Chapter 26: Nicholas Baker
Dylan stood rooted to the spot, his face slowly reddening as he turned to meet Ava’s stormy gaze. His eyes flared with disbelief, and for a moment, it seemed as if the entire world had gone silent around them.
Murmurs rippled through the diners nearby, some in shock, others in hushed gossip. Gianna’s hands flew to her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before her. Ethan was also taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to go this far to defend him.
Dylan’s eyes locked onto Ava’s, his shock turning into a seething, burning rage.
"Your problem is with me," Ava hissed, her chest heaving. "Don’t humiliate Ethan. I won’t tolerate it."
Dylan’s glare intensified. "You slap me for him!" he groaned. His heart blazed with rage, as memories from the past raced through his head. He had noticed Ava always standing up for Ethan at school, which irritated him.
Ethan was merely an ordinary guy, an orphan who her father had sponsored. But Ava had given him special treatment. The memory triggered old frustrations, exacerbating his fury.
"If you say something against Ethan, I’ll do that again," Ava snapped, leveling the glare.
"Ava! You are unreasonable!" Gianna chimed in. "Because of another man, you didn’t hesitate to humiliate Dylan in front of everyone. You may have issues with him, but you shouldn’t have hit him in public."
Her words were deliberate, aiming to fuel Dylan’s rage. And Gianna was successful with it. She leaned closer to Dylan, her hand lightly touching his arm as if to restrain him, though it was clear she had no real intention of calming him down.
"You’re only making this worse, Ava," Gianna said with feigned concern. "You’re turning this into a spectacle. Think about how this looks. Everyone’s watching."
Dylan’s fury reached its peak, his face red in anger. "You are coming with me," he growled, reaching out toward Ava.