Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Joshua sensed something was off, a scent rapidly fermenting in the air.

:”Avery, where are you? I’ll come find you,” he said gently. This was not the time to frighten her; she couldn’t handle more stress. If she were to remember everything, cold sweat started to drip down Joshua’s back. Her voice from that day still echoed in his ears; she spoke of hate, of never forgiving. Just thinking about it terrified him, leading to countless nightmares.

:”No need. I’m just taking a walk. I’ll find a car to go back in a bit,” Avery uttered bitterly. He was like the dazzling ”H” on top of the building, while she was just a commoner lost in the shadows. Today, she listened to colleagues marvel at his various exploits, almost myth-like. But is such a person truly her husband?

:”Don’t be ridiculous. You’ve just been injured; how can you run around alone? Tell me where you are?” Joshua, driving slowly along the streets, kept searching. She had just come out not long ago, surely she wouldn’t have gone far.

Not far away, a little figure walked along the street, long trench coat tightly wrapped around her slender body, the belt knotted at the waist, outlining a delicate and beautiful waistline. The evening breeze lifted her cloud-like long hair, hiding her beautiful face.

Joshua parked the car by the roadside and quickly chased after her: ”Avery, what’s wrong?” He grabbed her small hand, cold as ice, even her face looked a bit pale.

:”Look, your hand’s freezing. Let’s get in the car first,” he said, firmly placing her in the car without room for refusal.

:”If there’s something wrong you can tell me. It’s dangerous to walk off alone like that.” It truly was dangerous, Joshua thought, he needed to act more thoroughly to make sure everyone she knew couldn’t have the chance to see her again, like the Yates Family, like Angela, like Beckett Wright...

:”Are you really my husband?” Avery asked quietly without lifting her head.

Joshua’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

:”Of course, why do you ask all of a sudden?” Joshua, holding the steering wheel in one hand, reached over to tightly hold her hand with the other, wanting to transfer his warmth to her, so her hand wouldn’t be so cold.

:”How did we get married? Why don’t we have wedding photos?” Avery raised her eyes, looking at the man driving beside her. The street lights came through the windshield, illuminating his profile—firm, cold, mature. He had everything any girl would desire, but what about her?

Sure enough, she really did suspect.

:”I told you, it was love at first sight, and then we got married. You said you didn’t want to take wedding photos because it was cumbersome. Didn’t expect that one fall would change your mind, wanting photos now?” Joshua’s pampering tone almost made all this seem real—the handsome, strong man beside her was indeed her husband, but it felt inexplicably off.

:”Did I used to date anyone? Are you my first boyfriend?” In her mind, a shadow of a man in a white shirt frequently flashed by, but he never wore white shirts, always in dark colors.

:”No, I am your first man.” Intense pain flashed through Joshua’s eyes, fleetingly. He indeed was her first man, literally—but if she ever remembered that first time, she’d probably hate him to death.

:”What about you? Am I your first girlfriend?” Avery watched his hand enveloping hers, large and warm, slowly transmitting heat into her palm, seeping through her pores throughout her body.

:”Oh, Avery, I don’t want to deceive you. I’ve had women, but you’re the first I liked. They weren’t girlfriends, you understand?” The women from before were merely mistresses, lovers, even tools—to vent his desires, nothing more. During the two days Avery was unconscious, he nearly went crazy with worry, realizing his heart was indeed with her, albeit too late. Despite hurting her countless times, he selfishly wanted to possess her, willing to live in a world of lies just for her.

The car fell into silence. Avery lowered her head; he didn’t know what was on her little mind. How to reach her, with those dark eyes dulled like a sky without stars...

Avery was so conflicted. On one hand, the first time her eyes opened, she saw only him; her past recounted briefly by him, so she didn’t completely trust him. Yet on the other hand, she relied on him entirely, for besides him, she knew no one else—her world encompassed only him.

:”What did the doctor say about when I’ll get better?” Avery asked softly, feeling perhaps she’d gone too far. Joshua was attentive and gentle with her, yet she’d doubted him.

She lowered her head, her fluttering eyelashes resembling delicate butterfly wings in the wind, feeling guilty. Joshua’s lips curled into a faint seductive arc. Easily reading a person’s emotions was an essential skill for leading the Hughes Clan Empire, especially with a girl completely unguarded like Avery.

:”You don’t trust me; you’re questioning my words, Avery.” Joshua’s voice low and full of heartache, sounding slightly hoarse.