Chapter 116: I’ll protect you.
Ava parted her lips to respond, but Nicholas’s voice cut through the tension first. "She is no longer your wife." Rising from his chair, he stepped toward them. "Your matters are not her concern anymore. She can go wherever she wants and meet whoever she likes. You can’t stop her."
Dylan’s grip on Ava tightened as he pulled her closer to him. "Our divorce is not finalized yet." His tone was icy and laced with warning. "She is still my wife. Stay away from her." His fierce eyes locked onto Nicholas.
Nicholas’s gaze flickered to Dylan’s hand resting possessively on Ava’s waist, and a spark of anger flared in his chest. He fought to keep his composure. Sliding his hands into his pockets, he clenched them into fists, silently containing the bubbling rage within him.
"What’s the point of keeping her with you forcefully?" he started slowly, his tone betraying his undercurrent resentment. "It’ll only bring both of you more pain. Your marriage is already broken. Accept it. Let her go."
"I don’t need your suggestion," Dylan hissed. His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring. "We’ll resolve our issues on our own."
He turned and walked away, pulling Ava along. Ava stumbled slightly, wincing at the pressure on her arm.
"She is here with me." Nicholas’s voice rose as he stepped forward, blocking Dylan’s path. His calm exterior cracked. "You can’t take her away."
"And who are you to stop me from taking my wife?" Dylan snapped back, his anger rising.
Ava’s heart sank as she glanced at Dylan’s face. The grip on her arm grew tighter, making her wince in pain. She could feel the heat of his anger radiating off him, and her stomach twisted in fear.