My Ex-Husband Begged Me to Take Him Back - Chapter 83

Chapter 83: This is the last chance.

Dylan’s heart sank as he watched her walking away, her rejection like a cold slap. Desperation overcame him, and in a swift move, he closed the distance, wrapping his arms firmly around her waist. He wasn’t ready to let her go. He was afraid a hidden enemy would hurt her, and the nightmares would come to reality.

“I know I wronged you,” he said desperately. “I should never have trusted Gianna blindly. I see that now. Just…give me a chance.”

Ava struggled against his grip, twisting her body in an attempt to free herself. “Let me go, Dylan,” she demanded sharply.

But he held firm, refusing to let her slip away so easily. “No, I won’t. Not until you tell me you’ll give me a chance.”

Ava sighed defeatedly. “A chance? Do you think I am a fool? Why would I want to torture myself by giving you a chance? Take a look at me – I’m the woman you accused, the one you thought was capable of terrible things. Do you still want to be with me?”

Dylan stiffened, falling silent. He had given her every piece of the evidence he had collected against Gianna, hoping Ava would take immediate action. But she hadn’t done anything yet. He didn’t know what she was planning.

“I don’t care about any of that,” he whispered. He turned her toward him, his gaze pleading. “All I want is a chance to make this work. To fix what I broke.”

But Ava’s expression didn’t soften. “No,” she replied firmly.

Dylan’s shoulders slumped as he searched her eyes, his usual confidence stripped away. He had never persuaded someone so desperate before for anything. He had a feeling that he would lose everything if he let her go.

“Don’t be heartless, Ava.” There was an edge of helplessness to his voice. “You obviously can give me a chance. Don’t pretend you feel nothing. I know you still love me. I can see it.”

“Love?” Ava gave a bitter laugh. “Which love are you talking about? The love you destroyed on your own! Whatever I felt for you—it’s gone. I don’t feel anything for you anymore.”

Dylan’s patience was snapping. His anger flared, wild and unruly, as his instinct screamed to take control, to do whatever it took to keep her by his side. The thought of losing her, of seeing her walk out of his life, twisted his heart with a sharp, unbearable pain. If he could, he would lock her up and never let her leave the house. But he knew this was not going to work. It would only push her further away.

Taking a steadying breath, he pushed down his frustration, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “Alright,” he said, swallowing hard. “I accept that I was a jerk. I know I hurt you and broke your trust. But – we still have time to work on this marriage. Give me three months. That’s all I ask. Three months to prove to you that I can be better, that I can make this right. If I fail, I swear I won’t hold you back. You’ll be free to go.”

Ava was speechless. Her mouth dropped open, and she wasn’t aware of it. This was the first time she noticed him pleading with her, and he seemed quite serious. For a brief moment, she hesitated, the faintest glimmer of uncertainty flickering in her gaze. But she quickly steeled herself.

Dylan had hurt her so much that Ava was afraid of putting her trust back in him.

What if it was his plan to hurt her?

Ava would never give him the chance, but she was also curious to know what he was up to. Staying close to him might allow her to uncover his hidden motives.

“Alright,” she said, raising her chin haughtily. “This is the last chance.”

Relief washed over him, softening his tense features, and a faint smile began to form on his lips. For a brief moment, he dared to hope that he could fix what he had broken. During those three months, he would find out what Nicholas and the Bakers were planning. But Ava’s next words chased his excitement away.

“I have some conditions,” she announced, her gaze unyielding as she looked him square in the eyes.

“What condition?” Dylan’s smile faltered, a flicker of apprehension replacing it.

“You will not try to control me. I’ll go where I want, meet with whomever I choose, and you won’t interfere. And last but not least, you won’t force yourself on me. No sex.”

“What?” The request set off an instant alarm within him, and his expression darkened as frustration crept back into his voice. “So, you’re planning to keep seeing Nicholas, aren’t you?” he growled, his jaw tightening. “If that’s the case, let me make this clear—I won’t allow it.”

“You’re not in a position to allow or disallow anything,” she shot back, folding her arms across her chest. “Those are my terms. Take them, or we move ahead with the divorce.”

She walked away.

Dylan clenched his fists, torn between his jealousy and his desperation. He knew he couldn’t afford to push her away now, not after coming this far. He forced himself to swallow his anger.

“Wait.” Dylan stopped her by her arm. “Fine,” he managed with barely contained frustration. “I accept. Just promise me you will be loyal to me.”

Ava rolled her eyes, a flash of bitterness crossing her face. “If you can’t trust me, don’t pretend you do,” she snapped, trying to escape his grasp.

Dylan didn’t release her arm. Ignoring the sting of her words, he drew her back to his chest. “Let’s not fight. I’ll do my best not to upset you.”

“Leave me,” she demanded.

“No, I won’t.”

Ava sighed with resignation. “Shouldn’t you be heading to the office?”

It was only at this point he let her go. Ava shook her head in dismay as she headed into the bathroom, not giving him a second look.

Dylan stood there with mixed feelings in his heart. He could clearly tell Ava wasn’t serious about him. The distance between them felt insurmountable. But he was relieved she had agreed to give him a chance at least. Although he knew it was going to be very tough, he would do his best to get her love back.

He reached for his phone and made a call to Justin. When the call connected, he quickly stepped out of the room. “I need you to reinvestigate the accident,” he said gravely.

There was a pause, and then Justin’s surprised voice crackled through the line. “Reinvestigate? What’s going on? Why now? Did anything happen lately?”