My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 53

Chapter 53: The dark past

As the car stopped in front of her father’s house, Nicholas stepped out first, moving swiftly to open the door for Ava.

Ava stepped out, her gaze meeting his with a hint of gratitude. The evening air was crisp, ruffling her hair. She offered him a soft, appreciative smile, pushing her hair behind her hair.

“Thanks for the ride,” she said sincerely.

Nicholas returned her smile. “It’s my pleasure that I could help you.”

Ava nodded, her heart lighter from the day’s whirlwind events, and with a final wave, she turned and walked through the gate.

Nicholas stood there until she entered the house. He got into the car, his gaze moving to the rearview mirror. A smirk formed on his lips as he caught sight of Ethan’s car parked a little away from there.

He had noticed Ethan’s car the second they pulled up to Ava’s house. Nicholas knew Ethan was watching, and that’s exactly why he had deliberately opened the door for Ava and expressed his care for her. It was a strategic move, a declaration in their silent battle.

This rivalry between him and Ethan had started long ago. Ethan wouldn’t have even made it through the entrance exams and secured Thomas’s sponsorship back then if it hadn’t been for his help with his studies. He had stolen the opportunities that rightfully belonged to him.

Now, Nicholas was determined to reclaim everything, bit by bit, including Ava’s attention. The game had just begun, and he had every intention of winning.

Inside his car, Ethan rolled his hands on the steering wheel as frustration coursed through him. The tension in his jaw mirrored the storm brewing in his mind. He couldn’t shake the unsettling image of Ava and Nicholas together, igniting a deep-seated anger that he struggled to suppress.

Why was Ava taking an interest in Nicholas Baker all of a sudden?

Their closeness alarmed him. Memories he wished to keep buried clawed their way to the surface, suffocating him with anxiety. He didn’t want his dark secrets to come out.

“I have to stop Ava from getting close to Nicholas,” he muttered, fearing he would lose everything he had painstakingly built up over the years.

Ethan stepped out of the car and headed into the house, his posture stiff. He found Ava with her father in the hall, chatting happily.

“Ethan, come and have a seat,” Thomas beckoned to him.

Ethan forced a smile as he walked over to join them. His mind raced, trying to mask the unease gnawing at him. As soon as he sat down, Ava stood up. “Okay, you guys talk. I’ll go freshen up,” Ava said, her tone light but detached. She turned away, heading toward her room.

Ethan’s heart twinged with uneasiness. ‘Did Ava just ignore me?’

She had not greeted him, not even took a glance at him. It was as if he wasn’t welcome there.

‘Did Nicholas say something to her?’ The thought crept into Ethan’s mind, stirring his anxiety. He had seen the way Nicholas acted around Ava, how he seemed to plant himself in her life. He couldn’t afford to let Nicholas turn her against him.

“Since you are here, have dinner with us.” Thomas’s voice drew him back to reality.

Ethan nodded and readily accepted his invitation. “I’d love to,” he replied, trying to mask his inner turmoil with a casual tone. Dinner would give him more time—time to talk to Ava, to figure out what was going on in her mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After dinner, Ethan finally found a moment alone with Ava, his mind swirling with the things he wanted to ask. His initial plan to confront her about Nicholas faltered, and instead, he started with a question about the divorce.

“Did you give the divorce papers to Dylan?”

Ava nodded. “Yes. I hope this time he signs them without causing any problems. If not, I’ll take it to court.”

Ethan’s gaze dropped to his fingers as he wrestled with the real question that had been eating at him all evening. He finally blurted it out, unable to hold it in any longer. “I saw you with Nicholas. What were you doing with him?”

Ava’s expression softened as she explained. “On my way home, a thief tried to snatch my bag.”

“Wait, a thief?” His reaction was immediate, his face etched with concern. “Are you okay?” His eyes scanned her quickly, searching for any signs of injury.

“I’m fine. Nicholas arrived in time and scared him off. He even gave me a ride home.”

Ethan’s jaw clenched slightly as he absorbed her words. “I see,” he muttered, though relief swept over him knowing she was unharmed. Still, his worry remained. “I’m glad he helped you, but you should be careful around Nicholas. He is a man with a lot of secrets. You can’t trust him.”

“Don’t worry.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “I can take care of myself. I am a bit tired. I’m going to sleep now. Good night.” With that, she retired to her room.

Ethan stood there, looking at the closed door of her room. His thoughts spun in a whirlwind of frustration and doubt. “I hope you will keep your distance from Nicholas.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nicholas walked down the stairs to the basement of his house with a chilling calm, his footsteps echoing faintly in the dimly lit room. Alex nodded at him slightly, his expression grim.

Nicholas halted a few steps inside, his gaze falling on the man sprawled on the cold concrete floor. The man’s hands were bound tightly behind his back, and a strip of tape covered his mouth.

Without breaking his icy stare, Nicholas asked in a low, dangerous voice, “Did he talk?”

Alex’s face tensed as he responded begrudgingly, “No. He keeps denying any involvement with Gianna. Claims it wasn’t her with him that day.”

“He is lying,” Nicholas hissed, his mouth contorting. “Keep pushing him. Don’t give him anything to eat and drink. Everyone has a breaking point. He’ll reach his.”

Alex hesitated for a brief moment, weighing the consequences of what he was about to say. Gathering his courage, he voiced his concern. “He is a public figure, boss. His sudden disappearance is going to raise questions. We can’t hold him here for long.”

Nicholas slowly turned his head, his gaze hardening as he locked eyes with Alex, irritation flashing across his face. “How long have you been working for me?”

Alex swallowed, caught off guard by the question. “Almost five years,” he replied, his voice shaking slightly.

“And yet you still don’t know how to handle a situation like this?” Nicholas scolded him. “Spread the word that Brian is on vacation with his secret girlfriend. Let that be the distraction. People will focus on speculating about who he is with. We’ll have a few days to work with him. Push him to the edge, and he will confess.”

“I get it, boss.”

Nicholas cast one last, cold look at the captive man before turning to leave.

Just then, Brian stirred as he slowly regained his consciousness.