My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 54

Chapter 54: The chaos

Nicholas’s steps came to a halt. With a swift gesture, he signaled Alex to remove the tape from Brian’s mouth. Alex complied, yanking it off with a force that made Brian wince, his face twisting in pain.

Brian blinked several times, his disoriented eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. Panic set in as he looked up at the two men, his heart pounding in his chest. “Why are you keeping me here? Please, let me go. I’ve already told you that I have nothing to do with Gianna. She is just a co-star, nothing more.”

Nicholas’s lips curled into a disdainful smirk as he stepped closer. “Who do you think you’re fooling? You’re trying to protect Gianna but let me tell you something—she doesn’t care about you. You’re nothing more than a pawn to her.”

He squatted down beside him and added, “She is planning on marrying Dylan. Do you really think she’ll remember your so-called ‘sacrifices’ once she becomes his wife? No. She’ll discard you. Or, worse, she might make sure you disappear altogether.”

Brian’s eyes were wide, confusion swirling in his mind. “No, no—she won’t deceive me. She loves me,” he protested, though his voice wavered with uncertainty.

“Really? Then why is she so eager to marry Dylan if she truly loves you?” Nicholas sneered, his words cutting through Brian’s fragile hope. “Don’t be foolish, Brian. Gianna is a manipulator, playing with your emotions. You’re nothing but a tool she is using to get Dylan’s attention.”

As his words sank in, his certainty wavered. He had believed in Gianna and trusted her promises of love and support. But now, his trust in her started to waver.

Seeing the flicker of hesitation in Brian’s eyes, Nicholas knew he was getting through. “I know you were with her that day,” he pressed. “She spent the whole day with you, and yet, she claimed to have been kidnapped and raped by thugs hired by Ava. All of it was a lie, a story she spun to gain Dylan’s sympathy and frame Ava as the villain.”

He paused momentarily and then continued with a colder tone, “She is successful in her plan. Dylan and Ava are getting a divorce. Soon, Gianna will have Dylan exactly where she wants him, and when she does, she’ll cast you aside without a second thought. You’ll be nothing to her.”

Suspicion gripped him tightly, suffocating the trust he once had in Gianna. She had promised to help him, to elevate his career, to make him a star. But what if it had all been a lie? What if she was using him for her own gain, only to discard him when he was no longer needed?

He would get nothing in the end, and his career would be ruined.

Sensing the turmoil in Brian, Nicholas made his final move. “I know you’re struggling in your career,” he said, his voice softening just enough to sound understanding. “But if you help us expose her, I’ll make sure you rise. I’ll help you succeed.”

Brian’s mind whirled as he weighed his options, the offer tempting him. Finally, he nodded, his expression resolute. “Okay, I’ll help you.”

The next day…

The stock price of Williams Holdings plummeted as the Asco Corporations pulled out their investments, stirring upheaval in the company. The chaos erupted in the conference room, with board members yelling at one another. Papers flew as hands gesticulated wildly, emphasizing points that seemed to get lost in the chaos.

Thomas stood at the head of the table, his face drawn and weary as he attempted to regain control. “Everyone, please! We need to focus,” he urged. Yet his words fell on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, Ava walked in. All eyes turned to her, stunned at her sudden arrival.

“Ava!” Ethan rose from his chair and walked over to her. “You shouldn’t be here,” he said in a hushed tone. “Everyone is quite angry right now.”

Ava stood tall, her confidence radiating. “I’m here to help resolve the issues,” she said, her eyes glinting with determination.

“This is a board meeting,” a senior board member, his expression hard as stone, growled dismissively. “You’re not authorized to be here. Leave immediately.”

Undeterred, Ava stepped closer, but Ethan instinctively reached out to tug her arm and stopped her. “You should leave,” he suggested, leaning over to her slightly, “before things turn uglier. I’ll handle the situation here.”

But Ava was resolute. She brushed his hand aside with a firm motion, stepping closer to the conference table. “I hold a twenty percent share of the company and have every right to be here. I know everyone is worried—this situation is serious—but I have a solution.”

The room fell silent, all eyes now fixed on her. The board members exchanged skeptical glances; their previous anger was momentarily quelled by curiosity.

“What solution do you have?” Thomas asked.

Ava squared her shoulders. “I know someone who can help us out of this mess. It’s Nicholas Baker.”

At the mention of Nicholas’s name, the room collectively stiffened. Ethan’s eyes narrowed, while a ripple of intrigue moved through the board members.

“Everyone knows Nicholas Baker,” Ava went on. “He is a savvy investor, and right now, he’s exactly the kind of partner we need. Our projects are solid, and with the right support, we can get through this crisis. The stock price drop is temporary, and once we secure his backing, it will recover.”

For a moment, silence descended inside the hall. Everyone gaped at her, shocked by her suggestion.

“You’ve already angered Mr. Brooks, and now you want to stir things up further by involving Nicholas Baker?” One of the older members, his face flushed with frustration, snarled at her.

“Instead of asking help from Nicholas, you should go to your husband!” another voice boomed from the far end of the table, inciting the others. “Request him not to take action against the company for your personal issues. Apologize and fix this mess. Only then can we salvage the situation!”

“Exactly!” The room rumbled with agreement. “Talk to him! Fix this with Mr. Brooks before it’s too late.”

Ava’s determination was unwavering despite the mounting pressure around her. “I’m not going to talk to him,” she said sternly, lifting her chin defiantly.

“Ava!” Ethan, sensing the volatility of the situation, stepped closer, his tone pleading. “You should leave now. Let me handle this. Please…”

But Ava wouldn’t budge. She straightened her posture as she retorted, “I am fully capable of handling this situation myself.”

The board members weren’t finished yet. “Mr. Brooks is pulling out because of you!” one of them shouted, seething with accusation. “You slapped him in public and humiliated his friend. Now, he is retaliating. It’s all your fault. You need to fix this!”

“Yes, go and apologize to him immediately,” another chimed in, followed by more angry voices. “You caused this. You should make it right!”