An Understated Dominance (Chinese Version) Chapter 61-80

Chapter 65.

Dustin’s words took everyone by surprise. No one had
expected him to be so audacious as to disregard them. “You brat! Are you
even hearing yourself?” Duane’s jaws were tightly clenched and his
expression was slightly distorted from the anguish. He was a person of
prestige in South City, much less a small place like Swinton. And now,
this little scoundrel dared speak to him like that? How impudent! “I know
very well what I’m saying. You, however, do not seem to fathom the
severity of the situation at hand. I am the only one who can help with
your condition,” Dustin spelled out coldly. “You rascal! Don’t go around
thinking that you’re some miracle worker just because you’ve got some
medical tricks up your sleeves! You better know what’s best for you
before I lose my temper!” Duane bellowed. “That’s right! I’ll break your
face if you don’t cure my boss!” Duane’s bodyguard threatened. “You’ll
break my face? I’d like to see you try.” Dustin sneered. “I guess this
one wouldn’t be afraid until death stares him in the face!” The bodyguard
was angered. He took a step forward and threw a punch at Dustin’s face.
His fist was on the target, and it came on fast. It was evident that he
was a skilled fighter. Before the punch made contact with his face,
Dustin grunted and gave the bodyguard such a strong slap that it sent him
sprawling backward. The bodyguard did not even have the chance to make a
sound as he passed out on the spot, face disfigured. Duane’s face fell.
It never occurred to him that Dustin was proficient in martial arts too.
“What’s the matter?” Natasha came strolling in at her own pace, looking
haughty and carrying an air of authority. Even without knowing what was
going on, she instinctively stood by Dustin. “Natasha! This insolent
rascal not only refused to heal me, he even beat my man up! Tell me, how
do you think. this should be handled?” Duane asked with hostility. “Uncle
Duane, I believe Dustin would not have attacked your man without being
provoked. That being the case, your man brought it upon himself!” Natasha
responded firmly. Duane’s brows furrowed. “So, you’re adamant about
taking his side?” “Of course!” Natasha lifted her chin. “Dustin is my
friend. If you have any problem with him, you may come to me.” “Hmph!
You’re turning against me for an outsider? Have you considered how you’re
going to tell your parents about this?” Duane roared. “That’s not
something you should worry about, Uncle Duane. I’ll deal with them
myself.“Natasha then continued stonily, “But you, Uncle Duane, look like
you’re in serious pain. I think you’d better seek help. Don’t wait till
it gets any worse.” “You! Very well! Let’s go!” After giving them a
spiteful glare, Duane left in a huff. Natasha’s reaction was not

what he expected. But considering her status, he
had no intention of crossing her, so he had no choice but to walk away.
“Will you be in any sort of trouble for helping me out?” Dustin asked.
Though he was not intimidated by Duane. he was still grateful to Natasha.
“Trouble?” Natasha chuckled. “Well, they used to call me Black Widow.
Venomous and deadly, apparently. What’s this trivial matter got on me?”
“Well, isn’t that phenomenal?” Dustin raised a brow. “But of course! Are
you interested in finding out?” “Finding out? How?” Natasha chuckled yet
again. With a sultry grin, she leaned into Dustin and whispered into his
ear. “Come over to my room tonight. I’ll show you.” And then, she pulled
away, biting her lower lip. That was no mistaking it for anything but
seduction. Dustin kept quiet and pretended not to hear her. His eyelid
twitched. This woman was really something. seducing him in broad
daylight. Meanwhile, Duane’s chest was hurting so much that he rushed to
the hospital as quickly as he could. “Quick! Get a doctor!” Following
Duane’s bodyguard’s rude barks, a group of doctors rushed to the
emergency ward to tend to him. However, after going through a series of
tests, the doctors came to the astonishing conclusion that there was
absolutely nothing wrong with Duane. He was perfectly fine. “Sir, are you
sure that you are experiencing pain in your chest?” a doctor asked. “Why
the F*ck would I be lying about it?” Duane replied none too kindly. “F*ck
it! I’m so close to spasming from the damned pain! Why would I be lying?”
he thought. “Well, the thing is, we are unable to diagnose the issue. Why
don’t you get a consultation from another hospital?” “You bunch of
worthless morons!” Duane left after spewing profanities. Without a moment
to waste, he hurried to two other renowned hospitals. Still, their
conclusions were the same: He was perfectly healthy and nothing was wrong
with him. “How could this be?” Duane grabbed at his chest, pale–faced
with sweat running down his face. The worst part was that the pain was
intensifying as time went on. It was as though he would never see the end
of it. He had been practicing martial arts for many, many years, and he
believed himself to be tough and resilient. But the excruciating pain he
was going through was simply intolerable. He thought that he might lose
his mind if it carried on any longer. “Sir, even the hospitals can’t
help. What do we do now?” Seeing Duane in so much pain, his bodyguards
were at a loss. “Could it be possible that the rascal is the only one who
can help me?” Recalling Dustin’s words, Duane gritted his teeth.
Ultimately, he had no choice but to give in. “Head to Peaceful Medical
Centre. Get that rascal to help.” Duane’s men dared not
question his decision. They immediately sent him back to Peaceful Medical
Centre. This time around, they lost all the contempt and arrogance they
had before. “Well, if it isn’t Uncle Duane? What’s got you coming back so
soon?” Natasha, who had been biding her time, rose to greet him with a
smile. “Natasha, I acted rashly and said some rubbish earlier on. Please
don’t take it to heart. Can you please get Dustin to help me?” Duane
tried to put on a smile. “Uncle Duane, there’s no use telling me that.
It’d be better for you to say it to Dustin.” Natasha gestured at Dustin
behind her. He was reading leisurely, taking no heed of the few men who
had just entered. Duane cleared his throat before starting, “Hey, Rhys,
I’m really sorry. I was in such agony that I was rash with my words and
offended you. Please do not mind me. I’m really sorry, I apologize.”
Duane chose to yield to him. Seeing that Dustin was ignoring him, he
offered, “Hey, if you help me, you can have your pick out of my
collection of treasured herbs.” Dustin finally lifted his head when he
heard that.

Chapter 66.

Dustin had no interest in wealth or riches. But at the
moment, he had a pressing need for rare herbs. The old drunkard’s
condition had gotten worse day by day. He might not even make it through
the year. He needed to gather five types of rare herbs to be able to
treat him. “I am extremely fussy when it comes to herbs. Your collection
might not necessarily be useful to me,” Dustin voiced out. “I can get you
whatever herb you need!” Duane guaranteed immediately. “Do you have the
Gozoraberry?” Dustin queried. “Uh… no.” Duane shook his head. “Flower of
Crimson Gem?” “I don’t have that either.” “What about Cherusia?” “Rhys,
I’ve never even heard of these herbs you are naming.” Duane’s expression
turned bitter. “How about aged Panax root and ancient Heliotrope? I’m
sure you’ve heard of those.” Dustin’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, I’ve heard of
those! I know those herbs!” Duane nodded. Those two herbs cost a king’s
ransom, but at least he’s heard of them. “And do you have them?” Dustin
asked. “I’m not sure about the ancient Heliotrope, but I can get you the
aged Panax root. But it’ll take a few days.” Duane answered. “Fine, then
come back when you have them.” Dustin said with a wave of his hand. “Oh,
come on, Rhys! My chest is aching so badly! I can’t stand it anymore!
Please help me first! I promise I’ll send the Panax root in a few days!”
Duane lost his cool. Dustin kept quiet and turned to look at Natasha
beside him. He did not trust Duane. What if he went back on his word once
Dustin cured him? “Natasha, please, persuade him. You know I never go
back on my word. I always make good on my promises!” Duane begged. “Of
course, Uncle Duane. I know that you never go back on a promise. But I
think we can do better than just at Panax root,” Natasha bargained. “What
else do you need? I’ll try my best to get it.” Duane quickly got the
picture. It was obvious that Natasha was trying to raise the price now
that they were in control. But he was in no position to haggle. “Uncle
Duane, I heard that you’ve got quite a number of properties in Swinton.
Hillview Hotel, especially, is doing exceptionally well. Why don’t you
give it to Dustin as a gift?” A vague smile crept up on Natasha’s face.
“What?” Duane’s lips twitched. Damn it! Hillview Hotel was his golden
goose! If he were to sell it, he could easily get up to
a billion dollars for it! This woman was demanding quite a lot! “Are you
unwilling to part with It?” Natasha raised a brow. “Of course not! As
long as Rhys will save me, a hotel means nothing to me!” Duane forced a
smile. He had no other alternative than to comply with their demands.
“Dustin, seeing how Uncle Duane is being so nice, why don’t you help him
this time?” Natasha turned to him and winked. “Alright, then.” Dustin
nodded. He then pulled out a black pill and tossed it to Duane. “You’ll
be fine after eating this.” “What’s this?” The pill looked too much like
a turd. A frown formed on Duane’s face. Did he lose close to a billion
dollars just for this? “If you do not believe me, you can opt not to eat
it.” Dustin did not pressure him to consume the pill. “Of course I do!”
Steeling himself, Duane swallowed the pill. He had to try it to know if
it worked. The pill dissolved very quickly, and soon Duane felt a warm
feeling spreading over his body. As the warmth spread out, the pain in
his chest began to dissipate. In mere minutes, the sharp, agonizing pain
miraculously disappeared altogether. “It actually worked?” Duane was
pleasantly surprised. He patted himself all over to make sure that he was
really alright. Finally, he heaved a long breath of relief.

Chapter 67.

“So, Uncle Duane, what do you think of Dustin’s medical
skills? Are you impressed?” Natasha asked with a smirk, evidently proud.
After all, this was the man she had taken a liking to. “Who knew that a
single pill could work such wonders?” Duane’s eyes lit up as he said.
“Rhys, may I know what this pill is? Can I have a few more? I’ll pay for
it. Just name your price!” I *This is Gemiphen. It’s a confidential
prescription. And because the ingredients are too valuable, the pill that
you just had was my only one,” Dustin replied, aloof. “That’s okay, just
sell me the prescription then.” Duane was not one to give up easily. He
was a tycoon in the medical industry. He knew how immensely precious such
miraculous medicines are. If he could manufacture them in bulk, he would
have struck gold! “I told you, the prescription is confidential. There’s
no way I’m selling it.“Dustin stopped himself before he continued, “Of
course, if you could find me another rare herb, I can give you the
prescription for the Gemiphen. No charges.” “Well…” Duane appeared
reluctant. It was hard enough to get him the aged Panax root. How much
harder would it be to get the ancient Heliotrope? As for the Gozoraberry,
the flower of Crimson Gem, and the Cherusia, he had never even heard of
them, much less know where to get them. “There’s no rush, Uncle Duane. We
can continue discussing this after we get the Panax root.” Natasha smiled
as she rubbed her stomach. “I’m suddenly feeling quite hungry, Uncle
Duane. Why don’t we go for a meal at Hillview Restaurant? You can also
transfer the ownership of the hotel to Dustin while we’re there.” Duane’s
eyelid twitched. This was one impatient lady! Though it pained him to do
so, there was nothing else Duane could do other than agree. After all, he
had made a promise, and he couldn’t very well go back on it. So, after
some small talk, they made their way to Hillview Hotel. Hillview Hotel
was situated in an excellent location, right by Lake Vestine. It was
famous for its rooftop restaurant, which was Hillview Restaurant. Because
of its geographical advantage, it had an extraordinary view overlooking
half of Swinton. The night view was particularly breathtaking. With
exemplary service and exquisite food, it was no wonder that Hillview
Restaurant was patronized by many of the rich and famous. Furthermore,
they only served VIPs, so regular folk were not allowed to set foot
there. Once they reached Hillview Restaurant, the three got a private
room to themselves and ordered some of the signature dishes. They soon
began to dig in. Meanwhile, a Mercedes–Benz SUV stopped in front of the
main entrance to Hillview Hotel. The car door opened and Florence stepped
out of the car. “Matt, Hillview Restaurant is a wonderful place. Since
you’ve helped us out so much, I’ll treat you to a nice dinner today.
Dahlia will be here soon. She’s on her way. Let’s head in without her.”
Florence led Matt and James into the hotel, but when they reached the
highest floor, they were stopped by a waiter. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid you
can’t come in.” “What? We’re not allowed to enter?” James glared at the
waiter, displeased. “Do you know who we are? How dare you stop me?” “You’re running a business here! Aren’t you supposed to serve
guests? What do you mean we can’t go in? Who are you to look down on us?”
Florence asked mastily. They had anticipated having a good meal there,
but they ended up being denied entry. Peeved was an understatement. “My
apologies, but we only serve VIPS,” the waiter answered respectfully.
“What’s so great about a VIP? We’ll just apply to be a VIP then!”
Florence scoffed. “May I please know if you’re applying for a regular VIP
or a Deluxe VIP?” the waiter asked with a smile. “Of course we’re going
for the Deluxe VIP! Do we look like we can’t afford it?” James asked
arrogantly as he lifted his chin. “Yes, we only go for the best!”
Florence whipped out her card. Matt was watching them. She couldn’t
afford to embarrass herself in his presence. “Sure. You’ll have to put in
a deposit of five million dollars for the Deluxe VIP.” The waiter was
still smiling. “What? Five million?” Both Florence and James were
bewildered when they heard what the waiter said. Florence, who had her
card in her hand, immediately withdrew her hand.

Chapter 68.

“Are you kidding me? Five million dollars for Deluxe VIP?”
Astonishment was written all over James‘ face. “Exactly! This is daylight
robbery!” Florence flew into a rage to cover up her embarrassment. She
was lucky she drew her card back in time, or she would have maxed out on
her card. “These are rules set by our proprietor. If that’s too much for
you, you can opt for the regular VIP.” “And— how much would the regular
VIP cost?” Florence probed. “A deposit of one million dollars will make
you a regular VIP.” the waiter informed them. “One million? That’s not
much better!” Florence frowned. “We’re just here for a meal. It won’t
cost so much. Can’t you just let us in? I’ll make sure you get handsomely
tipped!” Had she known that Hillview Restaurant charged such exorbitant
prices, she would never have chosen to go there in the first place! “I’m
sorry, but we only serve VIPs.” The waiter put on a professional smile.
“Hey! Why are you so inflexible? Get me your manager! I’ll talk to him
personally!” Florence could no longer hold in her temper. “I’m sorry, but
our manager is currently serving three other distinguished guests. I’m
afraid he doesn’t have the time.” The waiter’s smile was slowly fading
away. “You!” Florence was exasperated. “Mom, forget it. Why don’t we just
go somewhere else?” James prompted. As lovely as Hillview Restaurant was,
it was way too pricey. “We’re already here! We’ll make a joke of
ourselves if we leave now!” Florence glared at him. “Allow me, Mrs.
Nicholson.” Matt smiled as he stepped forward, gracefully producing a
gold card and handing it to the waiter. “I am a Gold VIP, so I get 20%
off on all my spending here.” “Gold VIP?” That gave Florence quite a
shock. “How much did that cost you?” “Not too much, just ten million
dollars.” Matt smiled. “Ten million?” Florence and James‘ eyes widened.
Was he joking? Ten million dollars, not too much? They had thought that
they were pretty well off, but it seemed like they were nothing compared
to Matt! “Please step inside, honored guests!” In a flash, the waiter’s
attitude changed and became exceedingly welcoming after verifying that
the card was valid. “Shall we?” Matt gestured courteously for them to go
first. “Hmph! Bootlicker! My friend Matt here is a Gold VIP! See that?”
James strutted in pompously after giving the waiter a dirty look.

Feeling very pleased, Florence sashayed in with her
chest puffed up and head held high. Just then, Dustin emerged from one of
the private rooms. He had been on his way to the men’s room when he
bumped into them. “Rhys? What are you doing here?” James scowled at the
sight of him. He was still very much hung up on being slapped a while
back. “If you can be here, then so can I,” Dustin answered coldly. “Hah!
What makes you think we’re on the same level? We are Gold VIPs here,”
James declared snobbishly. “That’s right! This place is exclusively for
VIPS, requiring a deposit of one million dollars for even the most basic
VIP. Can you afford that?” Florence remarked condescendingly. “Indeed, I
do not have a million dollars,” Dustin admitted. It was true that he did
not have much. But it would not be hard for him to get the money. “Then
what are you doing here if you do not have the money? Get out! Do not
lower the standards here!” James * expression was one of contempt.
“Exactly! Go look at yourself in the mirror! Who are you to appear in
such a posh restaurant?” Florence sniggered. “Oi! You there! Come here
and get this guy out! He’s ruining our appetite!” James waved a waiter
over to kick Dustin out of the restaurant. “I’m sorry, he is one of our
guests too.” The waiter smiled apologetically. “So what? We are Gold
VIPs! Is he more distinguished than us? I am telling you to get rid of
this person! This is an order!” James barked. “Um…” The waiter looked
uneasy. “What? Are you going to disregard a Gold VIP? With such service,
you better watch out. I have quite a mind to lodge a complaint against
you!” Florence threatened. “My apologies, but we do not have such rules
here.” The waiter had his hands tied. “Hmph! If you can’t make the call,
get your manager here!” “That’s right! Get the manager here! I’d like to
see if he prioritizes this miserable man over his Gold VIPs!” Florence
and James pressed unforgivingly. They were making a big show out of
having a Gold VIP card. Even the other diners were throwing them dirty
looks. Under their persistent demands, the waiter dared not say more and
rushed off to get the manager. “Mom, what are the both of you doing?”
Dahlia called out as she arrived. She was surprised to see Dustin. Why
are you here?” “I’m here for a meal, of course. Why else?” Dustin
shrugged. “This is quite a pricey place for a meal,” Dahlia reminded him.
“Oh, so you think I can’t afford to have a meal here too?”
Dustin raised a brow. “I didn’t mean that…” Just as Dahlia was about to
explain herself, the waiter rushed back with the manager. “I’m the
manager here. Is anything the matter?” “So you’re the manager? Great!
There’s a man who sneaked in. I’m ordering you to get him out of here
immediately!” James was swollen with arrogance. “Sir, you must be
mistaken. We have very strict security here. No one is able to sneak in,”
the manager explained. “And I’m telling you, there is! I’m warning you,
we are Gold VIPs! If you do not want trouble, you best do as I “say!”
“That’s right! He’s affecting me and seriously ruining my appetite. I
don’t care what you say, just get him out of here!” Florence and James
were throwing their weight around, not bothering to play nice. 1 “Could
you please let me know who you are referring to?” the manager inquired.
“It’s him!” James pointed at Dustin. The manager’s expression clouded
over when he saw that. “Excuse me, sir, please do not try to play the
fool!” “What? You’re defying me? We are Gold VIPs!” James glowered. He
sounded like a broken tape recorder. The manager simply scoffed at that.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a Gold VIP. Even if you were the President
of Stonia himself, it wouldn’t matter. Because this man here is the owner
of Hillview Restaurant!” The whole room fell into a breathless silence.

Chapter 69.

“What? He’s the owner?!” James was stunned by the twist in
events. He couldn’t believe his ears. “You must be joking! How could he
be the owner of this restaurant?” Florence exclaimed in disbelief. “Why
would it be impossible? I have never seen such arrogant and snobbish
patrons as the two of you. How dare you try to make a scene here?” The
restaurant manager replied in disgust. Earlier, he had seen Duane, the
preceding owner, handing over ownership of Hillview Hotel to Dustin in
the private booth. “This can’t be! Dustin is as poor as a church mouse.
Where did he get the money to buy a restaurant?” Astonishment was written
all over James’s face. “That’s none of your business. The only thing you
need to know now is that the restaurant belongs to me. I have the
authority to kick you out instead,” Dustin answered calmly. At this, the
expressions on both their faces turned black with anger and humiliation.
They had planned on upstaging Dustin by shoving their privilege as a Gold
VIP into his face. Who would have thought that he was the owner of
Hillview Hotel? What a disgrace! “Mr. Rhys, should we remove these
troublemakers from the restaurant?” The manager spoke up. “No need for
that. We should provide good service to our customers. Furthermore, they
are still our privileged customers. Send them a bottle of red wine on the
house,” Dustin replied. “Very well, sir.” The manager nodded. “What a
showoff. Frankly, he only knows how to leech off women!” “That’s right!
He thinks that he is such a big shot when in fact, he is just a
freeloader!” Florence and James grumbled, cursing under their breath.
They were not happy about how things turned out. “Thanks for the offer.
However, I would have to decline your gift,” Matt cut in suddenly. With a
winsome smile on his face, he caught the attention of the other women
around with his charm and attractive features. Florence took this
opportunity to boast. “Dustin! For your information, Matt is an overseas
graduate. Not only is he from an elite family, but he is also extremely
talented. He is better than you by leaps and bounds!” “Precisely! With
your measly net worth, you don’t even deserve to be his slave!” James
chimed in. The humiliation they faced just now was instantly forgotten
with the support of Matt. What was the big deal? Dustin was only the
owner of a restaurant. Moreover, it was not from his labor. In comparison
to Matt’s noble background, he was nothing! “Florence, you are too kind.
I was just lucky.” Matt brushed her praises off lightly. However, there
was a cocky smile on his face. “Look at that! See how courteous and
gentlemanly he is. Between you and him, it’s like night and day!”
Florence declared, gushing over Matt. By now, Dustin
was done. Turning to leave, he replied calmly, “Please enjoy your time
here. Excuse me as I have other obligations.” “Wait a minute!” Dahlia
caught up to him. “Is this restaurant really yours? Where did you get so
much money from?” “I don’t have any money. The restaurant’s a gift from a
friend,” Dustin answered. “A friend? Don’t tell me it’s Natasha?” Dahlia
continued with a frown on her face. “You don’t need to know who it is.
Instead, spend that energy on catching up with Matt over some wine. Isn’t
he your beloved senior?” Dustin huffed before striding away. “You…”
Dahlia clicked her tongue in annoyance. She was only treating Matt to a
meal. Furthermore, her brother and mother were present. Why was he being
such a prick? Where was his gentlemanliness? Returning to the private
booth, Dustin seemed a little down. He couldn’t help but feel frustrated
when he saw Dahlia and Matt standing side by side. Matt had the looks and
the background. To top it off, they almost got together as a couple
before this. It was easy to be suspicious of their relationship. Above
all, Dahlia was being extremely guarded. He couldn’t guess what was going
through her mind at all. “Mr. Rhys, what’s wrong? Your face has been
downcast since you returned. Is something on your mind?” Natasha said,
lightly teasing him. “It’s nothing. I met up with some acquaintances
outside.” Dustin forced a smile.. “Acquaintance? Is it Dahlia?” Natasha’s
ears pricked up. “You’re right. It is her. Besides, there’s another guy
named Matt Laney,” Dustin replied honestly. “Matt Laney?” Natasha shot
him a mischievous smile. “Mr. Rhys, you should stay away from this
person!” “Do you know him?” Dustin was a little surprised. “Not
personally, but I’ve heard of him.” Natasha took a sip of red wine and
laughed. “Matt is notorious among the rich ladies. He is famous for being
a real playboy. Not only does he have the looks and the personality, but
he is also extremely generous with his money. Who wouldn’t like him?”
“What, are you also interested in him?” Dustin asked hesitantly. “Of
course not! He is not my type and is only good at leeching off women.
Besides, with you around, who else would I be interested in anyway?”
Natasha winked at him playfully. Seeing that Dustin was ignoring her
advances, she continued with a charming smile. “To be fair, Matt is from
a family of aristocrats. However, his family’s Influence went down the
drain recently, making him a broke aristocrat. Being brought up with a
golden spoon, he had to find unscrupulous ways to maintain his lifestyle.
Thus, he is now making a living off the support of rich older women. Many
women have been blinded by his lies and lost all their wealth. His modus
operandi is to use the wealth of his previous victim to gain the trust of
his current target, and the cycle continues. Furthermore, he is
meticulous in his deception. Many of his victims are still being strung
along by his charms. If he has his sights set on your ex–wife, you must
be very careful. In the end, she may not only lose her wealth, but her
life may even be in danger!” When Dustin heard about this, he frowned.
“Who would have known that he is just a swindler!” Chapter
69 “Anyway, you should have your guard up when dealing with people like
him,” Natasha concluded. “Thanks for the tip.” Dustin nodded
thoughtfully. “Mr. Rhys, you seem to be concerned about Dahlia. Could it
be that you still have feelings for her?” The expression on Natasha’s
face was a little dejected. “No. Even though she is my ex–wife, I don’t
wish for her to be hurt in any way.” Dustin shook his head. “I hope that
is true!” With a smirk, Natasha declared in a bossy tone, “Regardless,
even if you still have feelings for Dahlia, I don’t mind having a fair
fight with her. Once I have my eyes set on you, no one else can come
between us!” With that, she pompously stuck her nose in the air.

Chapter 71.

Dahlia looked over her shoulder and saw Dustin walking
toward her. “What do you mean?” “Your drink has been drugged. You would
be in danger if you had drunk it because it renders you defenseless,”
Dustin warned. “Drugged?” Dahlia frowned and turned to Matt, whose
expression stiffened for a split second. However, he composed himself
immediately. “Dustin, you must be sorely mistaken,” Matt said coolly.
“You would know best whether I am mistaken,” Dustin retorted coldly.
“Dahlia, do you really think that I’m such a malicious person?” Matt
asked with a disarming smile. Dahlia was taken aback by the sudden
question. After some deliberation, she asked, “Dustin, do you have any
evidence to support your claim?” “The restaurant’s manager saw what
happened. He could be my witness,” Dustin answered. “That’s right! It was
clear as day. He spiked your wine with some powder!” the manager pointed
an accusing finger at Matt. “Everyone knows that both of you are in
cahoots with each other. It would be impossible for me to deny it.” Matt
shook his head, acting aggrieved. “Dustin, do you have stronger evidence
for your claims? Do not judge someone based on unfounded accusations!”
Dahlia had a serious look on her face. Based on her knowledge of Matt, he
wasn’t someone who would do such a thing. “I already have a witness
backing me up. What evidence do you need? Would you rather believe him
over me?” Dustin frowned, anger building up within him. “I…” Dahlia
didn’t know what to say. Matt was from the noble Laney family. As an
aristocrat, it was unthinkable that he would carry out such a vile act.
However, Dustin seemed so sure of himself. He wouldn’t lie either. At
that moment, she didn’t know who to side with. “Dahlia, Dustin seems to
have some prejudice against me. That’s fine, I can prove my innocence.
Didn’t he claim that I drugged your drink? Let’s exchange drinks,” Matt
said. He took Dahlia’s wine glass and downed the contents. This simple
action wiped away every doubt from Dahlia’s mind. If he did drug her
drink, he wouldn’t have drunk it himself. “Dustin, I don’t remember doing
anything to offend you. Why are you hellbent on insulting me like this?
If you have a grudge against me, I sincerely apologize,” Matt said
personably, tilting his head. With his charm and courteous words, Dahlia
was convinced that Matt was every inch a gentleman. “Dustin, what do you
have to say for yourself?” Dahlia turned to Dustin, her eyes boring into
him. “If I’m not mistaken, he must have taken the
antidote prior to this.” Dustin was adamant. “Nonsense!” Dahlia’s
expression was dark. “Dustin, you are going too far! Matt has proven his
innocence. Why are you still being so difficult?” “I’m telling the
truth.” “Well, I just think that you are making up stories!” There was a
hint of anger in Dahlia’s voice. Evidently, Dustin felt hostility toward
Matt. However, that was no reason to drag Matt’s name through the mud. It
would be wrong to do so! “If you still don’t believe me, then check his
pockets. There must be some evidence of white powder on him!” Dustin
tried turning Matt’s pockets inside out to prove his point, but this was
the last straw for Dahlia. “That’s enough!” Dahlia splashed the rest of
the wine on Dustin’s face. “Have you not done enough damage for one day?
Why are you as stubborn as a mule? Being a gentleman, can you not be so
petty? If you are jealous of Matt, upgrade yourself and compete on the
same level. Don’t use despicable tricks or baseless arguments to ruin his
reputation. Your actions will only make me think that you are pathetic!”
Dustin was dumbstruck by Dahlia’s words.

Chapter 72.

Dustin was stunned by Dahlia’s hurtful words and furious
outburst. Drops of wine rolled down his cheeks and to the ground. He was
in a miserable state. Apparently, it was wishful thinking that their
relationship had improved. In actual fact, there was nothing left between
them. “What? So you thought that I was falsely accusing him?” Dustin’s
brows were deeply furrowed as he stared at Dahlia. “Am I that despicable
of a person in your eyes?” “Yes!” Dahlia blurted out. She felt a tinge of
regret immediately. Yet, she could not take her words back now. She had
too much pride for that. “Finally! You have spoken what you truly thought
of me.” Dustin had a disappointed look on his face as he put “on a wry
smile. “I have overstepped my boundaries. Who knew that after so many
years, you still have feelings for Matt.” “What nonsense are you
spouting?” Dahlia frowned as well. “Am I wrong? You said that you would
not contact him anymore. Having said that, here you are having wine with
Matt. Aren’t you being too hypocritical?” “…” Dahlia was about to explain
herself when Dustin interrupted her. “Maybe you aren’t even worried about
Matt drugging your drink. In actuality, you hoped that he would do so as
this would give both of you a legitimate excuse to get together again. Am
I correct?” It was Dahlia’s turn to be stunned by Dustin’s words. Her
face was a mix of disbelief, disappointment, and regret. Never would she
have thought that Dustin would say such words. Did he genuinely think so
lowly of her? Regardless of the past three years of marriage, there
wasn’t a shred of trust left between them. “Dustin! I’m utterly
disappointed in you!” Dahlia gritted her teeth. As she walked away, she
struggled to control her emotions. Dustin stood rooted to the ground. He
could feel the anger and hurt washing over him. At this moment, Matt came
over. The charming smile that had been on his face just now was replaced
by a smirk. “Dustin, everything you said was correct. I spiked Dahlia’s
drink and drank her wine to get rid of the evidence. I already took the
antidote in advance,” Matt whispered into his ear coldly. “Nevertheless,
it doesn’t matter anyway. Who would believe you now? Dahlia’s smitten
with me, and she will support me. There’s nothing you say that would
change the outcome. What? Are you burning with anger and frustration
right now? Sadly, your hands are tied. Besides, I have to thank you for
strengthening our relationship with this incident. I believe that she
will fall in love with me before long and willingly go to bed with me.
However, don’t worry. Once I’m tired of her, I’ll return her to you soon
enough.” With this, Matt threw his head back and cackled maliciously. His
true colors were finally revealed. Compared to his gentlemanly
disposition earlier, this side of him was cruel and sinister like a
venomous snake! Burning with anger, Dustin
cracked his knuckles to prevent himself from punching Matt in the face as
he left. Dahlia was obviously still in love with Matt. Even if his
intentions were good, Dahlia had no need for his help. Since his actions
would only be seen as a hindrance, there was nothing he could do.
Although Dustin could convince himself logically, he couldn’t help but be
aggravated by their relationship. “Mr. Rhys, what’s happened?” At that
moment, Natasha and Duane walked out of their booth. “Forget it. I was
just poking my nose where it didn’t belong.” Dustin said mockingly. “Matt
is notorious for sowing discord and stirring up trouble. Don’t be
affected by him,” Duane continued. “The main problem is not with Matt but
with Dahlia.” Dustin shook his head. It would be useless to change her
mind if she continued to be obstinate. “Dustin, don’t be hung up over a
woman! It’s no big deal, women are easy to find,” Duane said confidently.
“As long as you are rich, women will flock to you. So, shall we get down
to business?” “What business?” Dustin asked with a tilt of his head. “Of
course it’s about the Gemiphen!” Duane smirked. “I’ve personally tried
the miracle pill. A single pill could be worth a fortune! Since you are
in need of herbs, why don’t we work together? I’ll deal with the rest of
the business if you give me the prescription. Once I make a profit, we
will split it evenly. What do you think?” “I’m not changing my mind. I
don’t mind helping you out, but you have to give me some rare herbs in
exchange for the prescription. Otherwise, it’s a no.” Dustin shook his
head again. “Dustin, it will be some time before I get my hands on the
herbs you want. Can’t you be more flexible?” Duane pleaded. “Let’s talk
about this after you have them in your possession.” Dustin was immovable.
Duane frowned when he heard the resolve in Dustin’s tone. This young man
was as stubborn as a mule. Initially, he wanted to start a mutual
partnership with Dustin. However, it wasn’t going as smoothly as he
thought. It seemed like he needed to pull out some of the tricks up his
sleeve. “Ms. Harmon! There’s bad news!” A bodyguard dressed in a suit ran
into the restaurant hurriedly. “Yes? What is it?” Natasha asked,
surprised. “It’s Ms. Ruth! She has been kidnapped!” the bodyguard
reported. “What did you say?” Natasha’s expression turned dark. “Didn’t I
instruct you to protect her at all costs? How could this happen?” “We
were keeping an eye on her in secret. However, Ms. Ruth managed to escape
and went to a private party. By the time we arrived, she was nowhere to
be found!” “Do you know who is behind this?” Natasha frowned. “It could
be Sir Hummer. The kidnappers left a ransom note instructing Mr. Rhys and
you to meet at Hummer Villa.” “Edwin?” Natasha gritted her teeth in
anger. How dare he endanger a member of her family? He had gone too far
with the repeated provocations and needed to be taught a lesson! Contact the Harmon family. I need some strong fighters as
backup! Since Edwin seeks a light, I shall give it to him!”

Chapter 73.

The next morning, they met at Java Joys. When Dustin
entered the cafe, he noticed a burly man standing beside Natasha. His
bulky muscles rippled under his clothes, and his knuckles were covered
with calluses. This man was obviously an experienced fighter. “Mr. Rhys,
sorry to bother you. I owe you one.” Natasha walked up to Dustin. “It’s
all right, I don’t mind helping out a friend in need. Besides, they had
even specified my name in the note. I have no other choice.” Dustin
smiled wryly. Edwin’s men had left a ransom note which had his name on
it. He was to go with Natasha to save Ruth. “Mr. Rhys, let me introduce
you to Stephan Chapman, one of the best fighters from the Harmon family.”
Natasha pointed toward the man standing in silence. “Mr. Chapman, a
pleasure to meet you.” Dustin nodded in acknowledgement. “You’re Dustin?”
Stephan sized him up. “Was it you who took Liam and Noah Asher down?” “In
a way, yes.” Dustin nodded again. “What do you mean, in a way? Don’t give
such a vague answer. Did you use some shady tricks to win against them?”
Stephan stared at him suspiciously. “Well, as long as it gets the job
done.” Dustin said nonchalantly. “As martial artists, we should win fair
and square. What’s the use of winning when you have to resort to
despicable tricks?” Stephan scoffed. He deemed people like Dustin, who
don’t belong to any martial arts group, as inferior to him. “That makes
sense.” Dustin had no interest in arguing further. “To be honest, I have
defeated Liam and Noah in a match before this!” Stephan boasted. “Don’t
be too proud of yourself even if you win against them! They are weaklings
compared to me. Once we have a match, you will know that many martial
artists are stronger than you!” Hearing Stephan’s speech, Dustin was lost
for words. They were practically strangers. Why was he lecturing him like
a child? Who was the one looking down on the other anyway? “Alright, now
that you have made each other’s acquaintance, we will be working together
after this. Once we arrive at Hummer Villa, we may need each other’s
help,” Natasha cut in. 1 “I’m sure we won’t need to. With me around, it
would be easy to take Edwin down,” Stephan said confidently. “Mr.
Chapman, it’s good to be optimistic, but it’s better not to underestimate
the enemy. When will Tilda arrive?” Natasha changed the topic. Tilda
Snider was one of her aunts and was famous for her deadly strikes. She
was currently the head of security for the Harmon family. Compared to
Stephan, she was on a different level. In this fight against Edwin, she
was the key to victory. “Tilda is on her way.
She will be arriving shortly,” Stephan answered. “Great. Since she is on
her way, let’s make a move as well” On her command, Natasha’s car led the
way as the group drove in a file toward Hummer Villa. Hummer Villa was
situated at the top of a hill which was part of the Hummers” private
land. As the cars drove up the hill, Edwin’s men kept surveillance on
them in the hidden shadows of the surrounding trees. When they arrived at
the villa, everyone got down and entered the back garden. With a pair of
scissors in hand, Edwin was busy arranging a vase of flowers in a gazebo.
Behind him, Fletcher Lawson and a group of muscular men were standing
guard, staring daggers at them. “Ms. Harmon, you’ve finally arrived? Have
a seat,” Edwin said with a smile, pointing to a chair. He acted as if
“they were here for a chat. “Sir Hummer, I’ve heard that you are holding
my sister hostage. Is that true?” Natasha sat down and asked with a poker
face. “To be honest, I only knew about your sister this morning. My men
did it at their discretion, so I have reprimanded them,” Edwin continued
with a charming smile. “Is that so? Well, why don’t you let my sister
go?” Natasha pressed further. “Let her go? That would be impossible.”
Edwin shook his head. “Ms. Harmon, your sister made a mess at my party,
destroyed my antiques, and beat up some of my underlings. If I let her go
without repercussions, my reputation in Swinton would be ruined!” “Then
what do you want in return?” Natasha’s eyes narrowed. “It’s very simple.
Repay me double for my loss.” Edwin’s smile was plastered on his face.
“I’ve calculated the damage your sister caused and everything amounts to
ten billion dollars. As compensation, I want you to hand over half of
your business in Swinton.” “Half of the business? Are you joking?”
Natasha raised her voice. “Ms. Harmon, you are only giving up a small
part of your assets. Moreover, your business activities are mainly in
Milling. You won’t be affected much by what I’m asking for,” Edwin
advised. “What if I refuse?” Natasha retorted. “It’s only right to pay
back what you owe. If you refuse, I can’t guarantee that your sister will
be safe from harm.” Edwin gave her a chilling smile. “Are you threatening
me?” Natasha returned his gaze stonily. “I’m just giving you a warning.
Of course, we can resolve this dispute with a death match. However, the
entirety of our assets must be at stake,” Edwin said with a smirk. “A
death match?” Natasha mulled over his offer. It was an unsaid rule in the
business world. A death match was used to settle unresolved conflict
between warring families in order to prevent unwanted death and
bloodshed. There would be three rounds of battle 23 Chapter
73 royale in which the opposing families would send out their
representatives to fight on behalf of them. There were no rules and
everything was fair game. “Challenge accepted!” Before Natasha could
answer, Stephan spoke up. “Isn’t it just a fight? We will take you on!
Show me some real competition!” Edwin snickered maliciously at Stephan’s
words. This was what he had hoped would happen!

Chapter 74.

“Mr. Chapman, what are you doing? Why did you interrupt?”
Natasha frowned in annoyance. She hadn’t even made her decision, but
Stephan had accepted the challenge without consulting her. He was
overstepping his boundaries! “Ms. Harmon, there’s nothing to be afraid
of! I’m sure I can handle anything they throw at me,” Stephan said
confidently. He was utterly unaware of his mistake. “What if we lost the
death match? Have you thought about the consequences?” Natasha narrowed
her eyes. “You must be joking! It’s impossible that they will defeat me.
Just watch, I’ll put on an amazing performance later!” Stephan patted his
chest assuredly. “Ms. Harmon, there are only two choices. You can either
pay the ransom with half of your business, or you bet on the deathmatch
with all your assets at stake.” Edwin repeated his conditions. “I will
accept the death match. However, let my sister go first,” Natasha said
coldly. Even though she knew that she was walking into Edwin’s trap,
there was nothing else she could do. Thankfully, she had come prepared.
“Of course.” Edwin gestured to his men, and they brought Ruth out, bound
up tightly with ropes. Thankfully, despite the ordeal, she seemed none
the worse for wear. “Ruth, are you injured?” Natasha quickly cut the
ropes away. “Sis! Thank God you are here. This time, it’s not my fault. I
fell into Edwin’s trap!” Ruth whined. “It’s alright, go and have a rest.
I’ll handle this.” Natasha nodded. “Ms. Harmon, now that I have released
your sister, isn’t it time to sign the agreement for our death match?”
Edwin already had a document prepared, and a servant brought it to
Natasha. The document was both a signed consent and agreement stating the
terms and conditions of the match. The loser had to comply with all the
conditions of the bet, which everyone would witness. “Since you insist on
a death match, I’ll take up the challenge!” Natasha signed her name on
the document without hesitation. tv won. “Alright! I admire your
decisiveness!” Edwin smirked triumphantly as if he had already “I’ll be
your first opponent!” Stephan stepped forward confidently. He taunted
Edwin’s men on the opposing side. “Who wants to fight me? I’ll send you
all to hell!” “Wolverine, you are up.” Edwin pointed toward a hulking,
muscular man with tanned skin who stepped forward as well. “Mr. Chapman,
you must be careful of the Wolverine. He is a Muay Thai fighter and
notorious among the underground fighting rings in Swinton!” One of
Natasha’s bodyguards whispered to Stephan. “A Muay Thai fighter?
Defeating him would be child’s play!” Stephan scoffed. 1 Stephan and
Wolverine stood in the ring, facing each other off.
Wolverine was obviously used to combat. He stretched his
limbs, cracked his knuckles, and struck a stance. His muscles were
contracted tensely as he was poised to strike. On the other hand, Stephan
folded his hands behind him and seemed to be at ease. “I’ll let you have
the first move.” Stephan motioned to his opponent. Wolverine did not hold
back. He leaped high into the air and threw a flying kick at Stephan. At
this level, his strength could even cause a metal pole to bend. “Child’s
play!” Stephan avoided the attack easily and landed a punch to
Wolverine’s chest. Wolverine lost his balance and retreated a few steps,
panting heavily. Stephan did not give him a chance to catch his breath,
landing several heavy blows on Wolverine’s arms, abdomen, and legs. After
a few minutes, it was clear that Stephan had the upper hand. Wolverine
did all he could to fight back, but he could not recover from his
injuries. Finally, Stephan landed the final blow, and Wolverine fainted
on impact. The first round went to Stephan! Seeing the outcome, relief
appeared on the faces of Natasha’s men. “Who would have expected that Mr.
Chapman was so strong? It’s no wonder he is the key fighter of the Harmon
family!” “With Mr. Chapman on our side, we will definitely be
victorious!” The audience was whispering in excitement. They were all in
awe of Stephan’s fighting ability. Even though he was a little brash, he
did have the abilities to back it up. “Who else wants to fight against
me?” Stephan sized up the rest of Edwin’s men. “This explains why Natasha
agreed to the match so quickly. She brought in outside help.” Edwin
scratched his chin in surprise. “Have you all gone dumb? Come up to fight
me!” Stephan taunted. “Mr. Lawson, you are up next to prevent any further
surprises.” Edwin turned to an older man, Fletcher Lawson. “No problem.”
Fletcher nodded and stepped into the ring with his head held high. “Old
man! With your thin and fragile limbs, how can you ever dream of
defeating me? Give up now and you shall live!” Stephan laughed
scornfully. “Don’t overestimate yourself!” Fletcher replied with a poker
face and attacked Stephan immediately. His agile movements were as quick
as lightning. “You are just asking for trouble!” Stephan sneered and
rushed toward Fletcher as well. When they met in the middle of the ring,
there was a deafening explosion as both punches landed on their targets.
However, after the debris settled, Fletcher was the only person still
standing. Not a hair on his head was harmed. On the other hand, Stephan
was lying helplessly on the ground. His arm was obviously broken, and he
was bleeding profusely. Fletcher’s immense
power had struck Stephan’s body, Incapacitating him. Fletcher was not
done yet. He went up to Stephan and landed two more blows on his chest.
Stephan gave a loud cry of pain as his body was flung against a tree. On
Impact, blood spurted out from his mouth. “How could this be?” Natasha’s
men were all dismayed at the sudden turn of events. No one expected
Stephan to be defeated so quickly. Fletcher had Stephan Injured and
bleeding within three turns. Their difference in prowess was just too
significant. “That’s terrible! How can this old man be so strong? Even
Mr. Chapman couldn’t defeat him!” Ruth exclaimed worriedly. Stephan was
one of the Harmon family’s best fighters. It was unthinkable that he
couldn’t even withstand three attacks from an opponent!

Chapter 75.

Who are you?” Stephan’s face was frozen in terror, his
body slumped on the ground. There was no hint of arrogance left in his
trembling voice. He was soundly beaten after just three attacks. This
proved the disparity in their abilities. How could there be Someone with
such devastating powers remaining unknown in a small place like Swinton?
“I’ll be honest with you. I’m Fletcher Lawson, Liam and Noah were my
apprentices!” Fletcher said coldly. “What? You are Mr. Lawson of
Klesbridge?” Stephan was dumbfounded at this revelation. His reputation
as martial artist preceded him. Fletcher was not only one of the most
prominent fighters in Klesbridge, but he was also a master of poison!
There were many tricks that he could use to make someone drop dead
without a trace. His mere presence. was enough to make one’s blood run
cold. “You seem to have heard of me!” Fletcher sneered. When Fletcher
revealed his identity, Stephan’s face had turned as pale as a sheet. If
he knew that Fletcher was involved, he would definitely not have accepted
this task. Fletcher wasn’t someone you would want to have as an enemy.
Crossing him would only be inviting death. “Who will fight in the last
round?” Edwin asked loudly. Natasha’s men looked at each other in
silence. If Mr. Chapman couldn’t even land a blow, the rest of them would
be easily annihilated. No one dared to volunteer as it meant signing
one’s own death warrant. “Sis, what shall we do? Are we going to lose?”
Ruth was fraught with anxiety. Who could be on par and fight against such
overwhelming power? “Punk! Are you game to fight a match against me?”
Fletcher directed his gaze at Dustin, his gaze was brimming with hatred
and anger. “Why not?” Dustin gave a careless smile. As he was about to
step into the ring, Ruth pulled him back. “What’s wrong with you?” “I’m
going to accept his challenge,” Dustin answered. “Accept his challenge?
Do you know how to fight?” Ruth asked suspiciously. “A little.” Dustin
nodded. “And you dare to accept his challenge when you’re bad at
fighting? Are you attempting suicide?” Ruth exclaimed in frustration, “Do
you know who that is? Fletcher Lawson is a formidable opponent. Being
foolhardy will only bring about your destruction!” “Don’t worry, I can
handle it.” Dustin smiled. Although Ruth’s words were sharp, she had good
intentions. “Bullshit!” Ruth glared at him. “What’s the use of you going
up to fight when Mr. Chapman couldn’t even defend himself?”
Stung by Ruth’s indirect insult, Stephan chimed in
sarcastically, “Don’t overestimate yourself, punk! If you can’t even
defeat me, it is impossible for you to fight against Mr. Lawson!” “Your
defeat doesn’t mean I have absolutely no chance,” Dustin said calmly.
“Youngsters like you will be the death of me! Do you think so highly of
your abilities?” Stephan was annoyed by his impudence. “Well, just wait
and see.” Dustin didn’t explain further. “Dustin, are you really sure?”
Natasha spoke up suddenly. “I think I’ll be fine.” Dustin nodded.
“Alright, give it a go but admit defeat if you have to. Your life is of
utmost importance,” Natasha smiled as she gave her permission. “Sis, are
you joking? Are you really going to send Dustin to his death?” Ruth
couldn’t believe her ears. “Ms. Harmon! The entirety of your assets are
on the line. If this punk loses, you will lose everything!” Stephan was
anxious as well. “I believe in Dustin.” Natasha said with finality. She
had full confidence in him. “Enough with the small talk! I’m going to
send you to hell!” Fletcher shouted impatiently. He was dying to get his
hands on Dustin and cut him up into tiny pieces. Dustin ignored
Fletcher’s taunts and walked up to him silently. Since Edwin had
specifically asked for him to be here, it was obvious that he wanted
revenge. If so, Dustin had no qualms about giving him what he wanted.
“This is awful! He is going to die!” Ruth stomped her foot in
frustration. “Ms. Harmon has been taken in by this punk’s overconfidence.
What a pity!” Stephan shook his head, sighing. Clearly, he did not expect
Dustin to return in one piece. “Punk! Was it you who killed my
apprentices?” Fletcher glared at Dustin with hostility. “To be accurate,
both of them committed suicide,” Dustin answered carelessly. Noah killed
himself because he refused to provide Dustin with information. On the
other hand, Dustin hadn’t even touched a hair on Liam’s head. Liam had
been the one who attacked him. However, he died from the overpowering
recoil. It was only right to say that they killed themselves. “You still
dare to deny it at this last moment of your life? Today, I am going to
exact revenge for the death of my apprentices!” Fletcher’s face twisted
with hatred. “Sure, this depends on your abilities.“,Dustin was
unaffected by Fletcher’s threats. “Arrogant punk! I’m going to wipe you
from the face of the earth!” Fletcher roared. He concentrated the force
in his feet and sprinted toward Dustin with a burst of sudden energy. His
movements were as fast as lightning. causing large cracks to appear on
the ground. “That’s crazy!” Stephan exclaimed in awe. Fletcher had not
even revealed his full strength when he was fighting against Stephan
before! “Go to hell!” Fletcher summoned his energy and
unleashed a powerful punch in Dustin’s face. The vibrations from the
attack formed a torrent of energy that swirled around them and sent
debris flying around! Everyone took a few steps back to avoid getting
injured in the aftermath. arm Just when everyone thought that the outcome
was decided, Dustin made his move. He stretched out his ar slowly and
gave Fletcher a firm, tight slap on the cheek. The impact on Fletcher’s
face created a loud cracking noise. At that moment, Fletcher seemed like
he was hit by a moving train! His body was flung several yards away like
a dirty rag and crashed into a wall, creating a deep crater. There was
absolute silence as everyone was dumbfounded at the extraordinary turn of
events.

Chapter 76.

The crowd gaped as Fletcher hung limply on the wall. They
never imagined that the mighty Fletcher Lawson, who had just trounced
Stephan Chapman, had been defeated with an effortless slap. What the F*ck
was going on? “H–How could this be?” Stephan’s eyes were wide with
disbelief that someone as powerful as Fletcher, the strongest fighter in
Klesbrige, had been defeated with a single blow. Was this kid a monster?
“No way! Dustin actually won?” Ruth couldn’t believe it either. At first,
she’d been so certain that Dustin would lose. Instead, he had won the
match in a breeze. With just one slap, he sent Fletcher flying. His
strength was unheard of! “Fletcher… lost?” Edwin was shaken and
astonished. He was very familiar with Fletcher’s strength. Even in
Swinton, there was hardly anyone who could be his opponent. Yet somehow,
someone as impregnable as him hadn’t been able to withstand a single blow
from Dustin. Unbelievable! Had Fletcher underestimated his opponent, or
was it a fluke? Or maybe… it had been Dustin’s true strength. “It seems
that I underestimated you,” said Natasha, smirking. Her face wore
surprise, delight, and also a hint of pride. She knew Dustin was powerful
but never expected it to be to this extent. She hit the jackpot this
time! “I think I’ve won.” Dustin dusted off his hands and nonchalantly
walked off the arena. At this moment, everyone looked at Dustin as though
he was a monster. Especially so for Stephan, who gazed mockingly but now
looked at Dustin in awe. It was obvious how strong Dustin was if he could
subdue Fletcher so effortlessly. “Dustin, didn’t you say that you barely
know martial arts? How are you so powerful?” Ruth asked tentatively. “It
might just be that he’s too weak,” Dustin answered. “Really? But he was
the one who defeated Mr. Chapman!” Ruth exclaimed. “Um…” Stephan’s face
twitched as they touched a sore spot. “Sir Hummer, we’ve already won
three matches out of five. What else do you have to say?” demanded
Natasha, her focus on other matters. 1 “I admit defeat. I have nothing to
say.” Though Edwin seemed upset, he appeared resigned. “Well then, until
we meet again!” Natasha smiled. With that, she left with a group of
people trailing after her. “Sir Hummer, are we supposed to let them go
like this?” his subordinate asked unhappily. “As if. Do you think they
can leave so easily after entering my territory?” Edwin sneered. “I still
have a present waiting for them.” Sometime
later, the sun began setting behind the mountains. Natasha and her convoy
were traveling through a fork in the road when a large bus came barreling
toward them. The bus driver hit the brake and drifted to a horizontal
stop, blocking the entire road. A bunch of assassins covered in black
immediately swarmed out from both sides of the woods, quickly encircling
the convoy of cars. “It’s an ambush! Protect Ms. Harmon!” The Harmon
family bodyguards reacted instantly and formed a ring around Natasha’s
car to protect her. “Kill them!” The assassins were fearless as they cut
through flesh and knocked down cars. “Edwin Hummer is such a despicable
man! How dare he ambush us!” Ruth was shaken but furious. “The corporate
world is a battlefield. The moment a fight breaks out, things are bound
to get messy.” Natasha responded calmly, this not being her first rodeo.
Ruth humphed angrily. “He better pray that he never falls into my hands,
or he’ll regret it!” The sound of the battle was getting more heated
outside the car as numbers from both parties dwindled. Fortunately,
despite winning in numbers, the assassins were still no match to the
Harmon family’s men in terms of skills. Soon, they began losing the
bloody battle, and many who hadn’t been killed chose to flee. The battle
finally ended when the last assassin fell to the ground with a thud. More
than half of Natasha’s men had been killed, but she and her sister were
unharmed. Dustin got out of the car and studied the bodies of the
assassins. He realized that each of them had a snake- shaped tattoo on
their body. Ruth humphed furiously. “Thank God our men are strong, or
we’d be dead today thanks to Edwin Hummer!” Natasha then ordered her men,
“Do a quick clean–up and let’s leave.” They were still close to Edwin’s
territory and she couldn’t be sure if he still had anything else up his
sleeve, so it was best they leave as soon as possible. As her men cleared
the place, two MPVs with foreign license plates headed toward them and
blocked their path. “No way. Don’t tell me there’s more?” asked Ruth,
annoyed. She watched intently as the car door opened and a dozen men
dressed for battle got out of the car. Leading them was a beautiful lady
in her 30s. Besides her good looks, she also had a voluptuous figure that
flaunted her curves as she walked, an air of authority following her
wherever she went. “Tilda?” Ruth exclaimed excitedly and rushed forward
to greet her. Everyone was relieved to see that backup had arrived. “What
happened?” Tilda Snider frowned when she saw the bodies littering the
ground. “They’re Edwin Hummer’s men! They tried to ambush
us!” Ruth grumbled. “He ambushed you? There’s no way this is a
coincidence. No outsider knows about the route you are taking. so how
could he have planted these people here in advance?” “You’re right! How
did he know we were going to take this route?” Ruth was puzzled. “Tilda,
do you mean to say there’s a mole among our people?” Natasha was quick to
react. “That’s right!” Tilda’s expression was grave. “I have reason to
believe someone has been selling us out!” “Tilda, everyone here are
people I trust. I doubt any of them would betray me,” countered Natasha,
shaking her head. “People you trust?” Tilda studied the crowd before her
gaze landed on Dustin. “I see some unfamiliar faces “that don’t belong to
the Harmon family!” “Oh, he’s my friend,” explained Natasha. “Friend?
Humph! Friends are the least trustworthy people. I reckon that he’s the
spy! Someone get rid of him at once!” Tilda commanded. Two subordinates
standing behind her immediately pulled out their knives, ready to fight.

Chapter 77.

Dustin narrowed his eyes at the sight of the swinging
blades. They had chosen to accuse him of being a traitor without even
trying to get the full picture. “Tilda, there must be a misunderstanding.
There’s no way Dustin is the spy!” Natasha objected. “We’ll know whether
it’s a misunderstanding after doing an investigation.” Tilda shouted
icily. “Tie him up! Kill him if he tries to resist!” “Kill me?” Dustin
frowned. “You’re making such extreme decisions when the investigations
haven’t even begun. Aren’t you going a bit too far?” Tilda humphed. “For
the good of the Harmon family, I can do anything!” “How can you be sure
that I’m the spy?” Dustin retorted. “I don’t need to be sure. You are the
spy if I say so!” Tilda responded domineeringly. Seeing how unreasonable
Tilda was being. Dustin’s expression hardened. He had been trying to
reason things out peacefully the entire time, yet Tilda accused him of
being the mole without any proof. She had gone too far! “Tilda, there’s
no solid evidence yet. Don’t you dare mess around!” Natasha uttered,
voice rising. “I’m your head of security, which makes me responsible for
your safety. This man is obviously treacherous and evil!” shouted Tilda.
“Tilda, there must be some misunderstanding. Dustin saved my life.
Without him, we wouldn’t have been able to leave the Hummer Villa,”
explained Ruth from the side. “Hmph! He’s just acting. He’s fooled all of
you!” Tilda retorted. “But-” Tilda cut Ruth off sharply before she could
say another word. “No buts! When it comes to your safety, it’s better to
kill wrongly than be sorry afterward!” “I don’t understand. We have
nothing against each other, so why are you being so aggressive towards
me?” Dustin questioned. “Stop acting! You may have fooled them, but you
can’t fool me! You better yield if you don’t want to die!” Tilda snapped.
“And if I refuse?” questioned Dustin.. “Then I’ll have no choice but to
force you!” Tilda glanced at her subordinate. “Kneel!” Two men
immediately brought their blades to Dustin’s neck. “Don’t make me fight
you,” Dustin warned hostilely. “So what? What are you going to do about
it? Get onto your knees. Now!” One of the men roared before sweeping a foot toward Dustin’s knee. Dustin didn’t even
budge. Instead, the man was pushed back two steps from the force. “You
F*cker…” Embarrassed, the man was about to give another blow when Dustin
suddenly shot out his hand and slammed it down on the man’s crown. With a
loud noise, the man’s head burst apart, and he died on the spot. “What?”
Everyone exclaimed, their expressions changing after seeing the scene
unfold before them. No one expected Dustin to be such a ruthless man,
killing without a word. He didn’t give a damn about the Harmon family.
“F*ck you!” Furious, the other man slashed his blade at Dustin. “He is
the spy! Kill him!” Tilda immediately ordered, ruthless. At her command,
the rest of the men immediately charged toward Dustin with blades in
their hands. The look in Dustin’s eyes hardened, and he charged into the
awaiting mob and began wiping them out. Within seconds, all of Tilda’s
subordinates were laying on the ground, motionless. With clean and
decisive moves, he managed to kill all of them with a single blow! “You
bastard! How dare you kill the Harmon family’s best men? You’re done
for!” Going ballistic, Tilda pulled out a sword from her waist and lunged
at Dustin with incredible speed. With a blank expression on his face,
Dustin tilted his head sideways to avoid Tilda’s attack and in a flash,
gave the woman a punch in the abdomen. Tilda screamed in pain as her body
soared through the air and landed heavily on one of the MPVs. Instead of
standing down, Dustin darted forward, grabbed Tilda by the neck, and
lifted her. The woman gasped as breathing became difficult, and she felt
her strength draining away. Like a sitting duck, she was now completely
at Dustin’s mercy. “Dustin, please let her go! She’s family!” Ruth cried.
“Mr. Rhys, You can kill anyone but Tilda, or the consequences will be
dire!” Stephan was terrified as well “I’m Natasha’s elder as well as the
backbone of the Harmon family. To kill me is to make yourself the number
one enemy of the Harmon family!” Tilda taunted with a vicious humph. As
soon as she said that, Dustin put more pressure, and a crisp crack
sounded as Tilda’s head went slack; the woman was now dead. Tilda’s
countenance was frozen in a myriad of emotions. Shock, dismay, even
disbelief! She never expected Dustin to be unreasonable enough to kill
her without caring about the Harmon family. “Wha-“Everyone stood
motionless, frozen in shock as they stared at the limp body on the ground
before exchanging looks of dismay and disbelief with one another. This
was Tilda Snider they were talking about! Natasha Harmon’s elder and the
most important elder in the Harmon family! And she was gone just like
that? Dustin must be mad! “Rhys! Are you
crazy? You killed Tilda? Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Ruth
demanded with wide eyes, dismayed. “She was going to kill me first, so of
course, I had to kill her first. Was I supposed to just stand there and
let her kill me?” Dustin snorted. “You-” Ruth was so furious that words
caught in her throat. “Mr. Rhys, you’re in trouble now!” Stephan shook
his head sympathetically. “Dustin Rhys! You killed our family’s pillar!
Wait ‘til the Harmon family hears about this!” a bald guard yelled
furiously. “This bastard must be out of his mind! Killing Tilda is like
launching an attack on the entire Harmon family!” he thought. “Ms.
Harmon, what do you think?” Dustin turned his attention to Natasha. He
wanted to take this opportunity to understand what Natasha was thinking
about. “Mr. Rhys was defending himself. I see nothing wrong with that.”
Natasha quickly regained her composure. Dustin was relieved to hear her
reply and decided that Natasha was a friend worth making. “Ms. Harmon, I
was not killing carelessly. Take a look at her body,” said Dustin, and he
yanked at Tilda’s shirt. On her wrist there was a tattoo shaped like a
snake. “Huh? Isn’t this the same symbol as the ones on those assassins?
Why would Tilda have one too?” Stephan was dumbfounded. On the other
hand, Ruth had a look of horror as she cried, “No way! Tilda was the
spy?”

Chapter 78.

“That can’t be. Tilda was the mole?” Everyone was shocked
at Ruth’s words. However, the crowd’s expressions hardened when the
assassins‘ clothing were peeled off, revealing the same tattoo on their
bodies. This was obviously not a coincidence. “You can’t prove anything
with just a tattoo, can you?” objected the bald guard. “Maybe it would
have been less persuasive if there was only one tattoo, but what if
everyone had the same tattoo?” Dustin walked up to Tilda’s deceased men
and yanked off all their clothing. “Soon, everyone realized that each of
the men wore the same tattoo as well. This made things so much more
apparent. It was safe to say that they’d found the traitor! “No wonder
Tilda immediately started kicking up a fuss the moment she arrived. She
was the traitor all along!” Stephan was disgruntled. As one of the Harmon
family’s men himself, he hated nothing more than betrayal like this. “But
why? The Harmon family has always trusted her so why did Tilda betray
us?” Ruth asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Nowadays, not many can
resist the temptation of money and power. That’s why betrayals happen
easily. Without Mr. Rhys‘ keen observation, we would’ve been in danger!”
Stephan shivered, thinking about what could have happened. After all,
having a mole was like a ticking bomb. No one could tell when they might
get stabbed in the back. “What should we do now, sis?” asked Ruth, at a
loss. “There’s definitely more of them hiding among us. I must let Father
know immediately so he can start digging into it.” Natasha announced with
a grave expression. Having a traitor was no small matter. It was much
more serious than being attacked by outsiders. After all, a small leak
will sink a great ship. The effects might be devastating if this matter
was neglected! “You’re right! We must get to the bottom of this! Traitors
are nothing but an abomination!” Ruth nodded her head repeatedly. “Ms.
Harmon, I don’t believe Tilda would be a careless person, so there should
be a couple more of them hiding among our ranks right now.” Dustin began
surveying the crowd with eyes like a hawk before his gaze landed on the
bald guard. “Why are you looking at me? Do you think I’m the mole?” The
guard narrowed his eyes. “We’ll know for sure when you take off your
clothes,” Dustin replied nonchalantly. “Why should I? Who are you to
order me around?” The guard began to lose his cool. “Do as Mr. Rhys says.
Take off your clothes.” Natasha commanded. “Ms. Harmon, I’ve worked for
you for so many years. Don’t tell me you’re suspecting me,” the guard
said incredulously.. “Strip!” Natasha commanded. “Fine!
Since none of you believe me, I’ll just have to prove my innocence!”
snapped the petulant guard, looking as though he had been wronged.
However, when he moved to remove his clothes, his face suddenly twisted
into a sneer. He flung out his hand and two black objects flew out of his
sleeve and hurled toward Dustin and Natasha. No one around them reacted
in time since everything happened so quickly. Swiftly, Dustin reached out
and effortlessly grabbed the object coming toward him with his fingers.
Upon closer inspection, the object turned out to be a poisonous black
snake the width of his finger. “Ms. Harmon!” someone began shouting.
Without anyone realizing it, the second snake had bitten Natasha on the
thigh. “Grab that traitor!” Pissed, Natasha crushed the snake with a
harsh stomp. “Get him!” The rest of her men rushed toward the guard and
instantly subdued him. “I’ve always treated you well, so why did you
betray me?” Natasha trudged toward him with a cold glare, a murderous
aura surrounding her. “Ms. Harmon, you must know that a man would do
anything to become rich. What they offered me was too tempting to resist.
You can’t blame me for accepting!” the guard sneered. “Who instructed you
to do this? Who’s the mastermind behind this?” Natasha grilled. “Ms.
Harmon, I’ll die alone if I keep my mouth shut. If I answer, my whole
family will be doomed!” the guard retorted. Natasha was about to say
something when a wave of nausea hit her. Suddenly, her body went lax, and
she fell backward, but before she hit the ground, Dustin managed to grab
her waist. He pulled up her shirt and discovered that the area where the
snake had bitten her was turning purplish black. What a venomous bite the
snake had! “Give me the antidote!” Dustin slammed his foot onto the
guard’s head, scowling. “Only if you let me go. Or else, Ms. Harmon will
be going down with me!” the guard responded with a sardonic sneer. “Are
you threatening me?” asked Dustin with narrowed eyes. “I know you’re an
incredible doctor, Rhys! But this venom was created by an expert and
cannot be cured without the antidote!” “You bastard! I’ll kill you if you
don’t give us the antidote!” Furious, Ruth charged forward and began
beating the guard up. “Go ahead! Once I’m dead, Ms. Harmon will be
following me, too!” Ruth instantly halted her attack.
“Don’t say I never warned you. She’s been poisoned by a powerful venom.
She’ll be dead within half an hour.” the guard stated menacingly. “Give
me the antidote and I promise to let you live,” vowed Dustin with a cold
expression. “Why should I believe you?” The guard frowned. “You don’t
have a choice. If she dies, I’ll make your life a living hell!” Dustin
glowered. The guard hesitated and pondered for a moment before suddenly
asking. “If I tell you the cure, will you let me go?” “I’m a man of my
word,” answered Dustin. “Alright. I’ll trust you this time!” The guard
gritted his teeth. “Actually, there isn’t an antidote for this venom. The
only way for her to live is if someone sucked out the venom using their
mouth. However, the person who does it will most likely lose their life.
So, it depends on whether you have the guts to do it.” The guard
sniggered. 1 “Thanks for the advice,” Dustin nodded. Immediately, he
slammed his foot onto the guard’s chest, crushing the man’s ribs and
caused his internal organs to burst out with a splat. Blood burst from
the guard’s mouth as his eyes widened in disbelief. “Y–You said you
wouldn’t kill me.” “Sorry. I changed my mind,” Dustin answered
nonchalantly. “Y–you have no honor…” Before the guard could say anything
else, he suffocated and died. “So what?” Dustin asked the dead body.
Everyone was dumbfounded by his cavalier attitude. Suddenly, they
realized that this innocuous person might be quite the barbarian after
all.

Chapter 79.

After killing the traitor, Dustin carried the weakened
Natasha to the car. The area where the snake had bitten her had turned
black and purple, and as the venom spread through her body, her entire
leg turned numb. “How troublesome.” Dustin inspected the wound, his
expression turning grave. He could have treated her easily if this was
any regular snake venom. However, this venom was particularly potent.
Since Dustin lacked his medicinal herbs and acupuncture needles, he had
nothing at his disposal but his skills. It would be difficult for him to
treat the wound. It seemed the only option left was to suck the venom
out. “Roth Harmon, give me a hand!” Dustin hollered. “I’m Ruth! Ruth
Harmon!” Ruth corrected him, quickly getting into the car. She asked,
“What do you need me to do?” “Take off your sister’s pants,” he directed.
“Hey! What are you trying to do? You better not play around!” Ruth
sounded like she was speaking to a pervert. “Your sister has been
poisoned with a potent venom. I have to suck it out,” Dustin explained.
“What?” Ruth was stunned for a moment before an odd expression took over
her face. “B–but the wound is on her thigh! You aren’t trying to take
advantage of her, are you?” “What are you even thinking about right now?
Her life is on the line!” Dustin snapped. “Haven’t you heard that gender
doesn’t matter when treating patients?” “Oh, right.” Ruth stood there
stunned. “Why are you still standing there? Take off her pants!” Dustin
rushed. “Oh, right.” Ruth quickly pulled off Natasha’s pants, exposing
the snake bite. Dustin cleared his mind and got to work. Although it went
against proper etiquette, saving Natasha’s life came first. Dustin began
sucking out the venom. A moment later, he spat out a mouthful of dark
blood and returned his mouth to the wound without hesitation. Slowly,
Natasha regained consciousness. “What are you doing?” Natasha had a
confused expression on her face as she gazed at him passionately.
“Sucking out the snake venom,” Dustin said, keeping his tone calm. “Are
you done?” Natasha asked softly. “Almost,” he answered truthfully.
Natasha bit her lip as she frowned, her every gesture alluring. Dustin
gulped and lowered his head again. Dustin finally stopped
after some time when the wound had lost its dark purplish bruising. is it
over?” Natasha asked with a resentful look. Dustin cleared his throat and
answered awkwardly, “Um, you should be in the clear for now, but there’s
still some leftover venom in your body. It’ll be safer if you visit the
hospital.” He moved to get up, wanting to leave the car. As he stood up,
his vision darkened as he fell into Natasha’s arms, unconscious. “Oustin!
What’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” Natasha’s expression changed. “Sis. the
traitor said that anyone who sucks out the venom will die instead! Is
Dustin going to die?” Ruth cried, astonished. “What are you talking
about, you idiot? Hurry! Let’s get him to the hospital!” Natasha ordered.
“Okay!“Ruth did not hesitate and gave the order. The convoy pulled out of
the parking spot immediately. Unbeknownst to them, shortly after they had
left, several cars descended the mountain and swarmed the area where
their convoy had been. A car door opened, and Edwin Hummer stepped out.
Upon seeing the corpses of Tilda and her men, his jaw crocced. “How could
this be?” Edwin exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. It was worth
noting that Tilda had been planted in the Harmon family to turn the tide
during crucial moments like this. But instead, she had gotten caught up
in the mess herself. It was a double whammy! “This is bad!” Edwin
frowned, displeased. Besides the mission failing, he had also lost a
valuable line on his enemies. If he did not give the higher–ups a
satisfactory answer soon, he could kiss his position goodbye! Today’s
Bonus Offer

Chapter 80.

That evening. Dustin finally woke up after hours of
sleeping and found that he was in a hospital room. A shocked voice rang
out the moment his eyes opened. “Huh? You aren’t dead, Rhys?” Dustin’s
gaze followed the source of the voice and landed on Ruth sitting beside
him with a dazed expression as she looked at him. “What? Disappointed to
see me alive?” Dustin snapped. “Ahem. Um, I’m just surprised.” Ruth
grinned bashfully. ““Where’s your sister?” Dustin asked, changing the
topic. “Oh, she went to get your medicine.” Ruth examined him and said,
“I heard that the venom is something called the Deadly Slither. It’s
extremely poisonous and can kill a person quickly! It’s a miracle that
you’re still alive!” “You’re right. The venom is potent. It even managed
to knock me out for a few hours. No wonder it’s one of the world’s top
ten most poisonous venoms,” Dustin marveled. “Why does that sound weird?”
Ruth was puzzled. Before Ruth could come out of her daze, two people
entered the hospital room. One was Natasha, while the other was a
curvaceous lady dressed exquisitely. The two women resembled each other.
Not only were they both very well–dressed, but they both had a powerful
air to them. “Dustin, you’re finally awake! How are you feeling?”
Natasha’s face lit up as she rushed toward him. “I’m feeling better now
that I’ve gotten some sleep.” Dustin smiled. “Here, take this. It’s a
secret medicine I got you. Take it with some water, and you’ll be fine in
no time.” Natasha pushed a small white bottle into his hand and poured
him a glass of warm water. “Secret medicine? What is it?” Dustin asked
curiously. “Don’t underestimate it. It’s the result of three years of
dedicated research and experiments by Dr. Rowan Cross. It can treat all
kinds of venom,” Natasha urged. “Rowan Cross?” Dustin was surprised. “You
know him?” asked Natasha, with a raised eyebrow. “I’ve met him once.”
Dustin did not deny it. He had met Rowan a few years before when Rowan’s
enemies were hunting him down and Dustin had saved the poor man. The
antidote had been Dustin’s gift to him. “It’s always been difficult
getting ahold of Dr. Cross‘ whereabouts and even harder to see him in
person. You should take it before anything happens,” Natasha urged.
“There’s no need. My body’s already free of venom. You can take it back.”
Dustin declined politely. “It was difficult getting my hands on this
baby. Why would I ever return it? Just keep it even if you’re fine now.
It’ll come in handy in emergencies,” Natasha insisted,
stuffing the bottle into Dustin’s pocket. Dustin accepted it. After all,
she did it out of kindness. “Oh, right. There’s something else I should
mention. I think I saw Dahlia Nicholson at the hospital entrance,”
Natasha said abruptly. “Huh? What’s she doing here?” Dustin was puzzled.
“I heard her grandfather is critically ill and receiving emergency
treatment.” “Critically ill?” Dustin immediately became worried. “Are you
sure?” “Positive. Or Dahlia wouldn’t be downstairs right now,” Natasha
replied. “I’ll take a look.” Dustin got up and left the room. Henry
Nicholson had treated Dustin like his own, so there was no way he would
do nothing while the old man was ill “Natasha, you wasted one of the
Harmon family’s favors just for him?” The woman beside her finally spoke.
She was Natasha’s mother, Jessica Ballard. “I’ll pay Dr. Cross back
myself. It has nothing to do with you,” Natasha replied indifferently.
“Do you like that kid?” Jessica frowned. “So what if I do?” Natasha
raised her chin defiantly. “You should remember that the two of you will
never end up together. He’s just a nobody while you’re the daughter of a
wealthy family and the heiress to the Harmon family. Your statuses are
worlds apart!” Jessica reminded. “I don’t care,” Natasha responded
coolly. “But I do!” Jessica’s tone was firm. “You can make up your mind
about anything except your marriage! Don’t forget that you’re already
engaged to Tyler!” “Sorry. I’m not interested in Tyler Grant all” Natasha
quipped. “You have no say in this matter! You are the eldest daughter of
the Harmon family. With wealth and power comes responsibility!” Jessica
chided. “Responsibility?” Natasha scoffed. “Do you mean using marriage to
climb the ranks?” “This is for your own good and the entire family’s!
Tyler is an impressive person. He’s already a Major General despite his
young age. He has a bright future ahead of him. He’s the perfect choice
for marriage!” Jessica lectured. “If you like him so much, you marry him
then! I have no intention of doing so,” Natasha retorted bluntly. “Why
are you so stubborn? If you don’t marry into his family, you will never
become the head of the Harmon family! Why don’t you understand this?” “It
doesn’t matter since I was never interested in becoming the head of the
family, to begin with,” Natasha replied
matter–of–factly. “Is your entire future worth sacrificing just for that
kid?” Jessica spat. “Of course! I don’t think Tyler is better than him
anyway!” “You have that much faith in him?” Jessica’s expression
hardened. “That’s right!” Natasha announced proudly. Jessica paused when
she heard her daughter’s answer. Resolute, she inhaled before declaring
with a cold voice. “Fine! Since you’re not going to give up, I’ll give
you one chance. If that punk can pass three tests, I’ll never bring up
the topic of your marriage to the Reeves family again!” “What kind of
tests?” asked Natasha with a raised brow. “First, he must defeat Edwin
Hummer to prove his strength!” Jessica demanded. “Edwin has Boulderthom
to back him up! It’s it a bit unreasonable to ask Dustin to defeat him?”
Natasha frowned. Jessica snorted. “If he can’t even defeat Edwin Hummer,
why should I accept him into our family? What right does he have to fight
Tyler? Well, I’m giving you both a chance. If he fails, you better return
to Millsburg and get married!” Jessica turned and left the room.

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