Chapter 3

Dawson stood in the doorway. His eyes dragged over the ruined fabric scattered across the Persian rug. The vein at his temple throbbed visibly.

He stepped over the shredded silk, his heavy shoes crushing the expensive material. He closed the distance between them in three long strides.

He snatched the scissors from Charlene's hand and slammed them down onto the vanity.

The heavy metal clattered loudly against the marble top.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Dawson gritted out, his voice vibrating with suppressed rage.

Charlene brushed a loose thread from her fingers. She looked up at him. Her eyes were completely dead, devoid of the fear he expected to see.

"Those clothes are ugly," she said, her tone entirely flat. "I don't like them."

The casual dismissal hit Dawson like a physical blow. He was used to her trembling apologies. He thrived on her submission. This blatant disregard for his authority made his blood boil.

He stepped closer. His towering frame cast a dark shadow over her. The sharp, icy scent of his cedarwood cologne wrapped around her face, suffocating her.

He reached out. His large hand clamped around her jaw, his fingers digging into her soft skin. He forced her head up, making her look directly into his eyes.

Normally, Charlene would shrink back. Today, she stared right back at him. Her lips twitched into a faint, mocking smile.

"Let's get a divorce," she said.

Dawson's fingers twitched against her jaw. His dark eyes widened for a fraction of a second, as if she had just spoken in a foreign language.

Then, he let go of her face. He let out a harsh, humorless laugh. He thought this was a game. A desperate, dramatic tactic to force him to spend more time at home.

He smoothed down the front of his suit jacket, looking down at her with absolute disdain.

"Denied," he said coldly. "Conner Group rings the bell on the NASDAQ next month. I will not tolerate a single PR scandal regarding my marriage. You will behave."

Charlene rubbed her aching jaw. The skin was already turning red.

"I have amnesia," she stated firmly. "I feel absolutely nothing for you. I won't live with a stranger."

The word 'stranger' struck a nerve. Dawson's eyes darkened, turning dangerous and predatory. His masculine pride flared up, demanding immediate correction.

He lunged forward. His arm wrapped around her waist like a vice, yanking her hard against his chest. Their bodies collided.

He lowered his head, aiming for her mouth. He wanted to force a kiss, to trigger the muscle memory of her submission, to prove that her body still belonged to him.

The moment his breath brushed her skin, Charlene's stomach violently revolted.

She drove her knee upward, slamming it hard into his stomach.

Dawson grunted in pain. His grip loosened instinctively.

Charlene shoved both hands against his solid chest, pushing him away with all her strength. She stumbled back two steps, putting distance between them.

She reached behind her, her fingers wrapping around the neck of a heavy crystal vase on the nightstand. She hurled it at the floor right between his feet.

The crystal shattered with an explosive crash. Shards of glass exploded outward, scattering across the hardwood.

Charlene pointed a shaking finger at the broken glass. Her chest heaved.

"Don't touch me," she spat, her voice dripping with pure disgust. "You make me sick."

Dawson stood on the other side of the broken glass, clutching his stomach. His face was pale with fury. No woman had ever looked at him with such raw repulsion. The humiliation burned through his veins like acid.

He pointed a finger at her, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper.

"Push me again, Charlene, and you'll find out exactly what happens when you cross my bottom line."

He turned around and stormed out of the bedroom. The heavy double doors slammed shut with enough force to rattle the windowpanes.

Charlene's knees buckled slightly. She leaned back against the wall, taking deep, shaky breaths to slow her racing heart.

A cold, victorious smile slowly spread across her lips.

She walked over to the small writing desk in the corner. She pulled out a blank sheet of paper and a pen. Drawing on the meticulous attention to detail she cultivated in her secret life as the elite photographer 'Vesper', a habit that made her naturally adept at reviewing complex contracts, she began to list the specific fault-based clauses hidden deep within their prenuptial agreement.