Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game

”Little brothers always like their older brother’s woman—is that some kind of Hughes Family tradition?” That knife hadn’t even been pulled out yet, and Joshua Hughes’ thin lips parted to ruthlessly twist it in deeper. Grace Roe’s lips instantly lost every trace of color.

”Joshua, he’s your younger brother, how can you just let him mess around like this?” Both sons were pieces of her heart, yet she actually had to watch them stir up something like this. If word got out, how would the Hughes Family even keep a footing?

”Your heart’s really grown crooked. Saying you’re biased isn’t even enough. It was Luis Hughes who had those twisted thoughts and did something like this—how is it you’re not blaming him, and instead you’re turning it on me?” Joshua lazily leaned back. The woman across from him seemed to have suddenly aged ten years; she lowered her head, and tears quietly fell onto her black clothes.

”They’re all Hughes blood anyway. I’ve already done more than enough—took that woman in, and now I’m handing her and the child over to you in one piece. These past few months I’ve fed her well and cared for her; that counts as me fulfilling a bit of my duty as an older brother.” Joshua saw the sky about to lighten, got up, and walked to the open kitchen connected to the living room, taking some ingredients out of the fridge.

”Joshua, what exactly are you trying to do? Tell me, will you?” Grace followed him to the kitchen counter, watching as Joshua started rinsing rice, then picked up a clay pot and began cooking congee.

”It’s not about what I’m trying to do—it’s about what you’re trying to do.” Joshua completely ignored Grace’s grief and anxiety as he focused on making breakfast. ”Were you planning to kill my woman? Is that it?” He suddenly turned his head to glance at the person behind him; the icy, murderous look in his eyes made Grace shudder all over.

”So you already know, Joshua... I did it for your own good. That woman, she...” Grace hadn’t finished before Joshua cut her off coldly.

”Enough. I don’t want to hear a single bad word about her from anyone. Were you going to repeat that whole load of crap Taoist Johnson told you? I really have to wonder if you’re an idiot, believing something like that. He’s just colluding with Evelyn Yates’ mother, don’t you get it?” Joshua actually hadn’t intended to explain anything to her, but he didn’t want Avery Jane’s life to be put under any kind of risk, so he spoke.

”Impossible... how could they be lying to me...” In that moment she’d taken too many blows, more than she could bear; she muttered to herself in a daze.

”There’s nothing in this world that’s impossible. You can go back now. Stop speaking up for the Yates Family. If you’re so fond of Evelyn as your good daughter-in-law, then fine—you should be satisfied.” Joshua lifted the lid of the pot, stirring the boiling congee. Grace suddenly felt this son of hers was so unfamiliar, yet at the same time so very familiar.

Joshua had never acted like this before. If it was something he wanted to eat, he would never cook it himself. And yet here he was, at the break of dawn, cooking congee for a woman. It seemed someone had truly taken away that proud and lonely heart of her son’s. Now, in him, she could faintly see his father—gentle, considerate. Was this a blessing or a curse? What a damned fate...

She turned and walked away like a lost soul. The elegant poise and aura she had maintained for so many years as a society lady seemed to have vanished, even her once-proud back had softened. Watching her, Joshua felt a faint, indescribable stir in his chest.