It's no more stupid than your blatantly obvious tunnel vision where Sonny is concerned. Ava asked him for a loan. How the hell is that escalating things? All he had to do was say no. But no, he decides to see what angle he can work here.
As for why Ava even asked him? He's a very wealthy man. She shouldn't have asked him but you are trying (unsuccessfully) to rationalize he's selfish behavior by blaming Ava for asking a simple question. That's stupid. Things escalated when he countered with, if I do this for you, then I want to change our recent agreement. An agreement YOUR boy initiated. Ava was ready to go to court when YOUR guy came to her asking for a compromise.
YOUR guy broke the law by keeping Ava from THEIR daughter for months. But let's not talk about that because that shows Phony Soprano in a bad light. YOUR guy killed an unarmed man and is walking around with this I'll do it again bravado and yet still believes he is the better parent for a young girl who clearly needs and wants her mother.
You can spit on some folk's cupcake and they'll believe it to be frosting--but not here sir. Not me. Not ever. Try Jesus bro. Don't try me.
And I'll end how you kicked this off by quoting Forrest Gump: Stupid is as stupid does!