swallowing his rising frustration, he moved toward them.

“Ava,” he called out, mustering a smile.

Both Ava and Nicholas turned to him simultaneously.

“Everyone is waiting for you to cut the cake,” Ethan said. “Come with me.” He gently took her hand, guiding her toward the center of the hall.

Ethan glanced over his shoulder, shooting Nicholas a pointed, challenging look. But Nicholas didn’t flinch. Instead, he raised his wine glass in mock acknowledgment, his smirk lingering. He took a slow sip, his eyes glinting with quiet confidence.

‘Ethan, enjoy your moment,’ Nicholas thought smugly. ‘You’ll be out of her life soon enough.’

Across the hall…

Ava’s jaw nearly hit the ground in awe as her gaze landed on the towering cake at the center of the room, her hand flying to her chest. It was a breathtaking five-tiered confection, each layer meticulously adorned with intricate edible flowers and leaves.

Ava stood frozen, utterly captivated by the sight. “Oh my…”

“You like it?” Thomas asked, his heart swelling at her reaction.

“Like it? I LOVE it!” She threw her arms around him. “Thank you, Papa. Thank you for making this day so unforgettable.”

She was so delighted that she had completely forgotten about Dylan waiting for her.

Thomas chuckled softly, his heart swelling with joy. “You deserve it, my darling.”

The guests cheered and clapped as Ava approached the cake. She took the knife in her hands and cut the first slice. Laughter and cheers erupted as the first piece was lifted, and confetti rained down once more.

Nicholas also joined in clapping, his eyes never leaving Ava.

She was radiant, her smile mesmerizing, her every movement full of grace and charm. The way she talked and smiled, the way her eyes sparkled with happiness—it all captivated him beyond words.

Nicholas found himself wishing he could whisk her away from the crowd. He longed to tell her everything—how she had become the center of his world, how he wanted to spend every day making her smile like this.

“Daydreaming is not good,” a voice dripping with irritation snapped Nicholas out of his thoughts. He turned his head slowly, only to find Ethan standing beside him, his expression dark and brooding.

“Stop thinking about her,” Ethan snarled. “You can never have her.”

Nicholas held his gaze and then curled his lips into a slow, taunting smile. “Is that a challenge?”

“It’s a warning,” Ethan hissed. “Stay away from her.”

Nicholas’s eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and defiance. “What if I don’t?”

The muscles in his jaw twitched as Ethan struggled to contain his anger. “Don’t provoke me,” he warned. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her away from you.”

“Like you did before,” Nicholas smirked meaningfully. He had already found out about Ethan’s involvement in the fire at the art gallery. But he wasn’t going to expose him yet. He would slowly trap him and make him reveal his true color in front of Ava.

His cryptic remark made Ethan flustered. His stomach churned as he wondered if Nicholas had discovered anything about the fire. But he soon discarded the idea. If Nicholas had discovered anything, he would’ve acted by now. He shrugged off his fear.

“Why are you even here?” Ethan asked sharply, steering the conversation away. “You weren’t invited.”

“Oh, but I was,” Nicholas replied smoothly. “This is a private party, Ethan. No one gets in without an invitation.” He gestured toward the entrance, where the guards stood stationed like sentinels. “They’d never let me pass without one.” He lifted his wine glass with a casual elegance and took a sip.

Ethan’s brows knitted together in disbelief. He was responsible for inviting the guests, and he hadn’t added Nicholas’s name to the guest list. “Don’t lie,” he snapped. “You must have tricked the guards. I never sent you an invitation.”

“Still don’t believe me?” Nicholas chuckled softly, reaching into his suit jacket. With a flourish, he produced a red invitation card. “Here, take a look. I have one.”

Ethan’s frown turned into a scowl of confusion as he snatched the card. He recalled Thomas asking him to give him a few invitation cards as he wanted to personally invite some of his friends. It turned out that Thomas had invited Nicholas.

But why?

His mind raced with possibilities. Could Thomas be trying to set Ava up with Nicholas?

“I am the main investor of the Williams Holdings now,” Nicholas started as if gauged what Ethan had on his mind, “and Ava’s business partner.”

“Business partner?” Ethan echoed with disbelief.

Nicholas nodded curtly, his expression smug. “While you were hesitating over whether to back Ava’s short drama project, I stepped in. I made her an offer, and she accepted. The deal is signed. I’ve even started discussions with a few scriptwriters. Wanna join?”

Ethan’s hands balled into fists at his sides as his blood boiled. The casual confidence in Nicholas’s tone was like fuel to the fire of his frustration. Without another word, Ethan turned on his heel and stormed away.

Grabbing a wine glass from a passing waiter, he downed it in one gulp. His thoughts spiraled in anger. ‘Why is Ava trusting him so blindly?’ he muttered inwardly.

And to make things worse, Thomas also started liking Nicholas. The idea of Nicholas gaining ground in Ava’s life was like a threat to his existence.

‘If this keeps up, Nicholas will replace me,’ Ethan thought darkly, his jaw tightening. ‘I can’t let this happen. I won’t let him win.’

Dylan, on the other hand, decorated the whole house on his own. The house was alive with vibrant tulips in every hue that filled the vases on every surface, streamers hung gracefully from the ceiling, and balloons floated in corners with various colorful tulips, streamers, and balloons.

A sense of pride swelled in his chest as he took in his handiwork, his gaze moving to the dining table. In the center sat the cake he had painstakingly baked himself. ‘Happy Birthday to my dear wife’ was written on the top. Beside the cake, a platter of golden grilled chicken rested enticingly. He couldn’t help but wonder how Ava would react to seeing it.

That morning, he had called Lola and learned that Ava liked grilled chicken the most and had prepared that too. Now, he couldn’t wait to see the surprised look on Ava’s face.

Dylana went into the kitchen and brought the bowl of creamy garlic pasta, placing it on the opposite side of the cake. He aligned the cutlery perfectly on elegant placemats and set the two goblets beside them. A champagne bottle chilled in an ice bucket, ready to celebrate.

Dylan rubbed his hands together, his smile widening. “She is going to love this,” he murmured, a spark of excitement in his eyes. But as the clock chimed eight, his excitement began to wane, replaced by a creeping impatience.

“Why isn’t she back yet?” He glanced at the wall clock. He had reminded her earlier to come home early. Had she forgotten it?

He looked at the phone, his finger hovering on her number. After a moment of deliberation, he called her.

The ring went on and on, but Ava didn’t pick up the call. The ring ended.

Dylan frowned as he pulled the phone away, staring at the screen. A hint of worry flickered in his eyes. “Why isn’t she answering?”