12 The threat
Divorce!
The word hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. Dylan felt it slice through him, a vision flashing in his mind. ‘Sign the divorce papers and get out of my life. He could hear his own voice echoing inside his head.
He blinked hard, shaking his head to rid himself of the thought. Although the vision didn’t appear again, his restlessness grew.
“Divorce?” he grumbled dangerously, stepping toward her in a stormy momentum. “You
want to leave me! Never – I won’t allow that.”
“Isn’t this what you wanted all along?” she retaliated. She knew he only kept her trapped in this marriage as part of his vendetta against her father, and she would not be his pawn any longer. “You don’t love me. It’s Gianna you want. I’m giving you the freedom you crave. Divorce me and-”
Before she could finish, Dylan grabbed her arms and shoved her against the wall with a force that made her gasp. His grip was unyielding, his face a storm of fury.
“You said you loved me,” he growled. “You forced this marriage, clung to me even when you knew I felt nothing for you. And now you want to divorce me! Do you think you can play with me as you please?”
He held her jaw tightly, the pressure making her wince. His expression darkened, raw fury radiating from every pore of his body.
“Ending this marriage isn’t up to you,” he hissed, leaning even closer. “It’s my decision. And I’m not letting you go–not anytime soon. So don’t mention divorce again. Or else, I will stop investing in Williams Holdings.”
Ava’s heart raced with fury. “You bastard,” she spat. “How dare you use that to threaten
me?”
“Oh, darling, I can do much worse. You know Williams Holdings is struggling. If I pull my support, it’ll collapse.” He smirked dangerously. “And what will happen to your father? Can he take the blow?”
Ava blinked in a daze, a few scenes of her past life flickering in the back of her mind. It seemed as if history was repeating itself.
Those were the same words he had said in the past. Back then, she was scared and weak. She had been scared and weak in the past, handing her shares to Dylan to save
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12 The threat
her family’s company. But now, she wouldn’t let him dictate over her.
“You are a monster, Dylan!” she spat. How could she have missed seeing this cruel, twisted side of him?
He smirked, the expression devoid of any warmth. “Since you already know I’m a monster, I may as well show you just how cruel I can be.”
Without warning, Dylan crashed his lips against hers in a savage kiss, his hands gripping her tightly, controlling her.
“Mm!” Ava’s entire body tensed with revulsion, her mind screaming to escape. She writhed against him, desperate to push him away. Feeling trapped, she did the only thing she could–she bit down hard on his lip. 2
Dylan pulled back instantly, grimacing in pain. His finger wiped the blood stain from his lips, his expression shifting into one of both irritation and confusion. “What the hell is wrong with you?” 2
“I’ll do it again if you try to force yourself on me,” she hissed with unbridled defiance. Dylan’s expression twisted into a mixture of frustration and barely contained rage. “Don’t test my patience, Ava,” he growled, pointing a finger at her like a warning. “I am tolerating all this because I thought I should make up to you for missing the anniversary. But clearly, you don’t appreciate anything I do for you.”
Ava rolled her eyes. “I don’t need your pity,” she retorted sharply. “I don’t expect anything from you anymore.”
With that, she turned away from him, marching toward the closet.
Dylan stood there, watching her retreating form, his finger lingering on his sore lip.
After collecting the documents and stuffing some clothes into a suitcase, she came out. Dylan’s expression froze when he saw the suitcase in her hand. His stomach twisted with an unfamiliar sensation–panic, maybe? Whatever it was, he didn’t like it. “Where are you going?” Taking long strides, he swiftly moved to block her path. Ava didn’t flinch. “As I said, I came to collect my things. It’s done, and now I’m leaving.” Dylan snatched the suitcase from her hand and shoved it aside, the force of it hitting the floor echoing through the room. “You’re not leaving this house.”
Ava squared her shoulders, her fierce glare meeting his unwavering. “What now, Dylan? Are you going to lock me up?”
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12 The threat
His eyes flickered with something dangerous, and then he nodded sharply, his jaw clenched. “If necessary, yes, I will.” With a rough yank, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. “We’re still married. It’s not suitable for you to go running back to your father’s place.”
Ava leveled the glare. “You clearly don’t like me,” she said in a low rumbling voice. “Why do you want to keep me around you?” She moved in closer and reached out to touch his bare chest with a sultry smile. Could it be… you’ve developed feelings for me?”
Dylan’s hand shot up, grabbing her wrist. “Don’t flatter yourself,” he grumbled, his tone deep. “You forced this marriage on me. And now that you’re mine, I decide when it ends. And I have no plans to leave you until the term of the contract is over. You have to bear me four more years, darling.”
His mocking tone irked her even more. “Dylan!” Ava’s voice trembled with frustration.
Before she could say another word, he lifted a finger to silence her. “If you want to save your family’s business, you’ll obey me,” he declared. “Go meet with Mr. Moore and sign the deal with him.”
Ava’s heart sank. She had done this before–countless times in her past life–securing deals and building his empire. But she wouldn’t do it anymore.
“What if I refuse?”
He curled his lips into a sly smile. “You don’t have a choice, sweetheart.” His voice softened into a dark promise, sending chills down her spine. “If you close the deal with Mr. Moore, I’ll invest in your father’s project. Fail, and your father will suffer the
consequences.”
Ava’s chest tightened as his words settled in. She could feel the noose tightening around her. Dylan was using her family’s business as a weapon to force her.
She clenched her jaw. She hated how powerless she felt, her heart twisting with anger and sorrow. She wanted to scream, to fight back, but she knew Dylan wouldn’t stop until he had full control.
As long as they couldn’t find a new investor for Williams Holdings, Dylan wouldn’t stop threatening her.
“Fine,” she managed, tears stinging her eyes.
Outside the room, Gianna heard the conversation unfolding between them. A twisted idea crossed her mind. She knew all too well about Mr. Moore’s reputation–his notorious weakness for women.
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“If he ruins Ava, will Dylan still want her?” she mused, a malicious grin dancing on her lips. 2
