Chapter 3

Dexter could hardly believe what he had just heard.

Throughout his marriage with Angela, he had only ever seen a submissive and hopeful look in her eyes. He knew she feared losing him.

The term "divorce" was probably the thing she had feared hearing the most in the past three years.

But now, she had uttered it so casually.

When Dexter had seen Angela's retreating back at the office this morning, he had already felt annoyed. That emotion resurfaced again. He casually picked up a cigarette from the pack on the table and lit it.

Amid the swirling smoke, Dexter questioned in a cold voice, "What? Are you upset because I didn't accompany you yesterday? Or is it because I refused to let you participate in that ridiculous competition?

"Angela, are you out of your mind? You cried and begged to be Mrs. Bamford. You live in a villa and have luxury cars to drive you around. I even propped up your failing family. What more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?"

The disdain and contempt in his words made Angela feel a chill run down her spine.

She should have known better.

She couldn't hold back anymore. She retorted loudly, almost shouting, "Mrs. Bamford? So what if I'm Mrs. Bamford? Have you ever seen a rich man's wife as pathetic as I am?"

She stormed into the study, grabbed a bulky contract, and threw it in front of Dexter forcefully. "You should know what this is better than I do! I'm expected to keep up appearances in front of your family. But when I come home, even the household staff can show me attitude!

"What kind of wife spends her birthday being yet another portfolio addition to a fireworks designer and is given the very same six-inch birthday cake that was given to the nanny?

"While it is true that I got to become Mrs. Bamford because of my family's plotting, I don't want it anymore! Do you have a problem with that?"

Dexter found this side of Angela unfamiliar. At the same time, he thought she was being ridiculous. "Do you think you can just get into this marriage and end it as you wish? You'd be too naïve to think so!"

He raised an eyebrow mockingly. "Do you think you can come and go as you please in the Bamford family? What about the debt you and your family owe me?"

"Whatever the Graham family owes you, go to them. What do I owe you, Dexter? I don't owe you a thing! Even if I did, three years of warming your bed should have been enough to repay it!" Angela countered.

She didn't want to argue with Dexter anymore. So, she picked up her only suitcase and turned to leave. After three years of being Mrs. Bamford, all her belongings didn't even fill a small suitcase—this was proof of the miserable life she had been leading.

As she approached the staircase, a strong grip pulled her back.

Dexter's expression was stormy as he gripped her chin and forced her to look up at him. "Warming my bed? Is that how you see yourself? Ha! It seems I've overestimated you. You don't even know how to be proactive in bed or please me. Shall I give you a chance to demonstrate what you're capable of now?"

Angela's eyes widened in disbelief as the dull pain radiated from her chin. Out of reflex and in retaliation, she slapped Dexter.

As her hand landed on his face, a loud slap echoed in the enclosed space. The air around them seemed to freeze at that moment.

A surge of anger shot up in Dexter's heart.

In the next second, Angela felt the world spinning around her as Dexter picked her up and threw her onto the bed. His expression was terrifying, and he exuded an imposing air.

Pinning Angela down, Dexter placed his hands on either side of her head. She felt his heavy breaths on her face. They were mere inches apart.

Angela tensed up upon sensing the looming danger. As she stared at the vivid handprint on his face, she couldn't help but cower a little.

Dexter bit down on the side of her neck and spoke unkind words in the most intimate way possible. "You're making a scene because you're jealous. Are you that bothered about Elena? Isn't pretending your specialty? What? Can't keep it up now?"

The mention Elena struck a nerve with Angela. She swallowed down the nervousness from slapping him earlier and tried to push Dexter away impatiently.

This was the first time Angela had shown refusal, or it could also be that Dexter was simply too used to their physical contact. Either way, Angela's actions ignited his desire, and he suddenly felt aroused.

Angela had always had an alluring figure; she had beautiful curves in all the right places. Though she was passive in bed, they actually got along very well physically.

Dexter brushed a few strands of stray hair off her forehead, his gaze darkening. He then leaned in, his lips lingering over hers. One of his hands moved to grip her soft waist.

Angela came to her senses and realized what Dexter was about to do.

Usually, she found it hard to refuse him when he was this forceful. But now that she intended to divorce him, this forced intimacy was uncalled for.

"No, Dexter! Stop…" Angela was unaware of the impact that her soft, moaning tone had on a man.

There was even a hint of a sob in her meek protest. Angela cursed herself for being so weak. All it took was a light kiss from Dexter, and what was supposed to be a firm rejection sounded like she was playing hard-to-get instead.

Well, Dexter was into this. His wandering hand trailed lower as his lips brushed over her earlobe.

"Isn't it too early to ask me to stop now? It always takes a few rounds before you start begging for mercy."

Angela's face turned red with embarrassment, and she had a flustered look in her eyes.

Even if Dexter didn't want to admit it, he was indeed aroused when he held her intoxicating body in his arms so closely.

Just as he was about to tear her clothes away, she reached out and stopped him.

Angela asked through ragged breaths, "There are no more condoms. Are you sure about this?"

Dexter paused, and reason took over. He realized that he wasn't that desperate to bed her. After all, having a child with Angela wasn't part of his current plans.

Nevertheless, he felt reluctant to let go of her when the mood was just right. He raised an eyebrow and questioned, "Are you threatening me?"

"No, I'm simply stating a fact." Angela stubbornly looked up at him, standing her ground.

At that moment, something snapped in Dexter, and he found the face staring back at him incredibly infuriating.

"You could just take a pill!" he growled, disregarding her objections.

Angela's face was wet with tears. Once again, she saw her true worth in Dexter's eyes. Even calling her a sex partner would be too generous.

A sex partner had the right to say "no", but she didn't even have the right to refuse.

The abrupt ringing of Dexter's phone interrupted their imminent intimacy. He casually picked up his phone, not really concerned at first. But upon seeing who was calling, he quickly lifted himself off Angela.