Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

It wasn’t even five o’clock yet, but the girls were already packing up their bags. ”Avery Jane, I’m going to the supermarket, want to come?” Emma White had just broken up with her boyfriend recently and was awfully idle, so she called out to Avery to go wander around the supermarket with her.

Avery instinctively glanced outside. That man on the rooftop probably wouldn’t get off work so soon, right? He still seemed to be in some kind of meeting. The thought of that woman being there too made Avery a little depressed. Fine, no need to wait for him; going shopping was good too, at least she wouldn’t spend the whole afternoon overthinking.

She slowly tidied up her things, and as soon as it was time, the few girls swayed gracefully out of the office.

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The atmosphere on the rooftop was tense as a drawn bow. Anyone could tell Joshua Hughes was in a foul mood; his eyes shot out like cold sharp arrows, and one hand was toying with his phone.

He had to settle this matter in the shortest time possible and send Donna away. The longer the night, the more dreams—dragging things out was never a good idea.

”If you still can’t accept the terms I’ve offered, then please tell Adam Matt I don’t intend to play along with him anymore.” The moment Joshua spoke, the faces of several Hughes Clan shareholders at the meeting grew a bit strained, and the people from Maitland Group sitting opposite all changed expressions as well. What was this supposed to mean? Him acting like the sole ruler? On a project this massive, the major shareholders and the people from Maitland Group had already been in contact for a while; when it came to their own interests, there was nothing they wouldn’t do. But now, with Joshua saying they wouldn’t cooperate, how were they supposed to spit out the money they’d already taken? No one had ever seen anyone cough up money again once it had gone into their stomachs.

Donna looked at the man sitting at the center of the conference room table. His aura was fierce, his presence overwhelmingly powerful—far more enchanting than ten years ago. Back then he’d still been an impulsive, passionate young man. Now, every gesture emanated incomparable nobility and elegance. That cold, chiseled, irresistible face and the mature man’s charm radiating from deep within him... But at this moment, his heart was clearly not on her. She’d already noticed that from these last two encounters. Who exactly was that U.S.A girl who had barged into his office that day? He was so nervous about her, ridiculously nervous; that kind of anxious emotion in his eyes could never fool anyone. Donna bit her lip in secret frustration, watching the man stand up. On his ink‑black suit, the ”H” on the button gleamed with a cold, ghostly light. She hoped that someday the buttons on her clothes would also have diamonds forming an ”H.” So for now, the top priority was to get rid of the woman who was distracting him.

Joshua checked his watch; even with all the rushing, he was still nearly twenty minutes late. Right now he felt like he was walking a tightrope over a cliff. He was constantly worried someone would recognize Avery. What if someone did? He’d been grateful back then that Grant’s ads were mostly side‑profile shots or close‑ups of her neck; otherwise it would have been even more troublesome.

The elevator descended floor by floor. She must be anxious from waiting, right? Standing quietly by the car like a well‑behaved child, maybe even a little mad at him. He’d have to coax her properly today.

In the private parking lot, it was empty and echoing. She hadn’t come, because the air didn’t carry her scent—that faint fragrance that seemed to seep from her very skin.

Joshua’s gaze dimmed as he took out his phone...

The supermarket was packed with people coming and going. The two girls were pushing a cart, wandering aimlessly. Scattered in the cart were a bunch of little things girls liked to buy; Emma White was a shopaholic.

The phone in her bag chimed cheerfully. Avery took it out; it was him. She picked up. ”Hello?”

Her clear, sweet voice, carrying a deadly pull, traveled through the signal, as if echoing across the vast, empty parking lot. The noise around her stood in stark contrast to the stillness on his end.

”Avery, where are you?” The voice on the other end made him certain she wasn’t at the company.

”I’m just at the supermarket nearby, shopping with a colleague. You can go back first.” After all, the apartment wasn’t that far from here; she could just grab a cab later.

”No. Come out now, I’ll come get you.” His voice carried a trace of displeasure, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Avery frowned. What was with this man? He was clearly the one in the wrong today—how could he still sound so annoyed? She lowered her voice and said, ”I haven’t finished shopping yet.” Then she shot Emma White an awkward smile.