Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Joshua Hughes’ arrival once again sent the Yates Family into high alert.

Except for Brian Yates, who watched Joshua walk into Avery Jane’s cottage with eyes full of hatred and jealousy, then watched him walk out again.

Sensitive as he was, he could detect the faint scent clinging to Joshua—one that belonged only to Avery, distinct from any perfume or cosmetics, but her natural body fragrance.

Even if they hadn’t done anything, they must have been very close. If he could, he would have rushed up and challenged him to a duel, but it was too soon. He wasn’t yet strong enough to contend with him, couldn’t even shake the tip of the iceberg, so he gritted his teeth and held back.

”Joshua, where’s my sister-in-law? You didn’t scare her away, did you?” Evelyn Yates watched the man step out of the garden, shrouded in the thin dusk, and eagerly greeted him, teasing Joshua with flushed cheeks.

Joshua Hughes smirked, eyeing Evelyn with amusement: ”Do you have an opinion?”

Avery Jane found the switch for the light, gently turned it on, and the room was flooded with orange light that failed to bring the warmth of the past, only a wave of chill rising from her feet, uncontrollably creeping through her veins, reaching every sensitive nerve ending, until it seeped out through her pores. The tightly wrapped blanket couldn’t warm the heart that had already frozen.

The familiar loneliness and cold returned to her side.

She recalled the year she was fifteen, when she found Lucas Yates and begged him to let her conduct medicine trials, feeling the same helplessness, loneliness, and cold.

She stared, dazed, at the air, empty and sorrowful.

If meeting Lucas Yates was her greatest fortune, she may have exhausted all her luck for a lifetime.

She could no longer find someone who knew her, understood her, cared for her without expecting anything in return, other than admiration for her beauty.

Lost in boundless memories, the phone’s beep brought her back to reality, shattering the deathly silence with its crisp sound.

Avery looked at her phone, took a moment to react, then picked it up and checked; it was a message. Few people knew this number, not more than ten, all closely linked to her life. Avery wondered who it could be.

She opened the message, lightly tapping the screen, an elegant, gentle male voice flowed out like tranquil water: ”Avery, I’m truly sorry about the replacement. Believe me, I had no idea. I’ve reached an agreement with the company that my Time Legend must be represented by you, because no one is more fitting for this series than you. Perhaps my invitation feels abrupt, but I wish to invite you for dinner, are you willing?”

It was Beckett Wright’s voice, the young, exceptionally talented jewelry designer.

In this night bustling with helplessness and despair, his voice and his message brought her a bit of warmth and reassurance.

She believed him; without a pure soul, one cannot design such awe-inspiring works. She had to free herself from Joshua Hughes’ shadow, now, immediately...

The thought of a contract invigorated her.

She no longer had to make a deal with that terrible demon, no longer worry that next time she might actually succumb, might lay herself on the bed, waiting for him to claim her body before begging him.

She stepped barefoot onto the floor, opened the closet, and picked a fitting dress. After all, he was a renowned designer, so she couldn’t be careless.

The black tight dress wrapped her perfect figure, not too long, ten centimeters above the knee, revealing smooth legs. Her long hair was tied up, adorned with a touch of rosy lipstick.

She looked at herself; surely this was quite formal. Grabbing her small handbag, packing her phone and wallet, slipping on high heels, she quickly descended the stairs.

In the living room, everyone hadn’t eaten yet, seated there as Arthur Yates discussed some matters about his company with Joshua Hughes, with Evelyn Yates clinging to Joshua by his side, instinctively clutching his arm as she watched Avery descending, as if declaring sovereignty.

Indifference.

Her face clearly displayed complete indifference; her expression was only of aloofness and disdain.