Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

Joshua Hughes walked to the room’s liquor cabinet, poured two glasses of red wine, approached Avery Jane, and handed her one of the glasses: ”Stop drinking tea, have a glass of wine to calm your nerves and relax a bit.”

He said, seating himself beside her, pulling her into his embrace: ”Don’t force yourself to remember, many things fail when rushed, Avery, no matter what, I’m always here for you.” Avery felt the warmth from his body, such a comforting and matching aura, a strong and powerful heartbeat, slowly calming the palpitations she had just experienced.

His composure contrasted sharply with her chaotic thoughts. He raised his sparkling glass of red wine and lightly clinked it with hers, his deep and magnetic voice carried a bewitching power, slowly whispering at her sensitive ear: ”If you still have the energy to overthink today, does it mean I’m not trying hard enough?”

Avery lifted her glass and drank it in one go, her soft arms wrapping around his neck: ”Joshua Hughes, I’m so scared, I’m terrified I’ll never remember my past.” Her voice carried a small sob, the fear and loss suppressed in her heart for so long slowly leaked out under the man’s tenderness...

”I like you, Avery, no matter how you change, I still like you.” In his deep eyes, there was an unknown pain, slowly tightening the delicate and soft body in his embrace, as if wanting to melt into his own.

His hand gently stroked her back, his thin lips softly brushing against her rosy cherry lips, his subtle breath growing clearer, Avery closed her eyes, her long eyelashes gently trembling, with little teardrops upon them, like scattered tiny diamonds, the man’s thin lips gently and tenderly moving upward, lovingly kissing her eyes, his nimble tongue licking away those tears.

She was his woman, he didn’t want her to remember, she couldn’t even have the chance or right to remember, but this was not within his control. Why couldn’t her heart be in his grasp?

That was, until now, what he wanted but could never attain, even now she was in his embrace, even though she was quiet and obedient like a pitiful little kitten, he knew clearly that all this was false.

If one day the truth was revealed, what would her reaction be? This life made him feel like he was walking along a cliff edge, one side was a beautiful scene that made him linger, and the other was an abyss.

But how could he ever bear to let her go? Even if it were an abyss, he would move forward courageously.

The delicate and lingering kiss transformed with the man’s changing thoughts into something more intense, he wanted to ensure she would never have the energy to think about anything else, never have the time to remember her past.

Joshua Hughes’s phone rang untimely at this moment: ”Joshua Hughes... Can we not right now... I really can’t handle it...” she faintly gasped, and if he followed his nature now, she’d truly be unable to get out of bed tomorrow.

He took a deep breath, reining in some of the rage and suppression within, his gaze regaining some calmness.

Releasing her, Joshua Hughes glanced at the phone on the table, then pinched Avery Jane’s fair and delicate chin, forcing her to meet his gaze: ”Go to sleep obediently, don’t think about anything, okay?”

Avery nodded, she indeed seemed a bit tired, and her head kept feeling a bit dizzy. Joshua Hughes held her and placed her onto the large bed, covered her, and then took the phone and walked out.

”Young master, Miss Donna has already woken up and insists on calling the police.” The situation was serious, and when the news from downstairs had just arrived, Joshua Hughes was in the room with his woman, and the bodyguards didn’t dare delay even a moment, this kind of thing needed immediate reporting, but the door was closed, and the young master’s frenzy with the woman was intense.

So they didn’t dare go in directly; calling his phone went unanswered, and just as the bodyguard was sweating with anxiety, Joshua Hughes opened the door, and stood coldly before him, quickly gathered the reports, Donna indeed was quite unfortunate, first almost taken advantage of by Luis Hughes and rifled through her transfer papers, then inexplicably poisoned, nearly losing her life; calling the police was naturally expected from her.

Joshua Hughes carried a chilly and terrifying aura, turned and descended the deck, waking was best, some things needed to be clearly addressed.

The cruise ship was equipped with a small medical center, two nurses stationed at Donna’s ward door, and upon seeing the man striding over, instinctively made way.

In just over a day, Donna looked as wilted as a flower severed from soil and water, her formerly vibrant chestnut hair now appeared dull and lackluster.

”Give me the phone, I want to call the police, I want to find Maitland.” Her voice in the ward was hoarse and weak, sounding starkly different from her usual charming and pretty voice, a hint of fear even lingering in her tone.

But who wouldn’t be afraid? Her nerves twitched painfully throughout her body, her stomach felt scorching, she nearly died from poison, if not for feeling unwell after eating that sweet and sour orange candy followed by cold water, and throwing up a little, she’d be dead by now, she’d already be a cold corpse.

The door was pushed open, the man standing outside had eyes dark and deep as the sea, those deep eyes were like an unfathomable ocean, his lips almost pinched into a straight line, his indifferent expression made it impossible to guess what was going on in his mind. Donna’s heart accelerated twice, even the sluggish flow of blood began to speed up, he always brought her fresh vitality.

Sitting on the sofa in the hospital room, Joshua Hughes gracefully crossed his right leg over his left, looking at her with an indifferent expression, as if the poisoning hadn’t caught his attention at all. The light outside the window wasn’t very good, dimly casting shadows on his wild and alluring face.

”Hughes, I want to call the police. It’s terrifying. Someone wants to kill me.” Donna’s eyes were filled with fear, brimming with tears, looking as pitiful as could be.

Joshua Hughes heard this and chuckled lightly, ”Your imagination is indeed rich. Who would want to kill you?”

At this moment, he absolutely could not allow the Hughes Clan to be embroiled in such a scandal, so this matter had to be kept secret. If someone knew the ins and outs of the matter, they would speculate that he was now in danger, which would have an even bigger impact on the Hughes Clan.

He didn’t care at all about her physical condition; Donna felt like she had hit a wall: ”But it’s an undeniable fact that I was violated on this ship and then poisoned.”

”You were violated? Who violated you, what’s the proof?” Joshua Hughes spoke with certainty, looking at Donna with a hint of jest.

”Hughes, you’ve changed. You weren’t like this before.” Donna’s tone carried disappointment, the man he was in his youth was completely different from the man he is now.

”I’ve said it before, don’t bring up the past.” Joshua Hughes’s expression remained indifferent, yet his dark eyes carried a threat, truly stubborn.

”But how will you compensate me for this, Hughes?” Donna’s tone was filled with grievance, this matter couldn’t just be brushed aside.

”A woman who bargains is truly disappointing.” Joshua Hughes looked at Donna’s face, his gaze was so distant and unfamiliar.

”I...” Donna hadn’t expected him to be so direct and hit the nail on the head, she was stunned for a moment before she came back to her senses.

”I’m not bargaining with you, Hughes. No matter who the poison was intended for, I’m already lying here, your entire Hughes Clan should give a reasonable explanation, and give me an arrangement that satisfies me.” Donna looked at Joshua Hughes with infatuation, his eyes were like black crystals, deep within them was a flow of darkness that could easily draw any woman into its depths.

The open window in the hospital room let in the sea breeze mixed with a faint fishy smell, mingling with the room’s scent; the smell of disinfectant made people feel uncomfortable, even breathing felt constricted.

Donna, lying on the hospital bed, wore a weak smile on her face, ”Hughes, let me stay on the top floor. It’s only where you are that feels safe.” Her voice, though hoarse, was both sweet and coy, like buttercream about to melt under the sun.

”Don’t forget, it was on the top floor that you almost lost your life.” His stern features carried a light more mature and undeniable than in his youth, his every word, every action exuded an authority that she was unfamiliar with and couldn’t control, a feeling so foreign that the Hughes before her was no longer the youthful and passionate young man she once knew.

But his brows, his eyes, his lips, his breath were so familiar, confusing her...

”But I want you to protect me personally, until I safely leave the ship,” Donna had the stubbornness that all women possess.

”Protect you? Have you ever thought that the person who wants your life could be me?” The sea breeze carried a faint fishy smell, his expression remained calm and indifferent, looking at the woman on the hospital bed whose originally not-so-good complexion turned gray in an instant.

Inside, Donna was screaming endlessly, it couldn’t be, they had once shared the most intimate relationship, but now his tone was like the bloodstained speech of a malevolent devil, frightening.

:”I don’t believe it, I absolutely don’t believe you would do such a thing.” Donna trembled, unable to discern if what he said was true or false.

The man walked to the bedside, looking down at her from above, and said lightly, ”If you keep pestering me, I can’t guarantee I won’t personally take you out. If I make a move, what do you think will happen?”

He curled his lips slightly, hinting at wicked charm and cold menace, sending chills down one’s spine.