My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: It€™s never too late.

Chapter 176: It€™s never too late.

‘Gambling?

Debts?’ Those words echoed in his head.

Erica’s desperate need for money suddenly made sense.

Her theft from the company wasn’t just about greed but a reckless attempt to cover her gambling losses.

Across the table, Lilianna grew impatient when she didn’t get any response from him.

“Are you even listening to me?” she snapped.

Dylan moved his gaze to her fleetingly and then nodded slowly.

“I’m listening.” But his calm demeanor only fueled Lilianna’s ire.

She threw her hands up in exasperation.

“You don’t get it, do you?

Erica and Lydia are toxic, Dylan!

They’ve always been trouble for us.

Lydia, especially.” Her heart filled with bitterness as she recalled the past.

“Since childhood, Lydia has been controlling us, always asserting control under the guise of looking out for us.

Do you think she cared for us?

No!

You didn’t see how she treated me back then.

She pretends to be selfless and caring, but she is not.

She is€¦” “Lilianna, that’s enough,” Dylan cut in firmly.

He fixed her with a steady gaze.

“I won’t deny that Lydia has her faults.

She wasn’t the easiest person to live with, and her words were often harsh.

But let’s not forget the truth.

She raised us, Lilianna.

Without her, we might have ended up in an orphanage, struggling just to survive.” But Lilianna didn’t share the same thought.

For her, Lydia’s actions weren’t acts of sacrifice or care-they were calculated moves to claim control over Brooks’ fortune.

She felt no gratitude, only bitterness toward that woman.

“She is far from perfect, I know that,” Dylan continued.

“But she kept us off the streets.

When all the relatives were ready to strip us of everything we owned, Lydia was the one who stood by our side.

She even broke her marriage to take care of us and protected what was left of our family, our business.

Without her, we would’ve lost everything.

Whatever her methods, she saved us from a worse fate.” “You’re wrong,” Lilianna interrupted sharply.

“She didn’t leave her husband for us.

She left him because she was tired of his gambling.

He was drowning in debt, and she had no use for him anymore.

Don’t paint her as some selfless savior.

She became our guardian because she needed money and control, not because of love or sympathy.” Her voice trailed off as she recalled Lydia’s phone conversation with Erica.

“And Erica?

She is no different.

Just like her father, she is consumed by gambling.

This mother and daughter will ruin you.” “Alright, I get it.” Dylan raised his hand, signaling her to stop.

“You need to relax.

It’s not good for you-or the baby.” Lilianna took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to reign in her emotions.

“No one is perfect, Lilianna,” he said quietly.

“We all have our flaws.

I’m dealing with my own, trying to improve myself.” Lilianna studied him closely, noticing the subtle shift in his demeanor.

The guilt lingering in his eyes and the regret in his tone was palpable.

It was clear to her that Dylan was carrying the weight of his past and was genuinely trying to make things right with Ava.

“I’m not blind to Lydia’s selfishness,” he continued.

“She has always put Erica first, and she’ll do anything to help her.

But that doesn’t mean I’ll turn a blind eye to her wrongdoings.

Anyone who crosses the line-anyone who hurts Ava-won’t go unpunished.

Not even her.” Lilianna grew intrigued as she started to realize Dylan had his reason for bringing Erica back.

“What else she has done?” she wondered, growing curious.

Dylan held her gaze.

“She misused the company’s funds,” he began, laying out Erica’s transgressions.

He explained every shady transaction and manipulation she had orchestrated and even revealed his plan to expose her with Rylee’s cooperation.

Lilianna’s initial resentment melted away as she realized the depth of his strategy.

Her lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“That’s brilliant,” Lilianna exclaimed, her face lighting up with excitement.

“She deserves to pay for everything she has done!

But€¦” her tone turned cautious, “Lydia won’t take this lightly.

You know how she is.

I’m afraid she might try to hurt you.” “Don’t worry about Lydia.

I’ve already planned to send her abroad.” Dylan’s eyes sparkled with a calculated glint.

“She won’t be controlling us anymore.” Hearing this, Lilianna felt her worries lift.

When the meal was over, she leaned back in her chair, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“So, what’s your plan with Ava?

She seems pretty comfortable around Nicholas.

What if she ends up falling for him?” “She won’t,” Dylan replied confidently.

“Her love is mine and mine alone.

In this life, she can only be mine.

No one-not Nicholas or anyone else-will come between us.” Lilianna arched a brow, testing his resolve.

“But what if she doesn’t want to come back to you?” “I’ll win her back, no matter what,” Dylan asserted with conviction.

Lilianna couldn’t help but be impressed by his determination.

She could see his seriousness, but she was a bit disappointed with him.

“Nothing of this would have happened if you had paid attention to Ava,” she countered.

“But you always ignored her, behaved coldly with her.

You didn’t cherish her when she was so madly in love with you.

Now she doesn’t want to be with you, and you want her back.

Don’t you think it’s a bit late?” Lilianna’s pointed words struck Dylan, but his confidence remained unshaken.

“It’s never too late,” he said with the same confidence as if he knew for sure that Ava still loved him just like before.

It was just that she was angry and disappointed with him.

“I’ll make her fall for me again.

Just watch.” A faint, self-assured smirk tugged at his lips.

Lilianna shook her head, partly in amusement, partly in disbelief.

She was curious about how he planned to accomplish his lofty goal.

Dylan checked his wristwatch.

“Uh, I need to go back to the office.

Come, let me drive you home first.” “There is no need.

I can go back on my own.

You should head back to the office quickly.” Lilianna flashed a teasing smile, grabbing her bag and rising from the chair.

You’ve got to juggle winning back Ava and hunting down whoever posted those photos.” Dylan chuckled softly, already in motion as he held the door open for her.

“Let’s hope Justin has figured out who is behind it.” They hadn’t taken more than a few steps toward the exit when Lilianna suddenly faltered.

Before he could catch her, her body went limp, and she collapsed onto the polished floor.

Dylan froze in shock, his breath catching as he stared at her still form.