My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: The humiliation

Ethan took some time to process her words. He remembered that tragic day vividly, though it had happened over a decade ago. It was unfortunate and tragic.

“The accident happened over a decade ago,” he mumbled in a daze, wondering why she wanted to investigate it after so many years. “I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to uncover after so many years. But why now, Ava? Why dig this up?”

Ava’s expression darkened, her features hardening with a determination that unsettled him. “Because Dylan thinks my father is responsible for it.”

“What?” Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He could instantly understand why Dylan might have this suspicion. But hadn’t Thomas cleared up the confusion a long time ago?

“I don’t know why he thinks that way,” Ava continued dejectedly.

“I think I know the reason,” Ethan murmured, his brow furrowing as he recalled that fateful night. “I was there, Ava. I was working as a waiter at the party when it all happened. I remember everything.”

Ava grew curious. “Tell me, Ethan. What did you see?” She leaned forward and waited for his answer.

Ethan’s gaze drifted as if he were looking through the walls of the restaurant, back to that night. “It was the annual party for Williams Holdings, held at one of the most luxurious venues at the time,” he began. “It was a big event—lots of people, influential names. The atmosphere was lively. Everyone was in good spirits. But I remember Mrs. Brooks falling ill suddenly—she looked pale, and Mr. Brooks decided to leave the party early.”

He breathed deeply as he continued, “It was sometime later that Mr. Williams received a call from Mr. Brooks. His car wouldn’t start. So your father called me over, handed me his car keys, and asked me to take it to Mr. Brooks.”

Ethan’s face clouded as he paused, clearly shaken by the memories. “I didn’t think much of it at the time. I just gave them the car and watched them drive away. Who could’ve known that it would be the last time anyone saw them alive?”

Ava’s eyes were wide as she took in his words.

“Later, we heard about the news of their accident. Their car lost control and went off the bridge, plunging into the water below.”

The silence descended between them. Ava’s mind raced, her emotions a mixture of shock and understanding. She could finally see why Dylan had nursed this long-held suspicion against her father.

“It was just an accident,” Ava muttered. “There was no foul play.” She paused for a while as suspicion crept into her mind. “Do you think someone is responsible? Do you also believe my father is involved?”

“No, he is not,” Ethan said calmly. “He was devastated, just like everyone else.

Ava nodded slowly, recalling how broken her father had been after the incident. He had distanced himself from his work, withdrawing into a shell of sorrow.

“I remember him meeting with Dylan and his sister afterward,” Ethan continued, his voice steady but somber. “He apologized to them—he felt guilty for giving his car to his friend that night. He thought his friend and his wife would have been still alive if they hadn’t taken his car.”

“Papa apologized to them!” Ava exclaimed. Why was she not aware of all this? “Why? In doing so, I think he only fueled Dylan’s doubts. Dylan didn’t see it as an act of remorse—he saw it as an admission of guilt.”

Ava’s chest tightened with anger and sorrow. “That apology only made things worse, didn’t it?”

Ethan sighed, his gaze heavy. “He still regrets it.”

Ava felt a surge of emotions—anger at the misunderstanding that had spiraled out of control, sympathy for her father, and a newfound resolve. If Dylan thought her father was responsible, he was wrong. She would clear her father’s name, no matter what it took.

“Ethan, I need you to investigate this—everything about that accident,” she urged. “If there was foul play, then it means the target wasn’t Mr. Brooks and his wife. It was Papa. Besides, Dylan hasn’t forgiven him. He is still holding onto his anger like a wounded tiger, waiting to strike. He is dangerous for us, for our family.”

Ethan’s brows furrowed in concern as he listened. He had never seen Ava so disturbed before. “Ava, are you okay? Is Dylan giving you trouble? If he is hurting you or pressuring you in any way, just say the word. I’ll do whatever it takes to help.”

“If you want to help me, investigate the accident back then,” Ava pressed on. “I need to prove my father’s innocence before it’s too late.”

“Alright,” Ethan said, determination lining his face. “I’ll look into it. I’ll find out what really happened, and if there was anything suspicious, I’ll uncover it.”

Dylan, who had also arrived at the restaurant to have lunch, saw Ava with another man. His blood boiled in rage.

“Isn’t she Ava?” Gianna, standing beside him, looked at Ava and the man curiously. “Why is she with that man?”

As she glanced up, she could see how furious Dylan was. “She is still married to you, but she is flirting with another man. This is utter disrespect to you. She is ruining the image of the Brooks family.”

Her words successfully fueled his rage. He stormed toward them, carrying a trail of hot air behind him. Gianna smiled slyly as she followed him.

“Ava!” Dylan’s voice was like thunder as he tugged at her arm, causing her to nearly stumble in her seat. His grip was tight. “You refused to have lunch with me, but here you are with him!”

Ava’s head snapped up, eyes flashing with indignation. She wrenched her arm free from his grasp. “So what if I’m having lunch with him? I have the right to go out with anyone I choose. You don’t control me. You can’t stop me from meeting other people.”

“Ava, you are still married,” Gianna chimed in. You shouldn’t be seen out like this with another man. You should think about the Brooks family’s reputation.”

“You are lecturing me on the family reputation!” Ava scoffed sarcastically, rising to her feet. “You, who hangs onto my husband like a parasite, despite knowing he’s married? When do you ever worry about the Brooks family’s reputation?”

“You!” Gianna’s face flushed with rage and embarrassment, but she quickly masked it with an exaggerated pout, tugging on Dylan’s arm. “Dylan, she is slandering me! You can’t let her get away with this.”

“Enough, Ava!” Dylan growled. “Don’t turn this around on Gianna. I asked you to have lunch with me and you refused. So, I asked Gianna to come with me instead to thank her for bringing breakfast for me. You should be the one taking care of your husband. But clearly, you’ve been too busy getting close to someone else.”

His sharp gaze landed on Ethan.

Ethan shifted uncomfortably under Dylan’s harsh gaze, feeling like he had just been caught in the middle of a storm he hadn’t anticipated. “Mr. Brooks, you’re misunderstanding us,” he said, trying to diffuse the tension. “We were just discussing family matters. I’ve been close to the Williams since I was a child. Ava and I grew up together like a family. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Family?” Dylan sneered. “You are just an orphan, sponsored by the Williams. You are not blood-related to them, not even adopted.”

Pa

The sharp crack of Ava’s slap echoed through the restaurant, freezing everyone in place.