Bride of Retribution: Aloof Billionaire's Dominant Game-Chapter 512: Miss Gray, why are you getting married without saying a word?
The day passed quickly, and Annie spent the entire day in the hotel.
She didn’t even dare to go out. The hotel was registered under a colleague’s ID. If it were under her own, Joseph Shaw could easily find her, given how skilled he was at things like this.
Last night, Hart Hodge sent her a message saying: "Because I don’t feel at ease letting you walk through life alone, starting tomorrow, shall we walk together?"
On what felt like the most difficult night for her, her phone kept ringing. Joseph Shaw continued to call her using different numbers, but upon seeing Hart’s message, her heart gradually calmed down. Holding the phone, tears flowed in the dark, with a surprising hint of sweetness.
She replied to Hart Hodge with: "Please take care of me in the days ahead."
A smile played at the corners of her mouth. She had finally found a shore to anchor at, and her heart seemed to settle down completely.
To uproot a hidden feeling buried deeply in the heart seemed torturous, but once she persevered, everything felt better. She was nearly there.
Joseph Shaw was engaged to another woman. If she continued entangling with him, it would not be a matter of weakness but of shamelessness.
Wherever the heart feels at peace is home. The passion Joseph had given her was merely fireworks blossoming in the night sky; after their brilliance faded, she was left with nothing. Thus she let go without hesitation.
Upon waking in the morning, she felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
From now on, she would have another identity, perhaps addressed as Mrs. Hodge, and as for Hart’s students? Perhaps they would call her Mrs. Miller.
It wasn’t a wedding, just a registration, but she still took care to dress herself up.
A simple, fitting, moon bud white dress, matching high heels, her medium-length hair brushed straight and let down over her shoulders, with a light makeup and a fresh pink lipstick she’d never used before, yet it made her appear several years younger.
Perhaps this is what a new bride should look like?
"Annie, I’m almost at the hotel," Charlotte Miller called just as Annie was about to head downstairs.
"I’m ready to come down already." Her voice carried a hint of joy, as if she was looking forward to the new life about to unfold. There was an undeniable smile in her eyes and on her lips.
"Alright..." Charlotte hung up, and soon her car pulled up at the hotel’s temporary parking spot. She had insisted on accompanying Annie to the registry, not only to witness Annie’s beautiful moment, but also because she felt a faint sense of unease.
The injury on her back had improved significantly. The man who had pushed her was still entangled in a lawsuit with her, but Atlas Hallow had said he’d handle it, sparing her the trouble.
Watching Annie from afar as she walked down, she looked vibrant, much better than her own pallid face, truly beautiful when happiness was in the air.
"Congratulations, Annie. You look absolutely stunning today." Her circle of friends wasn’t vast, but to see a friend choose the life she desired and find a compatible partner truly delighted her.
"In front of you, I hardly count as beautiful." Annie fastened her seatbelt and glanced at Charlotte’s loose top, concernedly asking, "How is the recovery of your back injury?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"It’s nothing. It’s mostly healed. The glass shards didn’t cut deeply, just superficial wounds." After Charlotte finished talking, she skillfully started the car, heading towards the marriage registry.
This was her second visit here. The first visit seemed like it was ages ago.
Back then, she had been taken directly here from the airport, not having met Atlas Hallow before getting married to him.
Charlotte vividly remembered that the weather was just as good that day, with an indescribable feeling as the sunlight fell on Atlas. It was like Atlas Hallow was a unique presence, absorbing all light and capturing everyone’s attention with an invisible radiance around him.
After parking, Charlotte accompanied Annie inside, where Hart Hodge was already waiting.
"This is Hart Hodge, and this is my boss, Charlotte Miller," Annie introduced them briefly.
Charlotte thought Annie had excellent taste; the man before her wore a simple white shirt and gray pants, looking clean and graceful.
"Miss Miller, glad you could witness for us," Hart smiled slightly, his voice soft and cultured.
"Witness what?" Suddenly, a cold voice interrupted, making Charlotte’s eyes widen as if she’d seen a ghost.
Behind Annie, a figure approached, stopping just behind her, enveloping her like a shadow.
Joseph Shaw had actually come too. How did he know to come here?
Seeing Charlotte’s startled expression, Annie felt the threat looming behind her. This feeling was too familiar, having troubled her for eight years. But why was he here?
Her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. Annie was truly afraid — afraid that just when she had almost reached the shore, this man would pull her back into the water. She didn’t want to live like that anymore.
Joseph’s eyes, reddened, fixed on the back of the woman in the cream-white dress. She actually dared to register with another man?
He had sensed something was wrong for a while, but with no trace of Annie, her apartment empty, and no response even after calling her with over a dozen different numbers, he couldn’t find any information on her in any hotel in town.
Was she really ready to make a clean break?
These past nights, he hadn’t slept well, even dreaming of her marrying another man. Waking with the sheets soaked in cold sweat, he sat there, chain-smoking one cigarette after another.
How did she dare do this?
So he had someone stand guard at the marriage registry. Laughable as he thought this action was, he did it anyway.
Fifteen minutes ago, upon receiving a call that Annie had arrived in Charlotte Miller’s car, he raced over, doubting his people might have been mistaken.
But these were men who had been with him for many years, who had seen Annie countless times. How could they be mistaken?
Like a madman, Joseph hoarsely said, "Miss Gray, why would you get married without saying anything? Is it that difficult to tell me?"
Charlotte’s mind buzzed in chaos. This seemed like trouble, and Joseph Shaw really seemed intent on causing a scene. She quickly called Atlas, urging him to come quickly, then dashed to Joseph’s side, trying hard to smile, "President Shaw, I need to talk to you..."
She prayed silently, hoping to hold Joseph back, hoping his knowledge of her relationship with Atlas would make him think twice.
Annie’s face turned pale. She had confided in Hart Hodge about her past, about being Joseph Shaw’s clandestine lover for over three years. It was Hart’s words that dissolved the shame of those hidden years, healing her inner wounds.
But telling him and letting Hart witness Joseph firsthand were two different matters. Today didn’t just harm her; it hurt Hart as well. Her lips trembled with anger, unsure of what to do.
Joseph always acted on instinct, and today he seemed truly enraged. But was it not her right to marry?
The entire marriage registry felt like a powder keg, ready to explode with the faintest spark.
Joseph glared at Charlotte, his voice devoid of warmth: "Charlotte, don’t think that being Atlas Hallow’s woman means I won’t touch you. Daring to encourage Annie to marry? Did you borrow courage from Atlas?"
Joseph now perceived the whole world as his enemy. Turning coldly to Annie, he said, "Don’t do something you’ll regret for a lifetime. Come with me now..."
Almost like a stubborn child, he conveyed that if she didn’t leave with him, he’d be very unhappy, forgetting that neither of them were children anymore.
"President Shaw, thank you for your past kindness. Let’s call it even from now on." If he couldn’t bless them, then perhaps they could at least avoid becoming enemies?
Joseph stared at Annie, repeating every word: "If you don’t want to regret it, come back with me now."
"Let’s go. It’s our turn," Hart pulled Annie’s hand with a smile, as if Joseph didn’t exist, leading her inside.
Annie’s eyelids fluttered, and even her heart quivered. Her shaking hand gripped Hart’s tightly, intent on walking inside. Just fifty meters away lay the registry center; reaching it would sever all ties with this man completely.
