My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Locking her up.

Later that day…

Ethan arrived at the hospital and found Ava packing up her belongings. The sight caught him off guard—he had assumed she’d be staying longer. “Are you leaving already?”

Ava nodded, her movements purposeful. “Yes, I spoke with the doctor. He said my wounds are healing well, and I can recover fully at home with a few days of rest.”

“That’s good news,” Ethan said, offering her a smile, though the tension in his eyes betrayed his unease.

The thought had gnawed at him since he had seen the news of Dylan’s press conference. He wondered if Ava had changed her decision to divorce Dylan after watching the press conference. He wanted to ask, to know if her resolve had wavered, but the words seemed hesitant to escape his lips. Although he had prepared the divorce papers, he couldn’t gather the courage to hand it to her.

Ava paused in her packing and turned to face him. Her eyes met his with quiet resolve. “Did you prepare the divorce agreement?”

Ethan exhaled; his earlier hesitation was replaced by relief. “Yes,” he said, quickly retrieving the neatly folded documents from his briefcase. “It’s ready.”

He handed her the papers. “Take a look and let me know if you want to make any changes.”

Ava took the papers, her gaze briefly flickering over them before she put them into the bag. “It’s perfect.”

In the meantime, the door cracked open, and Dylan entered. When he saw Ethan, fury ignited within him. “You are such a shameless man. I beat you twice, yet you still dare to follow my wife.”

Before Ethan could reply, Ava stepped in, her glare as sharp as a blade. “I called him.”

“Why?” Dylan squinted at her, confused as to why she needed another man. After everything he had done—holding the press conference to clear her name, facing the reporters—why would she call Ethan? Instead of calling him and thanking him, she had asked Ethan to accompany her.

“Because I want to leave,” she replied vehemently. “I don’t want to spend a single moment here and watch Gianna’s drama. I’m done with all of it.”

Dylan’s eyes blazed with disbelief and anger. Ava’s injuries were yet to be healed. She should stay for another day or two. How could she think of leaving now? And with Ethan! If anyone was taking her, it was him.

“You are coming with me,” he growled, stepping toward her, his hand shooting out to grab hers.

Ethan pulled Ava back, placing himself between them. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”

His attitude pushed Dylan over the edge. In a flash, his hand shot out, shoving Ethan aside, and sending him stumbling back. He yanked her toward him by her arm.

“What the hell are you doing?” Ethan yelled, stunned by the sudden violence.

“What do you think?” Dylan shot back, pinning Ethan in his place with a murderous glare. “I am taking my wife with me.”

“I am not coming with you,” Ava interjected. She twisted in Dylan’s grip, trying to pull away. “Go away, Dylan. I don’t need your attention. Maybe your sweetheart needs you. Go check on her.”

Dylan held her close to his chest, arms firmly wrapping around her. “You are not supposed to worry about her,” he snapped. “I know how to take care of her, and I also know how to discipline my wife.”

Ava struggled, but his strength was too much. His grip remained unyielding, and before she knew it, he began dragging her toward the door. “Let go of me!” she protested, but he didn’t stop.

Ethan bolted after them, blocking their path. “You can’t take her away.” He took a defensive stance.

Dylan stopped, glaring at Ethan with contempt. “Who is going to stop me? You? Come on, step up,” he provoked him. “Fight me and show me how brave you are.”

Ethan clenched his fists, ready to strike, but Ava intervened, stepping forward.

“No, don’t fight here,” she cried out. Taking a deep breath, she looked up at Dylan. “I am coming with you. Don’t make a scene here.”

Dylan was satisfied with her response, his anger receding slightly his anger dissipating a bit. However, Ethan wasn’t happy at all. “Ava, you don’t have to be scared of him. Come with me,” he urged.

Ava looked at Ethan, feeling a bit helpless. She didn’t want to escalate this matter. She was afraid Dylan would beat Ethan again. “Go back, Ethan,” she said coldly. “I’ll be fine with Dylan.”

“What?” Ethan couldn’t believe Ava had just agreed to go with Dylan. Hadn’t she said she didn’t want to be with Dylan anymore?

“You heard her,” Dylan growled, pulling Ava closer. “Now step aside.”

Ethan stared at Ava helplessly. No matter how much he wanted to stop her, as long as Ava chose to stay by Dylan’s side, there was nothing he could do. With a defeated sigh, he stepped aside, lowering his head, his own helplessness making him furious.

Dylan held her hand and took her out of the hospital, a satisfied grin tugging at his lips as he led Ava toward the car. “You did the right thing,” he said smugly, opening the door for her. “You showed him his place. He shouldn’t interfere in our affairs.”

Ava scoffed, shooting him a cold look. “Don’t be so happy. I only did that because I didn’t want Ethan to get hurt.”

Dylan’s joy vanished and anger crashed him in waves. “You cared about him!”

“Yes,” she barked, glaring at him. “I care about everyone who matters to me, and I won’t let you hurt them.”

Dylan’s nostrils flared. “Since you care about him so much, I’ll make him suffer.” With that, he jumped into the car and ignited the engine.

Panic bubbled up inside her. “What do you mean? What are you planning to do to Ethan?”

Dylan didn’t respond, his jaw locked in a tense line, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

“Dylan, I’m asking you something!” Ava pressed. “Don’t do anything to him. If you hurt Ethan, I swear I’ll never forgive you.”

“Ethan, Ethan, Ethan!” Dylan let out an exasperated growl. “Can you stop talking about him already? You’re driving me insane.”

“And you,” Ava shot back, “you’re unbearable!” She turned to the outside, crossing her arms across her chest.

The rest of the journey went in silence, the air inside the car suffocating. Both of them avoid looking at each other, not even taking a glance.

When they arrived at the villa, Dylan yanked open the car door and dragged Ava inside, his grip firm and unrelenting. Without a word, he shoved her into the bedroom, locking the door from outside.

Ava stood frozen for a moment, stunned by what had just happened. As reality set in, panic surged through her veins. She rushed to the door, banging on it with both fists.

“This is too much, Dylan!” she shouted. “You can’t lock me up like this! Open the door, you monster!” Her voice grew louder, the fury spilling out with each desperate hit.

With his growing silence, her restlessness grew. “Dylan!” she called out desperately, but she heard nothing from him. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m your wife, not a prisoner! You can’t treat me like this!”

Silence.

Frustrated, she yelled, “I hate you!”