Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Sitting on the sofa, he watched the girl helplessly and sorrowfully slide down the cabin door, collapsing onto the floor as if her bones had been removed.

He picked up a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag, fully inhaling that enchanting flavor into his lungs. It’s said that the lungs are the most fragile yet vital part of the human body, but only when the taste of the cigarette seeped into them did he feel relieved. Even if his lungs had turned black, it wouldn’t stop him from indulging in debauchery. He couldn’t stand such pure innocence, wanting to destroy it thoroughly, yet when he saw her tears, a sense of powerlessness rose within him.

The woman from that night was not her; she was just a soul indulging under the guise of desire, a soul that couldn’t possess such eyes.

Yet the Hughes Family was such a repulsive place; how did such a pure soul end up here.....

”Come on, I’ll take you to forget your pain.” The casino was a place where heaven and hell merged, capable of making one feel like they’re in paradise one second and hell the next, quickly allowing people to forget their troubles and pain.

Avery Jane whimpered, shaking her head, curled up on the floor, hugging her legs, trembling like a leaf in the wind.......

The phone rang persistently. She knew who was calling, but she didn’t want to answer. She didn’t know how to talk to him; he had deceived her. All her memories in this world had vanished due to the fragmented scenes, and he had lied about those, leaving her with no way to express herself, only to curl up in this corner and sob.

They were both the same; she was deceived by Joshua Hughes, and he had lived under Joshua’s shadow since childhood. People outside might not even know there was someone named Luis Hughes in the Hughes Clan, he thought with a bitter and mocking smile.

She could seemingly hear the sound of free wind in her ears, even feel the surge of the sea waves. But each second that passed, her heart sank another inch. She didn’t dare to answer his call; she wasn’t sure what she was truly afraid of either. She wanted to open the cabin door and run to the top floor to have a look, yet she didn’t dare, fearing she might see something she couldn’t bear.

Joshua Hughes’ voice was gentle and full of strength, so familiar, yet that voice pierced her chest like a sharp knife, as if to carve out her heart, a pain so unbearable. She regretted it deeply; if only she hadn’t come. He’d said he wanted to take her on vacation. If that were the case, she would never have discovered his deception.

Her heart felt as if it had been pierced by countless fine needles, even breathing became difficult. Holding her head, she remembered he had once said it was love at first sight for them, that he didn’t like Donna. But the man who professed such affection might be wantonly enjoying himself with another woman. Avery Jane suddenly stood up. She didn’t want this; she needed to see if it was all true. If it was, she would ask him to his face, why did he lie to her?

Why marry her yet flirt with another woman? Marriage is sacred and pure and must not be desecrated.

”Where are you going?” Luis Hughes watched Avery Jane stand up, her red-swollen eyes filled with a stubborn light. If she went out like that, others might wrongly think he’d done something to her. This floor was where the Hughes Clan’s top management resided; it would be inappropriate. His intention had merely been a whim, wanting to play with her a bit, which was why he’d brought her here. But he ended up saying too much, accomplishing nothing, and making her cry as if she’d been wronged.

”I want to find him and ask clearly.” Her voice was choked up. She had so many questions for him, and the disappointment, pain, and fear in her heart couldn’t surpass her determination to know the truth.

”I already told you clearly, he took that woman upstairs earlier. Later, after investigating, I learned my brother and that woman were old acquaintances; they’ve known each other for nearly ten years. They were once lovers, understand? He met her during college; my mother said so, it can’t be wrong.” That Donna was the woman Joshua Hughes once wanted to marry. Luis Hughes found it unbelievable, yet back then, their mother was worried about Joshua being away alone, so she had someone secretly following him, discovering everything.

”If it weren’t for my brother hiding his identity, they would’ve married long ago. What’s the use of asking? My dear brother won’t tell you. Women to him are just tools to adjust emotions, understand? Just tools.” The cruel words shattered Avery Jane’s last hope. Instantly, she felt suffocated as if Luis’ words were chains wrapping around her neck, leaving her breathless. The terrifying darkness showed no mercy, consuming her in an endless void.......

Watching her body collapse weakly, like a falling blossom, Luis Hughes extended his hand; her delicate and boneless body fell into his embrace. She was so gentle; whatever went wrong that night, he wasn’t sure, but what he could confirm was that the woman from that night was never her.

Lay her down on the sofa, she looked like a sleeping fairy, eyes tightly shut, as if unwilling to see the ugliness of the world.

Luis smiled faintly, ”You can’t blame me, I’m just telling you the truth. You can only blame that guy, Joshua Hughes; he gets everything, the best things are all his, including women.”

His large hand brushed Avery Jane’s face, so beautiful it could hardly be resisted........

She didn’t answer the phone, and impatience slowly crept onto Joshua Hughes’ handsome face. She was so sensitive and delicate; what if she remembered something?

An uncontrollable fear started rising from his feet. He hadn’t seen her for just a day, yet what had happened? He couldn’t wait until the evening, he had to bring her up now. It was best to keep her securely by his side.

She was gone, not in her room, not answering the phone. He’d had people search, but still couldn’t find her. Joshua Hughes’ expression froze like a lake quickly icing over in the coldest winter, and whatever trace of tenderness was left vanished thoroughly with the bodyguard’s report.

”What did you just say? The manager from the investment department asked to talk to her?” Joshua Hughes looked at the bodyguard who had run in to report, his face suddenly changed, and without a word, he dashed down the stairs.

Looking at the woman on the sofa, Luis Hughes’ once cold face turned perplexed. It wasn’t his fault, was it? Fate had delivered her to him once again. How could he refuse such a heaven-sent gift?

Anything Joshua Hughes owned, he wanted to try, just a taste would suffice......

Meanwhile, the man rushing over, deep in his eyes, the thick black mist covering the original dazzling light, anxiety and panic replacing his usual calm composure. He wanted to give her more freedom and hoped she would wholeheartedly trust and love him, but just giving a little more, the danger surged in. The more precious, the more he must closely guard.

If anyone dared touch her, if anyone dared, Joshua Hughes’ lips pressed into a tight line, his expression akin to a grim reaper’s would be terrifying......

”Tell me, which room was Miss Jane taken to?” The staff member who had just been dragged in front of Joshua Hughes by the bodyguard, was almost on the verge of wetting himself with fear. He’d only passed a message, yet this whole situation had become so overwhelming.

:”In the last room, it’s the largest and quietest room on the fourth floor,” he answered, trembling and afraid to hide anything. Because that man looked terrifying, emitting a chilling aura as if just approaching would lead to a deadly freeze.

The large hand grazed over her porcelain-like skin, the exceptional touch under his fingers made his eyes darken suddenly; such a delicacy, no wonder his dear brother cherished her so. Fingers slowly trailed downward, suddenly recalling something, he stood up, walked to the door, and with a press of a finger, the door lock clicked tight; he didn’t want to be interrupted again.

Turning back, the woman on the sofa resembled the most beautiful and inviting pear blossom atop a branch, begging to be ruthlessly destroyed.

The last room, Joshua Hughes sprinted to the final room at top speed. The door was closed. He turned the handle; it was locked from the inside. He glanced at the bodyguard behind him. Unnoticed, the black-suited guard had a small handgun in his hand, swiftly fitted with a silencer. Aimed at the door lock, he chambered the bullet and pulled the trigger.......

The low, dull sound caused the man, indulging in beauty on the sofa, to snap his head around. The door was kicked open, and the man who burst in wore an iron-blue face, his strikingly handsome features exuding a bloodthirsty glow, the sheer intensity of which suffocated the room, seemingly draining all the air and leaving only suffocation.....