Chapter 147: She doesn’t want me anymore.
On the other hand, Dylan instantly grabbed the phone, his heart leaping with hope that it was a message from Ava. But the name on the screen made him pause.
"Ethan? His brows knitted in confusion. "Why would he text me?"
With a mix of curiosity and unease, Dylan opened the message. His posture stiffened when he saw the photographs of Ava celebrating her birthday with her friends and family. But it was the picture of her standing beside Nicholas, smiling warmly at him, that struck Dylan like a blow to the chest.
"What is she doing with him?"
He read the accompanying message, each word sinking into him like a dagger. He couldn’t believe that Ava had celebrated her birthday without him. A painful weight settled in his heart, his hand moving to his chest.
’She didn’t want me there. She doesn’t want me anymore.’ The thought was like poison, spreading through his veins, making it hard to breathe.
Dylan’s gaze shifted around the room. The vibrant tulips he’d carefully arranged, the cheerful balloons and streamers swaying gently in the air, and the cake he had baked with so much care—all of it now felt meaningless.
What once seemed like a warm, inviting setting now felt cold and mocking. The table, perfectly set with her favorite dishes, stood as a bitter reminder of his failed attempt to make her happy.
He was disheartened, and the pain in his heart was unbearable. ’Is this how it felt when you were neglected?’ He lowered himself into the nearest chair, shoulders slumping under his despair.
A bitter smile curled his lips. "Ava, you just know how to make me regret. If this is your way of punishing me for the past, I accept it. I deserve it. But please..." His voice broke, and he swallowed hard. "Please don’t ever think of leaving me."
He clasped the phone, his head hanging low. Without warning, a drop of tear escaped his eyes.