Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

”What’s so great about wandering around? We’ve got everything at home.” Joshua Hughes was already irritated by that endless meeting and by her mood today. Right now he just wanted to see her and drag her home where it was safe, as if the outside world were full of traps and Avery Jane might fall right into them if she wasn’t careful.

”Can you be reasonable? I’m just out for a little walk. I need to have some time for myself, my own life, don’t I?” Avery Jane started to get upset. This wouldn’t do. She couldn’t be expected to just sit around all day waiting for him to get off work; she had to have her own time.

The moment he heard ”my own time, my own life,” a violent, gloomy look slowly appeared in Joshua Hughes’s eyes........

Powerful men have always liked to control everything—from every detail of life to people, especially their own woman. What’s more, Avery Jane was the one who had stirred his heart; the woman he liked had been so hard to get. He forced down the anger that was about to explode. ”Then how much longer? I’ll wait for you.” Any factor that might make her think of the past had to be eliminated. He was very afraid of her being alone outside now—what if she happened to run into someone who knew her? Or someone who knew Lucas Yates? Then all the lies he’d told would be exposed. Because even though he had forged her entire past, it was still fake, and could never truly become real.

Maybe she was being a bit over the top too. Avery Jane bit her lip and said softly, ”Why don’t you go back first, okay? I’ll be at most another hour, is that alright?” Her voice was soft and cottony, like a piece of cotton candy that melts the moment it touches your tongue, dissolving right into his heart, instantly wiping out his temper. He couldn’t help laughing at what a sucker he was.

”Really, hmm? You promise?” His cold, sharp features gradually softened, and the sexy corner of his mouth lifted into a charming curve.

”It won’t be late, I’ll head back as soon as I’m done at the supermarket.” Avery Jane looked over to see Emma White holding a box from the shelf, studying it. She got such a fright that she quickly hung up, grabbing Emma White’s hand.

”Emma White, didn’t you break up with your boyfriend?” Avery Jane’s eyes went wider than brass bells. Why... why was she looking at that? There were even two boxes of them in the cart?

”You’re not keeping me company tonight, so I’m going hunting. I may not be as drop-dead gorgeous as your Evelyn-level beauty, but reeling in one or two men is no problem. Men these days have no class; some don’t even bring these. It’s more reliable to prepare my own.” Emma White had a smile on her face as she held the box of condoms, like she was holding a box of candy, not shy in the slightest.

Evelyn—that word sounded so familiar. Avery Jane’s head gave a little twitch, then quickly went back to normal. Looking at the cart, aside from the few bags of snacks she’d tossed in, it was basically just those boxes of condoms. Joshua Hughes never used those. The moment Avery Jane thought of that, her face flushed bright red.

”Let’s go, let’s go. I’m heading back to the dorm to transform into the Queen of the Night, then I’m going out to properly snag myself a man.” Emma White looked impatient, pushing the cart toward the checkout.

After the two of them paid, the sky was already getting dark. They said goodbye at the supermarket entrance. Watching Emma White get into a cab, the corners of Avery Jane’s mouth curled up. Across the street, a business van was parked at the corner, its body giving off a faint cold gleam in the deepening dusk—low-key yet luxurious. It was him. Sweetness slowly welled up in her heart, and she walked toward the other side with light, bouncy steps.

The window slowly rolled down, and the man’s handsome, sharply-carved features looked especially seductive and dangerous in the night......

”Why haven’t you gone home yet?” Joshua Hughes saw her little face flushed from hurrying over. He couldn’t resist leaning over to lightly peck her cheek.

”How could I be at ease leaving my beautiful wife out here alone? What if someone kidnaps you?” Half of it was a joke, but the other half was what he really thought. Joshua Hughes looked at Avery Jane’s face—her beauty was enough to move any man’s heart. Just now, when she walked out of the supermarket, a few young guys had even pulled out their phones, wanting to take pictures of her.

”What did you buy?” Joshua Hughes glanced at the big bag she was carrying and asked curiously as he drove.

”Snacks, a bunch of yummy stuff. The guys over in the Engineering Department always bring me things to eat. I feel bad, you know, courtesy demands reciprocity.” Avery Jane looked at the big bag. It should be enough to go around—there was beef jerky, biscuits, sausages and so on. She normally didn’t eat that kind of stuff, but since it was for other people, she figured she’d better buy more.

Joshua Hughes’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew exactly what those men in Engineering were up to. Damn them.

Digging through the pile of snacks, Avery Jane found a pack of beef jerky, tore it open, took out a piece and popped it into his mouth. ”Try it, this one’s a bit spicy, heavy flavor. I heard men tend to like that.” She didn’t know how to choose; this was what the salesgirl had recommended. She tore off a small piece for herself too and chewed on it. It was indeed fragrant, just a bit tough.

”Well? Does it taste good?” Avery Jane asked with a curious look.

”It’s okay.” Joshua Hughes’s mind was working fast, trying to figure out which department he could transfer her to where there wouldn’t be any men around.

Avery Jane had the big bag of snacks on her lap as she rummaged through it. There was supposed to be another flavor in there. Suddenly, a pretty little box tumbled out.

She picked it up, and her face instantly flushed to the extreme. How did this end up in her bag? Wasn’t this what Emma White bought? Did the cashier mix them up?

Her fair, delicate hand clutched the box, trying to stuff it back as quickly as possible, but it was caught by Joshua Hughes’s large hand. His warm palm wrapped around her small hand, then took the box she was gripping.

Avery Jane’s little face turned even redder, like it was about to explode........