Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Hospital

The best doctors were gathered to conduct the most thorough examination for her, and there was nothing physically wrong with Avery Jane; she just remained in a deep sleep, not waking up.

Avery Jane slept soundly, her breathing light, eyes tightly closed, with long, curving eyelashes casting a charming and bewitching shadow over the bridge of her nose. Joshua Hughes reached out to gently touch her face, something she had never experienced before, which worried him a little.

She had been asleep for almost two days now, and the doctors were at a loss. Such a condition was almost unheard of. The patient had no physical issues; she was just in a state of deep sleep.

”Mr. Hughes, has this lady experienced any kind of shock before?” After the internal and surgical doctors completed a joint consultation confirming Avery Jane’s physical health, they invited neurologists and psychologists for a diagnosis.

The middle-aged psychologist, calm and refined, asked questions. Joshua Hughes glanced at Avery Jane; her petite body lay in bed, so delicate that it evoked a sense of pity.

”You mean she ended up like this due to some shock?” Joshua Hughes didn’t directly answer the psychologist’s question.

”Theoretically, it can be said that way, but it depends on the patient’s reaction upon waking.” Such cases in psychology are not unheard of—though there’s no external force or injury, some people, after experiencing great psychological trauma, become insane, stop speaking, become reclusive, or exhibit abnormal behavior. All possibilities exist because the stimulation each person receives from the external environment is different, and their reactions upon waking differ as well.

”How long will she take to wake up?” Joshua Hughes’s gaze never left the person lying in bed, as if she could disappear at any moment.

”That’s uncertain; it depends on her. In such a state of deep sleep, it’s mostly because they’re trying to escape the troubles of real life, subconsciously allowing themselves to sink into deep slumber, even in sleep reminding themselves not to wake up.”

The doctor looked at the woman sleeping on the bed, her skin like snow, her features like a painting, beautiful as if untouched by the worldly dust. Then looked at the man sitting by the bed, whose gaze held urgency but couldn’t conceal the gentleness and compassion within.

Women who are too beautiful often have ill fate, especially those delicate and affectionate.

Perhaps it was their conversation or maybe she had slept enough, or perhaps for some other reason, the person on the bed seemed to twitch her eyelids, slowly opening her eyes.......

”Avery Jane, you’re awake?” Joshua Hughes’s low, slightly hoarse voice, as he had been here with her for two days.

The woman on the bed lifted her eyes to look at him, seemingly trying to recognize him, her eyes filled with confusion.

It was as if she had never known him before; she used to not look at him like this. That look was like looking at a stranger.

Seeing the confusion and bewilderment in her eyes, Joshua Hughes’s heart skipped a beat, and he gently held her small hand: ”What’s wrong, are you uncomfortable somewhere? Or do you want something to eat?”

Avery Jane looked around, shook her head at him, and pushed his hand away: ”Who are you? Where is my husband?”

Her gentle voice struck Joshua Hughes like a lightning bolt.

Does she really not recognize him anymore?

The little woman on the bed looked at him suspiciously: ”You’re definitely not my husband; he doesn’t wear black clothes.” The man sitting beside the bed was in a black suit, seemingly not the person she knew, yet seeming so familiar.

Joshua Hughes was first stunned, then regarded her with a complex gaze: ”Avery Jane, what do you remember?”

Joshua Hughes’s mind spun quickly; he recalled what the psychologist said. Since the patient’s experiences of trauma varied, their reactions upon waking differed, but most chose to forget the painful events.

Could it be that Avery Jane’s memory only reached up to the day of her wedding? Because the next day, Lucas Yates had an accident, and then six months later, he entered her life, which must be the most devastating blow for her.

”I got married, I just got married, didn’t I? Let my husband come over.” Avery Jane’s eyes were as innocent as a child’s, looking at him with a hint of supplication.

Joshua Hughes looked at her, gently embraced her slender body: ”Silly, it’s me. During the wedding, I wore a white suit, true, but not on workdays, it would easily get dirty. Avery, how can you forget me?”

Cora Jane widened her eyes, looking at him closely. Is he telling the truth? But what has happened to me?

”But what’s wrong with me, why can’t I remember anything?” Avery Jane’s head throbbed with a sharp pain, causing her to frown slightly.

”You had a fall, possibly forgetting some things, but it’s okay. I will tell you slowly in the future.” Joshua Hughes’s deep eyes flickered with light. She was just in a two-day slumber, yet it had let him experience the feeling from heaven to Inferno. Finding her made him so happy, as if having the whole world. But the two days’ wait was too long, long like torture, grinding away all his confidence and pride; he was even willing to pay any price as long as she woke up healthy.

What kind of feelings does he have for her? Perhaps it’s no longer necessary to think too much. Maybe even heaven took pity on him, hence sending him a brand new Avery Jane, making him ecstatic.

”How did we meet?” Avery Jane’s mind felt as though it was filled with paste; occasionally, fragments flashed by, but they were like shattered pieces that she couldn’t piece together completely.

Joshua Hughes’s mind was turning quickly, pondering how he could make her believe him.

”You are my employee, and we fell in love at first sight.” Joshua gently held her hand and spoke softly.

The girl on the bed shyly lowered her head, then raised it after a while and asked quietly, ”Have we been married for long?”

Her face, perhaps due to sufficient sleep or some other reason, slowly showed a faint blush, and as she looked at him, his heart skipped a beat and started beating irregularly.

”No, we just got married,” Joshua glanced at the psychologist observing from the side, signaling him to leave first.

”Avery, are you hungry? I’ve had some food prepared for you. Eat a little first, and ask later, okay?” Joshua mused over how to craft this lie so perfectly that she couldn’t detect any flaws. She seemed to have already believed his words.

Avery obediently nodded, and Joshua exited the ward, instructing the nurse to bring her the prepared porridge.

”When will she remember the past?”

The doctor looked at the man in front of him. A moment ago, he seemed gentle and filled with pity in his patient’s room; yet the next, he was sharp, dark, and inescapable.

”It’s hard to say; some patients remember within days, while for others it takes a long time, or they might never remember in their lifetime. As I’ve mentioned, all patients with psychological traumas share a common trait: they’ve endured different stimuli or emotional harm. However, their psychological recovery varies. If you wish for her to quickly recall the past, then take her to places she lived, have her meet people she knew, talk about past events. This might help her remember sooner, but there’s no guarantee.” The psychologist adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose and answered earnestly.

”How do I ensure she doesn’t remember?” Joshua’s voice was chillingly cold.

He’s seen all kinds of requests from patient families, this wasn’t the most unusual.

”Do the opposite; keep her away from familiar past things. Let her immerse herself in new work or life; if she’s busy absorbing new things, she naturally won’t insist on recalling the past. But nothing is absolute, Mr. Hughes, sometimes we rely on fate.” The renowned psychologist shrugged at him, made a helpless gesture, and smiled faintly.

”If necessary, I can prescribe some supplemental medication. Her awareness might recover faster.” The psychologist glanced, then withheld the next sentence, which was meant to ask whether he needed it.

In his view, it seemed Mr. Hughes didn’t want the girl to remember the past.

”No need.”

The cold voice line, as pure as high-grade liquor, said before turning back to the ward.

Opening the ward door, the room light was warm. The little girl was sitting on the bed, sipping porridge.

”Your boyfriend is so nice, he’s been with you for two whole days without leaving, so thoughtful.” The nurse looked enviously at Avery Jane, aware of who Mr. Hughes was; not only incredibly wealthy but also exceptionally handsome.

”He’s my husband.” Avery Jane finished her last mouthful and smilingly told the nurse.

”He’s my husband.” This sentence was like a stone thrown into Joshua Hughes’s heart ocean, slowly stirring ripples in a long-calm heart, sparkles of bright light in his profound eyes.....

”Mr. Hughes is married? Haven’t heard of it.” The nurse said while tidying the thermal box.

Avery Jane’s eyes seemed to dim; he hasn’t been married?

Joshua coldly glanced at the nurse, who immediately lowered her head and hurried out.

”Don’t you remember? You said because we’re in the same company, I’m your boss, so it’s not made public?” Joshua affectionately pinched her small nose, looking at her.

Crafting a lie was an incredibly simple task for him, especially when it was to deceive a straightforward-minded girl like Avery Jane.

The girl continued to look up, her sparkling eyes flickering, seemingly trusting him, yet still harboring doubt.