My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 164

Chapter 164: Elijah€™s offer Chapter 164: Elijah€™s offer Ava blinked, her feet instinctively shuffling back as Nicholas’s words sank in.

Even in the dim glow of dusk, she could see the raw intensity of emotion flickering in his eyes.

She had fallen in love with Dylan in the past, but that love had left her scarred.

She wouldn’t dare to love someone again.

“I know you are not ready for it,” he said quickly, sensing her hesitation.

‘But I don’t have much time.’ He wanted to add this, but he paused, swallowing the words.

“I am just asking you to pretend to be my girlfriend.” “I can’t,” she denied straight away.

“Nicholas, I admire you €“ you are a good friend.

Please don’t do this.

I don’t want to lose a friend.” She breathed out, regaining her composure.

“Let’s just forget this conversation ever happened.

We’ll continue working as partners, and we’ll stay friends.

That’s what matters.” Nicholas stood silent for a moment, her words slicing through him like a cold wind.

He knew he had crossed a line, and now he feared he might have jeopardized the only connection he had left with her.

Forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he nodded.

“I get it.

I’m sorry for putting you in this position.

I didn’t mean to scare you.

But€¦” He paused, his voice softening.

“My feelings for you won’t change.

I’ll wait for you till the last breath of my life.” Ava turned her gaze away, unable to meet his eyes.

“It’s getting late.

I should go.” Nicholas nodded.

“Let me walk you out,” he offered and led her out of the resort.

As she drove away, Nicholas stood under the fading sky, his chest tight with a mixture of regret and longing.

Alex approached him cautiously and murmured something into Nicholas’s ear.

Nicholas’s head snapped toward him, his brows furrowing sharply.

A dark scowl twisted his face.

“What is he doing there?” he growled, his jaw tightening with suppressed anger.

“Maybe he wants to talk to you.

Just€¦ don’t lose your temper.” Nicholas’s hands curled into fists, his usual composure now overshadowed by a storm brewing within.

“Let’s go.” They hopped into the car and drove away.

Nicholas arrived home and found Elijah sitting in the hall, a glass of wine in hand.

The smug expression on Elijah’s face only fueled the fire smoldering within him.

Nicholas’s fists clenched tightly at his sides.

No matter how hard he tried to stay calm, he couldn’t be able to hold his temper.

“You’ve arrived,” Elijah drawled with a smirk, lifting his glass to his lips and taking a sip.

“How was your date?” Nicholas’s nostrils flared.

“Why are you here?” He let out a rumbling snarl.

Elijah took another languid sip of his wine.

Setting the glass down with deliberate care, he leaned back, exuding an air of self-assured arrogance.

“I told you yesterday, didn’t I?

Our conversation was far from over.

Now that you seem well enough, let’s have a proper talk.

Come, sit down.” Nicholas wanted nothing more than to throw Elijah out of his home, but he knew Elijah wouldn’t leave without extracting what he came for.

Reluctantly, he lowered himself onto the sofa, his gaze sharp and unyielding.

Alex stood behind him silently.

Satisfied with Nicholas’s compliance, Elijah straightened with a predatory glint in his eyes.

“This project is important for the Bakers,” he started.

“It can flourish the company, taking it to the top of the industry.

But there is a problem.” His tone darkened slightly.

“The Ace Group is after it too.

They are the only real competition I have.” Nicholas’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his piercing gaze locked on Elijah.

“I can handle most of the obstacles,” Elijah continued, his voice steady, calculated.

“But I need your help to crush the Ace Group.

If you help me secure this project, I’ll give you a generous profit share€¦And I’ll find you a heart.” The room fell into a tense silence when he finished speaking.

Nicholas’s expression didn’t waver.

His eyes bore into Elijah’s, unflinching and filled with contempt.

“I always thought the Bakers could handle their issues,” he began, his demeanor exuding disdain.

“But I seem to have overestimated you.

You can’t even deal with your own competition, and now you come begging for my help.” He scoffed mockingly, “Have you forgotten what you once told my mother?

That an illegitimate son like me had no place in the Baker household.

You sent me to the orphanage and wiped your hands clean.

Why should I help you now?” Elijah’s jaw tightened, and his composed facade cracked slightly.

“How can you claim I didn’t acknowledge you?” he snapped, his voice rising with indignation.

“I gave you my name, Nicholas.

I covered your expenses and sent you abroad for higher studies.

The success you are enjoying now is because of me.

Without my support, you wouldn’t have climbed this high.” He straightened his shoulders, lifting his chin with pride.

“The Bakers never ignored you.

I fulfilled my duty as a father.

Now it’s time for you to repay that debt.” “Repay for what?” Nicholas shot back.

“Your so-called favors?

They were nothing more than a pathetic attempt to compensate for the damage you caused.

You owe me and my mother.

I don’t owe you anything.” Elijah’s temper flared.

“Nicholas,” he growled, his posture taut with frustration.

“Why are you being so unreasonable?

Is helping your father a crime?” Nicholas turned his head away.

“A father?” he muttered under his breath.

Elijah swallowed his anger, knowing that arguing further would get him nowhere.

He needed to regain control of the conversation.

“Listen up €“ Ava is your girlfriend now,” he continued.

“She won’t refuse you.

As the COO of the Ace Group, she’s handling the bidding for this project.

Convince her to share the details with you.

Use your relationship to get what we need.” Nicholas looked back at him coldly, annoyance bubbling right under his skin.

“You want me to use her,” he sneered.

“Exactly,” Elijah confirmed.

When he noticed Nicholas was listening to him, he grew enthusiastic.

“I’ve heard about her strained relationship with Dylan.

She trusts you and admires you.

She won’t refuse you if you play your cards right.

All you have to do is keep her happy-fulfill her desires, make her feel valued.” Nicholas stiffened as he fought to keep his anger contained.

“If you succeed, I promise your surgery will be scheduled immediately,” Elijah pressed on.

“You will be fine and can marry Ava.

And if you wish to leave the country with her, I’ll make all the arrangements.

Everything will be taken care of.”