My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Do you like me?

Chapter 287: Do you like me?

When Ava arrived at the office, she went to meet Ethan.

Lifting her hand, she rapped on the door.

“Come in,” came out Ethan’s voice.

Pushing the door open, Ava entered the room.

Ethan was caught off guard by her sudden arrival, his gaze shifting from the paperwork on his desk to her.

His expression was a mix of surprise and curiosity.

He stood up quickly.

“Ava€¦ You could have just called me,” he said, crossing the room toward her.

Ava clutched the file she had brought with her and approached him.

“I wanted to come.” Ethan gestured toward the sofa.

“Have a seat,” he offered, moving to press the intercom button.

“I’ll ask someone to bring coffee for you.” Ava, however, raised a hand, halting his movement.

“There is no need.

I don’t want anything.” Ethan hesitated for a moment, then pulled his hand back from the intercom.

His gaze flicked to the file she was holding.

“Is there something I can help you with?” Ava didn’t reply instantly, her gaze lingering on him a little longer.

“Ethan, do you ever have feelings for me?” Her question seemed to strike him like a blow.

His entire body stiffened by her directness.

Ethan parted his lips to respond, but the words caught in his throat.

His pulse pounded, heat creeping up the back of his neck.

How was he supposed to answer?

He had spent years burying his emotions, forcing himself to remain composed whenever he was around her.

And now-now she was asking this?

Facing her question, he found himself paralyzed with fear and anxiety.

“Why are you asking me this now?” he managed.

“Just answer me, Ethan,” she pressed sharply, leaving no room for evasion.

He turned around, unable to meet her eyes.

Cold sweat ran down his spine.

He had spent so long pretending, convincing himself that friendship was enough.

That he could be near her without wanting more.

But now, with her standing right in front of him, waiting for his answer, his carefully built walls began to crack.

“Do you like me?” Her voice held a sharp edge as she pressed further.

“Not as a friend or sister, but as a girlfriend?” Ethan clenched his hands tightly, doing his best to keep them from shaking.

His palms were slick with sweat, and his heart raced beyond his control.

He felt like he was suffocating under the weight of his emotions.

But no matter how much he wanted to, the words still wouldn’t come.

Ava stood there, her gaze unwavering, watching him closely.

She waited for him to break the silence, but he remained frozen, his back stiff.

“Why are you silent?” she asked again, her voice growing firmer.

“I need answers.

Do you like me?” It was then that Ethan finally turned to face her.

His eyes were glazed over with emotion, his jaw trembling slightly.

Ethan turned to her.

He looked at her, really looked at her, his lower jaw trembling slightly as he spoke.

“Yes, I like you…

I have for so long.

But…

I…

I couldn’t gather the courage to express my feelings.” Ava’s eyes widened at his admission, shock flickering across her face.

She had always trusted him, leaned on him like a brother-never once had she suspected that he had harbored feelings far beyond friendship.

His lips twisted in a bitter smile as he continued, “I thought you wouldn’t accept my love, that if I told you, I’d lose you forever.

So I stayed silent, watching from afar, pretending it didn’t hurt.” He grabbed her hand all of a sudden.

“But now that you know, I don’t want to keep hiding.

Please, Ava,” he pleaded, his dark eyes searching hers desperately.

“Be with me.

I promise-I swear-I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.” Ava’s eyes burned with fury, and her trust shattered into a million irreparable pieces.

She yanked her hand away as if Ethan’s touch had scorched her.

“Take care of me?” she spat.

“Is that how you planned to do it-by stealing my position?

By betraying me behind my back?” She cocked her head and pinned him with an accusatory glare.

“Are you planning to take over the company and ditch me?” Her words struck him like daggers.

Ethan saw the fire in her eyes, and it twisted something deep in his chest.

“No, it’s not like that,” he stammered, his face turning ashen.

“I swear, I never-” “Don’t lie to me,” she cut him off, her tone sharp enough to slice through steel.

With a swift motion, she thrust the file toward him.

“I know everything about your little game.

I know how you manipulated the board and convinced the directors to protest against me.

I know about your secret deal with Starlite to overthrow me as president.” Ethan stumbled back, gripping the edge of his desk to steady himself.

The walls of his carefully crafted deception came crashing down, leaving him exposed.

The weight of shame and guilt pressed heavily on his chest.

He couldn’t meet her eyes.

Ava took a step forward, her voice trembling with betrayal.

“I trusted you.

You were family to me.

I relied on you and defended you when others doubted you.

But you€¦ you stabbed me in the back.” Ethan swallowed hard as he lifted his eyes at her.

“No, no€¦I did that because€¦” “I don’t want to hear your excuses,” she interjected, her voice rising with anger.

“If you wanted the position so badly, you could have just told me.

I would have stepped down for you.

Because I believed in you.

I thought you would never hurt me.” Her chest heaved as she fought to keep her composure, but the betrayal cut too deep.

She had given him her unwavering trust, and he had crushed it without hesitation.

“Ava€¦” He extended his hand toward her, but she stepped back.

“You conspired against me,” she hissed.

“You said you cared about me, but all along, you were plotting to take everything away.

Why, Ethan?

Why would you do this to me when I was always on your side?” Ethan’s throat tightened as he saw the devastation on her face.

His actions had destroyed the one person who had truly believed in him.

“Please listen to me,” he pleaded.

But Ava had heard enough.

Her trust was broken, and no amount of pleading could piece it back together.

Ava nodded, her eyes ablaze with fury and disappointment.

“Alright, I’ll give you a chance to explain.

But you better have a damn good reason for betraying me.” Ethan felt a flicker of hope.

He still had time-time to make her understand, to justify his actions.

“I did that because I care about you,” he started.

“I wanted to protect you and your father.” Ava let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Protect me and my father?

By plotting behind my back?

By trying to take over the company?” “Yes,” Ethan insisted.

“Your growing closeness to Dylan is alarming.

You don’t see what I see.

He is dangerous.

You’ve forgotten the pain he caused you, but I haven’t.

You may think he has changed, but I know better.

And I couldn’t just stand by and watch you walk into a trap.”