Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Joshua Hughes gazed deeply into her eyes. His presence was gentle yet unyielding, sweeping through her mind, which already felt broken, becoming an even bigger mess.

”You, I...” Avery Jane didn’t know what to say, her face flushed red as she turned away to avoid his blazing gaze.

Angry? She should be angry. But he was Joshua Hughes, the king of the business world. Living a somewhat promiscuous life wasn’t completely over the top in the current societal trends, though she felt overwhelmed by it. Was she going to have to endure this forever? Thinking about how she was entangled with him yesterday, but today he was... Just the thought made Avery Jane feel nauseous to the point of vomiting.

She felt truly heartbroken, indescribably miserable.

Last night, he held her, fervently calling her his darling, asking her never to leave him, yet wasn’t that laughable? Avery Jane’s mind felt like it was about to explode, recalling the scenes from yesterday and today, making her question whether the man in those scenes was really the same person. Was he an actor, pretending to love her so much yesterday, yet today entwined with another woman, probably whispering sweet nothings to her too?

Avery Jane’s head throbbed in pain, her complexion gradually turning pale...

”Avery, what’s wrong?” Joshua Hughes noticed she wasn’t herself and wondered if today had truly made her uncomfortable.

”I have a headache...” Her voice weakened, Joshua Hughes’ handsome face turned pale, and cold sweat began to uncontrollably surface. Did he upset her? After hardly having one or two good days, he had upset her already. Please, give me a little more time, don’t be so cruel. Joshua Hughes’ hand trembled as he grasped Avery Jane’s cold little hand: ”Avery, don’t worry, relax, let’s go to the hospital, okay?”

”I want to go back and sleep for a while; I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Avery Jane refused; she didn’t like the smell of medicine in hospitals.

He drove her back to the apartment, and without changing clothes, Avery Jane slipped into the bed. Joshua Hughes turned on the air conditioner, and warm air blew gently; she didn’t fall asleep, he saw her long lashes gently trembling, attempting to conceal her intense inner emotions.

Avery Jane closed her eyes and started to experience that feeling inside, a feeling called desolation, a vast desolation, without any flourishing beauty, just terrifying desolation...

Almost instinctively, Avery Jane felt a bit pathetic, even pitiable, like a wounded little animal, wanting most to find a place to hide away, to not be seen by him, and lick her wounds alone. Her body curled up more, wanting to burrow deeper into the blanket.

Joshua Hughes lightly furrowed his brow, sighed inwardly, but also felt a slight relief; she wasn’t completely unresponsive seeing him entwined with another woman. Previously, she would always avoid him, but now she would be distracted by his actions, meaning he might have a little place in her heart?

”If you can’t sleep, don’t force it. Let me explain what just happened, okay?” Joshua Hughes sat at the head of the bed, gently brushing through her cascading dark hair like spun silk, filling his profound eyes.

He still carried the faint scent of perfume, a scent as intense and uninhibited as its owner. Was he going to bring these with him to explain?

Avery Jane opened her eyes, her bright eyes tinged with a hint of moisture, her hand covering her ears: ”I don’t want to hear it.”

Seeing the glistening moisture in her eyes, Joshua Hughes’ heart softened. He leaned down, whispering gently into her ear: ”Avery, I know you’ll listen to my explanation. I didn’t do anything with her; things aren’t as they appear.” He never bothered to explain such matters, but Avery Jane’s distressed appearance was heartbreakingly stirring, prompting him to break his rule of explaining the situation.

If the reality wasn’t what she saw, then what was it? Was there another version? Avery Jane found it utterly unbelievable, her eyes widening, looking at him with her petite face pale, making his explanation seem awkward.

”Don’t be like this, Avery.” Joshua Hughes’ fingers gently brushed her soft lips, trying to ease her anxious emotions.

”She was merely a representative for this partnership; in administration you’ve probably heard a bit about the merger case. I suppose Maitland Group used a beauty trap, didn’t you notice when you came in, I hadn’t touched her at all? I didn’t want to be too absolute because, after all, this case entailed too much, I didn’t want Maitland Group to be too humiliated.” Joshua Hughes thought about whether he should reveal his relationship with Donna from many years ago but ultimately held back, fearing Avery Jane would overthink.

His voice was deep and gentle, especially coming from such a handsome man, it was like the most irresistible temptation, anyone would be turned to mush by his soft words.

”Your business, I don’t want to be involved.” Avery Jane awkwardly turned away, speaking softly, sounding a bit jealous and complaining, unsure of what she was saying, even she found herself awkward.

Knowing her heart was slowly softening, Joshua Hughes breathed a sigh of relief, his fingers gently touching her cool cheek, giving a soft kiss to her delicate earlobe: ”You’re my wife, if you don’t care for me, who will? If you dislike me interacting with her, then I won’t see her anymore.”

His concession sounded light and breezy, yet in Avery Jane’s heart it was like being overtaken by waves, boundless and extremely moving. Did he truly want to avoid suspicion? Did she truly matter this much to him?

Matter enough for him to avoid seeing the representative of the partnership?

She was gradually softening; wasn’t this a hard-earned chance for him to approach her? She was so innocent and adorable; just this alone was enough to deeply touch his heart.