Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

”It’s no use holding me like this, I’m a bit tired now. Let me go upstairs and rest, okay?” Charlotte Miller sighed, never expecting to encounter Atlas Hallow the moment Rogers arrived.

This man could be infuriatingly unreasonable.

What did he want to say?

They were already over, no chance of being together again.

Now, Charlotte felt a little worried about Rogers.

Because she was uncertain about what Atlas wanted to do.

But her bottom line was not to let Rogers get hurt, just like years ago when she hoped the people who were kind to her wouldn’t be harmed either.

When Mia was weak and tiny, extracted from her womb, it was Rogers who placed her in the incubator. He kept vigil day and night until Mia was finally taken out of the incubator after forty-five days in the neonatal ward, with Rogers always by her side.

He emerged thinner then, evidently worn down, as if carved with a knife, his eyes bloodshot and almost unable to open.

Later, as Mia frequently encountered issues, Rogers naturally became the family doctor.

No exaggeration, without Rogers, Mia wouldn’t be able to eat half a bowl of porridge or drink a bowl of soup like her mommy told her that day, or she might have remained in a cold, small box instead of leaving the incubator.

Thinking of this terrified Charlotte, further intensifying her dislike for Atlas.

Since Rogers was in the U.S.A, she was determined to ensure he wasn’t offended in the least.

Atlas looked into Charlotte’s eyes, those water-like eyes stirring his heart intensely as she gazed at him.

All of Charlotte’s senses seemed focused on the big hand holding hers, just as clear and warm as years ago, but now it brought her rejection instead of warmth.

When she sensed Atlas’s grip loosening, she immediately pulled away, lifting her gaze to see his tall, strong body stiffen.

As she turned to leave, everything fell silent.

A silent that gnawed at the heart, so quiet it seemed as though only he existed in the world, his loneliness as if his heart never beat.

In truth, for the past three years, his heart felt dead, only coming alive at the sight of her.

He loved her so much, yet somehow ended up here.

As he released her hand, he chose to endure his own pain, rather than force or trouble her.

Atlas’s clenched palms hung at his sides, his tightly wound nerves throbbing, but he longed to give her enough free space despite the pain.

He kept reminding himself, there was still time.

Back at the Hallow Clan office, Daniel Parker had already brewed coffee and served it up. Atlas took a sip, letting the bitterness coat his tastebuds as it slid down his throat.

Before finishing the cup, Amir swept in like a gust of wind, opened the office door without even knocking.

Amir received a call earlier, his mom had been transferred from the prison infirmary to an official cell. In such weather, sharing a cell with eight people meant no hot showers.

Moreover, the food and supplies he sent were not allowed to be delivered as no visits were permitted.

What on earth happened?

This must be his big brother’s doing. No one would dare unless Atlas Hallow had commanded it.

His mother had done wrong back then, but the person was dead. Ultimately, when the truth came out, Amir knew there was an explanation owed to Atlas. His mother served time, with relations strained to get her a better cell, so why such a strong reaction from Atlas after three years?

”Why this? She’s already old. If you still feel unsettled about the past, let me repay it for her.” Amir’s expression turned serious, a stark contrast to his usual cavalier demeanor.

How could his mother endure such suffering? Inside, she endured menial tasks with everyone else, scolded if slow. Moving her out of that private cell meant all privileges were now revoked.

”You can’t repay...” Atlas still held the coffee, sipping slowly even though it had gone a bit cold, bitter like his current mood.

What else could he do? He was trapped, unable to force, unable to love, everything seemed unattainable.

Understanding dawned when he saw her with another man by her side.

With a smile more bitter than black coffee, letting her go meant never having her; he might not survive, but if he didn’t let her go and saw her in pain, he still wouldn’t survive.

Navigating such a difficult choice was a death by itself.

”Amir, I never intended to monopolize these things since childhood. Your arrival is timely, as I have something to discuss with you.” Atlas’s voice was laden with unconcealed heartbreak as he wanted to cut ties with everything.

Everything with the slightest link to his ugly past needed to be severed one by one.

”I know.” Amir nodded, never denying this point.

Atlas wouldn’t bring this up casually, so what severe problem had arisen?

”Your shares converted to cash, whatever the amount should be, I will give you... If you wish to manage the Hallow Family’s businesses, my shares will also be converted to cash, and I’ll leave...” Only this way could everything be cleanly severed; he seemed incapable of maintaining any link to the past.

People and things alike reminded him of events three years ago: ”Let’s settle it this way, Amir, if not for you, I would have killed Kinsley Lee myself. Whatever hardship she should endure, you can’t interfere, or else I won’t spare even you. If she survives for ten years, then the account is settled.”

Atlas motioned for Amir to leave with a wave, unwilling to speak further about the past, a pain he couldn’t voice.

”What exactly happened?” Amir’s look was shaken; this was more terrifying than witnessing an apocalypse. How could it be like this?

What could have happened for Atlas to take such measures? The Hallow Family never talked about splitting up after so many years of inheritance; why this sudden drastic change?

”You should ask your mother what she did...” Atlas’s low voice brimmed with sorrow, hanging in the air, chilling enough to freeze the very breath one inhaled.

Was there more to the events of three years ago?

Throughout these years, Amir saw Atlas struggle, seemingly pouring all his energy into work, boosting the Hallow Clan’s market value exponentially, yet never once did he see Atlas’s brow relaxed—what had transpired?

”Today, I give you one last visitation time. Anything unclear, ask until it becomes clear.” Atlas’s cold words were his final act of mercy, not allowing anyone to visit Kinsley Lee for a decade henceforth.

Shouldering all matters of the Hallow Clan alone, Atlas never thought of seizing Amir’s money, yet ended up here.

He offered all his forbearance to others, only cruel to Charlotte...the fault was his...

As the car sped out of the Hallow Clan parking lot, Daniel Parker stood behind Atlas, looking at his retreating figure.

For such a large enterprise, his boss declared a split within minutes; was it really to dissolve?

Daniel was so startled his jaw nearly dropped, gently asking, ”Are the lawyers, accountants, and finance ready? Has the liquidation started as of today—anything else needs doing?”

”Daniel, am I particularly awful?” Atlas gazed out the window, the hotel seeming vaguely visible from this location, where Charlotte stayed with the foreign man.

She mentioned absence making the heart grow fonder—what could they be doing right now?

He dared not think further, fearing he might indeed have a heartache, the pain blacking out his vision, even making his nose ache...

”Not really.” Daniel never thought poorly of Atlas; he boundlessly expanded his business territory, almost invincible—could such a man be lacking?

”You don’t understand, you have no idea how terrible I am.” He was indeed terrible, bestowing all his cruelty and harm on the woman he loved most.

And now, he was utterly helpless...