My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 165

Chapter 165: The repulsion Chapter 165: The repulsion Nicholas’s lips twitched, but it wasn’t a smile.

It was a grimace, a barely concealed snarl.

His father’s plan wasn’t just manipulative-it was repulsive.

Elijah was asking him to trade Ava’s trust, her friendship, for his own survival.

For a long moment, Nicholas didn’t speak.

He simply stared at Elijah, the tension radiating from him almost palpable.

The man in front of him was so vile that he hated himself for being his son.

He knew nothing but his own benefit.

He didn’t care about anyone.

Nicholas’s insides filled with bitterness as he recalled the past.

This was the man who had abandoned his mother without a shred of guilt, chasing wealth and power by marrying a rich woman, despite knowing she carried his child.

To him, his success was more important than anyone else.

His ambition had always trumped any semblance of humanity.

And it was the same as before.

Elijah hadn’t changed-not one bit.

“First of all, nothing is going on between me and Ava,” Nicholas hissed condescendingly.

“She is just a friend.

And I’ll not exploit that friendship for your twisted ambitions.” “Don’t lie to me!” Elijah barked.

He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a stack of photographs, tossing them onto the table.

“If you don’t like each other, then explain this.” Nicholas’s eyes instinctively dropped to the scattered images, his stomach sinking as he saw himself with Ava at the beach-walking together.

“You’ve been spying on me!” Nicholas shot back with disbelief and anger, his restraint hanging by a thread.

“Uh, don’t give me that look.” Elijah shrugged nonchalantly, waving a dismissive hand as though Nicholas’s retort was a trivial matter.

“I just wanted to confirm if you two are really together.

And I must say, I’m impressed.

That woman-Ava-is exceptional.

She is the perfect blend of beauty and talent.

If you marry her, the Brooks and the Williams families will be at odds.

Their so-called alliance will shatter, and that will be our victory.

Marrying Ava isn’t just a strategic move-it’s a masterstroke.” Nicholas’s stomach churned with revulsion, bile rising to his throat.

“First of all, the Brooks are not my enemy.

You may have your vendettas with them, but that’s your burden-not mine.

I’m not a part of the Baker family, Elijah.

We may share the same last name, but that’s where our connection ends.

I have no interest in your profits, your rivalries, or your schemes.

Now, leave.” “Ungrateful brat!” Elijah roared, his temper flaring as he rose to his full height.

“I thought you had a shred of intelligence, but clearly, I overestimated you.

Here I am, offering you a lifeline-ready to find you a donor-and this is how you repay me?

Humph!” He let out a sharp, derisive snort.

“Instead of being grateful to me, you are asking me to leave.

Do you know you won’t survive the next six months if you don’t perform the surgery?

I am the only one who can arrange a heart for you.” Nicholas met Elijah’s glare head-on.

“Grateful?

To you?” he spat.

“I would rather die than take your help.

Who knows what hidden game you are playing?

Maybe you are planning to kill me on the operating table.” The accusation sent Elijah into a furious rage.

“Nicholas!” he thundered.

“How dare you speak to me like this?” Nicholas remained unfazed, his demeanor icy and composed.

“What’s wrong, Mr.

Baker?” he asked with a mocking sneer.

“Is the truth too bitter to swallow?

Don’t pretend you don’t know that your legitimate son wants me dead.

And you did nothing to stop him.” Elijah’s face twisted with anger, but before he could respond, Nicholas added, “Let me make one thing clear: your son’s pathetic attempts to sabotage me and my business have been nothing but futile.

I haven’t taken any action against him because I think he is quite young and immature, not suitable to compete with me.

But if he dares cross me again, I won’t hesitate to crush him.” The air in the room grew cold as Nicholas rose to his feet, his posture radiating authority and resolve.

“Instead of wasting your energy meddling in my life, perhaps you should focus on teaching your dear son how to run a business.

Or else, someone more capable will snatch the entire Baker empire right out from under you.” Elijah stood frozen, his rage battling with a flicker of uncertainty.

“Are you threatening me?” he asked, his eyebrows twitching.

“What if I say…

yes?” Nicholas smirked, his hands slipping inside his pockets.

“You!” Elijah jabbed a finger toward him, his entire frame rigid with fury.

“You’re nothing but an ungrateful son!

Fine.

Since you’re so stubborn, I won’t lift a finger to help you.

Let’s see how you find a donor on your own.

Don’t call me when you are dying.” With that, he stormed out.

Nicholas’s nostrils flared as he watched his departing form.

Alex, who had been silent for so long, finally opened his mouth.

“Why didn’t you agree to him?

He could have found a donor for you.

Your life is more important than anything else.” Nicholas snapped his head toward Alex, his gaze turning razor-sharp.

“Are you saying I should exploit Ava’s trust?

Her friendship?” Alex hesitated, his lips parting but no words escaping at first.

Finally, he managed, “You’ve helped her so many times.

Maybe she wouldn’t mind helping you just this once€¦” “Alex,” Nicholas interrupted, his tone cold and cutting.

“I can’t believe you’ve fallen for Mr.

Baker’s lies.

That man is a master manipulator.

He wouldn’t help me, even if I handed him the Ace Group’s secrets.

He doesn’t care about me or my mother-never did, never will.

Everything he does is for his own gain.” The intensity of Nicholas’s words left Alex speechless.

Without another glance, Nicholas turned and walked briskly into his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~ At Henry’s ancestral house€¦ Lilianna returned home after her check-up.

She paused at the doorstep as her gaze fell on Lydia, seated primly on the sofa.

“Aunt?” Lilianna asked, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

She placed her bag down gently.

“When did you come?” Lydia adjusted her shawl with an air of feigned indifference.

“You seem to have forgotten me the moment your husband appeared.

You no longer want to stay at the mansion, and you haven’t even called me.

But as an elder, I worry about my children.

So, here I am to check on you.” Her sharp eyes scanned Lilianna from head to toe.

“How are you doing?” Lilianna maintained her composure, offering a polite smile, and putting aside the conflicts between them.

“I’m fine, Aunt.

I just got back from a prenatal check-up.” “You went alone?” Lydia’s eyebrows arched in feigned surprise.

“Where is your surgeon husband?

He didn’t accompany you?” Lilianna’s smile remained steady.

“He was with me during the check-up, but he had to stay back at the hospital for surgery.” “Surgery?

Is he not on leave?

Why is he still working?”