Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Light fluctuated, casting onto Atlas Hallow’s face, carving his deep contours and distinct edges.

In the floating darkness, he gazed at Charlotte Miller’s face, the dim light forming an invisible barrier, enveloping Charlotte within it. Her brows furrowed deeply with a heavy expression; he could no longer ask anything. Perhaps he could never understand the pain of a mother who just lost her child, but who could understand his pain?

The Hallow Family quickly returned to calm from a whirlwind of chaos, and Charlotte, who had only gone to work for a few days, once again stayed at the Hallow household.

Kinsley Lee cried out for Flix Hallow to accompany her on a trip to Europe, saying that the atmosphere at the Hallow’s was truly unbearable, more so for Ayla Kim. Yet her anger couldn’t be directed at Charlotte because Atlas had already told her not to mention the child again.

Everything happening outside seemed unrelated to Charlotte. She always lay quietly on the bed, spending entire days lying there.

Her increasingly thin face looked exceptionally pale in the morning light, even her lips seemed bleached, losing their past luscious red, appearing dry and pale.

No amount of nourishment could help her regain any vitality. She could still eat plenty, yet she appeared tragically thin, evoking empathy.

In truth, the pain of losing a child was felt not only by Charlotte Miller, but by Atlas Hallow deep down. This sudden blow seemed like a merciless act of the heavens extracting the most vital part of his body, like a root bone, causing him to suffer alone, bending over in pain like an injured, dying beast, wanting to find a place to recover but unable to escape.

What tormented him the most was Charlotte’s current condition; losing that child changed everything. Her gentle and perceptive eyes always floated without focus.

She neither looked at him nor at anything in the room, as if he never existed, as if the child never came, living in her own world.

Even the most qualified nutritionists and excellent psychologists couldn’t help.

Charlotte stayed in the Hallow’s bedroom for a whole month without stepping outside.

This might be alright, Atlas thought, thinking this way she could rest better. But gradually, he realized Charlotte’s changes were more than slight; the most terrifying thing still happened: Charlotte even rejected his closeness.

Every night, when he gently approached to hold her cool body, he could feel Charlotte’s body stiffen, an aversion emanating from every pore.

”Don’t do this, Charlotte...” Pain stained the boundless night, making Atlas nearly unable to breathe, as if he had dropped every ounce of pride before her, reaching out to touch the hem of her nightgown, murmuring: ”Charlotte, don’t be like this, we will have children again...”

Charlotte lay on her side with eyes closed, a cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth.

Have children again?

She might have children again, but her child could never be his.

She wanted to curse this man who deceived and hurt her, that he would never attain happiness, never have children. Yet when his fingers lightly touched her gown, a secret surge stirred within.

No matter how cruel he was to her, she couldn’t bring herself to inflict this curse upon him.

The world’s cruelest truth is knowing this man hurt her, yet she can’t bring herself to return those hurts, not even secretly curse him in her heart...

In this period akin to hibernation, no one knew what she thought. The warm room still felt as cold as an ice cellar; she needed to leave this damned place, to leave this terrifying man.

In the marriage binding her to him, if this man wouldn’t let her go, how could she escape?

Fortunately, the Miller Family had reached a safe place.

Recalling when she insisted on selling everything of the Miller Family, leaving behind money for her parents’ retirement, she now had to battle alone.

This tragic feeling made Charlotte’s heart ache to the utmost. She could only tell herself to be brave, for leaving here meant finding freedom.

She once naively thought, if this man loved her enough, sacrificing some freedom was worth it, but that was only an illusion.

Spring had come, standing by the window, she could see tender buds beginning to sprout in the garden, everything was changing. She had to adopt a new way to live.

Her closet never lacked clothes. Standing in the dressing room looking around, she chose spring attire she normally wouldn’t pick.

Though it was spring, a chill still lingered in the air; she barely felt it, as she was as cold as the air during this time, so wearing slightly thinner clothes didn’t matter.

She curved her lips, wearing a smile that concealed her thoughts.

MOSCHINO’s early spring collection; the clothes carried Italian liveliness and playfulness. Such vibrant colors and cute knit patterns were unlike her past choices, yet why not change things up? The purple-red knit sweater adorned with a crown-bearing teddy bear, the hem just above her hips revealing two snow-white, slender legs, even slimmer than before. She found herself enchanting, even she couldn’t help but admire her current appearance.

Within a month, every bit of baby fat disappeared, this disaster as sharp as a sculpting knife, made her features clearer and brighter; long absent sunlight made her skin exceptionally pale, a touch of pink lipstick evoked a burst of spring sunlight that was irresistible, carrying a small bag containing her phone and bank card, she lightly descended the stairs.

When she emerged from the elevator, she almost petrified the housekeeper.

After disappearing for a whole month, she reappeared as a different person.

Why no pants?

The housekeeper dared not look her way, bowing respectfully: ”Madam, are you going out?” He knew it was redundant, yet he had to ask.

”Hmm, let the driver get ready.” Charlotte said plainly, walking to the steps, deeply inhaling; she almost forgot what outdoor air was like after a whole month indoors.

The driver hardly needed preparing, always ready and waiting.

”Never mind, I’ll drive myself.” Charlotte turned to tell the housekeeper following her: ”Just get the red sports car from the garage.”

The housekeeper’s jaw nearly dropped: drive herself?

He dared not defy, but while the driver brought the car around, he sneaked off to call Atlas Hallow with a report.

Atlas paused for a moment on receiving the call — she wanted to go out and drive herself?

Hanging up, he grabbed the car keys from the desk and quickly left the office.

The housekeeper watched as the red sports car sped away like a flame, swiftly leaving the Hallow residence.

She didn’t know where she wanted to go, nor what she wanted to do, just wanted to leave far behind, driving aimlessly on the streets, without purpose or direction.

Atlas drove while tracking electronically, watching her car roam like a headless fly all over the city. What was she trying to do?

Gradually, the gap between them narrowed, spotting her car from afar, moving smoothly though not quickly.

The car’s roof was open, her long hair fluttered in the wind, even smelling her attractive rose fragrance from afar. It seemed several cars surrounded her, young men lowered their windows whistling praises of her beauty. Yet, she remained indifferent, driving ahead, neither acknowledging nor shaking off their pursuit.

Perhaps it was her unfamiliarity with driving domestically; the urban roads also limited speed.

Charlotte glanced in the rearview mirror, seemingly spotting something.

The smile lingered, her eyes cool: this man came, so quickly?

As Atlas drew near, suddenly the red sports car darted away like a glowing spark, weaving agilely through traffic toward the suburban roads.

Enjoying pursuit, she intended to see if he could keep up?

Outside the city, her car accelerated, being much faster than the one Atlas drove.

What was Charlotte thinking? Having seen him already, why drive so fiercely, not stopping, intentionally going faster?

A red, a black, a small, a large car consecutively exited the city, chasing along a vehicle-sparse road...