《Dahlia Nicholson and Dustin Rhys》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡°Dustin, here is the divorce agreement prepared by Ms. Nicholson. All you need to do is sign them.¡± In the president¡¯s office of the Quine Group, the secretary, Lyra ine, ced a piece of A4 paper on the table. A man sat opposite her, dressed in in clothing. ¡°Divorce? What do you mean?¡± Dustin Rhys was taken aback. ¡°Do you not understand what I¡¯m saying? Your marriage with Ms. Nicholson is over. You¡¯re not even on the same level anymore. Your existence is nothing but a smear on the president¡¯s reputation!¡± Lyra pulled no punches as she spoke. ¡°A smear on her reputation?¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°Is that how she thinks of me?¡± Back when they first got married, the Nicholson family was in ruinous debt. He was the one who helped them when they were at their lowest point. Now that they were rich, Dahlia Nicholson was ready to just kick him out. ¡°Something like that.¡± Lyra jerked her chin toward the magazine on the table. A photo of a beautiful woman was printed on the front page. ¡°Look at the headline on this magazine, Dustin. Ms. Nicholson¡¯s most desired woman in Swinton! With all this, she¡¯s destined for greatness. But you, you¡¯re just a regr joe. You don¡¯t deserve her at all. I hope that you¡¯ll see some sense and do the right thing.¡± When Dustin remained silent, Lyra frowned. ¡°I know you¡¯re not happy with this, but this is reality,¡± she continued. ¡°You might have helped Ms. Nicholson when she was in trouble, but she has repaid you for everything you¡¯ve done for her over the ¡°Is our marriage just a business deal to her, then?¡± Dustin took a deep breath to suppress the emotions within. ¡°If she wants to divorce me, let her speak to me herself.¡± ¡°Ms. Nicholson is very busy. She doesn¡¯t need to trouble herself with such trifling matters.¡± ¡°Trifling matters?¡± Dustin was stunned. Then heughed bitterly. ¡°Is that so? Is divorce a trifling matter to her? She can¡¯t even find the time to speak to me. Truly, she¡¯s that unattainable now!¡± ¡°Dustin, don¡¯t dy this any longer.¡± Lyra pushed the divorce agreement toward him again. ¡°Just sign here and you¡¯ll get a car and a house aspensation. On top of that, you¡¯ll also get eight million dors. This is more than what you¡¯ll be able to earn in your lifetime!¡± ¡°Eight million dors is a lot, but¡­I don¡¯t need it. I will sign the divorce papers if shees personally. Otherwise, I won¡¯t sign anything,¡± Duston said coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t go too far, Dustin!¡± Lyra mmed her hand on the table. ¡°Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. With all her power and resources, Ms. Nicholson can divorce you easily. It¡¯s only because she appreciates her past rtionship with you that she¡¯s allowing you to keep your dignity intact. Don¡¯t provoke her!¡± ¡°My dignity?¡± Dustin was a little amused by that. She didn¡¯t even want to speak to him directly to divorce him. What kind of dignity was that? Moreover, if she really did appreciate their rtionship, then why was she threatening him now? ¡°I don¡¯t think we have anything else to talk about, then.¡± Unwilling to argue, Dustin stood up and made to leave. ¡°Dustin Rhys! You¡ª¡± Just as Lyra was about to lose her cool, a curvy woman in a long ck dress walked in. Her skin was as white as snow, and her features were delicate. Her lofty aura and curvaceous figure made her look like a goddess right out of a painting. ¡°You¡¯re finally here.¡± Dustin feltplicated emotions when he saw the beautiful woman. They had been married for three years, during which they treated each other with care and respect. But this was how it ended. He still didn¡¯t know what he had done wrong. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for beingte, I was caught up with something else.¡± Dahlia Nicholson sat down. Her expression was as impassive as ever. ¡°You certainly are busy, if you need your secretary to help you deal with your divorce,¡± Dustin said. Hearing this, Dahlia frowned slightly. However, she did not exin herself. Instead, she said, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s get straight to the point. Let¡¯s end this on a pleasant note. I¡¯m sorry I have to do this to you, so you can have the car and the house, plus eight million dors as alimony. How does that sound?¡± At that, she ced a card on the table. ¡°Do you really think our rtionship can be measured by money?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°Too little? That¡¯s alright. Let me know what you want. I¡¯ll give you anything within my power,¡± Dahlia said cidly. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understood me. Let me rephrase my question. Are money and power that important to you?¡± Dustin was truly bewildered. Dahlia went over to the windows and looked out over the city. There was determination in her eyes when she said, ¡°To me, yes, they¡¯re very important.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve earned enough to feed yourself for the rest of your life. Why do this?¡± ¡°Dustin, that¡¯s where you and I diverge in philosophy. You¡¯ll never understand what I really want.¡± Dahlia shook her head in disappointment. They weren¡¯t just ipatible in status and power; they were also ipatible in their principles. Most importantly, she did not see any hope for the future in him. ¡°You¡¯re right. How would I know what you¡¯re thinking?¡± Dustinughed bitterly. ¡°All I know is to cook for you when you¡¯re hungry, prepare your coat when it¡¯s cold out, and carry you to the hospital when you¡¯re sick.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point in going into this now.¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression heldplicated emotions, but it was This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . soon covered up by determination. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Dustin nodded without any emotion. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve been close with the heir of the Nn family. Is it because of him?¡± Dahlia was about to deny it when she gave it a second thought. In the end, she nodded. ¡°You can say that.¡± ¡°Okay. I hope you¡¯re happy with him.¡± Dustin smiled and signed the divorce agreement without any more hesitation. All he felt now was disappointment. Ironically, today was also their wedding anniversary. There was cruel humor in divorcing him on the day they had gotten married. ¡°I don¡¯t want the money, I just want that crystal ne back. My mother left it to me before she died so that I can give it to my wife.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Dahlia nodded and gave him the crystal ne. ¡°From today onward, we will have nothing to do with each other!¡± Dustin put on the ne and left. He had no more gentleness in his expression; all that was left was distant aloofness. ¡°Did I do the right thing, Lyra?¡± Dahlia asked hesitantly. Even though she was the one who asked for the divorce, she didn¡¯t feel happy at all when it was finalized. ¡°Of course you did!¡± Lyra nodded. ¡°You have the right to pursue happiness. Dustin does not deserve you at all. He¡¯ll only bring you down with him. You¡¯re destined to be the most powerful woman in Swinton!¡± Dahlia did not answer her. As she watched Dustin leave, she felt as if she was losing something precious. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 In the elevator, Dustin stared at the crystal ne dejectedly. Even though he had expected it, he was still sad that his marriage had ended just like that. He had once thought that happiness was simple: meals on the table, cheerful days, and simple pleasures. Now, he found out that normalcy was a sin. It was time to awaken from this prolonged daydream. Suddenly, his phone rang, breaking him out of his trance. When he picked up the phone, a familiar voice came from the other end. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m Hunter Anderson from the Swinton Group. I heard that today your wedding anniversary with Ms. Nicholson, so I¡¯ve prepared a gift for you. I¡¯m just wondering if you have any time today?¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be needing the gift,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Why?¡± Hunter was taken aback. He could sense something wrong. ¡°Is there anything else you¡¯d like to talk about, Mr. Anderson?¡± ¡°Actually, yes, there is.¡± Hunter cleared his throat awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend who contracted a strange illness. He¡¯s seen a lot of doctors, but none of them could do anything about it. I was hoping that you could help.¡± ¡°Mr. Anderson, you know my rules.¡± ¡°Of course I do! I¡¯m sincere in my request. My friend owns some canscora, which I remember you were looking for. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll be willing to part with it if you help him,¡± Hunter said. ¡°Is this true?¡± Dustin asked seriously. ¡°Yes, it is!¡± ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s so, then I¡¯ll be willing to take a look.¡± Dustin immediately agreed to the request. He wasn¡¯t interested in money or jewels, but rather some rare herbs and nts, as he needed them to save lives. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhys! I¡¯ll send someone to pick you up immediately!¡± Hunter smiled in relief. As the president of the Swinton Group and one of the Mighty Three of Swinton, Hunter acted exceptionally timid in front of Dustin. ¡°Great, one more down, five to go. I should have enough time,¡± Dustin muttered to himself. His mood was lifted a little by this news. With a ding, the elevator doors opened. As soon as he stepped out of the building, he saw two familiar figures walking toward him. It was Dahlia¡¯s mother, Florence Franklin, and her brother, James Nicholson. ¡°Mom, James, why are you here?¡± Dustin greeted. ¡°Did you and Dahlia get divorced?¡± Florence did not waste any breath. ¡°Yes, we did.¡± Dustin gave her a forced smile. ¡°It¡¯s not Dahlia¡¯s fault, it¡¯s mine. Don¡¯t me her.¡± He intended to end his marriage on a pleasant note. However, hearing this, Florence snorted coldly. ¡°Of course it¡¯s your problem. I know my daughter well. If you hadn¡¯t done anything wrong, why would she divorce you?¡± Dustin was stunned. What was this? Victim ming? ¡°Mom, you know how I¡¯ve treated her over the past three years. I¡¯m pretty sure I¡¯m never done anything to betray Dahlia¡¯s trust in me,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Who knows what you¡¯ve done behind our backs?¡± Florence snorted again. ¡°My daughter was right to divorce you! Look at yourself. She¡¯s clearly out of your league!¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re going too far?¡± Dustin frowned. If he hadn¡¯t helped the Nicholson family three years ago, they wouldn¡¯t be where they were today. ¡°Too far? So what if I am? Am I not speaking the truth?¡± Florence crossed her arms. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°That¡¯s enough, Mom, stop wasting time with him.¡± Suddenly, James stepped forward. ¡°Listen here, Rhys. I don¡¯t care whether you divorce my sister or not, but you¡¯re giving me all the money you got from her.¡± ¡°Money? What money?¡± Dustin was bbergasted. ¡°Stop feigning ignorance! I know that my sister gave you eight million dors as alimony!¡± James said coldly. ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s my daughter¡¯s money. You have no right to take it! Give it back!¡± Florence stretched out her hand in demand. ¡°I didn¡¯t take any money from her,¡± Dustin denied. ¡°Bullshit! Who would pass on eight million dors? Do you take us as idiots?¡± James did not believe him. ¡°Rhys, you¡¯d better be tactful and give us the money. Don¡¯t make me angry!¡± Florence warned. ¡°You can call Dahlia and ask her if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Dustin did not wish to exin himself any further. ¡°What now? Are you threatening us? Listen here. No matter how much you beg, I¡¯m not letting you leave with a single cent of ours!¡± Florence snarled. ¡°Mom, he¡¯s too dense for this. Let¡¯s just search his pockets!¡± James said impatiently. He dove straight into Dustin¡¯s pockets. Florence followed suit. ¡°Mom, do you have to do this?¡± Dustin frowned. He hadn¡¯t expected to be osted by the Nicholson family so soon after the divorce. They were really merciless. Florence spat on the ground in disgust. ¡°Who are you calling Mom? Watch your mouth. Who do you think you are?¡± As she spoke, she continued searching through Dustin¡¯s pockets. After some time, they didn¡¯t find what they wanted from his pockets. ¡°F*cking hell, did he really not take any of the money?¡± James said, displeased. Suddenly, he spied the crystal ne around Dustin¡¯s ne and pulled it off roughly. ¡°Isn¡¯t this my sister¡¯s ne? Why is it with you? Did you steal it?¡± James demanded. ¡°This is the Rhys family heirloom. Give it back!¡± Dustin said, his expression darkening. He wouldn¡¯t take any money, but he would not leave his mother¡¯s keepsake. ¡°A family heirloom? Does this mean that this is valuable?¡± James¡¯ eyes lit up. ¡°In that case, Rhys, this can be your repayment for these three years that you¡¯ve been living with us. Let¡¯s go!¡± Florence gave her son a look and prepared to leave. ¡°Stop there!¡± Dustin grabbed James¡¯ wrist. ¡°Give me back the ne!¡± ¡°Ouch! That hurts! Let me go!¡± James felt great pain in his wrist. ¡°Give it back,¡± Dustin repeated dangerously. ¡°F*ck, I¡¯d rather throw it away than give it back to you!¡± Seeing that he had no chance of freeing himself from Dustin, James threw the ne onto the ground. With a crisp clink, the crystal ne broke into several pieces. Dustin nched. This was the only thing he had to remember his mother by. ¡°How dare youy your hands on me! I¡¯d rather break it than give it back to you!¡± James said as he rubbed his sore wrist. Dustin clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles popped. His eyes were red with anger. ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± Unable to hold in his anger anymore, Dustin pped James in the face. James was pped so hard that the spun back uncontrobly before falling to the ground. He was so dizzy that he couldn¡¯t stand up. ¡°Since your mother can¡¯t be bothered to teach you manners, then let me do the honors!¡± Dustin grabbed him by the hair and lifted him. Then, he pped him several times. James¡¯ face soon turned bloody from the ps. ¡°How dare you hit my son!¡± Florence screamed as she tried to help her son. ¡°F*ck off!¡± Dustin turned and red at her. The re was so intense that Florence froze in her tracks. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¡°F*ck off!¡± Those two words were enough to scare Florence motionless. She had never thought that Dustin could be so scary when he was angry. He had always been so mild-tempered around them. He now looked like he could eat her alive. When she finally got her wits back, Florence began screaming, ¡°Help! Help! He¡¯s murdering my son!¡± Soon, the Quine Group¡¯s security guards gathered around them. ¡°What happened, Mrs. Nicholson?¡± The head of the security guards recognized Florence and stood at her side immediately. ¡°Tom! Lock this guy up at once! I want him punished for beating up my son!¡± Florence yelled. ¡°Holy cow! How dare you cause trouble in front of the Quine Group? Have you lost your mind?¡± Tom waved his hand. All the security guards surrounded Dustin. This was their chance to kiss up to the president¡¯s mother. If they did well now, then they might get a promotion and a raise. ¡°What are you waiting for? Beat him up!¡± Just as they were about to act, a voice sounded. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± A curvaceous woman in a silver dress barged into the crowd with her bodyguards. With her lips painted a fiery red, she was stunningly beautiful. Every move she made was alluring. ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous!¡± The security guards stared at her lustily. She was one of the most attractive women they had ever seen. ¡°Mr. Rhys, are you okay?¡± The woman ignored the looks she was getting and headed straight toward Dustin. ¡°Who are you?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes at her, his anger dissipating. ¡°Nice to meet you, my name is Natasha Harmon. Mr. Anderson sent me here,¡± the woman said with a smile. At this, the security guards began whispering amongst themselves. ¡°Natasha Harmon? Is she the heiress of the Harmon family?¡± ¡°Oh, my God! Why is she here?¡± They were all shocked. Natasha Harmon was a household name around the city. She was pretty, influential, and smart. At 22 years old, she had already gained control of the Harmon Group and built her own business empire within five years. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you.¡± Dustin nodded. He had heard of Natasha before, but he hadn¡¯t expected her to be involved with Hunter. ¡°Mr. Rhys, please wait in the car. I¡¯ll deal with this.¡± Natasha snapped her fingers. Behind her, her four bodyguards whipped out their batons and advanced toward the crowd. Even though there were just four of them, their threatening auras was enough to make the security guards back off. After all, they knew that the Harmon family only hired trained bodyguards. ¡°After you, Mr. Rhys.¡± Seeing that no one else dared to move, Natasha smiled and held out a hand to lead Dustin to the car. Without a word, Dustin picked up the pieces of his ne and left with Natasha. No one dared to stop him. ¡°What the heck? What do we pay you for? Why did you just let them go?¡± Florence yelled when she realized what was happening. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, she¡¯s Natasha Harmon. We don¡¯t dare to offend her!¡± The head of securitymented. None of them dared toy a finger on Natasha. ¡°Useless trash! You don¡¯t dare to offend her, but you¡¯re fine offending my daughter?¡± Florence demanded. The security guards looked at each other, not daring to speak. ¡°What happened?¡± Dahlia and Lyra came out to see what themotion was. ¡°Dahlia! You¡¯re here! Look at how badly your brother¡¯s been beaten up!¡± As soon as Florence saw her, she began to cry, as if she was the one who had been beaten up. ¡°What happened? Who did this?¡± Seeing her brother¡¯s wounds, Dahlia¡¯s expression became chilly. ¡°Who else? It¡¯s that bastard Dustin!¡± Florence cried. ¡°We met him just now. James picked up a crystal ne that he dropped and tried to give it back to him, but he tried to turn it around and said that your brother stole it from him. After some argument, he beat up James! My poor James, he just did what he thought was right. What has he done to deserve this?¡± She began crying harder. ¡°Dustin?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°He¡¯s always been mild-tempered. Why would he beat up James for no reason? What did you do?¡± ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Florence looked angered. ¡°Do you not believe your mother?¡± ¡°I just want to know the truth,¡± Dahlia said. After three years of marriage, she knew Dustin¡¯s personality well. He was normally calm and collected and rarely lost his temper. He wouldn¡¯t just beat someone up for no reason. ¡°Look at your brother! Is the truth not clear enough? If you don¡¯t believe me, ask the security guards. They saw everything!¡± Saying this, Florence gave the security guards a look. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, your mother is right. That guy there was the one who assaulted your brother. If it weren¡¯t for us, she would¡¯ve fallen victim to him too.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The head of security understood his assignment perfectly. ¡°You hear that? I¡¯m not wronging that bastard!¡± Florence continued. ¡°I¡¯ve told you before, that Rhys guy is not a good person. He¡¯s a hypocrite. Look at what he¡¯s done right after you divorced him. He even has a new whore now!¡± Hearing this, Dahlia frowned. She was unsure of what to think. Could Dustin really do such a thing? Maybe he was furious about the divorce and wanted to exact revenge on her through her brother. If so, then she had to admit that she had misjudged him! Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ¡°Mom, take James to the hospital. I¡¯ll deal with this.¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, Dahlia finally made her decision. ¡°Dahlia, you must defend your brother! Don¡¯t let that bastard off so easily!¡± Florence said hatefully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I should do.¡± Dahlia nodded, gesturing for two guards to send Florence and James to the hospital. ¡°What do you think, Lyra?¡± Dahlia rubbed her temples. She felt a headacheing on. ¡°It¡¯s obvious, isn¡¯t it? It was Dustin who assaulted them first. The security guards were witnesses, so that can¡¯t be a lie,¡± Lyra said. ¡°But my mother¡¯s not exactly an honest person¡­¡± Dahlia began. She knew her mother and brother well. They were a hot-tempered and ruthless duo. ¡°Either way, it¡¯s still wrong for him to throw the first punch!¡± Lyra said righteously. ¡°Even if there was a misunderstanding, why couldn¡¯t he talk it out? Moreover, it was James that he beat up. Your brother! He didn¡¯t think of how you would feel when he attacked your family. This alone is proof that he¡¯s not a good person!¡± Dahlia¡¯s frown deepened along with her doubts. Lyra was right. Even if her mother and brother were rude and unreasonable, there was no reason for Dustin to assault them physically, nor was there any reason for him to hurt James so badly. It would seem like her decision to divorce him was right. ¡°You can¡¯t just let this go, Ms. Nicholson. You have to teach him a lesson!¡± Lyra said. Hearing this, Dahlia became angry. She took out her phone and called Dustin. At the same time, Dustin was sitting in a silver Bentley and frowned when he saw the calling in. Despite his reluctance, he still picked up the call. ¡°Dustin, I need an exnation!¡± Dahlia demanded. ¡°What exnation?¡± ¡°Did you hit my brother just now?¡± ¡°I did. But¡­¡± Before he could finish, Dahlia interrupted him. ¡°So it was you! I hadn¡¯t expected you to be such a person! Are you taking revenge on my family just because I divorced you?¡± Hearing this, Dustin was taken aback. He hadn¡¯t expected Dahlia to be so aggressive. She hadn¡¯t even stopped to listen to what he had to say. After three years of marriage, she was treating him as if he was a mere stranger, or worse. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson, is that what you think of me? You knew that I hit your brother, but have you stopped to think why I hit him?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°No matter what he did, you still shouldn¡¯t have hit him!¡± Dahlia insisted. Hearing this, Dustinughed bitterly. He was disappointed in her. At this point, it didn¡¯t matter who was in the wrong. She clearly favored her brother over him. ¡°Dustin, I¡¯ll give you another chance. Go to the hospital right now and apologize to James, and I¡¯ll pretend that nothing happened. Otherwise¡­¡± ¡°Otherwise what?¡± Dustin retorted. ¡°Are you going to call the police on me, or hire hitmen to take me out?¡± ¡°Dustin! Are you really going to throw away my goodwill like this?¡± Dahlia snapped. ¡°Goodwill? Are you sure it¡¯s goodwill that you¡¯re extending me? Anyway, I did beat up your brother, so do with that what you will.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Dahlia¡¯s retort was cut off as Dustin hung up. She almost threw out her phone in anger. Dahlia had always been good at hiding her true emotions. It was one of the reasons why she had managed to get to where she was today. But right now, she was having a little trouble in that regard. ¡°How rude of him. Ms. Nicholson, do you need me to arrange for someone to teach him a lesson?¡± Lyra asked. ¡°No need. We¡¯re done now.¡± Dahlia took a deep breath to quell her anger. ¡°But¡­¡± Lyra was about to say more when Dahlia stopped her. ¡°That¡¯s enough of this. I need to work on more important matters, like the charity ball with the Harmon family.¡± ¡°The charity ball? Has that got anything to do with our partners?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I just received news that the Harmon family has shortlisted the Quine Group. If we do well at this ball, we could be the Harmon family¡¯s next partners!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great! I¡¯ll go make the arrangements right now!¡± ¡­ After hanging up the call, Dustin arrived at Swinton Primary Hospital. Natasha brought him into a VIP ward, where an old man wasying on the bed. He looked pale, and his lips were dry and cracked. His breathing was weak as if he was close to death. Several doctors surrounded him, but none of them looked optimistic. ¡°Natasha! You¡¯re finally here. These doctors are useless!¡± Suddenly, a young woman with a ponytail ran up to them. She was the second daughter of the Harmon family, Ruth Harmon, and the old man on the bed was Andrew Harmon, her grandfather. ¡°Ms. Harmon, we¡¯ve already done everything we could. There¡¯s nothing else we can do for him,¡± a doctor said helplessly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing you can do, then let someone else take over the reins,¡± Natasha said coldly. ¡°Mr. Rhys will take over.¡± ¡°Mr. Rhys?¡± The surrounding doctors had strange expressions on their faces. Dustin looked too young to be a good doctor. ¡°Are you kidding me, Natasha? This is Mr. Rhys?¡± Ruth looked shocked. ¡°He looks about the same age as I am. Is he really a doctor?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Mr. Anderson was the one who introduced him to me. I trust him,¡± Natasha said. To be frank, she wasn¡¯t quite sure about Dustin either, but if Hunter rmended him, then he had to have his merits. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Could Mr. Anderson have been conned too?¡± Ruth still looked doubtful. ¡°Hey, you, are you really a doctor?¡± ¡°I know a little about medicine,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Just a little?¡± Ruth pouted. ¡°You should know that we only let in the best doctors into this room. Everyone here is a known expert in their field, and none of them could do anything about this illness. How are you so confident that you can?¡± ¡°Ruth! Watch your manners!¡± Natasha scolded. ¡°He doesn¡¯t look reliable, Natasha! I¡¯m just worried that he might make Grandfather worse!¡± Ruth said. ¡°Watch your words.¡± Natasha frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I won¡¯t believe in him unless he can prove himself to me,¡± Ruth said with her head held high. ¡°How should I prove myself?¡± Dustin asked nonchntly. ¡°Tell me what ails me. If you¡¯re correct, then I¡¯ll believe in you!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You¡¯re scared? If you can¡¯t do it, then please leave. Stop wasting our time!¡± Ruth snorted. ¡°Show me your tongue,¡± Dustin said. Ruth did as he said. After a quick look, Dustin said without any hesitation, ¡°Your hormones are imbnced, so you should be experiencing irregr periods and migraines. You¡¯re also showing some signs of food poisoning, which has affected your digestive system. You¡¯ve been having diarrhea, haven¡¯t you? Oh, another thing, you have hemorrhoids¡­¡± The more he spoke, the tenser Ruth became. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¡°How did you know that?¡± Ruth¡¯s eyes almost bulged out of her head. She was more shocked than embarrassed that Dustin could tell so much about her health just by looking at her tongue. Everything from the migraines to diarrhea was spot on. Was he really that good, or did he just make a lucky guess? ¡°There¡¯s a lot you can tell about a person just by looking at them,¡± Dustin said nonchntly. ¡°Do you believe him now, Ruth?¡± Natasha smiled. At the same time, she also heaved a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness Dustin knew what he was doing. ¡°He just got lucky!¡± Ruth refused to admit defeat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Rhys, she¡¯s just too stubborn for her own good. Please ignore her,¡± Natasha told Dustin apologetically. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Shall we begin?¡± Dustin didn¡¯t take Ruth¡¯s attitude to heart. He walked over to Andrew and gave him a thorough check- up. It didn¡¯t take long for him to find out what was going on. It was obvious to him that the old man had been poisoned. The poison was pretty potent too. Thankfully, it was discovered early on, so he could still be saved. Another day or two, and he would have been lying in the morgue! ¡°Ms. Harmon, can you get me some silver acupuncture needles?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°No problem.¡± Natasha waved a hand. Immediately, one of her bodyguards went out. Five minutester, he returned with a set of acupuncture needles. ¡°Thank you.¡± Dustin nodded his thanks, then began to take off the old man¡¯s shirt. First, he tapped his knuckles against the old man¡¯s stomach to make sure he was hitting the correct positions, then began to ce the needles in the correct pressure points. His actions were light but firm as his hands flew deftly. With his skill, his patient would not feel any pain from the needles. Seeing this, Natasha was surprised. ¡°He¡¯s good!¡± She didn¡¯t know much about acupuncture as a medical practice, but she knew some experts in the field. From what she could see, those old experts had nothing on Dustin. His actions were one of an N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. experienced and talented healer who had spent years in practice. She was curious about this man. Once all 16 needles were in ce, Dustin breathed a sigh of relief. It had been some time since hest performed acupuncture, but thankfully he was still familiar. ¡°Is that all? Nothing changed!¡± Ruth looked confused. ¡°Your grandfather has been poisoned. It¡¯ll take about two hours to drain the toxin from his body; you shouldn¡¯t remove the needles before the two hours are up, or there might be serious side effects!¡± Ruth pouted. ¡°Why should I believe you?¡± ¡°Ruth!¡± Natasha red at her sister. ¡°I need to go to the bathroom. Please watch over him while I¡¯m gone,¡± Dustin told the upants of the room before leaving. Not long after he left, a group of doctors barged in. These were some of the most skilled doctors in the hospital. A balding man led the troupe. ¡°Hey! Who are you guys?¡± Ruth crossed her arms. ¡°My name is Jansen. I¡¯m the executive director of the hospital, and also the dean of the medical school. I¡¯m here on orders to treat Old Mr. Harmon,¡± the balding man introduced. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re that famous Dr. Jansen! The best doctor in Swinton!¡± Ruth was ecstatic. ¡°More like one of the best,¡± Dr. Jansen said proudly, ¡°but yes, I am.¡± ¡°It¡¯s great to meet you, Dr. Jansen. Please help my grandfather.¡± Ruth immediately moved out of his way. Clearly, she trusted Dr. Jansen more than she trusted a youngster like Dustin. ¡°I will.¡± Dr. Jansen nodded. When he got nearer to the bed, he frowned. ¡°What¡¯s with the needles? What nonsense is this?¡± As he spoke, he made to remove the needles. ¡°Wait!¡± Seeing this, Natasha stopped him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dr. Jansen asked, annoyed. ¡°Dr. Jansen, I¡¯ve already hired another healer. He said that my grandfather has been poisoned. We cannot remove these needles as there might be serious side effects.¡± ¡°What a bunch of bullshit!¡± Dr. Jansen snorted derisively. ¡°If these needles can cure ailments, then what are doctors for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Ruth agreed. ¡°Natasha, that Dustin barely looks a day over 20. How could he be a skilled healer? Please don¡¯t tell me you believe the shit he spewed.¡± ¡°Then how would you exin the way he could tell that you¡¯re having diarrhea just by looking at you?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°He¡­ he made a lucky guess!¡± Ruth said. ¡°Ms. Harmon, all of the best doctors in Swinton are here. I don¡¯t know who you hired just now, but I believe he¡¯s just conning you. Do you really think our professionally trained doctors are not as good as a random guy on the street?¡± Dr. Jansen asked. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about Old Mr. Harmon, but please, don¡¯t believe in these superstitions. It would just make things worse!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Dr. Jansen has saved a lot of people. Don¡¯t worry, Old Mr. Harmon will be safe in his hands!¡± the other doctors behind him chimed in. Their confidence weakened Natasha¡¯s resolve. However, she insisted, ¡°We should wait for Mr. Rhys to ¡°Why should we?¡± Ruth said. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s already gone, Natasha!¡± ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯m a busy man. I¡¯m not going to waste any more time here. If I pull out these needles and anything happens to Old Mr. Harmon, it¡¯ll be on me.¡± With that, Dr. Jansen pulled out all of the needles. As soon as the needles were removed, something strange happened. Andrew¡¯s body began convulsing. His face began to turn ck, and blood gushed out from his nose and mouth. The machines on either side of the bed began beeping. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Dr. Jansen was surprised by the turn of events. ¡°What¡¯s this, Dr. Jansen?¡± Natasha frowned. ¡°That¡¯s strange, he was fine earlier¡­¡± Dr. Jansen felt uneasy. ¡°Sir, the patient is coding!¡± ¡°Quick, get the machines!¡± Without dy, Dr. Jansen began emergency resuscitation. Even after a lot of effort, Andrew did not seem to get better at all. In fact, his stats were declining uncontrobly. Dr. Jansen was panicking. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I think¡­ I think Old Mr. Harmon is¡­ dying¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± Both Natasha and Ruth were shocked. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¡°You useless thing!¡± Natasha was livid. She grabbed Dr. Jansen by the cor and yelled, ¡°I told you not to remove the needles! Now that the worst has happened, this is all you have to say?¡± ¡°No, this has got nothing to do with me!¡± Dr. Jansen shook his head fervently. ¡°It must be that other healer. His needles must have caused this to happen!¡± Natasha pped him. ¡°Stop pushing the me on others, you bastard! I¡¯m warning you now if anything happens to my grandfather, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± At those words, Dr. Jansen paled. The Harmon family was powerful enough to get rid of him without anyone knowing. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± At that moment, Dustin entered. When he saw Andrew¡¯s state, he frowned. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to remove the needles?¡± he asked with displeasure. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you listen to me?¡± ¡°Mr. Rhys, just now¡­¡± Before Natasha could exin, Dr. Jansen shot forward and grabbed Dustin by the cor. ¡°So it¡¯s you who ced the needles?¡± he shouted. ¡°It¡¯s your stupid needling that caused Old Mr. Harmon to go into critical condition! You¡¯re responsible for this!¡± Dustin was a convenient scapegoat that he could use to avoid the me. ¡°Am I right to presume that you were the one who removed the needles, then?¡± Dustin raised an eyebrow. ¡°So what if it¡¯s me?¡± ¡°Nothing much. I¡¯m just a little curious. How did you be a doctor when you¡¯re so unskilled and irresponsible?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Natasha pushed Dr. Jansen away, then pulled Dustin over to the bed. ¡°Mr. Rhys, we have no time to lose. Please save my grandfather!¡± ¡°Ms. Harmon, he¡¯s just a conman! He won¡¯t be able to do anything for your grandfather. Don¡¯t be scammed!¡± Dr. Jansen said angrily. ¡°If you think he can¡¯t do anything, then why don¡¯t you do something?¡± Natasha red at him. ¡°I¡­¡± Dr. Jansen was rendered speechless. If he could save Andrew, he would¡¯ve done so earlier instead of standing around. Just as Dustin was about to begin his treatment, Dr. Jansen said suddenly, ¡°A word of warning, young man. Old Mr. Harmon is a man of influence. If you fail, you¡¯ll have a lot to answer for.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s so, then I¡¯m not treating him. You guys can deal with it yourself.¡± Dustin had no wish to continue arguing with them. He turned and made to leave. ¡°You f*cking bastard! Shut your craphole!¡± Natasha was livid. She pped Dr. Jansen again. The p was so forceful that Dr. Jansen stumbled and almost fell to the ground. Seeing his swollen face, Dustin felt vindicated, even though he remained expressionless. Natasha¡¯s expression changed into pleading when she spoke to him. ¡°Please, Mr. Rhys. The Harmon family will owe you a big favor if you can save my grandfather.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t be easy. The toxin has been aggravated, so it¡¯s more aggressive now. Acupuncture alone won¡¯t be enough to cure him. I need something else,¡± Dustin said. ¡°I will give you whatever you need,¡± Natasha said. ¡°I¡¯ll need a quarter pound of caterpirs, a quarter pound of spiders, and a quarter pound of cockroaches. Fry them and seal them in an airtight container.¡± ¡°Ew. Why do you need those things? How gross.¡± Ruth said in disgust. ¡°Stop your yakking. Go find those items!¡± Natasha red at her. Reluctantly, Ruth went out with her bodyguards to look for the insects. Soon, they came back with a container filled with fried insects. ¡°Ms. Harmon, after I finish the acupuncture treatment on your grandfather, please open this container and ce it in front of his nose and mouth,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Will do!¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°I shall begin.¡± Dustin took out his silver needles and took a deep breath. Then, he gathered his concentration and inserted the first needle into Andrew¡¯s lower abdomen. With a flick of his finger, Dustin made the needle rotate quickly. A sliver of energy entered Andrew¡¯s body through the needle. His second needle went slightly above the first. Dustin inserted it without any hesitation. The next three needles were ced quickly and determinedly in a straight line from the first two. Interestingly, Dustin did not just stick the needle into Andrew. Instead, he was slowly forcing the needles upward from the abdomen. With every needle he ced, Andrew¡¯s skin bulged slightly, as if something was crawling underneath his skin. ¡°What bullshit.¡± Dr. Jansen pursed his lips disdainfully. ¡°Acupuncture is a bunch of crap. It¡¯s not even based in science!¡± ¡°That¡¯s true! He¡¯s just embarrassing himself!¡± The other doctors in the room were also whispering amongst themselves. They clearly had no confidence in alternative medicine. When Dustin finally ced thest needle, he was drenched in sweat. What he did was not regr acupuncture. It was the long-lost art of Miracle Needling. Miracle Needling could raise the dead, but only if the performer had the internal power to do so. It was a draining task, so he only used it for emergencies. ¡°Ms. Harmon, the container,¡± Dustin reminded. Natasha opened the container hurriedly, and a pungent smell filled the room. Andrew got the brunt of it. ¡°More absurdities!¡± Dr. Jansen snorted again. ¡°Do you really think some needles and fried insects can save a man from dying?¡± ¡°Just because you can¡¯t, it doesn¡¯t mean others cannot,¡± Dustin replied lightly. ¡°If you seed, I¡¯ll eat this container of insects!¡± Dr. Jansen said. Just as he finished speaking, Andrew opened his mouth for the first time after days of being unresponsive. A ck centipede crawled out of his mouth. Attracted by the smell of the fried insect, it climbed into the container and began eating them. ¡°A centipede? Is that a centipede?¡± ¡°Oh my god, there was a centipede in old Mr. Harmon¡¯s body!¡± ¡°Ew!¡± When the people in the room realized what was happening, they were shocked. Ruth even started vomiting. It was terrifying to see a centipede climb out of a human¡¯s mouth. This was the stuff of nightmares. Suddenly, there was a sound of loud coughing from the bed. Andrew opened his eyes. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¡°Is he awake?¡± Everyone was stunned when they saw Andrew return to consciousness. The doctors were dumbstruck when they noticed the monitors showing Andrew¡¯s vital signs were all normal. Who would have expected a young man like Dustin to cure an unknown disease that had stumped the entire specialist team? This was unheard of! ¡°That¡¯s amazing! Grandfather is awake!¡± Ruth burst into tears of happiness when she saw her grandfather¡¯s recovery. Natasha also breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I don¡¯t know how to thank you for this. From now on, you are the Harmon family¡¯s honored guest!¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. She bowed deeply to Dustin. ¡°You¡¯re wee, Ms. Harmon. It was no trouble at all.¡± Dustin gave her a small smile. However, Dustin¡¯s humble words irked Dr. Jansen. He and his team had done all they could to cure Andrew, but this punk called it ¡°no trouble at all?¡± Clearly, Dustin was insulting them indirectly! ¡°Hey, you! What¡¯s up with the centipede? Why would there be a centipede in my grandfather¡¯s body?¡± Ruth spoke up. ¡°This is not a normal centipede. It¡¯s actually a venomous curse.¡± Dustin turned to Andrew. ¡°Mr. Harmon, where were you recently? Have you eaten anything out of the ordinary?¡± ¡°You¡¯re spot on. A few days ago, I was at Millsburg for a party and drank some wine.¡± Andrew nodded. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you must have been cursed,¡± Dustin concluded. ¡°Cursed?¡± Andrew was taken aback. The rest of them stared at each other in surprise. After all, it wasn¡¯t every day that someone got cursed. ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense! It¡¯s illogical that this could be a curse! If you ask me, Mr. Harmon must have ingested centipede eggs by mistake!¡± Dr. Jansen interrupted. ¡°Dr. Jansen, any normal centipede eggs would have been digested by the stomach¡¯s acid! It¡¯s fine if you are not familiar with this, but do not spread false information!¡± Dustin retorted calmly. ¡°You¡­¡± Dr. Jansen shut up when he caught sight of Natasha¡¯s deadly re. ¡°Mr. Rhys, thank you for your diagnosis. I will investigate this further,¡± Natasha said seriously. She had heard of venomous curses before, however, she had no personal experience. Who would have thought that her grandfather was suffering from this? Natasha was determined to make the perpetrators pay for this! ¡°Now that the curse is lifted, you should feed him this prescription for five days to remove the toxins from his body.¡± Dustin scribbled on some paper. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Rhys.¡± Natasha took the prescription gratefully. ¡°Alright, I will excuse myself since there¡¯s nothing more to be done.¡± Dustin got up to leave. ¡°Let me see you off.¡± Natasha got up as well. ¡°Sis, what should I do with these insects?¡± Ruth interjected. ¡°Dr. Jansen mentioned that he was going to eat those insects. Since he was the one who requested it, we shall fulfill his wish! All of you, make sure he finishes those insects before leaving!¡± Natasha said coldly. ¡°What?¡± Dr. Jansen went pale. At this moment, in another hospital room, a simr scene of chaos was unfolding. ¡°Mom! How could Rhys hit me? Please, you have to teach him a lesson!¡± James was whining on the hospital bed with his head bound up tightly. Only his nose and mouth could be seen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will get even with him for you!¡± Florenceforted James gently. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, it is unthinkable that Dustin had the nerve to physically assault both of you!¡± A handsome young man dressed in a suit spoke up. He was the second son of the Nn family, Chris Nn. He was also deeply infatuated with Dahlia. ¡°Chris, you wouldn¡¯t believe it. That punk went mad and hit my son like a maniac. No one could stop him!¡± Florence gritted her teeth. ¡°Really? Was he such a crazy person?¡± Chris frowned. ¡°I know some thugs who can teach him a lesson. Shall I help you out, Mrs. Nicholson?¡± ¡°Oh, that would be great!¡± Florence broke into a smile. ¡°Chris, make sure they knock some sense into him. Fracture a bone or two!¡± James snarled in anger. ¡°Sure thing. I assure you, he is as good as dead!¡± Chrisughed maliciously. To be honest, Dustin¡¯s marriage to Dahlia had bothered him long ago. How was it possible that a useless bum like him could have such an attractive and sessfuldy as his wife? Chris couldn¡¯t pass up this opportunity to beat Dustin up! ¡°James, how are your injuries?¡± Dahlia asked as she entered the hospital room suddenly. She was dressed in a slinky ck dress that showed off her voluptuous curves. Chris¡¯s eyes brightened considerably. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re finally here! Look at me, I¡¯m terribly hurt!¡± James sat up immediately and pointed at his bandaged head. ¡°Alright, Dustin told me what happened and apologized over the phone. Let¡¯s forget about it and move on,¡± Dahliaforted her brother. ¡°Forget about it?¡± James raised his voice. ¡°Dahlia, are you kidding me? I was beaten ck and blue! An apology isn¡¯t going to cut it! What do you take me for?¡± ¡°Well, what do you want?¡± ¡°I want him to kneel before me and beg for forgiveness!¡± ¡°He is still your brother-inw. Don¡¯t make a mountain out of a molehill.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me! I know that both of you have divorced!¡± ¡°Regardless of what happened, we were once family. Besides, you are partly to me.¡± ¡°Dahlia, why are you taking his side? What did I even do wrong? I only broke his stupid ne! What¡¯s the big deal?¡± James snapped angrily. ¡°What? What did you say about a ne?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°The ne you wore previously. He imed that it was an heirloom, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯s just rubbish!¡± James mumbled under his breath. ¡°Did you destroy that ne?¡± Dahlia probed further. ¡°Yeah, he was being extremely rude! That insolent punk refused to give me the crystal ne, that¡¯s why I smashed it on the ground!¡± James said stubbornly. ¡°You¡¯re really asking for a beating!¡± When Dahlia learned of this, she was furious. After everything that had happened, she finally understood why Dustin would beat James up. James was the one who demanded and shattered the precious crystal ne. Other people might not have understood its significance, but Dahlia knew otherwise. The ne wasn¡¯t just a family heirloom, it was also the only thing that reminded Dustin of his mother. It was a symbol of his mother¡¯s love for him. When they got divorced, Dustin didn¡¯t want anything but the ne. From this, it was evident that the crystal ne meant the world to him. ¡°Dahlia, it¡¯s just a ne! Why are you lecturing me over this?¡± James whined. ¡°That¡¯s right! Is that trinket more important than your brother¡¯s life?¡± Florence demanded. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with the both of youter!¡± Dahlia didn¡¯t bother to argue and left immediately. She didn¡¯t have the energy to quarrel with her spoiled brother and unreasonable mother. Moreover, in her haste, she hurt Dustin with her words. Now that Dahlia thought about it, she regretted saying them. With his temperament, Dustin would never have lost his temper so easily. She had made a mistake¡­ Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Natasha and Dustin sat in the backseat of a silver Benz. ¡°Mr. Rhys, this is the Harmon family¡¯s tinum card. Please ept it as a token of our gratitude.¡± Natasha handed Dustin a ck card edged with gold as she exined. ¡°With this, you will be treated as an honored guest in all establishments under the Harmon family.¡± ¡°Ms. Harmon, I don¡¯t need this.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Rhys. This is just a personal gesture. Regarding Mr. Anderson¡¯s request for the canscora, I will send the herb to your ce tomorrow,¡± Natasha said with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s very kind of you, Ms. Harmon. Thank you very much.¡± Dustin chuckled and epted the card. Since it was a gift from her, it woulde in handy. As they were talking, the car suddenly pulled over. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Harmon! I was forced to do this!¡± The car driver confessed before getting out and running for his life. At that moment, two ck SUVs swept by. They blocked the silver Benz in the front and rear. More than ten men got out of the SUVs. They approached the car, armed with weapons, and with covered faces. A bald, burly man who seemed to be the leader set his foot on the Benz¡¯s bo. Brandishing his knife, he threatened, ¡°Ms. Harmon, my boss wants to meet you. We will escort you.¡± ¡°How bold of you to hijack my car!¡± Natasha replied, unfazed. She emitted a stately aura befitting a queen. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have dared with all your bodyguards around. However, they are now at the hospital guarding your grandfather. You are alone with your little boy toy! How could we pass this precious opportunity up?¡± the bald guy smirked. ¡°Well, you do have some brains in that numbskull of yours to bribe my driver. However, please satisfy my curiosity. Who¡¯s your boss?¡± Natasha asked calmly. ¡°You will know once we get there! Now, will you get off?¡± the bald guy urged. ¡°You have no right to order me around!¡± Natasha didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Since you are going to be difficult, I have no choice but to resort to force!¡± The bald man gestured to the others for arge hammer. As he was going to smash the windscreen, Dustin opened the door and got out. ¡°Ms. Harmon, your boy toy has no guts. I¡¯ve not even started and he is already peeing his pants in fear. What did you see in him?¡± the bald guy said mockingly. Natasha frowned and reached into her bag silently. ¡°You have five seconds to cram,¡± Dustin warned. ¡°Punk, do you know what you¡¯re saying? Are you trying to be a hero? Go to hell!¡± Before the bald man could finish his sentence, a pnded on his face. The overwhelming pressure almost dislocated his jaw. He staggered back, stars spinning around his head. ¡°Fuck! How dare this punk fight back? Kill him!¡± The other men immediately rushed toward Dustin with their weapons in hand. Dustin faced them fearlessly. He weaved through the crowd, his movements as light as a feather. Each time someone came within arm¡¯s length, he dealt out a firm p. After a few loud cracks and cries of pain, the men fell over one by one. None remained standing after receiving a p from Dustin. Beating up more than ten muscr men seemed as easy as pie for him. The bald man was scared shitless. Never in his dreams would he have thought that the young man before him was such a terrifying monster. Even though all of them came at Dustin at once, not a hair on his head was harmed. ¡°Interesting.¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes shone with interest, a slight smile ying on her lips. She reced the handgun she had lying in her bag. Initially, she thought that Dustin was going to have some trouble taking down a group of bloodthirsty men by himself. Who knew that he was such a capable fighter? He was much more skilled than her bodyguards. Not only was he skilled in medicine andbat, but he was also handsome as well! A man like him was one in a million! ¡°Stop! Stand back!¡± The bald man pleaded for his life as Dustin approached him. ¡°Don¡¯te near me! I will make you pay¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Dustinnded a punch on his abdomen. The man threw up and kneeled on the ground in pain. ¡°He¡¯s all yours, Ms. Harmon.¡± Dustin stepped aside. ¡°Thank you.¡± Natasha nodded and stared down at the bald guy. ¡°Tell me, who¡¯s your boss?¡± Sweat running down his forehead, the man hesitated. ¡°Are you not going to tell me?¡± Natasha smirked and picked up a knife from the ground. She held the de against his neck and threatened, ¡°I shall have to torture you slowly until you confess then.¡± With that, she raised her arm and swung. At thest moment, the bald man screamed, ¡°Please don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll tell you everything! It¡¯s Trevor Spanner of the Drey Group!¡± His life was more important than his loyalty right now. ¡°As expected.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°Return and inform Trevor that I¡¯ll remember this! When I have some free time, I¡¯ll visit him. Get lost right now!¡± The bald man and his men ran away with their tails between their legs. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Ms. Harmon, things are not as simple as it seems. First, your grandfather was cursed. Next, your car was hijacked. Trevor will not be easy to deal with,¡± Dustin warned. ¡°Trevor Spanner is just a crazy bastard. However, he has strong allies backing him up. I¡¯m not going to do anything about this yet. It¡¯s better toy in wait for an opportunity to round all of them up at one go!¡± Natasha narrowed her eyes. It would be rash to attack right now. She would take all of them down in one blow! ¡°As long as you have a n, that¡¯s alright.¡± Dustin nodded. He had no interest in the conflicts between rival families. ¡°Mr. Rhys, it seems that you are really my family¡¯s benefactor. You saved my grandfather, and now you have saved me from getting kidnapped. I have no way to pay you back.¡± Natasha fluttered her eyshes. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all,¡± Dustin replied carelessly. ¡°No, we owe you too much! I must return the favor!¡± With that, Natasha shot him a sultry smile. ¡°To show my sincerity, shall I repay you with my body?¡± Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¡°What?¡± Dustin¡¯s face froze. He never thought Natasha would say something like that. Taking a closer look, he found that her beauty was different from Dahlia¡¯s. She was sensual like Aphrodite, and her smile could take anyone¡¯s breath away. In short, she was a natural femme fatale, ensnaring men with her bewitching charms. ¡°Why are you so shocked? I¡¯m just ying around.¡± Natasha¡¯s breasts heaved as sheughed heartily at Dustin¡¯s face. It was all Dustin could do to tear his eyes away from her voluptuous curves. The more he looked at her, the harder it was not to gawk at her figure. ¡°Mr. Rhys, back to the issue at hand. I need to ask a favor from you again.¡± Natasha¡¯s expression grew serious. ¡°What is it?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°You know that all my bodyguards are stationed at the hospital, so I don¡¯t have anybody to protect me. Now that this incident has happened, no one knows when the next attack could u. I hope that you can be my bodyguard and protect me 24/7,¡± Natasha said in earnest. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°Personal bodyguard?¡± Dustin raised his eyebrows. ¡°Ms. Harmon, wouldn¡¯t it be better for you to stay at a safe ce?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible, Mr. Rhys. For your information, the Harmon family will be organizing a charity dinner tonight. As the main organizer, I have to be present. What if someone appeared tonight and made a scene? A damsel like me would be defenseless. Besides, who would bring you the canscora if something unfortunate befell me?¡± Natasha blinked innocently. ¡°Well¡­¡± Dustin hesitated for a moment and nodded. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Although it was a hassle, he had to do it for the canscora. Nothing could be allowed to go wrong until he managed to get his hands on the herb. ¡°Many thanks, Mr. Rhys.¡± Natasha gave him a sly smile. Truth be told, she was much more interested in the bodyguard than being protected. ¡­ It was the evening at the Mirage. The Mirage was the most prominent club in Swinton. The building was asrge as a hotel and inspired by the Victorian period. It had gabled roofs,rge bay windows, and decorative sculptures. The interior was simrly designed, exuding grandeur and magnificence. Outside, the club was surrounded by vast gardens, vineyards, and even a man-madeke. A ck Benz stopped at the entrance of the Mirage. A gorgeous woman dressed in a ck evening gown got out of the car. She had wless skin and legs that went on for miles. Her intricate features she outshone all the other women in her presence. ¡°What a beautiful woman! Is she a famous actress?¡± ¡°Her face and figure are of out of this world!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she the president of Quine Group? She is one of Swinton¡¯s Four Beauties!¡± People milling at the entrance whispered among themselves, marveling at Dahlia¡¯s beauty. However, none of them went forward to introduce themselves as they were too intimidated. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought that the Mirage could be so grand! What beautiful designs and sculptures!¡± Lyra eximed as she got out of the car. ¡°The Mirage is one of the main establishments of the Harmon family, that¡¯s why the design and quality are impable. It is extremely difficult for most people to get an invitation to the Mirage.¡± Dahlia surveyed the surroundings. Even with her high standards, she had to admit that the Mirage was in a ss of its own. ¡°Dahlia, there you are!¡± A bespectacled young man in a suit came up to both of them. It was Chris, the second son of the Nn family. ¡°Mr. Nn, are you interested in tonight¡¯s charity dinner as well?¡± Dahlia greeted him. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in just any charity dinner. Having said that, this dinner is organized by the Harmon family. Who wouldn¡¯t be interested?¡± Chris answered with a smile. The Harmon family was one of the Mighty Three, the top three most reputable families in Swinton! Their financial power and influence were unrivaled in Swinton. Many people would die for the chance to just enter the Mirage, let alone to be invited to the Harmon family¡¯s charity dinner. ¡°Mr. Nn, are you sure that¡¯s all you are interested in?¡± Lyra smirked knowingly. ¡°Of course I have an ulterior motive. I¡¯m here to be of help to both of you.¡± Chris chuckled. ¡°Help us?¡± Lyra was confused. ¡°I heard rumors that the Quine Group is shortlisted to be one of the Harmon family¡¯s partners. It¡¯s not easy to be partners of such a powerful group, especially for Quine Group. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here to put in a good word on your behalf. This will boost the possibility of signing a contract with the Harmon family!¡± Chris boasted, his voice filled with confidence. ¡°That would be great! Thank you, Mr. Nn!¡± Lyra was overjoyed. If the Quine Group became partners with the Harmon family, not only would this elevate thepany¡¯s reputation, her status as secretary to the president would rise significantly as well. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Granting my rtionship with Dahlia, this is no trouble to me at all.¡± Chris shot her a deliberate smile. ¡°Of course, we are already one family.¡± Lyra returned the gesture. Dahlia had not heard a word of their conversation. Her gaze was fixed on a luxurious car in the distance. A man¡¯s silhouette was standing by the car. ¡°Could that be Dustin?¡± Dahlia finally recognized the man. After she found out the truth about that fight, she had been feeling guilty about it. Dahlia decided to address the misunderstanding since Dustin was coincidentally here. With that thought, she walked up to him. ¡°Dustin!¡± Dahlia was about to continue when she stopped in her tracks. She noticed a striking figure next to Dustin. The woman was dressed in a skin-tight, fiery red dress that showcased her tiny waist and alluring curves. In addition, her porcin skin and captivating features radiated an aura of nobility, like a queen who hade to grace her presence on her subjects. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¡°Ms. Nicholson, nice to meet you. How can I help you?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes widened when he saw Dahlia walking toward him, but his gaze turned cold in a moment. ¡°What a coincidence seeing you here.¡± Dahlia choked back the speech she had prepared to exin herself and greeted Dustin stiffly. She did not believe it when her mother told her of Dustin¡¯s new love interest. Who would have thought that it was true? Although they were divorced, Dahlia felt a little ufortable seeing her ex-husband being with another woman. There was an awkward and uneasy feeling in her heart. ¡°Mr. Rhys, is she a friend of yours?¡± Natasha sized Dahlia up. ording to her female intuition, she could detect a hint of hostility from this woman standing before them. ¡°She¡¯s my ex-wife,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Really?¡± Natasha raised her eyebrows and gave Dahlia a charming smile. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Natasha Harmon. Nice to meet you.¡± She stretched out her hand to shake Dahlia¡¯s. Although her actions seemed friendly enough, the atmosphere around her was slightly intimidating. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Harmon,¡± Dahlia answered politely. Although she was usually very self-assured, she had to admit that the woman before her was stunning. Natasha was on par with her in looks, height, and conduct. Furthermore, Natasha¡¯s figure was much more voluptuous than hers. Any man would be enamored by her! ¡°Dustin, when did you befriend Ms. Harmon? You¡¯ve never introduced me!¡± Dahlia couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°Were you ever interested in my friends?¡± Dustin replied sarcastically. His sharp words rendered Dahlia speechless. She had never expected Dustin to be so direct. The atmosphere around the three of them grew tense. ¡°Dustin, can I have a word with you?¡± Dahlia tried after a few seconds of silence. ¡°About what?¡± Dustin retorted with a poker face. ¡°It¡¯s about something private, let¡¯s go elsewhere.¡± Dahlia turned to find a quiet corner but she realized Dustin didn¡¯t move an inch. Her brows furrowed with frustration. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it here and now. I don¡¯t want another misunderstanding,¡± Dustin insisted. ¡°Must you be so difficult?¡± Dahlia frowned. She was trying to make peace with him, but Dustin seemed to not be having any of it. He was being mean and talking down to her in a disagreeable manner. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, we are already divorced. Since your status is of such a high rank, it is better for us to not be seen together. I would only embarrass you.¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Why are you being such a jerk?¡± Dahlia was getting annoyed. ¡°Are you seriously asking me?¡± Dustin stared back at her. ¡°Wasn¡¯t this your choice?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Dahlia couldn¡¯t say a word in retaliation. Yes, she did initiate the divorce. However, there was no need to keep bringing up the past. Despite her struggle to calm herself down, Dahlia could feel resentment rising within her. Seeing Dustin with another woman triggered her frustration and anger. These feelings became more and more Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. intense as their fight escted. ¡°Dustin, I know you despise me. Nevertheless, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve made a mistake. Besides, I¡¯ve given you many chances to redeem yourself!¡± Dahlia¡¯s tone turned icy. It was not easy for her to reconcile with others, given her prideful nature. Moreover, Dustin threw it in her face. ¡°So you mean that I¡¯m still in the wrong?¡± Dustin could onlyugh. ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to argue with you as we are irrelevant now. Having said that, you shouldn¡¯t be unting your new partner in front of me if you have any respect for me as your ex-wife!¡± Dahlia said gravely. ¡°Respect?¡± Dustinughed harder. ¡°How about Chris, then? Even before we got divorced, you were already having an affair with him. How could you even demand respect?¡± ¡°Regardless of whether you believe me, I¡¯m innocent and my conscience is clear,¡± Dahlia retorted, her head held high. ¡°Is that so?¡± Dustin smirked and pointed at Chris, who was walking toward them. ¡°I would like to have a look at that clear conscience of yours!¡± Both of them had been fooling around in bed. Now, they were even at the charity dinner together. What a joke for her to im that she was innocent! Dahlia frowned slightly, but she did not exin herself. First, there was nothing to exin. Second, Dustin wouldn¡¯t believe her anyway. ¡°Dahlia, we were having a conversation just now. Why did you slip away?¡± Chris said to her with a smile. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Natasha. Chris was astounded when he saw her alluring beauty. Desire burned in his eyes as his breathing quickened. What a gorgeous woman! He had never seen such an extraordinarydy in his life. If Dahlia was like water, Natasha was like a burning me. She could arouse the desires of men with her sultry gaze, without even moving a muscle. Natasha was a natural seductress! Sneaking a few nces at Natasha, he quickly diverted his gaze. He knew that it was unbing of a man to make his intentions known so early, especially in the presence of such dazzling women. Making a first good impression was extremely important. ¡°Dustin, what a surprise to see you!¡± Chris turned to Dustin with a frown. Chris was green with envy when he saw Natasha being so friendly to Dustin. How could this punk be surrounded by hotties all the time? After getting a divorce from Dahlia, here he was with another attractive woman on his arm. Was he blessed withdy luck? ¡°Why would it be a surprise to see me?¡± Dustin retorted. ¡°I¡¯ve heard from Dahlia that you were just an errand boy at the Quine Group. With your status, you have no right to enter the Mirage. Were you nning to sneak in?¡± Chris narrowed his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about it, it¡¯s none of your business,¡± Dustin said calmly. ¡°I must have guessed correctly.¡± Chris smirked and turned to Natasha. ¡°Don¡¯t be deceived by him, gorgeous. Dustin is not some rich scion but a lowly pauper. He has no right to be breathing the same air as you, gorgeous.¡± In Chris¡¯s mind, Dustin must have lied to the beautifuldy. Why would she be together with a useless guy like him otherwise? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? It¡¯s fine as long as I like him!¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°Gorgeous, with your beauty and looks, you can definitely marry into a wealthy family. Why would you choose to live a difficult life with him?¡± Chris replied, puzzled. ¡°Wealth means very little to me. In my eyes, Dustin is an outstanding man.¡± Natasha slipped her arm into Dustin¡¯s naturally. ¡°Outstanding?¡± Chrisughed mockingly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have wealth, fame, or power. How could he be regarded as outstanding?¡± ¡°At the very least, he is more handsome than you.¡± Natasha snapped. ¡°What¡¯s the use of a handsome face? In the end, he is just a boy toy!¡± Chris¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I have warned you, Dustin is a conman. You are going to regret it once he takes advantage of your wealth and body!¡± ¡°Take advantage of me?¡± Natashaughed merrily. ¡°I do hope that he will take advantage of me, but it seems that he isn¡¯t interested.¡± Her bold words made Dahlia and Chris frown in disapproval. Even Dustin couldn¡¯t take it any longer. This woman was really a shameless flirt. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¡°Hey, did you not hear me? That guy is a liar! It won¡¯t do you any good if you stay with him!¡± Chris¡¯s face was etched with concern when Natasha was unfazed by his provocation. He couldn¡¯t bear to watch a beautiful woman like her be ruined at Dustin¡¯s hands. ¡°Damn, you sure are annoying. It¡¯s none of your business who I hang out with!¡± Natasha snapped, having lost her patience. ¡°You¡­¡± Chris was on the verge of a breakdown. Never had he imagined her to be so stubborn. How could she still go back to Dustin knowing that he deceived her? Was that guy so charming? ¡°Mr. Nn, this kind of person deserves to be deceived. Not only does she not appreciate your kind reminder but also speaks rudely to you. How ungrateful!¡± Lyra uttered unkindly from the side. ¡°Hmph! So showing kindness is a crime now?¡± Chris felt unjust, but obviously, he was more jealous. ¡°You two must have known each other for a long time, right?¡± Dahlia asked abruptly. Judging from Natasha¡¯s behavior, she couldn¡¯t help but suspect that they had long had a secret affair. Otherwise, there wasn¡¯t a reasonable exnation for Chris¡¯ determination. ¡°That¡¯s not important. What matters is that our feelings are mutual.¡± Natasha smiled. While speaking, she pressed her chest against Dustin¡¯s arm as though swearing sovereignty. At this sight, Dahlia¡¯s gaze became fiercer. Despite knowing that Natasha was deliberately pushing her buttons, she couldn¡¯t suppress her irritation. It felt like someone had snatched away something of hers. ¡°Dustin, I¡¯ve seriously misjudged you. We aren¡¯t officially divorced, yet you¡¯ve already found yourself another woman.¡± Dahlia tried to calm her emotions. In fact, she had been brooding about their divorce because she felt like she owed Dustin. However, thetter had begun fooling around with women while she was busy thinking of a way to make up to him. At the end of the day, she was the clown. N?velDrama.Org ? 2024. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think of me, I have nothing to say.¡± Dustin shrugged as he waszy to exin anything. ¡°Fine. I was thinking that I owed you something, but it looks like we¡¯re even now!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression turned indifferent. She felt as if she was looking at aplete stranger. ¡°Great.¡± Although Dustin¡¯s poker face remained, his heart momentarily twitched for some reason. ¡°Ms. Nicholson¡­¡± Just then, Nastsha spoke up with a smile. ¡°The choice you made was rather unwise, but I still have to thank you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Dahlia slowly looked up at her. ¡°Thank you for letting me have Dustin. If not, I wouldn¡¯t have discovered such a treasure by myself.¡± Natasha was shing a satirical grin, her words meant to humiliate Dahlia. ¡°Hey! You bitch¡­¡± Lyra was about to explode when Dahlia raised her hand and cut her off. She looked Natasha in the eyes and replied, ¡°Your so-called treasure is just average in my opinion.¡± ¡°Average?¡± Natasha raised her eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re calling a highly educated martial artist average? Ms. Nicholson, you do have high standards. However, the guy you¡¯re with doesn¡¯t seem to be any better.¡± ¡°At least he¡¯s better than Dustin.¡± Dahlia didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Oh, really? Why don¡¯t we make a bet then?¡± Natasha dared yfully. ¡°About what?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s bet which of them will have greater achievements within a month. What do you say?¡± Hearing this, the three of them were taken aback. They didn¡¯t expect she would suggest something like that. Chris sneered as he looked at Natasha incredulously. ¡°Say, did you hit your head or something? Are you making mepete with this piece of trash? Is he even worthy?¡± ¡°Exactly! Mr. Nn is the sessor of Nn Pharmaceuticals with assets worth over a billion dors under his name. What does Dustin have?¡± Lyra pursed his lips in disdain. ¡°Are you sure you want to bet on this?¡± Dahlia felt a little lost. To her, Dustin had nothing other than his good looks. Conversely, Chris was excellent in all aspects, be it his family background or personal capabilities. The two of them were far from being on par with each other. Dustin could never beat Chris even if he were given five years, much less a month. ¡°Of course. It¡¯s only about whether you dare to ept the bet.¡± Natasha raised her chin obnoxiously. ¡°What are we betting on?¡± ¡°Whoever loses the bet will have to apologize to the other and admit that she had no standards.¡± ¡°Sure. The bet is on.¡± Dahlia nodded. ¡°Good. I hope you don¡¯t regret it!¡± Natasha chuckled. Both of them possessed equal beauty but contrasting temperaments. At that moment, a rivalry had silently formed between the two. ¡°We shall find out when the timees.¡± After casting onest nce at Natasha, Dahlia turned around and entered Mirage without another word. ¡°Pfft, you¡¯re digging your own grave.¡± Chris and Lyra sneered again before following Dahlia into the building. Not once did they take Dustin seriously. ¡°Mr. Rhys, what do you think? Did I do well?¡± Natasha asked coquettishly as she tucked her hair behind her ear. Even though her action looked simple, there were many meanings behind it. ¡°You went slightly over the top,¡± Dustin said helplessly. ¡°If we lose, you¡¯ll lose your reputation.¡± ¡°Lose? Are you kidding me? Don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t even beat that loser?¡± Natasha started to agitate Dustin. ¡°I¡¯m an ordinary man. How am I supposed topete with a sessor of a wealthy family?¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°Ordinary? You¡¯re too modest, Mr. Rhys. Your looks alone are out of this world!¡± As Natasha blinked at him flirtatiously, she appeared like a street thug harassing ady. Feeling speechless, Dustin pretended not to see it. Nevertheless, he had to admit that her performance was impable. It saved his pride. After all, very few women could steal Dahlia¡¯s limelight, and Natasha was undoubtedly one of them. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 After entering Mirage, Lyra vented her anger. ¡°Ugh, that woman is hot, but she¡¯s blind to fall for an ipetent fool like Dustin.¡± ¡°I know, right? What a waste,¡± Chris chimed in with a long sigh. He was rich and handsome, so why was he unable to meet a beautiful woman too? ¡°That¡¯s enough talk. We¡¯re here for business,¡± Dahlia interrupted them and said, ¡°Lyra, go and find out which Harmon is in charge tonight. It¡¯d be best if we could promote ourselves.¡± ¡°I know a close friend who works at this ce. I¡¯ll give her a call.¡± As Lyra spoke, she fished out her phone and dialed a number. Before long, she informed Dahlia of good news. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, tonight¡¯s charity event is organized by the Steel Lady herself. As for the partner, it¡¯ll depend on her preferences.¡± ¡°The Steel Lady? Could she be the famous business prodigy?¡± At the thought of this, Dahlia¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. The Steel Lady had a well-known reputation for being the only woman who singlehandedly conquered the business world of Swinton, surpassing nearly all of the other businessmen. Dahlia couldn¡¯t help but admire such an exceptional businesswoman. However, she¡¯d never met the Steel Lady. ¡°Lyra, ask your friend whether she could help us arrange a private meeting with the Steel Lady. We can¡¯t miss this opportunity,¡± said Dahlia. ¡°I can try and ask her, but there¡¯s no guarantee.¡± ¡°Okay. I will thank her afterward.¡± Deep down, Dahlia was bubbling with anticipation. Being the Harmon family¡¯s partner meant a lot to her. If she could meet the Steel Lady in advance, she was confident that she would be able to convince the other and prove herself. ¡­ As time passed, the number of guests gradually increased in Mirage. Although the charity event had yet tomence, Natasha was already busy. ¡°Mr. Rhys, feel free to look around. I have to excuse myself. You can ask anyone here if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright. Thanks.¡± ¡°Julie, help me look after Mr. Rhys.¡± Then, Natasha headed toward her office. ¡°Ms. Harmon¡­¡± Upon entering the room, a middle-aged manager approached her with some documents. ¡°Here is the information you asked for. After several screenings, we have narrowed down only fourpanies that qualify to be our partner. Please have a look and see if there¡¯s anything else you need.¡± Natasha hummed in acknowledgment and nodded silently. She epted the documents and began reviewing them. After a while, she raised her eyebrow as her interest was piqued. ¡°Huh, what a coincidence.¡± A mischievous smirk formed on Natasha¡¯s lips. It turned out that Jackson Group was among the candidates, and in the documents was Dahlia¡¯s resume. Out of curiosity, she read everything about Dahlia and soon, discovered something unusual. Three years ago, Dahlia was a nobody while Jackson Group was unheard of. Nheless, ever since she¡¯d gotten married, her career experienced inexplicably rapid growth. In merely three years, the small corporations. During that period, Dahlia not only received a tremendous amount of investments but also orders for various projects. In Natasha¡¯s opinion, these achievements were questionable and there must have been strings pulled behind the scenes. The problem was, however, Dahlia did note from an influential family nor did she have connections to pull this off. ¡°Could it be¡­ him?¡± An image of Dustin appeared in Natasha¡¯s mind. Besides Dustin, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone else who would help Dahlia so unconditionally. Subsequently, she became even more intrigued. Who on earth was Dustin? No one could easily build Jackson Group into arge corporation in only three years. ¡°Dustin, oh, Dustin. What exactly are you hiding?¡± Narrowing her eyes slightly, Natasha was enthralled by the mystery surrounding Dustin. ¡°And that woman, Dahlia¡­ What were you thinking? Why did you let go of a wealthy husband and choose to get entangled with that bastard named Chris instead? Are you really that stupid?¡± Natasha pondered and silently heaved a sigh. A man had sacrificed so much for a woman, but in the end, she was ignorant and even self-righteously decided to divorce him. Natasha couldn¡¯t wrap her head around that. Nevertheless, she realized that the situation had given her a chance to have Dustin all for herself. ¡°Ms. Harmon, are you considering Dahlia Nicholson from Jackson Group?¡± asked the manager tentatively upon the rare sight of Natasha reading the documents so intently. ¡°Dahlia? Hmph,¡± Natasha answered with a dissatisfied tone. ¡°She is qualified to be our partner, but I don¡¯t like her.¡± ¡°Understood. I will remove her from the list right away!¡± ¡°No need. Reorganize the documents and show them to Mr. Rhys. Let him decide,¡± Natasha instructed with an ambiguous smile. ¡°Yes.¡± Although the manager was dumbfounded, he didn¡¯t dare to question her orders. ¡°Is there something else?¡± Natasha asked when he did not leave. ¡°Ms. Harmon, Edward Spanner from Drey Group had arrived earlier and he wishes to meet you,¡± the manager exined with his head bowed. ¡°Edward? Trevor Spanner¡¯s son? What is he doing here?¡± Natasha was stunned. ¡°He says he wants to discuss business matters with you, but I doubt that it is his true intention. Should I order the guards to kick him out?¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Trevor sent his son in his ce? Ha¡­ Never mind. I want to see what tricks he has up his sleeves.¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 The hall where the event was held had be lively. On the stage, a group of dancers dressed in vintage clothing danced to ssical music. Every facial expression and move was full of charm and grace, leaving a lingering impression in the audience¡¯s mind. Below the stage sat a crowd of well-dressed celebrities. While some clinked their sses and chatted, others quietly enjoyed the performance. Dustin had found an empty seat and sat down, sipping on a ss of juice as he watched the show. ¡°Yo, Rhys! Didn¡¯t think you would actually sneak in here!¡± Suddenly, a discordant voice disrupted Dustin¡¯s moment of peace. ncing over at the source, Dusin spotted Chris and Dahlia together with the secretary. ¡°Hmph, what an unlucky day. Why are you everywhere?¡± Lyra huffed in annoyance. Dahlia didn¡¯t say a word. She threw a cold nce at Dustin and went to take a seat in the front row. ¡°Hey, the charity auction is starting soon. Can you even afford to participate? Why are you sitting here?¡± Chris jeered. ¡°Who says I can¡¯t sit here because I can¡¯t afford it?¡± retorted Dustin. ¡°That¡¯s the rule! How can a sucker like you sit with us?¡± Chris said with a contemptuous look. ¡°Are you deaf? Get up now!¡± Lyra kicked the chair Dustin was sitting in. ¡°What happens if I don¡¯t?¡± Dustin looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯ll call the guards to kick you out!¡± threatened Lyra. ¡°Go ahead and try,¡± Dustin responded with an unbothered expression. ¡°Fine, you asked for it! Don¡¯t me me when you get humiliated!¡± Just as Lyra wanted to raise her hand and call for the guards, Dahlia stopped her. ¡°Cut it out. Let him be.¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Lyra frowned. ¡°Mind your own business,¡± Dahlia simply replied. ¡°Hmph, consider yourself lucky.¡± Lyra red at Dustin and left it at that. At this moment, her phone rang. After answering the call, her expression froze and the arrogance on her face was quickly reced with horror. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Dahlia asked upon sensing something amiss. ¡°Ms. Nicholson¡­ it¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s bad!¡± Lyra blurted nervously. ¡°I just received a tip-off that the Harmon family wants to remove the Jackson Group from the candidate list!¡± ¡°What?¡± Dahlia¡¯s face fell at the news. ¡°Are you sure the tip is reliable?¡± ¡°It should be. My friend overheard it at work!¡± ¡°How could this happen?¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression was awful. After all, she¡¯d expended great effort in getting the Jackson Group on the candidate list. Not only wererge sums of money involved but she even owed countless favors over this. She thought that since they passed the preliminary screening and got on the list, she could effortlessly secure the position of the Harmon family¡¯s partner as long as she met with the Steel Lady beforehand. Who knew that they would get removed at the veryst minute? It was so sudden that Dahlia couldn¡¯t ¡°Ms. Nicholson, what do we do now? If we make it on the candidate list, all of our hard work will be in vain!¡± Lyramented unhappily. ¡°Let me think¡­¡± Dahlia¡¯s brows furrowed as she fell deep in thought. Working as the Harmon family¡¯s partner, they would be able to elevate their social status while making extra profits. Although the Jackson Group had grown quickly over the years, itcked a solid foundation. Hence, if they could join the Harmon family¡¯s business venture, they would have sure backing. Dahlia was so close to tasting sess, yet everything hade to naught. ¡°Mr. Rhys.¡± Just then, a manager from the Harmon family walked up to Dustin¡¯s side and handed him a folder. ¡°The Iron Lady wants you to review these documents and make the final decision.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Dustin took the folder and his expression became a little strange. He was looking at documents consisting of Dahlia and the Jackson Group¡¯s information. Natasha was indirectly making him choose to whether kick them out of the candidate list. ¡°What the hell is she nning?¡± Dustin held his chain while thinking, feeling some uncertainty. Needless to say, Natasha was doing this on purpose. She wanted the power in deciding the fate of Dahlia¡¯spany to fall on him. After thinking it over, Dustin chose not to remove them. Although they were divorced, their rtionship wasn¡¯t as bad as to require revenge. Besides, they had been married for three years. One way or another, he genuinely hoped that Dahlia would do well in her life. ¡°Mr. Rhys, are you sure about your decision?¡± The manager couldn¡¯t help asking because he knew that Natasha wasn¡¯t fond of Dahlia. ¡°Yes.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Okay. We¡¯ll do as you say.¡± After giving him a polite smile, the manager promptly left with the documents. Deep down, however, his impression of Dustin dropped slightly. To him, this was Dustin¡¯s best window of opportunity to gain Ms. Harmon¡¯s favor. Meanwhile, in the front-row seat, the clueless Dahlia and Lyra were still worrying about the matter. Based on their status, they weren¡¯t qualified to change the Harmon family¡¯s decision. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Chris suddenly cleared his throat to get their attention before saying, ¡°Dahlia, if you¡¯re worrying about the candidate list, I might be able to help.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lyra lit up at once and asked hurriedly, ¡°Mr. Nn, how can you help us?¡± ¡°To be honest, my father has some connections with Old Mr. Harmon. As long as my father makes the request, I believe the Harmon family will do something about it.¡± ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s awesome!¡± Lyra was filled with excitement as she said, ¡°Mr. Nn, if you can help us with this, you will be our greatest benefactor!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. I¡¯ll make the call now.¡± Chrisughed heartily, then dialed his father¡¯s phone number to briefly exin the situation. ¡°Alright, I got it. I¡¯ll talk to Andrew when I have time,¡± Chris¡¯ father, David, agreed perfunctorily and hung up the call. Thinking that he¡¯d solved the problem, Chris started to im credit and said, ¡°My father has agreed to help. You guys don¡¯t have to worry. It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± ¡°Great! Mr. Nn, thanks to you, we can rest assured.¡± Lyra sighed in relief. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Nn,¡± added Dahlia. ¡°It¡¯s a small matter. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Chris pretended to wave his hand generously. Then, he looked toward Dustin with a provocative gaze. Dustin was enjoying his juice,pletely ignoring Chris. At this moment, Dahlia received a phone call. Taking out her phone, she realized that it was from the general manager of Harmon Group. ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Nicholson? I have good news for you. The top management has decided to appoint you as the Harmon family¡¯s partner.¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¡°We were chosen?¡± Dahlia was shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe his words. The general manager wasn¡¯t talking about her ce on the candidate list, but was referring to their appointment as the Harmon family¡¯s partner! They¡¯d even skipped the final assessment. What was happening? ¡°Did you mean what you said?¡± Dahlia questioned tentatively. ¡°Of course. If you don¡¯t believe it, you maye to our office tomorrow to sign the contract. I have other things to attend to, so I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± After saying a few words, the general manager ended the call. Dahlia on the other end was feeling both astonished and delighted. Never had she expected things to go so smoothly. A few moments ago, the Jackson Group was just about to get removed from the candidate list but in the blink of an eye, they had be the Harmon family¡¯s partner. Everything was happening too abruptly. Of course, it must¡¯ve been due to Chris¡¯ help that she was able to make it this far. The Nn family¡¯s influence was surprisingly impactful. Only a phone call was needed to change the Harmon family¡¯s mind. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, what happened? Did the Harmon family change their mind?¡± Lyra asked. ¡°Yes.¡± Dahlia nodded and shed a rare smile. ¡°The general manager of Harmon Group called me just now and said I¡¯m chosen to be their partner!¡± Lyra cheered. ¡°Oh my god! I knew you could do it!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to Mr. Nn. This wouldn¡¯t have happened without his help,¡± Dahlia said gratefully. ¡°That¡¯s right! Mr. Nn is indeed the greatest. He solved our problem with just a few words!¡± praised Lyra. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. It was my father who did the favor,¡± Chris replied with a smile. Although his words sounded humble, the smugness on his face was unconceble. In fact, he was also somewhat surprised by the news. Since when did his father work so efficiently? ¡°Dustin, did you see that? This is the difference between you and Mr. Nn.¡± Lyra turned to look at Dustin and remarked mockingly. ¡°Mr. Nn can easily secure us the position as the Harmon family¡¯s partner with a word. What can you do?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. At least, he¡¯s good at sucking up to people,¡± Chris added with a chuckle. ¡°Hmph, what else can he do? He¡¯s an absolute good-for-nothing.¡± When Dustin didn¡¯t retort, Lyra¡¯s arrogance was boosted and she continued, ¡°It¡¯s a pity that the bitch isn¡¯t here to see how useless the man she chose is.¡± ¡°Are you done talking? Move out of the way if you are, don¡¯t block my view,¡± Dustin uttered indifferently. ¡°Why? You can¡¯t stand it when we said only a few words? If you have half of Mr. Nn¡¯s capabilities, would you be afraid of others calling you out? You¡¯re hopeless.¡± Lyra sneered. ¡°Oh? Then, tell me, what is Chris capable of?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression became solemn. He might prefer to be low-key, but he wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone who insulted him. He wasn¡¯t a saint, after all. ¡°Mr. Nn made us the partner of the Harmon family through a simple phone call. If this isn¡¯t capability, I don¡¯t know what is,¡± Lyra answered while staring down at Dustin condescendingly. ¡°How are you so sure that it was him? What proof do you have?¡± Dustin countered. ¡°Who else if not Mr. Nn? It¡¯s definitely not you. I mean, look at your terrible attitude!¡± Lyra snorted coldly. ¡°Hey, Rhys, what makes you think that the Harmon family would suddenly change their mind if it wasn¡¯t because of me?¡± Chris asked haughtily. ¡°That¡¯s right. The truth is right in front of you. Why can¡¯t you just admit it?¡± Lyra echoed. ¡°Don¡¯t get too conceited. If I were you, I would go and confirm the truth myself before thanking the wrong person,¡± Dustin said, expressionless. ¡°From what I see, you¡¯re just jealous of others because of your ipetence,¡± scolded Lyra. ¡°Whatever floats your boat.¡± Dustin shrugged it off. ¡°Rhys, you wanted proof, right? Fine, I¡¯ll give it to you!¡± Chris sneered as he pulled out his phone to call David again, ¡°Hey, Dad.¡± ¡°What is it this time?¡± David sounded annoyed over the phone. ¡°Nothing. I just wanted to know how did your talk with Old Mr. Harmon go.¡± ¡°What talk? I¡¯m still in a middle of a meeting. I don¡¯t have the time to help you with your nonsense. Don¡¯t ever bother me over stuff like this again!¡± ¡°What?¡± Chris was caught off guard when his father hung up the phone angrily. The smile on his face had stiffened. Instantly, his intention to boast about his capability was shattered. If his father didn¡¯t help him, then who did? Could it be a coincidence? ¡°Mr. Nn, what did your father say? Let¡¯s hear it,¡± Dustin said with a fake smile. As he was seated right behind Chris, his keen ears could pick up everything David had said on the phone. He didn¡¯t even need to listen to their conversation to know what was going on. Chris¡¯ stupefied expression was self- exnatory. ¡°Mr. Nn, don¡¯t hesitate to tell us. We should let this bastard understand that he could neverpete with you!¡± Lyra prompted. Meanwhile, Chris¡¯ eye twitched. He pretended to be calm and replied with a dismissive smile, ¡°What¡¯s there to tell you about? My father has confirmed that he made a request to the Harmon family and helped us big time. Otherwise, Dahlia wouldn¡¯t have qualified to be their partner!¡± Hearing this, Dustin frowned deeply as he didn¡¯t expect Chris to be so stubborn. How could he lie in front of everyone? ¡°Did you hear that, Dustin? I told you so, but you didn¡¯t believe it. What do you have to say now?¡± Lyra barked proudly. ¡°Would you believe me if I told you that Chris is lying?¡± Dustin questioned back. ¡°Dustin, that¡¯s enough!¡± At this moment, Dahlia couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Can you drop with your act for once? I know that you¡¯re jealous of Chris, but you can¡¯t just nder him! Is it so difficult to admit Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. he¡¯s good?¡± Dahlia stood up and yelled, a hateful look on her face. Initially, she didn¡¯t wish to argue with Dustin. However, seeing how obstinate he was behaving, she really couldn¡¯t bear to watch any further. ¡°Jealous? nder?¡± Dustin paused, feeling slightly taken aback. ¡°So, that¡¯s the kind of person I am in your eyes?¡± ¡°Look at yourself. Am I wrong?¡± Dahlia retorted. Her question rendered Dustin speechless. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Never in Dustin¡¯s wildest dreams would he think that was how Dahlia viewed him. She had no faith in him at all. As it turned out, three years of marriage meant nothing whenpared to an outsider. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m despicable, while Chris is a hero. I ndered him. Are you happy now?¡± Dustin said self-mockingly. It was pointless to defend himself when there was no trust to begin with. ¡°What¡¯s with your attitude? Are you saying I¡¯m using you?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m the one to me for badmouthing a good person,¡± Dustin replied curtly. ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn!¡± His words angered Dahlia. She never knew that Dustin would act like this out of spite and refuse to admit his mistake. Was he finally showing his true colors after their divorce? ¡°It¡¯s all right, Dahlia. Don¡¯t get too worked up.¡± At this time, Chris put up a pretentious act of kindness and said, ¡°Dustin must be doing this because he doesn¡¯t like that I¡¯m too close to you. I don¡¯t me him. Everyone makes mistakes.¡± ¡°Do you see how forgiving Chris is? This is the difference between you and him!¡± Dahlia spat, disgusted. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to try arguing with you if that¡¯s what you think,¡± Dustin replied in a clipped tone. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Hmph, I bet it¡¯s because you feel guilty,¡± Lyramented disdainfully. ¡°People like you are detestable. Why do you insist on putting on an act when you don¡¯t have what it takes?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about what you think of me.¡± Tired of bickering with them, Dustin stood up and left. Just then, a man with curly hair appeared at the hall entrance. He had on a pair of sunsses and was smoking a cigar. ¡°Damn, what a lively atmosphere!¡± Edward grinned as he looked around. As soon as his eyesnded on Dahlia, he was momentarily dazed. Then the look in his eyes quickly turned fiery. ¡°Tsk, tsk. I wasn¡¯t expecting today to be my lucky day. I¡¯ve met another stunning woman!¡± Edward licked his lips and approached Dahlia right away. He smiled and said, ¡°Hey, beautiful. You look familiar. Have we met before?¡± Dahlia threw him a nce and ignored him. ¡°Our meeting must be fated. Why don¡¯t youe and get a drink with me?¡± Edward invited. ¡°I¡¯m not interested,¡± Dahlia rejected without hesitation. ¡°Money can buy your interest,¡± Edward stroked his chin and uttered slyly. ¡°Let me get straight to the point then. If you sleep with me for one night, I¡¯ll pay you any amount you like.¡± ¡°Get lost,¡± Dahlia growled. ¡°Oh, dear. How feisty. I like it!¡± Edwardughed gleefully. While speaking, he reached out his hand to touch her. A loud p sounded when Dahlia struck his face with her palm. Clear, red fingerprints were imprinted on his cheek within seconds. ¡°You¡­ you dare to p me?¡± Edward touched his burning cheek, his gaze darkening. ¡°What are you going to do about it? What an uneducated prick,¡± Dahlia said impassively. ¡°Bitch! You¡¯re asking for trouble!¡± Edward¡¯s blood boiled and he lifted his hand to hit Dahlia, but he was suddenly shoved away by Chris. ¡°Fucker, you dare to act out at this kind of asion? Are you asking for a beating?¡± Chris red at Edward. How dare that bastard flirt with his woman in front of his face? ¡°You rascal, you¡¯d better stay out of this or face the consequences!¡± Edward bellowed. ¡°Ha! Are you threatening me? Bring it on. Show me what you got!¡± Chris provocatively waved his hand. ¡°Go to hell!¡± Without another word, Edward threw a punch at Chris. Thetter swiftly dodged his fist and countered his attack,nding a blow on his face. Edward staggered backward with blood tricking down his nose. ¡°You want to fight? Too bad you picked the wrong person!¡± Chris scoffed. ¡°Mr. Nn, you¡¯re awesome! This thug deserves to be beaten up!¡± Lyra praised loudly. ¡°Yeah! Good one!¡± The guests at the scene followed suit and apuded, which stroke Chris¡¯ ego. At ¡°Bastard, do you know who I am? You dare to hit me?¡± Edward seethed through gritted teeth. If looks could kill, Chris would have been six feet under. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about who you are. Get out of here if you want to live!¡± Chris barked fiercely. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, I¡¯ll give you that. You¡¯d better not have run away when I return!¡± After that, Edward quickly left the ce. Chris sneered. ¡°What a fool. How dare he act all mighty in front of me?¡± ¡°Mr. Nn, I didn¡¯t know you were so strong. You beat him with just a punch!¡± Lyraplimented him, her eyes glowing with admiration after witnessing the fight. ¡°Haha, I can beat ten weaklings like him!¡± Chrisughed. It seemed like his workout routine had paid off. ¡°Thankfully, you are here to stop him. Or else, we would¡¯ve been in trouble.¡± ¡°Fret not. If you reencounter such situations, give me a call and I¡¯ll protect you.¡± Chris patted his chest confidently. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t let an opportunity to show off slip by. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, this is what a real man looks like!¡± Lyra said while ncing at Dustin with sarcasm, ¡°Not someone who runs away like a scaredy cat whenever he faces small hurdles. How useless.¡± Although Dahlia was quiet, she was filled with even more disappointment. When she was in trouble just now, Dustin had stood idly and watched without any sign of wanting to help. Putting their past rtionship aside, any other ordinary person would¡¯ve stepped in to help out even if they were strangers. She might not have noticed this before, but now, Dustin¡¯s uselessness was apparent as day. Compared to Chris, he was far from being on par. ¡°Quick, seal off the exits!¡± All of a sudden, a burst ofmotion sounded. It was none other than Edward, who¡¯d stormed out earlier. This time, he was back with even more malice. ¡°What? Do you want to get another beating?¡± Chris stepped forward like a heroic person. However, his vanity eventually faded away upon seeing the group of burly bodyguards following behind Edward. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°What the hell? Why did he bring so many people?¡± Chris gulped, feeling faint for some reason. Weren¡¯t they supposed to fight one-on-one? Edward had disrespected the rules of a fair fight by involving a gang. Though Chris was cursing in his heart, he had no choice but to face them head-on. No matter what, he couldn¡¯t lose face in front of Dahlia. ¡°That¡¯s them. Surround them!¡± With a wave of his hand, the bodyguards led by Edward dashed forward at once, surrounding Chris, Dahlia, and Lyra. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t you dare touch me. My father is David Nn, the president of Nn Pharmaceuticals!¡± Sensing that he was at a disadvantage, Chris hurriedly threatened them with his father¡¯s status. ¡°So what?¡± one of the bodyguards yelled. ¡°Do you know who you¡¯ve messed with? He is Sir Spanner¡¯s son, the heir of Drey Group!¡± His words caused an uproar among the crowd. 2 ¡°Sir Spanner? Is he talking about Trevor Spanner, King of the Underworld from East City?¡± ¡°It must be him!¡± ¡°Poor guy. I can¡¯t believe he messed with Sir Spanner¡¯s son. Looks like he¡¯s doomed.¡± Everyone started whispering to one another, expressing their fear. ¡°You¡­ you guys work for Sir Spanner?¡± Chris stammered out of intimidation. Trevor, also known as Sir Spanner, was East City¡¯s infamous King of the Underworld, second only to the Mighty Three. He was a man of ruthlessness who showed no mercy to those who wronged him. Under hismand were hundreds of subordinates specialized in ckmail and other types of crimes. In simpler terms, Trevor would be the most feared viin in a story. Whoever offended him would face consequences worse than death. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯ve made a huge blunder this time,¡± thought Chris in a cold sweat. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I thought you were confident. Are you scared now?¡± Edward closed in on Chris, his eyes filled with viciousness. ¡°Um, this is a misunderstanding¡­¡± Chris forced a smile, sounding extremely submissive. ¡°Misunderstanding, my ass!¡± Edward roared in fury, pping Chris across the face twice, leaving his face marked with red fingerprints. Suppressing his exasperation, Chris bit the bullet and smiled apologetically. ¡°My father is acquainted with Sir Spanner. Could you let this slide for once? I¡¯ll make it up to you.¡± ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are? You¡¯re not in the position to ask me for that.¡± Edward forcefully poked Chris on the forehead with his index finger. With each poke, Chris was forced a step back. At this very moment, Chris had his tail between his legs, not daring to make a sound. Lyra couldn¡¯t take it anymore and shouted, ¡°Hey, you bunch of thugs! Do you think it¡¯s cool to bully others?¡± ¡°Why? Are you angry?¡± Pushing Chris aside, Edward headed in Dahlia and Lyra¡¯s direction with an evil smirk. ¡°This is the Harmon family¡¯s territory. Don¡¯t you dare cross the line!¡± Lyra warned sternly. 2 ¡°You think I¡¯m afraid of the Harmon family?¡± Edward scoffed and said, ¡°Besides, you guys were the ones who started the fight. I¡¯m only acting out of self-defense. What is the Harmon family going to do about it?¡± 2 ¡°What¡­ what bullshit are you spouting?¡± Lyra started to be frantic. ¡°Hmph, looks like you¡¯ve not understood the situation. Let my men knock some sense into you if that¡¯s the case!¡± Edward gestured for his bodyguards to make a move, and two of them stood forward menacingly. 1 ¡°Stop right there!¡± Dahlia suddenly interrupted with a cold voice. ¡°This has nothing to do with her. Let her go.¡± ¡°Does that mean you will take the responsibility?¡± Edward let out a cruel chuckle. Sure. I¡¯ll let her off the hook, but in return, you have to sleep with me tonight. If you manage to satisfy me, I¡¯ll pretend that none of this happened.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± Dahlia raised her hand to p him, but Edward caught her wrist just in time. ¡°Bitch, how dare you hit me again? Boys, tie her up!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Several bodyguardsplied and immediately seized Dahlia. ¡°Let go of her, you thugs!¡± Just as Lyra was about to rescue Dahlia, Edward ruthlessly Chagh kicked her to the ground. ¡°Mr. Nn¡­ Please save her!¡± Lyra cried out in pain, unable to get to her feed. Helplessly, she could only beg Chris. ¡°Edward, let¡¯s talk this out. Why involve the women?¡± Chris tried to persuade Edward. For Dahlia¡¯s sake, he had to resort to pleading for mercy. ¡°Fuck you. I¡¯m not done with you yet, and you¡¯re trying to save someone else?¡± Edward cussed. ¡°No, no! That¡¯s not what I meant. There¡¯s no need to get violent. We can settle this peacefully,¡± Chris exined politely. ¡°Shut your trap!¡± Edward¡¯s heavy p sent Chris stumbling to the ground. ¡°Say one more word and I will kill you.¡± a Chris shrank back and kept silent. Although he cared about Dahlia, he had to save his skin first. After all, it was unreasonable to offend Sir Spanner over a woman. ¡°Hmph. Turns out you¡¯re just a coward!¡± Edward jeered, ¡°I don¡¯t understand why these women would stick with you.¡± Chris felt insulted, but he couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°You two, stop struggling already. Take them away. I¡¯m going to have a st tonight.¡± Then, Edward ordered his men to tie Dahlia and Lyra up and bring them away. ¡°Mr. Nn! Please, help us!¡± Lyra screamed at the top of her lungs. However, Chris didn¡¯t react as he kept his head bowed. His cowardness made the people around shake their heads. Obviously, Chris was too timid to do anything. Just when everyone thought that Dahlia would inevitably be vited, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Edward and blocked his path. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to touch her.¡± ¡°What the fuck? Are you trying to be the hero too?¡± Edward sneered. ¡°I advise you to let her go before things get out of hand,¡± Dustin stated coldly. Edward chuckled with indifference. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°Then, go to hell!¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¡°Then go to die!¡± Dustin stated expressionlessly, but his hard gaze was unnerving. ¡°Go to thell?¡± Edward burst outughing. Even the group of bodyguards standing behind him burst intoughter; all of them looked at Dustin as though he were an idiot. ¡°You little punk! Don¡¯t you know who I am? You¡¯ve got some nerve speaking to me that way,¡± Edward s aid cockily. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I couldn¡¯t care less. You have three seconds to let her go, or else,¡± Dustin stated inly. His words instantly caused a stir; even the people who were holding Dahlia were shocked. None of them expected that Dustin would say such a thing; he was remarkably bravepared to the silent Chris. However, such bravery was useless. ¡°You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you. You¡¯re going to die!¡± Chris¡® face was full of resentment beca use Dustin¡¯s show of bravado only made his cowardice even more apparent. Naturally, Chris was irritated and even filled with resentment when a good¨C for- nothing like Dustin was braver than he was. ¡°Are you fucking insane?¡± Edward looked Dustin up and down before continuing, ¡°So you want to y hero, huh? Fine! I¡¯ll see just what you¡¯ve got!¡± With that, he raised his hand and gave another signal. Two burly bodyguards swiftly charged forward at the same time to tackle Dustin. Both of them were 6.3 feet tall, extremely muscr, and the size of a bear. They each had an imposing presence. Dustin looked like a mere child inparison, so everyone present assumed that this confrontation wo uld be over without suspense. They were wrong. As they drew nearer to him, Dustin delivered two swift punches that connected loudly with each of the men¡¯s faces. And just like that, the two huge men copsed to the floor as though they had been struck by lightning and were motionless. ¡°Huh?¡± Everyone was visibly shocked by what they had just seen. No one understood what had happened as, in the blink of an eye, both of the bodyguards were on the fl oor. Meanwhile, Dustin was standing there unscathed. ¡°Fuck! What did that punk just do?¡± Edward¡¯s expression sank. The two men who had just fallen were his most capable bodyguards; they could take on a group of peo ple on their own without any problem. Hence, it was strange that they were bothying unmoving on the floor after just one face¨Coff. ¡°This is yourst chance. Let her go,¡± Dustin threaten coldly. ¡°In your dreams! Get him!¡± Edward retorted angrily and waved his hand to signal his men. The remaining bodyguards behind him immediately surrounded Dustin, but he merely scoffed and attac ked first, not wasting any more time on words. His movements were as fast as lightning, and his attacks were extremely fierce. Each of his punches c onnected loudly with its target. The burly bodyguards were utterly defenseless, like sheep waiting to be ughtered, in the face of Dustin, who w as like a ferocious tiger. Muffled grunts could be heard, and in the short span of a few breaths, they were all lying on the floor. The hall waspletely silent as thest bodyguard dropped to the floor with an audible thud. All the guests had their jaws ck and were staring at Dustin with wide eyes as though he were an anomaly. None of them would¡¯ve ever guessed that he was so fe arsome. He had effortlessly taken down so many men with his own strength, just like in a movie scene. ¡°How is this guy so strong?¡± Chris¡® eyes were wide open in disbelief. ¡°How can it be? Is this really that piece of trash, Dustin Rhys?¡± a dumbfounded Lyra wondered out loud , feeling unsettled. ¡°He¡­ knows how to fight?¡± Dahlia had an indecipherable expression on her face once she came back to her senses. They had been married for three years but she never knew that Dustin was such a formidable fighter. ¡°Was he just really good at hiding it? Or was it because I never cared enough to notice?¡± she wondered. 1 ¡°Y¨Cyou! Who are you!¡± Edward started panicking at this point and he involuntarily took two steps back. ¡°I¡­ am your reckoning,¡± Dustin stated as he slowly advanced toward Edward. ¡°Stay back!¡± Edward shouted as he suddenly pulled out a switchde and held it against Dahlia¡¯s throa t. ¡°Come any closer, and I¡¯ll slit her throat!¡± ¡°The thing I hate most is being threatened.¡± Dustin¡¯s expression turned cold and in a sh, he charged forward and grabbed hold of Edward¡¯s hand that was holding the knife. Then, with a forceful twist, the switchde fell to the floor with a loud ttering sound. Edward was stunned for a moment before he let out a piercing shriek, simr to that of a pig being u ghtered. ¡°Argh-¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Dustin cut Edward off with a p to his face just as his shriek barely left his mouth. Edward¡¯s expression instantly soured, as though he had just tasted shit. ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re dead meat! All of you are dead meat!¡± Edward somehow mustered up the courage to throw out a threat. ¡°Is that so?¡± Dustin questioned stoically as he kicked Edward over with one foot. Seeing this, Dahlia immediately stood in front of Dustin to block him. ¡°Stop! You can¡¯t harm him, the co nsequences will be too severe!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Dustin stated indifferently. ¡°But I do!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression was grave. ¡°Do you even know that we will all suffer the 314 consequences with you if you beat him up?¡± Dustin frowned upon hearing her words. He thought she was concerned for his well¨Cbeing, but it turns out she was only concerned for herself. ¡°Stop while you¡¯re ahead, Dustin. Don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡± Lyra called out. ¡°That¡¯s right! I see you¡¯ve grown tired of living to darey a hand on Mr. Spanner!¡± Chris called out before hurriedly helping Edward to his feet and exining, ¡°We have nothing to do with Dusti n Rhys hitting you just now, Mr. Spanner.¡± His words weren¡¯t just to shift the me onto Dustin; they were also a direct usation. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Dustin narrowed his eyes, feeling as though a weight had been ced on his chest. The only reason h e had taken action earlier was to save Dahlia, but he was now being painted as a violent viin in the end. It was hard for him not to feel displeased about this. ¡°You little punk! You¡¯re good at fighting? So what!¡± Edward, having mistaken Dustin¡¯s silence for terror, i nstantly rediscovered his confidence. ¡°Let me tell you, power and status are what matter in society. You better believe I¡¯ll make you meet a tragic end if you darey another hand on me!¡± Dustin didn¡¯t say anything in return, but his furious expression could be seen in his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Scared?¡± Edward grinned. ¡°Since you¡¯ve got no guts, get on your knees and bow d own to me! I might just let you off if you put me in a good mood.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 ¡°Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and beg Mr. Spanner for forgiveness!¡± Chris chimed in, taking advantage of the situation to add to Dustin¡¯s humiliation. Chris was green with jealousy when Dustin was showing off earlier, so he was now trying to get some payback. ¡°Will he kneel? Or will he not? If he does, he will forever be too ashamed to show his face. But if he doe sn¡¯t, he might be dead or maimed once Edward retaliates,¡± Chris thought. ¡°Hey punk, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t give you a chance to make amends! I¡¯ll spare you if you grovel at my feet t oday. If not, don¡¯t me me for being merciless.¡± Edward jabbed Dustin¡¯s chest with his finger with a s mug expression on his face. ¡°What does it matter if he knows how to fight when he has no power and no status? In the eyes of the p ublic, he¡¯s nothing more than a foot soldier,¡± he continued mentally. ¡°Are you aware that you¡¯re ying with fire?¡± Dustin asked as he looked at Edward¡¯s finger. ¡°ying with fire?¡± Edward smirked. ¡°Not only do I want to y with fire, but I also want to y with your woman! Believe it or not, I¡¯m going to have my way with her tomorr ow while you watch. And not only me, but my men will each get a turn as well, and I want you to watch i t all helplessly. I want you to understand what it¡¯s like to despair, to believe that living is worse than deat h!¡± Dustin¡¯s expression instantly turned thunderous at Edward¡¯s words, and he could no longer hold back h is rage. ¡°You asked for this!¡± he shouted as his hand shot forward to forcefully grab Edward by the throat and lift him above his head. He then raised his other hand and ruthlesslynded two punches on Edward¡¯s abdomen. Edward made a gagging sound as he felt his stomach churn, making him want to vomit, but he found th at he couldn¡¯t as his throat was being constricted. His face soon turned red as he felt himself suffocating. Suddenly, he had a sense that he had made a g rave mistake. ¡°Stop it!¡± Dahlia yelled, moving forward to intervene. Dustin ignored her and dealt another vicious punch, this time to Edward¡¯s crotch. The gruesome sound of flesh being minced could be heard before blood flowed to the floor. Edward let out a groan as his body spasmed. He was in such excruciating pain that he couldn¡¯t cry out even though he wanted to, and in the end, his head lulled to one side as he fainted. Everyone was stunned as they stared at the bloodstained area. Not even in their wildest dreams would they ever imagine that Dustin could be so cruel as to discontinue Edward¡¯s family line with a single punch. After all, he was Sir Spanner¡¯s son! Sir Spanner was the kind of man who woulde after you for tou ching even a strand of hair on his son¡¯s head, much less injuring him. Safe to say, from today onward, Dustin had incurred Sir Spanner¡¯s vengeful wrath. ¡°Have you lost your mind!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression changed drastically as she forcefully shoved Dustin. ¡°D o you even know what you¡¯ve done? You¡¯ve just gotten yourself into deep shit this time!¡± An apology or money could be used to rectify the situation if it was only a light injury or bruise, but there¡¯s no way Trevor will let things slide so easily now that Edward has been beaten to such a state. ¡°All I did was take care of one of society¡¯s scum, is that so wrong?¡± Dustin shot back, perfectlypos ed. ¡°That¡¯s not the point, the point is you shouldn¡¯t have harmed him!¡± Dahlia rebuked, frowning. ¡°Hey Dustin, you shouldn¡¯t drag us all down with you if you¡¯re so eager to die! Do you know what the co nsequences of harming Sir Spanner¡¯s son are?¡± Chris¡® face was flushed with rage. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Although Dustin was the one who had harmed Edward, Chris had also shoved Edward previously; hen ce, he¡¯s also worried that he wouldn¡¯t be able to get away with it when Sir Spanner investigates and finds out about it. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough! Since it¡¯se to this, you should hurry up and run. Get as far from here as you can while there¡¯s still time!¡± Dahlia reacted quickly. away She knew that once news of Edward¡¯s maiming got out, Sir Spanner would surely be furious. And when that time came, Dustin would be at a dead end once he mobilizes all of his forces. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to,¡± Dustin stated, his demeanor still indifferent. ¡°Stop acting tough! Sir Spanner is more powerful than you think, your martial arts. skills won¡¯t be enoug h to save you!¡± Dahlia chastized. Even if he knew how to fight, he couldn¡¯t stop bullets! ¡°He¡¯s not the type of person to listen to reason, Ms. Nicholson, stop wasting your breath. Furthermore, we should not interfere in matters unrted to us in order to avoid bringing trouble upon ourselves.¡± Lyra q uickly interjected. ¡°That¡¯s right, this guy can¡¯t run!¡± Chris said, suddenly blocking the exit as though something had urr ed to him. ¡°What are we going to do if he runs away? What if Sir Spanner exacts his revenge on us inst ead? Won¡¯t we just be the fall guys!¡± ¡°Mr. Nn has a point!¡± Lyra chimed in,ing to the same realization. ¡°If Dustin runs away, we¡¯re goin g to be the ones who suffer!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Dustin just saved us!¡± Dahlia¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Nobody asked him to, he¡¯s the one who poked his nose into our business!¡± Lyra scoffed. ¡°Exactly! And seeing as he has brought this upon himself, he should be the one to face it!¡± Chris chimed in self¨Crighteously. ¡°Both of you-¡± Dahlia¡¯s pretty face turned cold as she started to speak when Dustin interrupted her. ¡°You all can be at ease. I will take responsibility for my actions; I won¡¯t implicate any of you.¡± ¡°This is a matter of life and death! Could you please drop the macho act!¡± Dahlia raised her voice, slight ly annoyed. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about what happens to me, Ms. Nicholson. This has absolutely nothing to do with you, so just sit back and watch,¡± Dustin dered loudly, ¡°What do you mean by that? Do you think I¡¯m worried about being implicated?¡± Dahlia asked, frowning. ¡°Is that not the case?¡± Dustin looked directly at Lyra and Chris as he said this. Dahlia was at a loss for words after his subtle hint. Although the thought never crossed her mind, the sa me couldn¡¯t be said for her secretary, who had already drawn a line early on. In Dustin¡¯s eyes, he thought her secretary¡¯s words were the same as hers. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you think; you have to leave today!¡± Dahlia¡¯s tone suddenly became forceful. ¡°And I don¡¯t care what you say, I¡¯m not leaving.¡± With that, Dustin turned and walked out to the flower garden. ¡°You!¡± Dahlia was fuming. ¡°Why is he so rebellious?¡± she wondered. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The hall was in an uproar because of Dustin¡¯s actions. The timid guests had long left, in fear of bing caught in the crossfire. As for the unconscious and critically injured Edward, his bodyguards had immediately taken him to the hospital. ¡°This is troublesome.¡± Dahlia had a concerned look on her face as she scowled. Sir Spanner was infamous for being cruel and ruthless, and he surely wouldn¡¯t be inclined to just let thi ngs go when his son had been beaten into such a state. Dustin may not have much longer to live. ¡°Lyra, I want you to find out if there¡¯s any way this can be resolved peacefully,¡± Dahlia suddenly said. Lyra was puzzled. ¡°What do Dustin¡¯s actions have to do with us, Ms. Nicholson? Why do we need to ex pend effort for his sake?¡± a Dahlia had a frosty expression as she retorted, ¡°He saved my life earlier. Should I just watch him die?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant, I just think it would be very unwise to cross Sir Spanner at this point. Moreove r, no one would willingly get involved in this mess,¡± Lyra exined. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, we have to try.¡± Dahlia had a resolute look in her eyes. ¡°¡­ Very well then,¡± Lyra responded, having no choice but toply. She then immediately started mak ing calls to all their connections. However, all the big bosses immediately hung up from fright once they had gotten a grasp of the situati on, and none of them dared step in since Sir Spanner was involved. ¡°You see, Ms. Nicholson? It¡¯s not because we don¡¯t want to help, but because we can¡¯t,¡± Lyra said, wavi ng her hands. ¡°Try again,¡± Dahlia ordered, frowning. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°There¡¯s no point-¡± Lyra shook her head as she began to speak when she noticed Chris off to the side. ¡° Hey, maybe Mr. Nn will be able to help us.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Chris asked, surprised, as he pointed to himself. ¡°Yes! Didn¡¯t you say before that your father was friends with Sir Spanner? Your father might be able to mitigate the situation, right?¡± Lyra asked expectantly. ¡°Err¡­¡± Chris was taken aback. His father did indeed know Sir Spanner, but their rtionship was strictly all business. There might be a chance of mitigation if it were just a small matter, but Edward had been severely harmed, so how could Sir Spanner possibly b e persuaded to refrain from retaliating? ¡°I¡¯ll owe you big time if you¡¯re able to help with this, Mr. Nn!¡± Dahlia eximed earnestly. Looking at her expectant expression, Chris couldn¡¯t help having a dilemma. This was his best chance o f wooing her, so naturally, he wasn¡¯t willing to let it pass him by. ¡°I can give it a try, but I can¡¯t guarantee anything. After all, it is Sir Spanner.¡± Chris eventually agreed aft er briefly mulling it over. Dahlia visibly rxed. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll already be so grateful as long as Dustin doesn¡¯t lose his life!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try my best,¡± Chris said casually, nodding. It would be great if it worked out, but there weren¡¯t any cons if it didn¡¯t. After all, Dahlia already owed hi m a favor by asking for his help. Meanwhile, at a lounge in Mirage. Natasha¡¯s lips curled into a meaningful smile as she watched the events unfold on a monitor. She had a clear view of Edward being beaten and almost gave in to the urge to p her hands and cheer. She had always found some members of the Spanner family to be as annoying as flies, but she hadn¡¯t been able to take any action toward them due to certain reasons. Thankfully, Dustin did not disappoint. She was quite delighted with his performance today. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯m afraid Mr. Rhys does not have enough influence to protect him from Trevor¡¯s wrath. Should we assist him?¡± Alfred Jarvis, a butler who was standing by her side, suddenly asked. ¡°Let¡¯s not be hasty. Have someone monitor him¨Cit¡¯s too soon to say if Trevor outmatches him.¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes narrowed as she looked at Dustin¡¯s imposing figure on the screen. Cer ¡°Oh? Do you think so highly of him?¡± Alfred asked, slightly bewildered. Natasha smirked. ¡°More like intrigue¨CI have a feeling that he¡¯s full of surprises.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t actually have feelings for him, do you, Ms. Harmon? Please keep in mind that you already h ave a fianc¨¦-¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Natasha cast a chilly nce in Alfred¡¯s direction, and he instantly went silent from fear. ¡°Remember this: You are in no position to say anything about my personal affairs; just focus on performing your ow n duties well.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Harmon.¡± Alfred didn¡¯t dare say anything further as he felt a chill run down his spine. Midnight at the district hospital. In an instant, Edward was surrounded by a crowd of people as the emergency operating room¡¯s doors opened, and he was wheeled out on a hospital bed with his lower halfpletely bandaged. At the fore front of the group was a tall and brawny man with a full beard and mustache. It was none other than East City¡¯s King of the Underworld, Trevor Spanner. ¡°Doctor! How¡¯s my son!¡± Trevor asked first. The doctor sighed. ¡°His life is not in peril, however, the damage to his genitals is quite extensive. I¡¯m afr aid he won¡¯t be able to regain full function.¡± ¡°What!¡± Trevor¡¯s expression changed drastically upon hearing this. Won¡¯t be able to regain full function? Didn¡¯t that just mean he¡¯d be impotent! ¡°Don¡¯t you all know how to do your jobs? You can¡¯t even treat such a light injury?¡± Trevor yelled, grabbi ng the doctor by the cor of his shirt. ¡°We¡¯ve tried everything we could, sir, but I¡¯m afraid the injury is just too severe. Preserving his life was no easy task either,¡± the doctor replied with a tinge of exasperation. The doctor had never encountered something so tragic¨C the patient¡¯s genitals had been reduced to a pile of mush. If he hadn¡¯t arrived at the hospital in time, he might have even lost his life. ¡°You¡¯re useless! Get out of my sight!¡± Trevor, whose expression was frighteningly thunderous, bellowed as he shoved the doctor aside. If the best doctors at the district hospital couldn¡¯t do anything, then his son really was invalid. ¡°Talk! What the hell happened!¡± Trevor abruptly turned and demanded angrily from the bodyguards who stood behind him. ¡°Edward was fine, why has he been beaten to a pulp!¡± ¡°Sir Spanner, he¡­¡± One of the bodyguards mustered up the courage to summarize what had happene d. Trevor¡¯s temper immediately red once he finished listening, and he raised his hand and brutally pp ed the bodyguard across the face. ¡°Useless pieces of shit! What¡¯s the point in hiring all of you if you can¡¯t even defeat one man!¡± Trevor ro ared out. However, his rage didn¡¯t subside at all, so he pped each of them multiple times. The bodyguards lowered their heads, not daring to speak. ¡°Why are you still standing there? Go gather more men and bring that punk to me! I don¡¯t care who he i s. I¡¯m going to cut him into pieces for daring to harm my son!¡± Trevor¡¯s forces began mobilizing with his one order. It would appear that a turbulent storm was rapidly brewing¡­ Chapter 20 Chapter 20 The next morning, in the most luxurious private room at Mirage. ¡°Mr. Rhys, thank you for protecting me. Here is the canscora you wanted. Please take a look.¡± Natasha put an exquisite wooden box on the table before pushing it forward. ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin opened the box and saw a blood¨Cred canscora in it. The herb was crooked, like a dragon¡¯s tooth. It had an interesting appearance. He gently sniffed it, and its unique stench filled his nose. ¡°It is really a canscora! Thank you, Ms. Harmon!¡± Dustin¡¯s face lit up. He had been searching for various rare herbs all these years. Finally, he found anot her one. There were still five herbs left. If he could collect the remaining five herbs, there would be hope! Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°You¡¯re wee. You deserve it. Come to think of it, I should be the one thanking you.¡± Natasha smiled . ¡°Ms. Harmon, I have a favor to ask. Can you contact me immediately next time if you find such rare her bs? I am willing to pay heavily for them!¡± Dustin looked serious. ¡°Of course I can do that. But I¡¯m curious about the reason you¡¯re collecting these herbs.¡± Natasha aske d hesitantly. ¡°To save someone.¡± Dustin hesitated before saying, ¡°I have a friend who is seriously injured. I need these rare herbs to save him.¡± ¡°Oh, what disease did he get? Even you can¡¯t cure him?¡± Natasha appeared surprised. She had witnessed Dustin¡¯s medical skills before. It was not an overstatement to say that he could eve n bring the dead back to life. ¡°Medical skills alone are not enough. I need various herbs to heal him.¡± Dustin shook his head. One could not make bricks without straw. No matter how good his medical skills were, he could not cur e many diseases without the proper herbs. ¡°I see.¡± >> Natasha nodded as realization dawned upon her. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll keep an eye out for you. I¡¯ll contact you immediately if there¡¯s any news.¡± ¡°Thank you in advance, Ms. Harmon.¡± Dustin gave a slight nod. ¡°No problem. Let¡¯s keep in touch.¡± Natasha gave a wink. ¡°Sure. We¡¯ll keep in touch.¡± Dustin did not stay for long. After making some small talk, he excused himself and left. 20 minutester, in front of Peaceful Medical Center. Holding two bottles of alcohol, Dustin strolled into the medical center. ¡°Hey, drunkard, look what I¡¯ve brought you!¡± He eximed while scanning the area. He followed the sound of a man snoring, and soon he saw a drunk man with a flushed face under a tabl e in the medical center. The man was one¨Ceyed and had a broken leg. He looked like a shaggy beggar. ¡°Hey, wake up!¡± Dustin pushed him. The man ignored him, turned around, and continued sleeping. His snore became louder. ¡°You seem to be sleeping rather soundly.¡± Smirking, Dustin opened a bottle of alcohol. The fragrance of the alcohol spread across the room. The next second, the sleeping man was jolted out of his sleep. He bumped his head on the table with a bang and broke the table in half! Ignoring the ss shards on the floor, he instantly snatched the bottle in Dustin¡¯s hand and poured it int o his mouth. ¡°This is some good stuff!¡± The one¨Ceyed man exhaled a sigh of relief, feeling refreshed. ¡°This alcohol cost me a lot of money. You¡¯d better save some forter.¡± Dustin reminded him. ¡°Come on.¡± The man rolled his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re a wealthy guy. Two bottles of alcohol are nothing to you.¡± ¡°Even so, you can¡¯t waste them!¡± ¡°Cut the nonsense! Why are you here?¡± The one¨Ceyed man red at him. ¡°I¡¯ve found another rare herb.¡± Dustin handed him the box with the canscora. ¡°Huh?¡± The man opened the box and immediately frowned. ¡°Bastard, I told you not to search for herbs for me a nymore. I¡¯m going to die anyway. Dying now and dyingter doesn¡¯t make a difference.¡± ¡°That¡¯s your problem, but I¡¯m going to continue searching for herbs. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Dusti n shrugged. ¡°Hey! Why are you so stubborn?¡± The one¨C eyed man began to panic. ¡°Do you know that the Rhys family controls all the main herbs needed for the production of life¨C sustaining medications? They will eventually find out if you keep searching for herbs!¡± ¡°So what? I¡¯m not the same person I was ten years ago,¡± Dustin answered. ¡°Kid, I know you¡¯ve progressed and are better than them, but the Rhys family is unbeatable. Nobody ca n fight against them. I don¡¯t want you to get involved again!¡± the man said somberly. ¡°Life is guided by destiny. I¡¯ve been hiding for ten years, and I don¡¯t want to hide anymore. I want to live the rest of my life confidently!¡± Dustin was determined. ¡°You will face many hardships if you choose this path. Your mother wanted you to live peacefully like a normal person.¡± ¡°My mother has passed away and she will nevere back. You are the only rtive I have left in this world. How can I watch you die just like that?¡± Dustin shouted. ¡°My life is worthless. It doesn¡¯t matter!¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll die with you!¡± ¡°Gosh! Why are you so stubborn? Even if you don¡¯t think of yourself, you should consider your pretty wi fe. Do you want her to be a widow?¡± The one¨Ceyed man used his trump card. He had already noticed Dustin¡¯s ambition three years ago, so he had even chosen a prettydy to marry Dustin so that Dustin would settle down. He would use this method every time they got into an argument, and it always worked! ¡°It¡¯s no use. We¡¯re divorced.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°What? Divorced?¡± The one¨Ceyed man was stunned. No way. He couldn¡¯t use Dustin¡¯s wife as an excuse anymore. Without any ties, Dustin would go all¨Cin soon! ¡°I¡¯ve already made up my mind. No matter if you agree or not, I will do it. You know my character,¡± Dustin said firmly. ¡°Whatever. If that¡¯s what you want, go ahead.¡± The one¨C eyed man waved his hand. ¡± The worst that could happen would be me losing another leg and bingpletely blind.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t be blind. I¡¯ll make sure you stay alive.¡± Dustin gently clenched his fist as determination filled his eyes. Ten years ago, the one¨Ceyed man had protected him. Now, it was Dustin¡¯s time to protect him. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 At noon, in the president¡¯s office of the Quine Group. Dahlia was distracted while reading her documents. Her mind waspletely upied by Dustin. She was worried that Trevor would track down Dustin. If that happened, Dustin would be doomed. ¡°Lyra!¡± Finally, Dahlia couldn¡¯t hold herself back after imagining all the possible scenarios. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, how can I help you?¡± Lyra came in after knocking. ¡°Help me prepare some gifts. I¡¯m going to the Drey Group,¡± Dahlia said. ¡°The Drey Group? Isn¡¯t that Sir Spanner¡¯s ce?¡± Lyra was shocked. ¡°That¡¯s right. I want to talk to him.¡± Dahlia nodded. ¡°Why do you want to talk to him? Is it about Dustin?¡± Lyra panicked. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, please calm down! Sir Spanner is still angry. Why would you visit him and poke the ho¡¯s nest?¡± ¡°No matter what, I have to try!¡± Dahlia was adamant. ¡°Wait! We still have Mr. Nn! He said he would help. Why don¡¯t we wait some more?¡± Lyra advised Dahlia. ¡°We¡¯ve waited for one whole night, and there¡¯s still no news from him. I don¡¯t think he¡¯ll be able to help us. I have to do this myself.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, don¡¯t we have any better way? Why don¡¯t we think about it again?¡± Lyra was worried. ¡°Dustin got into trouble because of me. I can¡¯t sit still and do nothing. Go do as I say.¡± Dahlia waved her hand. Seeing the determination in Dahlia¡¯s eyes, Lyra couldn¡¯t help sighing. Left with no choice, she had to ob ey Dahlia¡¯s order. She knew that Dahlia wouldn¡¯t change her mind once she made up her mind. 30 minutester, they arrived at Drey Group. ¡°Lyra, you can wait in the car. You don¡¯t have to go in with me.¡± Dahlia ordered. ¡°No way. We must help each other out through thick and thin. How can I let you take all the risk by your self?¡± Lyra was a loyal person. ¡°This is dangerous. Just in case, I need you to wait outside. Call the police if I don¡¯te out in half an hour, got it?¡± Dahlia looked serious. ¡°Alright! I will make sure toplete my task!¡± Lyra nodded vigorously. She knew that she had a great r esponsibility. It was entirely up to her whether Dahlia could return safely. ¡°I¡¯ll go in then.¡± Without saying much, Dahlia opened the door and entered the building. with Unlike ordinarypanies, the people in the Drey Group were all buff guys tattoos. One could tell that t hey weren¡¯t kind people. After Dahlia reported her identity, a bald guy led her to an office on the top floo r. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. In the office, the bearded Trevor sat calmly on a sofa with a cigar in his mouth. ¡°Are you Ms. Nicholson from the Quine Group?¡± Seeing Dahlia enter his office, Trevor narrowed his eyes. ¡°As expected, you¡¯re gorgeous. No wonder my useless son would get into a fight with other people for you.¡± ¡°Sir Spanner, may I ask how your son is doing?¡± ¡°He¡¯s fine. He won¡¯t die, but he¡¯s crippled,¡± Trevor said faintly. ¡°Crippled?¡± The look in Dahlia¡¯s eyes wavered. Although Trevor sounded calm, he couldn¡¯t hide the anger in his eyes. ¡°So, what do you n to do about this?¡± Trevor crossed his legs on the table and sat ¡°Sir Spanner, I¡¯m the one who caused everything and am willing to take full responsibility for this. I hope you can be generous and let Dustin go,¡± Dahlia said solemnly. ¡°You want to take responsibility? Are you sure you can do that?¡± Trevor grinned evilly. ¡°I will hire the best doctors to treat your son. Also, I will bear the correspondingpensation. Just tell me how much you need,¡± Dahlia continued. ¡°I don¡¯t need money.¡± Suddenly, Trevor put a bottle of alcohol on the table. ¡°If you really want to negotiate with me, finish this bottle of alcohol first.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Dahlia was put in a difficult position. She wasn¡¯t good at drinking. She didn¡¯t know if she could handle it after drinking the whole bottle. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t want to drink it? In that case, no deal.¡± Trevor waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯ll drink it!¡± Dahlia hesitated for a few seconds. Eventually, she picked up the bottle. A bottle of alcohol was nothing pared to Dustin¡¯s life. Hence, she took a deep breath, put the bottle in front of her mouth, and start ed gulping down the alcohol. After finishing one¨C third of the alcohol, she began to cough violently, and her face turned red. Gritting her teeth, she ignore d the difort and continued drinking. She began to feel dizzy when she finished two¨C thirds of the bottle. Panting slightly, she finished the whole bottle. ¡°Sir Spanner, are you satisfied now?¡± Staggering, Dahlia grabbed the table. ¡°Haha, interesting.¡± Trevor smiled teasingly. ¡°Since you seem sincere, I¡¯ll give you another chance. Take off our clothes now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°Sir Spanner, what do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you understand? I want you to take off your clothes and serve me. I will consider letting you go if you manage to satisfy me. To bepletely hone st, even though I¡¯ve slept with many women, I¡¯ve never done so with a woman as stunning as you.¡± Tre vor smirked. Dahlia¡¯s face darkened as soon as she heard that. His son, Edward, was a greedy pervert. She never e xpected his father to be the same. Indeed, an apple didn¡¯t fall far from the tree! ¡°Sir Spanner, I can promise you anything else except for this!¡± Dahlia begged desperately. ¡°Except for this? Haha¡­¡± Trevor threatened evilly, ¡°You should know how powerful I am. You should be honored that I¡¯m willing to talk to you. If I don¡¯t want to talk to you, there will be no use, even if you strip yourself naked and kneel before me. You better think twice! I¡¯ll go take a shower, you better have all your clothes removed when Ie back. Otherwise, I¡¯m going to do it myself! By then, I won¡¯t be alone, all my brothers outside will join me!¡± Dahlia¡¯s face turned pale when she heard that. She suddenly realized that she had thrown herself into t he lion¡¯s den. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 At Peaceful Medical Centre, Dustin and the one¨C eyed man were drinking when hist phone rang suddenly. ¡°Hey, Dustin! Ms. Nicholson is in danger. Hurry up! We need your help!¡± Lyra shouted. as soon as the call connected. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Danger? What¡¯s going on?¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! Ms. Nicholson was worried about your safety, so she personally approached Sir Spanner to talk to him. She hasn¡¯te out since then. I think she is in danger!¡± Lyra sounded urgent. ¡°What the hell was she thinking? I told her it was none of her business. Why is she looking for trouble?¡± Dustin¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Dustin Rhys! Don¡¯t you have any conscience at all? Ms. Nicholson is trying to save you!¡± Lyra shouted angrily. ¡°Where is she?¡± ¡°The Drey Group!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there straight away!¡°Without saying anything more, Dustin hung up and rushed straight there. At the same time, in the Drey Group¡¯s offices. Dahlia slumped on the couch, feeling lightheaded. Her face was dripping with sweat. She could feel the aftereffects of the alcohol hitting her. Her hands and legs went weak, and she was losing her bnce. Most importantly, her bag and mobile phone were confiscated right when she entered the office. She couldn¡¯t even call anyone for help. What should she do? As she was thinking of a n, the office door opened, and Trevor strode in wearing a robe. ¡°Why are you still dressed? Do you want me to take action?¡± Trevor sized her up. In his eyes, Dahlia was just too alluring. She exuded a unique sort of charm. He was eager to taste her. ¡°Sir Spanner, you¡¯d better not do anything stupid. I¡¯ve already got everything prepared. My subordinate will call the police if I don¡¯t go out in half an hour. The police are about to arrive!¡± Dahlia warned. ¡°What? Are you trying to scare me?¡± Trevorughed dryly, ¡°How do you think! managed to put myself in this position? I¡¯ll be honest with you. Many of the people in the police station are my men. Do you think they will dare to touch me?¡± ¡°What?¡± Hearing what he said, Dahlia turned pale. She thought she would be safe since she had a backup n. Never did she expect Trevor to have no fear at all, ¡°Come on. Stop struggling. Nobody can save you today. Obey my orders if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± Trev or began to step closer to Dahlia. ¡°Don¡¯te near me!¡± Suddenly, Dahlia grabbed a pair of scissors from the table, wanting to defend herself for thest time. ¡°Damn it. You ungrateful thing!¡± Trevor was furious. He struck Dahlia with his fist, and she fell to the gro und unconscious. Then he trapped her under his huge body. Forcefully, he tore Dahlia¡¯s clothes open, r evealing her fair thighs and slim waist. Just as he was about to reach out and explore her body, a loud bang rang out, and the door was kicked open. A handsome guy came in with a murderous expression on his face, his bloodthirsty eyes made h im look like he was about to devour a person alive. ¡°Who are you? How dare you interrupt my business?¡± Trevor stood up, looking frustrated. Dustin did not say anything. He only took off his jacket and covered Dahlia with it. Half¨C conscious, Dahlia thought she was surrounded by a familiar scent for one second. A sense of security washed over her. ¡°Sir Spanner, huh? I¡¯m the one who injured your son. Well, do you have anyst words?¡± Dustin lifted hi s head and stared at Trevor as though he were a dead man. ¡°So it was you!¡± Trevor let out an evilugh. ¡°You could¡¯ve lived peacefully, yet you chose to walk right t hrough the gateway to hell! How dare you break into my territory alone? You must have a death wish!¡± With that, he stretched out his hand and pressed a button under the table. An ear¨Cdeafening rm rang out, Instantly, amotion broke out, A bunch of men filled the hallways and gathered in front of the office. Soon, the hallway outside the offi ce was crowded with people, Looking ahead, it was dark out there. There were at least hundreds of pe ople! Additionally, the number of people was still increasing ¡°Kid, I heard that you¡¯re good at fighting,¡± Laughing, Trevor uttered, ¡°So what if you can fight ten or 20 p eople? I have more than 200 men here. Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to fight them today,¡± So what if Dustin was a skilled fighter? He could never beat so many people. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re prepared,¡± ncing at the people, Dustin remained calm. ¡°But nobody can stop me from killing you,¡± ¡°You¡¯re surely a bold one! Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got! Attack!¡± Hearing Trevor¡¯s order, all the men started rushing toward Dustin. ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a roar echoed across the room, followed by a few gunshots. Everybody was shocked upon hearing the gunshots, and they automatically spread out. An elderly man with white hair strode over, dressed in a suit. Behind him were a few fierce¨C looking shooters. ¡°Mr. Anderson, why are you here?¡± Seeing Hunter, Trevor immediately smiled and went up to greet him. Everyone knew that Hunter was the president of the Swinton Group. He was one of the Mighty Three! He could make the whole Swinton shake with a stomp. ¡°Get lost!¡± Ignoring Trevor, Hunter directly walked up to Dustin. Anxious, he asked, ¡°Mr. Rhys, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Why are you here?¡± Dustin was slightly shocked. ¡°I heard you¡¯re in danger, so I immediately rushed here. Thank God I¡¯m in time!¡± Hunter wiped his swea t, looking worried. If anything happened to Dustin in his territory, he would be doomed as well. ¡°Mr. Anderson, do you know each other?¡± Trevor¡¯s eyes widened in bewilderment. ¡°Bastard!¡± Hunter was furious. He lifted his hand and pped Trevor hard across the face. ¡°Who the hel l do you think you are? How dare you try to fight Mr. Rhys? You must have a death wish!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Trevor was in a daze. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ording to his investigation, Dustin was a nobody with no background. Why did Hunter seem so nervous? Had Du stin been hiding his true identity the entire time? Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¡°Why are you still standing there? Let them go!¡± The corners of Trevor¡¯s eyes twitched, and his face turned pale. If Hunter had asked politely, he wouldn ¡¯t be angry. However, Hunter shouted at him as soon as he arrived and even pped him. He would be too embarrassed to face his men if he let Dustin go just like that. ¡°Mr. Anderson, this guy crippled my son and barged into my ce. How could I stand in front of the public if they know I let him go today?¡± Trevor retorted in a low voice. ¡°Your son deserved to be crippled! I will destroy the Drey Group if you don¡¯t let him go today!¡± Hunter smirked coldly. ¡°Mr. Anderson, I know you are influential, and I can¡¯t offend you. But don¡¯t forget that I have someone supporting me too!¡± Trevor shouted fiercely. ¡°Are you talking about Edwin? Let me tell you. Even if Edwin were here today, you would still have to le t Mr. Rhys go!¡± Hunter gave a chilly smile. Trevor¡¯s expression instantly darkened as soon as he heard what Hunter said. He didn¡¯t expect Hunter to be so stubborn. Hunter was even disregarding Edwin for two strangers. ¡°Great! I will tell Sir Hummer what happened today!¡± Trevor said, somewhat annoyed. Edwin Hummer was the leader of the three most influential families in the country. He would definitely be able to control Hunter. Hunter would have to pay for disrespecting him. ¡°Cut the nonsense, and let them go right away!¡± Hunter could not bother to say one more word to Trevor. He took out his gun and pointe d it at Trevor¡¯s head. ¡°Let them go!¡± Seeing that Hunter was serious, Trevor gritted his teeth and gave in. He didn¡¯t want to ris k his life for such a small matter. ¡°Trevor, this is a warning for you. If anything simr happens again, even Edwin can¡¯t help you!¡± With th at, Hunter escorted Dustin and Dahlia out. None of the 200 men outside dared to move. ¡°Sir Spanner, are you going to let them go just like that?¡± Some of his men felt frustrated. ¡°What else can I do? Do you want to die then?¡± Trevor retorted. Hearing that, his men kept quiet. ¡°Damn it! I won¡¯t let them go just like that!¡± Trevor continued with a gloomy expression, ¡°Contact Fletcher and ask him toe back right away. That guy must die today!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± After exiting the Drey Group, Dahlia finally sobered up. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, are you okay?¡± Hunter asked caringly. ¡°Mr. Anderson? Why are you here? Did you save me just now?¡± Dahlia looked shocked. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. I just tried to help out. Mr. Rhys risked his life and didn¡¯t back down, even when fa cing 200 men, only to save you. How devoted!¡± Hunter smiled. ¡°Really?¡± Dahlia turned her head and looked at Dustin next to her. She seemed confused. ¡°Mr. Anderson, didn¡¯t you say that you have some matters to deal with?¡± Dustin asked abruptly. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Oh, yes. Look at how forgetful I am. I almost forgot. Go ahead and talk. I¡¯ll make a move first.¡± Hunter didn¡¯t stay for long. After bidding them goodbye, he left with his men. ¡°Ms. Nicholson!¡± Lyra came down from the car. She had been waiting in front of the door, yet Dahlia ca me out before the police arrived. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, was that Mr. Anderson who just left?¡± Lyra asked tentatively. ¡°That¡¯s right. Thanks to him, we are safe.¡± Lyra nodded her head. ¡°Mr. Anderson is not close to us. Why would he help us?¡± Lyra was shocked. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve been wondering too.¡± Dahlia seemed lost in her thoughts. She barely knew Hunter. Why would he help her? Chapter 24 Chapter 24 I know! Mr. Nn must have helped us out!¡± Lyra seemed to have thought of something. Suddenly, she said, ¡°I called him after calling the police just earlier. He must have sent President Anderson here.¡± ¡°Chris Nn?¡± Dahlia frowned, feeling doubtful. ¡°That¡¯s right. Mr. Nn is the only person who would help us and has the power to ask President Anderson for help!¡± Lyra analyzed, convinced that she was correct. ¡°Well, that makes sense.¡± Dahlia agreed. As they were talking, a red Ferrari stopped by the road. The door opened, and Chris, wearing a set of b right clothes, came down hurriedly. ¡°Dahlia! Are you okay? I came here immediately after receiving the call!¡± Chris seemed worried. ¡°Mr. Nn, thanks for your help. Otherwise, Ms. Nicholson would be in danger.¡± Lyra hurriedly thanked Chris. ¡°Help?¡± Chris was stunned. He almost couldn¡¯t snap back to his senses. ¡°Yes! Mr. Anderson had alreadye just now. He came to rescue Ms. Nicholson.¡± Lyra smiled. ¡°Huh?¡± Chris was even more shocked. ¡°Mr. Nn, I didn¡¯t expect you to be able to get President Anderson¡¯s help. You are amazing. I¡¯m impre ssed!¡± Lyra began to tter him. The corners of Chris¡® mouth twitched. He seemed confused. Hunter Anderson was a big shot, and Chri s was in no position to ask for his help. Actually, Chris didn¡¯t even have the right to meet him, much less ask for his help. Although he wasn¡¯t sure what happened, Dahlia and Lyra had misunderstood him. Since things had already yed out, he decided to continue with the flow. In any case, he wouldn¡¯t lose out on anything. ¡°Ahem, well¡­ I was just trying. I didn¡¯t expect Mr. Anderson to be so kind.¡± Chris fixed his tie and epted the praise. Hearing that, Dustin couldn¡¯t helpughing. This guy was so thick¨C skinned. Wasn¡¯t he afraid thedies would find out the truth? ¡°Dustin! How dare youugh?¡± Lyra cried, annoyed. ¡°Look at Mr. Nn. He solved everything easily, bu t what about you? You only know how to be violent, and you nearly put Ms. Nicholson in danger!¡± ¡°Why did he only show up now if he is so amazing?¡± Dustin responded calmly. ¡°Although he waste, he got Mr. Anderson¡¯s help. Otherwise, do you think you can walk out of Sir Spa nner¡¯s territory alive?¡± Lyra replied angrily. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who thinks that way. I don¡¯t think Chris saved me,¡± Dustin responded calmly. ¡°Hey! Why are you so ungrateful? Mr. Nn saved you. Not only did you not thank him, but you¡¯re also sprouting nonsense here. How shameless!¡± Lyra was displeased. ¡°Forget it, he doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate other¡¯s help. Let¡¯s not lower our standards and argue with him.¡± Chris feigned genero sity. ¡°Did you see that? This is what we call grace!¡± Lyra red at Dustin. ¡°Dustin, Mr. Nn saved us, after all. I think it won¡¯t hurt for you to thank him.¡± Dahlia seemed dissatisfied too. ¡°Go ahead and thank him if you want. It¡¯s none of my business.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t care less. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°Why are you acting this way?¡± Dahlia frowned minutely. He didn¡¯t even thank Chris for saving them ear lier. How could he be so petty? a ¡°I¡¯m always like that. This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve met me.¡°Then, Dustin continued relentlessly, ¡°Also, please don¡¯t be a busybody and barge into Trevor¡¯s territory next time. You are so dumb!¡± ¡°I¡¯m dumb? I did it to save you!¡± Dahlia was getting angry. ¡°Save me? Who asked you to save me?¡± Dustin raised his voice. ¡°How are we even rted? Do I need your help? Stop being a busybody. You almost killed yourself, yet you¡¯re trying to act tough. You asked for it.¡± Hearing his words, Dahlia was stunned. She couldn¡¯t believe Dustin would say such a thing. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°Is this what you wanted to tell me?¡± Dahlia was dumbfounded and rooted to the ground in disbelief. Looking at Dustin¡¯s cold expression, sh e thought he felt unfamiliar. She could feel grief and sadness. washing over her as a result. ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s what I wanted to tell you! Please keep in mind not to meddle in my business. My lif e and death have nothing to do with you. We are no longer rted. Do you get it?¡± Dustin scolded her fi ercely. His cruel words froze Dahlia. She didn¡¯t expect Dustin wouldin and me her instead of thanki ng her for her kindness. When had they be enemies? ¡°Hey, Dustin Rhys! Are you even human?¡± Standing on the side, Lyra couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She scol ded, ¡°How can you say that to Ms. Nicholson? She was trying to help you! How can you be so ungratef ul?¡± ¡°What do you want me to say? Am I supposed to praise her for being brave and barging into Trevor¡¯s pl ace?¡± Dustin asked coldly. ¡°You are such an ungrateful guy!¡± Lyra was pissed off. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Stop it! From now on, I will never meddle in your business. Whether you¡¯re alive or dea d, it has nothing to do with me!¡± Finally, Dahlia could no longer hold herself back. With that, she left angrily. Nobody noticed the usually toughdy had started to tear up. ¡°Dustin Rhys! You¡¯d better remember what you said today! Don¡¯te and ask for our help next time!¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Lyra red at him and caught up with Dahlia. ¡°What an idiot,¡± Chris uttered, following after them. This was a chance for him to swoop in. He couldn¡¯t l et this chance go. ¡°Silly woman¡­¡± Confusion filled Dustin¡¯s eyes as he stared at Dahlia leaving. He had purposely said that to protect her. Trevor would have taken adva ntage of her if Dustin hadn¡¯t arrived on time earlier. He didn¡¯t want anything simr to happen again, so he had to cut ties with her heartlessly! ¡°Finally, it¡¯s time to take action.¡± Dustin took a deep breath, turned around, and stared at Drey Group¡¯s building. He hadn¡¯t left earlier because he w as afraid. He simply hadn¡¯t wanted to put Dah in danger. Now that Dahlia was safe, he had no worrie s anymore. Revenge was a dish that must be served cold. Unfortunately, Dustin was an impatient guy. He had to take revenge today! With that thought in mind, Dustin strode into the Drey Group without hesitation. Under the people¡¯s shocked gazes, he lock ed the main door. Soon, cries and howls rang out from the building. The whole process took about 20 minutes. 20 minutester¡­ With a loud bang, the office door on the top floor was smashed by one of the bodyguards ¡®dead bodies. Dustin stepped on the corpse as he entered the room, covered in blood. He looked like a devil from hell . The whole ce was covered in gore. It was terrifying! In the office, Trevor¡¯s bodyguards were shocked. They were dumbfounded, and chills started creeping up their bodies. Dustin was like a monster; they didn¡¯t expect him to be so strong. He had killed everybody from the first floor to the top floor! He had killed almost 200 men all by himself! Was he even human? ¡°Who¨C Who are you?¡± Panicking, Trevor stumbled backward. When he saw Dustining back, he smiled sm ugly, assuming that Dustin must have a death wish. Soon, he realized he was wrong. He waspletely wrong! Dustin didn¡¯t have a death wish. He was on a killing spree! Chapter 26 Chapter 26 As soon as Dustin entered the building, he gradually worked his way up and killed everybody he came across. None of his opponents could stand up to him at all, each felled in mere seconds. ¡°You want to take revenge on me, but you don¡¯t know who I am?¡± Dustin began to close in on Trevor. T he look in his eyes was exceptionally cold. ¡°Damn it! Don¡¯te near me, or I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Trevor suddenly took out a gun from his drawer. However, Dustin immediately rushed forward and grabbed the muzzle before Trevor could lift his hand. Then, he grabbed the gun. A metallic groan rang out. Trevor was shocked to realize that the muzzle of his gun had been twisted by Dustin. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . The gun was made of iron! How could he manipte the gun like it was mud? ¡ª ¡°Mr. Mr. Rhys, it¡¯s a misunderstanding. I swear I won¡¯t bother you anymore if you leave now.¡± Trevor sta rted breaking out in a cold sweat. He decided to give in. Dustin¡¯s power was beyond the level of ordinar y people. It was no wonder a big shot like Hunter would be so respectful toward Dustin. ¡°You won¡¯t bother me, but I want to bother you.¡± Dustin suddenly grabbed Trevor¡¯s shoulder and pulled him violently. With a crack, Trevor¡¯s arm was broken. ¡°Argh!¡± Trevor cried out. ¡°How dare you touch my woman?¡± Dustin remained expressionless. He struck again and broke Trevor¡¯s other arm. Trevor couldn¡¯t help sweating. His face turned pale while the other people in the room shivered in fear. None of them dared to go near Dustin. ¡°Fuck! Do you know who my supporter is? It¡¯s Edwin Hummer! The leader of Swinton¡¯s Mighty Three! If you kill me today, Sir Hummer will tear you into pieces!¡± In the face of death, Trevor threatened Dustin fiercely. He tried to scare Dustin away b y invoking his patron. ¡°Are these yourst words?¡± Amused, Dustin frowned and threw him to the ground. ¡°If you have nothing else to say, you can die now.¡± ¡°No! Don¡¯t kill me! Please don¡¯t kill me! I have power, influence, and money. No matter what you want, I can give it to you as long as you don¡¯t kill me,¡± Trevor spat blood and copsed to the ground, pleading ferociously, He was terrified, ¡°Power and influence? Now that you say that, it reminds me of something.¡± Dustin scanned his surroun dings and looked at a corner. A man in a bright outfit was standing there. ¡°You must be his henchman, seeing that you are by his side,¡± Afraid, the man nodded his head without answering, ¡°Good. Kill him, and all his assets will belong to you,¡± With that, Dustin kicked the knife next to his feet toward the man, The man looked at the knife. After hesitating for a moment, his eyes became fierce, ¡°No¡­¡± Before Trevor could say anything more, the man had already picked up the knife and stabbed his chest violently. Blood instantly gushed out of Trevor¡¯s body, Trevor¡¯s eyes widened, and he copsed to the ground. Even after he died, he had no idea who he had offended. ¡°S¨CSir, I¡¯ve killed him.¡± ¡°Trevor is pretty influential in East City. Now that he¡¯s dead, do you think you can handle the situation?¡± Dustin asked calmly. Since the man had chosen his path, Dustin wanted to train him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir. I¡¯m sure I can handle it!¡± the man said confidently. ¡°Oh? You sound confident.¡± Dustin frowned. Slightly surprised, he said, ¡°Let me ask you. What position do you hold in the Drey Group?¡± The man didn¡¯t answer immediately. Instead, he pointed at Trevor, who was lying in at pool of blood. ¡°H e¡¯s my father.¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¡°He is my father.¡± Dustin was shocked. He didn¡¯t expect the two of them to be rted. ¡°I heard Trevor has a son called Ed ward. Who are you then?¡± ¡°My name is Mason. I¡¯m Trevor¡¯s illegitimate son.¡± The man bowed his head as he exined, ¡°Trevor fo rced himself on my mother and got her pregnant. In order to save his image, he kept my existence in the dark and made me his foster son instead.¡± ¡°So, you hate him?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°Yes!¡± Mason gritted his teeth and seethed angrily, ¡°He abandoned my mother and me, leaving us impoverished all those ye ars ago. Now, he¡¯s only using me as a pawn to assist Edward. I can¡¯t let them trample over me again. I must get back what¡¯s mine!¡± ¡°Good.¡± Dustin nodded in approval. ¡°Since you¡¯re ambitious, I will help you. If you do as I say, I will not only help you climb thedder but also help you rule over Swinton.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Delighted, Mason immediately knelt on the ground to show his gratitude. As wise as Maso n was, he could tell that Dustin was an extraordinary man. After all, thetter had taken down the entire Drey Group all by himself, so his capability was unfathomable. Working by Dustin¡¯s side would no dou bt make Mason¡¯s future bright. ¡°You can call me Mr. Rhys. If you need anything next time, feel free to give me a call. All I ask is your lo yalty,¡± Dustin reminded. ¡°I swear to be loyal to you until the day I die, Mr. Rhys!¡± Mason nodded, determined. ¡°You know what to do from here, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Whatever happened today is on me. You have no involvement at all,¡± Mason replied shrewdly. ¡°You¡¯re smart.¡± Dustin smiled. The pawn he found had some potential. Suddenly, the phone on the table vibrated. Only after getting Dustin¡¯s permission did Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Mason answer the call. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up? You need 50 million dors? I heard that you guys haven¡¯t repaid the bank loan. You¡¯r e going bankrupt soon, yet you¡¯re still asking me for money? Are you trying to use me? Whatever, I don ¡¯t have time for your problem. Get lost.¡± After saying that, Mason hung up the phone without hesitation. ¡°What was that about?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. This guy named David Nn was asking for a loan. 50 million dors in one go.¡± ¡°David?¡± Dustin raised an eyebrow. ¡°He has a son named Chris, right?¡± ¡°I think so. How did you know?¡± Mason got curious. ¡°Forget it. Go on and tell me more.¡± ¡°Well, I would¡¯ve agreed to lend him the money if it were in the past since that¡¯s the kind of business my pany runs. However, I recently learned that Nn Pharmaceuticals has been investigated for selli ng fake drugs, though the news has yet to be disclosed to the public. How can I possibly lend money to a business on the verge of bankruptcy? What would I do if they ran off with the money?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It looks like you¡¯re experienced in handling a business. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for you to take over Trevor¡¯s business.¡± Dustin gave a nod of approval. ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Mr. Rhys,¡± Mason answered respectfully. ¡°Alright. Clean up the mess here. I¡¯m leaving now. We¡¯ll get in touch again if needed.¡± Without wasting time, Dustin changed into a clean set of cloth es and left the Drey Group. It was his first time going on a killing spree in ten years. His emotions were stable, almost peaceful. Thi s was a piece of cakepared to what he¡¯d been through a decade ago. ¡°Honk! Honk!¡± Just as Dustin wanted to hail a taxi home, a yellow sports car rushed over at him with the sound of a ro aring engine. When it seemed like it was going to run into Dustin, the car firmly skidded to a stop. Then, the car window rolled down and revealed a gorgeous face. It was a girl with a ponytail, appearing to be aro und 18 years old. She was youthful and beautiful. ¡°Hey, Rhys, get in!¡± She waved at him. ¡°Who are you?¡± Dustin asked,pletely baffled. ¡°Damn, did you forget me already? We met yesterday!¡± The girl huffed annoyingly. In her own opinion, her natural beauty attracted attention wherever she went. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 She was the type to make men fall in love with her at first sight. Thus, she was shocked to learn that D ustin had forgotten about her after just one night. Was her presence so insignificant? ¡°Um¡­ you do look familiar. I think I¡¯ve seen you somewhere.¡± Dustin tried to dig through his memories. ¡°Yesterday, at the hospital. You treated my grandfather. Do you remember now?¡± The girl uttered throug h gritted teeth. ¡°Oh! You¡¯re Natasha¡¯s sister, Roth. Am I right?¡± ¡°Who the hell are you calling Roth? My name is Ruth! Ruth Harmon!¡± Ruth nearly exploded out of exas peration. She wanted to step on the gas pedal and run Dustin over with her car. All this time, she¡¯d nev er been treated this way. How insulting! ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Ms. Ruth, are you looking for me for some reason?¡± Dustin quickly changed the topic. ¡°Of course! Why would I be here otherwise?¡± Ruth rolled her eyes and ordered, ¡°Hurry up and get in th e car. Natasha has fallen sick and is demanding to see you.¡± ¡°Hmm? What happened to her?¡± ¡°How would I know? You¡¯re the doctor. You should go and find out. Now, get in!¡± Ruth ordered in an unfr iendly tone. Helplessly, Dustin got into the car and then left under the jealous gaze of the passersby. After half an hour, the car finally pulled over in front of a luxurious building called Java Joys. The ce boasted arge backyard, which not only had hot springs but also a garden and a swimming pool. Mea nwhile, the main entrance was guarded by security 24/7. O ¡°Follow me.¡± Upon getting out of the car, Ruth led the way, and they hurriedly made it to a bedroom. At t his moment, inside the private bathroom was Natasha, who was dressed in a business suit while she soaked in a bathtub full of ice cubes. Her face was flushed, her gaze blurry, and her breathing wasbored. As her chest rose and fell, it caused ripples in the water. ¡°Ms. Harmon, what happened to you?¡± Dustin walked over and was stunned the moment he noticed th at she wasn¡¯t wearing anything under her suit. While it wasn¡¯t obvious at first, certain parts of her skin became visible when the fabric was slowly soaked with water. Like any other man, Dustin found it hard to resist when a stunning woman like Natasha was in this state. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re here¡­¡± Natasha opened her hazy eyes and spoke with difficulty, ¡°My body feels so h ot. I¡¯m so thirsty and in pain¡­ It feels like my chest is on fire. Quick, help me find out what¡¯s wrong¡­¡± A s she spoke, she put out her wrist. With an observant look, Dustin was fast to find out the issue. ¡°Ms. Harmon, if I¡¯m not mistaken, it looks l ike you¡¯ve been drugged. And with a potent aphrodisiac at that.¡± ¡°Bullshit! Who would drug my sister?¡± Ruth scolded. ¡°What do I do now, Mr. Rhys?¡± asked Natasha lethargically. ¡°Although it¡¯s a special case, it can be treated. But we must move you to a bed. It won¡¯t be easy to treat you in this bathtub.¡± Dustin signaled for her to get up. Natasha nodded, struggling to get up. However, as soon as she took a step out of the bathtub, she slip ped and copsed into Dustin¡¯s arms. a Subconsciously, Dustin¡¯s reflex kicked in, and his hands shot out to Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. hold her, and they just so happened to touch her chest. Natasha felt as though she had been hit by a b olt of lightning. At that moment, both of them froze in ce. Dustin¡¯s mind was nk, but Natasha¡¯s expression was agitated. Her eyshes fluttered, and her brea thing hitched. The fire inside her had only gotten bigger. Without a warning, Natasha parted her lips and raised her head, surging upward to kiss Dustin. ¡°Hey! What are you guys doing in broad daylight? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Ruth, who was at the door, let o ut a scream at this sight. She covered her face with her hand, but her curious eyes couldn¡¯t help peeking through her fingers, and she watched the two of them kiss intimately . Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Dustin instantly came to his senses and rushed to push Natasha away. His fac e was etched with awkwardness. Everything happened so quickly that he hadn¡¯t had time to think. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It was my fault. The drug might have been too strong, as I really couldn¡¯t control myself,¡± Nat asha replied coyly. While speaking, she cast a re at Ruth, silently cursing her sister for ruining the rare opportunity for her to get a man. ¡°Ruth could¡¯ve just left. Why did she have to scream? I¡¯m cutting her allowance this month!¡± thought Na tasha. ¡°Ruth, help your sister to lie on the bed,¡± instructed Dustin. ¡°Hmph! Of course, I will. Did you think you could take advantage of her again?¡± With a roll of her eyes, Ruth went to hold the grumpy Natasha and walked her to the bed. ¡°Ms. Harmon, please remove your shirt and lie on your front,¡± Dustin added. ¡°What? You pervert, what are you trying to do!¡± Ruth¡¯s anger immediately red. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong. I have to use a needling method to extract the toxins from your sister¡¯s body. Oth erwise, she¡¯d get worse over time, to the point where she¡¯d lose control,¡± Dustin patiently exined. ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re not trying to scare me, are you?¡± Ruth looked skeptical. ¡°Why would I lie to you about this?¡± Dustin was in disbelief. ¡°Fine. I will trust you for once. But you have to look away. Don¡¯t peek!¡± warned Ruth. ¡°Okay.¡± Without saying much, Dustin turned around. ¡°Natasha put on your bra. You can¡¯t let him do anything to you,¡± Ruth said as she handed Natasha her bra. ¡°Ah¡­ How considerate of you, Ruth.¡± Natasha¡¯s voice sounded strained. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Come, let me help you.¡± Smugly, Ruth quickly helped Natasha. Then, thetter gave her a look and said, ¡°I think you can head out now. Don¡¯t disturb Mr. Rhys from treating me.¡± ¡°No way! What if he tries toy his hands on you? I must watch him closely!¡± Ruth rejected her instantly . Natasha¡¯s eye twitched, feeling helpless with her upright sister. Why was the girl so dense? She had to teach her a lessonter, Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, Rhys, you can look now.¡± After getting Ruth¡¯s permission, Dustin turned around atst. Natasha was lying obediently on her front, her smooth and fair back exposed. Her ass, waist, and neck nearly fo rmed a line of perfect curves. At first nce, she looked like an exquisite piece of artwork. ¡°What are you waiting for? Get to work!¡± Ruth yelled from the side, staring at him firmly. Dustin regaine d hisposure and took out his needles, sitting by the bedside to start treating Natasha. Even though the aphrodisiac was potent, it wasn¡¯t difficult to treat once it was discovered. The only problem was that Natasha¡¯s body was too alluring. Added to her charmingly flustered expression, his heart coul dn¡¯t help skipping a beat. Fortunately, Dustin possessed excellent concentration. He only focused on the important parts to resist her allure. Around 15 minutester, Dustin breathed a long sigh and removed the needles from Natasha¡¯s back. ¡° Ms. Harmon, your body is free of toxins now. You can flush out the remaining drugs by drinking more w ater.¡± ¡°Thank you for your help, Mr. Rhys.¡± Natasha smiled shyly. On her wless face was a lingering seducti veness. It was like sweet wine¨Cso intoxicating. ¡°Natasha, hurry up and put on your shirt!¡± Ruth immediately wrapped her sister up tightly, fearing that she would be taken advantage of. ¡°Ms. Harmon, the aphrodisiac you¡¯re drugged with is very simr to the one your grandfather was poisoned with. Based on my judgment, it must have been the same culprit,¡± Dustin suddenly said. ¡°No wonder I felt something amiss.¡± Natasha nodded thoughtfully. ¡°It can¡¯t go on like this. To avoid simr incidents like this, we must find out the person behind this as soon as p ossible,¡± Dustin advised. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¡°Do you have a n in mind, Mr. Rhys?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°I need to get a clear understanding of the situation first. I hope you don¡¯t mind if I ask you some question s.¡± Dustin cleared his throat before continuing, ¡°Where did you go today, and did you meet anyone there?¡± ¡°I met Edwin today. We talked about work, and he asked about us being in a partnership, but I rejected his offer,¡± Natasha answered truthfully. ¡°I see. Did you drink anything he offered you?¡± ¡°Of course not. That man has been eyeing my family business for ages. I¡¯d never let my guard down ar ound him.¡± ¡°Then it really is strange how you got drugged, sis,¡± Ruth piped up. ¡°Truly.¡± Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°When you two met, did you smell or touch anything in particr?¡± Dustin then asked. ¡°Now that you mention it¡­¡± Something suddenly dawned on Natasha. ¡°When I stepped into the ce, I did smell something particr. I didn¡¯t pay much attention because I thought it was just perfume. But th en, after a while, I started feeling dizzy. My body felt oddly warm too. Good thing I left soon after that. Who knows what could¡¯ve happened if I had stayed longer?¡± ¡°It seems like that fragrance really is the problem,¡± Dustin concluded. ¡°What¡¯s next, Mr. Rhys?¡± ¡°There was ambergris residue found on your skin earlier. It must¡¯ve been the main ingredient in the fragrance that was used to drug you.¡± a ¡°So what? We still need to track down the person who made that drug,¡± Ruth huffed, crossing her arms in front of her chest. ¡°Ambergris is a rare substance, so our target pool is quite limited. We can look at recent buyers and na rrow down our search from there,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Good n. I¡¯ll have someone get to it right away!¡± Natasha agreed. With her family¡¯s influence, this sor Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. t of thing could be settled in a jiffy. ¡°I trust my work here is done, Ms. Harmon. I¡¯ll take my leave now.¡± Dustin made a move to stand up. ¡°One more thing!¡± Natasha suddenly stopped him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you join us for dinner?¡± ¡°Thank you, but I¡­ already have ns tonight.¡± Natasha gave him a curious look. ¡°It can¡¯t be with your ex¨C wife, can it, Mr. Rhys? Don¡¯t you find me attractive? Hm?¡± With that, she arched her body to show off her curves. Dustin froze up. ¡°U¨Cuh¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha, alright, I¡¯ll stop teasing you,¡± Natasha giggled, ¡°I won¡¯t make you cancel your ns. But befor e you go, here is a token of my appreciation.¡± She made a quick gesture, and a servant came over with an elegant¨Clooking box. ¡°I hope you can make good use of these wines, Mr. Rhys. I¡¯ve had them in store for quite some time.¡± N atasha beamed, handing him the box. ¡°You have my thanks, Ms. Harmon.¡± Dustin dly epted it. He deserved somepensation for wo rk done, and a gift from Natasha Harmon herself wouldn¡¯t be just some lousy trinket. ¡°See Mr. Rhys out, Ruth,¡± Natasha called. ¡°Okay,¡± Ruth¡¯s tone was tinged with reluctance, but she still brought Dustin out to his Lamborghini, Suddenly, his phone rang. It was a phone call from Henry Nicholson, Dahlia¡¯s grandfather, ¡°Hey Dustin, are you up for lunch today?¡± ¡°Thank you, but I already have ns today, sir.¡± ¡°You still need to eat, don¡¯t you? Dahlia should¡¯ve cut you some ck. I¡¯ll make sure to tell her about this!¡± The old man grunted. ¡°It¡¯s just some personal business, sir, nothing to do with Ms. Nicholson.¡± ¡°Alright, enough defending her. I know how you are, and I¡¯m sure this is because of her. Don¡¯t you worr y; I¡¯ll make sure to confront her about this. We¡¯re family, and family needs to spend time together.¡± 9 ¡°Uh¡­ sure, I guess,¡± Dustin reluctantly agreed. In the three years after marrying into this family, only this old man treated Dustin as his own. That was why he respected and cared for him deeply. But they wouldn¡¯t see each other for a long time after that. So let this meal be the final goodbye for both of them¡­ Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Dustin drove over to the Nicholsons¡® home at noon. The vi was in a secluded neighborhood, with flowers and hedges decorating the front yard. Dahlia was right outside. Dustin tried to avoid her but was still spotted. ¡°Stop right there! I need to talk to you!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Dustin asked. Their backs were to each other as they spoke. ¡°I haven¡¯t told Granddad about our divorce because of his condition.¡± ¡°Do you think we can keep him from finding out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find a chance to tell him after, just not today.¡± ¡°Alright. Anything else?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Dahlia turned and went inside the house without another word. They never once looked at each other, acting likeplete strangers. Dustin took a deep breath and went in as well, wine in hand. The living room was filled with people, incl uding most of the Nicholsons. Only John, Dahlia¡¯s father, was absent, still outside on his trip. Yet someone was sitting in his usual seat this time, an outsider too¨CChris Nn. ¡°How rude to have us elders wait on him like this,¡± Florence jeered, her expression mean. ¡°Shh, Mom. He might get upset and hurt you!¡± James chirped loudly. He hadn¡¯t let go of what had happ ened yesterday. The bruises were still visible on his face. ¡°Alright, now that everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s have dinner.¡± Henry Nicholson announced, beaming at Dustin. ¡° Come and sit beside me, kid.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Dustin smiled in return and helped the old man to his seat. James scowled, his eyes burning with jealousy. ¡°Kiss¨Cass!¡± He had never understood why his grandfather doted on Dustin. James was the old man¡¯s grandson by blood! ¡°Come, let us all drink!¡± Henry toasted. ¡°Granddad, look at this.¡± James pulled up a decorated box of wine. ¡°Chris brought this beautiful wine over, a fine Grand Cru from La Ro manee Conti. We should all toast with this!¡± ¡°La Romanee Conti? That¡¯s a really expensive vintner, no?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. It was 100 thousand dors a bottle!¡± Chris boasted. ¡°What? 100 thousand dors a bottle?!¡± everyone eximed in shock. The sky¨Chigh ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . price had been way beyond their expectations. The Harmons were pretty well¨Coff, but even they hadn¡¯t had a chance to try something this expensive. ¡°Why¡¯d you spend all that money on this, Chris? It¡¯s too much, no?¡± Florence questioned, though prideced her tone. After all, Chris was her first choice for a son¨Cin w. ¡°100 something thousand isn¡¯t much. I have another barrel of this at home, so please, you all enjoy,¡± Chris grinned like a cat that ate the canary. The pride was evident on his face, however. ¡°Mr. Nn, you¡¯re really generous.¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re really in for a treat tonight!¡± The family began praising Chris for his wine, feeding his ego further. ¡°Hey, boy, look at how sincere James is. His wine costs 100 thousand dors. But what about yours, h m? You bought them from the dor store, didn¡¯t you? Cheapskate!¡± Florence sneered and even kicked James in the calf. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a look?¡± James proposed with a conspiring smile. He swiftly opened Dustin¡¯s box o f wine. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 The wines were quickly unboxed for everyone¡¯s viewing pleasure. ¡°Teh, and here I thought they were decent quality. Looks like these are just craft brews, worth no more t han two thousand dors, I bet.¡± James had a look of disdain on his face. ¡°How could thesepare to Grand Crus?¡± ¡°Craft brews have long lost their value on the market. We don¡¯t even give our servants. these!¡± someon e eximed, Craft brews weren¡¯t actually that terrible in terms of quality, but they were nothingpared to Grand C rus. ¡°What a cheapskate!¡± Florence scoffed, ¡°How are craft brews cheap when they¡¯ve been on the rise in the country? Is your taste. in fine wine onl y limited to those brewed overseas?¡± Dustin casually responded. ¡°How is it not cheap when they cost only a couple thousand? Chris¡® wines cost more than 100 thousand dors.¡± James rolled his eyes. ¡°Wines don¡¯t have to be expensive to be good. Plus, you don¡¯t know how much exactly my wines cost.¡± ¡°Are you still trying to make aeback?¡± James sneered. Florence scowled. ¡°Hmph! So damn stubborn, that one.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to waste any more of my time trying to exin to people who won¡¯t listen to reason,¡± Dus tin said. He really didn¡¯t want to waste his breath any longer. ¡°That¡¯s enough. What matters most is the vor, not the cost. I prefer whites over reds. anyway.¡± Henry finally interrupted, popped open one of the craft brews, and poured himself a ss. ¡°Wait, why is it so yellow? Shouldn¡¯t craft brews be pale white?¡± ¡°It¡¯s murky too! It isn¡¯t fake, is it?¡± ¡°My goodness, bringing fake wine to dinner! What kind of person would do that?¡± The people started whispering to each other upon seeing the yellow liquid in the old man¡¯s ss. ¡°Now you¡¯ve really done it! How dare you mock us all with this sham of a gift?!¡± Florence cried, mming the table with one hand. ¡°What if something happens to us after drinking it?!¡± ¡°I never expected him to be so evil! Is he trying to poison us all or what?¡± Amotion broke out at the table in an instant. Cheap wine was already embarrassing enough, but fake wine? That was a conspiracy waiting to happe n! Not even the old man knew how to calm the situation down now. He never drank much craft brews, but even he knew it was supposed to be a pale, nearly transparent color. Yet the wine Dust in had brought was not only yellow; it even seemed opaque. It didn¡¯t look like anything good. ¡°This is how fine¨Caged craft brews usually turn out to look like,¡± Dustin exined. ¡°Bullshit!¡± James cried. ¡°Do you think we¡¯re idiots? No wine looks like this! It¡¯s piss, that¡¯s all it is!¡± ¡°Yeah! Why do you continue to lie through your teeth?¡± Florence huffed. Chris shook his head with faux empathy. ¡°Oh, Dustin. You should¡¯ve told me if you couldn¡¯t bring anythi ng to the table. I could¡¯ve given you a bottle or two for show. Why would you want to drag us down like t his?¡± His words seemed kind, but in truth, he was leaping for joy internally. Dustin truly was no match for him. His victory over this family nearly felt effortless. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you trust me or not. All I can say is this wine is genuine and as good as theye,¡± Dust Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. in reaffirmed. ¡°Whoa, what a crowd!¡± Suddenly, a man appeared in the doorway, still dressed in his business suit, holding several gifts. ¡°Dad? You¡¯re back from your trip already?¡± James gasped. It was John Nicholson, Dahlia¡¯s father. ¡°Well, the deal was a sess, so I came home carly.¡± John smiled. The wines on the table caught his attention. ¡°Oh, is that La Romanee? It¡¯s a recent brew I think, but it must cost at least 1 00 thousand dors a bottle, am I right?¡± ¡°Good on you, Dad! You¡¯re right!¡± James beamed. ¡°Dear, Chris brought this over for dinner. Isn¡¯t he sweet?¡± Florence spoke up, then she turned to re a t Dustin. ¡°Unlike some people who tried to poison all of us with fake wine!¡± ¡°Fake wine?¡± John eximed. ¡°Yeah, look!¡± James showed his father the ss of yellow liquid. ¡°Dustin brought this over for dinner. If we hadn¡¯t noticed in time, God knows what would¡¯ve happened to us if we drank it.¡± John took a close whiff of the wine, then tossed the entire ss down in one go. ¡°Dad, what are you doing? Don¡¯t drink that! You¡¯ll kill yourself!¡± James yelled. Yet John seemed to be reveling in the taste of the wine. ¡°A smooth, creamy body, followed by a heady fi nish, this isn¡¯t fake. This is a priceless aged craft brew!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Everyone gasped. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¡°You must be kidding, right, Dad? This can¡¯t be aged wine!¡± James¡® eyes were wide as dinner tes. ¡°Look at how yellowish it looks, though. It must be fake!¡± Florence used. ¡°You guys must not have seen brews like this before. Aged craft brews get this color, and it only darkens the longer it¡¯s been aging. Ev ery wine connoisseur knows this.¡± The looks on everyone¡¯s faces quickly changed. Their usations had just been dampened significantl y, not by just anyone but by John Nicholson himself, a well- known wine enthusiast. His judgment could n¡¯t be wrong. ¡°I was blessed to be able to try such a fine wine years ago with a government official, but this brew right here must be finer than the one I had that body and finish tell me it must¡¯ve been aged for at least 50 y ears!¡± John smacked his lips, still enjoying the brew¡¯s aftertaste. ? ¡°How much would it cost on the market?¡± James asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s priceless. You couldn¡¯t find a willing seller even if you offered a city¡¯s worth. But if we judge based o n recent wine auction values, it should cost at least two million dors,¡± ¡°Two million?!¡± Everyone gasped. They¡¯ve never even heard of wine that costs this much! Chris¡® Grand Cru was nothingpared to that! ¡°N¨C no way!¡± Florence refused to believe it. ¡°Are you sure about this, John? How could Dustin be able to aff ord this?¡± ¡°Yeah! He can¡¯t even afford a nice pair of pants, not to mention something this expensive!¡± James cried . His argument brought forth the table¡¯s resounding agreement. ¡°He has a point. How could that vagrant have that much money?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ where did you get this brew, Dustin?¡± John asked gently. ¡°A friend gave it to me,¡± he answered truthfully. ¡°Gave it to you?¡± Florence scowled. ¡°How could someone like you have friends rich enough to buy a dr ink like that? Even if they did, why would they give it to you in the first ce? I bet you stole it from the m!¡® ¡°Yeah, he must¡¯ve stolen it!¡± James nodded vigorously, finding a new usation to p Dustin with. He refused to believe Dustin could afford this sort of quality wine, whether or not it was given to him by a friend. ¡°Why did you have to steal this of all things, Dustin? Do you know how many years you¡¯ll have to spend in prison for theft?¡± Chris huffed, appearing to be considerate. How could that pauper have gotten a hold of something not even he could. ¡°Whether you believe me or not doesn¡¯t matter to me. I didn¡¯t steal it, and that¡¯s enough for me,¡± Dustin droned. First, they called his wine cheap. Then, after revealing it wasn¡¯t, they find another usation of him ha ving stolen it. Next, they would just say he ckmailed Natasha into giving it to him. That¡¯s why there was no use exining to them further. ¡°Hah, see? Where¡¯s your excuse now? I knew you stole this!¡± Florence screeched. ¡°You thief! I can¡¯t believe you stole this just to look good in front of us!¡± James gasped, ying along. ¡°Whatever. I got this wine for Granddad and Granddad only, so you guys don¡¯t have to drink any if you don¡¯t want to!¡± Dustin rolled his eyes. He had had enough of this crap. ¡°Enough, all of you! I trust Dustin with my whole heart, and I know he didn¡¯t steal this wine, so stop it!¡± Henry finally ground out. ¡°But Granddad¡­ ¡°Be quiet! Eat your food!¡± the old man ordered once again. Only then did everyone shut Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. 1. up. Even Florence and James, who still didn¡¯t believe he could havewfully gotten his hands on the craft brew. Dinner finally began. Even though everyone had their turn at smearing Dustin¡¯s name, they still dly t ook their share of the craft brew. Even those who didn¡¯t drink alcohol tried a few sips. After all, this brew cost over two million dors on the market, a precious delicacy they had never had t he luck to try before. Why pass on the opportunity? Dustin could only snort at how stubborn this family of people was. Dinner soon came to an end. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chris rapped on the table, calling for everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°Everyone, I would like to share some good news with you all. Nn Pharmaceuticals. has been lookin g to increase its share pool, so we are currently weing new investors. Is anyone here interested?¡± ¡°New investors?¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was immediately captured. Nn Pharmaceuticals was an industry¨C leading corporation with very limited shares avable. That was why Chris¡® announcement came as a s hock to everyone at the table. ¡°Hasn¡¯t thepany been doing alright, Mr. Nn? Why the sudden invitation?¡± Dahlia asked curiously . ¡°Of course, it has been. We¡¯ve just been nning to list ourpany publicly, that¡¯s why. As everyone knows, ourpany is not short on talent or the capability to oveepetition. This share listing i s just so we have some funds to give our employees a good bonus this season.¡± Chris smiled. ¡°We hav en¡¯t officially announced this to the public yet, and the spots are limited. If anyone here is interested, w e can save some spots for you. That sure got everyone on board. Nn Pharmaceuticals could easily bag them all hefty profits! ¡°Count me in, Mr. Nn. I have five million to spare!¡± James called out eagerly. ¡°Eight million on me!¡± Florence followed. Chris beamed. ¡°Alright, two spots for you guys. ¡°Hey, I want a share too! You¡¯ve got yourself another three million!¡± ¡°Five¡­ five million for me¨Cthat¡¯s all my life savings!¡± The family started shouting over each other, worried they wouldn¡¯t be able to get at share. It was a perf ect example of herd mentality. ¡°What about you, Dahlia? How many shares would you like to get?¡± Chris turned to Dahlia. ¡°I can give you extra from the pot, given our rtionship.¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Dahlia gave it some thought. She had learned a lot on her way up to where she was today. Naturally, she knew not to make decisions based on personal sentiment. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me, Dahlia? I¡¯m offering you a share because you¡¯re important to me. You can say no if you want to¨Cthere are loads of other people waiting to get their share.¡± Chris huffed lightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that. It¡¯s just that I¡¯ll be joining as a shareholder in apany with the Harmons very soon, so I¡¯m being extra careful with how I¡¯m spending my funds, just in case,¡± she exined. ¡°How much do you have in hand right now?¡± Chris asked. ¡°Not much. So million tops.¡± ¡°That¡¯s more than enough! To be frank with you, you don¡¯t need that much to work with the Harmons. Why don¡¯t you consider investing in mypany instead? We pay out really solid dividends each year. ¡± ¡°He¡¯s right, Dahlia. This is a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime opportunity!¡± Florence cried. ¡°What are you waiting for, sis? You can trust Mr. Nn. He¡¯s already helped you out so many times!¡± Ja mes added. ¡°If you believe in me, Dahlia, then invest in mypany. But if you don¡¯t, it¡¯s fine too,¡± Chris finally rele nted. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°L¡­ Alright then.¡± After some hesitation, Dahlia finally nodded. She was only doing this to pay back the favor she owed C hris, and he had insisted so much that it would be disrespectful to reject his offer. This investment wasn¡¯t a bad idea either. Just like that, Dahlia¡¯s So million dors were all promised to Nn Pharmaceuticals. ¡°What about you, Dustin? Wanna buy a share?¡± Chris suddenly asked with a smirk he didn¡¯t bother hidi ng. ¡°Oh, and by the way, one million is the minimum investment amount. You can have at go at earning big if you have that much as a starter.¡± ¡°Thanks, but no thanks.¡± ¡°Heh, I see¡­ Are you not interested? Or¡­ don¡¯t you have that much to spare? How about this: For Da hlia¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll let you have a ten¨C million share if you can fork out a hundred thousand dors at least.¡± Chris grinned. Dustin replied nonchntly, ¡°No, thank you. I have no interest in apany that¡¯s on the verge of packing it up.¡± That brought Chris¡® mood to a shocked standstill. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 ¡°What did you say?¡± Chris froze, thinking he had misheard him. ¡°I said I¡¯m not interested in a business that¡¯s about to go bankrupt,¡± Dustin repeated. ¡°Bankrupt?¡± Everyone was too stunned to react to his words. ¡°How dare you! That¡¯s nonsense!¡± Chris was shocked, but he quickly denied it. ¡°Nn Pharmaceuticals is raking in profits. every day and i s at its prime. How could we go bankrupt? Stop fear¨Cmongering!¡± ¡°Only you know whether this is fear¨C mongering or not. Anyways, I¡¯ve received news that Nn Pharmaceuticals will be investigated due to t he sale of counterfeit illicit drugs. It¡¯s just a matter of time before they go bankrupt.¡± Dustin¡¯s words wer e very shocking. ¡°Counterfeit drugs? Investigated?¡± Now, everyone was even more puzzled. Their gaze turned to Chris. ¡°Nonsense! All of it is nonsense!¡± ¡°Dustin, stop spreading these rumors. Nn Pharmaceuticals is aw¨C abiding.pany. How could it go under investigation? I can sue you for defamation!¡± Chris threatened . His words may appear firm, but he was in turmoil on the inside. Nn Pharmaceuticals was indeed under investigation and would go bankrupt soon. He intended to list thepany as a publicly t radedpany to raise capital so he could run off with a fortune. However, the news had been suppressed. How did Dustin know without it being leaked? ¡°Dustin, what nonsense are you spewing? How can apany as sessful as Nn. Pharmaceuticals go bankrupt?¡± Florence r eprimanded. ¡°That¡¯s right! Everyone knows that Nn Pharmaceuticals has good assets and is at the peak of se ss. Stop spreading lies!¡± James also piped in. It was obvious they doubted him. After all, the Nn family had a long history in Swinton. They also maintained a good reputation, so it did not seem possible to have issues. ¡°It¡¯s the truth. Nn Pharmaceuticals is about to go under, and the so¨C called ¡®capital increase and share expansion¡® is nothing than a money¨Cgrabbing scam.¡± Chris even contacted Mason to borrow money. The investigation of thepany and its bankruptcy we re obviously true. ¡°Bullshit! I just wanted to do everyone a favor because we¡¯re close. It¡¯s fine if you choose not to ept my offer, but how dare you nder me? What intentions do you have?¡± Chris crie d out. ¡°Mr. Rhys, it¡¯s fine if you¡¯re not able to help us. But why cause trouble when Chris just wants to help us? You¡¯re really devious!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! This fellow must be ndering Chris because he¡¯s jealous!¡± ¡°Dustin, you¡¯re so despicable!¡± Everyone started to chime in, one after another. Dustin was poor, while Chris had power and money. Between the two, they were more inclined to believe Chris. Dustin couldn¡¯t help but frown as he watched themotion. He did not expect his kind intentions to b e returned with such a negative reaction. This proved that no one would believe a man without money or power. 1 ¡°Dustin, do you have proof that Nn Pharmaceuticals is going bankrupt?¡± Dahlia suddenly asked. She had invested eight million worth of funds. Naturally, she had to be Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. cautio ¡°I don¡¯t have evidence. But what I said was the truth. You can check if you don¡¯t believe me. You should be able to trace the information,¡± Dustin replied coldly. Dahlia¡¯s expression darkened at his words. Did this mean he was just making it up? She even had high expectations for him. It turned out he was just making false usations. This must be the result of his j ealousy turning into hatred. ¡°Everyone, since Dustin imed I¡¯m a swindler, just forget the matter about the shares, lest I rip off everyone.¡± Seeing that the timing was right, Chris deliberately put on an act as if he had been wronged. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chris¡® words made everyone nervous. How could they let this opportunity to make a fortune slip away so easily? ¡°Chris, ignore this fellow. He¡¯s obviously jealous of you. But we¡¯re not, we all believe you!¡± Florence im mediately took a stand. ¡°That¡¯s right! Chris, you promised us about the stocks. You can¡¯t just forget about it.¡± Everyone agreed right away. As they spoke, they turned and red at Dustin. ¡°Dustin Rhys, don¡¯t stop us from making a fortune! Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off so easily!¡± ¡°Yeah! Get lost if you wish to continue on with this nonsense!¡± The crowd chattered and chimed in one after another. From their perspective, Dustin was ndering C hris and preventing them from making money. He had such malicious intentions! ¡°Do all of you really trust Chris? Hasn¡¯t anyone ever doubted if he was lying?¡± Dustin asked with a frow n. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business! We¡¯ll do what we want!¡± James red at him. ¡°That¡¯s right! Even if we were cheated, it would be on our own terms! It has nothing to do with you! You¡¯ re really such a busybody!¡± Florence looked at him with disgust. Dustin smirked at these words. He appeared to be making a fool of himself or being disdainful. ¡°Since you all love to give away your money. Forget I ever said anything.¡± He shook his head. It was hard to advise these stiff¨C necked people. These people were so blinded by money that they had no hope. He would just be embarrassing himself if he tried to warn them any further. He even looked forward to their reacti ons after finding out they had been scammed. ¡°If you have nothing nice to say, you should shut up! You¡¯re such a letdown!¡± Florence spat out. She would have gotten rid of him if not for Henry¡¯s sake. ¡°Alright, this is just a misunderstanding. Dustin must¡¯ve been misled by some news.¡± Henry tried to smo oth things over. ¡°Yeah! It¡¯s all just a misunderstanding.¡± John smiled and tried to change the topic. ¡°Oh, Dahlia, you were saying you¡¯re starting apany with the Harmon family. How¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve be partners with the Harmon family and signed the contract. Our newpany will be officiallyunched in two days. We¡¯ll be having an op ening ceremony at that time. Feel free to join if you have the time,¡± Dahlia offered with a smile. It was her goal to work with the Harmon family. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s awesome. I¡¯ll be sure to attend!¡± John answered happily. ¡°Dahlia, I didn¡¯t expect you to partner with the Harmon family. We¡¯ll be able to gain a stronger foothold i n Swinton in the future.¡± Henry was very relieved. ¡°Chris helped out a lot in this matter. If he hadn¡¯t pulled some strings, we would never even be eligible t o partner with the Harmon family.¡± Dahlia spoke as she turned to face Henry. ¡°Dad, not only that, today when Trevor tried to cause Dahlia trouble, Chris called for Mr. Anderson, who helped her out of the situation!¡± James added. ¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll have to thank you, Chris!¡± James raised his ss and gave Chris a toast. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I was just helping out.¡± Chris raised his ss in response. ¡°You must be very influential to be able to ask for Mr. Anderson. But some people who don¡¯t know any better even tried to use the Nn family of going bankrupt. What a joke?¡± Jamesmented in a c ondescending tone. Dustin sipped his wine quietly, acting as if he did not hear a thing. Although he knew the truth, he could n¡¯t be bothered to reveal it, because they wouldn¡¯t believe him. The truth would prevail when the Nn family went bankrupt. As they continued to drink, the atmosphere at the table loosened up more. Compared to Dustin, who had been left out, Chris was the center of attention. They surrounded him an d greeted him warmly,ughing heartily. However, no one in the Nicholson family realized they were si nking into a mire of their own making. The following morning at the Hummer Vi. As the richest man in Swinton, Edwin was drinking tea leisurely with an old man. ¡°Mr. Lawson, it¡¯s too bad that thedy was so cautious and left before the drug could take effect. Other wise, I will definitely have subdued her!¡± Edwinmented. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Hummer. She doesn¡¯t have the antidote for the drug I gave her. She will definitely e begging if she doesn¡¯t want to die. You can have your way with her then,¡± Fletcher joked. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s perfect!¡± Edwin¡¯s eyes lit up. He had been longing for a thorny rose like Natasha for a long time. The thought of toying with such an exquisite woman in bed made his heart race. ¡°Sir Hummer¡­¡± Suddenly, a bodyguard came and whispered something in Edwin¡¯s ear. ¡°What? Trevor is dead?¡± Edwin¡¯s face darkened and he demanded, ¡°Who did it? Who dared touch my men? Trevor was his right¨Chand man and did his dirty deeds. His sudden death was quite a loss to Edwin. ¡°It was rumored to be his adopted son, Mason. That man was in a hurry to take over hist position, so he killed Trevor.¡± ¡°Mason?¡± Edwin narrowed his eyes, and thought, ¡°That bastard is so cruel. He wouldn¡¯t even. spare his adoptive f ather?¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Hummer, I think there¡¯s something fishy about this matter.¡± Fetcher had a suspicion. ¡°Huh? Did you think of something?¡± Edwin raised his eyebrows. ¡°Trevor called me yesterday, asking me to get rid of someone rted to Hunter Anderson. I nned to ask him about it today, I didn¡¯t expect him to pass so soon. Fetcher stroked his beard. ¡°So you think that person killed Trevor?¡± Edwin quickly understood what he was implying. ¡°That¡¯s possible!¡± Fletcher nodded. ¡°If that person is rted to Hunter, this matter is not as simple as it seems.¡± Edwin rubbed his chin, dee p in thought. He had devoted all of his attention to the Harmon family, so if he were to provoke Hunter and both famil ies joined forces, even he would be in deep trouble. ¡°Sir Hummer, I have an idea if you¡¯re afraid of causing trouble.¡± ¡°Please, go on.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t Trevor have an older brother, Travis? I heard he is serving in a warzone in the west. Besides, he is also a lieutenant whomands thousands of men. We could just inform him of the news of Trev or¡¯s death, and let him do the rest. Then, we can sit back and watch the show!¡± Fletcher smiled sinisterly. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± Edwin¡¯s eyes lit 1. up. make use of him! ¡°With a reckless man like Travis leading the way, I can definitely At the same time, in the office of the Jackson Group. Just as Dahlia took a seat, Lyra knocked on her door and entered. ¡°Ms. Nicholson! Something bad has happened!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Dahlia felt her chest tighten. ¡°I heard there was a massacre at the Drey Group and Trevor was murdered!¡± Lyra¡¯s words shocked her . ¡°What? Travis was murdered?¡± Dahlia was dumbfounded. He was Sir Spanner! The King of the Underg round in East City, who did business with bothwful and uwful people. How could he just die? Besides, they had just seen each other yesterday. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure of the details, but news on this has been released.¡± At this point, Lyra asked in a hush ed voice, ¡°Ms. Nicolson, do you think this has anything to do with Dustin?¡± ¡°Dustin?¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37. Dahlia pursed her lips and answered, ¡°I don¡¯t think so. Even if he fights well, he doesn¡¯t have the guts to kill someone. ¡°That might not be the case.¡± Lyra shook her head and added mysteriously, ¡°As the saying goes, despe rate times call for desperate measures. Trevor would definitely not let the issue of his son bing cri ppled slide. Dustin might risk everything in order to protect himself!¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Dahlia couldn¡¯t help but frown at these words. That could indeed be the case. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that he died. At least we don¡¯t have to worry about him anymore. In that case, Dustin might have done a good deed.¡± Lyra smiled. 1 ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s not that simple,¡± Dahlia stated solemnly. ¡°There¡¯s a reason why Trevor could act sowle ssly. He has someone very influential supporting him. This man is our greatest worry!¡± ¡°Someone supporting him? Who is it?¡± Lyra asked curiously Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¡°Edwin Hummer, the richest man in Swinton!¡± Dahlia answered. ¡°What? Sir Hummer?¡± Lyra¡¯s eyes widened in shock as if she had seen a ghost. Everyone knew that anything Sir Hummer sai d was obeyed without question in Swinton. Trevor was big in East City, but Sir Hummer was the true master of Swinton. He was so powerful that h e could just demand anything with the snap of his fingers. He was also very influential in business, politi cs, and the military. Anyone who wronged Sir Hummer would face a fate worse than death. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, don¡¯t tell me this matter really involves Sir Hummer?¡± Lyra gulped. ¡°It¡¯s hard to say. Trevor was one of Sir Hummer¡¯s men. Now that he was suddenly killed, Sir Hummer w ill definitely investigate this matter. It would be troublesome if Dustin was involved.¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Even if that were the case, it would be Dustin¡¯s fault. It has nothing to do with us, right?¡± Lyra asked te ntatively. ¡°This depends on how Sir Hummer sees this matter. If he thinks this has something to do with us, neith er of us would be spared!¡± Dahlia added. ¡°What!¡± Lyra panicked immediately. She could still remain calm when facing Trevor. However, her legs t rembled even thinking about Edwin Hummer. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, why don¡¯t we ask Chris Nn for help? Ask him to have Mr. Anderson intervene.¡± Lyra reacted quickly. ¡°I owe Chris too many favors. I don¡¯t want to trouble him further.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°Then what should we do? If Sir Hummer pursues this matter, aren¡¯t we all in trouble?¡± Lyra cried. ¡°Don¡¯t be flustered. I¡¯m now partnered with the Harmon family. As long as we have their protection after thepany¡¯sunch tomorrow, Sir Hummer won¡¯t be too harsh. on us,¡± she exined. ¡°That¡¯s right! We still have the Harmon family!¡± Lyra revealed a smile. ¡°As long as the ceremony goes s moothly, we¡¯ll be under the Harmon family after the announcement. Nobody would dare bully us!¡± Now all their hope depended on the Harmon family. In the evening, outside the gates of Spanner Manor. Countless military vehicles roared. The car in front carried a g with the words Western War Zone.¡± ¦£¦© As the vehicle stopped, rows of heavily armed soldiers stepped down, one after another. There was a murderous aura surrounding the area. ¡°Sir, we have arrived!¡± Amander walked up to the car and saluted. The door quickly opened, and a burly middle¨Caged man in battle armor stepped out. This man was the lieutenant of the western war zone, Travis Spanner.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Uncle Travis! You¡¯re finally here!¡± At this moment, the doors of the manor opened slowly. Edward was being supported by two men as he limped out. ¡°Let me see the body,¡± Travis demanded. Edward did not dare say anything else and immediately led the way. There was a coffin right at the entrance to the living room. Trevor was lying inside, hist eyes tightly clos ed. ¡°What on earth happened? Why did your father die so suddenly?¡± Travis gritted his teeth, a look of rage on his face. He only had one brother. Naturally, he was furious that he had been murdered. ¡°It¡® was Mason! That ungrateful brat killed Dad!¡± Edward began to whine. ¡°Mason? He¡¯s nothing but a bastard. He wouldn¡¯t have the guts.¡± Travis narrowed his eyes. course, not hirm alone. I guess he worked with someone on the outside who wanted to take advantage of this at the same time!¡± Edward¡¯s face was clouded with hatred. ¡°Did your dad make enemies with anyone recently?¡± Travis asked. ¡°Uh¡­ Dad easily offends people, but they¡¯re all insignificant people,¡± Edward exined. ¡°So you don¡¯t know anything after all?¡± Travis frowned. ¡°It all happened too suddenly. I was at a loss for a while.¡± ¡°Useless! You¡¯re no better than a bastard!¡± Travis snorted coldly, not bothering to say another word, an d gave an order. ¡°Someone investigate this matter at once! I don¡¯t care what it takes. Find me the murd erer, even if you have to turn the entire Swinton upside down!¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Before the matter of Trevor¡¯s death coulde to a rest, there was a surprising announcement the nex t day. The Harmon family had decided on a partner, and today would be the opening ceremony of the n ewpany. Once the news was released, everyone came forward to offer their congrattions. At 8.00 am, luxurious cars were already gathered at the entrance of the Emerald Building. However, Na tasha, one of the important attendees, was not present. Instead, she was drinking coffee leisurely at some coffee shop. ¡°Over here, Mr. Rhys.¡± As soon as she saw Dustin enter, she jumped to her feet and waved. ¡°Isn¡¯t today the opening ceremony of your newpany? Why did you want to meet here?¡± Dustin sat across from her.Natasha was wearing a white blouse and a skirt today. Her dark hair was tie d in a bun, making her look even more mature. Her top wrapped tightly around her chest, looking as if it were about to pop. ¡°It¡¯s only the opening ceremony. A date with you is much more important.¡± Natasha blinked her eyes tea singly. Her fiery red lips were so alluring. ¡°Ms. Harmon, stop joking. Let¡¯s talk business.¡± Dustin was starting to be flustered. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± She smiled and asked, ¡°Mr. Rhys, does Trevor¡¯s death have any thing to do with you?¡± ¡°Why are you asking?¡± Dustin raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m just curious. Although Trevor is a reckless bastard, he has many men. It¡¯s not easy to kill him. I tho ught for some time, and it seemed only you, Mr. Rhys, had the ability to do so.¡± Natasha was deep in th ought. ¡°Haha! Ms. Harmon, you think too highly of me.¡± Dustinughed without giving a straight answer. ¡°Trevor¡¯s death is nothing. It wouldn¡¯t affect the situation in Swinton. But the problem is the men behind him,¡± Natasha continued. ¡°Are you talking about Edwin Hummer?¡± ¡°He is one of them. But he won¡¯t do anything disadvantageous to himself because of Trevor. He¡¯s easie r to deal with. ¡°Do you mean Trevor has other patrons?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He has a brother, Travis. He¡¯s a lieutenant with great power. He can¡¯t be underestimated!¡± Natasha spoke in a grave tone. Even the Harmon family did not want to go against people involved in the military. This was also why sh e did not immediately retaliate when Trevor had kidnapped her. ¡°Thanks for the warning, Ms. Harmon. I¡¯ll take note of this.¡°Dust in nodded, his heart filled with gratitude . ¡°Oh, there¡¯s also another thing.¡± Natasha changed the topic, continuing by saying, ¡± Regarding the amb ergris, I already have the results. ording to the investigation, the one who drugged me is known as Mr. Lawson.¡± ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Mr. Lawson? What¡¯s his background?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°This man is the same as Trevor. He¡¯s Edwin¡¯s right¨C hand man. However, his identity is a mystery. He has been living behind the scenes, giving advice, and carrying out. shady activities.¡± ¡°What are you going to do?¡± ¡°I want to cut off Edwin¡¯s limbs and teach him a lesson! But¡­ my men are not able to deal with such pe ople, so I have to ask for your help,¡± Natasha gently implored. ¡°Lure him out and create an opportunity for me to deal with him,¡± Dustin answered casually. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhys!¡± Natasha smiled and added, ¡°I¡¯ve invited Edwin to the opening of the newpa ny today. Mr. Lawson will also be there. You can carry out your n then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Mr. Rhys, it¡¯s almost time. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two did not linger for long. After finishing the coffee, they headed toward the Emerald building. At this moment, there was a big crowd in front of the building. As they stepped down from the car, they saw Dahlia and her family entering the venue. Dahlia was part of the newpany, so it wasn¡¯t surprisi ng to see a representative of the Nicholson family here. ¡°Dustin, why do I keep running into you?¡± a voice came from behind. Dustin turned around only to be met with the sight of Chris Nn. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¡°I don¡¯t recall Dahlia inviting you. Are you really so shameless?¡± Chris sneered. ¡°I invited Dustin. Do you have a problem with that?¡± Natasha took a few steps forward. Her domineering stance made Chris take a few steps back. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re a man that needs a woman to stand up for you? What a useless man!¡± Chris grimaced d isdainfully. He added, ¡°And you! You¡¯ll regret it sooner orter, staying with this trash!¡± ¡°What does that have to do with you? Stay away from me!¡± Natasha snorted coldly. She put her arms around Dustin and walked into the hall without a care. ¡°Stupid bitch! You¡¯re so full of yourself! I¡¯ll get you in bed one day!¡± Chris gritted hist teeth as he watched them walk away. He couldn¡¯t understand why someone as useless as Dustin was so good with women. ¡°Chris, you¡¯re here to join the fun too?¡± A fashionably dressed man exited a Maybach. ¡°Hey! Isn¡¯t that Jeff Anderson? You¡¯re here too?¡± Chris¡¯s eyes lit up. It was none other than Hunter Anderson¡¯s son, Jeff Anderson! ¡°The Harmon family isunching a newpany, so I had toe!¡± Jeff smiled. ¡°Jeff! The Harmon family is honored to have someone like you attend the opening ceremony!¡± Chris sta rted to butter him up. ¡°Nonsense! Even my dad has to show respect before the Steel Lady. What a business. prodigy! I¡¯m nothingpared to her.¡± Jeff was veryposed. ¡°You¡¯re being modest.¡± Chris smiled smugly, and quickly changed the topic. ¡°Speaking of the Steel Lady, I¡¯ve never seen her b efore today. I wonder if she is as beautiful as they say?¡± ¡°Among the Four Beauties of Swinton, Natasha ranks first. Her beauty is unmatched. It¡¯s a shame that no man can get their hands on such an exquisite woman.¡± Jeff ¡°Not even you?¡± Chris was stunned. ¡°Bullshit! I would be honored even to carry her shoes!¡± Jeff rolled his eyes. He dared not speak informally of someone of equal status to his father. ¡°If even you aren¡¯t worth it, what hope is there for the rest of us.¡± Chris sighed. ¡°To be honest, someone like the Steel Lady couldn¡¯t care less about a man¡¯s background. As long as s he likes him, even a pauper could be a prince!¡± Jeff added. ¡°Someone so lucky wouldn¡¯t exist!¡± Chris shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s hard to say,¡± Jeff said with a chuckle, and continued, ¡°Truth be told, I heard a rumor that the Ste el Lady has found herself a boyfriend. She even ns to push him to the top in Swinton.¡± ¡°Huh? Is that true?¡± Chris was so startled his body quivered with excitement. ¡°Why would I lie to you about this? I guess you¡¯ll be able to see it soon,¡± Jeff quipped. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who is so lucky to get her attention?¡± Chris narrowed his eyes, his gaze filled with jealousy and admira tion. After all, she was a business prodigy, one of the wealthiest people in Swinton. Not only did she ha ve money and power, but she was also breathtaking. Such an exquisite woman was as rare as a four¨C leaf clover. ¡°I don¡¯t know who it is, but I¡¯m sure if you could get on good terms with him, you would have a bright fut ure!¡± Jeff reminded him. ¡°When you put it like that, I really want to know this guy.¡± His eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, ¡°Jeff, you¡¯re qui te influential. Can you get me an introduction?¡± ¡°An introduction? I have yet to be introduced and you want me to introduce you?¡± Jeff answered exasp eratedly. Beforeing, his father had asked him to strike up an acquaintance with this new guy. As long as the y could be friends, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry for the rest of his life. ¡°I¡¯ve told you what I can. It depends on yourself to change your fate.¡± Jeff couldn¡¯t be bothered to say m ore. He waved his hand and entered the venue. Chris smiled apologetically and trailed in behind. At this moment, he looked forward to meeting this per son. Now that the Nn family was facing bankruptcy, he could get help from the Harmon family and ovee this matter if he could get acquainted with this guy. Then he wouldn¡¯t need to abscond with the money. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 As time passed, more guests arrived to give their congrattions. The entire venue was filled with peo ple. A famous entertainer was also putting on a performance on the main stage. Below, the guests were talking andughing over some wine. ¡°Dahlia, this is a nice ce. You would be the owner in the future, right?¡± Florence nced around, thril led. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m just partners with the Harmon family. I¡¯m merely a secondary stakeholder even if we establis hed apany together,¡± Dahlia exined. ¡°That¡¯s good enough. Once we get on the same boat with the Harmon family, we won¡¯t have to worry in the future!¡± Florence was delighted. ¡°Sis! Your career is booming right now. You must have made a lot of money, right? When are you getting me a nice car?¡± James smiled tteringly beside her. ¡°I give you quite a lot of pocket money every month. Is it not enough?¡± Dahlia asked unhappily. She did not like giving handouts, even t o her own brother. ¡°It used to be enough. But I¡¯ve invested all my savings into Nn Pharmaceuticals, so now I¡¯m broke,¡± James said exasperatedly. ¡°Then you just sit and wait for the dividends,¡± Dahlia said dismissively. As she turned around, she caug ht sight of Dustin and Natasha out of the corner of her eye. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°You invited Dustin here? What a downer!¡± James followed her line of view and frowned. ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Dahlia denied tly. ¡°He came without any invitation? That¡¯s so shameless!¡± James grimaced. Then hist gazended on Na tasha, and he immediately perked up. ¡°Hey, who¡¯s that beauty next to him? She¡¯s stunning!¡± ¡°What beauty? She¡¯s a vixen!¡± Florence continued rather calmly, ¡°She was the one causing trouble at t he Jackson Group, and I nearly pped her!¡± ¡°It was her?¡± James¡® tone turned cold, and he spat, ¡°Shit! Dustin is so heartless. How dare he bring this bitch to such an important asion today? He¡¯s such an eyesore!¡± ¡°Look, Dahlia, he¡¯s finally revealed his true colors. It¡¯s a shame. You were so nice to him, yet he¡¯s so u ngrateful, and even tried to ruin this asion. I have to teach him a lesson today!¡± As she spoke, Flore nce got ready to confront him. ¡°Mom! Today is the opening ceremony, don¡¯t cause any trouble!¡± Dahlia quickly grabbed her mother. Sh e knew once her mother started making a scene, it would not end well. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ll let him get away with it this time!¡± Although Florence was very upset, she tried to calm hersel f down. No matter what, she couldn¡¯t embarrass her own daughter. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re here?¡± Chris brought Jeff and walked over with a smile. ¡°Here, I want to introduce you to someone.¡± ¡°This is Mr. Anderson¡¯s son, Jeff!¡± Chris stretched out his hand as if he was presenting something valua ble. ¡°So, you¡¯re Jeff Anderson? It¡¯s a great pleasure to meet you!¡± James immediately tried. to curry favor wi th him. This was Swinton¡¯s most distinguished elite, and he had at much more respected status than hi m. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you toe, Mr. Anderson! The Nicholson family is honored!¡± Florence was smiling bro adly. Needless to say, Mr. Anderson¡¯s son had to be some big shot. ¡°Nice to meet you, Jeff.¡± Dahlia smiled and greeted him warmly. ¡°You must be Ms. Nicholson. It seems the rumors are true, you¡¯re really stunning!¡± Although he had nev er met Dahlia, he had heard of her. She was one of the Four Beauties in Swinton and a rising star. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 His dad had also warned him never to get involved with a woman like Dahlia Nicholson. ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± Dahlia smiled politely. ¡°Dahlia, I have good news for you.¡± Chris suddenly changed the topic and said, ¡°I heard from Jeff that e ven the Steel Lady will be present for today¡¯s grand opening.¡± ¡°Oh? Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Is that so? That would be perfect!¡± Dahlia raised an eyebrow in pleasant surprise. Previously, only the Harmons¡® general manager was present to sign contracts or discuss business matters. She had never met the daughter of the Harmon family. However, she had heard of Natasha before. Ever since Andrew retired, she took over the entire Harmon family¡¯s business unaided. She relied entir ely on herself to build and flourish the Harmon family business to greater sess. In a way, they were both very simr to each other. Dahlia even regarded Natasha as her idol. Yet, it was a shame that she had never even met Natasha up to this day. Now that she knew Natasha would be present today, Dahlia looked forward to it greatly. She was really interested in how this business prodigy carried herself. ¡°Sis! I heard that Natasha Harmon is one of Swinton¡¯s Four Beauties. She must be very beautiful. Can you set me up with her after you get to know her?¡± James asked with anticipation. ¡°Yeah! James is no longer young. It¡¯s time to discuss his marriage. If he can get to know Ms. Harmon, it ¡¯s fine even if he took theirst name instead!¡± Florence immediately lit 1. up. ¡°Mom! What nonsense are you saying? Why would Ms. Harmon ever set her eyes on James?¡± Dahlia s aid harshly. ¡°Hmmm, I disagree. What¡¯s wrong with James? He¡¯s young, muscr, and handsome. It¡¯s more than enough for Ms. Harmon!¡± Florence boasted. ¡°That¡¯s right! Look at my muscles! Women go crazy over them!¡± James flexed his biceps confidently. Dahlia was speechless as she watched them. She was starting to regret inviting them here. ¡°Ms. Harmon is already taken. We can stop daydreaming about it,¡± Chris interjected. ¡°Does that mean I don¡¯t have a chance?¡± James continued dejectedly, ¡°Who¡¯s the lucky. bastard to get Ms. Harmon¡¯s attention?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll find out soon.¡± Chris smiled. ¡°Huh! I really want to see if he¡¯s as handsome as me!¡± James was quite irked. The performance on the stage had ended. The host took the stage, and the crowd quietened down. ¡°Wee, everyone! The grand opening has officially begun! Now, please give a warm wee to Ms . Harmon!¡± As the host gave the introduction, the guests gave a round of apuse.. ¡°She¡¯s here! Ms. Harmon is here!¡± Chris and the others immediately perked up and turned toward the st age, their eyes filled with excitement. ¡°Is she finally revealing herself?¡± Dahlia mumbled eagerly. A young and stunningdy slowly took the stage under the watchful eyes of everyone else. Three beams of spotlights instantly focused on her. However, everyone was dumbfounded when they s aw her. ¡°It¡¯s her?¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¡°How can it be her?¡± Dahlia was shocked when she saw Natasha on the stage. Her face was filled with astonishment. Never in her wildest dreams did she expect that the Ms. Harmon she longed to meet was her rival! ¡°Mom, isn¡¯t this that bitch? Why is she on the stage?¡± James widened his eyes, unable to react otherwise. ¡°This can¡¯t be? She is Ms. Harmon?¡± Florence was so shocked her tongue was tied and her lips quiver ed. She couldn¡¯t believe the woman she thought was a vixen was the Harmon family¡¯s daughter! ¡°Why? Why is it her?¡± Chris looked as if he had been struck by lightning, his face was as pale as a she et of *paper, and his eyes filled with disbelief. He never imagined the woman by Dustin¡¯s side was Swinton¡¯s business prodigy! Her mere existence is unparalleled to others. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he thought of his actions before. What should he do? He seemed to have offended Natash a. ¡°Chris, have you met Ms. Harmon before?¡± Jeff was quick to notice something was odd. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ met her, and we had an altercation.¡± Chris swallowed hard as he was obviously nervous. ¡°You dared to offend Ms. Harmon? You really have guts!¡± Jeff gave him a thumbs¨Cup mockingly. Natasha did not get to where she was today by being kind and forgiving. ¡°Jeff! I was careless before and offended Ms. Harmon. Can you put in a good word for me?¡± Chris sudd enly became nervous and grabbed Jeff¡¯s hand. 1 ¡°Chris, I really can¡¯t help you out with this. You should pray!¡± Jeff shook Chris off and left. He wasn¡¯t cra zy enough to get on Ms. Harmon¡¯s bad side because of someone so insignificant. ¡°I¡¯m done for.¡± Chris¡¯s face turned to ash as he watched Jeff leave. It would be fine if Natasha were forg iving and let it slide. But if she were to seek revenge, she could destroy him with just a word! At the same time, others in the crowd were shocked as well. ¡°Mr. Lawson, didn¡¯t you say Natasha woul Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. de begging after being poisoned? Why does she look fine?¡± Edwin¡¯s face darkened as he watched the slim figure on the stage. ¡°That¡¯s weird. She should not be able to fight it. Could it be that someone had given her the antidote?¡± Fletcher narrowed his eyes in surprise. ¡°Huh! Is this the allegedly cureless paison?¡± Edwin was very dissatisfied. He knew something was wrong from the moment he received the invitation. Now that he had seen Natash a in excellent health, he knew his nt had failed. ¡°Sir Hummer, idents happen. No mere doctor is able to cure my polson unless she had someone sp ecial by her side.¡± Fletcher said, deep in thought. ¡°Someone special? Who?¡± Edwin furrowed his eyebrows. CS CamScanner ¡°Sir Hummer, did you notice the young man standing next to her before?¡± Fletcher pointed toward Dusti n. ¡°Do you mean there¡¯s something particr about that guy?¡± Edwin followed his gaze. ¡°That¡¯s right. This man has a steady hand and good control of his breath. He looks like he practices me dicine,¡± Fletcher said, nodding his head. ¡°Is he difficult to deal with?¡± Edwin took a closer look. He didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. He¡¯s nothing but a gold digger. ¡°He¡¯s a small fry not even worth mentioning.¡± Fletcher was very confident. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 ¡°Okay. Deal with him quickly. I don¡¯t want any further idents!¡± Edwin¡¯s expression softened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sir Hummer. My two boys will take care of it without a hitch!¡± Fletcher smiled faintly. He to ok out his phone and sent a text message. In contrast to themotion offstage, Natasha remained very calm. ¡°Wee to ourpany¡¯s grand opening ceremony.¡± Natasha held the microphone, her eyes sweeping across the room. Her domineering aura, along with h er cold and sharp eyes, were all fitting for her position as a beautiful business prodigy. ¡°Everyone knows the Harmon family has made a new partner. From today onward, a portion of the Har mon family business will be handed over to said partner.¡± She looked around and continued, ¡°I believe everyone is curious as to who this partner is. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll reveal the answer soon! Now, let us give a round of ap use and invite Ms. Nicholson onto the stage!¡± As she finished, Natasha started to p. Soon after, thunderous apuse followed. ¡°Dahlia! You¡¯re up!¡± Florence quickly nudged the woman next to her. Dahlia immediately came back to her senses. Although she was shocked about who Natasha was, she did not have a choice but to proceed now. She took in a deep breath and pretended as if nothing had happened as she walked u p the stage. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s another stunningdy? We¡¯re really blessed today!¡± ¡°Both are equally beautiful but with a different ir. I¡¯d be willing to give up ten years of my life just to ha ve both of them in my arms!¡± ¡°Shit! What man is worthy of such women?¡± As Dahlia approached the stage, there was instantly a stirring in the crowd. Natasha was striking enoug h, but Dahlia¡¯s presence made the crowd even more excited. It was such a rare urrence to be grace d with the presence of two beautifuldies. ¡°We meet again, Ms. Nicholson.¡± Natasha reached out her hand with a smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be the president of the Harmon Group.¡± Dahlia shook her hand politely, a bewilde red look in her eyes. She should¡¯ve known earlier. Such a beautiful and elegant woman with the surname Harmon who had happened to appear two days before the charity ball. If she connected the dots, this woman must be none other than Natasha Harmo n. However, she did note to this conclusion because she had been clouded with emotions. Or rather, she never believed Dustin would be involved with such a reputable family. ¡°It¡¯s not toote to get to know each other.¡± Natasha beamed. ¡°Oh, right. We still have a bet, don¡¯t we?¡± CS CamScanner ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Dahlia nodded calmly. ¡°Do you still think you can win?¡± Natasha raised her chin defiantly. ¡°I believe I can, if you don¡¯t intrude.¡± Dahlia¡¯s gaze was filled with determination, and she did not back d own. She had always thought of Natasha as her adversary. Now that they met, she could have a worth y challenge. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t help him. Besides, he doesn¡¯t need my help. Truth be told, he is much more capabl e than us!¡± Natasha smiled. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Love is blind. There¡¯s no lie in that.¡± Dahlia smiled faintly. ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t believe me. If that¡¯s the case, time will tell.¡± Natasha smiled, not wanting to expl ain any further. She believed that one day Dahlia would understand. ¡°But, by then, it would be all toote. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 The two women were chatting eagerly on the stage as if they were old friends. However, only a few would realize these two were locked in rivalry. Just like two beautiful rosespeting. Both were beautiful yet filled with prickling thorns. Dahlia did not feel inferior or dejected, although Natasha had a prestigious background. In fact, it made her more motivated topete! She had always held herself high and did not give up easily. No matter what difficulties she faced, she would ovee them! It didn¡¯t matter that Natasha was known as Swinton¡¯s business prodigy. One day, she would be equal to her, or she might e ven surpass her! 1 ¡°I believe everyone has witnessed Ms. Nicholson¡¯s charm! Next, I want to introduce another young man . Not only did he save me, but he also helped out the Harmon family a lot. He is undoubtedly the Harmon family¡¯s savior!¡± The crowd stirred again once she finished. Everyone looked at each other with awe and curiosity. Who on earth would Natasha call a savior? ¡°Chris, could you be the savior she means?¡± Jeff muttered coldly. In his opinion, only an outstanding y oung man like Chris could fit Natasha¡¯s description. ¡°Chris, I didn¡¯t know you were so important to the Harmon family! Congrattions!¡± Florence smiled bri ghtly, immediately thinking it was Chris.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Chris was speechless. The corners of his mouth twitched as he didn¡¯t know how to react. He was nothing. How could he be the Harmon family¡¯s savior? He wouldn¡¯t need to face bankruptcy if he were so capabl e. ¡°Could it be him?¡± Chris suddenly thought of someone but quickly dismissed the thought. No! It wasn¡¯t possible! How could a useless nobody be a savior to the Harmon family? Under everyone¡¯s anticipating eyes, Natasha paused before saying, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t beat around the bu sh. Now, let¡¯s give a warm wee to Mr. Rhys!¡± Natasha waved her hand, and a spotlight shone on Dustin. Everyone¡¯s gaze immediately turned over. ¡°Dustin? How could it be him?¡± James was at a loss for words when he recognized who it was. His mo uth was agape in shock. ¡°It can¡¯t be! The Harmon family¡¯s savior is that trash, Dustin?¡± At this moment, Florence was also in a st ate of shock. Her impression of Dustin was someone insignificant and weak. He wasn¡¯t capable, nor di d he have a good background. How could he have be the Harmon family¡¯s savior out of the blue? ¡°How? How is it him?¡± Chris gritted his teeth, his hands balled into a fist. Rather than shock, he felt mor e jealous and frustrated. How? How had that trash catch Natasha¡¯s eye? Was he worse than Dustin? In terms of looks, he was better looking. In terms of money, he was the rich er. His family background was also far superior to Dustin¡¯s. He was more capable and excellent in every way. CS CamScanner However, though that woman could recognize a gem, she had gone for some cheap guy. Why was that so? Chris¡¯s face was clouded with hatred and resentment. ¡°It really is him.¡± As the lights shone on Dustin, Dahlia was surprised and puzzled. She also felt an Inexplicable surge of emotions. However, Dustin wasn¡¯t happy to be the center of attention at all. ¡°What is this woman thinking? She didn¡¯t mention that I had to be on stage.¡± Dustin furrowed his eyebr ows, unable to make sense of her actions. After a moment of hesitation, he made his way up. Murmurs went through the crowd. ¡°Who is this? I¡¯ve never seen him.¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s Ms. Harmon¡¯s boyfriend. She wants to take the opportunity to give him some publicity in this opening ceremony.¡± ¡°Ha! So he¡¯s just a gold digger!¡± The crowd started to specte and discuss. Obviously, many looked down on a man that depended on a woman. ¡°I¡¯m very grateful to Mr. Rhys. He¡¯s also the Harmon family¡¯s savior. I hope everyone will get to know hi m better in the future.¡± Natasha smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Her gaze fell on Dahl ia at the same time, as if to assert dominance. Dahlia didn¡¯t even flinch and remainedposed. She even raised her chin provokingly as if to say Nat asha could pick up after her trash. Thus, the two women began another battle. Neither wanted to step aside, their gaze burned into each o ther. At this moment, Dustin realized something was wrong. When had the two of them gotten into a dispute? Weren¡¯t they partners? Why did it seem as if they wer e more like rivals? After a few seconds, they looked away at the same time¨CThey were evenly matched. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, I look forward to working with you.¡± Natasha reached out her hand once again. ¡°I look forward to working with you too,¡± Dahlia replied with a smile. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯ll have to pass thepany matters to you now. Dustin and I have something urgent to do. Please, excuse us.¡± Natasha smiled and led Dustin down the stage with her arms around his. Dustin never uttered a word up till this moment. He was just an ornament. ¡°Ms. Harmon¡­¡± As they came down, Chris approached to say a few words. CS CamScanner However, Natasha didn¡¯t even look at him and spat, ¡°Get lost!¡± Chris froze when she spoke. Hisst strand of hope fizzled up in mes. He knew Natasha would not le t this slide easily. He even started to suspect that the Harmon family was behind the investigation into h ispany. ¡°These bastards! Since you¡¯re so merciless, I won¡¯t make it easy for you either,¡± he thought. He red at them and left. ¡°Dustin!¡± Dahlia tried to chase him down. Her gaze was fathomless, shining as if she wanted to say so mething. ¡°Go ahead, Mr. Rhys. I¡¯ll wait for you in the lounge.¡± Natasha smiled and let go of him. This was because she was confident in herself . ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± Dustin slowly turned around. ¡°I wanted to ask if the Harmon family choosing me as their partner had anything to do with you,¡± Dahlia rified without skipping a beat. This matter had been on her mind ever since she found out who Natas ha was. 1 Now that she knew Dustin¡¯s standing in Natasha¡¯s heart, she was starting to have greater doubts. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± Dustin kept a straight face and yed dumb. He was not one to cl aim credit or recognition for what he had done. Since things had ended between them, he hoped they wouldn¡¯t be involved with eac h other in any way. ¡°It really wasn¡¯t you?¡± Dahlia still had some doubts. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, I think there¡¯s some misunderstanding. How can someone as useless as me help you? ¡± Dustin replied coldly. ¡°Maybe I was wrong.¡± There was a hint of disappointment in her eyes as she added, ¡°That¡¯s right. Why would you help me? After all, we¡¯re no longer together. Besides, you¡¯re not capable of doing so.¡± ¡°As you said, I have no money or power. I¡¯m nothingpared to Chris. Is there anything else?¡± Dustin ¡¯s face remained nk. 1 ¡°No. You can go back to Ms. Harmon,¡± Dahlia said scornfully. ¡°Alright, please excuse me.¡± Dustin did not say much more and quickly caught up with Natasha, who deliberately walked slower. ¡°Mr. Rhys, it seems Ms. Nicholson still has some feelings for you,¡± Natasha teased. ¡°Feelings?¡± Dustinughed mockingly, ¡°It¡¯s good enough that we haven¡¯t turned against each other.¡± ¡°You can never read a woman¡¯s heart. There may be things even she has yet to figure out.¡± Natasha s miled and tried to change the topic. ¡°Oh, you mentioned you still need some rare herbs?¡± ¡°Why? Have you found them?¡± Dustin immediately perked up. ¡°Not yet. But I know someone who can help you. He was bom into a family of doctors, and he collects many valuable herbs. Maybe he has what you need,¡± Natasha exined. ¡°Oh? Who is it?¡± Dustin inquired. ¡°Follow me and you¡¯ll find out.¡± Natasha didn¡¯t give more details. She took Dustin¡¯s hand and went to the lounge on the second floor. T here were two men in the lounge room. One of them was Natasha¡¯s grandfather, Andrew Harmon. The other was a burly man who looked about a couple of decades older than Dustin. The man was wearing a suit that made his muscles bulge. He had a calm expression on his face. It wa s apparent he was no ordinary person. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re here! Have a seat!¡± Andrew immediately gestured for him to sit once Dustin entered t he room. ¡°How are you feeling, Old Mr. Harmon?¡± Dustin asked politely. ¡°Much better. It¡¯s all thanks to you. If not, I would have lost my life.¡± Andrew smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Dustin said modestly. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I would like to introduce someone to you.¡± 1/ CS CamScanner Natasha pointed at the other man. ¡°This is Duane Welch, an expert in medicine. He¡¯s from Millsburg and has a lot of experience. You can ask him if you need anything concerning medicine.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve met you before.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were going to introduce someone so young to me. I don¡¯t know if he has what it takes.¡± Duan e sized him up disdainfully. He had personallye because he heard there was a famous doctor in S winton. He hadn¡¯t expect it to be this unremarkable boy. What a waste of his time! ¡°Mr. Welch, you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. I¡¯ve personally witnessed Mr. Rhys¡® skill. He¡¯s on par wi th other experienced doctors!¡± Natasha reassured him. ¡°Is that so? If that¡¯s the case, he should evaluate me and see if he could diagnose anything.¡°Duane star ted to get ready for an evaluation. It was obvious he was trying to make things difficult for Dustin. ¡°There¡¯s no need. I can recognize what disease you have in a nce,¡± Dustin responded. ¡°In a nce?¡± Duane was slightly startled. ¡°Are you joking? You can diagnose me by just looking? Even the senior doctors in Millsburg can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if others can do it. But I can indeed see what disease you have.¡± Dustin was very certain. ¡°Alright! Then I would really like to know what you have diagnosed!¡± Duane joked lightly. ¡°You have a weak pulse, and you often be breathless. Your chest area especially is infected, and i n addition to the internal injuries you suffered before, you are now terminally ill!¡± Dustin exined in a b reath. ¡°Terminally ill? Ha! What nonsense!¡± Duane chuckled coldly. ¡°Young man, don¡¯t you know that I¡¯ve led an active lifestyle since I was young? ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . My body is very strong. Besides, I take a lot of supplements. I¡¯m basically invincible to any disease! Ho w dare you say I¡¯m terminally ill? What a joke!¡± ¡°You¡¯re only healthy physically. The real disease is internal. Also, you should stop taking those supplem ents as they would only make your condition worse. Once it breaks out, there will be no turning back!¡± Dustin warned. ¡°What a load of bullshit! I¡¯ve been taking those supplements since I was young and nothing has happen ed in 40 years. Now you¡¯re telling me they don¡¯t work?¡± Duane was very unhappy about this. ¡°I¡¯m just warning you. If you continue, you will have a thyroid infection in three days!¡± Dustin advised. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling me! I¡¯ve encountered a lot of scammers like you!¡± Duane said disdainfully. ¡°Mr. Welch, Dustin is a skilled doctor. You better not take his words lightly.¡± Natasha reminded him gentl y. ¡°Natasha, I think you have been scammed. I know my body well. I¡¯m not sick at all. He¡¯s just trying to sc are us!¡± ¡°Since you don¡¯t believe it, why don¡¯t we make a bet?¡± ¡°What is at stake?¡± CS CamScanner ¡°It¡¯s simple. If your disease breaks out within three days, you have to let Dustin pick anything from your collection of valuable herbs!¡± ¡°Alright! But what if I¡¯m fine?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re fine, you cane to the Harmon family¡¯s treasury and pick any three items!¡± Natasha offere d boldly. ¡°You stated the rules. Since you¡¯re being so generous, I won¡¯t hold back!¡± Duane chuckled. Everything in the Harmon family¡¯s treasury was an extraordinary item. Any three would be a rare collector¡¯s item. ¡°Mr. Welch, a word of advice, it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t leave Swinton in these three days. If anything happe ns, I can still save you in time,¡± Dustin advised. ¡°What a joke! Who am I? Do I need you to save me? Even if I were sick, I would never ask you to treat me!¡± Duane said contemptuously. He wouldn¡¯t even bother talking with this scammer if it weren¡¯t for the Har mon family. ¡°There¡¯s no point in saying more. The truth will prevail¡± Dustin smiled faintly without saying another word. He just hoped Duane¡¯s rare herbs collection would have what he needed. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 ¡°Mr. Harmon, I have to attend something else. Please, excuse me.¡± After a few exchanges, Duane got ready to leave. He hade because of a renowned doctor. He wo uldn¡¯t stay long since it was just a sham. ¡°Mr. Welch, I suggest you listen to Mr. Rhys¡® advice and stay around Swinton for these few days to avoi d anything.¡± Natasha kindly reminded him. ¡°Natasha, you don¡¯t have to worry about me. You should worry about yourself,¡± Duane piped up though tfully. ¡°I remember your engagement to Tyler Grant is imminent. I don¡¯t think a man like him would like it if you were too close to other men.¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t help but frown at these words. He had touched on a sensitive topic. ¡°It¡¯s just an engagement. We¡¯re not even married yet. At worst, I can break off the engagement,¡± Natas ha answered casually. ¡°Break off the engagement? That¡¯s the Grant family you¡¯re talking about. Have you thought of the cons equences of your actions?¡± Duane was slightly bewildered. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°What consequences would there be? They can¡¯t do anything to me,¡± Natasha replied calmly. ¡°The Grant family might not do anything to you, but I¡¯m not sure about the one next to you. You¡¯re well aware of the Grant family¡¯s ways. The closer you get to him, the more danger he¡¯s in.¡± Duane gazed toward Dustin. His implications were clear. ¡°Hmph! I don¡¯t believe Tyler would cause any trouble!¡± Natasha maintained an impassive face. ¡°I¡¯m just reminding you. What you do is up to you.¡± Duane didn¡¯t say more and left with a smile. ¡°What Duane says is true. You¡¯d better deal with the matter between you and the Grant family.¡± Andrew warned. ¡°Grandfather, I know what to do.¡± Natasha nodded. Although they had been engaged since young, she had never fallen for him. How could she marry som eone she doesn¡¯t have feelings for? Besides, she despised arranged marriages the most! ¡°Ms. Harmon, Sir Hummer is requestign to see you,¡± a bodyguard informed her after entering. ¡°Edwin Hummer?¡± Natasha raised an eyebrow. ¡°I was just about to see him. I didn¡¯t expect him toe first. Bring him to the loun ge, I¡¯ll be there in a second.¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Nicholson,¡± the bodyguard replied promptly and left. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m going to see what I can find out from Edwin. You can pretend to be my bodyguard and I mprovise.¡± Natasha nced at the man beside her. ¡°Okay,¡± Dustin agreed and nodded his head. Today¡¯s ceremony was bait for the prey. Now that the prey was here, he could not pass on this opportunity. CS CamScanner Three minutester, Dustin and Natasha arrived at another lounge. Edwin and Fletcher were leisurely enjoying some tea inside. Behind them were a pair of twins. ¡°Ms. Harmon, congrattions on your grand opening!¡± Edwin immediately congratted her. He seemed like a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. they were ¡°Wee. Sir Hummer. It¡¯s a pleasure to have you here!¡± Natasha greeted cheerily. Although they ene mies, they had to put on a cordial act. ¡°I see a few new faces around you. Aren¡¯t you going to introduce them?¡± Natasha looked toward Fletch er and the other two men. ¡°Oh! This is an old friend of mine, Mr. Lawson. He helps me with my personal affairs. As for these two young ¡°men, they¡¯re his apprentices,¡± Edwin introdu ced them without hesitation. ¡°So you¡¯re Mr. Lawson. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°Mr. Lawson, I have something to discuss with Ms. Harmon. You can leave the room.¡± Edwin gave them a look, hinting for them to leave. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Fletcher threw a nce at Dustin and went out with his apprentices. ¡°You should go out too.¡± Natasha gestured for him to exit the room. Dustin nodded and went out. They had a tacit understanding with each other, or in other words, they had ulterior motives. ¡°So, you¡¯re Natasha¡¯s personal bodyguard? You don¡¯t look like much!¡± The twins sized Dustin up like he was their prey. ¡°Is that so? You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± Dustin went down the stairs without another word. ¡°Liam and Noah, follow him and get rid of him,¡± Fetcher ordered coldly. 1 In his opinion, he didn¡¯t need to deal with an insignificant person like Dustin. His two apprentices could easily finish him off. ¡°No problem!¡± Liam and Noah grinned and followed him quietly. Once Dustin went downstairs, he strolled through the garden and entered the underground parking lot. The ¡°Boy! You really know how to dig your own grave!¡± 1 At that moment, Liam and Noah finally revealed themselves. There was nobody here, so they could make a move. ¡°Don¡¯t you know the prey may sometimes be the predator?¡± Dustin turned around slowly, as if it w as all a part of his n. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, but the prey is definitely you!¡± The two grinned grimly. However, before they could make a move, there was a thunderous sound of footsteps. A group of thugs armed with machetes and steel pipes rushed in. ¡°Huh, this is not enough to bruise us!¡± Liam and Noah grinned, not taking the thugs seriously at all. Dustin raised his eyebrow. He, too, felt it was a bit excessive. He didn¡¯t need help to fight these two peo ple. ¡°Dustin! Your time hase!¡± Chris yelled and walked out of the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s you! Are you here to join the fun too?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes in surprise. ¡°Join the fun? I¡¯m going to break you today!¡± Chris said viciously. ¡°I don¡¯t think I have any beef with you,¡± Dustin stated calmly. ¡°You may not, but I do!¡± Chris cried with resentment. ¡°Who are you to deserve Ms. Harmon¡¯s attention? How am I inferior to you? Why am I getting kicked aside like a dog? Why?¡± ¡°You brought people here because of that?¡± Dustin was slightly confused. He really couldn¡¯t understand how CS CamScanner Chris¡¯s mind worked. What was this, jealousy turned into wrath? ¡°Of course not! You¡¯ve long been an eyesore to me! I haven¡¯t been able to get with Dahlia because of Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. you. Your entire existence is a stumbling block in my lifel¡± Chris roared. His hatred toward Dustin had slowly grown over time. He always thought he was a nobody, so he never took him seriously. However, he finally acknowledged him as a threat after finding out Natasha¡¯s identity. He may just be some gold digger, but he would be a threat if he stayed by Natasha¡¯s side and stir red up trouble. Thus, he wanted to act first and destroy Dustin. He refused to believe Natasha would fall for a useless piece of trash! Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¡°I¡¯d advise you not to do that, or you will regret it.¡± Dustin remained calm and unbothered. Chris had alw ays been nothing but a joke to him. ¡°Ha! I know you practice some martial arts, but it¡¯s not enough to defeat the men I hired. They¡¯re all exp erts in martial arts. Besides, even if you can fight, you¡¯d only get chopped up by my men!¡± Chris smiled coldly. It was apletely different matter to fight with hand¨Cto¨C handbat than armedbat. He refused to believe Dustin could survive a weapon! ¡°Hey! I don¡¯t know what grudge you hold against each other, but we set our eyes on him first. You¡¯d bet ter stand aside!¡± the twins yelled. ¡°Initially, they thought Chris and his men were Dustin¡¯s backup, but they turned out to be his enemies. ¡°Who are these two idiots? Step aside, or we¡¯ll deal with you too!¡± Chris red at them and roared. ¡°Deal with us?¡± Liam and Noah nced at each other and chuckled, ¡°Haha! We¡¯ve not met someone as fearless as you in some time. Come, let us see what you and your men can do.¡± They made some taunting gestures toward the men. ¡°Fuck! You¡¯re asking for it! Kill them all!¡± Chris didn¡¯t waste another second and gave the order. The me n armed with knives and steel poles immediately stormed forward. ¡°We should warm up.¡± Liam and Noah grinned and stepped forward. 1 What happened next shook Chris to the core. The twins waved their bare fists around and began to attack his men viciously. They moved at the spee d of lightning, and their fists were extremely powerful. Every strike took one man down. Any unlucky fig hters would die right on the spot! Chris realized something frightening. Their hands seemed to be cast from metal. One punch could crea te a hole through the wall. One kick could bend the steel rod in half. These people weren¡¯t human. These two were clearly monsters! In just a few minutes, Liam and Noah managed to defeat all the thugs. Not a single one of them remain ed. Their strength was astonishingly overpowering! ¡°How is this possible?¡± Chris was so frightened his lips quivered. He never expected these two ordinary men to be so powerful. ¡°What a bunch of trash! I haven¡¯t even finished warming up!¡± Both Liam and Noah felt unsatisfied with t heir battle. As they spoke, they turned to look at Chris, and he stumbled backward out of fear. ¡°Coward!¡± Both of them couldn¡¯t be bothered with Chris and turned around to focus on Dustin. ¡°Now it¡¯s your turn. I hope you can surprise us. Otherwise, this would be too easy.¡± CS CamScanner ¡°Bring it on.¡± Dustin waved his hand with an unwavering expression. ¡°Liam, let me have at it first!¡± Noah chuckled and leaped forward. Chris, who had been frightened earlier, Immediately got excited as he watched this unfold. He could se e that their target was Dustin. Although his men were all defeated, he would be d as long as Dustin got beaten up too. He couldn¡¯t help but look forward to it at the thought of the twins¡® performance just n ow. ¡°Dustin Rhys, aren¡¯t you good at fighting? I would like to see how you escape these two monsters!¡± Ch risughed gleefully. At this moment, Noah made a move. His body arched up slightly, and there was a sudden force. In an i nstant, his body sprung forward like a preying cheetah and mmed into Dustin powerfully. Even a cow would fall, let alone a person. As Chris was gloating at the thought, Dustin suddenly moved. He reached out his hand at lightning spe ed, grabbed Noah¡¯s neck, and threw him against the wall. There was a loud explosion as Noah¡¯s body made a hole in the wall.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . Noah groaned. He felt dizzy after being hit and had lost all his strength. All his bones felt as if they had shattered, and he couldn¡¯t even move. Noah had lost all fight in just one move. Dustin red at him coldly. He grabbed Noah with one hand like he was nothing. ¡°Stop it!¡± Liam cried out in utter shock. He shot up and aimed a punch at Dustin¡¯s back. A muffled thud followed his punch. Dustin, who had been hit, stood as firm as a mountain. On the contrary, it was Liam who was sent flying miles away by the burst of energy. Hended harshly on a concrete wall and spat a mouthful of blood before hended on the ground. Liam was horrified as he looked down and realized the arm he used to punch Dustin hadpletely shattered. His internal organs had suffered severe damage. H owever, he still had surging energy in his body flowing out uncontrobly, like a wildfire that couldn¡¯t be contained. Liam could not bear it anymore and spat out another mouthful of blood. Chris was dumbfounded by what he saw. It was as if he had seen a ghost. He never imagined that the pair of twins who seemed so invincible Just now woul d be defeated by Dustin in a blink of an eye. They hadn¡¯t even made any significant moves. How could this be? This was impossible! Chris was so shocked his face turned to ash, and cold sweat dripped down his back. He had been so sure of the twins¡® ability. Liam and Noah were able to easily take down 20 people befor e. He had never seen such dauntless fighters! Logically speaking. It would be easy for them to deal wit h Dustin. How did they fail right at the beginning? If these two were monsters, then wasn¡¯t Dustin a beast amongst monsters? Chapter 50 Chapter 50 ¡°Who on earth are you?¡± Liam trembled as he dragged himself over. Hisidback expression had been reced by shock and fear. Never did he imagine that his full strength could not even scratch his oppo nent. Instead, he had injured himself gravely. Was this man even human? Fletcher had clearly told them he was just an ordinary martial artist. Why was he so powerful? ¡°Liam! Run away! Quickly!¡± Noah, who was pressed against the wall, yelled out at the top of his lungs. The moment he crossed paths with Dustin, he Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. realized that Dustin was much stronger than they had imagined. He had been able to render himpl etely useless with one move. ¡°Ah!¡± Liam cried out begrudgingly. Reluctantly, he abandoned his brother and ran away. He knew he co uldn¡¯t save him. He didn¡¯t even have the power to fight Dustin to his death. If Dustin was a mountain, they were nothing but ants. His punch just now hadpletely crushed his will to fight! ¡°I have to tell Fletcher! This man is too frightening. He shouldn¡¯t be taken lightly, otherwise Fletcher will surely die!¡± Liam¡¯s desire to survive pushed him to rush out of the parking lot. He was only focused on one thought. He had to tell his master to leave Swinton and never return! This man was someone they could never afford to offend! Dustin didn¡¯t bother to chase after Liam because he knew Liam¡¯s internal organs had suffered fatal da mage. ¡°Who on earth are you? Why are you in Swinton?¡± Noah was filled with fear, as if he had seen a ghost. If he knew someone so powerful existed by Natasha¡¯s side, he wouldn¡¯t dare to approach her even if he had the courage of a lion. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll give you a chance. Tell me everything about Fletcher, and I¡¯ll spare your life,¡± D ustin said coldly. ¡°You want me to betray him? In your dreams!¡± Noah red at him and used hisst remaining strength to tap on his amulet. There was a crisp sound, and Noah bled to death in an instant. Dustin raised an eyebrow. He didn¡¯t expect Noah to be so determined as to opt for suicide to prevent hi mself from spilling anything. Chris cowered in a corner, shivering after witnessing everything. He quickly ran away without another word. He wouldn¡¯t have provoked Dustin if he knew he was so po werful. Now he had brought trouble onto himself. He was speechless! At the same time, In the lounge of the Emerald building. Edwin and Natasha were still conversing. CS CamScanner ¡°Ms. Harmon, I have some business at home. Please, excuse me.¡± Edwin got ready to leave after the c hat. ¡°Goodbye, Sir Hummer.¡± Natasha did not intend to stop them and watched as they left. ¡°Mr. Lawson, do you have any news from your apprentices?¡± Edwin immediately asked once they got in the car. ¡°Maybe they wanted to have a bit more fun. Don¡¯t worry, Sir Hummer. They will return after they deal wi th the matter.¡± Fletcher smiled calmly. He was very confident in the apprentices he trained personally. They were twins, so they had a deep e motional connection. Their strength doubles once united. They were undoubtedly invincible in Swinton! ¡°That would be best.¡± Edwin nodded without another word and ordered the driver to get going. Soon, they arrived at the Hummer Vi. However, before they could settle down, a bodyguard rushed in and cried, ¡°Sir Hummer! Mr. Lawson! Liam has sustained fatal injuries. I don¡¯t think he will make it!¡± ¡°What?¡± Edwin and Fletcher¡¯s faces immediately fell when they heard this. ¡°What nonsense are you saying? Liam is invincibly strong. Who could hurt him?¡± Fletcher was very dist ressed, and he grabbed the bodyguard by the cor. ¡°It¡¯s true! Liam is at the door right now. You have to see him now or it will be toote!¡± the bodyguard pl eaded. Fletcher did not waste any time. He pushed the bodyguard aside and left quickly. However, he lost his cool when he saw the dying Liam when he arrived at the door. ¡°Liam! What happened to you? Where¡¯s Noah?¡± Fetcher¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Noah¡­ is dead. We were mistaken! You Leave!¡± Before Liam could finish his sentence, there was a splutter, and he spat a mouthful of blood on Fletcher ¡¯s face. His head slumped and he died on the spot! ¡°Liam!¡± Fetcher eximed, ovee with sorrow. He had carefully trained both apprentices to pass on the mantle. He didn¡¯t expect them to die so suddenly. ¡°Why? Why did this happen? Who did this?¡± Fetcher held on to the body and cried. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Liam was already in this state when we found him.¡± The bodyguard shook his head. ¡°Mr. Lawson, Liam was very capable. How did he end up this way?¡± Edwin walked toward them at this moment. Fletcher did not respond. He knelt down and inspected the body carefully. ¡°Broken bones and blood vessels, major organ damage. He must¡¯ve met a powerful opponent!¡± After the inspection, Fetcher¡¯s ex pression darkened. ¡°Are you saying that fellow by Natasha¡¯s side is very powerful?¡± Edwin frowned. ¡°His strength must not be taken lightly if he could destroy my apprentices. I made a wrong judgment!¡± Fletcher said in disappointment. ¡°Can you defeat him?¡± Edwin implored. 717 CS CamScanner ¡°Although this man is very strong, he¡¯s still young. He can¡¯t be more powerful than my 40 years of experience. I will kill him and take revenge for my apprentices!¡± Fletcher swore with det ermination. ¡°Mr. Lawson, since you¡¯re proficient in the mystic arts. You should use what you¡¯re confident in,¡± Edwin reminded him. He didn¡¯t want any more idents to ur. ¡°Hmph! This man killed my apprentices by beating them to death! I would return an eye for an eye and kill him myself!¡± Fletcher gritted his teeth. If he knew his apprentice died because of his attempt to punch Dustin, he would no longer have had thi s thought. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 In a lounge at the Emerald building. Natasha greeted Dustin. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re not hurt, are you?¡± Her eyes scanned him over in worry. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Dustin shook his head and continued, ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with the twins. What do you n on doing n ext?¡± ¡°Those two were some of Edwin¡¯s most useful men. I think he will be very rmed now that they are de ad. We should take things slow lest we scare them away,¡± Natasha said. She did not want to burn the b ridge between her and Edwin. She just wanted to teach him a lesson so he would back down. This was the best option. ¡°Alright. It¡¯s up to you.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t say more. ¡°Oh, yes, you should take cover for the time being. I received news that Trevor¡¯s brother, Travis, is back , and he¡¯s hunting for the murderer.¡± Natasha¡¯s tone and expression turned grave. She would not pick battles with the military. Travis was a general in the warzone. Even she had to think twice before getting on the wro ng side of him. ¡°Thanks for the advice. I know what to do.¡± Dustin nodded. The position of general was a very powerful one. To someone ordinary, he held the power of life and de ath. However, Dustin was not so afraid. Meanwhile, in the Spanner Vi. Travis stood by the coffin¡¯s side with his eyes closed. Outside the living room, members of the Spanner family knelt on the ground. Everyone had thei r heads down. Not a word was spoken, and the atmosphere was very tense. Trevor had died out of the blue, the traitor Mason had disappeared, and the murderer was nowhere to be found. The entire Spanner family was reeling from the loss. ¡°General! We¡¯ve got something!¡± At this moment, an adjutant walked in. ¡°Who is the murderer?¡± Travis opened his eyes with a bloodthirsty look. ¡°We¡¯re not sure who the murderer is. But, we¡¯ve found someone rted to him,¡± the adjutant exined. ¡°Be more specific.¡± ¡°ording to our Investigation, two people went to the Drey Group before Trevor¡¯s demise. One was th e Quine Group¡¯s president, Dahlia Nicholson. The other was Hunter Anderson, the president of Swinton ¡¯s Business Commerce!¡± ¡°You mean they are associated with the murderer?¡± ¡°Yes! Dahlia, especially, is the key to everything. Edward was crippled because of her. She must know t he murderer¡¯s identity!¡± the adjutant deduced. ¡°That¡¯s right! That bitch ruined me! She has someone good at fighting on her side. They must have kille d my CS CamScanner father!¡± Edward immediately became agitated. ¡°Gather the troops! Arrest her immediately!¡± Travis stood up and said coldly after ordering. ¡°I don¡¯t care who the murderer is. I will destroy his whole family for killing someone from the Spanner family!¡± That evening, the Nicholson family were celebrating Dahlia¡¯s newlyunchedpany in a restaurant. ¡°Sis, I¡¯d like to raise a toast to you. I wish you sess in the future!¡± James grinned and raised his s s. The rest of them cheered and raised their sses. ¡°Dahlia, you must be hiring since thepany is newly established. I have a niece who¡¯s a fresh gradu ate. Can you arrange a job for her?¡± ¡°Huh! I almost forgot. I also have a cousin that¡¯s recently unemployed. He has eight years of experienc e in business management. Dahlia, you should hire him into management. He¡¯s sure to help you out!¡± After a few drinks, some women started to chatter. ¡°Hiring is handled by Human Resources. I usually don¡¯t interfere. Of course, if any of you have a suitabl e candidate, they can always submit their resume,¡± Dahlia responded professionally. Thepany was very against nepotis m, and she would usually avoid matters like this. Of course, if it were unavoidable, she would arrange an idle job fo r them. ¡°Dahlia, listen to me. I heard that Dustin and Ms. Harmon are very close. If you won¡¯t help us, we¡¯ll ask Dustin!¡± one of them eximed. ¡°Hmph! Dustin is nothing but a gold digger. He¡¯s not even fit to be in my sister¡¯s shadow!¡± James snorte d coldly. ¡°That¡¯s right! What can useless trash do for you? Do you really think he could speak up before Ms. Har mon? Stop daydreaming!¡± Florence also added in spite. Why would they mention that trash to dampen the mood? ¡°But I heard Dustin was invited onto the stage at today¡¯s opening ceremony,¡± the person added. ¡°So what? He didn¡¯t even say a single word. It was so humiliating!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! It may seem he¡¯s living a glorious life now, but he¡¯s nothing but a tool. Ms. Harmon will kic k him aside when she gets tired of him!¡± Everyone started nodding along. That was right. What did Ms. Harmon see in a person such as Dustin? In the end, he was nothing but a ything. Once she got tired of him, she woul d throw him away. By then, Dustin would be worthless! ¡°Hard work requires effort. Any man who depends on a woman is useless. The real talented young man is Chris!¡± James finished and gave Chris a big thumbs up. Chris¡¯s eyes twitched, and he seemed nervous. In the past, he would definitely scoff in contempt of Dus tin. However, after witnessing his power today, he felt Dustin was not someone ordinary. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s stop talking about this and eat,¡± Dahlia said, trying to change the topic. She didn¡¯t want to hear CS CamScanner Dustin¡¯s and Natasha¡¯s names mentioned. Whenever she thought of the twoughing and talking, she would feel strangely panicked. ¡°Quick! Surround this ce. No one can leave!¡± Suddenly, there was amotion outside the door. Immediately, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. A group of heavily armed guards stormed in aggressively. The deadly aura radiating from them made everyone¡¯s blood run cold. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . ¡°Who is Dahlia Nicholson?¡± The leading soldier stepped out, his eyes as sharp as a knife. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Everyone was shocked when they watched the guards swarm in. They looked at each other in confusion for some time. ¡°Officer, what is the matter?¡± Florence braced herself and asked. She had never witnessed such an asion as a civilian. Even if she did not do anything illegal, she still felt guilty. ¡°I¡¯m asking, who is Dahlia Nicholson?¡± the officer spoke in a somber tone with a hostile look in his eyes. ¡°I am¡­¡± Dahlia slowly stood up and put on a brave face as she asked, ¡°What can I do for you, officer?¡± ¡°ording to our investigations, you are coborating with the enemy. You are used of being a spy nted by the west. Come with us immediately to assist in the investigation!¡± the officer announced. ¡°Coborating with the enemy? A traitor?¡± Everyone was shocked at his usation. That didn¡¯t seem usible. Dahlia was born and raised in Swinton, she wasn¡¯t mixed in any way. Even her ancestors were all ordinary farmers. How could she end up being a traitor? ¡°Officer, is there a mistake? My daughter is a model citizen. She pays her taxes every year and even donates to charity. How is it possible that she¡¯s a traitor?¡± Florence asked in shock. ¡°That¡¯s right! My sister is innocent. You shouldn¡¯t spew nonsense!¡± James mmed the table and stood up unhappily. ¡°We will find out whether this is a mistake after the investigation!¡± the guard answered coldly. ¡°Is there even a need? We can testify!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Dahlia is definitely not a traitor!¡± everyone spoke out in support. They were very clear about Dahlia¡¯s conduct. It would be more usible that she manipted the market, but being a traitor to the country was not possible! ¡°I¡¯m just following orders. Anyone who stops me will be deemed an aplice!¡± The officer started to get impatient. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± James red at him. ¡°Do you know who we are? You wouldn¡¯t live to see daylight if you dared touch a single hair on my sister!¡± ¡°Huh! There is solid evidence of Dahlia Nicholson¡¯s collusion with the enemy country. Anyone who obstructs the arrest must be an aplice. If that¡¯s the case, take them all away! Anyone who resists will be shot!¡± At the officer¡¯s order, all the soldiers raised their guns one after another. The cold gun barrel aimed at the people in the room felt very menacing. In an instant, everyone froze. ¡°You-you¡­¡± James wanted to say something but Dahlia quickly stopped him. ¡°Everyone, keep calm. I believe CS CamScanner there must be some misunderstanding. I¡¯m sure they will let me go after the investigation.¡± The officer snorted coldly at these words. They were the ones who decided whether this was a misunderstanding or not! ¡°Take them away!¡± the officer ordered, and everyone was taken to the car. The car stopped at the gates of the Spanner Vi 20 minutester. ¡°Officer, this doesn¡¯t look like a ce for investigations,¡± Florence asked with uncertainty. ¡°Stop talking nonsense! Go in!¡± The officer couldn¡¯t bother to say more and forced everyone inside the vi. Everyone realized something was off once they walked into the courtyard. Two white gs were hung Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. on each side of the door, and in the middle of the living room was a coffin. Trevor¡¯s portrait greeted them. ¡°Sir Spanner?¡± Everyone widened their eyes in confusion. As for Dahlia, she started to feel uneasy. She realized she must have walked into a trap. ¡°Is everyone here?¡± Just when everyone was left wondering, a burly Travis walked out imposingly. His sharp eyes and menacing stance felt so overbearing some couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Sir, everyone rted is here,¡± the officer replied. ¡°Okay.¡± Travis nodded, his gaze swept through the crowd, and he continued, ¡°My name is Travis Spanner. I¡¯m from the western war zone with the position of a general. I believe some of you may have heard of me.¡± 2 ¡°Travis Spanner? General?¡± Everyone¡¯s face fell at these words. Chris was especially fearful. Others might not know it, but he knew very well how scary the western warzone was. Only one who was experienced in battle and had strong military control could obtain this position. Even the Mighty Three had to show their respect in the face of this man. In this world, money and status were far inferior to power! Rich people did not necessarily have power, but people with power must have money! This man before him was the prime example of someone with money and power. The point was his power came from the military. He could convict anyone of any crime in just a word! For example, treason! ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste time, so I¡¯ll just ask one question. You¡¯ll survive if you answer honestly. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be convicted for the crime of treason!¡± Travis threatened without beating around the bush. ¡°General, we will fully cooperate with the investigation!¡± Florence nodded, her legs trembling with fear. She had no choice. This man¡¯s demeanor was too domineering! ¡°Alright. Let me ask you, did my brother¡¯s death have anything to do with you?¡± Travis asked. The crowd got anxious as soon as he said those words. CS CamScanner ¡°No! It has nothing to do with us! We don¡¯t know anything!¡± ¡°Yes! We¡¯re all innocent!¡± ¡°General! You must be mistaken! We have nothing to do with Sir Spanner¡¯s death!¡± Everyone shook their heads in fright. They would definitely lose their lives if they admitted to such a thing. ¡°Is that so?¡± Travis snickered coldly. He waved his hand without another word and ordered, ¡°Edward, take a look at these people.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming!¡± Edward slowly limped out of the room. As his gaze fixed on Dahlia, he immediately took on a lustful expression. However, his lust quickly turned to resentment. Now that he had be crippled, he wouldn¡¯t feel anything even before this exquisite woman. ¡®Since he couldn¡¯t get her, he would rather destroy her! At this thought, Edward¡¯s face contorted into a nasty look. ¡°Uncle! It¡¯s her, Dahlia! My dad¡¯s death must have something to do with her!¡± Edward pointed at Dahlia, then turned around and pointed at Chris, shouting, ¡°And him! He also has a grudge against me! He might be suspicious too!¡± Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chris waspletely dumbfounded to be pointed out by Edward. Never in his wildest dreams had he e xpected Edward to do so. He didn¡¯t do anything, but somehow he got involved. ¡°Tell me honestly, did you have anything to do with my dad¡¯s death?¡± Edward red and shouted. ¡°No! It had nothing to do with me! I don¡¯t know anything!¡± Chris shook his head in fear, cold sweat drippi ng down his forehead. ¡°You don¡¯t know, or you don¡¯t want to tell?¡± Edward narrowed his eyes menacingly. ¡°Mr. Spanner, I really have no idea! This is all a misunderstanding!¡± Chris started to plead, every inch of his body was begging for mercy. Although he knew Edward was taking the opportunity to settle their perso nal grudge, he couldn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Huh! It seems like you won¡¯t spill without some pressure. Come, beat him up!¡± Edward ordered, and tw o officers immediately took action. ¡°Wait!¡± James suddenly stopped them. ¡°Do you know who he is? He¡¯s Chris Nn of Nn Pharmaceu ticals! He¡¯s also very close with Mr. Anderson! If you dared touch a hair on him, Mr. Anderson would not let it s lide!¡± ¡°There! Uncle Travis, you heard it. This guy is rted to Hunter Anderson! He must be one of the murd erers!¡± Edward suddenly became excited, as if he had caught Chris admitting to the crime. ¡°So you¡¯re Hunter¡¯s aplice that killed my brother?¡± Travis red at him. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . There were two main suspects in this case. One was Hunter Anderson, and the other was Dahlia Nicho lson. This man was connected to both of these people, so he was obviously involved. ¡°No! It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Chris was slightly startled, and he quickly shook his head. ¡°I have nothing to do with Mr. Anderson! I don¡¯t know anything at all. This whole thing was a misunderstanding from start to finish! ¡± ¡°Chris, why do you have to be afraid of them? You have Mr. Anderson to help you. They wouldn¡¯t dare t o touch you!¡± James proimed proudly. ¡°Shut the fuck up!¡± Chris was so terrified he threw his arms around andnded a p on James¡® face. Mr. Anderson was nothing! This guy was a generalmanding thousands of troops! Who could stop someone like him if he goes mad? ¡°Chris¡­ Why did you hit me?¡± James held onto his face in pain. ¡°Didn¡¯t you give Mr. Anderson a phone call to save my sister when Sir Spanner was messing with her? Did I say something wrong?¡± ¡°Fuck you! How dare you speak nonsense! Shut up!¡± Chris was about to cry. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead. Was this guy an idiot? Couldn¡¯t h e read the room? ¡°We have a witness and physical evidence! I¡¯d like to see you exin yourself!¡± Edward gloated. He just CS CamScanner wanted to take advantage of the situation. He didn¡¯t expect to actually get results. ¡°Edward, this guy is bullshitting! I didn¡¯t do anything. It was aplete coincidence that Mr. Anderson s howed up that day! They were the ones giving me all the credit willingly!¡± Chris had no choice but to tell the truth as the situation started to get out of hand. ¡°Huh? Didn¡¯t you help my sister?¡± James was very confused. ¡°In your dreams!¡± Chris berated angrily. ¡°Who am I to request for Mr. Anderson? You should really use your brains! If I had that power, I wouldn¡¯t go bankrupt!¡± ¡°What? Bankrupt?¡± The entire Nicholson family was shocked by his words. They couldn¡¯t react for a moment. ¡°At this point, I won¡¯t bother to hide anymore. Dustin was right. Nn Pharmaceuticals is under investig ation, and we¡¯re going bankrupt. Now, it¡¯s just an empty shell!¡± Chris could no longer be bothered. He would do anything to be set apart from the Nicholson family. ¡°You¡¯re not joking, are you? You said thepany was going public. How could it go bankrupt?¡± Floren ce was dumbfounded. ¡°Going public? That¡¯s bullshit! I just said that to fool all of you! There¡¯s no such thing on earth! I wouldn¡¯t even think of you if the dividends existed! Stop dreaming!¡± Chris had a grim expression on his face. He was bbing about everything at this moment. He would do anything to draw a line between himself and the Nicholson family to save his life. ¡°You mean you¡¯ve been lying to us?¡± Florence was shocked and in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s right! I just wanted to snag some money and run away. Who knew you¡¯d be dumb enough to bel ieve it!¡± Chris sneered. ¡°You monster! How could you cheat us of our money? Pay us back!¡± Florence shrieked and jumped at Chris. That was her retirement money. She had invested everything to get the bonus. Who knew it would all be in vain? It was as if her whole world had copsed! ¡°You sly wolf! We trusted you! How could you cheat us of our money? You¡¯re an animal! Give us back t he money!¡± The others were also agitated and started to protest, but they were quickly forced back by t he armed guards. Only Florence was quick enough to leave a scratch mark on Chris¡¯s face. ¡°The money is gone! Truth be told, I¡¯ve transferred all the funds overseas. You should just give up!¡± Chr is camepletely clean. His words were like a knife, stabbed through their chests. They had never felt more regret! If they had known this, they wouldn¡¯t have been greedy and believed in Chris¡¯s nonsense. ¡°Why would you do this?¡± Dahlia frowned in confusion. She never expected Chris¡¯s capital increase wo uld be a scam. Moreover, Dustin was being kind when he tried to tell her the Nn family was going bankrupt. However, no one believed him. This was really a big p in the face! ¡°Why? Of course, it was for money! I¡¯ll have women when I have money. You should all know this!¡± Chris snickered. CS CamScanner ¡°So the partnership with the Harmon family had nothing to do with you either?¡± Dahlia asked tentatively. ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Chris admitted to it inly. ¡°My dad never called the Harmon family. They made the decis ion themselves. I just took advantage of the situation! The funny thing was you all believed me without a doubt!¡± Dahlia waspletely dumbfounded. Everything turned out to be a misunderstanding. Chris never hel ped her in any way and even cheated her of her money. The worst part was that he had taken credit for everything and kept her in the dark. He had such wild ambitions! The question was, who had helped her behind her back if it wasn¡¯t Chris? Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¡°Could it be Dustin?¡± Dahlia wondered. She then immediately dismissed this thought. That was impossible! They were already divorced. Besides, they were now like water and oil. Why would he help her? Moreo Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ver, he wasn¡¯t capable of it. ¡°Chris Nn! You¡¯re such a vile and despicable human being! I must¡¯ve been blind to believe in someo ne like you!¡± ¡°Bastard! I even thought of you as family! You¡¯re even worse than that trash, Dustin!¡± Florence and Jam es cursed at him after knowing the truth. They had put their whole trust in Chris. They didn¡¯t expect him to be a fraud. ¡°We all have to look out for ourselves! You only have yourself to me for being so dumb!¡± Chris mock ed scornfully. ¡°Shut the fuck up! My ears are sore from listening to your bickering!¡± Edward roared, and everyone fell silent at once. ¡°What I¡¯m trying to say is, I have nothing to do with the Nicholson family. I don¡¯t know Hunter Anderson either. The Nicholson family was behind Sir Spanner¡¯s death! I had nothing to do with it!¡± Chris knelt on the floor with a thud and started to beg. ¡°Uncle Travis, how should we deal with him?¡± Edward asked. Travis didn¡¯t say a word. He took two steps forward and dered to Chris, ¡°I don¡¯t care about what you have to do with the Nicholson family. I just want to know who the murderer is! Tell me, and I¡¯ll spare you, or else you face the same fate as them!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Chris suddenly had an idea and said in a hurry. ¡°I figured it out! It must be Dusti n! He must¡¯ve murdered Mr. Spanner!¡± ¡°Dustin? What a familiar name.¡± Edward pinched his chin in deep thought. ¡°Edward, did you forget? He¡¯s the one who beat you up!¡± Chris started to bber. ¡°It was him!¡± Edward immediately remembered and added resentfully, ¡°Uncle Travis, Dustin is the most suspicious of all!¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Travis asked coldly.. ¡°I saw him at the Emerald building this morning. I don¡¯t know where he went after that. Oh, Dahlia is in charge of the Emerald building. She¡¯s also Dustin¡¯s wife. She must know where he is!¡± Chris pointed at Dahlia and pushed all the me onto her. ¡°Bullshit! Dustin and my sister are divorced!¡± James immediately refuted. ¡°That¡¯s right! We have nothing to do with Dustin. His mess has nothing to do with us!¡± ¡°Yeah! You should look for Dustin. We¡¯re all Innocent!¡± CS CamScanner Everyone started to protest, afraid of being involved in this matter. ¡°I¡¯ll decide if you¡¯re innocent or not. Everyone is guilty before we find the murderer!¡± Travis scoffed coldl y. ¡°That damned Dustin! He¡¯s going to kill us all!¡± ¡°This is so unfair! We¡¯ve obeyed thew our whole lives. Why did we meet such a troublemaker?¡± The Nicholson familymented together. ¡°Leave Dahlia and lock up the rest of the Nicholson family!¡± Travis gave the order. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The adjutant saluted, and armed soldiers led Florence and the others into the car. As for Chris, he was shocked out of his wits. ¡°Where are you taking them?¡± Dahlia frowned with worry. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t worry about them. You should worry about yourself.¡± Travis slowly inched closer and asked coldly, ¡°Where is Dustin? Are both of you involved in my brother¡¯ s death? You¡¯d better be honest, and I¡¯ll end you quickly! Otherwise, your entire family would join you!¡± ¡°Sir Spanner¡¯s death has nothing to do with me! I don¡¯t know anything!¡± Dahlia denied. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Travis snorted. ¡°It seems you won¡¯t say anything without some force.¡± He waved his hands, and two soldiers came forward and bound Dahlia up and hung her in from the ceiling. ¡°Let me go! You¡¯re abusing your power!¡± Dahlia kept on struggling. However, her wrist hurt more with e ach struggle. ¡°Abusing my power?¡± Travisughed at her statement. ¡°It seems like you haven¡¯t got a hold of the situat ion. Now, your life is in my hands. I decide if you die or live. I¡¯ll ask you one more time, where is Dustin? ¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Dahlia shook her head stubbornly. ¡°Huh! I think you would only give up after facing death! Beat her up until she spills it!¡± Travismande d. A burly underling quickly came forward dragging a barbed whip. ¡°What are you doing? I¡­ Dahlia¡¯s face paled, and as she was about to say something, the whipnded hard on her back with a crack! With that crisp sound, her clothes tore, and a deep, bloody wound was left on her back. Dahlia moaned and gritted her teeth, holding in pain. What quickly followed were multiple whips. The blowsnded on her one after another. Dahlia finally couldn¡¯t hold it in and let out a scream. Her body was in such pain it started to tremble. Her pale and smooth ba ck instantly became bruised and bloody! This whip was a specially designed torture device covered with dense spikes. Even a man couldn¡¯t end ure a dozenshes, let alone a woman. ¡°Spill!¡± Travis stood to her side and watched unfeelingly. CS CamScanner Dahlia bit her lip in pain. She was sweating profusely, but her eyes were set with determination. ¡°Don¡¯t stop! Hit harder!¡± Travis was losing his temper with her andmanded his underlings to use more strength. As a result, the sounds of the whip and screams began to erupt one after another. Chris couldn¡¯t bear to watch on. He could only lower his head in silence. Edward, on the other hand, had a disturbing smile on his face. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 After being subjected to the torture, Dahlia finally passed out. Her back was bloody and horrific to look at. The fresh wounds were still bleeding profusely, her body sti ll twitching uncontrobly even while she was passed out. ¡°General, she has lost consciousness!¡± one of his men reported. ¡°Wake her up and keep going.¡± Travis spat coldly. ¡°Uncle Travis, can I have a go?¡± Edward interjected eagerly. Ever since he was crippled, there had bee n a tremendous shift in his psychology. The more beautiful a woman was, the more he wanted to destroy her. ¡°If you want to, go ahead.¡± Travis nodded in approval. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Travis!¡± Edward grinned eerily. Once Dahlia awakened, he wielded the whip in his hand and struck her. ¡°Tell me!¡± ¡°Just kill me!¡± Dahlia could no longer endure the pain. Her mind was at the end of its rope. Now, she could only hope they would put an end to her misery. ¡°Kill you? Not so fast! I haven¡¯t even had enough!¡± Edward smiled sadistically and continued with the to rture. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. After a while, Dahlia, covered in bruises, fell into aa again. ¡°General, the murderer hasn¡¯t been revealed. If this continues, she will die soon,¡± the adjutant reminded . ¡°This woman is so stubborn!¡± Travis was impressed. This torture device was typically used to coerce confessions. People usually confessed to everything after three whips. Even specially trained forces wo uld not be able to handle a dozenshes. Yet, this woman was able to withhold dozens of whips without revealing anything. Even he couldn¡¯t hel p but be impressed. ¡°Hang her at the entrance as bait. Call off the surrounding guards and see if Dustin wille to rescue her.¡± Travismanded. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± the adjutant answered and hung the unconscious Dahlia at the gates. ¡°Don¡¯t you die on me! I¡¯ll have my fun with you when I capture Dustin!¡± Edward licked the drops of blood at the corner of his mouth with a perverse smile. Dustin had just finished his meal at the Peaceful Medical Center when he received a call. It was Hunter Anderson, and he sounded like he was in a hurry. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯ve received news that Ms. Nicholson has been arrested!¡± CS CamScanner ¡°Arrested?¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°It¡¯s Travis Spanner! He arrested Ms. Nicholson and her family for the crime of treason. They are receiv ing private punishment now!¡± Hunter exined. Dustin¡¯s face fell when he heard this. He knew very clearly what type of person Travis was. No ordinary person could bear the torture methods in the war zone! ¡°Where is Travis?¡± Dustin was very anxious. ¡°At the Spanner Vi. Mr. Rhys, Travis has set an ambush for you. You shouldn¡¯t be too impulsive. Wait ¨C Before Hunter could finish, Dustin had already hung up the phone and rushed out. When he arrived at Spanner Vi, he saw a woman hanging from the front of the vi doors. The woman¡¯s hair was disheveled, her clothes were torn, and blood trickled down her body. It was a ho rrible sight to behold. Dustin¡¯s eyes widened in shock when he realized the woman hanging there was Dahlia! Dustin balled his hand into a fist. A murderous aura erupted from him. Suddenly, there was a gust of str ong wind that sent the rocks flying. Even the surrounding temperature started to drop rapidly. Dustin shot up and cut off the rope with one hand. He caught Dahlia, who was covered in blood, and nded gently on the ground. At this moment, Dahlia had already passed out, and the wounds on her back were an unsightly mess. The sight of those whip marks and wounds pierced Dustin¡¯s heart like a sharp knife. ¡°Just kill me,¡± Dahlia mumbled unconsciously. She must have suffered a lot of pain to ask for death. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Dustin¡¯s hands were trembling. Tears pricked his eyes. He knew that Dahlia was in this mess because of him. He dragged her into this. 1 ¡°Haha! Dustin Rhys, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Edward roared as he and his men walked out slowly. ¡°You did this?¡± Dustin raised his head slowly, his eyes fixed on the whip in Edward¡¯s hands. ¡°So what? What can you do to me at this point?¡± Edward was not afraid at all. Although his uncle had withdrawn half the troops, there were more than a dozen heavily armed elites a mbushed around. Each of these men could defeat a hundred people. It would be easy to deal with this one man. ¡°Dustin, is it? Did you kill my brother, Trevor?¡± Travis asked. ¡°It was me.¡± Dustin answered inly. As he spoke, his gaze was fixed on Edward. ¡°I¡¯m d that you admit it. Now, go pay for your sins before my brother¡¯s coffin before I end your life,¡± Tr avis said coldly. ¡°Pay for my sins?¡± Dustin snorted coldly, ¡°Even your superior, Adam Spanner, would not speak to me this way. CS CamScanner You¡¯re nothing to me!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Travis raised an eyebrow. Adam Spanner was themanding general in the western army. He was also his superior. Only a ha ndful of people know about his existence. How had Dustin heard of him? ¡°You know Chief General Spanner?¡± Travis was slightly taken aback. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to take your own life out of respect for Adam. This way, your body might still be i ntact!¡± Dustin demanded. ¡°Keep my body intact?¡± ¡°Before Travis could respond, Edward guffawed loudly. ¡°Are you out of your mind? Open your eyes and recognize your ce in this world!¡± As he spoke, the other hidden elites immediately revealed themselves. Each armed soldier looked very threatening and menacing. However, Dustin didn¡¯t even pay any attention to them. His eyes were focused on Edward as if he were already a dead man. ¡°His body could stay intact, but you would have nothing left but bones!¡± Then, Dustin immediately made his move. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Dustin took a step forward and leaped into the air. He moved as fast as lightning. ¡°Quick! Kill him!¡± Edward immediately tensed up and yelled when he noticed Dustin make a move. However, before the armed elites could react, Dustin had already leaped forward. Dustin reached out and kicked one of the armed elites, who flew away like a piece of paper. A hole was pierced through the bulletproof vest on his chest. Even his bones were shattered! Before he couldnd, Dustin swerved before another person and kicked him in the neck. After killing two people in a row, Dustin did not stop and continued his attacks frantically. Anything he touched was destroyed in mere seconds. No one could stand in his way. These armed elites could not even react to his speed and strength. In a short time, they were defeated one after another. Their guns couldn¡¯t keep up with his speed. Not even a single shot had been fired. The entire time Dustin had been holding on to Dahlia and attacking with his feet! Edward was dumbfounded as he watched what unfolded. He looked like he had seen a ghost. These elites were experienced in battles and each one were heavily armed. It should be effortless to defeat Dustin. Howe they were the ones on the chopping board? What was happening? ¡°Is he a martial arts expert? No wonder he¡¯s so full of himself!¡± Travis narrowed his eyes in surprise. It h ad not been easy for him to obtain his current position. He was also quite skilled and knowledgeable in martial arts. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. All the elites in the army have to be trained in martial arts. With the exception of intelligence agencies, proficiency in martial arts greatly affected the ranking of mil itary personnel. The skills disyed by Dustin easily qualified him to be a highly ranked officer! ¡°General, this man is quite powerful, should we retreat?¡± the adjutant asked in a low voice. ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s rare toe up against such an expert. I want to personally fight him!¡± Travis loo sened his muscles. That burly body of his carried the strength of a panther. ¡°Your turn!¡± When thest person fell, Dustin¡¯s eyes once again fixed on Edward. ¡°Uncle Travis! Save me!¡± Edward stumbled back in fear. ¡°Nobody would be able to save you today!¡± Dustin stepped forward and headed toward Edward. ¡°Your opponent is me!¡± Travis roared and leaped toward him. He threw a punch at Dustin. Dustin didn¡¯t even look at him as he severed Travis¡¯s leg without any hesitation. As Edward was calling out for help, Travisnded his fist on Dustin¡¯s back. There was a loud explosion. Dustin was unmoved, but his clothes tore open, revealing his muscr bo dy. CS CamScanner Travis, on the other hand, was taken aback by the impact and spat a mouthful of blood as he stumbled to the ground. ¡°General!¡± The adjutant was ovee by worry and he quickly helped Travis up. Travis coughed violently, feeling a surge of blood rising inside. His fist, especially, was trembling uncont robly, as if it had lost all senses. ¡°This is not possible!¡± Travis was shocked as he stared at his trembling arms. His eyes were filled with shock. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Dustin¡¯s body would be so imprable. His full strength di d not even make a scratch on his opponent, yet he had sustained multiple internal injuries. Dustin was an absolute beast! Who on earth was this man? Travis raised his head in confusion and doubt. In an instant, he stood there dumbfounded as if struck by lightning because he realized that there was arge tattoo on Dustin¡¯s sturdy body. It was an animal with a dragon¡¯s head, an ox¡¯s tail, a tiger¡¯s back, a bear¡¯s waist, and a snake¡¯s scales. It was a ck beast! The tattoo of the beast was so realistic that, as Dustin breathed, it looked as if it wasing alive. It looked so majestic and ferocious! It was so daunting! ¡°A kirin tattoo?¡± Travis was stunned, as if he had suddenly remembered something. He looked terrified. His surname was Rhys, with a tattoo of a ck beast, and he knew themanding general. Could he be the Rhys family¡¯s Kirin?! No! That wasn¡¯t possible! Why was the man that stirred up the whole of Chouxe and disappeared for ten years here? ¡°Are you of Chouxe descent?¡± Travis asked tentatively, his lips quivering. ¡°Oh? You finally figured it out?¡± Dustin slowly turned around with a nk expression. There was no har m in him knowing as he was going to die anyway. ¡°It really is you. Why are you here?¡± Travis was so frightened that he broke out in cold sweat. His confid ence from beforepletely dissipated. There was nothing but fear on his face. No wonder he knew Adam Spanner. It turned out he was the legendary Kirin! Travis was done for! He had angered someone that made even Sergeant Adam uneasy! ¡°General? What¡¯s wrong?¡± The adjutant was horrified. He had never seen Travis with such a terrified expression. He could remain calm even on a mountain of corpses on the battlefield. He had a lways been fearless in the face of danger. What happened to him now? How could a tough guy like him be trembling from fright? Who was this man Dustin? ¡°We¡¯re done for.¡± Travis fell to the ground with a thud dejectedly. He knew he would die today. The only difference was if he would die in one plece. ¡°General! I¡¯ve called for backup. They¡¯ll be here soon! Hold on!¡± the adjutant tried to encourage him. ¡°There¡¯s no use.¡± Travis shook his head as if he had been exhausted of all strength. ¡°General, what¡¯s wrong?¡± The adjutant started to panic. Travis trembled as he pointed at Dustin and stammered, ¡°He¡¯s the Kirin of the Rhys family, Logan Rhys !¡± The adjutant froze when he heard this name. His face was as pale as ash. They were done for! The dead hade back to life. Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Who was Logan Rhys exactly? The hurricane that had stirred up the city of Stonia! The demon that had disturbed the peace of the people! He was also the one behind the tragedy in Osnal ten years ago. No one had ever expected that a 15¨Cyear¨Cold could cause so much destruction. Thus, it was no wonder Travis was horrified to see him. Who would¡¯ve guessed that the man who was standing in front of them was the stuff of legends who had disappeared from the face of the ten y ears ago. THE Logan Rhys! The adjutant¡¯s legs instantly gave out, causing him to crumple to the ground with a thud. His mind was drawing aplete nk at the moment. After Dustin gave Travis, who was behind him, a nce, he started walking toward Edward. *Help me, Uncle Travis! Uncle Travis!¡± Cradling his broken leg. Edward kept screaming his head off as he wriggled on the floor like a maggot, trying his hardest to evade Dustin. ¡°I told you, I¡¯ll make sure you won¡¯t even have a corpse left after I kill you!¡± Dustin dered as he picke d up a long whip covered in spikes from the ground, then delivered a swift blow to Edward¡¯s face mercil essly. ¡°Argh!¡± Edward cried out in pain. The skin of his face was torn apart down the middle, and blood started spurting out of the wound. Dustin didn¡¯t hold back and delivered another swift blow to another part of his body. As a crunching sound rang out, Edward¡¯s skin and flesh, along with his clothes, got torn to shreds. ¡°Gah!¡± he yelped miserably once more and resumed crying for help. ¡°Hurry, Uncle Travis! Please save me!¡± Even though he witnessed all this happening, Travis didn¡¯t move a muscle. It was as if he didn¡¯t hear a t hing. all while Dustin showed no mercy, delivering blow after blow onto Edward¡¯s battered frame. Every blow caused blood and flesh to spurt out, and the man kept screeching in excruciating pain. ¡°S¨C stop hitting me! I fucked up! I know I really fucked up this time!¡± Edward begged for mercy profusely as he knelt on the ground. However, his cries fell on deaf ears, and Dustin continued to whip him, his eyes devoid of mercy. *This was for all the pain Dahlia endured up until now. I¡¯ll make sure you pay it back ten, no, a hundred ¨Cfold!¡± Dustin eximed to himself. ¡°Good, good! You¡¯d better whip his ass to death!¡± Chris Instigated from a corner of the room with a mischievous look. The saying went that the wicked always got what wasing to them. This was proven true by Edward , the amateur evil mastermind, who ended up abused and beaten up by mega superviin Dustin Rhys. Just as Dustin was in the middle of exacting his revenge, a long procession of cars suddenly drove tow ard CS CamScanner them and halted right in front of Spanner Vi. Arge number of armed elites swarmed out of each car to seal off the entire premise. The armed elites, who were all d in ck suits and body armor, each carried with them a gun on thei r backs. All of them looked intimidating. Even if they were just standing there quietly, they still gave off a very menacing feeling. Plus, this was more than a step uppared to Travis¡® menst time! ¡°So¡­ it was Rhys who sent them!¡± Travis thought and immediately felt a pang of despair after looking at the army of elite forces. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Thest trace of hope he had in his heart vanished that very second! At that moment, the door to a Rolls¨CRoyce suddenly opened, and Hunter Anderson got out of the car. ¡°Mr. Anderson?¡± The moment the badly battered and bruised Edwardid his eyes on Hunter, he felt as if his savior had arrived. He immediately perked up and started wing his li mp body toward Hunter, frantically begging him for help. ¡°Help me, Mr. Anderson! This kid is trying to kill me! Q¨C quickly, arrest him for me! As long as you help me now, half of the Spanner¡¯s fortune will be yours!¡± Edward offered without hesitation, fully intent on luring him i nto saving him with his obscene riches. After all, wasn¡¯t life more important than all the riches in the world? The whipping he¡¯d endured had already scared him shitless. He knew very well that if the whipping did n¡¯t cease, he would get beaten to death sooner orter. ¡°Is that you, Edward Spanner?¡± Hunter asked as he gazed upon the bloody figure before him. He had to examine him for a bit before recognizing him. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me! You must save me on behalf of Sir Hummer, Mr. Andersin!¡± Edward pleaded as hey on t he ground, clutching Hunter¡¯s pant leg with a deadly grip. ¡°Fuck off!¡± Hunter growled in response as he kicked him away and ignored his pleas. Instead of helping him, he quickly walked over to the other side of the car, bent over slightly, and opene d the car door to reveal an old man d in a dated suit. He got out of the car and started walking nonchntl y using a cane. ¡°Sir Francis, you¡¯d better be more careful¡­¡± Hunter cooed and reached his hand out to prop the old ma n up. Edward was dumbfounded after witnessing him act all respectful and humble like that. It was known for a fact that the person standing in front of him was the President of the Swinton Group, one of the three m ajor groups in the city. He was even the type tough and joke around with someone of such high standing as Sir Hummer. So, who exactly was this old man who managed to bring out his humble side? What the hell was going on?! Then again, he wasn¡¯t the only person who was surprised at this turn of events. CS CamScanner Chris, who was still hiding in a corner, also had a bewildered look on his face. In his eyes, Hunter Anderson was an influential man whose standing was at the top of Swinton. So, who was this person able to reduce him to the demeanor of a mere servant? What was the identity of this man d in such a dated suit in front of him? ¡°Sir! Please help me, sir!¡± Aftering out of a daze, Edward immediately limped over to the old man in the suit and kept bowing his head to him, disregarding the fact that he had no idea who the old man was. It was obvious to him that this man was way more influential than he thought, judging by the fact that h e regarded Hunter Anderson as his grandson. Heck, he might even be a government official from Stonia for all he knew! Thus, as long as this mammoth of a man was willing to lend him a hand, he¡¯d be able to reverse his fat e and even turn his life around! Hearing Edward¡¯s plea for help, the suited old man merely shot him a nce before withdrawing his ga ze. He then proceeded to tidy his hair and straighten his clothes. After making sure that he looked imm acte and presentable, he started walking toward Dustin. Then, to the utmost shock and dismay of everyone at the scene, he dropped to his knees on the floor a nd knelt before Dustin. ¡°My sincere greetings to you, Mr. Rhys!¡± he proimed. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Silence ensued. The atmosphere was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop. Everyone was stunned and dumbfounded the Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. moment the elderly gentleman in the suit knelt down in front of Dustin Rhys. No one had remotely expected that such an influential man with the power to make Hunter Anderson grove l in front of him would kneel in front of Dustin! It was almost like he was a ve who was greeting his master. What the hell was going on here?! ¡°Uh-..¡± Chris hummed and froze on the spot, his face full of disbelief. He had thought that Dustin was o nly good at fighting, but who knew that this man turned out to be more powerful and influential than he t hought? Hunter Anderson was already an influential figure in his own right, wasn¡¯t he? So why did he have to gr ovel and act meekly in front of the older gentleman in the suit? Surely, the older gentleman in the suit was even more powerful, right? So why on earth was this big shot kneeling i n front of Dustin Rhys?! How dare that bastard. This was simply too humiliating! The scene in front of him clearly showed him how terrifying the man he despised, Dustin Rhys, truly wa s. ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s impossible! Absolutely impossible!¡± thought Edward, who was scared shitless at this poi nt. From the moment he witnessed the older man in the suit kneel, his spirit had been utterly shaken! This instantly shattered his remaining hope for survival. Now, only despair and fear were left in its ce . Who would have thought that his perceived lifeline would turn out to be Dustin¡¯s servant of all people? Shit, what kind of monster had he gotten himself tangled with this time? He was just way too different fr om Chris and Edward. At this moment, Travis felt his death looming on the horizon¡­ He reckoned that it was his fate that he would not be able to leave this ce alive today the moment he found out about Dustin¡¯s true identity. If he put up a fight, he, along with his entire family would be eradicated! ¡°Dustin, it¡¯s been ten years. I can¡¯t believe I finally found you!¡± Sir Francis said as he knelt on the groun d. Tears streamed down his face profusely, but he didn¡¯t give a shit what other people thought of him at the time. Dustin, on the other hand, didn¡¯t even flinch at this. Instead, he looked at him indifferently, as if he was aplete stranger. ¡°Fuck off!¡± he screamed as he averted his gaze from Sir Francis before walking up to Edward. His intent to kill was at its peak now! ¡°P¨C please don¡¯t kill me¡­ Please don¡¯t kill me. Just spare my life, I¡¯ll do anything!¡± Edward whimpered In fe ar. pissing himself in the process. Even so, he didn¡¯t stop bowing his head and begging for mercy. CS CamScanner ¡°If I don¡¯t kill you now, I won¡¯t be able to let go of this hatred in my heart!¡± Dustin growled maniacally as he put one foot forward to stomp on Edward¡¯s chest, which caused thetter¡¯s eyes to widen, and look up at him with resignation and fear. So much for a peaceful death. ¡°Mr. Rhys! I¡¯m willing to ept death as my punishment, but please spare the lives of my puny subordi nates!¡± When Dustin¡¯s gazended on Travis, they immediately knew that their time on this earth was up. With out another word, the both of them took out their knives and slit their necks simultaneously. No one had the privilege of negotiating with Dustin at this point. After seeing the two corpses fall to the ground, Dustin said nothing as he left the scene immediately wit h Dahlia in his arms. Sir Francis let out a long sigh, his expression conflicted. Although he¡¯d already found him, seeing how t urbulent his heart was now, he wondered if he¡¯d ever return to normal. ¡°How should we go about this, Sir Francis?¡± Hunter asked with his head lowered. Standing before the older man, his status and reputation were like pieces of paper that could be torn into shreds at any time. ¡°Don¡¯t let the news get out. As for everyone rted to this matter, dispose of them all,¡± Sir Francis repli ed Indifferently. The cavalier manner in which he said it made Hunter¡¯s heart quiver in fear. Does he not know the number of people who would have to suffer because of this? ¡°P¨C please don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯m friends with Dustin!¡± hollered Chris, who had been hiding all this time. He ran o ut in a panic the moment he saw that the elite forces surrounding him were preparing to burn down the ho use. ¡°You¡¯re a friend of Dustin¡¯s?¡± Sir Francis asked as he looked him up and down. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! We¡¯re best buds! We even had dinner together before!¡± Chris nodded profusel y, akin to a chicken pecking rice off the ground. At this point, he¡¯d do anything to stay alive. ¡°Is that so? Then can I trouble you to ensure the he doesn¡¯t stay out toote?¡± Sir Francis requested, hi s tone softer now. ¡°Yes, of course, I¡¯ll definitely tell him that!¡± Chris immediately assured him. ¡°Someone please drive this gentlemah.¡± Sir Francis gestured. ¡°N¨Cno, no, it¡¯s fine¡­ You don¡¯t have to! I can go back by myself!¡± Chris replied while waving his hands in the air frantically. How could he still have the nerve to get in someone else¡¯s car when he was already this scared? Sir Francis didn¡¯t pursue the matter further and merely waved his hands to let his team know to dispers e. CS CamScanner ¡°I¨C I¡¯ll get going then¡­¡± Chris murmured before fleeing as if he¡¯d just escaped from prison. He thanked Go d for his quick wits, which helped him save his skin just now. However, he reckoned that he couldn¡¯t sta y in Stonia for much longer. He decided to leave once he¡¯d saved up enough money. 1 ¡°Sir Francis, I¡¯m convinced that man just now wasn¡¯t very honest with us,¡± Hunter remarked respectfully . ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, he¡¯s just an ant to us, so it doesn¡¯t matter if we kill him or let him live.¡± Sir Francis sai d nonchntly. It was evident to him that Chris was lying the whole time, but he did not dare take the risk, as he feared that Dustin would not take too kindly if he involved himself in his matters too much. He certainly didn¡¯t want to make himself an enemy of the Kirin! Half an hourter, over at the Peaceful Medical Center, Dustin felt his heart shatter as he gazed at the bloody gash on Dahlia¡¯s body. Although the two were divorced, it wasn¡¯t easy to shrug off three whole years of feelings toward one another. Some emotions simply could not be contained, it seemed. After taking a deep breath, he took off her clothes and began carefully cauterizing the wound for her. Although his movements were subtle, when touching certain wounds, her unconscious body would still twitch from the pain involuntarily. This prompted him to be more careful in handling her. Whether it was cleaning up, disinfecting, putting on ointment or badges, he made sure to be extra cautious every step of the way. Once everything was done, he breathed a sigh of relief, not noticing that a film of sweat had formed on his forehead. Just as he was about to up and leave, a slender hand suddenly reached out to grab his wrist. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­ don¡¯t go. Don¡¯t leave me here¡­¡± In her unconscious state, Dahlia looked as if she was exp eriencing a nightmare. Her tightly closed eyes kept rolling from side to side as she kept muttering inaud ibly. Dustin fought to control his rising emotions. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, I¡¯m right here.¡± He slowly moved t o sit next to her, holding her hand with both of his hands. ¡°D¨C don¡¯t go. Dustin¡­ Seeming as if her sense of security had returned, her murmurs slowly became softer , and she started to calm down. However, she held on to his hand for dear life and refused to let go. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± he mumbled as he felt the force behind her fingertips. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of heartache at this. In the past, she had never shown him her soft side and always insisted on being a strong, Independent woman. However, after today, he realized that the icy businesswoman lying in front of him was also a woman w ho needed someone to care for her. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Two dayster, at the Peaceful Medical Center, Dahlia finally woke up. The first thing she noticed was that she was in a very in room that contained a table, two chairs, and a hospital bed. She thought everything looked vaguely familiar, as if she had been here before. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± Dustin quipped as he appeared at the entrance of the room. He was carrying a bowl of chicken soup in one hand. Even though it wasn¡¯t the most vorful dish, the soup looked tantalizing to her as she hadn¡¯t eaten anything for the past two days. So much so that her stomach began to growl non¨Cstop at the sight of it. ¡°Were you the one who saved me?¡± she asked first to break the awkward tension between them. ¡°You were injured and unconscious on the roadside, so I patched you up,¡± he answered inly. 1 ¡°You patched me up?¡± she repeated with furrowed brows. A split secondter, she hastily asked, ¡°Oh, ri ght! How long have I been unconscious? What¡¯s the situation with the Spanners now? Are my parents i n danger?¡± The sudden barrage of questions made his head spin. ¡°You were unconscious for two days and two nights. Your family is safe and sound. As for the Spanner residence, it has been engulfed in mes,¡± he answered each of her questions calmly. Upon receiving news that her family was safe, she couldn¡¯t help but breathe a sigh of relief. However, it didn¡¯t take her long to ask another question in surprise. ¡°Engulfed in mes¡®? What happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics, but I heard that there was a gas leak, so all 20 to 30 people inside the Spanner residence got burned alive inside,¡± he said. ¡°A gas leak? Do you suppose it was a coincidence?¡± she asked in a confused manner. ¡°The wicked reap what they sow. The Spanners have done many evil deeds and always sought to har m others. Seeing them fall from grace like this, I suppose this was just karmaing for their ass in a way.¡± Dustin said. She nodded in response, feeling a sense of relief on the inside. With the Spanner household destroyed, she surmised she did not have to worry about being their targe t anymore in the future. ¡°Alright, stop letting your mind wander. Have some soup first,¡± he said as he handed her the chicken so up. ¡°Thanks,¡± she replied. Since she was hungry, she didn¡¯t refuse his kind gesture and happily started dig ging. into the soup. She managed to finish the entire bowl shortly after. However, she still felt hungry after finishing her food and considered licking the bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll get you another bowl,¡± he said after noticing her expression and served her another bowl of chicken soup. Without a word, she devoured the second bowl of soup as well. CS CamScanner Now that she was having the chicken soup, she soon felt a pleasant warmth in her stomach, which ma de her feel so content it was hard to describe in words. Although the two bowls of soup may not look like much, he was the one who cooked them precisely be cause he was aware that they were very good at speeding up the recovery process. ¡°Still hungry?¡± he asked. At that moment, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from letting out a small burp. She realized that she mighte across as improper to him, so she tried to swallow the air back into h er stomach. ¡°I guess you¡¯ve already had your fill then. Be sure to get lots of rest, and I¡¯lle backter.¡± Before he could leave, she called out to him and said, ¡°Wait! I have something to say to you!¡± ¡°What is it?¡± he said, as he stopped in his tracks and looked back at her. ¡°It¡¯s about Chris. I¡¯m sorry for using you,¡± she muttered. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. After hesitating for a second, she clenched her teeth and continued, ¡°That guy wasn¡¯t a good person to begin with. I can¡¯t believe he managed to trick us out of such arge sum with his silver tongue. If only we had listened to your advice in the beginning.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you today? Did the great Ms. Nicholson just apologize to someone?¡± he teased. ¡°What do you mean? Do I seem like such an unreasonable person to you?¡± she shot back, clearly offen ded by his remark. ¡°I¡¯m kidding! So what if I got used again? It¡¯s not like this is the first time anyway, so forget about it,¡± he said and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Why does it sound so wronging from you?¡± she retorted while wrinkling her brows. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s just forget about the past, shall we? Now, take off your clothes¡­¡± he said casually. ¡°Huh?¡± Her expression instantly changed and she subconsciously shielded her chest with her arms. ¡°W hat are you nning to do to me?¡± she eximed. ¡°No need to get so worked up, you have injuries, so I¡¯m just helping you change your bandages,¡± he an swered as he lifted up a bottle of ointment in one hand. ¡°You want to change my bandages for me?¡± she repeated. As if she had just realized something, she hurriedly quipped, ¡°Were you the one who changed my band ages for the past two days?¡± ¡°Who else?¡± ¡°Then, I¡­ You¡¯ve seen everything by now?!¡± she cried, her eyes wide as saucers. ¡°So what if I¡¯ve seen everything? It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t seen them before, so what¡¯s the big deal?¡± he sai d easily. ¡°You get your ass out of here right now!¡± she screamed in response, her face flushed from the shame and CS CamScanner anger. She couldn¡¯t believe the nerve of this man. How dare he undress and touch her body without her consent. How despicable! ¡°I can still scram if you want, but I¡¯d advise you to give it some thought. Although the injuries on your bo dy have healed, the scars are still there. So, if not treated in due time, I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to ge t rid of them in the future,¡± he patiently exined. She bit her lip and began to feel somewhat conflicted on the inside. ¡°Fine, since you obviously don¡¯t care about that, I won¡¯t help you anymore. You¡¯d better not regret it wh en you see yourself covered in scars in the future,¡± he retorted with his hands across his chest before turning around and beginning to leave. ¡°Wait!¡± she hollered, finally heeding his advice. It was simply a woman¡¯s nature to take care of her appearance. Even she wasn¡¯t an exception. The thought of her body being covered in scars was worse than the idea of getting killed! ¡°What, changed your mind?¡± he asked as he turned back to face her with an amused look. ¡°Help me change my bandages, but with your eyes blindfolded!¡± she ordered, then threw a random piec e of clothing that was lying next to her at him, as if to vent her frustrations. However, her whole body fro ze when she realized what she had thrown at him. It turned out the item of clothing she just threw at him was her underwear! ¡°You sure have weird tastes. I refuse to use this as a blindfold, if you don¡¯t mind,¡± he remarked as he th rew the panties back to her. ¡°S¨Cshut up!¡± she stuttered in embarrassment, her face turning pinker by the second. Her pretty face was simr to a ripe peach covered in morning dew now. He was tempted to touch her. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll only apply the ointment on your back while you apply the rest on the front yourself,¡± he finally relented, for fear that she would storm out of the room. ¡°Hmph!¡± She pouted. It was only after multiple bouts of hesitation that she finally agreed to his n. Her injuries needed to be healed, but it wasn¡¯t like she could take care of the scars on her back properl y without external assistance. ¡°I¡¯ve already finished applying the ointment on your back evenly¡­¡± he trailed off before continuing in a cold voice.¡°¡­ Now, on to your butt¡ª¡± Chapter 60 Chapter 60 After struggling to get away from him, Dahlia¡¯s face was as red as a tomato. Beads of sweat trailed down her body. Her sultry eyes looked as if they could drill a hole into Dustin¡¯s skull. Didn¡¯t he just apply some ointment on her? So why was she giving him such an embarrassed look? ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen enough? Get out!¡± she screamed as she pulled up the nket to cover her body. Her slender waist and upturned hips were a sight to behold indeed. ¡°Just apply this ointment for three to five days, then your scars will disappear,¡± he said bluntly. He then put down the ointment before leaving the room sheepishly. After about ten minutes, Dahlia exited the room fully clothed. Compared to the woman full of rage and shame a moment ago, the woman in front of him now was her usual, cold self. She pretended as if nothing had happened between them at all ¡°Lend me your phone. I have a call to make,¡± she ordered as she rushed over to him while he was sippi ng on some chicken soup with her hand outstretched. He didn¡¯t make a peep as he handed his phone over to her without hesitation. ¡°What¡¯s your lock screen password?¡± she asked. ¡°Your birthday,¡± he answered without even lifting his head. His answer made her stiffen and a small corner of her lips turned upwards for a short while before disa ppearing again. ¡°Hmph!¡± She pouted, feigning disdain. After unlocking his phone, the first number she dialed was her family, to update them on her whereabo uts. Following that, she dialed Lyra¡¯s number. *So good to finally hear from you again, Ms. Nicholson! Where have you been for the past two days? Howe there weren¡¯t any updates at all?¡± Lyra asked anxiously. ¡°Something came up, so a few things had to be put on hold. How¡¯s thepany doing now?¡± she aske d. ¡°The newpany just opened shop and is currently doing well. And with the Harmon family¡¯s backing. everything is in order. However, the Jackson Group managed to get itself into some hot water the past two days, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Lyra exined. ¡°What kind of hot water?¡± she asked, feeling a little uneasy. ¡°We had a hard time recouping our funds as several partners have not paid back their share of the mon ey yet, so thepany was unable to break even. It¡¯s a good thing that you still have that reserve fund of 80 million dors, just enough to save thepany.¡± Lyra chuckled. ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . CS CamScanner ¡°Reserve funds?¡± she repeated while her expression twisted into a frown. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that the money is gone,¡± she admitted. ¡°Gone? What do you mean gone?¡± Lyra spluttered. ¡°I trusted the wrong person. I was fooled by Chris,¡± she answered honestly, without trying to conceal th e truth. She then gave Lyra a quick rundown of the events that transpired. Upon reaching the end of her story. Lyra exploded in a fit of rage. ¡°That bastard Chris is certainly a piece of work! How dare he cheat us of our money when we put all our trust in him! Let¡¯s get him arrested right away!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no point. He¡¯s probably fled the country by now,¡± she mumbled as she let out a soft sigh. ¡°What should we do now, Ms. Nicholson? Thepany has no liquidity, so it¡¯ll be hard to run operation s normally.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think of something¡­¡± she trailed off in reply. ¡°Oh right, don¡¯t we still have the Harmons? Since we¡¯re their partner, the Harmons can definitely help u s if only you give them a call,¡± Lyra suggested hurriedly. ¡°The Harmons?¡± she asked with wrinkled brows. She would¡¯ve thought of doing that had she not learned about Natasha before this, but it was impossibl e to ask her for help now. Dahlia had her pride as a woman too, so she absolutely refused to bow down to Natasha Harmon! ¡°I¡¯ll take care of this, so you go busy yourself with other matters now,¡± she directed. After exchanging a f ew more words with her secretary, she hung up the phone. ¡°What¡¯s this about thepany being in hot water?¡± Dustin looked up and asked. ¡°Drive me to Eastern River Bank. I have something to do there,¡± she ordered without giving him an expl anation. mymand,¡± he said with a nod before finishing his soup in one gulp. ¡°Your wish is my He then drove the both of them in his car to Eastern River Bank. Upon her arrival at the bank, Dahlia was quickly ushered into a private office. As for Dustin, he was instructed to wait outside. ¡°Oh? Isn¡¯t this Ms. Nicholson from the Jackson Group? What brings you here to my office today?¡± Sitting inside the office was a balding man with a fat head and big ears. He perked up the moment he l aid his beady eyes on her. ¡°Mr. Chansey, mypany has encountered some problems with our capital turnover, so we need a lo an from you with the same interest rate as before,¡± she exined concisely. ¡°A loan? How much?¡± he asked while stroking his chin. His lecherous eyes looked her up and down. *80 million dors,¡± she answered without flinching. CS CamScanner ¡°Heh, you are aware that this isn¡¯t a small sum of money, right?¡± he shot back with a pained expression . ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time we¡¯ve worked together, Mr. Chansey. You should know where mypany stan ds by now,¡± she retorted. ¡°I¡¯m afraid it¡¯s no longer a matter of credibility, but my mood, Ms. Nicholson,¡± he said slowly. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she asked, puzzled. ¡°We¡¯re both smart, so I¡¯ll say it outright. I¡¯ve taken a liking to you for quite some time now, Ms. Nicholso n, so I¡¯m proposing that if you sleep with me for one night, be it 80 million or 300 million dors, I¡¯ll make sure to lend all of it to you!¡± he said, leering. ¡°Do you have any idea what you just proposed, Mr. Chansey?¡± she shot back, her brows furrowed. ¡°I said what I said. I¡¯m well aware that yourpany is in a crisis right now and that you need money fa st. So, I don¡¯t suppose yourpany could get through these tough times without my funds, right?¡± he said amusedly. ¡°Are you threatening me right now?¡± she asked as her expression darkened. ¡°No need to phrase it like that, think of it as a mutual exchange. You want my money, and I want you for one night. If you manage to satisfy me, I¡¯ll lend you the money. Isn¡¯t this a mutually beneficial situation for everyone?¡± he exined while stretching his hands outward. 1 ¡°You¡¯re absolutely shameless!¡± she snapped. She didn¡¯t want to give him any more of her time, so she got up to leave. ¡°You¡¯d better stay right where you are!¡± he bellowed before continuing. ¡°The minute you step out of my office, I¡¯ll make sure to cklist you! Then, good luck finding another bank in Stonia that¡¯s willing to len d you your funds! Thus, you¡¯d better listen to me if you know what¡¯s good for you!¡± ¡°I refuse to make such a dirty deal with you even though I¡¯m short on cash! Furthermore¡ª just the sight of your pig face makes me want to vomit!¡± she spat coldly. ¡°What the fuck did you just say to me?!¡± As though she managed to hit a nerve, he instantly got out of his seat and started yelling. ¡°For a marrie d woman, you sure are great at acting like a virgin! You should be d that Iid eyes on you! So, how dare you turn me down like that! Believe it or not, I can make you go bankrupt with one call!¡± ¡°You? Bankrupt me? I¡¯d like to see you try,¡± she snorted. She was not in the least bit afraid. ¡°Fine! Since you¡¯re so fucking sure of yourself, don¡¯t me me if I use a few tricks up my sleeves! When the timees, I¡¯ll have you sucking on my toes!¡± he bellowed. ¡°Go to hell!¡± she yelled. She was so pissed she flung a cup of hot coffee directly onto his stupid face. It was so hot it made him screech like a bitch and his face soon turned bright red. Now he really looked like an actual pig roasting on a stick. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 ¡°Bitch, I¡¯ll fucking kill you!¡± Mr. Chansey screamed as he touched his scalded face. He was so furious he started pouncing on Dahlia. Her quick reflexes allowed her to deliver a swift but deadly kick to Mr. Chansey¡¯s crotch. ¡°Argh!¡± he cried out in pain immediately and started rolling on the floor with his hands over his bruised member, his face turning a darker shade of purple by the second. ¡°You disgust me!¡± she spat before turning around to leave the room. This caused her to bump into Dustin, who had been eavesdropping by the door the whole time. ¡°What are you doing her e?¡± she asked angrily. ¡°Nothing, I was just making sure you were doing okay in there,¡± he replied while shrugging his shoulders. His eyes instantly perked up at the sight of Mr. Chansey, who was writhing in pain on the floor. It was a good thing that she¡¯d managed to mess him up, because if he¡¯d stepped in, he¡¯d surely make s ure that Mr. Chansey won¡¯t be using his hands ever again for the remainder of his life. ¡°We¡¯re done here. Let¡¯s go,¡± she snapped without any exnation, then started strutting out of the roo m in her high heels. She was in a sour mood. ¡°You fucking stop right where you are now!¡± Mr. Chansey suddenly bellowed with a fierce expression b efore continuing. ¡°Running away like a coward after beating someone up? What do you take me for?!¡± Under his orders, several security guards immediately started forming a human barricade in front of the main door to prevent the two of them from leaving. ¡°You bitch! How dare you kick me? I¡¯ll make sure you never see the light of day again!¡± he yelled as he stormed Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. up to her with a hand raised, ready to strike her. Dustin intercepted his blow without much effort. ¡°Who do you think you are? How dare you meddle in my affairs? You¡¯d better get away from me if you know what¡¯s good for y ou!¡± Mr. Chansey hissed. ¡°You¡¯d better apologize to her now before I rip your mouth open!¡± Dustin threatened with an icy expression. ¡°Like hell I will!¡± Mr. Chansey spat, his rage growing by the second. He swung his fist at Dustin, but Dus tin managed to dodge it and delivered a heavy p to his face instead. This caused Mr. Chansey¡¯s humongous frame to stumble several feet. The blow had disfigured his face, and when he opened his mouth, some of his teeth fell out. Everyone at the scene was dumbfounded that Mr. Chansey was sent flying. No one had expected Dust in to be So vicious. To think that he had pped Mr. Chansey In front of everyone. Dld he have no idea that this man was t he CS CamScanner manager of Eastern River Bank? An influential man with power, money, and a vastwork! To offend such a person was simply asking for trouble! ¡°H¨Chow¡­dare you hit me?¡± Upon noticing the few loose teeth in his palm, Mr. Chansey¡¯s face twisted into a scowl. ¡°So what if I just beat you up? Do I have to make an appointment first?¡± Dustin said indifferently. ¡°Do you even fucking know who my backers are, you little shit? It¡¯s the Spanners! The nerve of you to e veny a finger on me, do you want to die so badly?!¡± Mr. Chansey screeched before pulling out his phone to c all for backup. ¡°Hmm?¡± Dahlia frowned slightly before making a call herself. 15 minutester, Florence brought a team of security personnel and made her entrance in the shiest fashion imaginable. Standing beside her was a handsome man in a clean suit. The man seemed graceful and elegant and had an aristocratic air to him. ¡°Matt Laney?¡± Dahlia gasped, her eyes wide as she stared at him in shock. He used to be her upperssman in school and had even tried to court her for a short while in the past . But when he¡¯d left the country, the two stopped seeing each other for a long time. She hadn¡¯t expected him to return so soon, much less with her mother. ¡°Dahlia! How are you? You¡¯re not hurt, right?¡± Florence asked worriedly the moment she entered throug h the door. She was scared that her daughter had gotten hurt. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Mom. There¡¯s no need to worry,¡± Dahlia replied as she shook her head slightly. ¡°Long time no see, Dahlia,¡± Matt greeted first, as polite as ever. ¡°Yeah, long time no see,¡± Dahlia responded with a small nod. Although she was still somewhat taken aback by his sudden appearance, she decided to regard him as a school friend for now. ¡°I heard that you came across some troubletely, so that¡¯s why I rushed all the way here with your mo m. So if there¡¯s anything you need our help with, just let me know,¡± he said with a grin. His words were calm but full of confidence. ¡°I know, right? Nothing is impossible with Matt around!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you caught wind of the incident where our family got arrested. Thanks to Matt, we man aged to get out safe and sound,¡± ¡°Not only that, but he also caught that bastard Chris and recovered all the money we were cheated out of!¡± ¡°Just look at him. He should be the first person thates to mind when you think of a capable man!¡± Florence yammered on, praising him every other sentence. CS CamScanner Dahlia could only muster a strained smile upon hearing all of that. ¡°Thanks,¡± she mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s no biggle. No need to make me sound so great,¡± Matt grinned. ¡°What are you doing here, Rhys?¡± Florence quizzed as she shifted her gaze to see Dustin standing nex t to her. She looked somewhat disgusted upon seeing him. ¡°Mom, it was Dustin who saved me,¡± Dahlia exined. ¡°He was the one who saved you? Hmph, it was more likely that he hurt you instead!¡± Florence¡¯s expres sion and gaze turned cold as she said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for this man who offended Mr. Woods, our family could¡¯ve avoided all that undeserved misfortune in the first ce!¡± ¡°Mom, this whole thing started because of me. It has nothing to do with Dustin,¡± Dahlia corrected. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re still taking his side even now. You will regret it sooner orter!¡± Florence exime d, almost losing her cool. If not for Matt standing beside her, she would have flung all sorts of expletives at her already. ¡°Hey, hey, hey¡­ Where did you guyse from again? Do I look like I¡¯m invisible to you all?¡± At this time, Mr. Chansey, who was standing in a corner, finally lost his cool. ¡°Who are you?¡± Matt asked while ncing at him from the corner of his eye. ¡°I¡¯m the manager of this bank!¡± Mr. Chansey barked as he shot him a re. ¡°I demand that these two p eople pay the price for offending me today!¡± ¡°Do you know who I fucking am? How dare you speak to me like that?¡± Matt spat in response as his ex pression grew cold. ¡°I don¡¯t care who the hell you are! As long as your nose is in my business, I¡¯ll make sure you never see the light of day too!¡± Mr. Chansey threatened viciously. As soon as he finished saying that, two ck cars drove up to the entrance of Eastern River Bank. Immediately after, an army of buff thugs rushed into the building, their leader being an intimidating man who wore a trench coat and held a cigar in his hand. The way he walked made him look mighty imposing. ¡°Heh¡­ My backer has finally arrived. None of you will be able to escape today!¡± Mr. Chansey guffawe d wickedly. It wasn¡¯t like he had any connections or a good background, so how dare he act so cocky? ¡°Holy shit! Isn¡¯t that Sir Zims? What is he doing here?¡± someone whispered. ¡°Sir Zims? The new chairman of the Drey Group?¡± another piped up. ¡°It¡¯s him! I heard that he was the one who was ruthless enough to kill Sir Spanner in order to climb to the top!¡± one eximed. ¡°That guy¡¯s dead meat. I can¡¯t believe he got involved with Sir Zims,¡± another gossiped. CS CamScanner Whispers erupted from the crowd after everyone got a look at the man in the trench coat. Some even g ave Dustin a few sympathetic looks afterward. Sir Zims¡® infamous name could be heard everywhere these days, up to the point where the mere menti on of his name was enough to make anyone turn pale. ¡°Hmm?¡± Dustin hummed. He couldn¡¯t help but get an odd feeling in his stomach upon looking at the imposing man in front of him. And that was because he just realized that Mr. Chansey¡¯s supposed backer was his own newly acquire d follower, Mason Zims. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¡°Who dares to stir up trouble on my turf? Do they have a death wish?¡± Mason Zims bellowed as he ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org . strutted with a cigar in his mouth. Everywhere he went, the crowd dispersed as they were all afraid of provoking him. Even Dahlia¡¯s expression turned grave uponying eyes on him. Although Trevor Spanner was dead, Mason Zims managed to inherit all of his power and was glowing in his element. With Edwin Hummer behind his back too, not many had the privilege of offending him. sitively ¡°You escape through the side door. I¡¯ll cover for you!¡± Dahlia ordered as she stepped forward to shield Dustin. She was an influential figure herself, so even if Mason was batshit crazy, she knew he didn¡¯t ha ve the balls to do anything to her. It was a different story for Dustin though, for he wasn¡¯t an influential fi gure or anything. So, if he were unfortunate enough to fall into Zim¡¯s clutches, he would end up dead or disabled, at the very least! ¡°You want him to escape? Where to? As long as Sir Zims is here, even if Je sus came down from Heaven today. He won¡¯t be able to save you! Your death is imminent!¡± Mr. Chanse y huffed before cockily strutting up to Mason. ¡°You¡¯ve finally arrived, Sir Zims! Just take a look at my face. Look how it got beat up!¡± Mr. Chanseymented. ¡°What happened here?¡± Mason asked with an eyebrow raised. ¡°The story is, this woman approached me for a loan just now. But when I noticed that she had bad credi t, I refused to lend her any money. Who knew she¡¯d be so shameless as to start seducing me on top of toying with other men? And just because I didn¡¯t want to give in to her mind games, she beat me up! Ca n you believe this?¡± Mr. Chansey lied through his teeth, spewing out bullshit the whole time. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s a wild one, I see? Did you mention my name?¡± Mason snapped. He didn¡¯t look like he came here to make friends. ¡°Of course I did! But they didn¡¯t bat an eye at the mention of your name and even boldly proimed tha t they¡¯d just fight you if you showed up!¡± Mr. Chansey instigated. ¡°Good¨C no, excellent! If I don¡¯t flex my muscles once in a while, people will start thinking I¡¯ve lost my touch!¡± Ma son guffawed wickedly. He had just taken control of the Drey Group and was worried he¡¯d have no opp ortunity to push his weight around. It was about time a few people who weren¡¯t afraid of death came up to him today! ¡°What a load of crap!¡± Dahlia exploded after holding herself back for so long. She took a few steps forw ard and started exining. ¡°Sir Zims, I was the one who approached him to take out a loan, but not onl y did he deny me a loan, he even tried to make things difficult for me! All those usations about sedu cing him and toying with other men were totally made up and untrue, to say the least. He was lying the whole ti- But before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by a wave from Mason¡¯s hand. ¡°What ma kes you think that I care about the truth? I don¡¯t give a shit about who was right or wrong. The fact of th e matter was that you picked a fight with someone on my turf, which meant that you were indirectly disr especting me as well! So, for everyone who disrespects me, whether it be Tom, Dick, or Harry, I¡¯ll have them kneel in front of me to beg for forgiveness.¡± CS CamScanner Dahlia couldn¡¯t help but frown upon hearing that. She didn¡¯t expect him to be so unreasonable. ¡°Heh, didn¡¯t you hear what he just said? Hurry up and kneel on the ground and beg for your life to be sp ared!¡± Mr. Chansey snickered. He was well aware of Mason¡¯s character, which was why he dared to act so cocky and reckless now. ¡°Tell me¡­ Who was the man who hit you just now? Let¡¯s see if he can escape with his hands intact today!¡± Mason twirled a knife in his hand. He vowed to make an example of someone today, no matter what! ¡°Sir Zims, he was the little shit who beat me up!¡± Mr. Chansey stretched out a finger and pointed. As Mason chewed on a cigar hanging from his mouth, he raised his chin and turned his head around to see who it was. However, the moment his gaz e met Dustin¡¯s, it was as if his whole body was struck by lightning and he became frozen on the spot! The steel knife in his hand also fell to the ground and ttered on the floor. ¡°Oh, my God, why him of all people?!¡± Mason thought nervously. His body stiffened upon gazing at Dus tin¡¯s familiar face. Cold sweat immediately broke out on his face. He was so scared his legs started to b uckle. Even after all this time, that image of Dustin wiping out an entire building by himself was still as fresh in his mind as ever. It still gave him nightmares to this day. He became even more frightened after hearing about Travis Spanner¡¯s disappearance and the destruction of Spanner Vi two days ago. That was because he knew very well that it was all Dustin¡¯s doing. Somehow, Dustin had managed to make Travis Spanner, a general of the western warzone, disappear without a trace in just one night. That just solidified how terrifying the man standing in front of him was! ¡°Fucking pig! Why¡¯d he have to get me in this mess!¡± he grumbled to himself. ¡°Weren¡¯t you barking like a rabid dog just now, you little shit? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything now that Sir Zims is here?¡± Mr. Chansey, who still didn¡¯t get the memo, continued taunting Dustin as if he had nine lives.¡± Let¡¯s see if you dare p me again. I¡¯ll see to it that you die a horrible death today!¡± The moment he finished speaking, Mason saw a chance t o redeem himself and rushed forward to p the living daylights out of Chansey! The sound of a crunch came, followed by a staggering Mr. Chansey, who looked like he was about to copse any second. A red handmark could clearly be seen on his face. ¡°Sir Zims? A¨C aren¡¯t you beating up the wrong person right now?¡± Mr. Chansey mumbled as he used his hands to cov er his somewhat shocked expression. ¡°Me, beating up the wrong guy? But you¡¯re the guy I¡¯m supposed to beat up!¡± Mason roared furiously, a nd without skipping a beat, he lifted a hand to p Chansey a few more times before throwing him onto the ground. As if that did not quell his rage, he started to punch and kick Chansey again, cussing him out as he we nt. ¡°You fat pig! I feel like throwing up whenever I see you! Why would such a stunning woman like Ms. Nic holson seduce you? Do you even know what you look like?! How fucking dare you spread my name so casually like that! How dare you make a fool out of me, I¡¯ll see to it that you stay dead!¡± CS CamScanner The more he cursed, the fiercer he became and the more blows he delivered. At this point, Mr. Chansey had been beaten up to the extent of crying like a little bitch, screaming for hi s parents, while he cradled his head and begged for mercy at the same time. ¡°What the hell is going on here?¡± someone whispered from the crowd. The sudden turn of events left the crowd stunned. No one had expected the tables to turn so drastically. Wasn¡¯t Mason, who arrived like a hurricane minutes before, supposed t o be on Mr. Chansey¡¯s side? So why was he beating up his own teammate instead? Who was on whose side now actually? ¡°Um¡­¡± Dahlia trailed off as her eyes widened. She was speechless at Mason¡¯s sudden shift in attitude. ¡°Just a second ago, he paraded around like a cocky motherfucker, acting so domineering and unreason able but now he was pretending as if he had a halo on his head, and was putting on a righteous front. More importantly, she could obviously make out that there was a trace of fear on his face. However, that was the part that got her stumped. Could one still be fearful of anything or anyone after assassinating someone so powerful as Sir Spanner? Looking around the room, her gaze eventuallynded on Dustin. Come to think of it, Mason¡¯s sudden shift in attitude seemed to have something to do with his encounte r with Dustin. Was it possible that Mason was terrified of Dustin? Chapter 63 Chapter 63 ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Dahlia thought. She denied the notion as soon as it emerged. Apart from his good looks, Dustin was just an average m an. There was nothing special about him. Mason, on the other hand, had not only taken over Sir Spanner¡¯s position and had authority over the Dr ey Group, but he also had hundreds of henchmen at his beck and call. Why would he be intimidated by a small fry like Dustin? She must be delusional. Mason¡¯s kicks and punches rained down on Mr. Chansey unceasingly, causing him to spit blood. He saw no other way to it than to give Mr. Chansey1 a good beating for fear that Dustin would do him in out of wrath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sir Zims, I was wrong! Please stop, I¡¯m begging you, please stop!¡± Mr. Chansey cried out between wails. Mason only stopped after he sneaked a nce at Dustin and saw that his countenance was much calm er than before. He counted himself lucky that there was a scapegoat. He would have been in a bad spo t otherwise. ¡°A fat lot of use apologizing to me! If Ms. Nicholson does not forgive you, you will not see tomorrow!¡± M ason scolded harshly. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Ms. Nicholson! I was wrong, it was all my fault. This will never happen again. Please f orgive me!¡± Mr. Chansey was on his knees as he begged for forgiveness. Long gone was his unbridled arrogance. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Don¡¯t ever let me see you again!¡± Dahlia uttered frostily. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll get lost right this instant!¡± He nodded incessantly and dashed for the exit. He did not even stop to retrieve his shoe that fell off on his way out. ¡°My apologies, Ms. Nicholson. The me is on me. He offended you because I have not disciplined hi m well. I will reflect on my mistakes.¡± Mason smiled apologetically. He was a smart cookie. Knowing tha t Dustin always maintained a low profile, he did not blow his cover. ¡°How fair and just you are, Sir Zims. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Dahlia gave a slight smile. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m only doing what¡¯s right,¡± Mason replied with a guilty conscience. ¡°Hmph, at least you know where you stand!¡± Matt announced haughtily. ¡°Had Dahlia been harmed in th e slightest today, I would not have let you off the hook!¡± ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Mason continued with the same apologetic smile. He had no idea who Matt was, but seeing that he was with Mr. Rhys, Mason was sure he wasn¡¯t someone to be trifled with. ¡°Take your men with you and scram. Such eyesores!¡± Matt said condescendingly. Mason dared not retort. He peeked at Dustin for a brief moment before taking his leave. In no time, all his CS CamScanner ¡°Once again, Matt saves the day!¡± Florence¡¯s eyes lit up as she smiled excitedly. ¡°Dahlia, did you see that? Wasn¡¯t Sir Zims cocky earlier on? But once he saw Matt, he got so scared that he was just short of peeing his pants! And that¡¯s how powerful the Laneys are!¡± As soon as she said that, the realization dawned on the crowd. ¡°No wonder Sir Zims was terrified. We have a big shot here!¡± ¡°I wonder who that attractive man is. It¡¯s amazing how he scared SirZims off like that!¡± ¡°He¡¯s handsome and he¡¯s powerful. How does one even resist a man like that?¡± A fewdies in the crowd fawned over how charming Matt was. ¡°The Laneys are, after all, a powerful family of the nobility. I think we have a say on what goes on around here. Dealing with a mere thug is no big deal.¡± Matt smiled, feigning modesty. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal to you, but it would definitely not be an easy feat for some people.¡± Florence then look ed at Dustin out of the corner of her eye and said cynically. ¡°Hey Rhys, Matt here just saved your life. Are you not going to thank him?¡± ¡°Why should I thank him?¡± Dustin could not seem to fathom it. ¡°Why? Well, had Matt not dealt with Sir Zims, do you think you could get out of this unscathed?¡± Floren ce asked as she crossed her arms. ¡°First things first, I did not need his help. Secondly, he had nothing to do with me getting away,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Hmph! How stubborn!¡± Florence then continued, full of disdain, ¡°Matt just saved you, and not only are you unappreciative, but you¡¯re also boasting so shamelessly. Have you no conscience?¡± ¡°Precisely! What¡¯s wrong with him? That is so rude of him!¡± ¡°He¡¯s not even thanking the person who saved him! Should have left him to fend for himself!¡± A few girls crowded around were outraged by the injustice toward Matt. From the way they saw it, Dusti n was in ungrateful. ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s just a small matter. Let¡¯s not make a fuss.¡± Matt said with a wave of his hand, trying to loo k magnanimous. ¡°Oh, Matt, you¡¯re just too kind! Ungrateful bastards like this one here deserve to suffer!¡± Florence was indignant. ¡°I simply saved him for Dahlia¡¯s sake,¡± Matt smiled slightly and turned to look at Dustin. ¡°Speaking of w hich, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for taking care of Dahlia in my stead for the past thre e years.¡± Matt appeared to be thanking Dustin, but his words seemed to carry a different meaning. From what he said, he had staked his im on Dahlia, making her his. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re thanking me, why don¡¯t you kneel before me? That¡¯s not too much to ask for, is it?¡± Dusti n challenged. CS CamScanner Matt was at a loss for words. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. ¡°I was just ying nice. Does he really think I¡¯m easy?¡± he thought to himself. ¡°Hey Rhys, I¡¯m warning you, you better watch your mouth!¡± Florence was furious. Dahlia remained silent, but her brows furrowed too. She thought that Dustin had crossed the line too. Af ter all, Matt had helped him out of a dire situation. Even if he wasn¡¯t grateful, he should at least be polite. ¡°Dustin, you were able to win her hand back then because I went abroad. But now that I¡¯m back, you will not have the chance anymore.¡± Matt lowered his voice as he approached Dustin. ¡°Is that so? I beg to differ.¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°You should know where you stand. You and I, we¡¯re in totally different leagues.¡± Matt straightened out his suit and looked down his nose at Dustin with scorn. ¡°Can you even begin toprehend how vastl y different we are in social standing? Everything that you dare not even dream of having is within my grasp. And that is the difference between us!¡± He spoke in such low tones that his words were only audible to the both of them. ¡°I do not know where you got your inted ego from, but if there¡¯s one thing you should know, it¡¯s that y ou do not mess with me.¡± There was no trace of emotion on Dustin¡¯s face. Matt sniggered meanly. ¡°Very well, we shall see then.¡± He reached out to pat Dustin on the shoulder wh en he paused midway, reconsidering his decision and retracting his hand slowly as though the act woul d soil his hand. The simple gesture itself was packed with a ton of humiliation. ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s not waste time conversing with the likes of him. How about I treat you to a good m eal at Hillview Hotel to celebrate your return?¡± Florence suggested with a smile. ¡°I would be honored.¡± Matt turned around and his innocent facade was back in ce again, a smile stered Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. on his face. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go then.¡± Without another word, Florence led Dahlia away. Dahlia turned to speak to Du stin but failed to find the right words to say. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Natasha was enjoying her coffee with Duane at Java Joys. ¡°Do you still remember our bet, Natasha? Three days are up, and I¡¯m still fit as a fiddle. Isn¡¯t it time for y ou to make good on your promise?¡± Duane asked with a smile as he sipped on his coffee. ¡°Why are e you so impatient, Uncle Duane? We¡¯ve got half a day left before time is up.¡± Natasha said collectedly. ¡°Hah! You can¡¯t really be buying what that little swindler said, can you?¡± Duane found it ridiculous. ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts for years. How would I not know my own physical condition? Look at me! Does it look like there¡¯s anything wrong with me?¡± 1 ¡°I don¡¯t know if you look like anything, but I trust Dustin¡¯s judgment.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°Hmph! I wonder how that little swindler brainwashed you. Why do you trust him so much?¡± Duane won dered aloud. ¡°Who knows? Maybe this is just how things were meant to be.¡± The corners of Natasha¡¯s lips tugged up ward as she thought of Dustin. ¡°Anyway, half a day is left before time is up. If you¡¯re still fine before the sun sets , I¡¯ll make good on my promise!¡°1 ¡°Fine! Half a day it is, then! When the time is up, I¡¯ll show you what a liar that little swindler truly is!¡± Wit h that, Duane left with his bodyguards in tow. Once they were out the door and got into their car, one of Duane¡¯s trusted bodyguards couldn¡¯t resist a sking, ¡°I don¡¯t get it, sir. Ms. Harmon is such an exceptionaldy. Why would she fall for that little swindler?¡± ¡°She never ys by the book. When you find an opportunity, look into Rhys¡® background.¡± Duane instru cted. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The bodyguard started the car after answering him. As the car drove on, Duane leaned back to rx. N ot a momentter, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He dismissed it initially, but as time went on, the pai n became increasingly acute and unbearable. It felt like a knife was stabbed into his chest and twisted around continuously. As tough as he was, the p ain caused him to gasp. ¡°It can¡¯t be! Could it be that the little swindler was telling the truth all along?¡± he wondered. Duane clutched at his chest as he broke out in perspiration. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, sir?¡± His bodyguard was quick to notice his difort. ¡°Quick! Send me back to Java Joys immediately!¡± Finally, Duane could bear it no longer. He ordered hi s bodyguard to turn back. Flooring it the entire way, they were back at Java Joys in a sh. ¡°Uncle Duane, what¡¯s wrong? Do you need to use the washroom?¡± Natasha raised her brows at the sig ht of Duane, who was drenched in sweat. ¡°Who said anything about using the washroom? Can¡¯t you see that he¡¯s in pain?¡± His bodyguard huffed . CS CamScanner ¡°Hmm? And who are you to run your mouth here?¡± The bodyguard immediately lowered his head as Natasha shot a re in his direction. In a split second , his blood ran cold. ¡°Natasha! My chest hurts! Get that little swindler here to help me, pronto!¡± Duane said with agony writte n all over his face. ¡°Uncle Duane, it seems to me that Dustin was right. He said you¡¯d get an attack within three days, and he wasn¡¯t lying. Doesn¡¯t seem appropriate that you¡¯re still addressing him as a little swindler, does it?¡± Nat asha remarked impassively. ¡°Fine, fine! He isn¡¯t a swindler, I was wrong to call him that. Now can you get him here?¡± Duane gritted his teeth. ¡°Uncle Duane, you¡¯re the one asking him for a favor. It¡¯s not nice to make hime here, don¡¯t you think?¡± Natashamented with a vague smile. ¡°You!¡± Duane was on the verge of rage, but in the end he chose to restrain himself. ¡°Where is Dustin? I¡¯ ll go to him ¡°Hang on, let me give him a call to see where he is.¡± Natasha smiled as she dug around for her phone to make the call. Once she got Dustin¡¯s location, she announced, ¡°Peaceful Medical Centre.¡± ¡°Move it! Get to Peaceful Medical Centre right away!¡± Duane dared not dally any longer. He rushed to t he medical center. What should have been a 30¨C minute journey took them only 15. They ran multiple red lights along the way. ¡°So you are here, you rascal!¡± Duane made his way in covered in sweat. He spotted Dustin, who was r eading, the moment he entered. ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m suffering in such agony, and here you are, happily reading?¡± Duane cursed internally. ¡°Uncle Duane, why are you here?¡± Dustin was taken aback for a brief moment, but he quickly came aro und. From the looks of it, he must have suffered an attack. ¡°Tell me! I¡¯ve been well all along. Why am I suddenly experiencing pain in my chest? Have you got something to do with this, you brat?¡± Duane que stioned through clenched jaws. He had little faith in Dustin to begin with. And now, he was really sufferi ng within three days, just as Dustin had predicted. It was only natural that he would suspect that Dustin was behind everything. ¡°Uncle Duane, what are you implying? Are you saying that I did this to you?¡± Dustin¡¯s brows knitted together. showing his displeasure. ¡°Forget it! I don¡¯t care who did it! Just get over here and treat me!¡± Duane said impatiently. The pain in his chest was getting unbearable. Every second that passed was pure torture to him. His priority was to get relief. ¡°Why the hell are you still standing there? Get your ass here right this instant! If my boss¡® condition gets any worse, I¡¯ll make you regret the day you were born!¡± Duane¡¯s bodyguard, who was by his side, thre atened. Dustin¡¯s expression froze over when he heard those words. They were the ones who needed his help, but this was the kind of attitude they came with? Who did they think they were? CS CamScanner ¡°If this is the attitude I¡¯m getting, then you¡¯d better find someone else to heal you. I¡¯m not the person to help you,¡± Dustin dered tly. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Duane stopped for a moment before his expression turned malicious. ¡°You ba stard! I only came here because of Natashal Don¡¯t be so full of yourself!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°Truth be told, I¡¯m only addressing you as Uncle Duane out of respect towa rd Ms. Harmon. If not for her, you are nothing to me. Also, it would do you good to figure out how things stand right now. You are the one who came to me, asking for help. Not the other way around! Now, please get the hell out Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. of here!¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Dustin¡¯s words took everyone by surprise. No one had expected him to be so audacious as to disregar d 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 ce 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 h and. 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 m edical 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 e vident that he was a skilled fighter. Before the punch made contact with his face, Dustin grunted and gave the bodyguard such a strong p 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 disfi gured. Duane¡¯s face fell. It never urred to him that Dustin was proficient in martial arts too. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 y ou 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 t he 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 co me 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 c ontinued 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 re, Duane left in a huff. Natasha¡¯s reaction was not CS CamScanner 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 ck Widow. Venomous and deadly, apparen tly. 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 t o him. However, after going through a series of tests, the doctors came to the astonishing conclusion th at 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 fuck would I be lying about it?¡± Duane replied none too kindly. ¡°Fuck it! I¡¯m so close to spasmi ng 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 health y and nothing was wrong with him. ¡°How could this be?¡± Duane grabbed at his chest, pale¨C 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, ma ny years, and he believed himself to be tough and resilient. But the excruciating pain he was going thro ugh 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 bodyguard s 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.¡± CS CamScanner Duane¡¯s men dared not question his decision. They immediately sent him back to Peaceful Medical Ce ntre. This time around, they lost all the contempt and arrogance they had before. ¡°Well, if it isn¡¯t Uncle Duane? What¡¯s got youing back so soon?¡± Natasha, who had been biding he r 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 ras h 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 Chapter 66 Dustin had no interest in wealth or riches. But at the moment, he had a pressing need for rare herbs. T he 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 ites to herbs. Your collection might not necessarily be useful to me,¡± D ustin 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 na rrowed. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard of those! I know those herbs!¡± Duane nodded. Those two herbs cost a king¡¯s ransom, b ut 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 da ys.¡± Duane answered. ¡°Fine, thene back when you have them.¡± Dustin said with a wave of his hand. ¡°Oh,e on, Rhys! My chest is aching so badly! I can¡¯t stand it anymore! Please help me first! I promi se 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 ba ck 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 pro mises!¡± Duane begged. ¡°Of course, Uncle Duane. I know that you never go back on a promise. But I think we can do better tha n 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 Nat asha 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 Natas ha¡¯s face. ¡°What?¡± Duane¡¯s lips twitched. Damn it! Hillview Hotel was his golden goose! If he were to sell it, he could CS CamScanner easily get up to a billion dors 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 toply with their demands. ¡°Dustin, seeing how Uncle Duane is being so nice, why don¡¯t you help him this time?¡± Natasha turned t o him and winked. ¡°Alright, then.¡± Dustin nodded. He then pulled out a ck pill and tossed it to Duane. ¡°You¡¯ll be fine afte r 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 dors just for this? This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 war mth spread out, the pain in his chest began to dissipate. In mere minutes, the sharp, agonizing pain mir aculously 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 Chapter 67 ¡°So, Uncle Duane, what do you think of Dustin¡¯s medical skills? Are you impressed?¡± Natasha asked wi th 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 i n the medical industry. He knew how immensely precious such miraculous medicines are. If he could m anufacture 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 h e continued, ¡°Of course, if you could find me another rare herb, I can give you the prescription for the G emiphen. No charges.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Duane appeared reluctant. It was hard enough to get him the aged Panax root. How much har der would it be to get the ancient Heliotrope? As for the Gozoraberry, the flower of Crimson Gem, and t he 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 impatientdy! 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 o n 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 r estaurant, which was Hillview Restaurant. Because of its geographical advantage, it had an extraordina ry view overlooking half of Swinton. The night view was particrly breathtaking. With exemry servic This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. e 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 regr 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¨C 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 ce. Since you¡¯ve helped us out so much, I¡¯ll treat you to a n ice dinner today. Dahlia will be here soon. She¡¯s on her way. Let¡¯s head in without her.¡± Florence led Ma tt 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¡¯te in.¡± ¡°What? We¡¯re not allowed to enter?¡± James red at the waiter, displeased. ¡°Do you know who we are ? How dare you stop me?¡± CS CamScanner ¡°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 regr 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 dors for the Deluxe VIP.¡± The waiter was still smilin g. ¡°What? Five million?¡± Both Florence and James were bewildered when they heard what the waiter said. Florence, who had h er card in her hand, immediately withdrew her hand. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¡°Are you kidding me? Five million dors for Deluxe VIP?¡± Astonishment was written all over James¡® fac e. ¡°Exactly! This is daylight robbery!¡± Florence flew into a rage to cover up her embarrassment. She was l ucky 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 regr VIP.¡± ¡°And¡ª how much would the regr VIP cost?¡± Florence probed. ¡°A deposit of one million dors will make you a regr 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 m uch. Can¡¯t you just let us in? I¡¯ll make sure you get handsomely tipped!¡± Had she known that Hillview R estaurant charged such exorbitant prices, she would never have chosen to go there in the first ce! ¡°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 lo nger hold in her temper. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but our manager is currently serving three other distinguished guests. I¡¯m afraid he doesn¡¯t h ave 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 Restaur Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ant was, it was way too pricey. ¡°We¡¯re already here! We¡¯ll make a joke of ourselves if we leave now!¡± Florence red 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 dors.¡± Matt smiled. ¡°Ten million?¡± Florence and James¡® eyes widened. Was he joking? Ten million dors, not too much? They had thought that they were pretty well off, but it seemed like they were nothingpared to Matt! ¡°Please step inside, honored guests!¡± In a sh, the waiter¡¯s attitude changed and became exceedingly weing 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. CS CamScanner 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 w hen 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 pped 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 dered snobbi shly. ¡°That¡¯s right! This ce is exclusively for VIPS, requiring a deposit of one million dors for even the most basic VIP. Can you a fford that?¡± Florence remarked condescendingly. ¡°Indeed, I do not have a million dors,¡± Dustin admitted. It was true that he did not have much. But it w ould 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 perso n! 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 aint 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 Dus tin. Why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for a meal, of course. Why else?¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°This is quite a pricey ce for a meal,¡± Dahlia reminded him. CS CamScanner ¡°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 exin 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 exined. ¡°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 y 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 y the fool!¡± ¡°What? You¡¯re defying me? We are Gold VIPs!¡± James glowered. He sounded like a broken tape record er. The manager simply scoffed at that. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re a Gold VIP. Even if you were the Presid ent 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 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 eximed 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 a nswered calmly. At this, the expressions on both their faces turned ck with anger and humiliation. They had nned 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 priv ileged 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 turn ed 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 feat ures. Florence took this opportunity to boast. ¡°Dustin! For your information, Matt is an overseas graduate. No t only is he from an elite family, but he is also extremely talented. He is better than you by leaps and bo unds!¡± ¡°Precisely! With your measly worth, you don¡¯t even deserve to be his ve!¡± James chimed in. The humiliation they faced just now was instantly forgotten with the support of Matt. What was the big d eal? Dustin was only the owner of a restaurant. Moreover, it was not from hisbor. Inparison to M att¡¯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 dered, gushing over Matt. CS CamScanner 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 m oney 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, he r 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 h e 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 rtionship. 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 perso n!¡± ¡°Do you know him?¡± Dustin was a little surprised. ¡°Not personally, but I¡¯ve heard of him.¡± Natasha took a sip of red wine andughed. ¡°Matt is notorious a mong the richdies. He is famous for being a real yboy. Not only does he have the looks and the p ersonality, 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, w ho else would I be interested in anyway?¡± Natasha winked at him yfully. 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 brok This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. e aristocrat. Being brought up with a golden spoon, he had to find unscrupulous ways to maintain his lif estyle. Thus, he is now making a living off the support of rich older women. Many women have been bli nded 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 dece ption. Many of his victims are still being strung along by his charms. If he has his sights set on your ex¨C 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!¡± CS CamScanner ¡°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¨Cwife, 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 dered 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 With that, she pompously stuck her nose in the air. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Seated by the window, Florence and James were still cursing Dustin. ¡°Who would have guessed that an ipetent oaf like Dustin could be the owner! What has our world ¡°He is nothing but a leech! If it weren¡¯t for Ms. Harmon¡¯s rmendation, he would never have this opportunity!¡± Florence snarled. James had a look of pure jealousy on his face. ¡°That¡¯s right! Once she loses interest in him, Dustin will be discarded like rubbish. Let¡¯s see how arrogant he can be!¡± ¡°Nothing wille out of being a freeloader like Dustin. Conversely, Matt is the epitome of a real man. Not only is he young and talented, he is also an intellectual!¡± Florence praised Matt effusively. ¡°What a pity. Matt, if you hadn¡¯t gone overseas for your studies, you would have been my brother¨Cin¨C ¡°Absolutely! Just so you know, after you left for your studies, Dahlia has been pining after you for a long time!¡± Florence chimed in as well. ¡°Mom! Where did you get this idea?¡± Dahlia frowned in annoyance. ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth! If it weren¡¯t for Matt going overseas, you would never have married Dustin!¡± Floren ce said stubbornly. Before Dahlia could retort, Matt cut in, ¡°Alright, alright. Let bygones be bygones. We should have our m eal before it gets cold. The food here is delicious.¡± Florence and James shut up and tucked in voraciously. ¡°James and I are going down to get some groceries. The both of you can take your time.¡± In the middle of the meal, Florence stopped eating and gave James a knowing look. ¡°Oh, yes! I¡¯ll apany Mom.¡± James understood his assignment, and they left the table quickly. Clearly, they were trying to give Dahlia and Matt some private time. After Florence and James left, Matt spoke up, ¡°Dahlia, I am very sorry for leaving you without any warni ng. It¡¯s all my fault. Please give me a chance to redeem myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now. You don¡¯t have to be concerned,¡± Dahlia answered nonchntly. She had moved on from Matt long ago, so she couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°That¡¯s great. You have grown more mature since thest time we met.¡± Matt shot her a charming smile . ¡°Please excuse me, I need to go to the washroom.¡± Dahlia patted her lips gently and left the table as w ell. Staring at her shapely figure, Matt gave an evil smirk. He took out a small packet of white powder, pour ed it into Dahlia¡¯s wine, and swirled the ss. Coincidentally, the restaurant¡¯s manager witnessed everything Matt had done. Without further dy, he CS CamScanner quickly went to Dustin¡¯s booth and divulged Matt¡¯s evil n. ¡°He spiked her drink? Are you sure?¡± Dustin¡¯s brows furrowed together when he heard this. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m positive. I personally witnessed it!¡± the manager affirmed. ¡°Who would have expected that he revealed his true colors so quickly?¡± Natasha narrowed her eyes. Duane spoke up. ¡°Dustin, you should not let this slide. Do you need me to teach him a lesson?¡± ¡°No, I will handle this myself.¡± Dustin got up and left the booth immediately. At that moment, Dahlia had returned from the washroom. Matt passed her the ss of wine. ¡°Dahlia, th is is a token of my apology. Cheers!¡± Matt lifted his ss with a smile. ¡°Alright. After this drink, I need to go home as tomorrow will be a busy day at the office,¡± Dahlia said wit h ¡°resignation. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s make a move after this.¡± Matt did not pressure her further and downed his drink. Just as Dahlia was about to take a sip, Dustin¡¯s voice stopped her. ¡°I would not drink that if I were you.¡± ¡°What?¡±This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 71 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 defen seless,¡± Dustin warned. ¡°Drugged?¡± Dahlia frowned and turned to Matt, whose expression stiffened for a split second. However, heposed himself immediately. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°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 supp ort your im?¡± ¡°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 using 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 ims? Do not judge someone based on unfounded usations!¡± Dahlia had a serious look on her face. Based on her knowledge of Matt, he wasn¡¯t someo ne who would do such a thing. ¡°I already have a witness backing me up. What evidence do you need? Would you rather believe him o ver 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 wo uldn¡¯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 im that I drugged your drink? Let¡¯s exchange drinks,¡± Matt said. He took Dahlia¡¯s wine ss 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 per sonably, 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. CS CamScanner ¡°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 innocenc e. 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 th e 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 thest straw for Dah lia. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Dahlia sshed the rest of the wine on Dustin¡¯s face. ¡°Have you not done enough da mage for one day? Why are you as stubborn as a mule? Being a gentleman, can you not be so petty? I f you are jealous of Matt, upgrade yourself andpete 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 Chapter 72 Dustin was stunned by Dahlia¡¯s hurtful words and furious outburst. Drops of wine rolled down his cheek s and to the ground. He was in a miserable state. Apparently, it was wishful thinking that their rtionsh ip had improved. In actual fact, there was nothing left between them. ¡°What? So you thought that I was falsely using 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 exin herself when Dustin interrupted her. ¡°Maybe you aren¡¯t even worried about Matt drugging your drink. In actuality, you hoped that he would d o 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, a nd regret. Never would she have thought that Dustin would say such words. Did he genuinely think so lowl y of her? Regardless of the past three years of marriage, there wasn¡¯t a shred of trust left between the m. ¡°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 reced by a smirk. ¡°Dustin, everything you said was correct. I spiked Dahlia¡¯s drink and drank her wine to get rid of the evi dence. 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 sh e will support me. There¡¯s nothing you say that would change the oue. What? Are you burning with anger and frustration right now? Sadly, your hands are tied. Besides, I have to thank you for strengthe ning our rtionship with this incident. I believe that she will fall in love with me before long and willingl y go to bed with me. However, don¡¯t worry. Once I¡¯m tired of her, I¡¯ll return her to you soon enough.¡± Wit h 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 w as cruel and sinister like a venomous snake! CS CamScanner 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 hindr ance, there was nothing he could do. Although Dustin could convince himself logically, he couldn¡¯t help but be aggravated by their rtionship. ¡°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 chan ge 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 confiden tly. ¡°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 c ould be worth a fortune! Since you are in need of herbs, why don¡¯t we work together? I¡¯ll deal with the r est 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 ex change 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 mul e. Initially, he wanted to start a mutual partnership with Dustin. However, it wasn¡¯t going as smoothly as he thought. It seeme d 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 privat e party. By the time we arrived, she was nowhere to be found!¡± ¡°Do you know who is behind this?¡± Natasha frowned. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°It could be Sir Hummer. The kidnappers left a ransom note instructing Mr. Rhys and you to meet at Hu mmer Vi.¡± ¡°Edwin?¡± Natasha gritted her teeth in anger. How dare he endanger a member of her family? He had g one too far with the repeated provocations and needed to be taught a lesson! CS CamScanner Contact the Harmon family. I need some strong fighters as backup! Since Edwin seeks a light, I shall gi ve it to him!¡± Chapter 73 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 experience d 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 nonchntly. ¡°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 art s 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 weaklingspared 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 lect uring 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 Vi, 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 confid ently. ¡°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 o f security for the Harmon family. Compared to Stephan, she was on a different level. In this fight against Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Edwin, she was the key to victory. 17 CS CamScanner ¡°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 hermand, Natasha¡¯s car led the way as the group drove in a file toward Hummer Vi. Hummer Vi was situated at the top of a hill which was part of the Hummers¡± privatend. As the cars drove up the hill, Edwin¡¯s men kept surveince on them in the hidden shadows of the surrounding trees. When they arrived at the vi, 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, F letcher Lawson and a group of muscr 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 acte d 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 as ked 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 re primanded 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 stered on his face. ¡°I¡¯ve calcte d the damage your sister caused and everything amounts to ten billion dors. Aspensation, I want you to hand over h alf 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 betwe en warring families in order to prevent unwanted death and bloodshed. There would be three rounds of battle 23 CS CamScanner royale in which the opposing families would send out their representatives to fight on behalf of them. Th ere were no rules and everything was fair game. ¡°Challenge epted!¡± Before Natasha could answer, Stephan spoke up. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a fight? We will tak e you on! Show me some realpetition!¡± Edwin snickered maliciously at Stephan¡¯s words. This was what he had hoped would happen! Chapter 74 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 epted 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 performa nceter!¡± 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 ept the death match. However, let my sister go first,¡± Natasha said coldly. Even though she kn ew that she was walking into Edwin¡¯s trap, there was nothing else she could do. Thankfully, she had co me prepared. ¡°Of course.¡± Edwin gestured to his men, and they brought Ruth out, bound up tightly with ropes. Thankf ully, 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 matc h?¡± 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 toply 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 docum ent 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, muscr 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 th e underground fighting rings in Swinton!¡± One of Natasha¡¯s bodyguards whispered to Stephan. ¡°A Muay Thai fighter? Defeating him would be child¡¯s y!¡± Stephan scoffed. 1 Stephan and Wolverine stood in the ring, facing each other off. CS CamScanner Wolverine was obviously used tobat. He stretched his limbs, cracked his knuckles, and struck a st ance. 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 y!¡± Stephan avoided the attack easily andnded a punch to Wolverine¡¯s chest. Wolverine lo st his bnce and retreated a few steps, panting heavily. Stephan did not give him a chance to catch his breath,nding several heavy blows on Wolverine¡¯s arm s, abdomen, and legs. After a few minutes, it was clear that Stephan had the upper hand. Wolverine did al l he could to fight back, but he could not recover from his injuries. Finally, Stephannded the final blow, an d Wolverine fainted on impact. The first round went to Stephan! Seeing the oue, 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 tho ugh 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 exins why Natasha agreed to the match so quickly. She brought in outside help.¡± Edwin scratc hed 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!¡± Stephanughed 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 punchesnded on their targets. However, after the debris settled, Fletc her 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 CS CamScanner bleeding profusely. Fletcher¡¯s immense power had struck Stephan¡¯s body, Incapacitating him. Fletcher was not done yet. He went up to Stephan andnded 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 fro m 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 thre e 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 excl Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. aimed worriedly. Stephan was one of the Harmon family¡¯s best fighters. It was unthinkable that he couldn¡¯t even withstan d three attacks from an opponent! Chapter 75 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 tre mbling 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 ce like S winton? ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you. I¡¯m Fletcher Lawson, Liam and Noah were my apprentices!¡± Fletcher said coldly . Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°What? You are Mr. Lawson of Klesbridge?¡± Stephan was dumbfounded at this revtion. His reputatio n 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 Fletc her was involved, he would definitely not have epted 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 thest round?¡± Edwin asked loudly. Natasha¡¯s men looked at each other in silence. If Mr. Chapman couldn¡¯t evennd a blow, the rest of th em would be easily annihted. 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 b rimming 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 ept his challenge,¡± Dustin answered. ¡°ept his challenge? Do you know how to fight?¡± Ruth asked suspiciously. ¡°A little.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°And you dare to ept his challenge when you¡¯re bad at fighting? Are you attempting suicide?¡± Ruth eximed in frustration, ¡°Do you know who that is? Fletcher Lawson is a formidable opponent. Being fo olhardy will only bring about your destruction!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can handle it.¡± Dustin smiled. Although Ruth¡¯s words were sharp, she had good intention s. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Ruth red at him. ¡°What¡¯s the use of you going up to fight when Mr. Chapman couldn¡¯t even defend himself?¡± CS CamScanner Stung by Ruth¡¯s indirect insult, Stephan chimed in sarcastically, ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate yourself, punk! If y ou 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 ann oyed by his impudence. ¡°Well, just wait and see.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t exin 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 a s 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!¡± St ephan 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 t o 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 obvio us 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, s ighing. Clearly, he did not expect Dustin to return in one piece. ¡°Punk! Was it you who killed my apprentices?¡± Fletcher red at Dustin with hostility. ¡°To be urate, both of themmitted 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 ha d been the one who attacked him. However, he died from the overpowering recoil. It was only right to s ay that they killed themselves. ¡°You still dare to deny it at thisst moment of your life? Today, I am going to exact revenge for the death of my apprentices!¡± Fletcher¡¯s face twisted with h atred. ¡°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. causingrge cracks to appear on the ground. ¡°That¡¯s crazy!¡± Stephan eximed in awe. Fletcher had not even revealed his full strength when he wa s fighting against Stephan before! CS CamScanner ¡°Go to hell!¡± Fletcher summoned his energy and unleashed a powerful punch in Dustin¡¯s face. The vibr ations from the attack formed a torrent of energy that swirled around them and sent debris flying aroun d! Everyone took a few steps back to avoid getting injured in the aftermath. arm Just when everyone thought that the oue was decided, Dustin made his move. He stretched out hi s ar slowly and gave Fletcher a firm, tight p on the cheek. The impact on Fletcher¡¯s face created a lo ud cracking noise. At that moment, Fletcher seemed like he was hit by a moving train! His body was flung several yards a way 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 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 Chapm an, had been defeated with an effortless p. What the fuck was going on? ¡°H¨C 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 p, 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 anyon e who could be his opponent. Yet somehow, someone as impregnable as him hadn¡¯t been able to withs tand 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 jack pot this time! ¡°I think I¡¯ve won.¡± Dustin dusted off his hands and nonchntly walked off the arena. At this moment, everyone looked at Dustin as though he was a monster. Especially so for Stephan, wh o gazed mockingly but now looked at Dustin in awe. It was obvious how strong Dustin was if he could s ubdue Fletcher so effortlessly. ¡°Dustin, didn¡¯t you say that you barely know martial arts? How are you so powerful?¡± Ruth asked tentati vely. ¡°It might just be that he¡¯s too weak,¡± Dustin answered. ¡°Really? But he was the one who defeated Mr. Chapman!¡± Ruth eximed. ¡°Um¡­¡± Stephan¡¯s face twitched as they touched a sore spot. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 p resent waiting for them.¡± CS CamScanner Sometimeter, the sun began setting behind the mountains. Natasha and her convoy were traveling th rough a fork in the road when arge 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 ck 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 ri ng 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.¡± N atasha 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 dwindle d. 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 fle e. The battle finally ended when thest 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 s nake- shaped tattoo on their body. Ruth humphed furiously. ¡°Thank God our men are strong, or we¡¯d be dead today thanks to Edwin Hum mer!¡± Natasha then ordered her men, ¡°Do a quick clean¨Cup 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, s o it was best they leave as soon as possible. As her men cleared the ce, two MPVs with foreign license tes 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 beautifuldy in her 30s. Besides her good looks, she also had a voluptuous figure that unted her curves as she walked, an air of authority following her wherever she went. ¡°Tilda?¡± Ruth eximed 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. CS CamScanner ¡°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 t aking. so how could he have nted 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 gazended on Dustin. ¡°I see some unfamiliar fa ces ¡°that don¡¯t belong to the Harmon family!¡± ¡°Oh, he¡¯s my friend,¡± exined Natasha. ¡°Friend? Humph! Friends are the least trustworthy people. I reckon that he¡¯s the spy! Someone get rid of him at once!¡± Tildamanded. Two subordinates standing behind her immediately pulled out their knives, ready to fight. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Dustin narrowed his eyes at the sight of the swinging des. They had chosen to use 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 u p! Kill him if he tries to resist!¡± ¡°Kill me?¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°You¡¯re making such extreme decisions when the investigations haven¡¯t eve n 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 reaso n things out peacefully the entire time, yet Tilda used 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 treachero us and evil!¡± shouted Tilda. ¡°Tilda, there must be some misunderstanding. Dustin saved my life. Without him, we wouldn¡¯t have bee n able to leave the Hummer Vi,¡± exined 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 ites 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 nced at her subordinate. ¡°Kneel!¡± Two men immediately brought their des 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 befor e CS CamScanner sweeping a foot toward Dustin¡¯s knee. Dustin didn¡¯t even budge. Instead, the man was pushed back two steps from the force. ¡°You fucker¡­¡± Embarrassed, the man was about to give another blow when Dustin suddenly shot out h is hand and mmed 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 eximed, their expressions changing after seeing the scene unfold before them. N o one expected Dustin to be such a ruthless man, killing without a word. He didn¡¯t give a damn about th e Harmon family. ¡°Fuck you!¡± Furious, the other man shed his de at Dustin. ¡°He is the spy! Kill him!¡± Tilda immediately ordered, ruthless. At hermand, the rest of the men immediately charged toward Dustin with des 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 wereying on the ground, motionless. With clean and decisi ve 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 nk expression on his face, Dustin tilted his head sideways to avoid Tilda¡¯s attack and in a s h, gave the woman a punch in the abdomen. Tilda screamed in pain as her body soared through the air andnded 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 nowpletely 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 nu mber 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 sl ack; the woman was now dead. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. 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 befor e 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? 717 CS CamScanner 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 pir! Wait ¡®til the Harmon family hears about this!¡± a bald guard yelled furiously. ¡°This bastard must be out of his min d! Killing Tilda is likeunching 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 herpos ure. 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?¡± Ste phan was dumbfounded. On the other hand, Ruth had a look of horror as she cried, ¡°No way! Tilda was the spy?¡± Chapter 78 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 assassi ns¡® 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 w alked 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 o ne 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 bro w furrowed in confusion. ¡°Nowadays, not many can resist the temptation of money and power. That¡¯s why betrayals happen easily. Without Mr. Rhys¡® keen observatio n, 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 di gging 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 neglecte d! ¡°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 the m hiding among our ranks right now.¡± Dustin began surveying the crowd with eyes like a hawk before hi s gazended 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 nonchntly. ¡°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.¡± Natashamanded. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯ve worked for you for so many years. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re suspecting me,¡± the guard sai d CS CamScanner incredulously.. ¡°Strip!¡± Natashamanded. ¡°Fine! Since none of you believe me, I¡¯ll just have to prove my innocence!¡± snapped the petnt 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 ck objects flew out of his sleeve and hurled toward Dusti n and Natasha. No one around them reacted in time since everything happened so quickly. Swiftly, Dustin reached out and effortlessly grabbed the objecting toward him with his fingers. Upo n closer inspection, the object turned out to be a poisonous ck 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 re, a murderous aura surrounding her. ¡°Ms. Harmon, you must know that a man would do anything to be rich. What they offered me was too tempting to resist. You can¡¯t me me for epting!¡± the guard sneered.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°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 gu ard retorted. Natasha was about to say something when a wave of nausea hit her. Suddenly, her body wentx, 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 ck. What a venomous bite the snake had! ¡°Give me the antidote!¡± Dustin mmed 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 s ardonic 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 cure d without the antidote!¡± ¡°You bastard! I¡¯ll kill you if you don¡¯t give us the antidote!¡± Furious, Ruth charged forward and began be ating the guard up. ¡°Go ahead! Once I¡¯m dead, Ms. Harmon will be following me, too!¡± CS CamScanner 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 veno m. 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 d epends on whether you have the guts to do it.¡± The guard sniggered. 1 ¡°Thanks for the advice,¡± Dustin nodded. Immediately, he mmed his foot onto the guard¡¯s chest, crushing the man¡¯s ribs and caused his internal organs to burst out with a st. Blood burst from the guard¡¯s mouth as his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Y¨CYou said you wouldn¡¯t kill me.¡± ¡°Sorry. I changed my mind,¡± Dustin answered nonchntly. ¡°Y¨Cyou 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 Chapter 79 After killing the traitor, Dustin carried the weakened Natasha to the car. The area where the snake had bitten her had turned ck 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 regr snake venom. However, this venom was particrly potent. Since Dustin l acked 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 y 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 exined. ¡°What?¡± Ruth was stunned for a moment before an odd expression took over her face. ¡°B¨C 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 hea rd 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 momentter, he spat out a mouthful of dark blood and returned his mouth to the wound with out hesitation. Slowly, Natasha regained consciousness.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Natasha had a confused expression on her face as she gazed at him passionat ely. ¡°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 agai n. CS CamScanner 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, wantin g 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 t he area where their convoy had been. A car door opened, and Edwin Hummer stepped out. Upon seeing the corpses of Tilda and her men, hi s jaw cred. ¡°How could this be?¡± Edwin eximed, his eyes wide with disbelief. It was worth noting that Tilda had been nted in the Harmon family to turn the tide during crucial mom ents 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 ¨Cups a satisfactory answer soon, he could kiss his position goodbye! Chapter 80 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 andnded on Ruth sitting beside him with a dazed expr ession 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 somethin g 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 on e of the world¡¯s top ten most poisonous venoms,¡± Dustin marveled. ¡°Why does that sound weird?¡± Ruth was puzzled. Before Ruth coulde out of her daze, two people entered the hospital room. One was Natasha, while the other was a curvaceousdy dressed exquisitely. The two women resembl ed each other. Not only were they both very well¨Cdressed, 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 ss 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. Row Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. an 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 fin e now. CS CamScanner It¡¯lle in handy in emergencies,¡± Natasha insisted, stuffing the bottle into Dustin¡¯s pocket. Dustin epted 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 entra nce,¡± 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 ol d man was ill ¡°Natasha, you wasted one of the Harmon family¡¯s favors just for him?¡± The woman beside her finally sp oke. She was Natasha¡¯s mother, Jessica Bard. ¡°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 fam ily 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 pow eres 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 be the head of the Har mon family! Why don¡¯t you understand this?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter since I was never interested in bing the head of the family, to begin with,¡± Natas ha CS CamScanner replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°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 dering 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 to pic 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?¡± Natash a frowned. Jessica snorted. ¡°If he can¡¯t even defeat Edwin Hummer, why should I ept 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 Mill sburg and get married!¡± Jessica turned and left the room. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Meanwhile, in a nearby hospital room, Dahlia¡¯s grandfathery unconscious, his face ashen. Florence and several members of the Nicholson family gathered together as they discussed countermeasures hushedly. ¡°How peculiar. Old Mr. Nicholson has always been fine. Why did he suddenly fall ill?¡± ¡°Exactly! He¡¯s always looked so strong and healthy. Who would¡¯ve guessed that this would happen if h e fell ill.¡± Everyone sighed with pity for the old man. ¡°How¡¯s Granddad?¡± Dahlia bolted into the room in her heels. She had been in a meeting when she rece ived the news of her grandfather falling ill and rushed over as fast as possible. ¡°Dahlia, the doctors think that he might not make it,¡± Florence mumbled, shaking her head. ¡°What?¡± Dahlia¡¯s face paled. ¡°How could that be? Wasn¡¯t he fine yesterday?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s weird too! But maybe this is his fate.¡± Florence sighed. ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor? Doctor!¡± Dahlia called, distraught. + ¡°It¡¯s futile. All sorts of doctors have checked him. They say his symptoms are too weird. There¡¯s no way for them to find the root cause of his condition, and the only thing left to do is wait for his death.¡± ¡°I¨C impossible!¡± shrieked Dahlia as she began to panic. She couldn¡¯t imagine her grandfather, who loved h er so dearly, passing away. ¡°Dahlia, I know a fabulous doctor. He might be able to do something.¡± Matt, who had been standing nea This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. rby. finally spoke. ¡°A fabulous doctor? Who? Can they really save my grandfather?¡± Dahlia perked up instantly. ¡°His name is Dr. Ross Leister. He just arrived from Millsburg, and his medical skills are top¨C notch. He¡¯s able to cure all sorts of illnesses! He also happens to be Dr. Rowan Cross¡® apprentice,¡± Matt replied. ¡°Dr. Cross¡® apprentice?¡± Everyone¡¯s expressions began to brighten when they heard that. Dr. Cross was well¨Cknown. Even people in South City were familiar with his aplishments. He was on par with Dr. Watkinds and Dr. Peay, who were both already at the top of the pyramid when it came to medicine! His skills were so good they had already reached perfection. As his apprentice, Dr. Leister¡¯s skills must be outstanding! ¡°Can you really get him to examine Granddad?¡± Dahlia asked, her tone hopeful. This doctor was her grandfather¡¯s only shot now. ¡°He¡¯s my friend. He¡¯lle if I ask him to¡± Matt nodded. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful news! If Old Mr. Nicholson gets well, the Nicholson family will be in your debt!¡± Everyone agreed. CS CamScanner ¡°This is nothing. Let me ask for him.¡± Matt smiled and left the room. As soon as Matt had left, Dustin entered the ward but was stopped in his tracks by Florence. ¡°What are you doing here, Rhys?¡± she snapped. ¡°I heard that Granddad¡¯s sick. I¡¯m here to visit him.¡± Dustin¡¯s face was sombre. ¡°Visit him? Who do you think you are? You¡¯re no longer my son¨Cin¨C ¡°What¡¯s wrong. Mom?¡± Dahlia rushed over when she heard themotion. ¡°This bastard is pretending to care and wants to visit your grandfather. I bet he knows your grandpa¡¯s time is almost up, so he¡¯s here to try to get a pi ece of the family fortune!¡± Florence mocked. Everyone in the Nicholson family knew that Henry Nicholson had always treated Dustin like his own grandson. It would be no surprise if the old man left Dustin something to take over! ¡°You¡¯ve got it all wrong. I¡¯m just worried about Granddad¡¯s condition,¡± Dustin exined. Still suspicious, Florence scoffed at him, ¡°Who knows what your true intentions are?¡± ¡°Mom, just let him in. He¡¯s just showing his love for Granddad.¡± Dahlia quipped. ¡°Dahlia, this kid-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility if something happens.¡± Florence was about to say something else but swallowed her words and stepped aside reluctantly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Dustin gave a nod of thanks and walked straight into the ward. The sickly old man was ashen. He looked as though he had just experienced a stroke. Dustin reached out to touch Henry¡¯s hand. He was shocked to discover that, although his limbs were co ld, an extreme heat emanated from under the pale skin. 1 ¡°The ming Frost Poison?¡± Dustin pondered as he narrowed his eyes, silentlying up with treatme nt methods. The ming Frost Poison caused the strangest symptoms. On the outside, the patient would be freezin g cold while their insides were actually burning hot. Treating either symptom would be ineffective and c ould even backfire if the medication used was too strong. This exined why the doctors could not do anything to treat Henry. ¡°Dahlia, bring me some hot water,¡± Dustin ordered. ¡°Whatever for?¡± Dahlia was puzzled. ¡°Granddad¡¯s weak, and he can¡¯t hold on for much longer. I need to treat him now,¡± he exined grimly. ¡°You?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting now? Do you even know anything about med icine?¡± ¡°A little.¡± CS CamScanner ¡°And you dare to show off? What in the world are you thinking?¡± Dahlia asked, visibly annoyed. This was a person¡¯s life they were talking about, not child¡¯s y! ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying. Rhys? What makes you think you can cure him? Will you take r esponsibility if something goes wrong?¡± Florence chastised. ¡°Exactly! Old Mr. Nicholson¡¯s already suffering enough, so why are you causing more trouble? Just stay out of the way!¡± Everyone was unhappy as Dustin was nothing more than a self¨C absorbed punk in their eyes. How could he, a mediocre white¨C cor worker who had been fired and had achieved nothing outstanding in the past three years, know a nything about curing diseases and saving lives? ¡°If I¡¯m saying it aloud, it means I have faith in myself that I can cure him. Let me try,¡± Dustin responded i n a determined voice. ¡°Dustin, will you stop messing around?¡± Dahlia snapped. ¡°You¡¯re neither a doctor nor are you medically certified. How can you say that you can save him? I let you in to visit grandpa, not to boast!¡± ¡°Can you just trust me this once?¡± Dustin pleaded, upset. If he wasn¡¯t sure he could do it, there was no way he would meddle with Henry¡¯s life. ¡°This has nothing to do with trust. The fact is, you cannot do it. I won¡¯t let you y around with Granddad¡¯s life!¡± Dahlia refus ed bluntly. After three years of marriage, they both knew each other like the backs of their hands. There was no w ay Dahlia could know whether Dustin could do it. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 ¡°Who said I can¡¯t do it? Fine. Then, who else can save Granddad if not me?¡± Dustin growled. He realized that it was impossible trying to reason with women using logic! ¡°The only one who can save Grandpa now is the incredible Dr. Ross Leister!¡± Dahlia answered with a g rim expression. ¡°That¡¯s right! Matt¡¯s already gone to call the doctor. If Dr. Leister agrees to help us, we can save Old Mr. Nicholson. There¡¯ll be no need for a quack like you.¡± ¡°Dr. Ross Leister? Who¡¯s that?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°He¡¯s Dr. Cross¡® apprentice who specializes in treating rare diseases. He¡¯s way better than you are!¡± Fl orence stated proudly. As soon as the words left her mouth, two people entered the room. The first was Matt. He was followed by a man in his 30s in a white coat and a pair of sses, with a haughty and pretentious expression o n his face. ¡°Matt! Did you manage to get Dr. Leister?¡± Florence rushed over. ¡°Of course!¡± With a gentle smile, Matt introduced the man, ¡°This is Dr. Leister.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re Dr. Leister! What an honor!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a talented doctor indeed, Dr. Leister. You managed to be Dr. Cross¡® apprentice at such a young age. How amazing!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! With Dr. Leister¡¯s help, Old Mr. Nicholson will recover!¡± Everyone began singing praises at Ross, especially since he was Dr. Rowan Cross¡® apprentice. They h ad to make a good impression in case they needed his help in the future. ¡°Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t have bothereding here if it weren¡¯t for Mr. Laney. After all, everyone who asks me to treat them is either a high¨C ranking official, an aristocrat, or a wealthy person,¡± said the man in sses. He raised his head, peering down at everyone else in the room. ¡°Of course! It¡¯s an honor to have you here!¡± Florence and the others agreed, their faces showing signs of ttery. The man in sses soaked up the attention, pleased. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I¡¯m a busy man, so let¡¯s not dilly ¨Cdally and get this over with. Where¡¯s the patient?¡± ¡°Over here!¡± Florence led the way to Henry¡¯s bed. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± The doctor nodded and proceeded to take Henry¡¯s pulse. ¡°So it¡¯s Havaska? Well, this might b e slightly troublesome, but no big matter. A bowl of hot medicine will do the trick.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s great!¡± Everyone was overjoyed. As expected, they found the right man for the treatment. ¡°Doctor, aren¡¯t you mistaking something?¡± Dustin asked. CS CamScanner ¡°What?¡± The man in sses frowned and gave Dustin a look over. ¡°And who are you? How dare you q uestion me!¡± ¡°If it was Havaska, a bowl of hot medicine would take care of it. However, what Granddad has Isn¡¯t Hav aska but the ming Frost Poison!¡± Dustin asserted. ¡°What do you mean ming Frost Poison? I¡¯ve never even heard of it!¡± The man red at Dustin and asked, Who are you to criticize me?¡± ¡°Dr. Leister, this is a misunderstanding. This piece of trash knows nothing. Please pay him no mind.¡± Fl orence smiled at the man before turning to Dustin. ¡°You better stop running your mouth, Rhys! You¡¯ll be done for if you offend Dr. Leister!¡± she snapped. ¡°I¡¯m just stating facts. If he hasn¡¯t even heard of the poison, I have reason to question his skills,¡± Dustin replied, shaking his head. ¡°Boy, do you have any idea who I am? How dare you talk to me like that!¡± the man demanded furiously. ¡°I heard that you¡¯re Rowan Cross¡® apprentice. However, you¡¯ve still got a long way to go. If anyone¡¯s doi ng the treatment, it should be him,¡± Dustin said calmly. Henry¡¯s condition would only worsen if the man in sses provided treatment meant for Havaska. Natu rally. Dustin doubted this man¡¯s skills. ¡°Hey! Are you done yet? Who do you think you are? What makes you think you¡¯re worthy of asking for my mentor¡¯s help, you fucker?¡± the doctor roared. ¡°Dustin, Dr. Cross is away on a retreat and isn¡¯t so easily invited. Even Dr. Leister doesn¡¯t dare disturb him,¡± Matt warned. ¡°Mr. Laney! I came because you asked me personally. Yet instead of thanking me, someone decides to question me. If this is the thanks I get. I¡¯m done treating this patient!¡± The man turned around to leave. causing an instant frenzy in the room. ¡°No! Please, Dr. Leister! This idiot is speaking nonsense. Please don¡¯t get mad!¡± Florence pleaded, pulli This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ng him back while she turned to curse at Dustin, ¡°Rhys, shut the fuck up! How dare you criticize Dr. Leister¡¯s way of treating patients. Get out!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Who the fuck are you to point fingers at Dr. Leister?¡± ¡°Dustin Rhys! How could you be so cruel? Are you going to drive Dr. Leister away so that Old Mr. Nicho lson dies?¡± Infuriated, everyone began swearing at Dustin. A man like Dustin, who only cared about showing off and had no regard for the lives of others, was disgusting! ¡°Enough of this nonsense. This punk is pissing me off. Throw him out, or I¡¯m not treating the patient any longer!¡± thr eatened the man. ¡°Yes, of course!¡± Florence apologized profusely. She turned to Dustin and spat, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what D r. Leister said, Rhys? Get out of here!¡± ¡°Yeah! Get out! Don¡¯t worsen Old Mr. Nicholson¡¯s condition any further!¡± chimed the others. CS CamScanner ¡°I¡¯m just acting in Grandpa¡¯s best interest. This person isn¡¯t trustworthy.¡± Dustin tried to defend himself. ¡°Shut up!¡± Dahlia roared. ¡°Dustin, it¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t have the skills, but please don¡¯t make things wors e. Get out right now!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me either?¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°You¡¯re a pathological liar, so why should I?¡± Pointing at the door, Dahliamanded, ¡°Get out this inst ant. Don¡¯t bother Dr. Leister!¡± Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Dustin was speechless as he faced the cold loo on Dahlia¡¯s face and a rightfully angry crowd. Eventually, after a few minutes of silence, he exited the ward. He knew no one would beli eve him no matter what he said. ¡°Humph! He should¡¯ve left hours ago! What a nuisance!¡± ¡°I know! He has no awareness at all!¡± The crowd insulted and criticized Dustin as he left the room. Florence smiled and said, ¡°Dr. Leister, that ignorant bastard is gone. Please calm down.¡± ¡°Ross, can you let it go this time, for my sake? Curing the patient is an urgent matter. I¡¯ll repay you grea tly for ¡°this!¡± Matt chimed in. ¡°How could I ignore your offer, Mr. Laney? But this will only happen once. I won¡¯t let it go next time!¡± wa rned. the doctor with sses. ¡°Of course! Most definitely!¡± The crowd nodded and looked at Matt gratefully. ¡°How maddening! That useless bastard Dustin only knows how to make things worse. Mr. Laney is the only person who could save the situation,¡± thought Florence. ¡°Alright, go fetch me some medicine.¡± The sses¨Cd man did not waste another second. He wrote down the prescription and tossed it to Florence. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she rushed to follow his instructions. Luckily, she was in a hospital, and the medicine was easy to find. In less than an hour, the medicine was ready. ¡°Did someone doubt my abilities earlier? I¡¯ll show them how it¡¯s done!¡± The doctor called for the crowd¡¯s attention before he poured the medicine into Henry¡¯s mouth. As the treatment flo wed to his stomach, his face quickly regained color. He felt his frozen limbs warm up. Even his previous ly weak breathing had improved. Seeing this, the crowd praised the doctor. ¡°It¡¯s working! It¡¯s working! His face is getting better!¡± ¡°Dr. Leister, you¡¯re incredible! You were able to cure him with just some medicine. How miraculous!¡± ¡°Now that¡¯s Dr. Cross¡® best apprentice! Those medical skills of yours are superb! You¡¯re probably better than your master at this point!¡± The crowd¡¯s expressions brightened as they started cheering. ¡°Although I¡¯m not on the same level as my master, I¡¯ve probably gained 70% to 80% of his skills. No illn ess will be able to defeat me!¡± Ross boasted. ¡°That¡¯s right! Dr. Leister¡¯s medical skills are beyond praise!¡± Florenceplimented, smiling at him. ¡°Too bad that guy isn¡¯t here. Otherwise, I¡¯d show him what a great doctor looks like!¡± The doctor smiled proudly. CS CamScanner However, as he finished his sentence, there was a sudden turn of events. Henry¡¯s face flushed red. Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead. His skin started burning as if he had a high fever. ¡°Ugh!¡± Henry sat up and coughed up blood. He fell backward as he fainted again. The crowd was shocked at the scene. ¡°What happened? Wasn¡¯t he cured? Why did he cough up blood suddenly?¡± thought the onlookers. ¡°Doctor, what¡­ what happened?¡± Dahlia asked as her face turned pale with shock. ¡°Oh heavens! He coughed up so much blood. Could he be dead?¡± The color drained from Florence¡¯s fa ce. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t happen. I followed all the procedures. How could this be?¡± questioned the doctor, also ¡° puzzled. ¡°There was no way the cure could be wrong. Why would the patient cough up blood?¡± he wondered. ¡°Please think of another way, doctor! My grandfather is dying!¡± Dahlia was in a panic. Henry had lost all signs of life. Blood continued to flow from his nose. It was clear that his Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. situation was worse than before. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. Let me take a look.¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Dr. Ross Leister examined the patient again. However, Henry¡¯s heart was beating rapidly as his body c onvulsed and trembled out of his control. At that moment, the doctor was at a loss for words. ¡°This does not look good.¡± Ross was puzzled. He sighed and said, ¡°The patient was previously diagno sed with other illnesses. Now that he¡¯s got the Havaska virus, it¡¯s impossible to cure him. It looks like h e won¡¯t make it. You should start preparing for the end.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Everyone froze at bie statement. ¡°After treating him for so long, this is the oue? Prepare for the aftermath?!¡± ¡°Dr. Leister! Please, you have to save my grandfather. I¡¯m willing to spend every penny I have!¡± Dahlia begged. ¡°¡­¡± As the doctor opened his mouth to speak, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Dustin entered the room with a gloomy look on his face. Without a word, he swiftly pulled out a silver sy ringe and stabbed Henry¡¯s chest. The fluids in the needle rushed into the man¡¯s veins with a whoosh. ¡°Hey! What are you doing?!¡± Ross eximed angrily. ¡°Since you can¡¯t cure him, let me do it!¡± Dustin replied coldly. ¡°Who who says I can¡¯t cure him?¡± With a bold look, Ross demanded, ¡°I already thought of a way to cur e him. I could save him immediately. But now that you¡¯ve messed around with the patient, his condition has worsened!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying that this is my fault?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Of course it¡¯s your fault! If anything goes wrong, you should take all responsibility for it!¡± Ross barked. He had bee n worried earlier but never thought this man would appear and be his scapegoat. ¡°Thank the heav ens!¡± he thought. He might finally be able to save his reputation. ¡°You¡¯re not good at anything besides shifting me. I don¡¯t understand why Cross took you on as his apprentice!¡± Dustin mocked. ¡°You bastard! What are you bbering on about? I¡¯ll kick your ass!¡± The doctor was losing his patience. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. ¡°Go ahead and try it if you don¡¯t mind dying.¡± Dustin red at Ross. The stern look on his face manage d to instill fear in the doctor¡¯s heart. ¡°Dustin! What on earth are you doing? You don¡¯t have any medical skills, so why do you insist on mess ing around?!¡± Dahlia insisted, her blood starting to boil. Everything had happened so quickly when Dust in entered the room that she had only just returned to her senses. ¡°Are you guys blind? This person made Granddad cough up blood! You still belleve him?¡± Dustin dema nded coldly. CS CamScanner ¡°Dr. Leister said he knows how to treat him!¡± Dahlia replied. ¡°So you just believe everything he says? Would you jump off a building if he told you to?!¡± Dustin insist ed. ¡°You¡­¡± Dahlia started, but she was at a loss for words. ¡°Enough talking! Get out of my way!¡± Dustin said. His relentless manner made everyone freeze. Ignoring the crowd¡¯s shocked expression, Dustin grabbed a ss of warm water and slowly mixed in so me antidote powder. He fed it to Henry slowly. Although he could cure Henry with his equipment, it would take too much time and effortpared to g iving him this antidote. After all, it had taken Dr. Cross three years of hard work. u sure this will work?¡± Dahlia questioned with a frown, clearly still filled with doubt. ¡°Are you ¡°Effective or not, you will see in a minute,¡± Dustin replied hastily. ¡°Humph! How ridiculous! You think you can cure Havaska poisoning with some random powder? Do you think you¡¯re some wizard?!¡± the doctor chastised. How could some random guy cure an illness that he couldn¡¯t? ¡°Rhys! I¡¯m warning you! If anything happens to grandpa, I won¡¯t let you off easily!¡± Dahlia snapped. As she finished her sentence, Henry¡¯s eyes shot open. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 ¡°He¡­ He¡¯s awake?!¡± Everyone was stunned. No one would¡¯ve thought that a ss of warm water was all Henry Nicholson n eeded to wake up. How miraculous! ¡°No way! Did Dustin really cure the old man¡¯s illness?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd. Even Dr. Leister couldn¡¯t cure him. How did he do it?¡± The crowd exchanged looks of surprise as they watched Henry¡¯s breathing stabilize. For a moment, the y looked at Dustin in a different light. They never imagined that Dustin, who hade from an unknow n background, would have been the one to cure Henry. ¡°Granddad, how do you feel?¡± Dahlia asked hurriedly. ¡°That¡¯s weird. One moment everything felt cold and then hot. It seems that I¡¯m okay now.¡± Henry ran his hands over his body, looking surprised. Earlier, he thought that his life hade to an en d. He never imagined that feeling would disappear so quickly! ¡°Dad, you¡­ you¡¯re really okay?¡± Florence could not believe it. ¡°Of course. I feel refreshed and full of energy!¡± Henry smiled. Hearing this, everyone sighed in relief. Despite their surprise, they were still doubtful. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Since when has Dustin known how to cure illnesses?¡± they wondered. ¡°No! No way! The patient was clearly dying. How did you save him?!¡± Ross asked in surprise as he ret urned to his senses. No one but him knew that Henry¡¯s heartbeat had been palpitating as he had never seen before. It was impossible to treat, even for him. How had this fellow cured the patient? How could this man be more capable than he was? He was the great Dr. Rowan Cross¡® apprentice! ¡°You couldn¡¯t cure him, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t. You should learn more from your mentor so that y ou don¡¯t keep making a fool of yourself!¡± Dustin remarked coldly. ¡°You bastard! What was that powder that you used? What did you do?!¡± the doctor roared. A ss of warm water couldn¡¯t have cured him, so it must have been the powder Dustin mixed in. ¡°How can you call yourself Dr. Cross¡® apprentice if you don¡¯t even recognise Hexanavir?¡± Dustin mocke d. ¡°What? That was Hexanavir?!¡± The doctor¡¯s eyes widened. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Dr. Ross, what¡¯s Hexanavir? Is it rare?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Rare? It was Dr. Cross¡® life¡¯s work. He spent years producing such an antidote! With just a small sampl e, you can cure any rare disease. It is invaluable. You can¡¯t get your hands on it no matter how rich you are!¡± t he doctor replied. CS CamScanner ¡°Huh? It¡¯s that incredible?¡± Florence said, surprised. ¡°No wonder¡­ no wonder you could cure him instantly. You used Hexanavir!¡± As he spoke, Ross remem bered something. He asked, ¡°Wait a second. How did you get your hands on Hexanavir? It was my mentor¡¯s masterpiece! Tell me. Did you steal it?!¡± ¡°Steal?¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m not that despicable.¡± ¡°You still dare to argue! Hexanavir is my mentor¡¯s invaluable life¡¯s work. He wouldn¡¯t even give any to hi s apprentices. How would you have gotten your hands on it if you didn¡¯t steal it?!¡± snapped the doctor. The entire room went into an uproar. Everyone¡¯s gazended on Dustin. Some were suspicious, while others. looked down on him with disdain. ¡°Rhys! I never thought you could be so despicable. You¡¯d steal someone¡¯s precious medicine just to gai n attention!¡± Florence yelled. ¡°That¡¯s right! For a second, I actually thought you were skilled. After all that, you were only trying to out perform Dr. Leister!¡± ¡°You really are a piece of trash. With no skills, you have to resort to stealing!¡± Everyone shook their head in disdain and continued mocking him. ¡°Dustin! Why? Why did you steal it?¡± asked Dahlia with a frown. She had thought that Dustin was capa ble, but now it appears he stole this Dr. Cross¡® antidote! 2 ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. I did not steal anything. It was given to me as a gift.¡± Dustin exined. ¡°Gifted to you? Who are you? Why would my mentor give his Hexanavir to you? Why don¡¯t you look in t he mirror and reflect on your behavior!¡± Ross spat with disdain. ¡°Believe me or don¡¯t believe me. It¡¯s your choice.¡± Dustin did not want to exin any further. ¡°What? Are you guilty? I¡¯m warning you. Return the Hexanavir to me this instant. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to deal with the consequences!¡± the doctor warned. ¡°Dustin! Can you have some dignity? Even if you want to be in the spotlight, you can¡¯t do such a despic able thing. Return it this instant!¡± Dahliamanded. ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with any of you. Get Dr. Cross to take it back from me!¡± Dustin¡¯s face darkened. He felt anger rising through his body. ¡°Hey! You still think you¡¯re all that after stealing? Give it back to me now!¡± Ross yelled as he reached ou t to snatch the bottle from Dustin. With a resounding smack, Dustin stopped the doctor with a p across his face. The doctor almost fell from the impact. The crowd was stunned at the scene. They never thought that Dustin was such a wild man. After steali ng someone¡¯s medicine, he pped someone in the face. How arrogant! ¡°You¡­ you dare hit me?¡± the doctor sputtered in disbelief as he held his face. 213 ¡°So what if I hit you? Do I need to make an appointment to do it?¡± Dustin smirked. ¡°Bastard! You¡¯ve got the balls doing something like that! It looks like you don¡¯t know what the Crosses a re capable of! If you don¡¯t want to die, you¡¯d better kneel and beg for my forgiveness!¡± the doctor said fiercely. ¡°Apologize? Are you worthy of an apology?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Alright! You asked for this!¡± The doctor red at him as he pulled out his phone, dialling a number. ¡°Dustin, if I were you, I would apologize to Dr. Leister immediately.¡± Matt sneered, ¡°You should know that the Crosses helped cure many big shots. If you dare hit Dr. Leiste r, you¡¯re making yourself the enemy of Dr. Cross and the entire Cross family!¡± ¡°So what?¡± Dustin muttered unfazed. ¡°So what?!¡± Matt looked as if he was talking to an idiot. ¡°Stubborn till the end. When Dr. Cross gets her e, you¡¯re done for!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s done for?¡± a powerful voice bellowed through the door. An older man in a doctor¡¯s outfit appeared. His presence filled the space as he strode into the room. It was Dr. Rowan Cross! Chapter 86 Chapter 86 ¡°Sir! You¡¯re here?!¡± Upon seeing Dr. Rowan Cross, Ross was stunned. He rushed to greet the older man with respect. At th at moment, he looked very humble. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡°Could it be¡­ this person is the great Dr. Cross?!¡± After learning the identity of the older man, the Nicholson family members were excited. They surround ed him, trying to gain his favor. ¡°Oh my! What an honour to meet the great Dr. Cross in person!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Dr. Cross. I¡¯m so lucky to meet you!¡± Everyone chimed in, praising the doctor. One should know that this doctor was well¨C known across the seven seas. Not only was he good at curing others, but he also had a vastwork o f connections and was incredibly influential. Just a word from him could change one¡¯s life. ¡°Dr. Cross, aren¡¯t you resting? Why are you here?¡± the doctor asked curiously. ¡°A friend called me saying you were messing around with a patient. Did such a thing happen?¡± replied Rowanross. He was not happy. Earlier that day, he had received a call from his biggest savior. He was so happy that he rushed to the h ospital as fast as possible. ¡°A friend?¡± Everyone exchanged nces before looking at Matt. In their eyes, only someone noble could be consi dered a friend of Dr. Cross. In this room, Matt was the only person noble enough. ¡°Dr. Cross, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you!¡± At that moment, Matt suddenly stepped forward and introduced himself. ¡°I¡¯m Matt Laney, from Millsburg. I believe you¡¯ve met my father.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Rowan replied softly. He scanned the room as if looking for something. He did not even spare M att a nce. Shot down by the doctor¡¯s cold response, Matt fell silent awkwardly. ¡°Sir! Have you lost something recently?¡± Ross asked. ¡°Lost something?¡± Rowan raised his eyebrow. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Earlier, someone here stole your antidote. Luckily I noticed in time and stopped him so that you won¡¯t s uffer any losses!¡± the doctor said excitedly. Hexanavir was his mentor¡¯s most prized treasure. Now that he had helped return it, he would surely be rewarded. ¡°Stole my antidote? Who?¡± Rowan was puzzled. CS CamScanner ¡°It¡¯s him!¡± eximed the doctor as he pointed to someone behind Rowan. ¡°He¡¯s the one who stole your Hexanavir! He even babbled on about how you gave it to him as a gift. Thankfully I¡¯m smart enough to see through his lies. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve run off with the antidote!¡± ¡°Dr. Cross, Dustin¡¯s actions have nothing to do with us. If you want to get him, just get him! It is none of our business.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Hurry and get rid of him!¡± The Nicholson family was afraid to get in trouble, so they all started pointing fingers at the culprit. Howe ver, no one expected the dark cloud that fell across Rowan¡¯s face. ¡°Dustin, what are you still waiting for? Hurry and return the antidote and apologize! If you¡¯re lucky, Dr. C ross might forgive you!¡± Dahlia started sending him signals. Although she hated his actions at times, she still felt bad for him wh en he found himself in bad situations. ¡°Bastard! You¡¯re done for! You dare steal my mentor¡¯s treasure. No one can save you today!¡± Ross sne ered with a smug look as if he had won. One should know that although his mentor was kind and forgiving, he was serious when it came to med icine. There was no way he would let Dustin off easily for stealing his antidote! ¡°Dr. Cross, you¡¯ve done a great job teaching your apprentice. Since this antidote is so precious, I¡¯ll retur n it to you.¡°Dustin pulled out the bottle of Hexanavir and threw it over to Rowan. Rowan almost copsed in shock. However, Ross still had not grasped the situation and continued mocking Dustin. ¡°Bastard! Now you¡¯re scared? Why didn¡¯t you do this earlier? Even if you return it now, it¡¯s toote! I want you to kneel and apologize. Maybe the n I¡¯ll let you go!¡± the doctor with sses exploded, his head held high. ¡°Shut up!¡± At that moment, Rowan¡¯s patience had run out, and he pped Ross across the face with all his might. Ross fell to the ground with a loud smack. He felt like he had dislocated his head. Blood started to flow from his nose. ¡°S¨Csir. Why did you hit me? He¡¯s the one you should hit!¡± Ross asked, stunned as he held his face, not understanding what he did wrong. His master had pped the wrong person. ¡°You dare disrespect Mr. Rhys? You¡¯re the one who should be pped!¡± Rowan bellowed in a fit of rage . He lifted Ross to his feet and pped him several more times. Ross¡® face turned a darker purple with every p. Even his teeth started falling out. Everyone was confused at this scene. ¡°What is going on? Shouldn¡¯t Dr. Cross beshing out at Dustin? Why is he hitting his apprentice?¡± eve ryone wondered. ¡°You imbecile! Brainless scum! Who gave you the guts to disrespect Mr. Rhys? I¡¯ll beat you till you co me to CS CamScanner your senses!¡± Rowan roared as he kept hitting with no mercy. If Dustin hadn¡¯t stepped up to stop Rowan, Ross wouldn¡¯t have survived. After all these years, Rowan had been searching for Dustin so that he could repay him for his kindness. And now that they had finally met in person, it should have been a momentous asion. However, his failure of an apprentice disrespected and openly mocked his greatest savior. He was clearly looking fo r a beating! After letting out his anger, Rowan presented the bottle of Hexanavir to Dustin and said, ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m t erribly sorry. It¡¯s my fault for not training him well enough that you had to go through all that. Please for give me!¡± He fell to his knees in front of Dustin. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Rowan kneeling before the man, everyone was stunned into silence. Their eyes widened with s hock as if they had seen a ghost. ¡°The great Dr. Cross is kneeling and apologizing to a nobody? What in the world is happening?!¡± every one wondered. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Rowan¡¯s actions had left everyone in the room stunned. ¡°N¨Cno way! Dustin knows Dr. Cross? How is that possible?!¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, Dustin is incredible! He can even make Dr. Cross apologize?¡± Everyone in the room exchanged nces of shock as they watched Dustin¡¯s calm, unfazed This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. expression and the respectful look on Dr. Cross¡® face. They had difficulty picturing someone mediocre k nowing someone like Dr. Cross. ¡°Are¨Care my eyes ying tricks on me?¡± Florence was in disbelief. *The great Dr. Rowan Cross, the best doctor in the world, was apologizing to Dustin? How unbelievable ! ¡°Could it be that Dustin¡¯s Hexanavir really was a gift from Dr. Cross?¡± Dahlia was also shocked to her c ore. To be honest, ever since the divorce, she noticed that Dustin had be more discreet. ¡°What a nuisance!¡± Matt muttered to himself, looking gloomy. Dr Cross¡± appearance had disrupted his p ¡°S¨Csir¡­ You really know this guy?¡± Ross asked in disbelief, cradling his face. ¡°Know him? Mr. Rhys is my savior. You¡¯ve got some nerve. How dare you disrespect Mr. Rhys? Hurry up and kneel! Apologize to him!¡± Rowan roared, pping Ross twice more. ¡°I¨C I¡¯m sorry. I was the one who didn¡¯t recognise master¡¯s savior. Please forgive me!¡± Ross gave in and hur riedly kneeled before Dustin. He was no longer as arrogant as he was before. ¡°Mr. Rhys, this failure of an apprentice made a grave mistake not recognizing someone incredible like y ou. Please don¡¯t pay any mind to what he says. Of course, if you need to vent your dissatisfaction, you may punish him as you see fit. I¡¯ll take responsibility even if you hit him to death!¡± Rowan¡¯s words shocked the injured doctor as he trembled in fear. From the look on his master¡¯s face, h e realised he had messed with the wrong person. If Rowan did not go easy on him, he¡¯s dead! ¡°I don¡¯t need to punish him. I just hope you will be stricter with apprentices so they don¡¯t ruin your reput ation, Dr. Cross,¡± Dustin said in a gentle voice. ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Rowan agreed, nodding. ¡°I will make this one reflect on his behavior. If he doesn ¡¯t change his ways, I¡¯ll kick him out!¡± ¡°That¡¯s your decision to make,¡± Dustin added. ¡°Failure! Hurry up and thank Mr. Rhys for being so forgiving!¡± Rowan roared. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhys, for your kindness!¡± the doctor kneeled before him. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Get up.¡± Dustin waved him away. ¡°Mr. Rhys, it¡¯s been so long since west saw each other after we parted ways. Do you have some tim e to have a meal with me?¡± Rowan asked. CS CamScanner Upon hearing the invitation, everyone in the room was fired up. What an honor it was to share a meal w ith Dr. Cross. Even the great elites from Millsburg had to make reservations to meet him. ¡°Dammit! This Dustin guy really hit the jackpot!¡± ¡°I know, right? To get on Dr. Cross¡® good side, he must have a great life ahead of him.¡± They were jealous and filled with envy. The words that left of Dustin¡¯s lips in reply to the esteemed doct or shocked everyone even further. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time right now. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m free,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°H¨C he rejected Dr. Cross? The guy who got kicked out of the Nicholson family rejected an invitation from th e great Dr. Cross? Did I hear that correctly?¡± everyone questioned. ¡°Oh, okay. I can always make time for Mr. Rhys.¡± No one expected Rowan¡¯s response. Not only was he not angry, but he was even happier than before. Dustin had not explicitly rejected him. That meant Rowan still stood a chance. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re busy. I won¡¯t waste more of your time. Goodbye,¡± Rowan said tactfully, shaking Dusti n¡¯s, hand. He dragged his apprentice by his ear and left the room. After they had left, the ward was in an uproar again. They looked at Dustin in surprise. ¡°Dustin, how do you know Dr. Cross?¡± It was Dahlia who spoke up first. ¡°I helped him once, so he owes me a favor.¡± Dustin said bluntly. ¡°Just like that?¡± Dahlia was shocked. ¡°What else is there?¡± Dustin replied. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I thought.¡± Dahlia trailed off. Everyone else let out a sigh of relief at his reply. They thought that Dustin had curried Rowan¡¯s favor using other mysterious means. It turned out that he was just lucky. ¡°Humph! So what if you helped him once? You just got lucky! What¡¯s so special about that!¡± ¡°He only owes you a favor. He already gifted you a bottle of Hexanavir. And now he¡¯s saved your reputa tion. The next time you ask him for help, he won¡¯tply!¡± ¡°We should stand on our own two feet. You shouldn¡¯t keep seeking out others for help. After all, it won¡¯t forever.¡± Now that they knew the truth, the crowd started making sarcasticments. After all, they still couldn¡¯t ept that a nobody like Dustin could be better than them. ¡°Dustin, thank you for what you did earlier,¡± Dahlia mumbled awkwardly. She never thought that Dustin would know Dr. Cross. He even cured her grandfather¡¯s illness. Reflecting on her actions, she couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. Saving Granddad was my decision. It had nothing to do with you,¡± Dustin Dahlia¡¯s gratitude vanished with Dustin¡¯s cold words. She frowned and thought to herself, ¡°I already ex pressed my gratitude. What else does he want? Should I apologize to him in front of everyone? Does h e need to be so particr?¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 ¡°Rhys! What is your problem? So you got lucky and saved the old man! You don¡¯t have to be so rude a bout it!¡± Florence cried, clearly upset. How dare he treat her daughter that way? Did he think he was all that? ¡°At least I saved him. What about all of you? He almost lost his life because of you!¡± Dustin retorted col dly. ¡°You¡­ What is this attitude?!¡± Florence sputtered. She had almost reached her limit. ¡°Enough! Stop yelling at each other! What a disgrace!¡± Henry then demanded, ¡°Florence, all of you, go outside. I need to speak to Dustin for a while.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± Although Florence was not happy about it, there was no other option but to leave. ¡°As soon as they left the room, the group started muttering. ¡°Say, do you think Old Mr. Nicholson wanted to talk to Dustin about his will or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. That guy is great at getting on Old Mr. Nicholson¡¯s good side. No matter what, we need to be careful!¡± ¡°Ha! I don¡¯t understand. James is his biological grandson, and yet Old Mr. Nicholson favors that guy mo re. I really don¡¯t know what¡¯s wrong with him!¡± They murmured to each other, expressing their dissatisfaction. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right. Where¡¯s James? Why isn¡¯t he here while Old Mr. Nicholson is sick?¡± Dahlia scanned the room and realised her brother was not present. ¡°He went drinking with his friends. We couldn¡¯t get through to his phone. He probably left it on silent mo de,¡± Florence said, shaking her head. ¡°Humph! He only knows how to go to bars and drink. No sense of responsibility at all!¡± Dahlia¡¯s express ion darkened. With behavior like that, it was no surprise that her grandfather favored this other guy more t han his biological grandson. ¡°Ms. Nicholson! Something¡¯s wrong!¡± Lyra cried as she arrived in her work attire. She looked like she w as in a rush. ¡°What happened?¡± Dahlia asked, confused. ¡°I was notified that your brother started amotion and got into a conflict with some people. They star ted a fight.¡± Everyone was shocked to hear Lyra¡¯s words. ¡°What? Who¡¯s got the guts to bully my son?!¡± Florence demanded as her blood started to boil upon hea ring the news. She had evidently missed the fact that her son was the one who had started the fight. 1 ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but I heard that the other party had many more people. If we don¡¯t get there in time to stop it, James might be in trouble,¡± Lyra added. ¡°Then what are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go help him!¡± Florence rolled up her sleeves, looking like she was ready to fight. CS CamScanner ¡°He only knows how to get into trouble. How annoying! Lyra, hurry and get more people to the bar!¡± Dahlia instructed. She led the group to the pub. After all, James was her broth er. If he got into trouble, she had to clean up his mess. Meanwhile, in the other hospital ward, Dustin received a phone call from Duane. ¡°Hey, Dustin. I found the incredibly rare Panax root that you asked for. Are you free now? We should meet up and have a chat.¡± 1 ¡°Oh? Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at Enchanted Tavern. I¡¯ll wait for you to get here!¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be there.¡± Dustin hung up the call, said his goodbyes to Henry, and headed to his destinatio n. 500- year¨C old Panax root was invaluable. Now that Duane had gotten his hands on it, Dustin could not miss the opportunity. Half an hourter, as Dustin arrived at Enchanted Tavern, he noticed Dahlia waiting next to her car. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Why are they here?¡± Dustin wondered. He was confused, but he did not reach out to them. He followed a group of people inside. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 There were a lot of people gathered in the bar. Some of them were spectators. Others were involved in the fight. The group that the onlookers were most interested in was a small group led by James. A few of them had bruises covering their faces and blood rushing from their faces. They were forced to kneel on the ground, looking hopeless. ¡°James, how did you end up like this?¡± Dahlia could not help but frown when she noticed James¡® injuries. ¡°Sis! You¡¯re finally here!¡± James staggered as he stood up. It was almost as if he had met an angel. ¡°Oh! My poor son! Who did this to you? Tell me. I¡¯ll give them what they deserve!¡± Florence shrieked at James, heartbroken. Even when her son made a mistake, she could not bring herself to life a finger ag ainst him. There was no way she would allow others beat him up like this. ¡°Mom! That¡¯s the bastard who hit me!¡± James pointed behind him, looking vicious. Florence followed his gesture, and her eyes fell on a beautiful woman in a revealing dress sitting calmly at a table. Behind her stood a few burly, strong¨Clooking men. ¡°Bitch! You are all dead meat! My sister is the president of the Quine Group! You will pay for hitting me!¡± James roared. They would pay twice the price of what he had gone through! ¡°The Quine Group? Is it powerful?¡± The woman in the red dress swirled her ss of wine, unfazed by h is words. ¡°Humph! You don¡¯t even know the Quine Group! I knew you guys looked uncultured! Let me warn you. Hurry up and apologize to my son and settle for his medical fees. Otherwise, you¡¯ll all pay the price!¡± Fl orence warned. ¡°Old bitch! You dare disrespect our boss? I¡¯ll rip your tongue apart!¡± shouted one of the men standing b ehind the woman in red. He pulled out a switchde. ¡°What? Are you threatening me? You think you scare me?¡± Florence scoffed as she stumbled two steps backward with fear. She was stubborn. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What happened?¡± Dahlia had always been the rational one. She started asking about the situation. ¡°What happened? You should ask your brother about that.¡± The woman in the red dress stood up slowl y and pointed at James. ¡°He started making amotion at my ce. He even started hitting my men. I was just teaching him a lesson. I¡¯m not crossing the line, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pay for the damage done. But why did you have to be so cruel to him?¡± Dahlia asked, frowning. ¡°Cruel? Haha! I already went easy on him. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve lost more limbs!¡± The woman sneered. Enough! I won¡¯t waste another second with you. If you want to settle this peacefully, hand over 700 thousand dors! If you don¡¯t, none of you will leave this ro om!¡± ¡°700 thousand dors? Why not go rob someone?!¡± James roared. ¡°That¡¯s right! I haven¡¯t dealt with you for hurting my son! How dare you ask us for money? Where did you get your guts?!¡± Florence red at her. CS CamScanner ¡°You guys bettere to your senses while I¡¯m still being nice. After my man gets here, it won¡¯t be as s imple as handing over money,¡± the woman replied calmly. ¡°So what if you have a man? Tell him toe here this instant if you dare! I want to see how capable h e really is!¡± Florence pushed, unafraid. ¡°You¡¯re messing with the wrong guy! Do you know who ourdy¡¯s man is? He¡¯s Sir Draco! Our leader of South City, the Cobra!¡± boasted one of the men. ¡°The Cobra?!¡± The Nicholson family immediately turned pale. Swinton had four main territories: the North, South, East, and West Cities. East City was ruled by the Ki ng of the Underworld, Trevor Spanner. Meanwhile, South City was ruled by the infamous Cobra! Compared to the King of the Underworld, the Cobra was said to be even more relentless and vile. o rding to legend, the Cobra loved raising alligators. Anyone who dared cross him was fed to his gators. People from West City could not afford to offend the Cobra. They really were in trouble this time! Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¡°No wonder nobody dares to cause trouble here. Who knew Rosaline was Lord Draco¡¯s woman?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that nobody dares to cause trouble; it¡¯s just that anybody who caused trouble is dead! A tycoon with a worth of billions flirted with Rosaline, and Lord Draco ordered that his limbs be chopped off. After the incident, the tycoon didn¡¯t dare lift a finger and even apologized personally.¡± ¡°Fuck! That¡¯s brutal!¡± ¡°No shit. Lord Draco is South City¡¯s biggest bully. No one dares disrespect him!¡± After finding out who the woman, Rosaline, was, the bar erupted in a furor. Some were shocked, some were in awe, and some sat back to watch the show. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble this time!¡± James gulped as cold sweat dripped down his forehead. If he had known th at Sir Draco ruled this ce, he would not have dared to cause trouble, even if someone had put a gun to his head. ¡°How did I end up offending the devil himself?¡± Florence shrugged, her face filled with fear. She wasn¡¯t as fiery as before. She could bully some small f ry, but when it came to a brutal thug like the Cobra, she knew her ce. ¡°Why so quiet? Weren¡¯t you great at speaking your mind earlier? Why don¡¯t you show us again what you¡¯ve got? *smirked the muscr man. Was there anyone in South City who didn¡¯t know of Sir Draco¡¯s reputation? Almost nobody dared to offe nd Sir Draco! ¡°Don¡¯t panic. I¡¯m here. They wouldn¡¯t dare touch you,¡± Matt spoke up next to them. Florence and James were surprised at his words. They had nearly forgotten they had someone backing them up! Matt was from the Laney family in Millsburg. What did he have to fear in this territory? No matter how m ighty the Cobra was, he wouldn¡¯t dare go against the Laney family, would he?! With that realization, Florence and James straightened. ¡°Matt, the Cobra rules over this ce. Is this really okay?¡± James asked tentatively. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He¡¯s just some snake in the grass. He¡¯s nothing to me.¡± Matt gave a small smile. He finally Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. had a chance to unt his influence, so he had to show them all he had. ¡°I¡¯m d then.¡± James grinned. He thought he was done for, but now he had another shot. ¡°Hey! What are you mumbling about? Are you going to pay up or not?!¡± Rosaline barked, getting impati ent. ¡°What are you going to do if we don¡¯t pay up? You think we¡¯re scared of you?¡± Florence mocked, cin g her hands on her hips. With Matt backing her up, she feared nothing. ¡°You won¡¯t pay?¡± Rosalineughed coldly. ¡°If you don¡¯t pay up, we¡¯ll do it Sir Draco¡¯s way. Anyone who causes trouble here will have their limbs chopped off!¡± 10 CS CamScanner She raised her hands and made a sign. The muscr men behind her unsheathed their machetes and strode forward. ¡°Wait!¡± Matt hissed and stepped up from behind. His good looks and ssy aura always made women swoon . ¡°And who are you? How dare you meddle in my business?¡± Rosaline looked him up and down. ¡°I¡¯m Matt Laney from the Laney family in Millsburg.¡± ¡°The Laneys from Millsburg?¡± The room was in an uproar. ¡°Even an elite from Millsburg is here. We¡¯re in for a good show!¡± ¡°No wonder those two are so bold. They have Mr. Laney backing them up!¡± ¡°Mr. Laney is so handsome. I wonder if he has a girlfriend.¡± The crowd pointed fingers and gossiped. Their awe made Florence and James feel proud. The Laney family¡¯s reputation was valuable indeed. With the Laney family backing them up, who would dare go against them? ¡°So you¡¯re Mr. Laney. Nice to meet you,¡± Rosaline rasped, forcing a smile. Of course, she had heard of the Laneys. There was a time when they were the aristocrats who led ever ything in Millsburg. Although they weren¡¯t as glorious anymore, she did not dare provoke them. ¡°Since you know who I am, that makes settling things easier. Tell me, how do you intend to deal with thi s?¡± Matt asked as he sped his hands behind his back arrogantly. ¡°Since you¡¯ve spoken up, Mr. Laney, I naturally have to show you some respect. I¡¯ll treat what happene d here today as a misunderstanding. It¡¯s over.¡± Rosaline conceded. They had a business to run, and sh e did not want to cause problems for Sir Draco. ¡°It¡¯s over?¡± Matt snorted, ¡°You hit a friend of mine, and you think two words can smooth things over? Th ere are no free lunches here.¡± ¡°What else do you want?¡± Rosaline asked, frowning. ¡°Pay up and apologize, of course!¡± ¡°Apologize?¡± A dark shadow fell across Rosaline¡¯s face. If she was dealing with this herself, she was ok ay apologizing. However, she was representing Sir Draco. If she apologized to them, wasn¡¯t that an ins ult to Sir Draco? ¡°Are you deaf? Hurry up and apologize, or I¡¯ll trash this ce!¡± With her hands on her hips, Florence¡¯s arrogant air returned. ¡°You don¡¯t only have to apologize. You have to pay up. Damn it, you¡¯ll have to pay me five million for be ating me up like this! James shouted. With Matt backing him up, he had all the confidence in the world. He was milking Matt¡¯s influence as much as he could. ¡°Mr. Laney, this is Sir Draco¡¯s territory. Save me some face. Let¡¯s not make enemies.¡± Rosaline pleaded , feeling awkward. ¡°You want me to save you some face? Who do you think you are?¡± Matt smirked. ¡°Even if the Cobra we re here, I¡¯d demand an apology. Much less one from you!¡± ¡°Who thinks he has what it takes to make me apologize?¡± A thundering voice rang out across the bar. A bald man wearing sunsses, with a cigar between his lips, walked in menacingly. His fierce demea nor and intimidating aura frightened the crowd as they stepped aside. A path opened for him. ¡°Sir Draco, what brings you here?¡± Rosaline¡¯s eyes lit up as she rushed to greet him. ¡°Just showing one of the gentlemen around.¡± The Cobra put an arm around her waist and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? I thought I heard someone dema nding an apology from me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s like this¡­¡± Rosaline began, recounting everything that had happened with no details spared. ¡°Mr. Laney from Millsburg, is it? So you¡¯re the one who wants me to apologize?¡± The Cobra stepped for ward and looked Matt up and down. His expression wasn¡¯t friendly at all. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your people beat my friend up. Apologizing is the natural thing to do,¡± Matt quipped. With his hands behind his back, he was as arrogant as ever. ¡°Apologize? Fuck you!¡± The Cobra was furious. He pped Matt across the face. Matt stumbled and nearly fell over. ¡°Fuck!¡± he yelled. The onlookers in the bar were stunned. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 The Cobra was more brutal than they had expected. He even dared to p an elite from Millsburg over a minor misunderstanding. There was no doubt that he was the mighty Cobra! ¡°How dare you hit me?¡± Matt cried as he cradled his burning cheek in disbelief. How dare some random thug hit him? He was from the Laney family! ¡°So what if I hit you? Don¡¯t you deserve it for causing trouble on my turf?¡± The Cobra shot him a cold s mile. ¡°Do you know that I¡¯m from the Laney family?!¡± Matt thundered. He had always been a prideful person, so getting pped in public was the greatest humiliation of his life! ¡°The Laney family? So what?¡± snorted the Cobra. ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to show respect on someone el se¡¯s turf? I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re the king. When you¡¯re on my turf, you bow to me. You understand?!¡± The Laney family had been glorious once. Even his boss had to show them his respect in the past. No w, they were no different from anyone else. Even if they were famous, the Laney family had fallen a fe w social sses long ago. ¡°Cobra! Are you provoking the Laney family so openly?¡± Matt challenged, with an unkind look on his fa ce. He had thought that using his family name would scare the Cobra. To his surprise, his trick was ineffective. ¡°Stop fucking making a fool of yourself here! What¡¯s so grand about being a Laney? I¡¯ll be honest with you. I¡¯ve got someone backing me up, and it¡¯s Sir Anderson!¡± shouted the Cobra, his eyes bulging. ¡°Sir Anderosn?!¡± Matt looked taken aback. All his rage dissipated instantly. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Sir Anderson wasn¡¯t just an aristocrat but one of the Five Big Guns of the Anderson family. He was the true face of the business world and a powerful figure in this city! Even when the Laney family was still in their prime, they had had to bow to Sir Anderson! He never expected a puny thug like the Cobra would have the Anderson family backing him. ¡°Hey, Laney! If you don¡¯t want to get a damn beating, then get lost. Or else, I¡¯m going to beat all of you up together!¡± growled the Cobra fiercely. ¡°You¡ª* Matt trailed off. He was outraged but helpless. He couldn¡¯t afford to offend Sir Anderson. Seeing Matt fall silent, Florence and James¡® confidence wavered. They had thought that they could d o anything they wanted with the Laney family backing them up. They never expected the Cobra to be s o brutal. He hadn¡¯t just embarrassed the Laney family. He had even pped Matt. If the Laney family w asn¡¯t enough to scare the Cobra, did this mean certain death for them?! ¡°Who were the ones causing trouble just now? Come out and face me!¡± the Cobra bellowed furiously. James was terrified, and he nearly peed his pants. ¡°Sir Draco! Let¡¯s talk things out. My brother is young and ignorant. I¡¯ll apologize on his behalf. I¡¯ll pay d ouble for all the losses incurred!¡± Dahlia spoke up hastily as she watched the situation go awry. 12 CS CamScanner The Cobra was ruthless, and he meant what he said. In this situation, they had no choice but to sacrific e. ¡°Pay double? Do I look like I need the money? If I don¡¯t make an example of you today, won¡¯t any Tom, Dick, or Harry dare cause trouble on my turf next time? Men, chop their hands off!¡± he ordered. The muscr men behind him strode forward, brandishing their machetes. ¡°Dahlia! Help me! Help me!¡± James eximed, scared out of his wits, as he hid behind Dahlia. Just as he was about to get caught, a beer bottle flew through the air and smashed into the heads of one of the burly men. With a smash, the man copsed dead on the spot. The crowd was stunned. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Who did that?!¡± Chapter 92 Chapter 92 The Cobra¡¯s expression darkened, and he swept his piercing gaze around the room. He was greeted b y the sight of beer bottle after beer bottle. ¡°Smash, smash, smash, smash!¡± The bottles shot out like cannonballs and sent each man sprawling. Each bottle met its target with dead ly uracy! ¡°Who¡¯s being such a fucking coward? Come out and face me if you have the balls!¡± roared the Cobra fu riously. No ordinary man could send a dozen men flying with just beer bottles. ¡°Sir Draco, forgiveness is a virtue. Why won¡¯t you show mercy?¡± a voice replied. Dustin strolled out from amongst the crowd, attracting stares across the room. ¡°Who is that? How dare he attack Sir Draco¡¯s men? Does he have a death wish?¡± ¡°He¡¯s quite handsome, but he¡¯s not very smart to offend Sir Draco.¡± ¡°If it were me, I would have run away after hurling the bottles. Why would he fucking show his face? Isn ¡¯t he courting death?!¡± The crowd gossiped. Some were surprised, some showed admiration, and some enjoyed the drama. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Dahlia questioned, confused. She never assumed Dustin would show up. ¡°What is this idiot doing here?¡± Florence and James exchanged looks of confusion. ¡°Who are you, boy? How dare you attack my men?¡± the Cobra asked, with a menacing expression that suggested he wanted to bite Dustin¡¯s head off. ¡°Who I am is not important. For the sake of your safety, Let¡¯s just let this incident slide,¡± Dustin replied c urtly. ¡°Let it slide? Who the fuck do you think you are? I¡¯ll just let it slide just because you said so? ¡ª Just as he was about to curse, a beer bottle smashed into his head. 1 Blood and beer trickled down his face. Everyone was appalled! The onlookers¡® eyes bulged with looks of utter disbelief. No one had expected Dustin to be so bold. He had hit the Cobra just because of a disagreement. He showed no hesitation. He must be out of his mind! After a brief moment of silence, the whole bar exploded in an uproar. ¡°He¡¯s done for! This young man is dead! No one can save him!¡± ¡°I must say I admire his courage. He even dares to hit Sir Draco! He has the courage of a lion!¡± ¡°He really is a hero. He has my respect!¡± ¡°He sure looks cool, but who can survive Sir Draco¡¯s fury?¡± CS CamScanner Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. The crowd tattled on, but their gazes as they looked toward Dustin was like looking at a prisoner facing the guillotine. The crowd muttered on, but their expressions turned to worry as they watched Dustin, a prisoner facing the guillotine. ¨C ¡°Dustin! Are you crazy?! You you actually¡­¡± Dahlia sputtered. She was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t That was Sir Draco! He lorded over South City and the head honcho of the underground! He did not give a damn about the Laney family! How how dare he?! ¡°This idiot must have hit his head. How could Dustin be brave enough to hit Sir Draco?¡± James was du mbfounded. Although Dustin was standing up for them, what he did was just too crazy! James would never dream of doing something like this. ¡°You like fooling around so much, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m going to watch yourst moments!¡± As the shock passed, Matt couldn¡¯t help but smile coldly. He had felt uneasy since Dustin had shown of f at the hospital. He had even dared to fool around on the Cobra¡¯s turf this time. He really didn¡¯t value his life! Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¡°How¡­ how dare you hit me?!¡± The Cobra rubbed his head in disbelief. His hand was covered in blood. In the years since he had taken over South City, no one had dared disrespect him, much less hit him with a bottle. ¡°This fool must have a death wish!¡± he thought. ¡°Sir Draco, take my advice. Let it go,¡± said Dustin calmly. ¡°Fuck you! I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re dead meat! I¡¯m going to rip you apart!¡± the Cobra cursed and swore as he returned to his senses. ¡®As the threat left his mouth, a knife was held to his neck. The sharp de pierced his skin, and drops o f blood trickled from the fresh wound. An inch deeper, and the knife would have pierced his artery. Silence. The entire bar fell intoplete silence. The Cobra¡¯s roars stopped, along with the crowd¡¯s pra ttling. Everyone was utterly shocked as they turned to look at Dustin, who was wielding the knife. Hitting Sir D raco with a bottle could still be excused as an ident. Unfortunately, holding a knife to his neck was u Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ndeniably an act of provocation and humiliation. Dustin¡¯s boldness surprised everyone again as he shouted, ¡°You idiot! Do you know what you¡¯re doing r ight now?¡± The Cobra went stiff and said fiercely. ¡°If you dare touch a hair on my head, I swear you won¡¯t walk out this door alive!¡± ¡°Sir Draco, don¡¯t frighten me. I¡¯m a scaredy cat. You can¡¯t me me if my hand trembles and I slit your neck,¡± Dustin teased. The de went deeper. More blood started flowing from the exposed flesh. The Cobra¡¯s facial muscles twitched in fear. ¡°Stop!¡± Rosaline shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are, but let Sir Draco go. Otherwise, your friends will di e with you!¡± ¡°Dustin! Don¡¯t be a fool! Put down the knife!¡± Dahlia yelled. She was petrified that Dustin would kill the Cobra in a moment of impulse. If that happened, then they were all done for! ¡°Dustin! Are you crazy? Let Lord Draco go! Don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡± Florence shouted, panicked. Of course, she could not care less if Dustin died, but she didn¡¯t want to be next. If Sir Draco died, they would have to face the consequences. ¡°Young man, I admire your courage. So I¡¯m giving you a chance right now. Put down the knife, and I¡¯ll spare your life!¡± said the Cobra icily. ¡°Sir Draco, it seems like you¡¯re still missing the picture. Right now, I hold the power,¡± Dustin stated. ¡°What? You have the guts to kill me? Do you know what will happen if you touch a hair on my head?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of you. If ites down to it, I¡¯ll just give my life for taking yours.¡± Dustin responded, an CS CamScanner unbothered look on his face. ¡°You¡°..¡± The Cobra was a little speechless. He was fearless, but he feared those who did not fear death . To his dismay, Dustin did not fear death. ¡°Dustin, know your limits. It¡¯s not toote if you stop now!¡± Dahlia persuaded. No matter what, she didn¡¯t want to see Dustin get killed over this. ¡°Young man, I advise you to stop while it¡¯s not toote. Sir Draco already promised to let you off the ho ok. You¡¯d better not push things too far.¡± *That¡¯s right! Sir Draco is finally showing mercy. Don¡¯t y with fire, or you¡¯ll get burned.¡± People shot him advice from the crowd. They recognised Dustin¡¯s courage, but if he was stupid, he was just a typic al fool. ¡°Young man! You have no idea who you¡¯ve offended. I work for Sir Anderson. You¡¯re spitting right in Sir Anderson¡¯s face if you dare hurt me! If that happens, not just you, but your friends and family will all die!¡± threatened the Cobra. ¡°Sir Anderson? Is he oh¨Cso¨Cgreat?¡± Dustin retorted. ¡°He¡¯s not just great, but the whole of Swinton respects him. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of Mr. Anderson of S winton Group. He is Sir Anderson¡¯s kin! You should know how to weigh the odds!¡± said the Cobra. ¡°After hearing this, I want to meet Sir Anderson,¡± Dustin eximed, looking interested. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll pee your pants if you meet Sir Anderson!¡± The Cobra smiled wryly. A hubbub arose near the door. A fit, middle¨Caged man wearing a suit walked in with bodyguards nking him. He looked charismatic and intimidating wit hout even trying. ¡°Sir Anderson?!¡± The moment the man appeared, the Cobra¡¯s spirits lifted dramatically. The bar went into an uproar, and the crowd retreated in respect. They knew that the man they were looking at was someone even the Cobra bowed to! ¡°Shit! Sir Anderson¡¯s here!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression changed. She could only imagine how the magnitude of the influence and background of someone in Mr. Anderson¡¯s league. ¡°How foolish! If he had let Sir Draco go earlier. Too bad now that Sir Anderson is here. He dug his own grave!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care if he djes, but he¡¯s dragging us down with him. What bad luck!¡± Florence and the others were shocked and terrified at the same time. They couldn¡¯t even afford to offen d the Cobra, much less the man behind him, who was none other than Sir Anderson. ¡°You fool! Sir Anderson is here. Aren¡¯t you going to surrender?¡± shouted the Cobra. CS CamScanner Sir Anderson did not only have a strong family background, but he was also extremely powerful. He ha d seen Sir Anderson get away with killing dozens of men with his own eyes. ¡°Sir Anderson! You came at the perfect time. Someone caused trouble here and is even holding Sir Draco hostage!¡± Rosalineined without hesitation. ¡°Oh? Who is brave enough to touch my men?¡± The middle¨C aged man cocked an eyebrow and looked toward themotion. However, when he saw Dustin, his expression went nk. He was clearly taken aback. In fact, Dustin was also stunned. He never imagined that Sir Anderson was also Duane Welch! ¡°Boy, you¡¯d better put the knife down before Sir Anderson gets mad. Or else you¡¯re never going to walk out of here alive!¡± threatened the Cobra nastily. Dustin obeyed at once and dropped the knife with a ng. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re scared now, aren¡¯t you? But it¡¯s toote!¡± The Cobra distanced himself and stood with a threatening stance, ready to enact his revenge. Before he could give the order, Duane asked, ¡°Dustin, what happened? Did my men offend you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a small misunderstanding. I never thought they were your men, Uncle Duane.* Dustin smiled. ¡°Uncle Duane?¡± The Cobra was dumbfounded as he watched the two men talk amicably. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 When Sir Anderson showed up, everyone thought Dustin was done for. To their surprise, nothing dramatic happened when Sir Anderson saw Dustin. Instead, they chatted ami cably like they were old friends. The Cobra was appalled by this turn of events. Even Florence and the others were stunned. ¡°This can¡¯t be for real, right? Could he really know Sir Anderson?¡± ¡°My goodness, who is that man? How could he and Sir Anderson be talking like buddies?¡± The crowd gossiped in hushed voices, obviously taken aback. *S¨CSir Anderson¨Cyou know him?¡± The Cobra gulped. He was slightly panicked and at a loss. ¡®Dustin is Natasha¡¯s friend. What gave you the nerve to offend him?¡± Duane¡¯s expression grew colder b y the second. ¡°Huh? Ms. Harmon¡¯s friend?¡± The Cobra got the fright of his life. Natasha Harmon wasn¡¯t just one of Swinton¡¯s big guns, she had the support of Millburg¡¯s aristocrats. S he was as prominent a figure as Sir Anderson himself. What¡¯s more, Natasha was a very protective per son. Anyone who dared to offend her friends was doomed to face ruthless revenge! ¡°Sir Anderson, I¨C1- the Cobra stuttered. ¡°Pack it up and stop being a baby. Apologize to Dustin, and whatever happened will be forgotten.¡± Dua ne waved his hand. ¡°Okay, okay¡­¡± The Cobra nodded repeatedly and bowed to Dustin. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m terribly sorry. I didn¡¯t know who you were and offended you. I hope you¡¯ll let this slide and forgive me this once.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. As long as you won¡¯t take revenge,¡± said Dustin inly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± The Cobra kept wiping away his sweat as he said, ¡°From now on, you and your frien ds will be treated as our VIPs. Everything will be on the house!¡± His humble response shocked the crowd. Who would have thought that the Cobra, who was so viino us just a moment before, would apologize so humbly the next? ¡°Dustin, let¡¯s have a chat. This way.¡± Duane wasn¡¯t joking. He stretched out a hand in invitation and led the way to the office on the second floor. The moment they left, the entire bar erupted! *I¡­ I wasn¡¯t just seeing things, was I? Did that fool just talk to Sir Anderson like the best of pals?¡± Jame s asked in disbelief. After all, Sir Anderson was the Cobra¡¯s backer. He could turn Swinton upside down with a lift of his fing er. ¡°If I¡¯m guessing right, Ms. Harmon must have something to do with their acquaintance.¡± Dahlia suggest ed, her senses returning quickly. CS CamScanner She had heard Sir Anderson mention Natasha Harmon. It was undeniable that he had spared Dustin fo r the sake of the Harmon family¡¯s reputation. ¡°You must be right! It has to be! How else can a small fry like him know such a big shot?¡± James nodde d fervently. I ¡°Hmph! I thought he had some real potential, but it turns out that he was just putting on a show by relyi ng on someone else¡¯s influence!¡± Florence huffed, displeased. ¡°A man should have a spine. How can a man always count on a woman to back him up?¡± Dahlia shook her head in disappointment. Climbing the ranks by kissing up to someone looked grand on the surface, but it was just a quick taste of heaven. It would neverst long. ¡°What a lucky bastard!¡± Matt¡¯s expression was stormy, and his gaze stung with disdain. It was already shameful enough getting pped by the Cobra earlier, but now, Dustin¡¯s glory had made him look even This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. more pathetic inparison. He could not ept that a good¨Cfor¨C nothing like Dustin had outshone him! Meanwhile, in the office on the second floor, Dustin sat across fr om Duane while the Cobra served them. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 ¡°Duane, let¡¯s not beat around the bush, shall we?¡± Dustin sipped his tea and said, ¡°You said you¡¯ve found the Panax root. Where is it?¡± ¡°Since you¡¯re so anxious, I won¡¯t tease you any longer.¡± Duane smiled and pped his hands. A bodyguard entered the room carrying a wooden box. cing the box on the table between him and D ustin, Duane opened it slowly. A dark yellow root no bigger than a palm sat inside. It was a Panax root with unusually long roots. *This really is good stuff!¡± Dustin eximed upon examining the root closely. He looked delighted. A 500¨Cyear¨C old Panax root was an extremely rare treasure! Now that he had another herb, he was another step closer to his goal! ¡°How is it, Dustin? Are you satisfied?¡± Duane smiled expectantly. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m satisfied. Thank you so much.¡± Dustin smiled, reaching out to take the root. Suddenly, the lid of the box snapped shut. ¡°Dustin, what¡¯s the hurry? Let¡¯s talk more,¡± Duane asserted. One hand remained wrapped around the b ox. Evidently, he was not nning on giving its contents to Dustin that easily. ¡°Duane, what¡¯s this about?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m very interested in your Gemiphen form. Can you sell it to me?¡® Duane smiled faintly. ¡°Duane, this wasn¡¯t what we agreed on. As per our agreement, I cure your ailment, and you give me a 500¨Cyear -old Panax root in return,¡± Dustin reminded him. ¡°Are you sure you remember correctly? Yes, you cured me, but I gave you the Hillview Hotel in return. As for the Panax root, you¡¯ll have to exchange it for your Gemiphen form!¡± ¡°You sound like you want to go back on your word,¡± Dustin warned, his expression gradually growing colder. He had thought that Duane hade to give him the Panax root, but to his surprise, Duane had been eyeing his Gemiphen form all along. ¡°Dustin, don¡¯t put it that way. We just want mutual benefits. If you¡¯re unsatisfied, I can give you another thirty million in cash!¡± Duane stuck out three fingers. ¡°I¡¯ve said this before. My Gemiphen form is not for sale. You can only give me herbs in exchange for it,¡± stressed Dustin. ¡°Haha¡­ am I not doing an exchange with you right now?¡± Duane hinted, tapping on the box between th em. ¡°Duane, if people find out you¡¯re not a man of your word, won¡¯t you be aughing stock?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression was as cold as ice. If he negotiated politely, Dustin didn¡¯t mind selling him two packets of Gemiphen. However, Duane¡¯s wa y of obtaining the form was foolish. CS CamScanner *So what if people find out? Who would believe you?¡± Duane challenged. His nervous smile did not rea ch his eyes. The Gemiphen form was priceless. If he could get his hands on it, he could take over the entire And erson family! ¡°Duane, for Ms. Harmon¡¯s sake, I won¡¯t burn bridges between us. So now, you¡¯d best give me the Panax root.¡± Dustin said calmly, suppressing his anger. ¡°And what if I don¡¯t?¡± Duane retorted. ¡°Then don¡¯t me me for snatching it away.¡± Dustin was very blunt. ¡°Snatch? Haha. If you can take this box from me, I¡¯ll let you have it for free!¡± Duaneughed. He had tra ined in martial arts for years and had long since reached the highest level of mastery. How dare an amateur like Dustin snatch something out of the hands of a master like him? ¡°Okay! You said it yourself!¡± Dustin wasted no time and reached for the wooden box. Duane was fully prepared. His hand bent into a w and grabbed Dustin¡¯s forcefully. The battle had begun. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Duane was still smiling confidently at the start of the battle. But it was not long before he noticed something was very wrong. Dustin was much stronger than he ha d expected. He could feel terrifying surges of energy rushing at him like waves in the ocean. They made the bones in his hand tremble. They would break any minute! Duane¡¯s expression darkened, and he couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He threw a hard punch at Dustin, trying to make him fall back. However, Dustin did not dodge and faced it head¨Con instead. Their fists collided, and Duane¡¯s chair was smashed into pieces! The force of the punch shoved Duane Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. backward until he hit the wall to catch his bnce. Even so, Dustin remained seated calmly. They both knew who was more powerful! ¡°Damn! I never knew you had tricks up your sleeve. I underestimated you!¡± Duane¡¯s eyes narrowed as a him to be so powerful. Considering how young he was, he never expected Dustin to be so powerful. Ju st one punch had thrown him off his feet. Although strength couldn¡¯tpletely represent his fighting skills, it was enough to prove his physical strength. ¡°Thanks for the Panax root, Duane.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t waste any time. He picked up the box and got up to leave. Duane was already on his cklist for being untrustworthy. This was thest time they would do business together. *Sir Anderson, do you want me to send some men after him to get it back?¡± asked the Cobra hesitantly. He could tell that Duane and Dustin weren¡¯t actually friends. If so, he had nothing to fear anymore. ¡°He is quite strong. I¡¯m afraid your men won¡¯t be able to take him on.¡± Duane cautiously moved his num b arm. ¡°Are¡­ are you going to let him go just like that?¡± The Cobra was a little disgruntled. After losing face ea rlier, he was eager to redeem it. ¡°Let him go? Hmph. Not so easily!¡± Duaneughed coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll get my hands on the Gemiphen form. Just wait and see. I have many ways to make him surrender to me!¡± Meanwhile, outside the bar, Lyra arrived with thepany¡¯s bodyguards. When she saw that Dahlia an d the others were safe and sound, she breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, is everything resolved?¡± ¡°I guess you could say that.¡± Dahlia nodded. ¡°I heard this is the Cobra¡¯s turf and thought there might be trouble. I didn¡¯t think it would be so easy. I¡¯m sure Mr. Laney is to thank for this?¡± Lyra smiled. CS CamScanner The suggestion caused Matt¡¯s expression to sour immediately. This woman just had to annoy him! ¡°Hmm? Why is he here?¡± Lyra wondered as she spotted Dustin leaving the bar. He questioned, ¡°What are you guys still doing here? Waiting for someone to take revenge on you? I don¡¯t have the energy to save you again.¡± He spoke with a calm voi ce, grasping the wooden box in his hand. ¡°Who needs saving? You¡¯re so nosy!¡± Florence snapped rudely. ¡°Hpmh! Stop showing off. If it wasn¡¯t for Ms. Harmon, could you have walked out of there alive?¡± James mocked brashly. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Dahlia waved her hands to stop their bickering. She turned to Dustin and said, ¡°Dustin . thanks for saving us, but I don¡¯t condone your behavior.¡± ¡°Oh? Do you have any advice, Ms. Nicholson?¡± Dustin cocked an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re too impulsive! You don¡¯t think before you act. Did you ever consider the consequences your act ions might bring?¡± Dahlia asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know what consequences my actions would have caused, but I¡¯m certain that your brother¡¯s ha nds would have been chopped off,¡± Dustin retorted matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 ¡°I¡¯m just trying to remind you to think twice before you act. Just because you have support from the hig her- ups doesn¡¯t mean you can run amok.¡± With a solemn look, Dahlia added, ¡°Dustin, you must realize that your worth has to be backed by ability. Currying favors with powerful people can propel you to greater heights, but it won¡¯tst unless you can prove you¡¯re a person of high caliber. So don¡¯t think you ¡¯re all high and mighty- consider this a lesson from me.¡± Dustin snickered upon hearing this. ¡°How can you be sure that I¡¯m currying favors with the powerful?¡± ¡°Is that not the case? If it weren¡¯t for Ms. Harmon¡¯s reputation, would the Cobra have let you go so easil y?¡± Dahlia didn¡¯t hold back with her remark. ¡°Whatever you say. I know that, whatever I do, I¡¯m nothing but a useless prick in your eyes,¡± Dustin sne ered as he shook his head. First impressions truly were tough to change. Even with the evidence in front of their eyes, some peopl e would simply refuse to believe it. They preferred scouring for excuses in an attempt to consolidate th eir prejudices. ¡°Oh, Dustin, don¡¯t be disheartened. Keep your dignity and utilize your capabilities to carve out your own career and legacy instead of being a ¡°So what if I¡¯m a bum? Catching easy fish is also a skill. It just means I work smart,¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°You¡­¡± Dahlia was starting to get annoyed. She had put sincere effort into trying to talk sense into him, but her advice seemed to fall on deaf ears. Not to mention the fact that he did not appear ashamed of his b ehavior at all. It was apparent that there was no saving some people from their stubbornness. As the two went back and forth, a few patrol cars pulled up and blocked the intersection. The doors of the patrol cars swung open, and several uniformed police officers stepped out and approache d them swiftly. ¡°We¡¯re looking for Dustin Rhys,¡± said one of the police officers. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Dustin responded, ¡°Is something wrong, officer?¡± ¡°We just received a report that you¡¯ve stolen some valuable objects. Pleasee with us!¡± shouted the officer. ¡°Stolen? Officer, there must be a misunderstanding.¡± Dustin dered, squinting his eyes. ¡°Alright, may I ask what¡¯s inside this box?¡± ¡°Panax root.¡± ¡°Then that proves it! Come with us immediately for further investigation!¡± The officer said little more as he handcuffed Dustin. ¡°Officer! What exactly is going on?¡± eximed Dahlia, as she rushed forward, the color drained from he r face. ¡°Who are you?¡± asked the patrol officer. ¡°I¡¯m his friend,¡± she replied. CS CamScanner ¡°Hmph, suspicious! You could be an aplice. Take her away as well!¡± In one swift movement, the officer clicked a pair of handcuffs around Dahlia¡¯s wrists. This incident left e veryone at the scene stunned. ¡°Officer, this has nothing to do with her. It¡¯s all me,¡± said Dustin with a frown. ¡°He¡¯s right, he¡¯s right! This is all Dustin¡¯s doing. It has nothing to do with my daughter! If you want to arr est him, then do that! My daughter has done nothing wrong. She¡¯s innocent!¡± pleaded Florence. ¡°That¡¯s right, officer! My sister is innocent. She¡¯s a kind soul!¡± James eximed, panicked. ¡°We¡¯ll find out if she¡¯s innocent once the investigation is over. Take her away!¡± barked the police officer. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. With a singlemand from the squad leader, Dustin and Dahlia were escorted into the police cars. ¡°¡°Wait!¡± Matt stepped out from the crowd and began, ¡°I¡¯m of the Laney family of Millsburg. Please cut u s some ck and let¡­¡± ¡°Any more nonsense, and you¡¯ll all being along!¡± snapped the officer. His cold re silenced Matt i nstantly. There was nothing anyone could do as they watched Dahlia leave with them. ¡°It¡¯s over! Goddamn good¨Cfor¨C nothing Dustin, getting my daughter in trouble!¡± cried Florence as she stomped the ground in distress. 1 ¡°I don¡¯t give a damn if he digs his own grave, but to drag Dahlia with him? What a bastard!¡± James scowled with resentment. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for this. Quick, we need to think of a way to save Ms. Nicholson!¡± said Lyra. ¡°You¡¯re right! We have to find a way. I know a friend who works at the police station. I¡¯ll give him a call at once!¡± ¡°I know a rtive who has connections with some police officers of higher ranks. I¡¯ll find out if he can offer us any help.¡± Suddenly, the air was filled with the excited chattering of everyone in the group, gathering assistance fr om anyone they could think of. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Nighttime, in the interrogation room of the police station. Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other, bound to the chairs in the middle of the room . Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. The air in the room was cool and damp, and darkness shrouded thempletely. They could feel an in visible weight on their shoulders. ¡°My bad, I didn¡¯t mean to drag you into this mess,¡± Dustin spoke first. ¡°They imed you stole some valuables. Is that true?¡± Dahlia asked, cutting to the chase. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look that bold to me, so my guess is someone is trying to frame you. Does this have anythin g to do with the Cobra?¡± ¡°The Cobra is merely a pawn. The mastermind is none other than Duane Welch.¡± ¡°Duane Welch? Are you talking about Sir Anderson?¡± Dahlia was dumbstruck. ¡°Weren¡¯t you on fairly go od terms with him before? Did you strike a nerve? How?¡± ¡°I punched him,¡± Dustin admitted tly. ¡°What?¡± Dahlia choked, struggling to keep her calm, ¡°You You dared hit Sir Anderson! Are you out of yo ur mind?!¡± Sir Anderson wasn¡¯t just anyone¨Che was like a brother to Mr. Anderson. Not to mention being of the prominent Welch family of Millsburg! He was someone even the vicious, unyielding Cobra would kneel t o. Yet Dustin dared ce a hand on him, the epitome of digging one¡¯s own grave! ¡°He hit me first. I only hit back in self¨Cdefense.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t seem bothered in the slightest. ¡°Y¨C you act too rashly!¡± Dahlia fumed, ¡°Who do you think Sir Anderson is? Do you think he¡¯s someone you can afford to offend? One order from him is all it takes to wipe you off the face of the earth!¡± ¡°Since I¡¯ve already offended him, there¡¯s nothing else we can do than go with the flow,¡± Dustin said with a shrug. ¡°Easy for you to say, but do you think you can handle this?¡± Dahlia¡¯s patience was running thin. She asserted, You better find an opening to call Natashater. She¡¯s the only one who can save you now!¡± As the words left her tongue, she felt an acrid taste at the back of her throat. Although she wouldn¡¯t ad mit it if she didn¡¯t have to, there was no denying that there was noparing herself to Natasha when i t came to family background. Suddenly, the metal door to the dark room creaked open, Interrupting their conversation. A man with a r otund beer belly appeared in the doorway and stepped into the room. He sat down on a chair and flick ed the switch of the brightmp on the desk. The re from themp made the two detainees squeeze their eyes shut Instinctively. CS CamScanner ¡°So, you¡¯re Dustin Rhys or something.¡± hissed the fat man maliciously. ¡°Yes.¡± Dustin continued squinting until his eyes grew ustomed to the intense light. I ¡°Do either of you know who I am?¡± the man asked. ¡°No clue.¡± ¡°Then, allow me to introduce myself. I go by Gardner, the inspector here. I am nicknamed Heinous Had es by many!¡± The fat man lifted his chin with pride. 1 Dahlia¡¯s heart dropped. Having spent a good chunk of her life mingling in this field, it was not her first ti me hearing that nickname. He was a man of barbarian cruelty, always baying for the blood of his next victim. Any offen ders who fell into his hands could only pray for an oue less than horrific. They were in grave trouble this time around! ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Gardner. We¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± While Dahlia anticipated the worst, Dustin seemed rtively calm and breezy. ¡°Great! Given that you¡¯ve heard of my name, I assume you¡¯re familiar with my habits. I rmend that you learn your ce and cooperate. That is your only hope of leaving here alive!¡± The inspector lit a cigar, slid it between his teeth, and took a deep breath. ¡°Mr. Gardner, what do you need my cooperation for?¡± Dustin asked with a calm voice. ¡°The lot of you stole some valuable items, and thew can sentence you to prison. However, I am givin g you the chance to straighten out the issue with the original owner. If we reach a mutual agreement, no char ges will be pressed.¡± ¡°Mr. Gardner, you must be mistaken. I didn¡¯t steal anything. The Panax root belongs to me,¡± Dustin rebutted politely. ¡°Hey! Kid! Are you sure you know what¡¯s happening?¡± The fat man snorted. ¡°Does it matter whether you stole it or not? Once you step foot in my territory, I make t he rules. If I say you stole it, it means you stole it. Do you understand me?¡± ¡°Mr. Gardner, isn¡¯t the way you¡¯re approaching this case a little unreasonable?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyebrows crea sed into a frown. ¡°Unreasonable? Haha. My words could not be more reasonable!¡± snarled the fat man. A sinister smirk s tretched across his face. ¡°Now, you both have two options. One, to reach a deal with Sir Anderson. Or t wo, spend the rest of your lives in jail!¡± ¡°Can I choose neither?¡± Dustin asked.¡± ¡°Hey! I¡¯m trying to engage in a peaceful discussion with you. You¡¯d better be sensible and take the optio n, or else you won¡¯t have it easy if you cross me!¡± Hostility shed in his eyes. ¡°Are you trying to threaten me?¡± ¡°What if I am?¡± the inspector sneered. The cigar hung from his teeth as he continued with disdain, ¡°I kn ow you have some punch in you, but even superpowers won¡¯t be useful in my territory! Besides, need I remind you that your gorgeous girlfriend will be very popr if she ends up in prison! Even if you could not car e less about yourself, you should keep her in mind! That is, if you can bear watching as the other prison ers ravage such a delicate beauty!¡± Dustin¡¯s expression hardened. Murderous intent seeped from his eyes. ¡°If you dare touch her, rest assured that nothing but death will await you!¡± While his aggressive remark stunned Dahlia, she couldn¡¯t help the warmth that filled her chest. ¡°Haha! You can barely stand up for yourself. And to think, you¡¯re trying to threaten me! If you have brain s in that head of yours, just hand over the Panax root and call it quits. Otherwise, you can¡¯t me me if I throw your beloved in prison! Give it some thought. You¡¯ll have thirty minutes to think it thr ough. I¡¯ll be back with hopes of an affirmative answer.¡± With a grotesque grin, Gardner turned to leave, leaving nothing but a loud, resonating bang in his wake. The room plunged back into darkness. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 The night progressed slowly. Florence. James, and the others waited anxiously outside the police statio n. Dahlia was the backbone of the Nicholson family. If something were to happen to her, the Nicholsons w ould undoubtedly fall apart. Therefore, to save themselves, they did everything they could to arrange for her release. which meant pulling every string possible. A policeman appeared out of nowhere. James immediately stepped forward and asked, ¡°Mr. rke, how¡¯s it looking? Can you let my sister go?¡± ¡°James, I dug around and discovered that Gardner is the inspector in charge of this case. A mere police man like myself won¡¯t be able to do much to help,¡± the man said with a shake of his head. ¡°What else can we do? Do you have any other ideas?¡± Jamesmented with panic. ¡°Mr. rke, we would be eternally grateful for whatever you can do to help us!¡± Florence pleaded. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best, but I can¡¯t promise anything. Plus, don¡¯t forget the sum of money.¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯ve just forked out two million dors. Take it for now, and I¡¯ll get more if it doesn¡¯t suffice. Please h elp us out. We can talk about further paymentter!¡± James cried as he pulled out a card and handed it to the policeman. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll give it another shot.¡± The policeman slid the card into his pocket discreetly, turned around, and walked back into the station. ¡°James, two million isn¡¯t a small amount. Are you sure we can trust your friend?¡± Florence asked, her v oice uncertain. ¡°No matter what, we still have to give it a go.¡± James muttered through gritted teeth. ¡°By the way, has anyone seen Mr. Laney?¡± someone in the crowd quipped. ¡°Matt said he went to meet a friend who may be able to help get Dahlia out of this pickle,¡± Florence repli ed. ¡°So that¡¯s where he¡¯s gone. With Mr. Laney¡¯s help, we have double the reassurance. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be alri ght.¡± With that, the group let out a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, in a luxurious vi, Matt was having the time of his life with a gorgeous woman in a hot tub. His body intertwined with hers as they blissfully made love to each other. ¡°I doubt you¡¯re here simply to visit. You must have a favor to ask of me, am I right?¡± the woman smirked. ¡°Nothing ever gets past you, does it?¡± he conceded with a slight smile. He began, ¡°I have a friend who¡¯s being held at the police station, and I need your help bailing her out. I¡¯m sure you know that Swinton is not my home ground.¡± ¡°A friend? What¡¯s the name?¡± she asked. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson.¡± CS CamScanner ¡°Oh? A woman? Is there something going on between you and her?¡± The beauty raised an eyebrow suspiciously. ¡°Hehe¡­ she¡¯s just a friend. She helped me out awhile back, so I¡¯m merely returning the favor.¡± Matt maintained a nonchnt expression. ¡°Is that so?¡± Dubious, the woman pressed on. ¡°Matt, don¡¯t im I¡¯ve never reminded you that you are m ine and mine only. You best believe you¡¯ll regret being promiscuous out there. If a vixen dares to try to s educe you, I will make her life a living hell!¡± ¡°What are you even talking about, baby girl? You are the one I love most in life. How could I possibly h ave eyes for other women?¡± Matt quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. ¡°Since you say you love me so much, you shall attend my birthday party in two days and meet my father as ¡°my boyfriend,¡± thedy said with a smile stretching from ear to ear. Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Are you introducing me to your family already?¡± ¡°Why? Are you afraid?¡± ¡°Your father is the one and only Sir Hummer. I bet you won¡¯t be able to name me someone who isn¡¯t afr aid of the prospect of meeting him! However, it goes without saying that I would cross the highest moun tains and the deepest seas for you!¡± ¡°Aw, aren¡¯t you the sweetest! Alright then, it¡¯s a deal!¡± At the same time, at Java Joys. Natasha was seated on the couch, reading silently, when Ruth barged in. *Sis! Bad news! Dustin¡¯s been arrested!¡± she blurted as soon as her lips parted. ¡°Arrested?¡± Natasha was taken aback. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I just received news that Dustin was arrested and escorted to the police station for the theft of valuable items!¡± Ruth managed between pants. ¡°Theft? Is that it?¡± Natasha¡¯s confusion grew. ¡°The theft is nothing but a coverup. In reality, Dustin is being framed. However, things don¡¯t look good given that he¡¯s fallen into the hands of that fat man Gardner,¡± Ruth continued. A string of protests rang from Natasha¡¯s mouth immediately. ¡°That fat bastard! Such audacity¨C how dare he touch my man? Gather your men at once and follow me to the police station to get our people back!¡± Meanwhile, in Hunter Anderson¡¯s mansion. ¡°Dad! Bad news! Something major happened!¡± Jeff Anderson rushed into the study withrge beads of sweat covering his forehead, startling Hunter as he practiced his brush strokes. CS CamScanner ¡°You idiot! How many times have I told you that you must stay calm when facing problems instead of ov erreacting? Why don¡¯t you ever heed my advice?!¡± ¡°Dad! I¡¯m not overreacting this time. Something big really did happen!¡± Jeff wiped the sweat from his fa ce. ¡°Pahl You better remember: no matter how big a situation, you must stay calm! That is how a real man should act!¡± After rying his teachings, he finally asked, ¡°Now tell me, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Mr. Rhys. He¡¯s been arrested by Gardner!¡± Jeff exploded. ¡°What?¡± Hunter started trembling in fear. Even the brush in his hand broke in two. ¡°Quick¡­ call someone! We have to go to the police station,¡± he instructed his son. He roared, ¡°That fat fuck ¡°Gardner. If he dares touch a hair on Mr. Rhys¡® head, I¡¯ll skin him alive!¡± ¡°Dad, shouldn¡¯t you remain calm?¡± Jeff¡¯s lips twitched with irony. ¡°To hell with calm!¡± The news struck him like a lightning bolt, so shocking that Hunter broke into a cold sweat. ¡°If Mr. Laney emerges unscathed, all will be well. But if something were to happen to him, everyone in Swinton would suffer. Not to mention Garnder, you, and even myself!¡± ¡°Huh! Is the situation so grave?¡± Jeff winced. He still had zero clue about Dustin¡¯s true identity. ¡°What are you doing still lingering around? We have to get him out of there!¡± ordered Hunter. After pping his son awake, Hunter darted out the door. Deep in his heart, he prayed, ¡°Gardner, Gardner, you fat motherfucker better not mess around! If you d o, Swinton will be soaked in blood!¡± Chapter 100 Chapter 100 As the chaos unfolded in the outside world, nothing but peace and calm hung in the air of the inspector¡¯ s office at the police station. ¡°What¡¯s the situation, Mr. Gardner? Has the kid confessed yet?¡± asked the Cobra impatiently as soon a s he sat down. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether he has or not. Any prisoner who falls into my hands is sure to give in eventu ally.¡± The fat inspector took another drag of his cigar with a smug expression. ¡°It¡¯s not a problem if you¡¯re on¨Csite, but you can¡¯t guarantee that things won¡¯t take a turn for the worse. I think you ought to get it out of the way while you can,¡± the Cobra suggested. ¡°Why do you say that? Are you trying to teach me how to do my job?¡± Gardner cast a cold re at him. ¡°Of course not. I wouldn¡¯t even dream of it. It¡¯s just that the kid has someone backing him up. If this isn¡¯t resolved soon, trouble may arise,¡± the Cobra exined with a quick apology. ¡°What trouble could possibly arise? I¡¯m just doing my job. Plus, this is my territory. Who would dare disobey me?¡± he reminded the man with certainty. ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, Mr. Gardner. You are Mr. Granville¡¯s son¨Cinw after all¨C who would dare disrespect you?¡± agreed the Cobra tteringly. ¡°Hmph! At least you¡¯re smart enough to know that!¡± the inspector guffawed. He was perhaps prouder of having the mayor as his father¨Cin¨C whole of Swinton. ¡°Mr. Gardner, this is a gift from Sir Anderson. Please ept it,¡± said the Cobra as he held out a gift box with both hands. Gardner opened the box, and the shimmer of the gold essory put a smile on his face. ¡°Hehe¡­ Sir Anderson is simply too generous. Send him my thanks! Also, reassure him that I will handl e this with extra care and ensure nothing goes wrong!¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Gardner!¡± The Cobra bowed in gratitude. While the two spoke, the squad leader who had made the arrest entered the room unannounced. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Gardner instantly mmed the gift box shut. ¡°Sir, the Nicholson family has just sent someone to intercede, and they¡¯ve offered to pay a hefty amoun t to release Dahlia Nicholson on bail,¡± the officer reported. ¡°Pah! That woman is a wanted criminal. There¡¯s no way she can be released on ball. Send them away! ¡±manded Gardner with a dismissive wave of his hand. ¡°Yes, sir.¡± The squad leader turned and left. However, he knocked on the door again in less than a minute. CS CamScanner ¡°What is it this time?!¡± barked the inspector, clearly losing his patience. ¡°Sir, Ms. Harmon called in earlier, iming that we¡¯ve arrested the wrong person. She has asked us to r elease Dustin Rhys immediately.¡± the officer said. ¡°Ms. Harmon? Do you mean Natasha Harmon?¡± Gardner¡¯s expression froze. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡± The officer nodded. ¡°Cobra, what¡¯s going on? You failed to mention that this kid had anything to do with Natasha!¡± The inspector¡¯s eyes turned feral Natas ha was ady of superiority in all aspects; money, power, and influence. Under normal circumstances, she was not someone he would offend for no reason. ¡°Mr. Gardner, he¡¯s just a good¨Cfor¨C nothing Natasha dotes on. In fact, he has no proper background. With your status, you need not pay him much attention,¡± the Cobra assured the inspector. ¡°Hmph! That better be the case!¡± Slightly flustered, Gardner instructed the squad leader, ¡°Tell Natasha Harmon that we are holding no such person in our patrol room.¡± Since he h ad already given his word to Duane, there was no going back. For now, the best course of action would be to sweep it under the carpet. However, as soon as the squad leader left, Gardner¡¯s phone started ringing. ¡°Mr. Anderson?¡± He was baffled by the caller ID disyed on the screen. For Mr. Anderson to call at thi s hour.. could it be for the kid as well? Wasn¡¯t this too much of a coincidence?! Brushing the thought from his mind, he decided to pick up the call, still feeling apprehensive. ¡°Hello, Mr. Anderson! Is there anything I can do for you?¡± ¡°Mr. Gardner! Tell me, did you arrest a young man named Dustin Rhys?¡± Hunter cut right to the chase without wasting a second. ¡°Oh? Did I? Why is it that I¡¯m not aware of this?¡± Mr. Gardner questioned. His heart skipped a beat, but he didn¡¯t let it show. He asked, ¡°Mr. Anderson, did something happen?¡± ¡°Gardner! Don¡¯t you dare pull tricks on me! Heed my order and release Dustin right this instant! Or else, don¡¯t me me for cutting you off for good!¡± Hunter yelled into the phone. ¡°Mr. Anderson, there must have been a misunderstanding! I don¡¯t know a Dustin at all. How about I look into it for you?¡± The officer desperately put on an act. There was no way he would spill the beans on the n. ¡°Alright then, you fat bastard. You have no idea what you¡¯re getting yourself into! Mark my words¨C if anything happens to Dustin, you and your whole family will go down with him!¡± Hunter hung up the phone with a threatening growl: ¡°Did that old man get up on the wrong side of the bed today?¡± grumbled Gardner, his displeasure writte n all over his face. ¡°Sir, what¡¯s wrong?¡± the Cobra asked cautiously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where did you get the guts to ask me that?¡± Gardner pped a palm onto the table. ¡°Didn¡¯t 23 CS CamScanner you say the kid had no background? Mr. Anderson just called to speak to me about the fellow! Does tha t sound like someone with no background to you? Are you deliberately trying to set me up, you motherf ucker?!¡± Natasha Harmon was already a handful. Now that Hunter Anderson was also in the picture, this was eq All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. uivalent to stripping him down and tying him to a skewer over an open fire. ¡°No way! There¡¯s no way that he has rtions with Mr. Anderson! I¨C I really didn¡¯t know about this,¡± the Cobra stuttered as the color drained from his face. ¡°Quick, call Duane now. This situation is getting way out of hand. He¡¯ll have to pay me more if he wants this matter settled smoothly,¡± Gardner ordered. ¡°Alright, alright. I will call Sir Anderson immediately!¡± The Cobra did not hesitate as he dialed Duane¡¯s number. Over the phone, he briefly exined Gardner ¡¯s request. After confirming an affirmative answer, he reported, ¡°Sir, Sir Anderson has agreed to double the price a s long as you can get the job done!¡± Hearing this, the tense muscles on the inspector¡¯s face finally eased. *Sir Anderson is truly generous! In that case, I¡¯ll do my very best!¡± he dered with a smile of contentment. Well, money did do wonders, after all. A middle ground is always more easily reached with a good payout. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Back in the interrogation room, Dustin and Dahlia sat with their backs against each other for warmth. Such peaceful moments were rare from the moment they were married until their divorce. No one spoke anything as they remained silent for a while. ¡°Dustin, do you think we will walk out of here alive?¡± Finally, Dahlia broke the silence. She couldn¡¯t stand the damp and dark surroundings that forced her to think depressive thoughts. Furthermore, Mr. Gardner wasn¡¯t easy to deal with. Her heart thumped with fear at what would happen to them. ¡°Don¡¯t scare yourself. We will definitely leave this ce in one piece,¡± Dustinforted her. ¡°What if we don¡¯t? Do you have anyst wishes?¡± Dahlia murmured glumly. ¡°There¡¯s no possibility of us dying. Let¡¯s talk after we get out,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Not after we have offended Lord Asmon. With his connections and resources, getting rid of us would b e as easy as killing a gnat.¡± Dahlia sighed. Even if she pooled all her resources, it would be nothingpared to the wealth of the nobility. ¡°Dahlia, this doesn¡¯t sound like you. I thought you were a person who would not give up until thest se cond. With your personality, you would take on any challenge that got in your way. Why are you being so pessimistic?¡± Dustin raised his voice. When she heard this, Dahlia gave a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re right. No one knows what will happen until thest minute. Perhaps we should have hope that things would turn around!¡± The metal door creaked open once again as she finished her sentence. Light streamed into the room as Mr. Gardner stomped in with a few burly, intimidating¨Clooking men. ¡°Kid! Your time is up; have you made your decision?¡± He shot Dustin a fierce look. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve decided. I will not return the items,¡± Dustin replied firmly. ¡°What?¡± Mr. Gardner frowned. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t you know who these men are? I¡¯ll be honest, they are the wor st criminals and bandits I have in prison! They have been deprived of the touch of a woman for a long tim e! If you refuse to cooperate, you will definitely regret it. These men will have their way with your girlfriend while you shall watch her ravaged and abused in front of your very eyes!¡± ¡°If you dare to touch her, I¡¯ll tear this whole ce down!¡± Dustin warned with a growl. ¡°You piece of shit! How dare you talk back to me! Now, you have no choice but to bear the consequenc es!¡± Mr. Gardner gestured to his men. ¡°Guys, make sure to put on a good performance for this kid so that h e knows his ce! Show him a fate worse than death!¡± CS CamScanner ¡°Of course, sir! We are much obliged!¡± The men cackled with pleasure. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. They had been locked up in prison for a long time without a woman¡¯s touch. Now that such a beauty was in their presence, they could not hide their evil desires to ravish her body. ¡°Hi, gorgeous! Let¡¯s have a good time!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get the girl, you can get the guy!¡± The men began to strip whileughing maniacally as they stepped menacingly toward Dahlia. ¡°You must be looking for death!¡± Dustin stood up, furious. He tore the shackles around his hands and legs with brute force, and they fell to the ground with a ng. After that, Dustin turned around and untied Dahlia easily. ¡°You!¡± Mr. Gardner was taken aback at the sudden turn of events. The shackles in the interrogation room were specially made to be extra tough. It was impossible for a h uman to tear the metal apart like butter. How did this scrawny kid do that? ¡°Gardner, you have pushed my limits!¡± Dustin kicked the shackles aside and rushed towards him. ¡°Quick, stop this kid!¡± Mr. Gardner screamed for help. The burly men immediately surrounded Dustin, a nd all of them attacked him at the same time. ¡°Get out of my way!¡± A surge of energy was released when Dustin stomped his heel on the ground. The sheer force threw the men backward and crash into the walls of the interrogation room. All of them were dead in an instant, bleeding from their internal wounds. ¡°Help, anybody! Please help!¡± Mr. Gardner turned pale and whirled around to escape. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Dustin kicked the limp body of a man lying beside him. It flew like a bullet and crashed into Mr. Gardner, who was attempting to escape. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground, unable to run any longer. ¡°I¡¯ve warned you not to touch her.¡± Dustin strolled up to him and hissed murderously, his eyes boring da ngerously into Mr. Gardner. ¡°Kid, don¡¯t forget you¡¯re in the police station! You can¡¯t go too far!¡± Mr. Gardner backed away on all fours. ¡°Too far? What will you do about it?¡± Dustin chuckled as he crushed Mr. Gardner¡¯s arm with his foot. The immense pain from his broken arm caused Mr. Gardner to howl in agony. ¡°Dustin! Stop it!¡± Blood drained from Dahlia¡¯s face. Even though they were innocent, they could be charged with excessive self¨C defense if they fought back against the police. It would onlyplicate the situation! ¡°Come back to your senses, kid! Confess and turn yourself in so that you still have a chance to save yo urself. If not, there will be no mercy!¡± Mr. Gardner threatened with a grimace. Without a word, Dustin kicked Mr. Gardner in the stomach. Mr. Gardner spurted out the contents of his dinnerst night by reflex as pee flowed out of his dder. A putrid stench filled the air from the mess he created. ¡°You¨C You!¡± Mr. Gardner¡¯s face turned red from the violent coughing as nausea caused him to vomit bile from his stomach. ¡°Dustin, have you gone crazy? If something untoward happens to Mr. Gardner, we will have to take responsibility!¡± Dahlia called out frantically. ¡°Even if I did not fight back, he wouldn¡¯t have let us go either. Since things havee to this, we shoul d just kill him,¡± Dustin retorted nonchntly. ¡°The situation has not escted to that level. Stop it now, and we can still fix this. If you murdered Mr. Gardner, everyone would have to pay for your mistakes!¡± Dahlia tried to reason with Dustin. What if Dustin really went insane and did something stupid out of anger? ¡°Do you hear that? Another vition from you, I will make sure you and your whole family pay for this!¡± Mr. Gardner roared. ¡°Mr. Gardner, what happened?¡± Draco ran into the room with a group of underlings when they heard th e However, they were all stunned at the sight of the bloody scene and Mr. Gardner, who was heavily injur ed. ¡°Kid, you must be looking for death! Let Mr. Gardner go immediately if you still want to live!¡± Draco warn ed. CS CamScanner ¡°Let him go? Alright, take him.¡± Dustin kicked Mr. Gardner and sent him flying into the air. He crashed hard on a few of Draco¡¯s underlings, taking down several of them simultaneously. Dahlia was speechless at Dustin¡¯s impudence. She never thought he could be so reckless as to kick Mr. Gardner. Even when he was surrounded by ruthless men on all sides, he did not even think of surrendering! Had Dustin gone mad? Did he not understand the consequences of crossing Mr. Gardner? He was the police inspector, also known as Heinous Hades. Mr. Gardner was the officer in charge of the prison and criminal interrogation. The lives of prisoners wer e at his mercy. How could Dustin be so bold? ¡°Mr. Gardner, are you alright?¡± Draco quickly helped him up. Mr. Gardner spewed profanities in a blind rage as he ordered his men, ¡°All of you! Kill that kid right now ! I want him dead and his body chopped up into pieces!¡± Never had anyone humiliated him in such a manner! ¡°Kill him!¡± Draco shouted as they took out their weapons and charged toward Dustin. Just as the fight was about to break out, a loud voice was heard at the door. ¡°Stop this instant!¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 ¡°Stop this right now!¡± A loud voice rang out. A group of men in suits and armed to the teeth filed into the room. ¡°Who are you? How dare you enter the interrogation room without permission! Are you starting a riot?¡± Mr. Gardner screamed in fury. At this moment, he was stewing with rage. The only thought in his mind was to rip Dustin up into pieces, and anybody who stood in his path would be his mortal enemy as well! ¡°Mr. Gardner, what an honor to see you!¡± ¡°The crowd of people parted like the Red Sea as a gorgeous, alluring woman stalked into the room in her high heels. ¡°Natasha?¡± When Mr. Gardner saw who it was, the expression on his face fell as the burning rage in his eyes died down. ¡°You¡¯re lucky, Dustin. Your girlfriend is here to save you.¡± Dahlia said sarcastically when she saw Natasha arrive. She felt a little frustrated. Although she was reli eved at the thought of being rescued, she felt a twinge of annoyance at receiving Natasha¡¯s help. As she was Dustin¡¯s ex¨Cwife, she didn¡¯t want to feel obligated to another woman. Unfortunately, Natasha was the only one who could save Dustin right now. ¡°Ms. Harmon, why are you here at the police station thiste at night with your men? What¡¯s the meani ng of this?¡± Mr. Gardner stepped forward to block their way. ¡°Hmph! Are you seriously questioning me? You were the one who brought people in without a fair trial. Is this how the police investigate crimes?¡± Natasha scoffed. ¡°I have no idea what you are talking about.¡± Mr. Gardner said sheepishly. ¡°You don¡¯t understand? Alright then, I¡¯ll be straightforward. I¡¯m here to request the release of my man. L et Dustin go immediately before I make you regret it!¡± Natasha demanded. ¡°Let him go? This man is a wanted criminal with definitive evidence. Are you going to make me release him? Aren¡¯t you going above thew?¡± Mr. Gardner dered righteously. Just now, Dustin had beat him up into a pulp. There was no way he could live this down. Offending Natasha was a small price to pay for him to get his revenge on Dustin! ¡°How dare you talk about thew to me! Aren¡¯t you aware of how contradictory your words are? It is as easy as pie for me to reveal all your dirty underhanded tricks. Let him go immediately if you want to kee p things swept under the rug!¡± Natasha threatened. ¡°Natasha, don¡¯t push my buttons!¡± Mr. Gardner warned, his expression darkened. CS CamScanner ¡°I know that the Harmon family is influential, however, I have my rights! This is my territory and that guy is a criminal. Moreover, he is under my jurisdiction. You have no right to Interfere in what I do with him!¡± ¡°If Ms. Harmon doesn¡¯t have the right, how about me Instead?¡± Hunter walked into the interrogation roo m with his men in tow. His noble aura caused the men to move away from him involuntarily. ¡°What? This kid knows Mr. Anderson?¡± Draco turned pale with shock. He didn¡¯t believe it when Mr. Gar dner told him about this. Now that he had witnessed the situation with his own eyes, only then did he realize the gravity of the situation. ¡°Wow, even Mr. Anderson is here. Natasha must have asked for his help to save you. Seems like she r eally can¡¯t live without you, huh?¡± Sarcasm dripped from Dahlia¡¯s voice as she spoke. ¡°Mr. Anderson, why are you here as well?¡± Mr. Gardner frowned. Natasha alone was tough enough to handle. If Hunter joined in the fray, things might get out of hand. ¡°If I didn¡¯t show up, would you listen to reason?¡± Hunter retorted angrily. ¡°Mr. Anderson, I informed you in the callst time. Give me some time so I can look into it. If there¡¯s a m istake. I will let him go immediately.¡± Mr. Gardner tried to wriggle his way out. ¡°I have no time to waste yapping with you. Let Dustin go this instant!¡± Hunter ordered impatiently. The corrupted ways of the police inspector were well known. If they had waited for the investigation to end, Dustin would have been dead and gone. ¡°As an inspector, my duty is to capture wanted criminals and protect the peace of the city. I don¡¯t think t here¡¯s anything wrong with my actions,¡± Mr. Gardner defended himself. ¡°Mr. Gardner, I¡¯m giving you onest chance. I¡¯m warning you; let him go immediately. If not, you shall d ie an unseemly death!¡± Hunter wasn¡¯t taking it. ¡°Mr. Anderson, are you threatening me? Don¡¯t you know the consequences of going against the police? ¡± Mr. Gardner narrowed his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care what the consequences are. If you won¡¯t let Dustin go, I will tear down this building!¡± Hunte r retorted. Mr. Gardner¡¯s face twisted with rage. He never expected Natasha and Hunter to be so obstinate. Why would they go to such lengths for a nobody like Dustin? Didn¡¯t they know that Mr. Granville was his father¨Cinw? What¡¯s wrong with the two of them? They wouldn¡¯t even budge an inchi ¡°Mr. Anderson, don¡¯t me me for not warning you. It is an offense that you have barged into the Interrogation room without permission. If Mr. Granville wants to find fault. It would be a nightmare for you to handle!¡± Mr. CS CamScanner Gardner quickly name¨Cdropped his father¨Cinw. ¡°What the hell!¡± Hunter lost his patience and swung a heavy blow to Mr. Gardner¡¯s face. ¡°I asked you to release him im mediately. What¡¯s with all the excuses?¡± ¡°You¨CHow dare you p me?¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Mr. Gardner held his burning cheek in disbelief. He was Mr. Granville¡¯s son¨Cinw and a police inspector. On ount of Mr. Granville, they should know better than to provoke him! Were they going to rebel against Mr. Granville? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with pping you? Another word from you, and I¡¯m going to put a bullet through your sk ull!¡± Hunter drew his pistol and ced the barrel on Mr. Gardner¡¯s forehead. ¡°Wh¨CWhat are you trying to do? Stop messing around!¡± Cold sweat ran down Mr. Gardner¡¯s forehead. He never expected Hunter to pull out his gun in the police station, nheless. Had he gone crazy as well ? Wasn¡¯t this tant disrespect toward thew? ¡°What the hell, when did Mr. Anderson be so rash?¡± Natasha thought when she saw the gun. She knew Hunter as a calm, collected man. He was always good¨C natured andposed in any situation. What was wrong with him today? He lost his temper, pped, and threatened a man at gunpoint. If it were his son who was kidnapped, Hunter might not even have overreacted in this manner. ¡°I¡¯m going to count to five. You will bear the consequences if you still refuse to release Dustin!¡± Hunter warned, his face nonchnt. ¡°Mr. Anderson! I¡¯m Mr. Granville¡¯s son¨Cin¨C ¡°Five, four.¡± Hunter started counting. ¡°Hunter! What¡¯s wrong with you? If you dare to touch a hair on my head, Mr. Granville will never forgive you!¡± Mr. Gardner¡¯s legs were shaking like a leaf ¡°Three, two, one!¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Hunter pulled the trigger immediately after his countdown. With a loud bang, a bullet went through Mr. Gardner¡¯s ear. He let out a bone¨Cchilling cry and hold on to his bleeding ear, staggering backward. ¡°Are you crazy? How dare you shoot me!¡± Mr. Gardner shouted hysterically. He thought Hunter was just all talk. Who knew that Hunter would really pull the trigger? ¡°The next time, I won¡¯t miss my aim.¡± Hunter cocked the gun and aimed it toward Mr. Gardner¡¯s face.. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again. Will you release Dustin, or will I?¡± Mr. Gardner shivered in fright. At this rate, it was highly possible that Hunter would go crazy and murde r him in cold blood. As Mr. Gardner was stuck in a dilemma, a ruckus was heard at the door of the interrogation room again. An elderly man with snowy white hair rushed in with his men. ¡°Mr. Granville?¡± At his arrival, the whole interrogation room went silent. The elderly man standing before them was the mayor of Swinton, the highest¨Cranking official in the city. He was truly the most powerful man in Swinton! ¡°Finally, Mr. Granville is here! Rhys, you¡¯re dead meat! What¡¯s the use of getting Ms. Harmon¡¯s and Mr. Anderson¡¯s help? As long as Mr. Granville is on our side, no one will be able to save you today!¡± With the appearance of Mr. Granville, the expression on Draco¡¯s face changed from fear to arrogance. Heughed mockingly, knowing that Mr. Granville was here to back them up. He was their savior! When Natasha and Hunter came to save Dustin, Draco thought that they were doomed. Fortunately, Mr. Granville arrived just in time, which gave him peace of mind. ¡°Mr. Anderson! You pped and shot me in the ear for that punk¡¯s sake! You have gone too far! Now th at my father¨Cin¨C n on his face. Weren¡¯t they so brazen a minute ago? He couldn¡¯t wait to see how impudent they would be now that th e mayor of Swinton was here! ¡°What a coincidence; his timing was perfect. Mr. Granville knows how to make an entrance!¡± Natasha fr owned slightly. Mr. Granville¡¯s position as mayor was not to be trifled with. CS CamScanner Even with Natasha and Hunter¡¯s influence, Mr. Granville¡¯s decision would be final. More importantly, Mr. Granville and Mr. Gardner are rted by marriage. Were they going to open a can of worms? ¡°Mr. Granville, your son¨Cin¨C must properly exin the situation to us today!¡± Defying everyone¡¯s expectations, Hunter did not back down. He raised his voice and demanded an exp from Mr. Granville. Even if Hunter was the president of the Chamber of Commerce, he was still under the jurisdiction of Mr. Granville. His actions were no less than rebellion against his superiors! 1 ¡°You¡¯re lying! I¡¯ve always been righteous and impartial in my duties!¡± Regaining hisposure, Mr. Gardner rushed towards Mr. Granville and started using them. ¡°Fathe r, they were the ones who broke into the interrogation room without permission. Furthermore, Mr. Anderson shot me in the ear! Look at this; my ear is in a mess! Father, you have to bring them to justic e!¡± He revealed his wounded ear to Mr. Granville. It was a shocking sight to behold as the wound was still bleeding profusely. ¡°Right! There¡¯s that kid!¡± Ignoring Mr. Granville¡¯s dark expression, Mr. Gardner pointed toward Dustin. ¡°He¡¯s the main cause of all this. Father, you must teach him a lesson. He even hit me in the stomach just now!¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Mr. Granville roared in anger and pped Mr. Gardner¡¯s cheek. The force of his p was so strong that Mr. Gardner was thrown a few feet away, stars circling above hi s head. ¡°What?¡± This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Everyone was dumbstruck at the sudden bombshell. Who would have expected Mr. Granville to reprimand Mr. Gardner instead of backing him up? What¡¯s going on? Natasha¡¯s jaw dropped. Dahlia was equally as shocked. Draco and his men couldn¡¯t believe their eyes. They were all stunned at the astonishing turn of events. ¡°Father? Why did you hit me?¡± Mr. Gardner asked, bewildered, as he rubbed his burning cheek. He had never seen his father¨Cinw so furious. Mr. Gardner was confused as to what he had done wrong. ¡°Bastard! You lock up the innocent and let the guilty walk free. How dare you try to defend yourself? I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!¡± Mr. Granville dered righteously. ¡°Father, what¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯m your son¨Cinw, aren¡¯t I?¡± Mr. Gardner was close to tears. Wasn¡¯t Mr. Granville here to save him? Why was he getting beaten up instead? ¡°Don¡¯t call me your father¨Cinw! I don¡¯t have a despicable son¨Cin¨C on, you took liberties with your authority as a police inspector. As of now, you are fired from your positio n!¡± ¡°What?¡± When Mr. Granville announced this, Mr. Gardner shuddered in fear. His body was drenched in a cold s weat. Although he didn¡¯t know what caused the rift, Mr. Gardner knew that his father¨Cin¨C ties with him. Furthermore, Mr. Granville was going to investigate and expose his past deeds! They had a good rtionship before this. What could have happened for Mr. Granville to change so abr uptly? Without any hesitation, Mr. Granville gave hisst orders to the men standing behind him, ¡°Come and a rrest Mr. Gardner immediately! Once the investigation into his crimes isplete, throw him in jail!¡± Mr. Gardner fell on his knees in dismay, his face ashen with despair. The only reason his father¨Cin¨C intervened. That was why Mr. Granville had no choice but to toe the line as well How could this happen? He had only detained Dustin, a punk with no background. How could this disaster have befallen him? Could it be? Could it be that the Rhys kid had some powerful people backing him up? That must be it! At this thought, Mr. Gardner was filled with regret that he had gone up against Dustin. Never in his dreams would he have imagined that a young punk had such formidable support. Even his father- inw had to kowtow to him! All of it was Duane¡¯s fault! He was doomed because of Duane! Chapter 105 Chapter 105 ¡°We are finished!¡± When Draco saw that Mr. Gardner had been apprehended, his face paled in shock. From Mr. Granville¡¯s appearance until the arrest of Mr. Gardner, Draco couldn¡¯t make sense of what wa s going on as everything had happened in a sh. The only thing he could be sure of was that Mr. Granville did not let his son¨Cin¨C Draco thought that Mr. Granville was their savior. Who knew that he was here to bring them to justice? This world could be so unpredictable! Draco turned back and nced at Dustin, who had remained silent all this while. He had an expression of indifference on his face, as if he had known this would happen all along. Who was this man, and why was Mr. Granville treating him with such respect? Why would Lord Asmon have a grudge against such a monster? ¡°Arrest all the other men as well!¡± Mr. Granville barked an order. Draco and Mr. Gardner¡¯s men were all apprehended. Mr. Gardner and Draco stared at each other in despair. It was obvious that they would have to pay for their crimes. ¡°What¨CWhat¡¯s happening?¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t wrap her head around the plot twist. She expected trouble when Mr. Granville appeared. Unexpectedly Mr. Granville did not find fault with them. Furthermore, he fired Mr. Gardner and threw hi m into prison. Who could have expected Mr. Granville to do such a thing to his own son¨Cinw? ¡°Am I dreaming? Is Mr. Granville on our side?¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes were wide with shock. She was also taken aback at Mr. Granville¡¯s actions. When she knew of his rtionship to Mr. Gardner, she was already prepared for the worst. At one point, Dahlia even thought that Dustin and her were doomed. However, the oue was beyond belief. Could Mr. Granville truly be a righteous and upright official? ¡°Are you Dustin? I can tell that you are a capable young man.¡± After he had tied up the loose ends, Mr. Granville walked up to Dustin with a rare smile on his stern fac e. CS CamScanner ¡°Greetings, Mr. Granville.¡± Dustin nodded politely. ¡°I¡¯m very sorry for the inconvenience. Because of my ipetence, you had to go through such trouble. I humbly request for your understanding and forgiveness.¡± Mr. Granville apolo gized. ¡°It is said that there will be rotten apples in every bunch. I find it very admirable for you to even bring yo ur son- inw to justice.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Thank you for your consideration, young man. Now, I can finally stop worrying.¡± Mr. Granville secretly breathed a sigh of relief. No one knew that he received a call from the Governor of Millsburg not long ago. The only message given was to protect Dustin Rhys at any cost! Dustin¡¯s background and influence must be unimaginable if the governor personally made a call to ens ure his safety. In a city like Swinton, a person with such connections was untouchable! Mr. Granville and his men left in a hurry after greeting Dustin. ¡°Mr. Rhys, Ms. Nicholson. Are the both of you alright?¡± Hunter asked anxiously after everyone left. ¡°We¡¯re fine. Thanks for your help, Mr. Anderson.¡± Dahlia nodded her thanks. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Hunter nodded in return. ¡°Dustin, it seems you¡¯re having a good time!¡± Natasha came over, her heels cking on the ground. She stared at Dustin with resentment, as if he had cheated on her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Dustin said, puzzled. ¡°Am I mistaken?¡± Natasha crossed her arms and countered sarcastically. ¡°When I heard that you were l ocked up, I was so worried that I went everywhere looking for help to get you released. On the other ha nd, you are here chatting with another woman. Why wouldn¡¯t you be having a good time?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t misread the situation. She was arrested because of me,¡± Dustin replied awkwardly. ¡°Is that true?¡± Natasha wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°If that was the case, why are your hands sped together so tightly?¡± ¡°What?¡± Dustin and Dahlia looked down simultaneously. They hadn¡¯t realized that their fingers were intertwined. Startled, they let go of each other immediately. ¡°I never thought a simple man like you would be a yboy. I¡¯m so disappointed in you, Dustin! My devotion is wasted on you!¡± Natasha gave an exasperated sigh, turned around and left. ¡°Ms. Harmon!¡± Dustin took a few steps toward Natasha before giving Dahlia a nce, as if he had som ething to say to her. CS CamScannerBelongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. ¡°Why are you looking at me? Go after her. It¡¯s none of my business!¡± Dahlia faked a nonchnt tone a nd avoided his gaze. ¡°Alright. Use a cab to get home.¡± With that, Dustin ran after Natasha. Did Dustin really chase after Natasha? Dahlia gritted her teeth in annoyance. Did he not know that it was just a test to see whether he would prioritize her or Natasha? What a dolt! She was being sulky to get his attention, that¡¯s why she asked him to chase after Natasha. If she asked him to jump off a building, would he just obey like an idiot? The thought of Dustin spending time with Natasha irked her immensely. ¡°Ms. Harmon, please listen to my exnation!¡± Dustin caught up to Natasha at the entrance. ¡°Due to the dangerous circumstances, I had to protect Da hlia. I¡¯m not thinking of getting back together with her.¡± ¡°Is that true?¡± Natasha stared at him suspiciously. ¡°Of course! Why would I lie to you?¡± Dustin replied with a serious expression. ¡°Alright then, since you rushed out to exin to me, I¡¯ll forgive you on ount of your sincerity!¡± Natasha suddenly grinned from ear to ear.. The disappointment and resentment on her face disappeared in a sh. Dustin was stunned at how quick a woman¡¯s mood could change. Their emotions were as unpredictable as the weather. He couldn¡¯t help but suspect Natasha had just pulled a fast one on him. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re still a notch below me!¡± Natasha thought as she gave Dahlia a smug nce. From Dustin¡¯s actions, it was obvious that he was more concerned about her than Dahlia. ¡°Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll send you home,¡± Natasha said with a bright smile. ¡°Not right now. I have to meet someone.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Meet someone? Who?¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 At this moment, in a beautiful vi. Duane was talking to a young man dressed in luxurious clothes. Behind that man, two female bodyguards stood at attention. They were armed with swords and emitted an unapproachable aura. ¡°Duane, what¡¯s this gemiphen that you are talking about? Is it really that powerful?¡± Oliver Williams took a sip of his coffee. ¡°Mr. Williams, I can assure you of its effects. I have personally tried the pill myself!¡± Duane boasted ¡°confidently. ¡°A gemiphen pill saved my life when I was close to death from internal injuries. I¡¯m not exaggerating when I say this medicine could heal almost anything!¡± ¡°Talk is cheap. Where¡¯s the pill? Let me have a look.¡± Oliver stretched out his palm. ¡°Due to the rarity of gemiphen, I do not have one with me right now.¡± ¡°Are you joking? You called me here in the dead of the night for a deal. How could you not be prepared with the goods?¡± Oliver¡¯s eyes glinted coldly. ¡°Mr. Williams, please calm down. I would never dare to offend you. One of my men is on the way to obt ain the prescription. I¡¯m sure he will be here soon.¡± Duane tried to appease him. ¡°For your sake, I hope he does. Don¡¯t you know the consequences of toying with a member of the Boulderthorn guild?¡± Oliver rapped impatiently on the table. ¡°Of course, Mr. Williams. Once I receive the prescription, I will start production immediately and present the first batch of gemiphen to you,¡± Duane answered. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Oliver nodded with satisfaction. ¡°On my end, I will say a few good words about you to my father. Who knows? He might extend his support to you if he is in a good mood!¡± ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Williams! I will not let you down!¡± Duane¡¯s face broke into smiles. ording to his research, not only could gemiphen heal severe internal injuries, but it could also el erate the effects of training in martial artists. If the pill was properly marketed, martial artists all over the world would be interested in getting this pill for themselves! That was why Duane contacted Boulderthorn guild in the first ce. As one of the top guilds in the South, Boulderthorn¡¯s influence was spread far and wide. Their guild members were in the hundreds of thousands, having top positions in politics, the military, an d the business world. If he was able to get an exclusive contract to supply gemiphen to the Boulderthorn guild, his wealth wo uld be multiplied numerous folds. CS CamScanner Being the top dog in Millsburg wouldn¡¯t be a farfetched dream. ¡°Duane, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. If you want my father¡¯s support, first, you would have to supply us with gemiphen continuously. Secondly, loyalty is paramount. Do you understand?¡± Oliver said sternly. ¡°I will remember your advice, Mr. Williams!¡± Duane nodded. While talking, they were interrupted by amotion from the gardens. The noise sounded like a cacop hony of curses and cries of pain. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Duane frowned. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. At this moment, a bodyguard rushed into the room, his face pale as a sheet. ¡°Boss, someone trespassed into your vi!¡± ¡°What?¡± Duane¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who¡¯s the punk who dared to trespass on my property?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dark to identify the intruder. However, it is confirmed that he came alone,¡± the bodyguard mumb led. ¡°Geez! What¡¯s wrong with the lot of you? Can¡¯t you handle even one person?¡± Duane roared in anger. ¡°Boss, that person was too powerful! Our men could not hold him down!¡± the bodyguard cried out helpl essly. The man had infiltrated the vi as inconspicuously as a shadow. His movements were agile and his att acks ruthless. No number of bodyguards could stand up against him. With a flick of his finger, they were all blown away like leaves in the wind! ¡°ording to your description, he must be a martial artist?¡± Duane scratched his chin in confusion. ¡°There are many martial artists in Swinton, however, few are on my level. Besides, they have started guilds of their own and rare ly appear except for important asions. They wouldn¡¯t trespass on my property without reason.¡± ¡°Boss, now is not the time to contemte these things. For your safety, it is better for you to flee!¡± the bodyguard advised Duane. ¡°Flee?¡± Duane scoffed. ¡°How can I ever show my face in public if any simpleton could chase me away f rom my own vi?¡± ¡°But¨CBut that man is too powerful! What if¡± the bodyguard trailed off. ¡°That¡¯s enough. I am curious to see the man¡¯s abilities for myself!¡± Duane was not intimidated at all. He had been well¨Ctrained in martial arts since childhood. How could he back down from a challenge? ¡°Duane, it seems you have met with some trouble. Do you need my help?¡± Oliver asked knowingly. ¡°It¡¯s just a small inconvenience, Mr. Williams. Don¡¯t trouble yourself.¡± Duane chuckled. ¡°Please wait for a moment, I¡¯ll be back shortly after I settle this matter.¡± He stood up with a slight bow and left the room. CS CamScanner Since someone came with a direct challenge, he had to ept it. Otherwise, it would be an insult to his training all these years. Outside, a silhouette dressed in white could be seen in the garden. It was Dustin, walking up the driveway to the vi. Numerous armed bodyguards surrounded him, trying tond an attack. However, it was pointless. They were like moths flying into a me. With every step Dustin took, the swirling energy around him blew the guards away if they got close enough. Howls and cries of pain rang out as he walked past the sea of bodyguards nonchntly. ¡°If they were lucky, they only sustained broken arms and limbs. The unlucky ones died instantly on imp act. None were strong enough to withstand his aura. In the end, Duane¡¯s men could only look on from a distance. They did not have the courage to even go up to him. They could only stare at him with the eyes of looki ng upon a monster. Being fully trained bodyguards, they assumed that this would be a walk in the park. Who would have expected them to bepletely defeated by a punk? Dustin made his way up to the vi¡¯s main doors, leaving a trail of dead bodies in his wake. Taking a deep breath, he roared, ¡°Duane,e out and meet your maker!¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 ¡°Duane,e out and meet your maker!¡± Dustin¡¯s roar of anger echoed through the vi like a p of thunder. When Duane heard this contemptuous challenge, he was furious. ¡°Which idiot is dumb enough to cause trouble on my property?¡± Duane thought as he rushed out in a hu rry. However, when he saw Dustin in a distance, he couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s you, Dustin! Weren¡¯t you arrested? How did you escape?¡± He had bribed Mr. Gardner to arrest Dustin and detain him in the Interrogation room. Even if Natasha were to intervene, she couldn¡¯t have helped him escape. ¡°Was it you who framed me for the crime?¡± Dustin demanded coldly. ¡°Since you are already here, it means that you know the answer to your question. You¡¯re right, I am the one who framed you! However, you only have yourself to me. I had to go to such lengths because you did not appreciate the chances that I have given you.¡± Duane smirked. ¡°At the very least, you confessed to your crime. Now, I¡¯ll give you a chance to redeem yourself. If you c ripple yourself voluntarily and leave Swinton for good, I will not exact my vengeance against you.¡± Dustin sald indifferently. ¡°Cripple myself? Leave Swinton?¡± Duane was initially stunned when he heard this. After a moment, he roared withughter. ¡°Punk, have you gone crazy? Who do you think you are? If it weren¡¯t for Natasha, do you think you could stand there and threaten me with your words?¡± Duane assumed that somehow, Natasha must have found a way to sa save Dustin. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, you¡¯re not going toply?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression grew stern. *Kid, it seems like you don¡¯t understand the situation. You were the one who trespassed into my propert y. If I killed you here right now, no one would say anything! Of course, I¡¯m not one to hold grudges. As l ong as you give me the prescription for the gemiphen, I¡¯ll consider letting you go.¡± Duane narrowed his eyes meaningfully. ¡°It¡¯s you who are unaware of your precarious state.¡± Dustin shook his head and gave Duane a pitiful loo k. ¡°I know you have great strength, punk. However, brute strength is not everything!¡± Duane smriked and drew his sword. ¡°I wasn¡¯t fully prepared during ourst duel. The reason I lost that time was that my fort e is in sword fighting and not bare¨Chanded martial arts!¡± ¡°Well then,e at me with all you¡¯ve got!¡± Dustin gestured for Duane to make the first move. ¡°Arrogant prick! Let¡¯s see if you can withstand my attack after training for 20 years!¡± With that, Duane struck a pose. CS CamScanner Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Extending his arm, he aimed his glittering sword at Dustin¡¯s chest as he flew towards him at the speed of light. However, Dustin did not dodge. Without a word, he intercepted the attack by gripping the de with merely two fingers. Vibrations from the rebounding force caused the de to bend in on itself. ¡°What?¡± Duane was utterly shocked at the sight. Never in his dreams could he imagine that a full¨Cblown attack could be stopped with bare hands! Furthermore, Dustin only used two fingers! What could be happening? Before Duane could regain hisposure, Dustin flicked his fingers. The bent sword broke into a thousand pieces. Duane was thrown back from the impact, and he staggered backward, his face stricken with fear. His prowess in sword fighting seemed like child¡¯s y aspared to Dustin¡¯s abilities. With just a single move, Duane waspletely defeated! ¡°Wh¨CWho are you? How could you have such immense powers?¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Duane eximed in terror, cold sweat pouring down his back. As a martial artist, Duane was well¨Cknown for his agile and deadly attacks. At his peak performance, the massive energy from his sword could move mountains! How was Dustin able to intercept his attack? What kind of monster could shatter swords with his bare hands? Dustin could not be human! ¡°Don¡¯t you already know who I am?¡± Dustin closed the distance menacingly and red at him with icy¨C cold eyes. ¡°Stay¨C Stay away!¡± Duane backed away in a panic. ¡°I don¡¯t need the gemiphen¡¯s prescription any longer. Please let me go!¡± ¡°I have given you a chance to redeem yourself, but you didn¡¯t take it. It¡¯s toote to regret now!¡± Dustin pped his hands on Duane¡¯s shoulders and squeezed tightly. With a loud crack, Duane¡¯s arms were dislocated from their joints. An agonizing howl escaped Duane¡¯s lips as intense pain spread throughout his body. Without hesitation, Dustin added a punch to his abdomen. The force of Dustin¡¯s attack was concentrated on his organs, which caused Duane to bleed profusely from h is internal injuries. He fell to the ground in a heap, unable to move. ¡°You¨CYou made me a cripple!¡± Duane gritted his teeth, his eyes were red with fury. ¡°On ount of Mr. Anderson, I will not kill you. However, you must pay for your crimes!¡± Dustin grabbed Duane by the cor and threw him carelessly into the air. His limp body flew backward and smashed into the main doors of his vi. At this moment, Hunter walked in with his men. He had a stern look on his face. ¡°Hunter! Save me, quick!¡± When Duane saw who it was, he clung onto Hunter like a lifeline. ¡°Save you? You ought to be thankful that your life Is spared!¡± Hunter scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy thoug h. You will be locked up in Azkaban for the rest of your life to pay for your crimes!¡± ¡°Azkaban?¡± Duane was visibly shaken. ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? I am a direct descendant of Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. the Welch family, one of the most important families in Swinton. Even your position pales inparison to my status. How dare you threaten to throw me into Azkaban?¡± CS CamScanner Azkaban was a prison for criminals on death row. Once admitted, it was impossible for anyone to get out. The prisoners locked up there were as good as dead. ¡°This was decided by the Welch family¡¯s patriarch. Your father had agreed to it as well.¡± Hunter replied calmly. ¡°No! You are lying to me! Why would my father turn against me?¡± Duane shook his head violently. ¡°That¡¯s because you have offended Mr. Rhys. The only way to protect the Welch family was to sacrifice you,¡± Hunter said bluntly. ¡°Mr. Rhys? Do you mean Dustin?¡± Duane¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How could it be possible? Why would the Welch family be afraid of a young punk like him? What is his identity?¡± ¡°Dustin Rhys is just an alias. Ten years ago, he went by the name of Logan.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Logan, Rhys.¡± ¡°Logan Rhys?¡± When Duane heard Dustin¡¯s real name, the blood drained from his face. No wonder the Welch family was shaken to the core. Logan Rhys, also known as the kirin, was a legendary martial artist. His skills were in a league of their own, unsurpassable to this day. The mere mention of his name struck fear into all of Stonia! How could he have provoked such a formidable person by mistake? Chapter 109 Chapter 109 After Dustin¡¯s Identity was revealed, Duane gave up resistance. His eyes were lifeless as if his soul had left his body. Duane knew that he was a goner. No one would save him, nor did they dare to. ¡°Take him away!¡± Hunter ordered his men to bind Duane up. Despite knowing the truth, Duane could never leave Azkaban. There was only one way to leave. That is, being carried out for cremation after death. ¡°Stop right there! What are you doing? Leave that man alone!¡± At that moment, Oliver appeared with his two female bodyguards and approached them aggressively. Initially, he hadn¡¯t nned on getting involved. However, Duane was such an ipetent Idiot! How could he lose the fight? Oliver was forced to intervene before that knucklehead got himself locked up. At any rate, Duane was still of some use to him. He had to ensure Duane¡¯s safety before he got his hands on the precious gemiphen. ¡°You have nothing to do with this. Don¡¯t poke your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong.¡± Hunter warned in a co ld tone. ¡°Too bad, I insist. What are you going to do about it?¡± Oliver stuck his hands in his pockets and walked up to Dustin with a swagger. ¡°Are you one of Duane¡¯s men?¡± Dustin asked nonchntly. ¡°Duane? With his ability, he could only be my underling! However, I have a business deal with him. Wit hout my permission, no one can take him away. While I am still being nice, release him immediately!¡± O liver retorted proudly with his nose in the air. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°You refuse? Punk, don¡¯t you know who I am? Don¡¯t you know who my father is? How dare you talk ba ck to me? Are you looking for death?¡± Oliver red at him contemptuously. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°I couldn¡¯t care less about who you are, or who your father is. It¡¯s best for you to stay out of this and let us deal with Duane,¡± Dustin replied nonchntly. ¡°Have you gone crazy? Emma, Anna! Break this punk¡¯s legs. Let¡¯s see if he could continue speaking in such a condescending tone while kneeling o n the ground!¡± Oliver smirked. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The two female bodyguards behind him rushed toward Dustin simultaneously. CS CamScanner nking him on both sides, they poised to strike Dustin¡¯s knees with the intention of incapacitating him. There was no hesitation in carrying out Oliver¡¯s orders. With that, Dustin did not hold back. He made the first move and pped both of them on the cheek. They staggered backward, stunned by the force of the heavy blow. ¡°You!¡± Cradling their swollen cheeks, they tried to draw their swords in retaliation. Before they could do that, Dustin kicked them in the stomach and pped them on the other cheek as well. The two bodyguards teetered as stars circled above their heads. ¡°Punk, you need to be taught a lesson! How dare you engage in a sneak attack?¡± Oliver was burning w ith anger. He rushed forward tond a punch on Dustin¡¯s face. It was obvious that he was a martial artist. His fists were fast, sure, and urate. However, Dustin wasn¡¯t impressed. He caught Oliver¡¯s fist and twisted it. Oliver¡¯s arm was disced from its joint as he screamed in misery. Before Oliver could catch his breath, Dustin followed up with a punch to his abdomen. Oliver was thrown back a few feet away andnded heavily on his back. The impact caused Oliver to throw up, and he vomited all over himself. ¡°Sir!¡± When they saw Oliver injured, the female bodyguards anxiously ran up to defend him. ¡°Kill him! I order you to kill him right now!¡± Oliver held his stomach and roared with a ferocious expression on his face. ¡°There is no mercy for those who hurt our boss!¡± The female bodyguards drew their swords and prepar ed to light. ¡°Nobody moves!¡± Suddenly, Hunter shouted and pulled out his gun. The bodyguards were startled by Hunter¡¯s threat and froze in ce. They did not dare to move a muscl e. ¡°Bastard! Don¡¯t you know who I am? How dare you point a gun at me?¡± Oliver stood up; his face livid. ¡°I¡¯m Oliver Williams, a member of the Boulderthorn guild. Moreover, my father is the second¨Cin¨C ¡°Boulderthorn guild?¡± When Oliver revealed his identity, Hunter¡¯s expression grew serious. As the best guild in the South, Boulderthorn has significant influence in Swinton. Even Edwin, the wealthiest man in Swinton, was only a normal member of the Boulderthorn guild. This showed how strong and powerful the guild was! CS CamScanner ¡°What, are you scared?¡± Oliver cackled mockingly as everyone remained silent. ¡°Now that you know who you are up against, kneel down and beg for forgiveness Immediately. Otherwi se, I will ughter you and your entire family!¡± What was the use of having guns or being a good fighter? These were all pointless aspared to the support of the Boulderthorn gulld. With a single word, he could destroy them all like ants. This was the power of influence and authority! ¡°Boulderthorn, is it?¡± Dustin was still unfazed after hearing Oliver¡¯s threat. ¡°What if I kill all three of you right now? Then no one would know what had happened here.¡± ¡°Kill me? How dare you!¡± Oliver widened his eyes. ¡°If you touch even a strand of hair on my head, I ass ure you that your body would be blown up into pieces.¡± ¡°Since you threatened my family, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth .¡± Dustin shrugged nonchntly. Dustin¡¯s words made Oliver step back in fear, as he was unprepared for a fight. It would be troublesome if Dustin decided to follow through with what he said. ¡°I¡¯m going to remember this, punk! I¡¯m not done with you!¡± Seeing as the situation was unfavorable, Oli ver and his bodyguards left in a hurry with their tails between their legs. A wise man knew better than to fight when the odds were against him. With his noble status, it wasn¡¯t worth it to put his life on the line. ¡°Mr. Anderson, what do you know about Boulderthorn?¡± Dustin asked as his gaze trailed after them. ¡°Boulderthorn guild has been expanding rapidly. With their reputation in the world of martial arts, they w ere set to be the best guild in the South. Their members are widespread in every possible field, which allows the guild to spread its influence far and wide. In addition, I heard that Boulderthorn is nning to open a branch in Swinton. That man¡¯s father, Mr. Williams was sent here as a representative for the new branch,¡± Hunter reported in a low voice. Dustin nodded in acknowledgment and turned around to leave. That person must have had something to do with the Boulderthorn guild, right? Chapter 110 Chapter 110 At the Nicholson vi. Everyone was amazed to see Dahlia return home safely. ¡°Dahlia, you are finally home! I was so worried about you!¡± ¡°Sis! Are you alright? Have you been bullied in the interrogation room?¡± Florence and James fawned over her eagerly. Since they received news of Dahlia being detained by Mr. Gardner, they had been extremely worried fo r her safety. They¡¯ve used up all their connections and spent a ton of money trying to get Dahlia out. However, there was no reply. They were at a loss for what to do. Just when they had given up, Dahlia unexpectedly returned home on her own. ¡°Mother, I¡¯m fine. Sorry for making you worry.¡± Dahlia smiled. She was a little spooked by everything that had happened today. Fortunately, she managed to return home safe and sound. ¡°It¡¯s all Dustin¡¯s fault. If it weren¡¯t for him, you wouldn¡¯t have been captured as well!¡± Florence muttered angrily. ¡°Mother¡¯s right! That shameless man is always doing sneaky things! Sis, you should stay away from him to avoid getting ca ught up in his crimes!¡± James chimed in. ¡°Actually, this incident has nothing to do with him. He was framed by someone else.¡± Dahlia tried to defend Dustin. ¡°How is it possible? If he is truly innocent, why was he arrested?¡± ¡°Yeah, why would they frame him instead of anyone else? This could only mean that he has bad chara cter!¡± Florence and Jamesined one after another with disdain. Dahlia could only sigh in resignation. ¡°If it were up to me, I would choose Matt. When he heard that you were detained, he went around looking for help to bail you out. A gentleman like him is rare nowadays!¡± Florence changed the topic. ¡°That¡¯s right! Sis, if it weren¡¯t for Matt¡¯s help, you might still be stuck in jail!¡± James agreed enthusiastica lly. ¡°Matt? Are you sure that it was his doing?¡± Dahlia said, surprised. ¡°Who else could it be? He and the Hummer family go way back. He must have asked for Sir Hummer¡¯s help to get you out,¡± James mused. ¡°I see, I thought¡­¡± Dahlia trailed off. CS CamScanner She was a bit puzzled regarding Mr. Granville¡¯s appearance. From Natasha¡¯s expression, she seemed just as surprised as Dahlia to see Mr. Granville there. By the looks of it, it must be Matt who had requested help from the Hummers family. Sir Hummers was one of the Mighty Three. It would not be surprising if he had connections with Mr. Gr anville. ¡°Dahlia,st time Matt managed to retrieve therge sum of money we had lost; now he got you out of t he interrogation room. You need to show some appreciation. Your cousin, Julie, will be here tomorrow, why don¡¯t you invite Matt along and spend the day together?¡± Florence asked expectantly. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we have the time.¡± Dahlia squeezed out a forced smile. Whenever Matt¡¯s name was mentioned, she was reminded of another person. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡­¡­ The next morning, at the Peaceful Medical Center. ¡°Let¡¯s eat!¡± Dustin shouted from the ground floor while setting up the table for breakfast. ¡°I¡¯ming! Why are you in such a hurry?¡± After a moment, a one¨Ceyed old man limped down the stairs with a walking stick. ¡°Hey, punk! Where¡¯s the alcohol?¡± He demanded angrily. ¡°No alcohol for breakfast. Have some soup.¡± Dustin gave him a bowl of chicken soup. ¡°I¡¯m not going to eat if there¡¯s no alcohol!¡± The old man threw a tantrum. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Dustin paid him no mind. He sat down and started eating his breakfast. The old man couldn¡¯t hold back any longer as Dustin was about to finish the food. ¡°Geez, what a rude young man!¡± Lifting the bowl, he swallowed the soup inrge gulps. ¡°Here, this is the Panax root you asked for. Keep it safe.¡± After breakfast, Dustin ced a box made from cedar wood on the table. ¡°Oh, did you manage to obtain another precious herb? You are really efficient!¡± the one¨C eyed man eximed in surprise. ¡°I need another four herbs; hopefully, I can collect them all in time.¡± Dustin muttered. ¡°These things can¡¯t be forced. Leave it up to fate,¡± the old man said casually. For an elderly person like him, each day was like a gift. A silver Bentley stopped at the entrance of the medical center, interrupting the conversation. CS CamScanner A gorgeous, alluring woman got out of the car and walked up to them. ¡°Wow, what a beauty! She has curves in all the right ces! Punk, aren¡¯t you divorced? Don¡¯t you want to take her as your wife?¡± The old man cackled gleefully. ¡°Shut up, old man!¡± Dustin red at him and stood up to greet Natasha. ¡°Ms. Harmon, why are you here?¡± ¡°What? Am I not wee?¡± Natasha smirked. ¡°Of course not. Have a seat.¡± Dustin pulled out a chair for her. ¡°You must be Old Mr. Whiskey? I¡¯ve heard that you love alcohol; that¡¯s why I brought some homebrewe d ale as a gift.¡± With a smile, Natasha ced two bottles on the table. ¡°I¡¯m satisfied as long as I have some alcohol! A ss of well¨C brewed ale is as valuable as liquid gold!¡± The one¨Ceyed man beamed with joy. He was justining about theck of alcohol. This was exactly what he needed. ¡°If you like, I can send alcohol to you every day.¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°You are such a thoughtful and considerate youngdy, much better than that Dahlia girl!¡± The one¨Ceyed man grinned from ear to ear. ¨C ¡°Punk, you are so fortunate to have met such a wonderful woman like Ms. Harmon. You have to cherish her!¡± ¡°Take your alcohol and go away!¡± Dustinined in annoyance. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯m going upstairs to drink on my own. I don¡¯t want to be a third wheel here.¡± The old man carried both bottles and went up the stairs. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I apologize on behalf of that old man. He could be rude and ignorant.¡± Dustin smiled she epishly. ¡°I don¡¯t think he said anything wrong. Are you offended?¡± Natasha raised her eyebrows. ¡°No.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s alright, then.¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°That reminds me, I¡¯ve gone through so much trouble to help you escape from the interrogation room. How are you going to repay me?¡± ¡°Can I treat you to dinner?¡± Dustin asked hesitantly. ¡°That¡¯s too predictable.¡± Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, what do you want in return?¡± Dustin asked in confusion. Without a word, Natasha closed her eyes. She pointed to her pouty red lips and motioned for Dustin to kiss her. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Looking at Natasha¡¯s closed eyes and puckered lips, she exuded a seductive aura that left Dustin stun ned. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your mouth? Does it hurt or something?¡± Dustin was oblivious. ¡°What are you on about? I¡¯m letting you kiss me.¡± Natasha exined with frustration. ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes twitched in disbelief as he gasped audibly. ¡°This can¡¯t be a good thing, can it?¡± He thought to himself. ¡°Fine, if you don¡¯t want it so badly, then this will be thest time you¡¯ll ever get it,¡± Natasha teased yf ully. ¡°You idiot! If you don¡¯t grab this opportunity now, when would you ever get another chance like this!¡± Th e one- eyed old man peeping from the second floor hollered. He sighed deeply, shaking his head in dis belief at Dustin. ¡°You¡¯d better shut it!¡± Dustin turned around and shouted back, his eyes shooting daggers. However, when he turned his head back again, his attention was drawn to Natasha¡¯s wlessplexi on and cherry¨Cred lips, making him suddenly realize what he might be missing out on. ¡°Anyways, I¡¯m done teasing you. Let¡¯s get down to business,¡± Natasha interrupted his line of thought an d continued. ¡°Recently, Edwin headhunted the bulk of the main workforce behind Harmon Pharmaceuticals, so now we¡¯re currently looking for leaders to reorganize the team. Given you r exceptional medical skills, how about working for me as an honorary chief physician?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m a good fit for the job,¡± Dustin grumbled. He was great when it came to healing and saving lives, but leadership was not his strong suit, and he had absolutely zero experience in that aspect. ¡°To be honest, you don¡¯t need to do anything for the job. You just need to help me keep an eye on thing s once in a while. But if you ever decide that it¡¯s not for you, then you just need to hold on to that title until I find another good fit for the position.¡± Sensing his skepticism, Natasha put on a pitiful look for him again. ¡°If you don¡¯t help me out here, I¡¯m af raid the only thing I can do at this point is to just sit and watch as Edwin obliterates Harmon Pharmaceuticals into dust.¡± Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. Feeling defeated and unsure of how to refuse her, he finally relented. ¡°Fine¡­I suppose I can try.¡± ¡°I just knew that you¡¯d help me! Let¡¯s go! Come to my ce first, then I can walk you through your dutie s and responsibilities!¡± Natasha eximed, immediately all eyes and smiles. With that, she grabbed him and ushered him into her car. Half an hourter over at Java Joys, Ruth sat at a table with her mother, Jessica. The two of them were busy entertaining a few guests. One of them was a well¨C dressed, handsome young man, while the other was an old man who had ab coat on. The young man spoke first, cutting straight to the point. ¡°I won¡¯t mince words this time, Ms. Bard. The reason I¡¯m here today is that I¡¯m Investigating the traitor. On a rted note, I¡¯m also here to assist my cousin CS CamScanner in taking down Swinton¡¯s pharmaceutical market as soon as possible, mainly to pave the way for future developments in my family.¡± ¡°Natasha can definitely rest well with you helping around, Quentin. But you know how bad that temper of hers can get. She doesn¡¯t like anyone meddling in her affairs, after all,¡± Jessica replied with a small grin. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s nothing else I can do, not when this is the oue of my family¡¯s deliberations. As lo ng as my cousin does not do anything that conflicts with the family¡¯s interests, I will do the same for any of the decisions she makes,¡± Quentin said as he sipped his tea. ¡°Hmph, the way I see it, you¡¯re obviously just here to spy on my sister!¡± Ruth, with a scowl on her face, muttered under her breath. With her sister¡¯s engagement with Tyler Granting up, the heads of the family wanted to take every precaution to make sure nothing happened, which was why they sent a spy over to keep watch on her at all times. ¡°Oh, and another thing, are the rumors about Edwin Hummer poaching the bulk of the workforce of thepany and stealing Eternumax¡¯s research docum ents true?¡± Quentin brought up the subject out of nowhere. ¡°Such rumors did surface, but I firmly believe that Natasha has the capacity to resolve everything well.¡°. Jessica¡¯s expression was unwavering. ¡°Eternumax is the fruit of the Harmons¡® research for many years now, which could have been used as a trump card to dominate the pharmaceutical market in Swinton, but now that this incident has urred, the guys over at HQ are furious, which is why they had to send an expert over.¡± Quentin exined before stretching out a hand to introduce the white¨Chaired old man sitting next to him. ¡°This man here is Mr. Wangley. His medical research skills are second to none. So, from now on, he wil l be the next chief physician for Harmon Pharmaceuticals.¡± But the moment Quentin finished his sentence, a cold voice suddenly boomed from outside the cafe. ¡°I¡¯ve already found the right guy for the job, Quentin. So no need to bother Mr. Wangley or whatever his name is anymore!¡± Natasha exc boldly. ¡°What!¡± Quentin gasped with a frown. His expression darkened as he witnessed the lovey¨C dovey disy between the two of them. Before this, he¡¯d caught wind of Natasha securing herself a boy toy, but he didn¡¯t expect the rumors to be true. If the Grant family heard about this, then the marriage between the two families would obviously be gre atly affected. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 ¡°Why¡¯d you bring him here for, Natasha?¡± Jessica frowned as she probed. Natasha replied calmly. ¡°This is my turf, I can bring over whoever I like. Anyways, I¡¯ve already found a good fit for the position of chief physician, and it¡¯s Mr. Dustin!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Everyone eximed in shock when she announced that. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me, Natasha! Is he even qualified to serve as chief physician for the Harmons ?¡± Jessica voiced her displeasure. ¡°Dustin¡¯s medical skills are top of the line, and he knows the ins and outs of medicine. I believe he won¡¯ t face any problems while serving as chief!¡± Natasha assured Jessica. ¡°W¨C what kind of nonsense are you talking about?!¡± Jessica hollered, obviously agitated by her response. Ruth interrupted and mored to her feet to de¨C escte the situation. ¡°Calm down, there¡¯s no need to make a fuss. Let¡¯s just sit down and talk it out. Dustin, let me introduce you to everyone. This is my mom, I beli eve you¡¯ve met her before. And this man here is my cousin, Quentin Harmon.¡± ¡°A pleasure to meet the both of you,¡± Dustin responded politely with a few nods, with no hint of being condescending at all. ¡°So you¡¯re the pretty boy who keeps clinging on to Natasha like a leech?¡± Quentin sneered after lookin g Dustin up and down. His gaze was full of disdain toward him. It was as if he was looking at ants crawling ben eath his feet. Quentin¡¯s holler¨Cthan¨C thou attitude caused Dustin to raise an eyebrow, but he quickly returned to his normal resting face. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask a question? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Quentin taunted and lifted his chin as if to Intimidate Dustin. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I didn¡¯t quite catch that, Mr. Harmon,¡± Dustin replied in the calmest manner he could muster. ¡°You sure you didn¡¯t catch that, or are you trying to y dumb with me right now?¡± Quentin egged him on before letting out a sharp sigh. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll reword my question then. Did you kill Tilda Snider?¡± ¡°I did, but-¡± Before Dustin could exin himself, he was interrupted by Quentin¡¯s booming voice, ¡°Great ! Since you¡¯ve already admitted to the crime, that makes my job a whole lot easier now. I¡¯ll see to it that Tilda, one of the pirs in the Harmon household, doesn¡¯t die in vain!¡± he proimed. Immediately after that, he brought out an urn and mmed it on the table. ¡°Now, I want you to look at h er ashes and bow your fucking head down as an apology to her!¡± ¡°What?¡± Dustin frowned in confusion. Quentin had shown his disdain before this, but now, it was obvious that he was nning to outright hu miliate him in front of everyone. ¡°Do you have a few screws loose or something? Are you sure that the Tilda Snider you¡¯re referring to is the CS CamScanner same one who betrayed the Harmons and also plotted to assassinate Ms. Harmon here? Are you sayin g that I should¡¯ve spared her?¡± Dustin questioned. ¡°Who are you to decide if she gets killed or not! Even if she¡¯s a traitor, she still belongs to the Harmons. Her mess should be ours to clean up, not yours! Shouldn¡¯t you choose your targets properly before dis posing of them? Who are you to meddle in the Harmons¡± family business anyways?!¡± Quentin barked o ut. Dustin merely let out an exasperated chuckle after hearing his bullshit speech. Not only did he not receive any thanks for helping the Harmons dispose of their traitors, but now he wa s even about to get punished for it? What an eye¨Copening way to show one¡¯s gratitude! ¡°Enough talk. As long as you bow down to Tilda to make amends for my cousin¡¯s sake, I¡¯ll consider letti ng you off the hook,¡± Quentin ordered in an overbearing manner. After all, he was but a tiny ant to him, he could step on it as much as he wanted. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Dustin shrugged indifferently. ¡°What if you refuse? Then I¡¯ll make sure to break your fucking legs!¡± Quentin sneered. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try,¡± Dustin replied as he narrowed his eyes. He had a wicked glint in his eyes. ¡°Tsk! Now you¡¯re just asking for it!¡± Quentin exploded in rage and mmed his fists on the table and the sound of a teacup shattering beneath his feet could be heard. ¡°Quentin Harmon! If you dare Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org. so much as to touch even a single hair on Dustin, I¡¯ll be the one to break your legs instead!¡± Natasha sc reamed in fury as she marched toward them. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 ¡°What?¡± Natasha¡¯s sudden outburst of anger caused Quentin to furrow his brows. ¡°Are you seriously going to tur n on me just to protect this boy toy of yours?¡± One reason he wanted to humiliate Dustin so much was that he hated his guts, while the other was bec ause he wanted to gauge Natasha¡¯s reaction to the situation. ¡°Dustin saved my life, so if you dare so much asy a finger on him, don¡¯t me me if I flip out on you!¡± Natasha warned Quentin sternly. If not for the fact that he was her cousin, she would have pped the shit out of him already. ¡°Is that so!¡± Quentin snorted as his expression twisted into a scowl. ¡°While I can put Tilda Snider¡¯s case aside for now, I¡¯m still very opposed to the fact that you n to ele ct him as the chief physician when he doesn¡¯t even have the right qualifications for the job!¡± Quentin argued back. Since this was one way of securing power in thepany, it was obvious that he wasn¡¯t going to let thi s opportunity slip away so easily. 1 ¡°Whether he¡¯s qualified or not, it¡¯s not up to you to decide, but me!¡± Natasha growled with authority. ¡°Everything you own now was given to you by the family, so if you insist on getting in the way of the fa mily¡¯s interests, you¡¯re not allowed to me me if I report you to the board when the timees!¡± Quentin threatened. ¡°Do whatever you want,¡± Natasha spat. She wasn¡¯t afraid of him in the slightest. ¡°Wait!¡± Jessica suddenly spoke up. ¡°Eternumax¡¯s research document leak isn¡¯t a trivial matter, so the next chief physician must be capable enough to mitigate this. I feel Dustin¡¯s still too young for this, so that would make Mr. Wangley the most suitable candidate, no?¡± She refused to let a naive child like himself hold such a key position in Harmon Pharmaceuticals. ¡°Dustin¡¯s medical skills are superb, so I doubt if he¡¯d lose to some dusty old man,¡± Natasha justified confidently. ¡°Fine, since you keep insisting that he has great medical skills, then I propose that he beat Mr. Wangley in a medical showdown. Then, we shall see who¡¯s the best among them,¡± Quentin suggested, stoking t he mes. Natasha couldn¡¯t help but furrow her brows as he finished his sentence. Suddenly, she realized that she might have fallen into his trap. ¡°How are we supposed topete then?¡± Dustin suddenly spoke up. Although he wasn¡¯t too interested in bing chief, Quentin¡¯s arrogance had rubbed him the wrong w ay, so he decided to roll along with his n just to prove him wrong. CS CamScanner ¡°Competing between medical prowess is just too boring, don¡¯t you think, younguns? Why don¡¯t we y with poison instead?¡± Mr. Wangley changed the topic out of the blue. ¡°Sure, how do you n to do that?¡± Dustin remained poker faced. ¡°Hehe¡­ It¡¯s simple actually. Each of us will concoct a bottle of poison on the spot and exchange it with one another to ingest. Whoever manages toe up with an antidote to save themselves first will be d ered the winner. Sound good?¡± Mr. Wangley proposed. ¡°Wait a minute! But what if you can¡¯t cure yourself from the poison?¡± Ruth quickly asked. ¡°Well, if you fail, then I guess you can either get lucky and survive being a cripple or die a violent death instead!¡± Mr. Wangley guffawed, his eyes gleamed with excitement as he said that. ¡°No way! Who the hell goes so far for a duel? What if something goes wrong?¡± Ruth eximed in shoc k. One wrong step, and one could easily get killed! ¡°Since we¡¯re going topete with one another anyways, why don¡¯t we raise the stakes a little? So, up for the challenge, young man?¡± Mr. Wangley nudged amusedly . ¡°Don¡¯t fall for his tricks, Dustin! He¡¯s obviously doing this just to back you into a corner,¡± Natasha warne d in a low whisper. She now suspected that Mr. Wangley wasn¡¯t a physician at all but a master of poison! Unlike physicians, who cure diseases and save lives, polson masters do research on theplete opp osite spectrum of medicine. For them, they specialized in witchcraft, voodoo, and poison. They had ruthless tactics and strange tric ks up their sleeves. If they settled on apetition to battle out their medical skills, then Dustin would stand a pretty good chance of winning. But if they opted to go with a poison¨C concoctingpetition with a master of poison instead, then it was like they were begging to be killed! ¡°I¡¯m giving you one more chance to back out of this, Mr. Boy Toy. If you admit defeat now, you¡¯ll be givin g up your title of chief physician and I¡¯ll still need you to bow down and apologize to Tilda Snider¡¯s ashe s!¡± Quentin spat. Who was this pale¨C skinned wimp who was bold enough to pick a fight with the great Mr. Wangley anyway? ¡°Aren¡¯t we just dabbling with some poison? Fine, It¡¯s on,¡± Dustin proimed. He was not the least bit afr aid. ¡°Ha, you asked for it!¡± Quentin let out a maniacalugh as he gazed at the soon¨Cto¨Cbe¨Cdead man in front of him. To think he had the gall topete with a polson master at making polson. He certainly had a death wish! ¡°Are you out of your mind. Dustin? You could diel¡± Ruth said anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s not like they have any rivalry between them either, so why does he Insist on putting his life on the li ne like CS CamScanner this?¡± She thought to herself. ¡°I know full well what I¡¯m doing.¡± Dustin answered nonchntly. ¡°Dustin, are you sure you want to do this?¡± Natasha frowned. He could see the slight worry in those beautiful eyes of hers. She was aware that Quentin was deliberately making things difficult for him, but it wasn¡¯t like she could outright stop him either. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. You should be worried about them instead.¡± Dustin grinned. In fact, he was not only proficient in medicine but very much a specialist in voodoo magic and poison a s well. ¡°Less talk, more poison¨Cmaking. Mr. Boy Toy!¡± Quentin urged hurriedly, afraid that he¡¯d chicken out and go back on his word. ¡°Wait!¡± Dustin voiced out and raised his hands all of a sudden. ¡°I¡¯m all for making poisons, but my only condition is that I need you to be involved in this as well.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Quentin asked in shock, feeling a little uneasy. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you wanted this to be exciting? Later when we¡¯re done, why don¡¯t you and I test it with our bodies, then leave our lives at the mercy of the Lord?¡± Dustin suggested coolly. ¡°Cut the crap!¡± Quentin hollered, and his expression immediately changed. ¡°How are youpare your peasant life with mine? Why don¡¯t you look at yourself in the mirror for once?¡° ¡°Admitting defeat so quickly? If you don¡¯t have the balls to take up this challenge, then kneel down in front of me and admit defeat right now. Oh, and I¡¯ll n eed an apology too, then I can pretend none of this ever happened in the first ce.¡± Dustin taunted. ¡°You-¡± Quentin stumbled over his words as a burst of anger overtook him in an instant. Would he even have any face left after this if he backed down now? Then again, he was the one with the money and status, so it wasn¡¯t like he stood to gain anything from putting his life on the line with a filthy peasant like him. I won¡¯t ¡°Rest assured, Mr. Harmon. With my skills, I¡¯ll make sure that any kind of poison this punk conjures up even hurt you in the slightest,¡± Mr. Wangley announced w ith conviction. If he were to scan the entirety of South City, he was confident that the only person who was able to top him All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. was Dr. Linden Watkins when it came to making poisons. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Quentin probed, his brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Of course! Just take the bet, Mr. Harmon, and I¡¯ll make sure to keep you safe from harm,¡± Mr. Wangley dered confidently. ¡°Sounds good to me!¡± Quentin shouted and pped his hands on the table before getting up to his feet. ¡°If it¡¯s my life on the line you want, Mr. Boy Toy, then it¡¯s what you¡¯ll get! I¡¯ll make sure to apany yo u to yourst dying breath!¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 After reaching an agreement on both sides, the atmosphere instantly became tense. Dustin and Mr. Wangley had their subordinates purchase some medicine for them. The n was that the two of them would concoct poisons on the spot and down them together at the same time. As for who would win, that would have to depend on their respective skills. ¡°Do you think Dustin¡¯s going to make it, Sis? What if he gets poisoned to death instead?¡± Ruth voiced o ut anxiously. ¡°Well, since he agreed to it in the first ce, I suppose this means he¡¯s confident that he can win. Have some faith in the guy.¡± Natasha assured with a straight face. Although she looked calm on the outside, she felt uneasy on the inside. If it were possible, she¡¯d rather Dustin straight¨Cup admit defeat. ¡°You can say that, but Dustin¡¯s only proficient in medicine. Surely he can¡¯t beat Mr. Wangley in terms of his experience in the field of poison research,¡± Ruth murmured while shaking her head. There were many subfields in the field of medicine, with each subfield being vastly different from one to the other. So, how can an amateurpete with a professional? Compared to the two sisters¡® worries, Jessica felt secondhand All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. embarrassment for Dustin as she sat at the side. She wasn¡¯t sure if she shouldbel Dustin as arrogant or stupid to agree topete with a master of p oison at making poisons. Then again, she was still amused that things managed to get to this point. If Dustin loses, he¡¯ll either be dead or crippled, which would mean that she wouldn¡¯t need to expend so much energy thinking about her daughter¡¯s marriage anymore. ¡°I would advise you to drop out of thepetition while you can, Mr. Boy Toy; else, when the poison kic ks in your system, you might not even get the chance to regret your decision anymore!¡± Quentin presse d. ¡°To be frank, I have tomend you for your bravery as well. To think that you¡¯re willing to put your life in someone else¡¯s hands. I don¡¯t suppose you ever thought that if ever the old man loses, the one who might kick the bucket is you?¡± Dustin pointed out tly. ¡°Ridiculous! Mr. Wangley has been researching poisons for many years now, so how could he possibly lose? You¡¯ll see how great he ister!¡± Quentin gave a bark ofughter. Dustin merely let out a short chuckle and said nothing more in response. A few momentster, the subordinates the two of them sent to purchase medicine for them entered thro ugh the front doors hurriedly. CS CamScanner Immediately after retrieving the goods, Mr. Wangley started concocting his polson at lightning speed. Hi s movements were so fast that it was enough to make one¡¯s head spin. In the meantime, Dustin took his time with it and did everything at his own pace. After a long while, Mr. Wangley had finished concocting his polson, which appeared to be a bottle of viscous, ck liquid. One could even smell a faint scent of dead fish watting out of it. ¡°I¡¯m done with my poisons, Mr. Boy Toy. Dare to put it down the hatch?¡± Quentin taunted as he ced the b ottle on the table and provocatively red at him. Anyone with a discerning eye could definitely see that the ck potion in front of them was highly poiso nous. This meant that anyone who ingested it would surely be in danger! ¡°What say we just forget about this whole thing. Dustin? It¡¯s obvious that anyone who drinks this will sur ely die!¡± Ruth pleaded, clearly upset. Natasha, who was standing beside her, also couldn¡¯t help but ball up her fists. ¡°It¡¯s just polson. There¡¯s nothing to worry about.¡± Dustin grinned before picking up the bottle and downin g the entire thing in one swig. His swift but confident motion caused Quentin to freeze. ¡°Was this punk actually not afraid of death?¡± He thought to himself. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Natasha hurriedly probed. ¡°Well, my mouth feels bitter from the aftertaste, but all in all, the taste is fine.¡± Dustin evaluated. Natasha was speechless at his reply. The corners of her mouth started twitching. ¡°Did you think that I was asking you about the taste?¡± She thought to herself incredulously. ¡°You don¡¯t have to put up a front if it¡¯s too much for you to bear, young man. You just need to bow dow n to Mr. Harmon and admit your mistakes if you want me to save you,¡± Mr. Wangley said amusedly. ¡°Your ¡®poison¡± is mildly toxic at best,¡± Dustin replied while smacking his lips a few times. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, what you just conjured up is the Devil¡¯s Elixir, right? It¡¯s a good poison of choice, but it¡¯s a shame you used the wrong ingredients for it. What you should¡¯ve used was aconite instead of epiphyllum. Although both of their medical properties are simr, there are still a few minor di fferences between them. This is one determining factor of what makes a poison so potent,¡± he exine d. ¡°Huh? How did you know? Did you peek at me while I was concocting the mix just now?¡± Mr. Wangley gasped as hi s expression warped into pure shock. He was absolutely correct in deducing that the poison he made was the Devil¡¯s Elixir, and that he had a dded epiphyllum as one of the ingredients. ¡°Was it even necessary to peek? I could tell the moment I smelled it in the air.¡± Dustin retorted. CS CamScanner ¡°You used a total of five ingredients, namely strychnine, Zeus¡® Vine, oranges, phynthus, and a sliver of Devil¡¯s grass. It¡¯s such a shame that you were this close to making the perfect poison though.¡± The moment Dustin finished speaking, Mr. Wangley couldn¡¯t help but break out in a shudder. To think that this punk could list out every single one of the ingredients he¡¯d used to make his poison. He¡¯d be fine if he had just told him that he peeked, but it was terrifying to think that he could deduce everything just by smell alone! Even he felt that it would take him light years to even get to this level! ¡°What the hell happened, Mr. Wangley? A few minutes have already passed, and yet he hasn¡¯t reacted at all¡± Quentin thought to himself with some unease. *Rest assured, Mr. Harmon. Anyone can tell that he¡¯s just putting on a bold front right now. Without an antidote, I can guarantee you that he¡¯ll kick the bu cket in no time t!¡± Mr. Wangley hollered with confidence after reeling from his shock. Even if Dustin found a way to make a cure, it would still be impossible topletely get rid of the poiso n from his system. And that was because Mr. Wangley had added something extra inside. ¡°Now that¡¯s music to my ears.¡± Quentin secretly sighed in relief. ¡°I¡¯m also done making my poison,¡± Dustin dered as he presented a bottle with a yellow¨C colored liquid inside. A lot of steam emanated from the foul¨Csmelling, hot liquid. It looked absolutely disgusting. ¡°W¨Cwhat the fuck is that? It reeks!¡± Quentin sneered. He immediately covered his scrunched¨C up nose with his hands. ¡°While it might stink a bit, I promise you it tastes pretty good. Feel free to give it a go,¡± Dustin said casu ally as he pushed the bottle toward them. ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be thinking of chickening out now, right, oh great Quentin Harmon?¡± Natasha press ed. Quentin remained silent but turned to look at Mr. Wangley standing beside him, clearly hesitating. ¡°Rx, Mr. Harmon. I saw every ingredient this kid used clearly, so even if you ingest the poison, I can whip out an antidote for you in under three minutes!¡± Mr. Wangley assured confidently. *Sounds great. Here we go!¡± Quentin eximed with his newfound courage. He then proceeded to pick up the bottle, pinch his nose, and down the whole bottle. ¡°Eugh!¡± Quentin gagged just as he downed the poison. It felt like it was about toe back out again. Not only did it reek, but it also tasted bitter, rancid, and disgusting all at the same time. It felt as if he had just eaten a pile of shit. It was an extremely unpleasant experience. ¡°Uh uh, it won¡¯t count if you spit it out!¡± Dustin reminded. 711 CS CamScanner ¡°You-¡°Quentin gritted his teeth. He had no other choice but to swallow everything back down with a flus hed face. It¡¯d be a waste to spit everything out after all that effort of drinking it in the first ce. ¡°What exactly did you add inside? Howe it stinks so much?¡± There was a ¡°lingering¡® taste in his mo uth and teeth that refused to go away. ¡°Oh, nothing much. Just some golden juice,¡± Dustin said tly. The moment he revealed it, Mr. Wangley¡¯s face contorted with shock. Even Jessica, who had been sitting at the side all this while, raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. ¡°¡°Golden juice¡°? What the fuck is that?¡± Quentin probed, feeling uneasy. ¡°¡°Golden juice¡°, or ¡°golden liquid¡® or ¡®fecal fluid¡®, it basically just means ¡°human excrement¡± inyman¡¯s t erms,¡± Dustin exined with a small grin. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 ¡°WHAT? HUMAN EXCREMENT?¡± As soon as Quentin heard this, he immediately started dry heaving next to Dustin. But since the poison was already in his stomach, he couldn¡¯t spit it out even if he wanted to, his face flu shed red instead. Before this, the phrase ¡®eat shit¡® had only been a suggestion, but he couldn¡¯t believe that it had actually happened to him. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Dustin to be so heartless by forcing our cousin to eat shit. How is he going to eat anythi ng else from now on?¡± Ruthmented as she covered her nose with her hands. She then started to move away from them with a look of disgust. ¡°For all the shit he spews out from his mouth, I think this is a most fitting punishment.¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t help but add fuel to the fire too. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°How dare you trick me, you little bastard!¡± Quentin roared as he raised his head. His expression darkened and his gaz e was murderous. He had never been humiliated this badly in all his life. ¡°Since we were tasked with making poison, I had the freedom to choose my own recipe, so I was allow ed to add any ingredient I saw fit inside, no?¡± Dustin stated matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Good, good! You¡¯ve got some nerve, don¡¯t you?¡± Quentin shouted, his face contorted with anger. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see you begging at my feetter once the poison kicks into your system!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll certainly see who will be the one who gets down on their kneester. Now, you¡¯d better ask the p eople around you whether they can cure the poison I made or not.¡± Dustin grinned. ¡°Give me the antidote now, Mr. Wangley!¡± Quentin urged. He certainly didn¡¯t want his high¨Css body to suffer any more damage. ¡°Calm down, Mr. Harmon. Let me take a look at you first,¡± Mr. Wangley picked up the bottle with the re st of the poison and brought it close to his nose to smell it. Then, he dipped his finger into the remaining liquid and ced a drop on the tip of his tongue to taste it. ¡°Here I was beginning to think it was some kind of potent poison. Who would¡¯ve guessed that it was Ve nenum Insectum all along?¡± Mr. Wangley chuckled. It seemed he had found his answer. ¡°¡°Venenum Insectum¡®? What¡¯s that?¡± Quentin asked. ¡°Venenum Insectum¡® is a poison that¡¯s made from seven types of venomous organisms. They¡¯re first ground into a fine powder, then mixed together. If I¡¯m not mistaken, the organisms in question are snakes, scor pions, toads, centipedes, spiders, poisonous bees, and fire ants,¡± Mr. Wangley exined with confiden ce. ¡°Are you for real? You got all that from tasting one small droplet?¡± Ruth asked incredulously. CS CamScanner If he had the skills to figure out Dustin¡¯s recipe like that, that would mean that he was pretty much an ex pert as well. ¡°As expected of a poison master, you clearly are an expert in your field,¡± Dustin remarked with a smile. He had to admit that Mr. Wangley was indeed talented, but it was a shame that he was so close yet so far once again, mistaking his concoction for Venenum Insectum instead of Venenum Insectim. The golden juice was merely added in for extra vor. ¡°Will you stop spewing nonsense to yourself already, Mr. Wangley? Hurry up and make me an antidote. My stomach is starting to hurt again.¡± Quentin whined as he clutched his abdomen with a strained look. His stomach had begun to churn again two minutester. ¡°Wait for me while I whip up an antidote for you, Mr. Harmon.¡± Mr. Wangley swiftly started preparing an antidote with the ingredients that remained. ¡°H¨CHurry up! It¡¯s getting more and more painful by the second!¡± Quentin howled in pain. The longer time went on, he felt as if there was a knife inside his abdomen that kept stabbing his insides. He started to break out in a cold sweat. In the meantime, Dustin looked absolutely fine and showed no abnormal symptoms, so much so that h e managed to sip his tea leisurely. ¡°H¨Chow are you not affected?¡± Quentin stuttered, visibly taken aback. Dustin had drunk the poison first, so why was it that he seemed like he wasn¡¯t affected by it in the slight est? ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten rid of the poison in my system. So, how could I still be affected?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve already concocted an antidote? But how? You didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Quentin spat in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s not for you to worry about. Why don¡¯t you focus on your case first? Like what you¡¯re going to do if the person standing next to you can¡¯t cure the poison,¡± Dustin suggested with mock concern. ¡°The poison I conjured up was a rough one, by the way. It¡¯ll induce searing pain first, and if you fail to obtain the antidote within three hours, then it¡¯ll tear through your guts and intestines and cause you to die a ho rrible death!¡± ¡°What!¡± Quentin gasped and panicked. His stomach was already hurting badly before this, but after receiving a scare from Dustin, it seemed to hurt even more. ¡°I¡¯ve got the antidote for you, Mr. Harthon!¡± Mr. Wangley announced as he brought a vial of white liquid over to him in the nick of time. Without any hesitation, Quentin downed the whole thing in one gulp.. As soon as the antidotended in his stomach, he immediately felt better. However, after enduring the pain for a few seconds, he vomited all the white liquid out of his system. CS CamScanner ¡°What are you doing, Mr. Harmon? You just threw up the antidote!¡± Mr. Wangley eximed in surprise. ¡°I¨CI couldn¡¯t help it. I really couldn¡¯t hold it in!¡± Quentin whined helplessly. ¡°You could even stomach eating shit, so why can¡¯t you do the same for the antidote?¡± Mr. Wangley scolded, bbergasted. ¡°Cut the crap! Hurry up and prepare another dose, I¡¯ll make sure to hold it in this time round,¡± Quentin s houted as his face twitched. Mr. Wangley had no choice but to do as he was told. Soon, he¡¯d finished whipping up another dose, and Quentin wasted no time ingesting it. This time, he managed to hold it in. ¡°My stomach still hurts like hell, Mr. Wangley. Why haven¡¯t the effects kicked in yet?¡± Quentinin ed with a strained look on his face. ¡°It can¡¯t be, the main ingredients to make an antidote for Venenum Insectum are forsythia, lotus root, and white creepers. Th en, it just needs to be supplemented with a few herbs and heated up, to be able to detoxify the poison. Perhaps the effects of the antidote haven¡¯t kicked in yet, so I¡¯ll need you to wait a little while longer,¡± Mr. Wangleyforted. Quentin nodded and forced himself to endure the severe pain for a few more minutes. His face even started contorting to reflect the indescribable pain he was feeling as time went on. ¡°Mr. Wangley! I don¡¯t think this was the right antidote! Not only did it do nothing to ease the pain, but it a lso hurts even more now!¡± Quentin shouted through gritted teeth and continued to be drenched in sweat. ¡°How could this be?¡± Mr. Wangley stepped forward to check Quentin¡¯s pulse. ¡°D¨Cdon¡¯t tell me this isn¡¯t Venenum Insectum?¡± Mr. Wangley eximed. ¡°Huh? Then what about the antidote that you gave me just now?¡± Quentin roared in anger. ¡°What else did you put in your poison, you bastard? I clearly saw you add venomous creepy crawlies in side!¡± Mr. Wangley turned around and questioned. ¡°The kind of ingredients I used isn¡¯t the main focus here. The real question should be whether you can get rid of the poison or not,¡± Dustin said indifferently. ¡°You yed dirty, didn¡¯t you? So be it! Even if this ends up in a tie, as long as you hand me the antidote . I¡¯ll give you the antidote for the Devil¡¯s Elixir!¡± Mr. Wangley proposed as he made the decision to be the bigger person. If he¡¯d concocted the poison using a different recipe, then he would need to take the time to analyze it p roperly. But now that Quentin was writhing in pain, he didn¡¯t have the luxury to take his time. It would be bad for him too if his source of ie were to disappear just like that. ¡°You want the antidote, don¡¯t you? Fine.¡± A cocky grin spread on Dustin¡¯s face. ¡°ording to what you said to me earlier, I want the same back from you. I want you to kneel down bef ore me 34 CS CamScanner and admit defeat. After that, I¡¯ll give you the antidote.¡± The second he finished his sentence, Quentin and Mr. Wangley¡¯s expressions changed. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 ¡°Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself yet, you bastard!¡± Mr. Wangley shouted in anger. ¡°You have to remember that Mr. Harmon isn¡¯t the only one who¡¯s poisoned here. Without my antidote, you won¡¯t be able to live past tomorrow with my po ison in your system!¡± ¡°Is that so? Wanna bet on who kicks the bucket first?¡± Dustin chuckled. ¡°Why you-!¡± Mr. Wangley had been rendered speechless. Looking at the current state of affairs, it was obvious that Quentin was the one who would lose first. And it was exactly for this reason that Mr. Wangley proposed to call it a draw. Unfortunately, the other party was having none of it. ¡°Hurry up and give me the antidote already, Dustin! We¡¯ll count this as a loss on our side!¡± Quentin yiel ded grudgingly. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he really couldn¡¯t bear the pain anymore, he would never concede to a puny ant like him. ¡°You can¡¯t just ¡®say¡® that you¡¯ve lost. Where¡¯s the sincerity in that, Mr. Harmon?¡± Dustin teased while sh aking his head. ¡°Don¡¯t you test me, Rhys!¡± Quentin roared. ¡°When you make mistakes, it¡¯s only logical that you admit your wrongdoings, no? Are you telling me tha t you can¡¯t even do that much?¡± Dustin urged on, devoid of the slightest bit of fear. ¡°Oh, so you want me to get down on my knees and admit my mistakes to you? What makes you think you¡¯re fucking worthy of that?¡± Quentin sneered as his expression turned cold. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not worthy. I guess you¡¯ll just have to get rid of the poison by yourselves then,¡± Dustin replied with a shrug. ¡°Are you threatening me right now?¡± Quentin scowled. ¡°Goodness, no. I¡¯m just returning the favor,¡± Dustin replied, unperturbed. ¡°Enough, everyone stops this farce at once!¡± Jessica suddenly screamed. ¡°You¡¯d better hurry and pass the antidote to Quentin right now, Dustin. Otherwise, you won¡¯t be able to take responsibility if anything happens to him after this!¡± ¡°With all due respect, ma¡¯am, every man considers his promises like gold. So since I made a promise j ust now, naturally I would need to fulfill that promise,¡± Dustin replied inly. ¡°What are you on about? And why do you insist on making yourself an enemy of the Harmons today?¡± Jessica snapped, her pretty face now stone cold. She initially thought that Dustin would back down and be the bigger man in this situation, but didn¡¯t exp ect him to be so insensitive instead. 17 CS CamScanner ¡°Can you cut the act already? You didn¡¯t say anything when Quentin was bullying Dustin before, so why are you jumping to Quentin¡¯s aid when he¡¯s in a difficult situation now? Do you even have a shred of di gnity left?¡± Natasha suddenly voiced out. ¡°Why are you speaking for an outsider when Quentin is your own cousin?¡± Jessica frowned. ¡°I only speak for the truth, not blood rtions!¡± Natasha proimed, righteously. ¡°Quentin was the one who started this whole thing in the first ce, so now he¡¯s getting what he deserves. Since we¡¯re outsiders in theirpetition, we should just sit and watch and not interf ere!¡± ¡°Why you-!¡± Jessica growled, obviously angry at her daughter¡¯s outburst. Although she let Natasha have her way outside, she really could not do anything about her in private. All of her nagging and lectures failed to get to her. She was such a thorn in her side! Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°This is thest time I¡¯m going to ask, Rhys! Are you giving me the antidote or not?¡± Quentin demanded while gritting his teeth. ¡°And I¡¯ll reply with the same answer. Kneel down and apologize first,¡± Dustin stated tly. ¡°Fine! Fine!¡± Quentin finally gave in with a sinister look on his face. ¡°I can kneel down, for sure, but are you sure you want to take responsibility for the consequences that ensue?¡± Quentin growled, his expression was murderous now. ¡°I¡¯ll need to see it for myself first.¡± Dustin smiled mockingly. ¡°Fine! I hope you don¡¯t regret this!¡± Quentin shouted through clenched teeth. After hesitating for two sec onds, he finally dropped down to the floor on his knees with a heavy ¡°thud¡°. But as he knelt, his death re was firmly nted on Dustin, and his expression extremely fierce. Humiliating him in public like this was equal to asking for death! ¡°The man has already knelt before you. Are you satisfied now, Dustin? Hurry up and hand him the antidote then!¡± Jessica snapped. Humiliating Quentin Harmon was equal to humiliating the entirety of the Harmon family. How dare a measly doctor humiliated a Harmon like that. He was really asking to be killed! ¡°Here. Bottoms up.¡± Dustin said as he fished out a small, white vial and poured out the powdery content s into a cup of tea. ¡°Is that Hexanavir? Mr. Wangley thought to himself. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 When Mr. Wangleyid his eyes on the small, white¨C colored vial, his expression immediately turned into shock, but a look of greed reced it soon after. That was legendary Dr. Rowan Cross¡® Miracle Cure! Why does a punk like him have such a treasure on him in the first ce? Anyone could see that this antidote was incredibly precious and worth a lot of money! Even the tiniest amount of powder could already fetch sky¨Chigh prices. It was no wonder that the punk could act so cocky, and that was all because he was in possession of H exanavir. Today shall be the day of his downfall! ¡°Hmph!¡± Quentin snorted and said nothing before downing the whole cup of tea in one gulp. Almost immediately after he gulped down the tea, the ongoing sharp pains in his stomach gradually sta rted to disappear. The painpletely disappeared a few minutester. This caused Quentin to feel like he¡¯d just survived a huge ordeal. ¡°I won¡¯t forget the shame you inflicted on me today, Rhys! You had better not fall into my clutches anym ore in the future!¡± Quentin barked before turning to Natasha Harmon. ¡°And as for you, Natasha, you¡¯d b etter solve the crisis surrounding Eternumax soon. Else, don¡¯t me me if I report you to the board!¡± The moment he finished barking, Quentin left the room in a haggard state. ¡°You¡¯ll definitely regret everything you did today, young man!¡± Mr. Wangley grunted before turning to ch ase after Quentin. Did he know who Quentin was? How could a puny doctor like him humiliate him like that? If ever he decided to seek revenge eventually, he bet that his bones wouldn¡¯t be spared even after he w as brutally murdered! ¡°So you came prepared, Dustin. You really scared me just now.¡± Ruth heaved a sigh of relief. ¡°It was all thanks to the Hexanavir your sister sent me. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have won so easily,¡± Dusti n let out a small chuckle. But of course, the antidote merely made things slightly easier for him. ¡°Hmph! It was all a trick then!¡± Jessica snorted and looked at Dustin in disdain. She initially thought that he¡¯d used his skills for this, but who knew that he had just utilized Hexanavir w hich was made by the legendary Dr. Rowan Cross. ¡°You can stay unconvinced as long as you like, but the fact remains that Dustin won¡± Natasha argued with a CS CamScanner hard re. ¡°So what if he won by a fluke? What makes you think this kid can research Eternumax without Mr. Wan gley here?¡± Jessica questioned. Eternumax was the heart and soul of Harmon Pharmaceuticals for many years now and was an equally important part of the family¡¯s development ns. This was why she refused to believe that such an unknown figure like Dustin would have any ability to s ave the day. ¡°Who says? To me, Dustin is way more knowledgeable than whoever this Wangley guy is.¡± Natasha sto od her ground firmly. ¡°Fine, since you keep insisting that he¡¯s the superior choice, then why don¡¯t we make a bet? If he can d evelop Eternumax from scratch, I¡¯ll take it as he¡¯s passed the test. Otherwise, I¡¯ll have him resign from his post immediately to make way for the others!¡± Jessica r oared, clearly enraged. ¡°I have no qualms with that,¡± Natasha said, refusing to give way. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Whether he would be able to do it or not was a separate matter. She couldn¡¯t back down now. ¡°Rhys, you punk! You¡¯d better not let my daughter down!¡± Jessica spat after getting a clearer look at Du stin. She then folded up her sleeves and up and left. ¡°What did mom mean by ¡®test¡® just now?¡± Ruth asked, out of curiosity. ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t butt into adult matters.¡± Natasha rolled her eyes at her in response. ¡°Hmph! Well, I¡¯m sorry for asking. Who died and made you queen?¡± Ruth pouted. ¡°You all keep mentioning Eternumax, but what is it exactly. Ms. Harmon?¡± Dustin asked while feigning i gnorance. Natasha Harmon forced a smile and started exining. ¡°Although the Harmons have a firm grip over m any industries, the main focus is still medicine. This was why the decision behind the selection of busin ess partners and benefit¨C sharing were all made in hopes of dominating the pharmaceutical market of the entirety of Swinton. Th us, that was how we began researching and developing a new kind of drug, which we n to use to capture all of that market shar e, ¡°Everything was going to n in the beginning, but no one had expected that there would be a traitor who had been nted among us. Thus, Tilda Snider¡¯s assassination presented an opportunity to us, while servin g as a warning to all traitors. But the moment they realized that they were about to be exposed, they e mployed methods of coercion and enticing benefits to lure our employees to otherpanies instead, which was how they took away a big chunk of our workforce. Not only that, they even stole our researc h findings! And the research findings in question were for the new drug we¡¯re developing, Eternumax! Chapter 118 Chapter 118 ¡°I see.¡± Dustin nodded. Dustin recalled something and asked, ¡°Following what you said, between you and Edwin, whoever first creates Eternumax would domi nate the market in Swinton?¡± ¡°You could say that,¡± Natasha confirmed his thoughts. ¡°However, the documents of my researchers have been robbed. We have to start all over again. It woul d be too difficult.¡± ¡°Humph! That Hummer is too despicable! Him and his dirty tricks!¡± Ruth was indignant. ¡°¡°What kind of medicine is Eternumax?¡± Dustin asked once again. ¡°Eternumax is a medicine that not only increases your lifespan but also retains beauty. It was said to be derived from an ancient antidote recipe. However, because the recipe was crafted such a long time ag o, half of it was lost. We could only keep researching to restore the full recipe.¡± Natasha exined. ¡°An ancient antidote recipe?¡± ¡°If I¡¯m following correctly, I do know about a type of secret medicine that has a simr effect to Eternumax.¡± Dustin rubbed his chin ¡°Oh? And what medicine is that?¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°This medicine is called Immortunol. I read about it from a medical book archive. It also increases one¡¯s lifespan and retains beauty. Its effects should be on par with Eternumax.¡± Dustin smiled faintly. The archives that he read contained all valuable antidotes that had been lost in time. Whatever was listed in there was definitely no ordinary medicine. ¡°Hah! I don¡¯t believe you for one second! Eternumax is a secret ancient recipe. How could this ¡®Immortunol¡® evenpare to it? I¡¯ve never even heard of such a thing!¡± Ruth pouted. ¡°Just because you never heard of it, doesn¡¯t mean it does not exist. There could even possibly be a sur prise discovery.¡± Dustin suggested. ¡°No matter if it works, we should give it a try. Let me know what ingredients you need. I¡¯ll prepare them right. away.¡± Natasha offered without any hesitation. That was because there was no other way to go about this. They were in a bind. ¡°Rue, bring me a pen and paper.¡± Dustin tumed around andmanded. ¡°Hey! I told you a thousand times already. My name is Ruth! Ruth!¡± Ruth clenched her teeth. Ruth gave Dustin a kick before bringing him the pen and paper. After taking the pen and a few scribbles, Dustin finished writing Immortunol¡¯s recipe in an instant. Natasha scanned through the list and nodded. ¡°These ingredients are quitemon and easy to find. The CS CamScanner only tricky ingredient would be Luminianth Root.¡± *Sis, there are a few sellers in the medicine market. Perhaps we could find some there.¡± Ruth suggeste d. ¡°Yeah. Bring Dustin along to check it out. I still have some stuff to do.¡± Natasha replied. ¡°Alright¡­¡± Ruth pouted. Although she was a little disappointed, she agreed to her sister¡¯s request. Her sister had a lot of stuff to do. She knew that she had to help her out. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. After setting their destination, Ruth drove Dustin to the market. A Mercedes¨CBenz parked in front of a shop named Emporium. Dahlia and the others stepped out of the car which stopped abruptly. Other than Florence and James, there was also a pretty, well¨Cdresseddy beside them. This woman was Florence¡¯s niece, Julie Amberson. ¡°Julie, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to get a present? Why are we at a ce like this?¡± Florence was confused. ¡°Aunt Florence, I just got the news that this shop has a very rare ingredient called the Luminianth Root! ¡± Julie whispered. ¡°Luminianth Root? What¡¯s it for?¡± The name piqued Florence¡¯s curiosity. ¡°It¡¯s great as a gift, of course! Tomorrow is the Hummers¡® birthday party. I¡¯m nning to gift this to Miss Hummer!¡± ¡°Why are you gifting this instead of gems or jewelry like everyone else?¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ¡°Hehe¡­ You wouldn¡¯t know, would you? Miss Hummer is a nobledy. She doesn¡¯t need gems or jewelry. If you truly want to impress her, you should give her a one¨Cof¨Ca¨C kind gift. Luminth Root has the ability to retain one¡¯s beauty. No woman could ever resist it. I believe that Miss Hummer would like it!¡± Julie utter ed confidently. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, but this Luminianth Root costs a fortune, right?¡± Florence asked. ¡°Of course! This is an extremely rare item. You won¡¯t be able to buy it without three to five million dor s.¡± Julie nodded. ¡°What! It¡¯s that expensive?¡± Florence was shocked. ¡°Julie, do you even have that much money?¡± ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t. But you do! So, lend me a few million dors, I¡¯ll return it to you next time.¡± Julie req uested without hesitation. Her words stunned Florence. Dahlia and James also frowned at her words. This cousin of theirs would always borrow money every time she visits. Last year she ¡°borrowed¡± a Mercedez¨C Benz from them for two days. Until now, she still hadn¡¯t returned the car. It seemed like they will not be getting it back. If they gave her a few million dors now, there would definitely be no return as well. ¡°Julie, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to lend you the money. A few million dors is really too much.¡± After thinking for so me time, Florence still refused. ¡°Aunt Florence, your family owns a business! There¡¯s no way you don¡¯t have that kind of money. Or is it that you guys don¡¯t want to lend me the money?¡± Julie was getting upset. ¡°No, I really don¡¯t have that much money.¡± Florenceughed awkwardly. ¡°If you don¡¯t, then Dahlia should have that money, right? She¡¯s the president of Quine Group! I don¡¯t bel ieve for a second that she doesn¡¯t have a few million dors to spare!¡± Julle turned to Dahlia as she uttered those words. ¡°Thepany¡¯s finances are a bit tight at the moment. Every penny counts. I wouldn¡¯t rmend spe nding the money on such birthday gifts.¡± Dahlia shook her head lightly. If it was an emergency, she would definitely spend money without hesitation. But for her situation, she really could not help her even if she wanted to. ¡°Dahlia! You can¡¯t be that stingy? It¡¯s just a few million dors! It¡¯s not like I wouldn¡¯t return it to you!¡± Julie crossed her arms and said confidently. ¡°After I send Miss Hummer this gift, I¡¯ll be her friend. Then, CS CamScanner I¡¯ll get a high¨C rank position in Hummer Pharmaceuticals. I¡¯ll be earning a few million dors every year, easy peasy!¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Julie, you must not get ahead of yourself. It¡¯s not that easy to get into Hummer Pharmaceuticals. Neve r mind a high¨C rank position, with your experience, it would be best for you to get some training in mypany.¡± Dahli a tried to reason with her calmly. ¡°Dahlia, let me get straight to the point. I¡¯m a valuable graduate of the Ivy League. Everyone wants me. A smallpany like Quine Group is not worth my time.¡± Julie mocke d. Dahlia was speechless at her remarks. This cousin of hers was a ssic narcissist. No experience and no skill, and yet she still dreamed about bing a rich supervisor. She looked down on almost everyone, and yet she doesn¡¯t even have the basics down. ¡°Alright! Back to the point! Are you lending me the money or not?¡± Julie¡¯s arms were still crossed in fron t of her body arrogantly. She really had no shame as the one who was borrowing money. ¡°No!¡± James answered. ¡°Fine! Today I finally get to see what kind of people you guys really are! Rtives, my ass! You all just a bandoned me when I¡¯m in need. Tomorrow, I will make you pay!¡± With that, Julie turned around and sto mped away. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 ¡°Julie! Don¡¯t be mad, calm down!¡± Florence quickly stopped Julie and smiled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a few million dors? I¡¯ll lend it to you! We¡¯re all f amily after all. There¡¯s no need to fight.¡± ¡°Mom! Why are you ying along with her?¡± James frowned. ¡°Julie is my only niece. Now that she¡¯s in a pinch, who would help her if not me?¡± Florence stated the facts. ¡°Are you sure this is someone who needs help?¡± James was displeased. ¡°Shut it!¡± Florence red at her son. ¡°I¡¯m not using your money. Can¡¯t I use my own money?¡± ¡°You-!¡± James was shocked. ¡°Is she still my mother?¡± James wondered. She treated a niece better than her own son. ¡°Aunt Florence treats me the best!¡± Julie chirped with a smile on her face. This was not her first time acting like this. It was effective every single time. ¡°Of course, who¡¯d treat you well other than me? Let¡¯s go, we¡¯ll buy you the Lumianth Root.¡± Florence grabbed Juile¡¯s hand and entered Emporium. ¡°Sis! You¡¯re not going to stop mom?¡± James was worried. ¡°What¡¯s the use of stopping her? This isn¡¯t her first time doing such a thing.¡± Dahlia already gave up. Her mother had been treating her sister¡¯s family like this for a long time. The only problem was their despicable attitude, exploiting her mother¡¯s kindness. ¡°Hey, boss!¡± Julie immediately called out confidently while entering the shop. ¡°Wee! What can I get for my distinguished guests?¡± A middle¨Caged man with a big belly walked forward to greet his customers. ¡°A little bird told me that you sell Luminianth Root here. Is that true?¡± Julie sat down on one of the chair s in the shop. ¡°Miss, this bird of yours must be very efficient at its job! We do sell them here. In fact, it just arrived yest erday.¡± The shop owner spoke truthfully. ¡°Really? How do you n to sell them?¡± Julie continued asking. ¡°This Luminianth Root is not that cheap. We¡¯re nning to hold an auction for it.¡± The shop owner replied. ¡°Auctions are too much of a hassle. Why don¡¯t you just sell it to me? It saves you the money to hold an auction.¡± Julie tried to convince the shop owner. CS CamScanner ¡°But The shop owner was troubled. ¡°What? Do you think I can¡¯t afford it? Say it. How much are you nning to sell this for?¡± Julle asked. ¡°If miss truly wants to buy it, I wouldn¡¯t try to stop you. I just need this much.¡± The plump shop owner held up five of his fingers. ¡°Five million? That¡¯s expensive?!¡± Florence immediately froze in ce. Although she expected it, she was still shocked when she heard the price. ¡°Five million already includes a discount for our friendship. If I were to auction this, I probably would ear n five to six times this price. This is also an early price, otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t be so low.¡± The shop own er shook his head. ¡°Can¡¯t you lower the price a bit? This amount is too high.¡± Florence tried to negotiate with him. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. This precious gem cost me a lot of fortune. To be honest, if I encounter someone who needs this, it wouldn¡¯t even be a problem to sell it Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. for a hundred million dors.¡± The shop owner said with a serious face. ¡°But¡± Before Florence could finish her sentence, Julie interrupted her. ¡°Alright, alright! Aunt Florence, we sho uldn¡¯t be too sensitive! Isn¡¯t it just five million dors? We¡¯re buying it!¡± ¡°Miss, I love your attitude! I will get someone to bring over the Luminiath Root right away!¡± The shop o wner smiled from ear to ear as he signaled the man behind him. The man immediately understood and ran upstairs. After a while, he came back and presented a big wooden box. ¡°Inside is the Luminianth Root. Miss, will you be paying by card or cash?¡± The shop owner grinned, ple ased with the transaction. ¡°Card.¡± Julie said without any remorse, ¡°Go ahead, Aunt Florence.¡± The corner of Florence¡¯s lips twitched as she painfully reached into her bag for a card. As they were finishing up the transaction, a woman¡¯s voice yelled from outside. ¡°Wait! That Luminianth Root is ours!¡± Everyone looked towards the voice, and immediately, a man and woman walked into the shop. It was Dustin and Ruth. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 ¡°Why are you here?¡± Dahlia was surprised to see Dustin. When she saw the prettydy standing besid e him, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. Her heart clenched in jealousy. ¡°Was Natasha not enough for him? He still wanted more women?¡± Dahlia wondered to herself. ¡°Men are all yboys after all!¡± She concluded in her mind. ¡°Dustin, you guys know each other?¡± Ruth looked between the two of them, feeling a little awkward. ¡°We do. She¡¯s the president of Quine Group, Miss Dahlia.¡± Dustin exined. ¡°So it¡¯s her!¡± Ruth¡¯s gaze immediately turned hostile. This woman in front of her was her sister¡¯s greatest love rival. She certainly has to keep an eye on her. She must not let the two of them rekindle their love! ¡°Humph! How do we keep running into each other? How unlucky of us!¡± Florence¡¯s face was full of cont empt.¡± ¡°Dustin! How impressive! I can¡¯t believe you got another girl with you so soon! You really are a gigolo!¡± James mocked. At the same time, he was envious of him. ¡°Damn it! I¡¯m much more incredible and yet I still don¡¯t have a girlfriend. And yet, this piece of trash cha nges his girls every time I meet him. First, it was the queen of business, Natasha. Now he has this new pretty girl! The world is so unfair!¡± James thought to himself. ¡°Oi! Was it the two of you making a ruckus?!¡± Julie scanned Dustin and Ruth, looking annoyed. ¡°It was me.¡± Ruth stepped forward and chirped, ¡°Boss, This Lumianth Root is ours. Name a price.¡± ¡°Humph! Do you think it¡¯s yours if you say so? Who do you think you are?¡± Julie said in an unfriendly tone, ¡°Let me tell you, I already paid five million dors for this Lumianth Root!¡± ¡°Prettydy, we need this Luminianth Root urgently. I hope you can do us a favor.¡± Ruth asked kindly. ¡°Who are you to be asking me for a favor? Scram!¡± Julie was stubborn and ruthless. ¡°Hm? Boss, she offered five million dors, right? I¡¯ll give you eight million dors!¡± Ruth frowned and dered boldly. ¡°Eight million dors?!¡± Everyone was shocked at the number. Especially the shop owner. His eyes were sparkling with excitement. The other customers were also watching the scene, amused. ¡°Hey! What are you doing? You¡¯re picking a fight on purpose, aren¡¯t you?!¡± Julie¡¯s face darkened. ¡°This precious treasure deserves such a high price. Do you have a problem with that?¡± Ruth was only doing what she thought was right. CS CamScanner ¡°Bitch! You want to y this game? Fine! I¡¯ll pay ten million dors!¡± Julie yelled. Florence¡¯s face turned as pale as a ghost as she heard that. Five million dors was already her limit. Ten million dors would cost more than her fortune. Without hesitation, Ruth replied, ¡°I¡¯ll pay 12 million dors then.¡± ¡°15 million dors! End this deal now! Boss! You know the firste first serve policy. This Luminianth Root is already mine. If you dare to sell it to someone else, I¡¯ll destroy this shop of yours!¡± Julie roared and s natched the wooden box before everyone could say a word. ¡°Alright, alright. Luminianth Root is yours!¡± The shop owner agreed reluctantly. But the truth was, he wa s extremely happy. ¡°Boss, why are you selling it to her? I can give you 12 million dors!¡± Ruth was not pleased with the ou e. ¡°It¡¯s not about the money. Business is about credibility. Thisdy ordered the Luminianth Root first, so it should be hers.¡± The shop owner yed along with Julie. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did you hear that? So what if you have money? What¡¯s mine is mine, you can¡¯t take it from me!¡°Julie s miled joyfully as if she had won a battle. On the other hand, Florence who was standing behind Julie was devastated. 15 million dors! She was going to be broke! Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Seeing Julie¡¯s joyful face, Ruth clenched her teeth and held back her anger. ¡°Prettydy, I really need this Luminianth Root. Can¡¯t you just sell it to me? I¡¯ll pay you 20 million!¡± Ruth tried her best to rein in her emotions. ¡°So what if you have money? You want my Luminianth Root? Dream on!¡± Julle hugged the wooden box closer to her body, looking proud of herself. ¡°You-!¡± Ruth was at her limit. She had never been treated like this before ever since a young age. In the end, she gave up. ¡°Dustin! I don¡¯t care anymore! You handle it yourself!¡± Looking at the situation, Dustin could only ask, ¡°Julie, what are you nning to use the Luminianth Roo t for?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your damn business!¡± Julie red at him and dered firmly. ¡°Listen up you guys, I will never sell the Luminianth Root to you guys no matter what you say!¡± ¡°That is a huge Luminianth Root. You won¡¯t be able to finish it if you¡¯re nning to use it as a medicine- ¡± Before Dustin could finish, Julie interrupted rudely. ¡°Shut up! So what if I can¡¯t finish using it? Even if I w aste it and have no use for it, I will never sell it to you guys!¡± Dustin frowned at her words. He never imagined her to be so unreasonable and petty. ¡°Boss! Card!¡± Julie snatched the card from Florence¡¯s hand and passed it to the shop owner swiftly. No matter what, she wouldn¡¯t go back on her words! ¡°Julie! Well, 15 million dors is too much, don¡¯t you think?¡± Florence¡¯s legs almost gave away. That was her entire fortune! ¡°Aunt Florence, it¡¯s just 15 million dors. It¡¯s nothing. When I earn money, I¡¯ll double it and give it back to you!¡± Julie promised confidently. The corner of Florence¡¯s lips twitched as she heard that. ¡°Don¡¯t know how many blue moons it would take for you to earn that huge amount of money.¡± Florence thought to herself. After the transaction was done, Julie was in high spirits. She mocked Ruth and Dustin, ¡°You guys have n¡¯t seen anything precious like this, have you? I¡¯ll be kind and let you guys see it for the first time!¡± After finishing her sentence, she immediately opened the wooden box. Everyone peeked into the box, and the only thing they could see was a Luminianth Root that was the si ze of a palm. CS CamScanner The Luminianth Root was dark greyish. Its flesh was scrawny and wilted. It looked dry and had no signs of life. Upon contact, the root crumbles into powder. A piece of its surface falls out. ¡°Huh?¡± Julie frowned and asked, ¡°Boss, are you sure this is Luminianth Root? Why does it look so suspicious? This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡± The item in front of her was way different from what she had expected. ¡°Of course! I harvested this Luminianth Root myself yesterday! It¡¯s definitely the real thing!¡± The shop owner grinned. ¡°Why does it look like it¡¯s dead?¡± Julie was suspicious. ¡°Boss! Did you just scam us by selling us a fake Luminianth Root?¡± Florence was shocked and worried. ¡°How could I?¡± The shop owner smiled meekly. ¡°This Luminianth Root is definitely real. It¡¯s just a little ugly, but it is still the real deal¡± ¡°Boss, that isn¡¯t ethical of you.¡± Dahlia looked at the Luminianth Root and pointed out ¡°It is a Luminianth Root, but this one is obviously wilted. There¡¯s no sign of life at all. It¡¯s the same as a piece of wood. How could you sell it for such a hi gh price? ¡°What? A piece of wood?!¡± Florence and Julie were shocked to the core when they heard this. No wonder it didn¡¯t look right. It was a defective product. ¡°Damn you fatty! You lied to us! Hurry and give our money back!¡± Florence roared, her face red from anger. ¡°That¡¯s right! Hurry up and give us a refund!¡± Aftering back to her senses, Julie chimed in. Did he really think he could scam her 15 million dors for a piece of trash?! Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ¡°Look here, we¡¯veid out our terms clearly. You were the ones who insisted on buying it. I didn¡¯t force you guys at all.¡± The shop owner said indifferently. ¡°Stop the crap! I don¡¯t want this Luminianth Root anymore. Hurry up and give me a refund!¡± Julle grabb ed the man by his cor and roared. ¡°What? Are you trying to stir up trouble in my shop?¡± The shop owner¡¯s expression did not falter, and he quickly pped his hands once. Soon, a group of brawny men came out from the room behind. Seeing the fierce looks on their face, Julie and the rest were immediately stunned and silent. ¡°Are you guys tired of living? How dare you stir up trouble in Mr. Walter¡¯s shop?¡± ¡°Anyone could tell that they¡¯re brainless, they have no clue about the rules here.¡± ¡°Exactly! They don¡¯t even check the item before raising their bid. Doesn¡¯t that say something about thei r stupidity?¡± The crowd started gossiping. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°What? You think that I¡¯m scared because you have a few men?¡± Florence red at him, putting up a brave front as she threatened, ¡°You son of a bitch! I¡¯m warning you, you better give me a refund right now or I¡¯ll sue you for fraud!¡± ¡°Go ahead, sue me as you please.¡± Mr. Walter remained unfazed by her threats. ¡°I really did sell you a Luminianth Root. No matter where you ask, this is what you get. As for the price, you were the ones who added it. It has nothing to do with me. There¡¯s no use in suing me!¡± ¡°You-!¡± Florence clenched her teeth. She didn¡¯t dare to lift a finger because of the men. ¡°You fat bastard! Why didn¡¯t you mention anything about the Luminianth Root being defective?¡± Julie said, pissed at the turn of events. ¡°Before you paid, I already passed the Luminianth Root to you. Now, you¡¯re ming me because you didn¡¯t open and check it yourself?¡± Mr. Walter retorted assertively. Julie¡¯s blood started to boil at his statement. However, there was nothing she could do. Although she wasn¡¯t the one who paid for it, the feeling of being scammed was still frustrating. ¡°Hahaha! 15 million for a piece of wood! That¡¯s hrious!¡± Ruth mocked without remorse. Now she finally had the chance to pay them back for making fun of her. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Julie barked. ¡°Actually, now that I think about it, I should thank you for not selling it to me. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve been the CS CamScanner one who¡¯s scammed!¡± Ruthughed. ¡°You¨Cyou!!¡± Julie was fuming, steam wasing out of her ears and her face flushed red in anger. One could almost see the daggers in her eyes. ¡°Miss, didn¡¯t you say you want to buy Luminianth Root? We¡¯ll sell it to you. Just give us 20 million do rs.¡± Florence looked as if she¡¯d seen an angel She immediately brought the Luminianth Root to Ruth. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid? Are you really asking 20 million for a piece of trash?¡± Ruth mocked. Although she was rich, she wasn¡¯t stupid. A wilted Luminianth Root had no use for medicine. ¡°If you think that¡¯s expensive, then I¡¯ll lower the price for you. Is 15 million okay?¡± Florence begged onc e again. Right now, she only hoped to sell it out as fast as possible. Otherwise¡­ ¡°No.¡± Ruth refused firmly. ¡°10 million! 10 million is good, right? We¡¯re already making a loss here!¡± Florence begged frantically, an d sweat started to form on her face. ¡°Do you think this thing is still worth 10 million dors?¡± Ruth asked, looking at Florence as if she was c razy. ¡°Five million! Just five million dors!¡± Florence was on the verge of tears. Her eyes darted around the room. ¡°Anyone, please! Will someone be generous enough to buy it for five million dors?!¡± Right now, she could not ask for the original price. She could only hope for minimizing her loss. ¡°Stop wasting your energy. Only an idiot would buy this piece of trash!¡± Ruth pursed her lips. Right after she finished her sentence, a voice rang from behind. ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for five million dors.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for five million dors.¡± Dustin¡¯s voice captured several customers¡® attention. They all looked a t him as if he had grown another head. Anyone who¡¯s in the right mind would be able to tell that this Luminianth Root was defective. Only an id iot would buy a Luminianth Root in that condition. ¡°Dustin, have you lost your mind? Why are you spending five million for a piece of trash?¡± Ruth was sh ocked. Although it wasn¡¯t a lot of money for her, it was still a dumb decision. ¡°You, you really want to buy it?¡± Florence could not believe it. ¡°What? Do you not want to sell it?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°I¡¯ll sell it! Of course, I¡¯ll sell it!¡± Florence nodded her head repeatedly as a smile bloomed on her face. Although she still made a loss for selling it for five million dors, it was still better than nothing. ¡°Dustin, this Luminianth Root is obviously useless. Are you sure you want to buy it?¡± Dahlia asked in su rprise. ¡°Oh, silly! What are you talking about? This Luminianth Root is a precious gem!¡± Florence was taken a back. She finally got a chance to sell it out. How could Dahlia suddenly sabotage her? ¡°What if he changed his mind?¡± Florence was worried. Dustin nodded. ¡°Of course, I¡¯ll buy it. At least I think it¡¯s very useful.¡± ¡°Yes, of course! This is a precious Luminianth Root, the rarest you can find in the world! You¡¯re definitely getting all your money¡¯s worth for five million dors!¡± Florence pitched frantically. It was as if she¡¯d met her saving grace ¡°Dustin! Five million dors is not a small amount! Do you even have that much money?¡± James questi All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. oned. ¡°I don¡¯t, but she does.¡± Dustin pointed towards Ruth who was standing beside him. ¡°Me?¡± Ruth was stunned. She rolled her eyes. ¡°I won¡¯t do such a dumb thing!¡± ¡°Can you take it as me borrowing your money? This is extremely important to me.¡± Dustin asked earne stly. ¡°Alright, alright! I give in. Here, take your five million dors. You better remember this as a lesson.¡± Rut h couldn¡¯t refuse. After all, five million dors was not a lot for her. In the end, they managed to secure a trade. + After receiving the money. Julie couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Dustin! You really are dumber than I thought! The CS CamScanner Luminianth Root was obviously defective and yet you still insisted on buying it! I praise you for your courage!¡± ¡°Thankfully there¡¯s an idiot to fall for it, otherwise we¡¯d make such a great loss!¡± Florence gloated. ¡°Five million for a piece of trash, how amazing!¡± Jamesughed mockingly as he shook his head, enjoy ing the show. ¡°How would you guys know that this is a piece of trash?¡± Dustin remained unfazed. ¡°Are you blind? Can¡¯t you see? It¡¯s wilted! If it¡¯s not trash then what is it?¡± Julie mocked. ¡°That¡¯s only what you think. In my eyes, it¡¯s a priceless treasure.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Priceless treasure? Looks like you¡¯re not just blind, you¡¯re brain¨C dead! You think a piece of trash is a priceless treasure! I can¡¯t believe those words just came out of you r mouth!¡± Julie startedughing uncontrobly. ¡°How dumb and clueless can you be!¡± James pursed his lips. ¡°Have you guys thought about why this Luminianth Root wilted?¡± Dustin said with a smirk. ¡°What?¡± Everyone was shocked. ¡°Why?¡± Ruth was curious. Dustin smiled. Instead of replying, he took the Luminianth Root in his hand and mmed it onto the ground. With a loud ¡°Thunk!¡°, the Luminianth Root shattered to pieces. ¡°Dustin! Have you lost your mind?!¡± Ruth was shocked to the core. Dustin just shattered the thing that they bought for five million dors! ¡°Has he really lost his mind?¡± She wondered, clearly in disbelief. ¡°Even if you¡¯re rich, you shouldn¡¯t trash like that!¡± She thought. ¡°He¡¯s brain¨Cdead after all!¡± Julleughed louder. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡°You¡¯re hopeless.¡± James thought he was looking at an idiot. ¡°What on earth are you up to?¡± Dahlia also frowned at the scene. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. She really could not understand his outrageous behavior. Ignoring the crowd¡¯s gazes, Dustin reached down to the shattered Luminianth Root and started to sear ch for something. Soon, a crimson red, finger¨Csized Luminianth Root appeared. This small and delicate Luminianth Root was red as blood. It was even emanating an odd smell. One could tell that it was no ordinary item. ¡°That¡¯s odd, how could there be a smaller Luminianth Root?¡± Ruth was confused. ¡°Is it possible for Luminianth Root to give birth?¡± At that moment, Mr. Walter seemed to realize something and eximed. ¡°No¨Cno way! Could it be¡ª that¡¯s a Blood Luminianth Root?!¡± Everyone in the room went wild at his statement. ¡°What? Blood Luminianth Root? Mr. Walter, you¡¯re not kidding, are you?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve seen it in a book, this is truly a Blood Luminianth Root!¡± ¡°Oh my God! I can¡¯t believe that I get to see a Blood Luminianth Root with my own eyes! How exciting!¡± The crowd broke into a discussion. Some were surprised, others were envious. ¡°Wait! What¡¯s a Blood Luminianth Root?¡± Ruth looked around, not understanding what was going on. ¡°Blood Luminianth Root is also one of the Luminianth Root variants. However, it is more precious and r arer than a normal Luminianth Root! You could say that it¡¯s the King of Luminianth Roots! It is an invaluable treasure!¡± Mr. Walter gulped, looking ted. ¡°Invaluable treasure? Then how much would it cost?¡± Ruth asked out of curiosity. ¡°Blood Lurninianth Root is extremely valuable. If I were to auction it, it would cost more than ten billion dors!¡± The words from Mr. Walter¡¯s mouth shocked everyone in the room. ¡°What? Ten billion?!¡± Everyone could not believe what he just said. This was an amount that none of them could afford even if they had sold all their possessions! ¡°How¨Chow could it be? This tiny thing is worth ten billion dors?¡± Florence¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Ten billion is just the reserve price. If it were really to be auctioned, it might even be higher!¡± Mr. Walter eximed. His words drained thest bit of color from Florence¡¯s face. This Blood Luminianth Root was hers. Yet, she sold it out for five million dors. From ten billion to five million. dors¡­ The difference was just too big! ¡°How could this happen? No! This can¡¯t be!¡± At that moment, Julie and the rest were in shock, unable to ept the situation. Who would¡¯ve thought that a Blood Luminianth Root could be found inside a wilted Luminianth Root? ¡°Dustin, my man! I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re so lucky! You managed to discover a Blood Luminianth Root. Th ese five million dors were well spent!¡± Ruth burst outughing. Even for someone like her, she had never seen anything that was worth ten billion dors. ¡°You! Thanks for your sacrifice, otherwise we wouldn¡¯t have been able to get our hands on such a valua ble treasure. To be fair, this was supposed to be yours. What a shame, you guys weren¡¯t able to recogn ize the value of it. Thanks to your losses, we¡¯re able to get it for such a cheap price! Ten billion dors! How wonderful!¡± Ruth shook her head and sighed. Her words pierced into their hearts. Julie and Florence turned red in anger, looking as if they had fallen into a pool of mud. That was a treasure worth ten billion dors! Because of a small mistake, they gave it away to them. They were really down on their luck! Chapter 126 Chapter 126 ¡°This fellow really hit the jackpot! I can¡¯t believe he really found a Blood Luminianth Root!¡± ¡°I know right? With a treasure like that, he won¡¯t have to worry for the rest of his life!¡± ¡°Damn it! If I knew there was a treasure hiding in that piece of wood, I would¡¯ve bought it myself!¡± With the Blood Luminianth Root¡¯s debut, the onlookers immediately started talking. All of them looked at Dustin with a gaze full of envy. ¡°Fuck! This guy really struck gold!¡± James clenched his teeth, eyes filled with rage. ¡°That¡¯s odd, how did he know that there was a treasure hiding inside? Dahlia was more puzzled than shocked. Everyone had no clue, even Mr. Walter. And yet, Dustin managed to notice. ¡°Is it really luck? Or was there another reason?¡± She wondered. ¡°Dustin, we really won big this time! But, how did you guess that a Blood Luminianth Root was hiding in there?¡± Ruth asked the question that was on everyone¡¯s minds. ¡°To be honest, I wasn¡¯t sure as well. It was purely a guess.¡± Dustin said humbly. ¡°A guess? You¡¯re saying that you had no idea there was a Blood Luminianth Root inside? And you still usedThis is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. five million dors to gamble?¡± Ruth was a little stunned. ¡°You can put it that way.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°I really don¡¯t know whether to call you stupid or lucky.¡± Ruth gave him an incredulous look. ¡°I admit that it was indeed a big gamble, but my bet was right. When something goes wrong, there is us ually a good reason behind it. There must be a reason for a long¨C living Luminianth Root to wilt. I read about something simr from a book before.¡± Dustin smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re a genius! You really enlightened me today!¡± Ruth gave him a thumbs up. Her respect for him immediately grew tenfold. ¡°Wait! This Blood Luminianth Root is mine!¡± Florence suddenly eximed. She reached out to snatch the root but luckily was stopped by Ruth. ¡°Hey! What are you doing?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not selling it! I¡¯ll return your five million dors. I¡¯m not selling this Blood Luminianth Root anymore! ¡± Florence was in a panic. This was worth ten billion dors. How could she give it to someone else so easily? ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯re not selling it anymore! Give it back to us!¡± Aftering back to her senses, Julle chimed in. Everyone could not help but frown at their unreasonable behavior. ¡°Oi! Are you guys that shameless? The deal is done. Now you want to back out? No way!¡± Ruth blocke d them from the Blood Luminianth Root, her expression fierce. She had never seen such shameless people. They wereughing when they thought they had scamme d Dustin. Now that they know they made a loss, they¡¯re using all kinds of methods to get it back. How disgusting! ¡°I don¡¯t care! This Blood Luminianth Root is mine. You must return it to me today!¡± Florence exploded in anger. It was like a child throwing a tantrum, ¡°Dustin! I¡¯m warning you, you better give us back the Blood Luminianth Root! Otherwise, I won¡¯t hold b ack on you!¡± Julie red at him with daggers in her eyes. An invaluable treasure like this was enough to make them lose their minds. ¡°You were the ones who sold it voluntarily. We also handed over the money. Now that I discovered a treasure inside, you¡¯re backing out? Do you think we¡¯d really give it back to you?¡± Dustin brushed them off coldly. ¡°Stop the nonsense! If you weren¡¯t so despicable and scammed us our Blood Luminianth Root, did you think we¡¯d sell it to you?¡± Florence roared in anger. ¡°Exactly! You clearly knew there was a Blood Luminianth Root inside. Why didn¡¯t you tell us? You purpo sely scammed us!¡± Julie said. Hearing this, Dustin could onlyugh. He was looking at two clowns. ¡°First of all, I didn¡¯t know there was a Blood Luminianth Root in there. It was just a guess. Secondly. So what if I know there was a treasure inside? Why do I need to tell you guys? Also, you guys were the ones who harbored bad intentions and tried to scam someone else. Otherwise, why would you sell it to me? So, all in all, you guys brought this upon yourself!¡± Dustin said calmly. Everyone nodded and agreed with what he said. ¡°Well said! This guy earned the treasure fair and square. He earned it with his talent!¡± ¡°When you scammed them, why didn¡¯t you back out then? Now that you know you made a loss, you¡¯re being shameless!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! If you were to follow their dumb logic, wouldn¡¯t the Blood Luminianth Root belong to Mr. Walter?¡± The onlookers started to express their disdain. ¡°You¨C you all are ganging up on us, aren¡¯t you? You scoundrels, I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Florence yelled, ready to strike a hit. ¡°Enough! You¡¯ve made a loss! What¡¯s the point of spilling your guts here? Are you not shameful enough ?!¡± Dahlia yelled at Florence. ¡°Dahlia, you¡­¡± Florence was stunned. ¡°What are you standing there for? Go!¡± Dahlia sald angrily, her face contorted in frustration, Lcier ¡°Mom, we¡¯re definitely not getting back the treasure now. Let¡¯s go home and figure out another way.¡± B efore the situation turned sour, James hurriedly convinced his mom. His sister rarely gets angry, but once she does, no one will be spared. ¡°Dustin! I¡¯m not done with you!¡± Florence also didn¡¯t dare to act out. After giving Dustin a fierce re, sh e left the room unwillingly. ¡°Humph! So what if you guys got a Blood Luminianth Root? A guy like you wouldn¡¯t live long enough to use it!¡± Knowing that they lost, Julie left him a curse before leaving. ¡°Bleh, bleh, bleh!¡± Ruth mocked as they left. ¡°Dustin, those who possess treasures will attract the attention of robbers. Having a treasure like this is not an easy job. You should be careful¡± Dahlia¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a few moments before leaving . Because of that, Ruth¡¯s senses were tingling. ¡°Dustin, that gaze of hers was a bit weird. Are you guys still not over each other?¡± ¡°What nonsense are you on about?¡± Dustin rolled his eyes. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say that I didn¡¯t warn you, but you must keep yourself together. Don¡¯t give in to her temptati ons!¡± Ruth warned with narrowed eyes. She clenched her teeth, showing her two canines that seemed threatening. ¡°Rue, what on earth is going on in that little head of yours? Now that we¡¯ve got the Luminianth Root, let¡¯s head home!¡± Dustin lightly knocked on her head. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 The night passed by peacefully. Natasha enjoyed her cup of coffee at Java Joys as she flipped through pages of documents. She looked worn out after staying up the entire night. ¡°Natasha!¡± Just then, Quentin and Mr. Wangley stormed in through the door. ¡°What is it?¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t even be bothered to spare them a nce. She continued to flip through t he documents. Bang! A wooden box was rudely mmed on the table. It opened up to reveal a single white pill in it. ¡°Check this out. Natasha. Do you know what it is?¡± Quentin pointed at the pill, and his tone was unmist akably demanding ¡°How would I know? You tell me.¡± She sat upzily. ¡°Hah! You can¡¯t even recognize the Eternumax?¡± Quentin looked unimpressed. ¡°So this is Eternumax. Well, what about it?¡± Natasha asked, not too concerned. ¡°What about it?! You have the gall to ask me what about it? I bought this Eternumax from the Hummers ! They¡¯ve managed to manufacture it! Are you aware of that?¡± Quentin raised his voice. ¡°Oh? So what? Isn¡¯t it only a matter of time?¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t be any calmer. ¡°What is this attitude you¡¯re showing? Do you not see the severity of the issue at hand? The Eternumax that the Hummers produced have shown phenomenal results, and many of the rich and powerful have already put in their orders. Its price has sky¨C rocketed, and they¡¯re now worth a whopping 500 grand per pill!¡± Quentin looked exasperated. ¡°Oh? So?¡± Still Natasha was unfazed. ¡°An object is valued in proportion to its rarity. Eternumax is monopolizing the market right now because there are no other medications that canpete with it yet. But once the Hummers start producing it, we will be severely affected!¡± Quentin rapped sharply on the table. ¡°What exactly are you saying?¡± Natasha countered. ¡°You are now left with two choices. You either develop the Eternumax as soon as possible, or you will have to coborate with Edwin Hummer!¡± Quentin announced decisively. ¡°Our research findings on the Eternumax have been stolen. It¡¯s toote to start over from scratch. As f or working with Edwin Hummer, that¡¯s impossible.¡± Natasha relused t out. ¡°You disagree with both options. But you don¡¯t have a solution to solve the situation, don¡¯t you? The fa mily puts such importance on you, and this is how you repay us?¡± Quentin questioned aggressively. ¡°I have my way of dealing with it. You don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Natasha was still undisturbed. ¡°This has to do with the gains of the family. I will not allow you to mess around! If you do note up w ith a satisfactory solution in three days, do not me me for reporting you to the board!¡± Quentin der ed justly. ¡°Do as you wish.¡± Natasha shrugged nonchntly. ¡°Fine! Just you wait!¡± Quentin scoffed before he turned to leave. From how he saw it, Natasha was bound to lose this time around. Once she messes up, the family will need a scapegoat to pin the me on, and he would have an excu se to force her to back out. Not long after Quentin left, Ruth came running in. ¡°We did it! We did it!¡± Ruth eximed as she ran in, looking for Natasha with excitement. ¡°Did what?¡± Natasha looked up, bewildered. ¡°The Immortunol! Dustin managed to produce the Immortunol!¡± Ruth pulled out a little bottle as she spoke and poured out a green pill from it. The pill was bright and clear, with a sort of luster to it. It even has a slight fragrance. ¡°Oh? This is Immortunol?¡± Natasha looked astonished. Appearance¨Cwise, the pill looked really attractive, akin to a pearl. ¡°It tastes really good too! Would you like to give it a taste?¡± Ruth gushed, as though showing off a preci ous treasure. ¡°It tastes good? Do you think this is some kind of snack?¡± Natasha did not know what to make of her sister¡¯sment. But still, she picked up the Immortunol an d popped it in. It dissolved instantly, and a cool sensation flowed through her body as she swallowed it. A tingly sensation came over her, and she felt rejuvenated. All of her exhaustion seemed to have dissip ated on the spot. She was refreshed and energized right away! ¡°Immortunol is amazing indeed!¡± Natasha could not contain her awe. She was really in disbelief at how it was able to exhibit such palpable effects immediately. ¡°Sis! Your face! You look like you¡¯ve aged backward! Yourplexion looks much brighter tool¡± Ruth cri ed out in surprise beside her. ¡°What are you bbering about? That¡¯s impossible!¡± Natasha rolled her eyes, obviously not buying wh at Ruth had just said.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s true! Take a look in the mirror if you don¡¯t believe me!¡± She took out apact mirror and passed i t to her sister, ¡°What?¡± One look in the mirror was all it took to give Natasha a shock. She found that after ingesting the Immortunol, herplexion had improved. Even the dark circles under her eyes, a result of her staying up the whole night, had disappeared too. Her skin¡¯s texture felt like she had just applied a mask to it, bright and hydrated. ¡°My goodness! This is miraculous!¡± She was in utter disbelief as she touched her face. One Immortunol made her feel so rejuvenated, removed the dark circles under her eyes, and primed u p her skin, making her look much more alluring. Its beautifying effects were a game¨Cchanger! ¡°How is it? I wasn¡¯t lying, was I?¡± Ruth looked very pleased with it. She had been busying herself with assisting Dustin ever since they got their hands on the Blood Lumin ianth Root the day before.. So she yed a part in the production of Immortunol, at least that was what she believed. ¡°It¡¯s great, isn¡¯t it!¡± She was momentarily lost in her thoughts before breaking out into a grin. 1 Frankly speaking, she had not held high hopes for them being able to produce the Immortunol. But Dustin had proved her wro ng yet again. He was truly their lucky star! ¡°Sis, Immortunol does not only give superb effects, but its production cost is also much lower than Eter numax. We spent 5 million dors on the Blood Luminianth Root, which Dustin diluted with water, and n ow, that canst us years!¡± Ruth¡¯s statement was incredible news. ¡°Really? That¡¯s wonderful!¡± Natasha¡¯s spirits were lifted. Based on what she had just experienced, she was sure that the Immortinol¡¯s effects far surpassed that of the Eternumax. Furthermore, if they could control its production cost, that would be a breakthrough! It would not be an exaggeration to say that once Immortinol was out on the market, it would bring Etern umax down to its knees. ¡°Ruth, we need to keep Immortinol a secret.¡± ¡°Why?¡± 14 ¡°Edwin will be having a press release for theunching of Eternumax in a few days. We have to take hi m by surprise and hit him where it hurts. It¡¯ll give him a huge shock in front of the press!¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Over at the Nicholsons¡® that afternoon. ¡°Dahlia, are you going to Miss Hummer¡¯s birthday party this evening? Can you bring me along?¡± James asked excitedly when he saw the invitation on the table. She was, after all, the daughter of Edwin Hummer, the richest man in the country. It would be beneficial to make acquaintances with such a person. ¡°I will be attending the birthday party, but the invitation is limited to two persons only. Julie has already c alled dibs on it.¡± Dahlia cast a damp over James¡® enthusiasm. ¡°Her?¡± Displeased, James turned to look at Julie, who was on the couch applying makeup to her face. ¡°Dahlia, I¡¯m your brother! How could you bring her, and not me?¡± He grumbled. At that, Julie shot him a re and said condescendingly, ¡°And what can you do there? Everyone attend ing the party tonight will be people of status and elites. Wouldn¡¯t a high school dropout like you just em barrass yourself showing up there?¡± ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that supposed to mean? Do you think that you¡¯re all that great?¡± James was irked. ¡°Better than you, at least.¡± Julie wasn¡¯t one to back off easily. ¡°You!¡± James was just about to burst into a fit of anger when Florence stopped him just in time. ¡°That¡¯s enoug h. Julie¡¯s our quest, you should y nice. I think it¡¯d be a good opportunity for her to make good connec tions at the party this evening since she¡¯s fresh out of college. Let her go with Dahlia.¡± ¡°Do you hear that? If I manage to befriend Miss Hummer, I¡¯d be on the highway to sess! When the timees, I¡¯ll make sure you benefit from it too!¡± Julie said with her head held high. ¡°Hah! You? I¡¯d be better off relying on mysel!!¡± James plopped down on the couch, obviously feeling indignant. Ever since Julie came, all the attention had been shifted to her. He felt that he was now out of favor. ¡°Ah, right, Dahlia, I nearly forgot.¡± Florence seemed to recall something as she rummaged around in her bag. In the end, she pulled out a n Intricate jewelry box. ¡°This is a present that Matt gifted you two days ago. Since you¡¯re attending the party today, I think you can put this to good use. Have a look.¡± As she spoke, she opened up the jewelry box. There was a pair of ruby earrings in it.. The earrings were exquisite and delicate. They were dazzling under the light¡¯s Illumination. ¡°Wow! It¡¯s spectacr!¡® Julie¡¯s eyes lit up as she scrambled to get up. She pulled the jewelry box over for a better look at the ea rrings. Aunt Florence, such gorgeous earrings must cost a bomb, won¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I heard Matt mention that these are Pandarum earrings, and they are custom¨C made. This is the only pair in the whole of Swinton. It costs millions, Florence announced proudly. ¡°Is that so? As expected, only the best from Matt!¡± Julie beamed as she picked up one of the earrings and put it on. ¡°Aunt Florence, how does it look on m e?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a born beauty, Julie. Of course, it looks magnificent on you,¡± Florence answered. ¡°Hehe! Well, thank you then, Aunt Florence!¡± Julie brazenly took the other earring and put it on too. It was evident that she was about to take it as her own. Her actions gave Florence quite a shock. ¡°Julie, this is your cousin¡¯s gift from Matt. It wouldn¡¯t be too ni ce for you to wear it tonight.¡± Florence chuckled awkwardly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me wearing it? I¡¯m just borrowing it for the night, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m not going to give it back.¡± Julie snapped bluntly. ¡°But¡± Florence was about to counter what she just said, but Julie cut her off. ¡°Aunt Florence, we¡¯re rtives. You can¡¯t be so petty, can you?¡± ¡°Julie Amberson! These are my sister¡¯s earrings! What rights do you have to wear them?¡± James finally could not take it any longer. She said that she was just borrowing them, but the fact was, she had never once returned the items she borrowed! This was in robbery! ¡°Hey! Why are you shouting at me? Isn¡¯t it just a pair of earrings? Aren¡¯t you just being selfish?¡± Julie sl ammed her hand on the table aggressively. ¡°I¡¯m selfish? Do you have any idea how greedy you look right now? Do you have no shame?¡± James b ellowed. ¡°How dare you scold me? Aunt Florence! Did you hear what James said? I can leave if I¡¯m not wee here!¡± Julie red up. And with that, she turned to leave. But before she could even take her first step, Florence pulled her back. ¡°What are you doing, Julie? Of course, you¡¯re wee here! Aren¡¯t they just a pair of earrings? I¡¯ll lend them to you!¡± ¡°Mom! You-!¡± ¡°Shut it!¡± Florence whipped around and shot him a re. ¡°You¡¯re her older cousin! Why do you keep picking fight s with her? Can¡¯t you be more generous?¡± ¡°Fine! Keep siding with her then. See if I care!¡± James was so angry that he stormed out and mmed t he door. Dahlia frowned. It wasn¡¯t the earrings that she was concerned about, but Julie¡¯s domineering attitude di d not sit well with her. ¡°Dahlia, you do not mind me wearing your earrings, do you?¡± Julie smiled as she touched the earrings gently. ¡°It¡¯s up to you.¡± Dahlia could not be bothered to continue speaking to her. To begin with, she was notfortable with Matt¡¯s gift to her. ¡°Hehe! Thank you, Dahlia.¡± Julie beamed brightly as she continued applying her makeup. That evening at Kingdom Hotel, a ck Mercedes¨CBenz rolled up to the main entrance. The door opened, and Dahlia and Julie got out of the car. Dahlia dressed down for the asion in a ck dress and ck heels. She kept her essories simpl e too. Julie, on the other hand, went all out and dressed herself up, almost looking like a peacock. She had jewelry from head to toe and looked dazzling under the lights. To further entuate the million¨Cdor pair of ruby earrings, she even did her hair up in a chignon. She was out to be in the limelight. ¡°Wow! What a stunningdy! She looks like a celebrity!¡± ¡°I think she looks even more attractive than any celebrity out there! Her looks and elegance are other¨C T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. worldly.¡± When the both of them got out of the car, a bunch of guests at the entrance turned to look at them. Ho wever, most of their attention was on Dahlia. Despite Julie¡¯s showy appearance, she did not receive much attention After all, it was clear that Dahlia was far superior to her in all aspects, from looks to figures. Julie¡¯s extravagant outfit alone was not enough to make up for what shecked. ¡°Hmph!¡± She was not pleased. She had made every preparation she could think of for the birthday party that evening, and she had expected to impress everyone with her beauty. It had never urred to her that Dahlia¡¯s presence would steal all the attention. ¡°These men are so blind! How could a woman who had been married beforepare to me?¡± She tho ught. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 ¡°Dahlia, you can head up first. I¡¯m waiting for a friend here.¡± Julie made up an excuse to send Dahlia a way once they entered the hotel lobby. She was well aware that with Dahlia around, she would never get the attention she yearned for. How would she make acquaintances with the rich and famous then? How would she get to know rich, e ligible men? ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the banquet hall.¡± Without giving it much thought, Dahlia took the elevat or up to the banquet hall. With Dahlia gone, Julie quickly became the center of attention. She deliberately walked around the lobb y and unted coquettishly, attracting much attention. Some men approached her in an attempt to strike up a conversation, but she rejected them all, ying hard to get. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve got such lovely earrings! May I know where you bought them from?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s true! I¡¯ve never seen such exquisite carrings before!¡± ¡°These rubies are huge! They must have cost you a lot!¡± Soon, not only the men came up to her, but even thedies flocked over to ask her about the earrings. As usual women could not resist jewelry. ¡°These ruby earrings are from Pandarum. My boyfriend gave them to me. These are uniquely custom¨C made, and they are the only pair out there. As for the price, they were not too expensive. Just a million T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. or two.¡± Julie pretended to be unconcerned about their price and smiled. Though her words sounded humble, arrogance was evident on her face. ¡°A million or two, and you say it¡¯s not expensive? Seems like you¡¯re not the average Tom, Dick, and Har ry!¡± ¡°How fortunate you are to have a boyfriend who gives you such precious earrings!¡± ¡°From how I see it, it¡¯s not the price that matters, but the sincerity behind it! It¡¯s custom¨C made and unique! That¡¯s so sweet! How I envy you!¡± The group of women chattered away praising Julie. That fueled Julie¡¯s vanity, pleasing her to no end. She really enjoyed being the center of attention and b eing. praised by others. Right then, a Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom pulled up at the door. The car door opened and out stepped an alluring woman with delicate leatures and long, flowing hair. She came walking in like a celebrity among a group of adoring fans. ¡°Miss Hummer?!¡± Thedy¡¯s appearance garnered a lot of attention and amotion started both inside and outside the lobby. The crowd that had surrounded Julie immediately dispersed and flocked over to Tina, ready to tter he r. She was, after all, the star of the day. Edwin Hummer¡¯s daughter, Tina Hummer! Julie had intended to go over and wee her too, but as there were too many people surrounding Tin a, she did not do so. She knew that going along with what everyone was doing would not make her stand out, and she need ed to stand out to make Miss Hummer notice her. At the thought of that, she intentionally stood at the entrance and tried her best to show off the biggest asset she had on her at the moment, which happened to be the pair of ruby earrings. That was the first step to forming a connection with Miss Hummer. She refused to believe that there wa s any woman on earth who could resist the temptation of such irresistible jewelry. As Julie predicted, Tina stopped in front of her when she reached the entrance, with the crowd still arou nd her. Her gaze was fixed on Julie. Julie suppressed her excitement and walked up to Tina to introduce herself when she saw that the timi ng was right. ¡°Hello, Miss Hummer. I am Julie Amberson. Pleased to make your acquaintance.¡± She stretched her hand out for a handshake. But Tina ignored her outstretched hand and stared unwav eringly at her earrings. ¡°Those ruby earrings, where did you get them from?¡± she asked icily. ¡°My boyfriend gave them to me. These are custom¨C made Pandarums, you won¡¯t be able to find a simr pair out there. But of course, Miss Hummer, if you fancy them, I can give them to you.¡± Julie was secretly d elighted. ¡°Even the daughter of the wealthiest man can¡¯t resist these earrings,¡± she thought to herself. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Tina¡¯s expression clouded over. ¡°Is it Matt Laney?¡± The reason why she asked was that she had received the exact same pair of ruby earrings from Matt as her birthday gift not too long ago. ¡°Oh! Do you know Matt too, Miss Hummer? In that case, we¡¯re friends too!¡± Julie¡¯s eyes lit up. Who knew that a pair of earrings would be the key to her sess? ¡°Who¡¯s your friend? Bitch!¡± Tina red at Julie and struck her across the face. Smack! A loud, crisp sound was heard. Julie was at a loss as she held her cheek in her hand. ¡°Miss Hummer, wh¨Cwhy did you hit me?¡± ¡°What is your rtionship with Matt Laney? You bettere clean. If you hide anything from me, I¡¯ll m ake sure you won¡¯t live to see the next sunrise!¡± Tina¡¯s expression made it clear that she meant every wor d she said. She would not let other women mess with what was hers. ¡°Miss Hummer, I think you¡¯re mistaken. Matt and I are just regr friends, nothing more than that!¡± Julie started to fluster. She did not know what had happened, but it was obvious that she had angered Tina. ¡°Would regr friends give you ruby earrings worth a million dors? Do you think I¡¯m a dim¨C wit?¡± Furious was an understatement to describe what Tina was feeling at that moment. ¡°It has nothing to do with me, Miss Hummer! These ruby earrings aren¡¯t mine, they¡¯re my cousin Dahlia¡¯s! I only borrowed them for a few days!¡± Seeing that the situation wasn¡¯t favorable to her anymore, Julie stopped pretending and came clean with the truth. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson?¡± Tina¡¯s eyes narrowed into slits. She remembered that that was a name that Matt had mentioned when he asked for her help concernin g the interrogation room. She hadn¡¯t put much thought into it then, but it turns out that there was somet hing fishy going on with the two of them. ¡°That bitch! She seduced my man, and she has the audacity to show up at my birthday party?! Is she trying to provoke me?¡± Tina g ritted her teeth as a murderous glint shed in her eyes. ¡°This is all Dahlia Nicholson¡¯s fault, Miss Hummer. I¡¯ve got nothing to do with it. Will you please let me off?¡± Julie was so scared that she broke out in cold sweat. She finally got an idea of what had happened. Tina and Matt were obviously a couple. The main proble m was that Tina recognized the pair of earrings. That was no different from her catching Matt and Dahli a together. ¡°Shut up! If you do not have a death wish, then do what I tell you to do!¡± Tina roared. ¡°You name it, Miss Hummer. Whatever you need me to do, I¡¯ll try my best to aplish it!¡± Julie promised wholeheartedly. ¡°Put this into Dahlia¡¯s bag.¡± Tina took a delicate jewelry box and handed it to Julie. ¡°What do you mean, Miss Hummer?¡± Julie could not wrap her head around Tina¡¯s request. ¡°Don¡¯t ask questions! Just do as you¡¯ve been told!¡± Tina scolded. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Julie nodded vigorously. S he was in no ce to refuse. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Over at the banquet hall, Dahlia was puzzled when she saw Julie panting as she entered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you s ay that you were waiting for a friend, Julie? Where¡¯s your friend?¡± ¡°Something came up and she couldn¡¯t make it.¡± She smiled sheepishly. ¡°Oh, Dahlia, could you lend me yourpact mirror, please? I need to fix my makeu p.¡± ¡°I remembered that you¡¯ve brought one yourself,¡± Dahlia said. ¡°Mine¡¯s faulty. I¡¯d prefer to use yours.¡± Without waiting for a reply, Julie took Dahlia¡¯s bag and fished aro und in it. Dahlia was annoyed by that. She had to admit, her cousin was really a spoiled brat whocked manners. ¡°Thanks, Dahlia.¡± Julie tossed Dahlia¡¯s bag back to her after she managed to get thepact mirror o ut. Then, she made up some excuse to go to the washroom. Right at that moment, Tina made her entrance, followed by a crowd behind her, creating a ruckus in the banquet hall, In the end, she stopped smack in the middle of the hall. ¡°Quiet down, everyone. I have an announcement to make.¡± Tina raised her hand and gestured for the c rowd to calm down. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The effect was immediate and the hall fell silent. ¡°It¡¯s my birthday party today, and it was meant to be a happy asion, but something awful has happened!¡± Tina¡¯s gaze swept across the hall before she continued. ¡°A pair of valuable earrings which I have intended to wear for the asion has been stolen. They are a unique pair of custom¨Cmade Pandarum earrings, and they are priceless to me!¡± The crowd was in an uproar when they heard that. ¡°What? Did someone steal Miss Hummer¡¯s earrings? Who has the guts to do that?¡± ¡°We must find out who did it! Such a vile person must never be let off the hook!¡± ¡°Damn it! If I ever find out who stole Miss Hummer¡¯s belongings, I¡¯ll make sure to rearrange his face!¡± The crowd in the hall was all worked up, shouting curses and threats at the thief. On the one hand, they despised the thief, but on the other hand, they were trying to please Tina. ¡°Everyone, please calm down. The fact is, I know who did it.¡± Tina continued. ¡°Who? Where¡¯s the thief among us? Everyone looked around, trying to figure out who the culprit was. Tina smiled mirthlessly and strode over to Dahlia. ¡°She¡¯s the one!¡± Tina pointed a finger at Dahlia. ¡°What?¡± The crowd was collectively taken aback by the usation, If the culprit had been a creep, they would have gone ahead and taught him a lesson. But it turns out that the person whom Tina had used of stealing her belongings was an enchanting b eauty. Everyone was at a loss. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the president of Quine Group? Why would she steal?¡± ¡°Exactly! Everyone knows Ms. Nicholson. She wouldn¡¯t stoop so low, would she?¡± ¡°One may know a person for a long time without understanding his true nature. Who knows what vile In tentions thisdy is hiding behind her morous appearance?¡± The men were generally doubtful of Tina¡¯s usation, whereas thedies trusted her fully. ¡°Miss Hummer, there must be some sort of misunderstanding. I have not stolen anything.¡± Dahlia took a moment to regain herposure before denying Tina¡¯s usation. She had never thought that Tina would pin it on her. ¡°A quick search should easily be able to tell us whether or not you did it.¡± A faint smile graced Tina¡¯s fea tures. ¡°Miss Hummer, would it not be inappropriate to conduct a search on a guest whom you¡¯ve invited to yo ur birthday party in front of everyone?¡± Dahlia knew that she was innocent, but that did not mean that s he should allow others to do as they please. After all, Tina¡¯s suggestion to go through her belongings was an obvious act of disrespect. ¡°What do you have to fear if you¡¯re not guilty?¡± Tina smirked. ¡°That¡¯s right! If you truly are innocent, what harm would a search do to you?¡± ¡°Hmph! I think that someone¡¯s just feeling guilty!¡± Thedies started to back Tina up. Dahlia¡¯s presence alone was enough to overshadow their radiance, so they were eager to see her get i nto trouble. ¡°Fine, since Miss Hummer insists on going through my things, then, by all means, go ahead.¡± Dahlia co uld not be bothered to argue with her, so she handed her bag over. Her conscience was clear, and she did not want to cause a scene, so she might as well let them go thr ough her bag to prove her innocence. Tina did not say anything and simply gestured for her bodyguards to search Dahlia¡¯s bag. Soon, the bodyguards fished out a delicate jewelry box from the bag. The jewelry box even had Tina¡¯s name carved on it. ¡°Miss Hummer, here it is!¡± The bodyguard handed the jewelry box over to her. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, do you see this?¡± Tina raised the jewelry box and took out the pair of magnificent ruby earrings in it, disying them to th e crowd. ¡°This! this is evidence!¡± The moment the pair of ruby earrings were produced, it brought about a whoosh of uproar throughout t he entire hall. Eyes widened as shock came over everyone¡¯s faces. ¡°No way! Would the president of Quine Group do such a thing?¡± ¡°Hah! And I thought that she would be above that! Who would¡¯ve guessed that she was so materialistic! ¡± ¡°I thought that such a beautiful person would know to conduct hersell better than this! Of all things to do , why would she go and steal from others? That¡¯s terrible!¡± At that moment, the winds of opinionpletely shifted. With irrefutable evidence staring them in the face, everyone chose to believe Tina. ¡°No! That¡¯s not possible!! Dahlia¡¯s expression changed as she shook her head vigorously. ¡°Why is this in my bag? I¡¯ve never eve n touched it!¡± ¡°You bitch!¡± Infuriated. Tina pped Dahlia. Smack! Five red streaks immediately bloomed on Dahlia¡¯s cheek. ¡°Miss Hummer, I did not steal them! Someone must have set me up!¡± Dahlia fought to exin. ¡°How dare you deny it when we have concrete evidence? Seems like you¡¯re one to give up only at the sight of the gallows!¡± Without saying any more, Tina gave her two more ps. She truly wasn¡¯t going easy on her. Dahlia¡¯s face swelled up and her hair was a mess. ¡°I did not steal!¡± She clenched her jaws, an unyielding look in her eyes. ¡°If I said you stole it, that means you did!¡± Tina scoffed. ¡°Guards! Hold her down! I¡¯m going to teach her a lesson today!¡± ¡°Yes, Miss Hummer!¡± Two of her bodyguards went up to Dahlia and restrained her. They held her arms behind her back and brought her down to her knees so that she was kneeling. ¡°You slut! How dare you seduce my man? Have you got a death wish?¡± Tina grabbed hold of Dahlia¡¯s h air, a wicked look on her face. ¡°It was you? You were the one who framed me?¡± Dahlia was stunned for a moment before it struck her. She had been Tina¡¯s target from the get¨Cgo! ¡°Hah! Guess you¡¯re not such a thickhead after all.¡± Tina let out a lowugh. ¡°But so what if you know? No one can help you now. I can deal with you however I want to.¡± With that, she picked up a bottle of red wine and stuffed the neck of the bottle into Dahlia¡¯s mouth. The red fluid gushed into Dahlia¡¯s mouth, and Dahlia choked on it, coughing unstoppably. Her face was flushed red. She felt lightheaded and it was horrible. ¡°Down it! I said, down it!¡± Tina¡¯s expression was nothing short of maniacal. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 ¡°You whore! How dare you seduce my boyfriend? I¡¯ll make your life a living hell! Tina kept forcing the wine on Dahlia, humiliating her before the crowd. She was rough and ruthless. By the time the bottle of wine was emptied, Dahlia had slumped to the ground helplessly. Even then, Tina did not stop. She grabbed a fistful of Dahlia¡¯s hair and pulled her head up. Then, a torrent of ps rained down on Dahlia, each one harder than the one before. ¡°You slut! You whore! How dare you mess with my boyfriend? How dare you?¡± Tina shouted as she rou ghed Dahlia up, almost in a frenzy. When Tina finally stopped, Dahlia¡¯s face was swollen and blotched, with streaks of blooding out th e ¡°Why? Why?¡± Dahlia asked breathlessly, trying to regain her bearings. ¡°You have the audacity to ask why? Are you unaware of what you have done, you bitch!¡± Tina reached for Dahlia¡¯s hair again and mmed her head hard to the ground. Blood gushed out immediately. A mixture of blood and wine dripped down Dahlia¡¯s face. The sight of Dahlia lying on the ground and unable to get up did not garner any sympathy from Tina, in fact; it seemed to excite her. She raised her leg and stomped hard on Dahlia¡¯s linger. ¡°Ah!¡± Dahlia could finally hold in no longer, and a shriek escaped her. A piercing pain overtook her senses. ¡°You shameless tramp! You like flirting around with other men, don¡¯t you? I¡¯d like to see if you¡¯d ever se duce my boyfriend again!¡± A crazed smile crept up on Tina¡¯s face as she repeatedly stepped on Dahlia¡¯ s hand with her stilettos. Each time, it struck with greater brutality and ferocity. In no time, both of Dahlia¡¯s hands were a mess of flesh and blood. It was a terrifying sight. ¡°Ahh!¡± Dahlia¡¯s face turned lifeless from the agonizing pain, and she trembled uncontrobly. Even the strongest of men would not be able to endure it after such merciless torture, much less a wom an like Dahlia. Most of the crowd felt sorry for her when they saw the state she was in. Surely an act of theft did not warrant such cold¨Cblooded torture? It was too cruel! 14 ¡°Dahlia, you can¡¯t me me for this. You¡¯ve only got yoursell to me for messing with Ms. Hummer¡¯s boyfriend and offending her.¡± In a corner, Julie trembled like a leaf. She did not think that Tina would be so unforgiving. She just came short of torturing Dahlia to her gravel ¡°Ms. Hummer, she¡¯s out cold.¡± A bodyguard told Tina, Dahlia had already passed out from the abuse. She had multiple fractures on her fingers, and her entire palm was bloody. It was a ghastly scene. ¡°She¡¯s down so soon? What a bore.¡± Tina looked down at Dahlia like she was not done with her yet. She lifted her leg and wiped the blood off her heels on Dahlia¡¯s clothes. Then, with a nonchnt wave of her hand, she said, ¡°Throw her out. I¡¯ll y with her next time.¡± Had it not been for her birthday party that night, she would make sure that she had her fun with her. After Dahlia was thrown out, Julie, who knew that she was guilty, dared not dally any longer. She sent Dahlia to the hospital immediately. The medical staff in the emergency ward were all shocked by Dahlia¡¯s state when she was sent in. She was a gruesome sight to behold, all covered in blood. The greatest issue was that it was an obvious case of assault, not an ident. So the question was, who would be so brutal to torture a woman until she was in such a miserable stat e? ¡°Where is the patient¡¯s next of kin?¡± A doctor asked. ¡°There was anotherdy here with her earlier on, I don¡¯t know where she went.¡± A nurse looked around , searching for Julie. ¡°Check the patient¡¯s bag to see if there¡¯s a phone in there. Contact her family right away.¡± ¡°Okay, sure.¡± The nurse went through Dahlia¡¯s bag and quickly found her phone and unlocked it with Dahlia¡¯s fingerp rint. She called the contact which was set as ¡°Husband¡°. Over at Peaceful Medical Centre, a phone rang. Dustin, who was in the process of producing Immortunol, pulled his phone out and frowned. He picked up the call. ¡°Hello, is anything the maller?¡± ¡°Hello? Are you a farmily member of the owner of this phone? I¡¯m calling from the emergency ward of East Swinton Hospital. You need toe here as soon as possible. The patient¡¯s in bad shape.¡± ¡°She¡¯s hurt? What happened?¡± Dustin¡¯s brows knitted even tighter together. ¡°I¡¯m not too sure either. Come quick.¡± Dustin fell silent. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he rushed over to Fast Swinton Hospital after hanging This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. up the call. When he stepped into the emergency ward to lind Dahlia lying unconscious on the hospital bed, his ex pression clouded over. Her face was swollen, blood came out from her mouth, and her forehead had suffered a strong impact. Worst of all was her fingers, which were broken from being stepped on. They were a bloody mess that he could hardly bear the sight of It was not difficult to imagine the pain she had been through before she lost consciousness. ¡°You¡¯re her husband, aren¡¯t you? What have you been up to? How could you let your wife be tortured s ol terribly? That¡¯s very irresponsible of you!¡± The head nurseined, feeling sorry for Dahlia. ¡°How is she?¡± Dustin¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°The patient is not in critical danger currently, but her wounds will take quite a while to heal. Her hands, especially, have multipleminuted fractures. There is a possibility that they may never fully recover,¡± The head nurse cautioned him. ¡°Who did this?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression was terrifyingly cold and emotionless. ¡°How would I know? You¡¯re her husband, and you have no idea who did it?¡± The head nurse scowled. Dustin held his silence. Suddenly, his gaze shot over to the door. There was a suspicious person craning by the door in an attempt to peek at them. He dashed over and grabbed the person. ¡°Hey, Rhys! What are you doing? Let go of me!¡± Julie cried out in dismay. ¡°Who did this to Dahlia? Tell me Dustin demanded furiously. ¡°I¨CHow would I know?¡± Julie stuttered. The very next next second, she was lifted off the ground by a hand that found its way around her throat. She suffocated, and her struggles to catch her breath proved futile. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again. Who did it?¡± There was a fierce glint in Dustin¡¯s eyes, and a chilling hostility emanat ed from him. A bone¨Cpiercing coldness instantly enveloped the entire ward. ¡°It¨CIt was Edwin Hummer¡¯s daughter, Tina Hummer who did it Flustered, Julle blurted out the truth. She had never seen such a frightening side to Dustin. His gaze was akin to that of the Devil, giving chills to whoever met it. Julie began to tremble. ¡°Watch over her.¡± Once Dustin got the answer he wanted, he left without another word. A fiery anger burned in his chest. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 The sky started to rain. At that moment, the atmosphere at the party in Emperor Hotel was lively as usual. Themotion earli er clearly had not affected the party. Tina looked like a princess, surrounded by people. Everyone approached her to leave a good impressi on. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Yet, most of the people did not interest her. Only a few distinguished guests were worthy of chatting wit h her. ¡°Miss, Mr. Williams and Mr. Chapman are here.¡± One of the butlers came up to her and reported. Tina turned around and saw two fine¨C looking men who were standing quietly at the entrance of the party. One of them was Oliver from Boulderthorn! The other was Oliver¡¯s senior, Troy Chapman. Behind the two of them were two bodyguards. ¡°Mr. Williams. Mr. Chapman. It¡¯s good to see you again.¡± Tina immediately gave them a warm wee with a smile. ¡°Happy birthday, Ms. Hummer.¡± Oliver and Troy presented their gifts respectively. ¡°Oh, please. It is my honor to have you both as my guests. There¡¯s no need for presents. Tina grinned. ¡°It is only proper to reciprocate Joshua¡¯s kindness. After all, he has always treated us well. A small toke n of appreciation is nothing.¡± Oliver smiled. Had theye from an ordinary rich family, she wouldn¡¯t have given them a second nce. However, Tina¡¯s brother, Joshua, was a disciple of Boulderthorn. He was their senior. And so, it was ne cessary for her to attend to them. ¡°Oh right, why is my brother not here today?¡± Tina asked. ¡°Joshua is on a retreat at the moment. He¡¯s unable to leave, so he sent us here to meet you.¡± Oliver ex ined. ¡°I see Tina nodded and extended her hand. ¡°Please have a seat, let me know if there¡¯s anything you need.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you, Ms. Hummer.¡± Oliver gave a slight nod before sitting down alongside Troy. Because of Tina¡¯s warm attitude, the surrounding guests¡® attention gathered around the two men. ¡°Who are they? Why did Tina personally wee them?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. They seem unfamiliar, I don¡¯t think they¡¯re from Swinton.¡± ¡°Then, perhaps they are someone important from Millsburg?¡± The sound of whispers rippled through the crowd as curiosity overlook them. As the evening wore on, more guests arrived at the party, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively. At that moment, a ck silhouette approached the entrance of the Emperor Hotel with an umbre in hand. After reaching the gate, he was stopped by two guards. ¡°Stop right there! Today is Ms. Hummer¡¯s birthday. Only those who received an invitation are allowed to enter!¡± ¡°Step aside!¡± Dustin did not want to waste another second and immediately headed inside. ¡°Scoundrel! You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± The two guards immediately gripped Dustin¡¯s shoulder. The instant the two of them made contact with him, they were hurled backward with a force that sent th em tumbling through the air, their cries of pain echoing through the night. ¡°Quick! Inform Sir Zims!¡± One of the guards immediately took out his phone and called for backup. When he turned back, Dustin had already walked past the gates. After a short ride in the lift, he walked inside the ballroom. As he looked at the lively crowd, Dustin took a deep breath before shouting, ¡°Which one of you is Tina Hummer?!¡± His voice wasn¡¯t piercing, yet it echoed across the room. The lively crowd instantly went silent. Everyone turned towards him with displeasing looks. ¡°Who dared to call Ms. Hummer by her name?!¡± Everyone wondered. ¡°Hm? Who¡¯s calling me?¡± Tina stood up slowly with a displeased look in her eyes. Dustin silently walked forward as everyone stared down at him. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Dahlia¡¯s ex¨Chusband? Why is he here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s probably here to apologize. After all, stealing from Ms. Hummer is not a small matter .¡± ¡°He¡¯s apologizing after his woman got beaten up? How shameful!¡± People all around the room began to murmur amongst themselves as they pointed at the man. They w ere mostly mocking him. ¡°What? Are you here to apologize for that bitch? Tina¡¯s eyes scanned the man from head to toe, her lips curling into a sinister smile as she sized him u p. ¡°If you¡¯re really interested in helping your friend, you might want to start by getting down on your kne es. And who knows, if I¡¯m pleased, maybe I¡¯ll consider letting her off the hook.¡± ¡°So, you were the one who caused Dahlia¡¯s injuries?¡± Dustin slowly approached her. Secondster, he stood in front of her. ¡°So what if I was the one who caused her injuries? That bitch didn¡¯t know her limits. A slut like her de served a beating!¡± Tinaughed coldly. ¡°And let me tell you, this matter is far from over. Today was just a little warning. In t he future, I¡¯ll pay it back bit by bit! I will be her nightmare for the rest of her lifel As soon as the words left Tina¡¯s lips, a sudden, sharp sound echoed through the room. ¡°Smack!¡± Tina was sent flying across the room. Her body flipped through the air, twisting and turning in a blur of motion, before finally crashing down onto the ground with a sickening thud. In an instant, blood started oozing from her nose, and her teeth scattered around the ce. The entire room was stunned at the scene. Everyone¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground in disbelief. No one would¡¯ve thought that Dustin would hit her. Moreover, he pped her in front of such a crowd. Everyone knew that she was Edwin Hummer¡¯s daughter! She was the belle of the ball in all of Swinton! ¡°Had he lost his mind?! How dare hey a finger on Miss Hummer? Does he not treasure his life?!¡± Eve ryone thought. ¡°You¨CYou dare to hit me?¡± Tina held her burning cheek and stood up as her legs wobbled beneath her. Her face was filled with shock and confusion. Ever since she was a child, no one dared to disrespect h er. Let alone p her. She didn¡¯t know how to react. ¡°Smack!¡± Without wasting another second, he pped her once again with all his might. As blood spurted from her mouth, her once¨C pretty face now disfigured, her teeth shattered and her features swollen and reddened, the sight was b oth shocking and distressing. Her hair was inplete disarray, leaving a chaotic mess in its wake. ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay ten times the pain that you inflicted on Dahlia!¡± Dustin roared out. His words and actions were impulsive and reckless. ¡°Boom!¡± In a split second, the party was in shambles. One could say that the first p was done out of impulse. A second p was already humiliating and provoking her. But who in the right mind would want to provoke the Hummers?! Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ¡°He dared to hit Ms. Hummer? He must be asking for death!¡± ¡°He¡¯s out of his mind! He¡¯s definitely gone insane!¡± ¡°He struck Ms. Hummer in front of such a crowd! Not even the Gods could spare him now!¡± Because of Dustin¡¯s actions, the whole room went into chaos. Some were shocked, not knowing how to react. Others were impressed, while the rest were in disbelief. For all their lives, they¡¯d believed that only a person like Tina Hummer could bully others. They could ne ver even imagine someone who would strike back! ¡°Kill him! Kill him now!¡± When Tina stood up again, she was in a frenzy. Her face contorted with terrifyin g rage. ¡°Kill! Him!¡± The guards in the area finally returned to their senses and charged toward him with a baton. Dustin was unfazed. He moved at the speed of light, defcating each guard with a single punch, sending them flying across the room in all directions. He glided through the entire fight effortlessly, not a single hint of struggle showing on his face. The sight of the guards writhing on the ground in agony left everyone stunned. It was worth noting that these were Hummer¡¯s elite bodyguards, each capable of taking down five men with ease. And yet a single punch from Dustin was all it took to bring down all of these elite bodyguards . It was indeed surprising. ¡°Guards! Bring me more guards!¡± One of the bodyguards quickly reached for his walkie¨C talkie and called for backup. Dustin remained unfazed and continued to advance, step by step. ¡°Stop him! Quick, stop him!¡± Tina was frantic as she stumbled backward. A few onlockers had the urge to y hero and rescue Tina, but one stern look from Dustin was enough to leave them frozen in shock, unable to make a move. ¡°You bastard! How dare youy a hand on me? Do you have any idea who I am? I am Edwin Hummer¡¯ s daughter! If you don¡¯t want to meet an ugly end, then bow down and apologize to me right now!¡± Tina¡¯ s voice trembled with fear, despite the brave front she put on. She mentioned her own family background as a means of defense, hoping that he would know better a nd back down. Her threat fell on deaf ears as she was met with another heavy p in response, Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. In a split second, her head was spinning as blood spilled from her mouth. ¡°You don¡¯t need to mention that. Even If you¡¯re dad is here, I¡¯ll still p you! Dustin said with a cold expression as he grabbed Tina by her hair and pped her even harder. Each pnded with a heavy sound ringing across the room. ¡°Smack, smack, smack, smack!¡± After a few ps, Tina¡¯s face was left disfigured. Her nose and lips were tangled up. It was a gory scen e to behold. All the guests w were stunned and frozen in shock at the sight before them. Every single one of them had their jaws drop to the ground. This was just crazy! It wasn¡¯t just about hitting her face. He was disrespecting the Hummers! He was ying with fire and ri sking his life! ¡°Stop!¡± Suddenly, a loud angry yell reverberated across the room. In the next moment, Oliver and Troy emerged from the crowd. Upon seeing the blood on Tina¡¯s face, bo th of them became furious in an instant. ¡°Who dares to make a ruckus at Tina¡¯s party?!¡± Oliver bellowed in an intimidating voice. ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin turned around and immediately recognized the familiar faces. ¡°So it¡¯s you!¡± Oliver was taken aback at first, but his surprise quickly gave way to a wave of seething anger. ¡°What a coincidence! I¡¯ve been searching for you everywhere. I can¡¯t believe you¡¯d show up here!¡± ¡°Oliver, you know this guy?¡± Troy was curious. ¡°Troy, this was the guy who punched me two days ago,¡± Oliver said with gritted teeth. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 ¡°You dare to hit someone from Boulderthorn? You must be tired of living!¡± Troy¡¯s gaze immediately turn ed cold and unfriendly. Troy and Oliver were as close as brothers, and any harm inflicted upon one was seen as an affront to the other. ¡°Save me! Save me!¡± Tina¡¯s eyes lit up with hope at the sight of Oliver and Troy, and she suddenly rega ined some of her energy. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Hummer. With me and Oliver here, this guy won¡¯t be able to harm you!¡± Troy assured confidently. As soon as he finished speaking, Dustin delivered another brutal p, causing Tina to be flung across t he table. Without a second of hesitation, he immediately proved him wrong. ¡°You-!¡± Oliver was furious. He was caught off guard by Dustin¡¯s unpredictable actions, causing a slight dy in his response. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°You bastard! You¡¯re dead meat! Your entire family will be dead! These two are the best fighters in Boulderthorn. You¡¯re just a piece of trash in front of them! I¡¯ll let them break all of your limbs before tort uring you myself!¡± Tina sneered, her face contorted with a lust for vengeance as she stood up shakily. ¡°Boulderthorn?!¡± Hearing the name, everyone broke into whispers once again. Everyone was familiar with the name. Boulderthorn was one of the top two guilds in the entire South City. The disciples of Boulderthorn were renowned for their incredible strength and skill, able to move mountains with just a small kick. But the top disciples were on another level altogether, possessing an unparalleled level of prowess and finesse. One of them was enough to wipe out an entire room. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that people from Boulderthorn are here? Looks like this fellow is really dead meat.¡± ¡°Well deserved! Whoever dares to make a ruckus here would have to pay the ultimate price!¡± ¡°Kid, if I were you, I¡¯d be on my knees begging for forgiveness. If you¡¯re lucky enough, you¡¯d get a chan ce to live.¡± The crowd erupted into a frenzied discussion, with people whispering and shouting their opinions on th e unfolding scene. From their perspective, Dustin is indeed skilled in lighting. However, in front of the top disciples from Bo ulderthorn, he wouldn¡¯t even stand a chance! ¡°So what if you¡¯re from Boulderthom? No one can stop me from doing what I want to dol¡± Dustin replied coldly, without a hint of fear. ¡°Bastard! You¡¯re crazy! If I hadn¡¯t gone easy on youst time, do you think you could get away without a scratch?¡± Oliver was furious. ¡°Oliver, let me handle it.¡± Troy approached Dustin with a darkened face, but before he could take any action, Oliver stopped him with a hand. ¡°Wait, do we really need to do this? This guy isn¡¯t even from a guild. If we identally kill him, won¡¯t people start spreading rumors about Boulderthorn bullying others?¡± As he spoke, he signaled the two bodyguards behind them. ¡°Anna, Emma, get rid of that punk! Don¡¯t h old back!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± The two women immediately pulled out their swords. Two days earlier, they weren¡¯t prepared, so they were defeated by Dustin. But today, they would not let the same mistake happen again. ¡°Mr. Williams! That bastard¡¯s not an easy target. Aren¡¯t you underestimating him too much by sending t he two of them against him?¡± Tina was suspicious. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms.Hummer. The two of them are very skilled. They were trained by my father. Defeating him is nothing for them!¡± Oliver said confidently. To be honest, both of them were even more skilled than he was. ¡°Alright! Then I¡¯m counting on you to get my revenge!¡± Tina said with an evil smirk. ¡°No problem!¡± As soon as Oliver gave a signal, the two women sprung into action, one nking Dustin o n the left and the other on the right, both bearing down on him with fierce determination. ¡°Zoom!¡± As the women closed in on him, their swords shimmered with deadly precision, a testament to their impressive skill and training. Right when everyone thought Dustin was about to meet his end. With a loud ¡°ng!¡°, the two swords were shattered into pieces. The impact was so sudden and powerful that the two women were sent hurtling through the air as if str uck by a car, flying across the room. Before hitting the ground, a spray of blood erupted from the women¡¯s mouths, painting the air crimson, as they copsed into unconsciousness. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 ¡°Holy Shit! What just happened?¡± The crowd was once again in awe upon seeing the broken swords and the two womenying on the flo or. They originally thought that Dustin was out of luck, but no one expected that after that face¨C off, the Boulderthorn girls would be the ones who faced defeat. This oue shocked everyone in the room. ¡°This kid was not all talk?¡± Oliver¡¯s eye twitched, his face full of shock. The previous time, he could argue and say that they weren¡¯t prepared for the attack. But this time, it wa s proven that there was a skill disparity. ¡°So you do have some tricks up your sleeves. No wonder you dared to cause trouble here.¡± Troy narro wed his eyes as his lips curled into a yful smile. Although Anna and Emma were no match for Troy¡¯s skills, they were certainly enough to defeat a norm al fighter. For Dustin to have defeated them so easily spoke volumes about his abilities, even if it wasn¡¯t m uch Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. for Troy. ¡°Mr. Williams! Didn¡¯t you say that it wouldn¡¯t be a problem?¡± Tina eximed. Her disfigured face made her look like a malicious demon. ¡°Just a bit of miscalction. But no worries, this fellow wouldn¡¯t be able to do much with me and Troy here!¡± Oliverughed awkwardly and exined. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Hummer. I will avenge you!¡± Troy stepped forward and stared into Dustin¡¯s eyes. ¡°I admit, you do have some skills. But too bad yo u¡¯re facing me today! I¡¯ll give you onest chance. Kneel down and beg for mercy right now, and I migh t spare your life.¡± ¡°Punk! Did you hear that? Hurry up and kneel! Otherwise, you¡¯ll be obliterated by Troy!¡± Oliver added. ¡°Really? Give me all you¡¯ve got.¡± Dustin answered calmly to their taunts. ¡°Bastard! You really can¡¯t catch a hint! Don¡¯t you know who Troy is? He¡¯s the Lightning Fist of Boulderth orn, who¡¯s never fallen in battle!¡± Oliver bragged confidently. After hearing those words, the crowd went wild. ¡°What? Is he really the Lightning Fist, Troy Chapman?!¡± ¡°Oh my God! I can¡¯t believe even the Lightning Fist is here, this is gelling Interesting!¡± ¡°What¡¯s Lightning Fist? Is he great?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not only one of the elites in Boulderthorn, He¡¯s at the top of the board! He could take on a hundred men at once. What do you think, Isn¡¯t he great?¡± ¡°There are only a few people in Swinton who can match the Lightning Fist¡¯s skills. Looks like this kid is meeting his end!¡± After learning Troy¡¯s true identity, the crowd began praising him. The spectators had anticipated an ordinary light, but it was not until a top fighter like him emerged that t hey realized the true potential of the bout. Troy¡¯s chin lifted with a newfound arrogance as he basked in the adtion of the crowd. He really enjoy ed the feeling of being admired. ¡°Punk! Weren¡¯t you so confident just now? Why are you silent now? Are you scared?¡± Oliver mocked. Though his abilities may not have stood out as much, his senior, Troy, was undoubtedly a top¨C notch fighter. He had been training all his life and was already a master at honing his energy. His ability was second best to the grand master himself, No one in Swinton could faze him. ¡°What¡¯s a Lightning Fist? I¡¯ve never even heard of it.¡± Dustin remained unbothered. These words once again drove the crowd wild. ¡°My goodness! Does he not treasure his life? He dared insult Lightning Fist¡¯s name!¡± ¡°He¡¯s clearly unaware of his limits! He can¡¯t evenprehend how strong Lightning Fist is!¡± ¡°What a reckless idiot! Thinking he knows everything! Let¡¯s see how he faces deathter!¡± All eyes were fixed on Dustin, who seemed to have earned the scorn and contempt of the crowd. ¡°Punk! You¡¯ll face the consequences for the words that just left your mouth!¡± Troy¡¯s expression turned c old. He was still acting recklessly even after learning his true identity. How foolish of him! ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. You better leave now or I won¡¯t hold back on you!¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes were burnin g with rage as he stared Tina down. The other people in the room were not even worthy of Dustin¡¯s attention, as he remained solely focuse d on Tina. ¡°Mr. Chapman! Kill him!¡± When Tina met Dustin¡¯s gaze, she was frightened to death. She could feel a c hill run down her spine. At the moment, she only hoped that he could get rid of that crazy bastard as soon as possible. ¡°Punk! Since you want to die so badly, I¡¯ll fulfill your wish!¡± Troy flexed his muscles as he let out a yell, causing his shirt to rip apart, revealing his chiseled physique. Thebination of his impressive muscles and his shy, swift movement caused a group ofdies to swoon in admiration. ¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you what it¡¯s like to be a Lightning Fist!¡± Troy closed the distance between himself and Dustin with a small, swift movement before leaping into t he air and extending his arms like a hawk, ready to strike. ¡°How majestic! How astonishing!¡± The crowd thought. ¡°Die!¡± Troy spun around, his head aimed towards the ground, and struck Dustin¡¯s head with a powerful punch. The spectators were impressed as they watched Troy¡¯s impressive pose. ¡°How handsome!¡± ¡°He¡¯s so majestic!¡± ¡°Ms. Hummer, did you see that? That¡¯s Troy¡¯s signature move, the Lightning Fist! One punch would be able to break mountains!¡± Oliver exined proudly. ¡°It would be best if he could kill him with one p!¡± Tina said with a sardonic smile. ¡°One punch is definitely enough to kill him!¡± ¡°This fellow should be proud to die in Lightning Fist¡¯s hands!¡± The guests shook their heads, convinced that Dustin¡¯s fate was sealed. After all he was facing a full¨Cblown punch from the Lightning Fist himsell. In Swinton, how many people would be able to stop this kind of punch? ¡°You¡¯re just all show!¡± Dustin¡¯s voice was cold and unwavering as he stood his ground. Without hesitation, he retaliated with a punch that caught Troy off guard. ¡°Boom!¡± Their fists collided with a loud bang. Dustin had not moved an inch, but the ground beneath him had shattered. Troy, on the other hand, let out a pained cry as his fist erupted into a trace of blood. He was sent flying across the room at lightning speed,nding heavily against the wall as blood spurted from his mouth. Before Troy could even react, Dustin was already in front of him, delivering another punch. His moves weren¡¯t as shy, but they were deadly. ¡°Please spare me!¡± All the color drained from Troy¡¯s face as he screamed in horror. With a loud ¡°Thud¡°, he kneeled on the ground. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 ¡°Whoosh!¡± Troy felt a Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. strong gust of wind hit his face, causing his features to contort in pain as he could feel his bone bing dislocated. His eyes were fixed on Dustin¡¯s fist, which stopped right in front of his chest. Although it was still a few i nches away, the intimidating force still caused him to tremble in fear. ¡°rgh!¡± Blood spurted from his mouth. With just the sheer force of his Fist Energy, Dustin had the power to dislocate the bones in Troy¡¯s body. The thought of what would have happened if his fists had actuallynded on him was almost too terrifying to contemte. He was lucky that he had kneeled in time. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve been out cold! ¡°Spare me! Please!¡± Troy was now on his knees, his face drained of color as he begged frantically. All t he confidence he had earlier was gone, reced by fear and desperation. Rather than shock, Troy was feeling terrified at the moment. That was because when their fists collided, his power shattered like ss in a split second, leaving him defenseless against the sheer force of his opponent. He could feel the excruciating pain in every single bone in his body. This situation would only happen w hen there was a significant disparity in skill level. That is why, when Dustin was about to make another move, Troy chose to beg for mercy. Begging for f orgiveness on his knees was a small price to pay in exchange for his life. ¡°Don¡¯t appear in front of me again!¡± Dustin said coldly. ¡°Yes, right away!¡± Troy immediately fled the room without an ounce of hesitation. He didn¡¯t even care a bout his dignity. ¡°Um.¡± Everyone was dumbfounded as they watched Troy flee the scene. The top¨C notch warrior, an elite disciple from Boulderthorn known as Lightning Fist, had actually fled from battle? Everyone¡¯s jaws dropped in disbelief. No one could have predicted this oue. Originally, they believed that Troy¡¯s appearance would resolve the situation, but now the tables had turn ed If they had not witnessed it first¨C hand, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to belleve it. A legendary warrior who had never been deleated in battle fled the scene in terror! ¡°How¨CHow is this possible?!¡± Oliver¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. That was his incredible senior, Troy Chapman! As a disciple of Boulderthorn, Troy was a master at honing inner energy, with unmatched skills and extr eme talents. Oliver couldn¡¯t wrap his head around how this had happened. He didn¡¯t even hesitate to kneel down and beg for mercy! ¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Oliver wondered. ¡°T¨CThere¡¯s no way! It¡¯s impossible!¡± Tina couldn¡¯t stop shaking her head in shock. That was the top disciple from Boulderthorn. How could he be defeated by a nobody? In fact, she wasn¡¯t the only one thinking about it. Everyone in the room had the same idea. However, the truth was right in front of them, and no matter how much they wanted to deny it, it wouldn¡¯t change the oue. ¡°Did you say that you would stand up for her too?¡± Dustin¡¯s gazended on Oliver. ¡°Punk! You¡¯re lucky that my senior¡¯s injury recurred today, otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to es cape so easily! Next time, you wouldn¡¯t be so lucky!¡± After finishing his sentence, Oliver fled the scene. Il Troy was no match for Dustin, then wasn¡¯t he just an easy target? ¡°Mr. Williams! Mr. Williams! Tina yelled at the top of her lungs. Yet, Oliver picked up the pace and ran e ven faster, disappearing without a trace. At that moment, she was frozen on the spot. ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I¡¯ll pay you back tenfold for the damage you did!¡± A cold voice rang beside her ears. Tina turned around and realized that Dustin was already standing behind her. ¡°I¡¯m warning you! Don¡¯t mess with me! I¡¯m Edwin Hummer¡¯s daughter! If you dare toy a finger on me, you and your entire family, even your rtives, will suffer the consequences of crossing the Hummers!¡± Tina shouted desperately. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll y this game with the Hummers. But before that, I will need to get my revenge first!¡± Dustin¡¯ s hand shot out and grasped Tina. A horrific, ear¨C piercing scream echoed through the entire hotel. The screams continued every few seconds. When Julie arrived at the hotel all drenched, she saw Tina being tortured. She waspletely frozen a s she stared in shock. Earlier, when Dustin left the hospital, she felt that something was off. So, she immediately followed him . She never thought that he could be so brave to go against Ms, Hummer in front of such a crowd. At that moment, Tina was not just unrecognizable, all four of her limbs were detached from her body. The gory scene filled with blood was extremely unsettling. ¡°Stop! Stop this instant! Dustin! Are you out of your mind? Hurry up and let go of Ms. Hummer!¡± Julie c ame running as she yelled. Dustin ignored Juliepletely. He just looked down at Tina, who was lying on the ground, with a final flicker of life. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you tonight, but that doesn¡¯t mean I forgive you. In three days, kneel down and apologize to Dahlia! Oth erwise, you will suffer the consequences!¡± After finishing his words, he raised two fingers and thrust them into Tina¡¯s pressure points all over her body. It was a technique he had developed himself, and it was deadly. The victim would slowly die in three d ays. Moreover, he was the only one who could break the curse. ¡°Crazy bastard! You¡¯re a maniac! Now that you¡¯ve hurt Ms. Hummer, you¡¯re not the only one who will su ffer! We¡¯re all doomed because of you!¡± Julie saw Dustin, who was about to leave, and yelled at him on ce again. Yet. Dustin did not even spare her a nce and kept walking towards the exit. The crowd made way for his exit, not daring to stop him. ¡°Hurry! Secure the premise!¡± Suddenly, a shout was heard from outside. A horde of towering fighters stormed into the room. Instantly, the men surrounded the entire room. ¡°Who dared to cause trouble at my ce?!¡± A man with dark sunsses and a smoldering cigar strolled into the room, emanating a menacing and dangerous aura. ¡°This is great! Sir Zims is finally here! We can finally have the scene under controll ¡°Sir Zims is the trusty right¨C hand man of the Hummer family. He definitely wouldn¡¯t let him off for beating Ms. Hummer into a pulp! ¡°Although he¡¯s quite skilled, he only has two fists! He wouldn¡¯t be able to take on hundreds of men no matter how skilled he is!¡± The crowd went wild once again as help arrived at the scene. *Sir Zims! You¡¯re just in time! Dustin not only caused trouble, but he also beat up Ms. Hummer!¡± Julie q uickly reported the incident to him. ¡°What? He dared to hit Ms. Hummer? Which bastard did this? If you have the guts,e forward! Let¡¯s see if I can tear you apart myself!¡± Mason¡¯s gaze narrowed, his blood boiling with anger. ¡°It was me.¡± Dustin approached him slowly. ¡°You¨C1¡± Before Mason could strike, his expression changedpletely when he saw him. ¡°M¨C Mr. Rhys? It¡¯s you?!¡± Dustin simply uttered a single word, ¡°Scram!¡± ¡°Yes Sir!¡± Mason nodded and stepped aside. Once again, the entire room was dead silent. Chapter 137 Chapter 137 The rain was falling even harder. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Edwin was in the middle of a conversation with Fletcher at the Hummer Vi. ¡°Mr. Hummer, the first batch of Eternumax has been sold out. On top of that, we received a lot of positi ve feedback. A lot of people are interested in partnering with us in the long term. Now, we¡¯ll be able to mass produce this product!¡± Fletcher reported excitedly. ¡°That¡¯s the secret recipe for you, alright. Who would¡¯ve thought it would have such great feedback right after its debut?¡± Edwinughed joyfully. He originally thought that it would take a while for people to warm up to the product. He didn¡¯t expect th e opportunity to present itsell so quickly. At that point, he must strike the iron while it¡¯s hot. ¡°Speaking of which, we should be grateful to the Harmon family. Without their painstaking research all these years, we wouldn¡¯t have this baby in our hands right now.¡± Fletcher grinned. ¡°Natasha was foolish to dare to fight against me! I¡¯ll defeat her once and for all with Eternumax!¡± Edwin said happily. ¡°Then I shall congratte Sir Hummer in advance for your sess!¡± Fletcher pped. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s gettingte. Time to join Tina¡¯s party. If I¡¯m toote, she¡¯ll certainly have someints.¡± Just as Edwin stood up with a grin on his face¨C An old butler ran into the room frantically and eximed, ¡°Sir! Bad news! Ms. Hummer has been beate n up!¡± ¡°What? Beaten up? What on earth happened?!¡± Edwin frowned. Who was brave enough to dare touch Edwin¡¯s daughter? ¡°There was a kid who stirred things up at the party. He even beat Ms. Hummer half to death in front of e veryone! Ms. Hummer has already been sent to Hummers Hospital. The butler reported in a hurry. Hummers Hospital was under the Hummers¡® supervision. It was also one of the top hospitals in Swinto n. The doctors are all global elites in the medical field who pledged to serve the Hummer family. ¡°Go! To the hospital!¡± Edwin didn¡¯t spare another second and immediately rushed to the hospital along with a group of people. However, as he cautiously stepped into the hospital ward, his eyes widened in disbelief at the Jarring s cene that greeted him. On the bedid his own daughter, Tina, who was nearly lifeless. Her face was utterly unrecognizable, a mangled and gory mess. Her limbs were even worse, appearing as if they had been brutally torn apart from her body, her bones shattered and beyon d repair. ¡°Who?! Who did this?¡± Edwin roared like a crazed lion. For all his years, no one daredy a finger on his daughter. ¡°Sir Hummer, from what we¡¯ve found, it seemed to be done by a guy named Dustin.¡± At that moment, an injured bodyguard exined the earlier events to Edwin. After hearing his exnati on, his expression immediately turned dark. ¡°That son of a bitch again! He keeps ruining my day! I¡¯ll cut him into pieces! Guards! Get me the best tr ackers and track him down, I want him captured alive!¡± Edwin clenched his fists and said between gritte d teeth. ¡°Also, kill the entire Nicholson family! I want them all dead!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± After receiving orders, the group of people immediately scattered. ¡°Sir Hummer, that guy¡¯s skill is quite unmatched. Not anyone could go against him.¡± Fletcher said. He¡¯d been pped by Dustin once. Until now, he¡¯s still a bit traumatized. ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Edwin turned around. ¡°From what I know, it would be best to summon the White Dragon guild. The members are all top¨C notch fighters. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem for them to take on that guy.¡± Fletcher suggested. ¡°White Dragon guild? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s overkill to use them against a nobody?¡± Edwin narrowed his e yes. The White Dragon guild was Edwin¡¯s secret weapon, and he wouldn¡¯t use it lightly. ¡°Sir Hummer, this guy is not just a normal fighter. He has the Harmon family supporting him. To be safe, we must summon the White Dragon guild. It would be the best choice.¡± Fletcher advised seriously. After pondering for a few seconds, Edwin finally made the decision. ¡°Alright! Contact the White Dragon Guild immediately. Get me the best fighters!¡± Whoever dared toy a finger on his daughter would have to pay the ultimate price! On the other hand, in Java Joys. ¡°What? Dustin stirred up trouble at the Hummer¡¯s party? And he beat Tina into a pulp?¡± Natasha was ¡°Yeah! Oustin is insane! He beat her up in front of so many people! He even tore her limbs apart. He¡¯s really on another level!¡± Ruth said excitedly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯d do something irrationally. How could he do something like that?¡± Natasha was puzzled, ¡°Probably because of that girl! How could he hold back after that Nicholson was publicly shamed? That ¡¯s why he went to get revenge.¡± Ruth did not hide anything from her sister. Alter hearing the news, she shared every single detail with her. ¡°No wonder.¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°Sis, aren¡¯t you mad at all?¡± Ruth was a little surprised. ¡°Why should I be?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°Dustin mace such a grand move for that woman. It¡¯s obvious there are still some lingering feelings bet ween them. Are you not bothered by it?¡± Ruth was straight to the point. ¡°Dummy, they just got a divorce. Of course, there would be some lingering feelings. That¡¯s inevitable. Al so, if Dustin had not acted on it, he would ve lost my respect.¡± Natasha was unconcerned. ¡°Sis, I really don¡¯t get what you¡¯re thinking sometimes. I wouldn¡¯t be able to let it go if a man I like had li ngering feelings for other women.¡± Ruth scratched her head. ¡°After all, the ball is in their court. I believe that Dustin wouldn¡¯t let me down.¡± Natasha smiled. Dustin¡¯s pride wouldn¡¯t allow him to make the same mistake twice. ¡°I hope so. Rather than Tyler, I would much prefer Dustin to be my brother¨Cinw,¡± Ruth muttered. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Nothing is set in stone yet. Tell the others to keep an eye on Dustin. If he¡¯s in da nger, make sure to help him immediately!¡± Natasha rolled her eyes and ordered. ¡°Okay!¡± Ruth nodded and immediately lelt. They were both well aware that Edwin would not let this go easily. It was inevitable for a war to happen¡­ Chapter 138 Chapter 138 After that big incident at the party, Dustin finally returned to East Swinton Hospital. When he entered th e ward. he noticed that Florence and James had already arrived. ¡°Which evil bastard beat up my daughter to such a state? How could they be so cruel?!¡± ¡°Exactly! If I find out which bastard did this. I¡¯ll tear them into pieces!¡± Seeing the injured Dahlia, the Nicholsons couldn¡¯t help but curse, feeling pity for her. ¡°Why are you here? We didn¡¯t even contact you.¡± Suddenly, one of them noticed Dustin, who was stan ding at the door. ¡°I came to check on Dahlia¡¯s injury.¡± Dustin walked into the room slowly, his face not showing a hint of e xpression. ¡°Get out! You¡¯re not wee here!¡± James roared, letting out his pent¨Cup anger. ¡°Dustin! Tell us the truth. Does my daughter¡¯s injury have anything to do with you?!¡± Florence red at him. ¡°I don¡¯t have the details about how she was injured. Perhaps you should ask Julie this question instead.¡± Dustin replied. *Julie? Speaking of which, where is she? Didn¡¯t she attend the party with my sister? Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± James frowned. ¡°Could it be that Julie is injured too? Dustin! What exactly is going on here? Who hurt my daughter? An d where is Julie?¡± Florence¡¯s expression immediately turned dark. ¡°I think it would be best if you didn¡¯t find out.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°If you have something to say, then say it! No matter who hurt my sister, I will make them pay!¡± James s aid furiously. ¡°That¡¯s right! We won¡¯t let them off easily!¡± Florence eximed. ¡°The person who injured Dahlia is Tina Hummer,¡± Dustin answered truthfully. ¡°Tina Hummer? Who¡¯s that?¡± James had no clue. ¡°The daughter of the richest man in Swinton, Edwin Hummer.¡± Dustin replied. ¡°What?! Sir Hurrmer¡¯s daughter?!¡± Everyone was stunned by this piece of information. They exchanged nces, not knowing how to reply. Especially Florence and James, whose anger imm ediately disappeared. They would¡¯ve been yelling for revenge if it had been an ordinary person. Yet, when they heard the name Hummer, they didn¡¯t even dare to get angry. ¡°We had no grudges against the Hummer family. How could Ms. Hummer be so cruel to us?¡± Florence gulped. ¡°That¡¯s right! My sister was invited to the party. How did she cross Ms. Hummer?¡± James frowned, dee p in thought. The others were uneasy as well. The Hummer family was someone they would never dare to provoke. Even if they were wrongly used, they couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°You won¡¯t have to do anything. In three days, I¡¯ll let Tina Hummer apologize to you all in person.¡± Dust in assured easily. ¡°Hey! Do you even know what you¡¯re saying? Do you know who Ms. Hummer is? Do you think that¡¯s so T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. mething you can handle? You¡¯ll let her apologize? Look at yourself!¡± James said, unimpressed. ¡°Exactly! Do you have no idea who you are? You just know how to brag all day long! If you really had t hat ability, why would you let them hurt my daughter in the first ce?!¡± Florence eximed. It was obvious that they did not take Dustin¡¯s words seriously.. After all it was Edwin¡¯s daughter. A true billionaire. Even they were afraid of provoking them, let alone a nobody like Dustin. ¡°You all must be the patient¡¯s rtives.¡± At that moment, a nurse walked into the room ¡°We just received a notice that the patient shall be transferred to a VIP ward and receive better treatme nt. All of this will be free of charge. Will you guys ept this offer?¡± ¡°Free of charge? Of course, of course. We most definitely ept.¡± Florence¡¯s eyes sparkled as she no dded fervently. ¡°That¡¯s great, please follow me.¡± After a signal from the doctor, a few others came into the ward to help Dahlia into the new ward. Dustin stood still as he watched the people leave the room. It was his order to switch to a VIP ward. Although he was not afraid of Edwin, it was still inevitable that he would seek revenge. This was his saf ety measure. A few moments after Florence and the others left the room, Julie sprinted into the ward. ¡°Aunt Florence! I have big news! I just saw Before she could finish her sentence, she was stunned. Her eyes widened as her gazended on Dusti n. ¡°You! Why are you here?¡± ¡°You¡¯re just in time. I have something to ask.¡± Dustin approached her slowly. ¡°D¨C Don¡¯t corne any closer! What are you trying to do? I¡¯m warning you, y back!¡± Julie retreated two step s. backward in fear. She could still vividly picture the scere earller where Tina was brutally beaten up. In her eyes, Dustin was a maniac! ¡°Why are you so afraid? Could it be that you¡¯re guilty of something?¡± Dustin said lightly. ¡°You¡¯re the one who should be guilly! I don¡¯t have anything to hide. What¡¯s there for me to be afraid of? ¡± Julie dered, putting up a front. ¡°Good. Then let me ask you, were you the one who framed Dahlia for stealing at tonight¡¯s party?¡± Dusti n¡¯s demeanor turned cold. ¡°Nonsense! We¡¯re cousins, how could I harm her? I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t use someone innocent!¡± Julie¡¯s expression contorted into a panic. ¡°use someone innocent?¡± Dustinughed coldly. ¡°Then tell me, how did this end up in Dahlia¡¯s bag? Who else would have ess to her bag other than you?¡± He tossed a box in front of her with a pair of ruby earrings inside. ¡°H¨CHow would I know? It¡¯s not me!¡± Julie¡¯s eyes shed with panic as she desperately clung to her lie. ¡°You better think clearly before you answer. Otherwise, you¡¯d lose your chance.¡± Dustin said expression lessly. ¡°What do you mean? Are you saying that you¡¯lly a finger on me?¡± Julie shouted sternly. ¡°You have one minute left.¡± Dustin lifted a finger. ¡°What on earth are you trying to do? I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡± Julie said as she backed away slowly. ¡°Ten seconds left.¡± ¡°Dustin! I¡¯m warning you.¡± Before Julie could finish her threat, footsteps could be heard outside the room. ¡°Boss. I already got the information that Danlia is in this ward!¡± ¡°Good! You, keep a lookout. The others. follow me!¡± After an exchange of words, a few assassins dressed in ck immediately swarmed the room. ¡°Who is Dahlia Nicholson?¡± The leader scanned the room with a piercing gaze. ¡°She is.¡± Dustin pointed his finger at Julie. The next second, with a sharp ¡°ng¡°, two swords were pressed against Julie¡¯s neck. ¡°Bring her!¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ¡°What?¡± Julie¡¯s mind went nk when a pair of swords were held at her neck. She was unable to proce ss what was happening. From the assassins¡® forced entry to Dustin framing her, everything happened too quickly. When she fin ally regained herposure, she was already in danger. ¡°Rhys! How could you do this to me!¡± Seeing as she was about to be held hostage, Julie panicked. ¡°Wait, it¡¯s a mistake! I¡¯m not Dahlia, you¡¯v e got the wrong person!¡± ¡°Do you think we are stupid? This man told us you are Dahlia Nicholson!¡± The assassins¡® leader retorte d. ¡°He¡¯s spouting nonsense! Don¡¯t believe him!¡± Julie said, cold sweat running down her forehead. She never expected Dustin to exact his revenge on her in such a despicable manner! ¡°ording to our intel, Dahlia is in this hospital room. If you aren¡¯t Dahlia; why would you be here?¡± Th e leader demanded fiercely. ¡°I¨CI was just passing by-!¡± Julie stammered. ¡°Fuck! How dare you lie to me? You must be tired of living!¡± Julie was violently pped on the cheek by the leader, making her ears ring. ¡°What are all of you doing? Take her away!¡± He ordered. Some of his men immediately dragged Julie towards the door. ¡°It¡¯s not me! It¡¯s really not me! Rhys, you asshole, you framed me! Are you even human?¡± Julle burst int o tears and wailed loudly. She knew that if she were to be taken away, she would definitely suffer inhumane abuse. ¡°Dustin! I¡¯m sorry! Please save me, I¡¯m begging you! I¡¯ve learned my lesson! On ount of Dahlia and Old Mr. Nicholson, you can¡¯t sit back and do nothing! You have to save mel¡± Julle broke down and apol ogized profusely. At this moment, only Dustin could save her. ¡°Shut the hell up, you bitch!¡± Julie¡¯s cries for help got on the nerves of the assassin leader. He gave her a few more ps on the face. Julie staggered and fell to the ground, blood flowing from her lips. When Dustin felt that Julle had been punished enough, he spoke up, saying, ¡°Guys, I¡¯m sorry for the confusion. I¡¯ve made a mistake, she is not Dahlia.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± When they heard this, the assassins froze. *Punk! How dare you trick me?¡± The leader narrowed his eyes threateningly. ¡°I guess you could say that.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°You bastard!¡± The leader was furious. He rushed towards Dustin with his heavy de and swung it u sing his full strength. By the agility and power of his movements, the leader was obviously a martial artist. His skills were far superior to those of a normal person. However, Dustin did not dodge. He blocked the attack with his bare hands andnded a kick on his opponent¡¯s abdomen. The leader screamed in agony as he flew out the door. ¡°How dare you hurt our leader? You are dead meat!¡± The other three assassins threw Julie aside as they turned to attack Dustin simultaneously. However, before they could get close enough, Dustin gave all three of them a flying kick and knocked their heads together. Without another word, they fainted on impact. ¡°Fuck, who is this monster?¡± Thest assassin, who was guarding the door, saw what happened to his teammates. Fearful for his lif e, he ran away as fast as his legs could take him. Four of his friends were dead. He wasn¡¯t sticking around to find out what was going to happen to him. ¡°Dustin, you¡­¡± Julie¡¯s eyes were as wide as saucers. She never knew that Dustin was such a good fighter. In the blink of an eye, he single¨C handedly defeated four assassins. She breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Dustin was around to sav e her. On second thought, she remembered that it was because of Dustin that she was mistaken for Dahlia. Julie¡¯s anger zed to life again. ¡°Confess to Dahlia regarding today¡¯s incident. Remember, there is no next time,¡± Dustin said with a co ndescending re. ¡°I¡¯ll let you off today, Rhys! However, don¡¯t be too proud! Edwin wille after you now that you have b eaten up Ms. Hummer! You will be hounded out of Swinton!¡± Julie gritted her teeth in anger. ¡°You must be sorely mistaken. It¡¯s not the Hummers¡± who will being after me, but me going after th em. The Hummers¡® must issue a public apology regarding the assauli,¡± Dustin said breezily ¡°Public apology? You must have lost your mind! What right do you have to demand an apology from th e Hummer family?¡± Julie scoffed. ¡°Whatever, it¡¯s up to you whether to belleve it or not. Dustin shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you can fake it! Hopefully, you won¡¯t be wetting your pants in front of Edwin Hummer!¡± Jul ie scoffed again and turned around to leave. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chanter 13 Dustin couldn¡¯t care less about her. He dragged the leader of the assassins into the hospital room. ¡°Did Edwin send you?¡± ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Through gritted teeth, the leader answered rudely. ¡°How many of you are there?¡± Dustin continued calmly. ¡°The White Dragon guild is full of skilled lighters and martial artists. Five of us were sent to scout ahead . If you desire to live, it would be best to surrender immediately!¡± The leader threatened. ¡°Ive never heard of the White Dragon guild.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re being ignorant! The leader smirked. ¡°Punk, if I were you, I would flee Swinton right now. Otherwise, you will be sitting ducks when our guild master arrives personally!¡± ¡°Really? I¡¯ll be waiting for him, then.¡± Dustin smiled. With a loud crack, he twisted the assassin¡¯s leader¡¯s neck. He died on the spot. At this moment, a group of menacing bodyguards appeared at the end of the corridor. Stephan was leading the way! ¡°Greetings, Mr. Rhys!¡± Stephan walked up to Dustin and bowed slightly.. ¡°Ms. Harmon ordered us to assist you. If you need our help, just ask for it.¡± ¡°Thanks for the kind thought, Mr. Chapman.¡± Dustin nodded in return. ¡°There are a few unconscious assassins. here w ho have been defeated. Please dispose of their bodies.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Stephan gestured to his men, and they quickly carried the bodies off. ¡°By the way, what do you know about the White Dragon guild? Custin questioned. ¡°The White Dragon guild is regarded as one of the top three guilds in Swinton. Their guild members ar e mainly ruffians and scoundrels from the underworld. They take orders from Edwin and conduct illegal operations. Their infamous reputation precedes them,¡± Stephan exined. ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°The White Dragon guild has many skilled lighters, especially the guild master. Dracor Millroy. He is on e of the best martial artists in Swinton. It is said that his skin is imprable to a sword or de as he has attained the highest tier of martial artistry. The wise thing to do would be to escape instead of challenging him.¡± Stephan wa med. 1 *Thanks for your advice. I know what to do,¡± Dustin replied nonchntly. He was curious to see what it would be like to spar against the best martial artist in Swinton. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 The night grew dark as rain poured down. The streets were empty, as there was no one around. Just then, a fleet of ck Hummer vehicles drove in at high speed, sshing puddles of water. The veh icles pulled up at the entrance of a hospital building. As the car doors opened, a group of burly, muscr men got out. One of them was smoking a cigar. He was arge and muscr man with a beard, more than six feet tall at least a head above normal m en. His arms and thighs were bulging with muscle. ¡°Guild master! That man is still inside, he never left.¡± Thest assassin pointed to one of the floors of the building. He had been lying in wait for support to arrive as he spied on Dustin. ¡°I expected that you could handle this guy on your own. Why do I still have to be personally involved?¡± The bearded man narrowed his eyes with displeasure. He was the guild master of the White Dragon guild! ¡°Guild master, don¡¯t underestimate that guy. He took us down as easily as dominoes!¡± The T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. assassin reported. ¡°Alright, surround the building. The earlier we get this settled, the earlier we can rest,¡± Dracor ordered impatiently. If it weren¡¯t for Edwin¡¯s orders, he wouldn¡¯t have inconvenienced himself bying down personally. ¡°Stop! Who goes there!¡± A group of bodyguards dressed in suits streamed out of the building. They were the Harmon family¡¯s men. ¡°What, was there a group of men protecting him? Alright, you boys can use them for practice.¡± Dracor motioned to his men. ¡°Yes, guild master!¡± His disciples behind him grinned evilly and rushed up to fight the bodyguards. They were out for blood like a pack of wolves. ¡°Stop them!¡± The bodyguards were not to be outdone. They pressed forward as one to block the guild members. The scene erupted into chaos. Although the bodyguards were well¨C trained, their fighting skills weren¡¯t on the same level as those of the members of the White Dragon guil d. After a while, the bodyguards were forced to retreat, falling under the pressure. ¡°Who dares to go against the Harmon family? An aggressive roar Interrupted the fight as Stephan emer ged with a few of hisrades. Making his way through the crowd, the guild members were repelled backward by Stephan¡¯s internal e nergy. creating a space around him. ¡°Oh, is he a martial artist with internal energy? How dare you show off your tricks in front of an expert? Get out of the way!¡± Dracor had a cold smile on his lips. Stephan threw fist after fist without stopping, forcing the guild members to fall back. They were no matc h for him. ¡°Reckless bastard!¡± Dracor took a deep breath and released a surge of energy in Stephan¡¯s direction. The attack sliced through the raindrops and zeroed in on him. Fortunately, Stephan had a keen sense of danger. He noticed the attacking and went into a defens ive. stance. ¡°Boom!¡± An explosive sound was heard as Stephan¡¯s defense was shattered. He was blown backward about 30 feet away, leaving deep tracks on the ground. Stephan was flung on to a wall like a ragdoll as he spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Weakling.¡± Dracor scoffed. Dracor thought that he had finally met a worthy challenger. Unexpectedly, he couldn¡¯t even withstand a single blow. ¡°Y¨CYou, who are you?¡± Stephan furrowed his brows and stared at the towering figure in front of him. Due to the darkness, he couldn¡¯t identify who the man was. ¡°How dare you beat up my men if you don¡¯t even know who I am?¡± Dracor approached him menacingly. Stephan finally recognized him when his bearded face was illuminated by the streetlights. ¡°You¨CYou are Dracor Milfroy?¡± Stephan fixed his eyes on the man as fear spread across his face. The nightmare he dreaded really came true! ¡°Since you seem to know me, we can settle this easily, Kneel down and beg for your life. If I¡¯m in a goo d mood, I might let you go.¡± Dracorughed mockingly as if he was entertained by Stephan¡¯s fear. ¡°Both of you, go and tell Mr. Rhys to escape. I¡¯ll hold them back!¡± Stephan gritted his teeth and prepare d himself for a fight to the death. ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± The bodyguards behind Stephan ran into the building without hesitation. Their mission was to protect Dustin and they were prepared to do it at the expense of their lives. ¡°Heh, do you think you could hold me back?¡± Dracor smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to buy him some time!¡± Stephan was determined. ¡°Don¡¯t me me for your death since you were the one who asked for It! Dracor scoffed again. He flew at Stephan like a streak of lightning. I¡¯m going all out!¡± Stephan took a deep breath and faced Dracor squarely. Both of them collided directly into each other as another loud explosion was heard. Stephan was thrown back like he had been hit by a truck, His body llew into the air andnded heavily on the ground with a loud thud. Blood spurted out from his mouth and nose. He did not even have the s trength to stand up. ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate your abilities!¡± Oracor taunted. Compared to Dracor strength, Stephan¡¯s internal energy and skills were feeble. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I did my best. I hope I have bought enough time for you to escape, Stephan muttered as heid in the rain, despair in his eyes. Dracor was on another level as he had already attained the highest tier of martial arts. In addition, he had trained his body to be as imprable as steel. No wonder he was deemed the best martial artist in Swinton! Stephan knew that he was no match for Dracor. He couldn¡¯t even put up a good fight. ¡°It is an honor for you to die at my hands!¡± Dracor came up to Stephan and stared at him condescendi ngly, like looking down on a bug. He lifted his leg to stomp on Stephan¡¯s chest and finish him off. At that moment, all the ss windows of the hospital building shattered simultaneously. A dark figure swooped down andnded heavily on the ground. The tough cement crumbled beneath his feet andr ge cracks propagated from the spot where hended, like a spider¡¯s web that extended for miles. ¡°Who is it?¡± Everyone had bewildered expressions on their faces. Chapter 141 Chapter 141 ¡°Who is it?¡± The sudden explosion caught everyone by surprise. Initially, they thought someone hadmitted suicide by jumping off the building. However, after a good look, they realized the figure who had jumped off the building was still standing t all. In his hand, he was holding a ck umbre as he stood in the rain, giving off an overwhelming and mysterious aura. ¡°Mr. Rhys! This man¡¯s dangerous, run for your life!¡± Stephan screamed his lungs out. that the White Dragon guild was here, why did he join the fray instead of escaping? Was he looking for death? ¡°Punk, are you that Dustin guy?¡± Dracor sized Dustin up, noting his thin and frail build. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°You got some guts for not running away from the sight of me, punk!¡± Dracor smirked. ¡°Why should I run? I was waiting for you,¡± Dustin said nonchntly. ¡°Really?¡± Dracor raised his eyebrows. ¡°Interesting. It¡¯s been a long time since I havest seen an arrogant punk like you.¡± ¡°Mr. Rhys, he is too powerful for you! With his imprable skin and overwhelming energy, even if we combine our attacks, we are no match for him! Go and get support from the Harmon family while I¡¯ll hol d him back!¡± Stephan scrambled to stand up, using thest ounce of his strength to help Dustin escape . ¡°Mr. Chapman, it¡¯s alright. Leave the rest to me.¡± Dustin smiled, touched by his resolution. It wasmendable that Stephan was prepared to die to protect him, even though he was ordered by someone else. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re still unaware of the situation. Not only is this man the guild master of the White Drago n guild, but he is also the best martial artist in Swinton! He is head and shoulders above both of us! Jus t escape while you can!¡± Stephan urged. Although Dustin was a martial artist as well, he could only harness internal energy. On the other hand, as a high¨Clevel martial artist, Dracor already had the ability to manifest his energy externally. In addition, he fortified his body to be as imprable as steel. Even among the high¨C level martial artists, he was considered one of the best. Defeating a lower¨Clevel martial artist like Dustin would be a walk in the park! ¡°Mr. Chapman, don¡¯t worry. I can deal with this,¡± Dustin reassured him. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you are biting off more than you can chew! You are still young and trainable. If you survive, t here is still hope for you to defeat him one day! However, the most important thing right now is to stay alive!¡± St ephan was getting anxicus. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Dustin couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. Were his words that unbelievable? He didn¡¯t even care if he went up against a godlike opponent. Defeating a high¨Clevel martial artist was nothing. ¡°Shut your yapping! Today, both of you will die here!¡± Dracor snapped his fingers. At his signal, his disciples swarmed all at once toward Dustin. ¡°Mr. Rhys, run! I¡¯ll hold them back!¡± Stephan gritted his teeth and rushed into the middle of the crowd. He had to buy more time so that Dustin could escape. Although Stephan was badly injured, he was still able to tackle arge number of men by mustering up his remaining energy. As Dracor¡¯s disciples were defeated one by one. Stephan¡¯sst¨Cditch effort angered Dracor. ¡°What a reckless idiot!¡± Dracor¡¯s expression darkened. He leaped into the air and dove at Stephan with his palm open. ¡°Come at me with all you¡¯ve got!¡± Stephan countered with his fists. As Stephan¡¯s fist and Dracor¡¯s palm came into contact, a loud st was heard as their energies repelle d each other. Stephan flew into the air like a punching bag, blood spurting from his mouth. Before his limp body crashed on the ground, Dustin caught him single¨C handedly and nullified Dracor¡¯s attack. He ced Stephan down and patted him on the back gently. After that, Dustin stood up and walked confidently toward Dracor. ¡°Wait a minute, Mr. Rhys! I know you have some skills, but you are no match for Dracor! He is definitely not an opponent either you or I could handle! He is a monster! Quick, grab this opportunity to escape before it¡¯s toote!¡± Stephan shouted frantically, ig noring the blood dripping down his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Stephan. On the contrary, he is no match for me.¡± Heavy raindrops sshed on his umbre as Dustin continued walking toward Dracor. ¡°Punk, you should have listened to his advice! Now, it¡¯s toote to regret it! You lost your chance!¡± Dracorughed menacingly. He dug his heels into the ground and shot out like an arrow in Dustin¡¯s direction. He was nning to us e his momentum and crush Dustin with his body of steel! ¡°Mr. Rhys, be careful!¡± Stephan¡¯sce turned pale. Dracor was a high¨C level martial artist and one of the best in Swinton. Going squarely against an opponent of his caliber was just looking for trouble! Just as Stephan thought that Dustin would die on the spot, a miracle happened! 313 Even though Dracor had smashed into Dustin¡¯s body like a tank, he did not move an inch. He reached out, grabbed Dracor by the neck, and lifted him off the ground. Dracor¡¯s muscr body dangled in the air like a chicken awaiting ughter, his feet kicking frantically. However, he could not escape from Dustin¡¯s iron grip. ¡°Mr. Chapman, what were you saying just now?¡± Dustin turned to Stephan and asked nonchntly, an umbre in one hand and Dracor hanging helplessly from the other. Dustin couldn¡¯t catch what Stephan had said to him just now because of the heavy rain. Looking at the scene before him, Stephan was dumbstruck. Dracor was dangling helplessly in the air lik e a puppet. Never in his dreams had Stephan imagined that the proud and arrogant Dracor Milfroy would be restrai ned by Dustin with just one hand. Everything happened so quickly that Dracor had no chance to retaliate. Besides, it had to be said that Dracor wasn¡¯t an average, run¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmill fighter. He was a high¨C level martial artist with formidable energy! How could Dustin single¨Chandedly defeat a martial artist like him? This was ludicrous! Chapter 142 Chapter 142 ¡°Let me go¡­¡± Dracor iled helplessly, his face red as he gasped for air. At that moment, not only was he bewildered by the sudden twist of events, but he was also filled with dr ead! He thought that he was a big fish in a small pond like Swinton. Who knew that he would end up sparring against a divine¨Clevel martial artist here? A divine¨C level martial artist in his twenties? It was unheard of in all of South City. How could such an invincible li ghter appear in Swinton? ¡°Fuck, this punk is incredible! Even our guild master was defeated by him!¡± The disciples of the White D ragon guild whispered among themselves in disbelief. Seeing as their leader had been defeated, some of them slipped away as fast as they could. ¡°Dracor, seems like your disciples aren¡¯t as loyal to you as you thought.¡± Dustin smirked. ¡°Who¨CWho the hell are you?¡± Dracor gritted his teeth as his veins popped from the pressure. He didn¡¯t have the energy to struggle any further. ¡°That¡¯s not important right now. Go and send this message to Edwin. Tell him to bring his daughter and apologi ze to me. Otherwise, I will have a personal chat with him!¡± With that, Dustin punched Dracor in the stomach. Dracor spat out a mouthful of blood as his internal en ergy dissipated instantly! ¡°H¨CHow could you drain my energy?¡± Dracor widened his eyes in fear. ¡°Why can¡¯t I? You have lost fair and square!¡± Dustin swung around and threw him into the air carelessly . ¡°Guild master!¡± The remaining disciples ran up to Dracor and helped him up. Although they were indignant, they kept a safe distance from Dustin. ¡°Today, I¡¯ve lost. I admit my defeat. Boys, let¡¯s go!¡± Dracor wiped away the blood from his face as he an Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. d his men left with their tails between their legs. ¡°Mr. Rhys¨CDid you thrash Dracor Milfroy?¡± Stephan¡¯s eyes were wide with shock and amazement. ¡°I told you. He is no match for me.¡± Dustin smiled easily. He handed a gemiphen pill to Stephan. ¡°Mr. Chapman, take this healing pill and have a good rest. You will recover from your injuries and be as good as new tomorrow.¡± ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhys!¡± Stephan popped the gemiphen into his mouth without hesitation. After a few minutes, he felt a sensation of warmth spreading outward from his stomach. He could visibl y feel. the energy from the pill healing his wound from the inside out. His internal bleeding stopped, an d soreness slowly disappeared from his limbs. ¡°Wow, this pill is incredible!¡± Stephan blinked in surprise at how fast his Injuries healed. ¡°Mr. Chapman, sorry for the inconvenience. You should go back and have a rest now,¡± Dustin said with a smile. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Stephan nodded and made his way home. With Dustin¡¯s overwhelming powers, his help was obviously unnecessary. That night went by in a sh. The next morning, in a VIP room at East Swinton Hospital. ¡°Mother, bad news! Something terrible has happened!¡± James rushed into the hospital room in a hurry, sweat pouring from his forehead. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you so out of breath early in the morning?¡± Half¨C asleep, Florence jumped out of her skin at James¡® sudden outburst. Some other rtives who were resting in the room looked displeased at his disturbance. ¡°It¡¯s true!¡± James was gasping for air. ¡°I received news that the Hummers were going to boycott us, the Nicholson family! Half of the business es in Swinton have us cklisted and are unwilling to engage with ourpany!¡± ¡°What? Boycott us? James, are you joking? How could this be?¡± Florence was taken aback at the shoc king news. She could not believe that was happening. ¡°Why would I joke about this?¡± James pulled a long face. ¡°Quine Group¡¯s stock prices have been plummeting since this morning. If this continues, we will be bankrupt in three days!¡± When James announced this, the room erupted into chaos. ¡°How could this happen? Why would Mr. Hummer boycott us?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, we have nothing against the Hummers. There¡¯s no reason for him to do this!¡± Everyone was at a loss about this situation. Edwin Hummer was one of the Mighty Three! With his connections and influence, it would be as easy as ple to destroy the Nicholson family! ¡°James! Tell me exactly what happened! Did we do anything to offend Mr. Hummer?¡± Florence said anx iously as beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s not us, it¡¯s Dustin who offended him! I heard Dustin showed up at the Hummers¡® partyst night an d beat up Ms. Hummer. The Hummers are boycotting us for revengel¡± ¡°That idiot again? Useless bastard! Why do we have to clean up his mess? Now the Nicholson family would have to pay for his deeds! Is there any justice left in the world?¡± Florence spat in anger. ¡°Why? We have already cut off ties with Dustin. Why would the Hummer family go after us? This isn¡¯t f air!¡± LIL ¡°That¡¯s right! The Nicholson family has nothing to do with Dustin any longer. He should be punished for what he had done!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no useining. Let¡¯s think about how to cate Mr. Hummer¡¯s anger!¡± The ruckus started up again as everyone had something to say. However, no one had any concrete id eas about how to solve this issue. Dahlia, the backbone of the family, was still unconscious. With their status, none of them had any right to meet with Mr. Hummer. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± At that moment. Matt walked into the hospital room. ¡°Matt, thank goodness you are here! You have to help us, the Nicholson family is in a crisis!¡± Florence r an up to him. Matt was herst hopel The rest of them turned to Matt expectantly, nodding in agreement. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, I will do my best to help. You have to tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± Matt saidfortingly. ¡°It¡¯s all Dustin¡¯s fault! Here¡¯s what happened ¡ª Florence did not hold back and briefly exined everything that had urred. ¡°I understand.¡± Matt nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Are you asking me to meet with Edwin and beg for the Hummers¡® mercy?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! Aren¡¯t you acquainted with Mr. Hummer? As long as you take our side, I¡¯m sure Mr. H ummer will relent!¡± Florence pleaded. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, it¡¯s not that I refuse to help. However, Ms. Hummer is still unconscious after getting beaten up so badly. If I go to Mr. Hummer at this time, I¡¯m afraid he would turn his anger on me. ¡± Matt replied awkwardly. ¡°Matt! If you could help us through this crisis, you would be our family¡¯s savior! Aren¡¯t you interested in Dahlia? Both of you can register to be married immediately once she regains consciousness!¡± Florence reassured him. ¡°That That doesn¡¯t sound like a good idea. I don¡¯t want to take advantage of this situation. Why don¡¯t we consider this again after Dahlia regains consciousness?¡± Mall asked. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? Both of you are mutually interested in each other. It¡¯s just a matter of time before getting engaged! Once we survive this crisis, both of you should get married as well!¡± Florence promis ed with determination. ¡°Well I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Matt nodded with a torn expression. However, on the inside, he was ted. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 In an office of the Hummers Hospital, Edwin was resting with his eyes closed on a chair. Suddenly, a knock was heard. ¡°Come in.¡± Edwin opened his eyes and saw Fletcher walk in with a grave expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Edwin asked, worried. ¡°Sir Hummer, we received newsst night that Dracor was severely injured.¡± Fletcher reported. ¡°What? Dracor was beaten up? Who was the perpetrator?¡± Edwin¡¯s face twitched. ¡°It was Dustin!¡± ¡°Dustin again? How could that punk have such overwhelming powers?¡® Edwin frowned. Dracor was his right¨C hand man. Being the best martial artist in Swinton, no one could withstand his attacks. Merely the mention of his name was enough to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents. Usually, Dracor could easily unravel any sticky situation that Edwin had assigned him to. How could su ch a capable fighter like him fall into Dustin¡¯s hands? It was iprehensible! ¡°Sir Hummer, Dustin told Dracor to send you a message,¡± Fletcher continued hesitantly. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Dustin insisted that Ms. Hummer had to apologize to him personally. Otherwise, he would pay you a visit!¡± ¡°That punk had the nerve to threaten me? He must have a death wish! Edwin mmed his fist on the table in anger. He was the one who beat Tina up. Now, he expected the Hummers to apologize to him? Dustin was going too far! T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Sir Hummer, please calm down. His abilities are far superior to any of ours, so it is best not to fight with him head¨Con.¡± Fletcher reasoned with Edwin. ¡°Then should we just let him go?¡± Edwin demanded. ¡°Of course not!¡± Fletcher shook his head. ¡°Although Dustin is a formidable martial artist, he is but one man. We can use our influence to drive hi m out of Swinton,¡± ¡°Continue.¡± Edwin nodded to Fletcher to continue. ¡°Eternumax, the medicine produced by ourpany, is sought after by many families, especially the H armon family! We can use this to negotiate and get their cooperation. With their support, we can take D ustin on!¡± Fletcher smirked. ¡°That makes sense. Il Natasha agrees to abandon him, dealing with Dustin alone would be a piece of c ake!¡± A smile yed on Edwin¡¯s lips. ¨C ¡°That¡¯s what I thought! Nheless, the prescription of Eternumax is still in our control. After we are se ttled with that punk, it would make things easier for us to turn against the Harmon family as well. Fletch er cackled gleefully. ¡°Good idea. I¡¯ll contact Natasha right away!¡± Without any dy, Edwin took out his phone and dialed Natasha¡¯s number. ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Harmon? I¡¯m calling about a business deal.¡± ¡°Yes, yes! This is about the Elernumax!¡± ¡°If both parties could reach an agreement, this would be a huge boost to our wealth and reputation!¡± ¡°Regarding my conditions¡ª it¡¯s very simple. As long as you turn your back on Dustin, we can be loyal business partners!¡± As the conversation continued, Edwin¡¯s expression turned sour. His face was livid when he ended the call, ¡°Sir Hummer, how is it? What did Natasha say?¡± Fletcher asked out of curiosity. ¡°She told me to get lost!¡± Edwin answered. ¡°What?¡± Fletcher was speechless at her reply. ¡°This woman must be blindly in love with that punk! What foolishness to forsake such a lucrative deal f or a man!¡± Edwin gritted his teeth in anger. ¡°Women tend to be emotional. She will regret it once Eternumax takes the world by storm!¡± Fletcher ch imed in. Edwin didn¡¯t reply, as he had too many things on his mind. These few days, nothing seemed to be going right for him. ¡°Sir Hummer, terrible news!¡± At this moment, a doctor ran into the room hurriedly. ¡°Ms. Hummer¡¯s condition has suddenly taken a tur n for the worse!¡± ¡°What do you mean? She¡¯s in danger? How could this have happened? Wasn¡¯t she fine yesterday?¡± Ed win Jumped up from his chair. He grabbed the doctor by the cor and roared. ¡°Ms. Hummer is suffering from a strange condition that can¡¯t be cured medically. Y¨C You would understand once you see it for yoursell,¡± The doctor stammered. ¡°Show me!¡± Edwin growled. He followed the doctor all the way to the intensive care unit. Tina was lying on the hospital bed. Her fac e was twisted with agony, and she appeared very weak. ¡°Tina, how are you feeling?¡± Edwin knelt beside her bed, his face filled with worry. ¡°Dad¡ªI don¡¯t feel so good, it hurts Tina whispered weakly, as it her life was hanging on a thread. ¡°What the hell happened? Why would my daughter deteriorate into such a poor state?¡± Edwin red at the doctor. ¡°Sir Hummer, we have fixed the fractures on Ms. Hummer. Her injuries should be healed in a few days. However, she has other injuries that we can¡¯t fix.¡± ¡°What other injuries?¡± Edwin furrowed his brows. ¡°Sir Hummer, please have a look.¡± The doctor removed the nkets from Tina¡¯s body. On her abdomen, there were a few purple bruises. It seemed like she was hurt by a heavy object. The size of the bruises was at least 3 inches long and slightly sunken inward. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just a bruise? What¡¯s there to be worried about?¡± Edwin asked, puzzled. ¡°Sir Hummer, this isn¡¯t a normal bruise. It¡¯s a symptom of a rare curse. The person who left the curse h as. blocked Ms. Hummer¡¯s blood cirction. If this continues, the organs in her body will malfunction a nd die. ording to my experience. Ms. Hummer¡¯s life would be in serious danger!¡± The doctor exined gravely. ¡°What?! How could this be? Is there no cure?¡± Edwin was taken aback at the startling news. ¡°Unless the person who ced the curse lifted it, there¡¯s no cure!¡± The doctor sighed and shook his he ad. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 ¡°What do you mean it can¡¯t be cured?¡± Edwin repeated. ¡°Are you telling me that only that Rhys punk can cure my daughter¡¯s sickness?¡± He furrowed his brows as the color drained from his face. ¡°You certainly need the right person for the right job, so we¡¯ll have to track him down no matter what it t akes.¡± The doctor confirmed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe this bastard! How dare he use such underhanded tactics!¡± Edwin growled through gritted teeth as his eyes shed with anger. ¡°What should we do now, Sir Hummer?¡± Fletcher asked. They had failed to bribe Natasha, and Dracor was now in critical condition from getting beaten up. It seemed like both civilized and uncivilized methods had failed to work. Dustin seemed to be a thom in their side l ately. But most importantly, Tina¡¯s life was literally in that man¡¯s hands. So, even if they had any countermeasures up their sleeves, they were still afraid of making the first mo ve. After remaining silent for a while. Edwin finally decided. ¡°Call that punk and get ready to negotiate with him!¡± ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Fletcher obliged. He then proceeded to hastily ask someone for Dustin¡¯s number. After dialing the number, he swiftly handed the phone over to Edwin. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± Dustin¡¯s voice came from the other end. ¡°Edwin Hummer speaking.¡± Edwin greeted coldly while holding back his anger. ¡°Let me a ask you one thing, kid. Did you harm my daughter in any way, or did you not?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s Sir Hummer on the line. Well if you¡¯re referring to the curse, then yes, they were from me,¡± Dust in replied dryly. ¡°You got a lot of fucking nerve, boy! How dare youy your hands on my daughter?!¡± Edwin roared whil e gnashing his teeth. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask your daughter about the things she¡¯s done? How would she have ended up like this if she hadn¡¯t pushed her weight around so much?¡± Dustin retorted indillerently. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re thest person I want to talk to about this right now! You¡¯d better cure my daughter right this instant!¡± Edwin ordered. ¡°What makes you think I should do everything you ask right away? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a little t oo cocky right now?¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°So you want to bargain first, don¡¯t you? Fine, we can do that! As long as you cure my little girl, I promise not to hold you ountable for anything else in the future! Edwin barked. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s it?¡± Dustin sneered in reply. ¡°I¡¯ll also lift the ban on the Nicholsons immediately so that the whole family can get back on track.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re still mistaken about what I truly want. I do not need these, Dustin replied. ¡°What do you want then?¡± Edwin growled. ¡°It¡¯s simple. I just want your daughter to apologize to me,¡± Dustin said. ¡°What?! You want her to apologize to you?!¡± Edwin shrieked, his face turning cold in an instant. ¡°Is it unreasonable to ask for an apology from someone who assaulted you for no reason?¡± Dustin aske d rhetorically. ¡°Who do you think you are, kid? How dare you request that a Hummer apologize to you? What makes you think you deserve the honor?¡± Edwin roared while burning with anger. While he did not intend to pursue the matter, which was already out of the reach of thew in the first pl ace, he felt that this man was full of himself for thinking that the Hummers owed him an apology! ¡°If you refuse to give me an apology. I¡¯ll just save my breath then. However, you can¡¯t me me for not reminding you that your daughter won¡¯t be able to hold on for much longer, Dustin said, then immediate ly hung up the phone after. ¡°Does this punk think that he can push me around?!¡± Edwin bellowed. Edwin was so furious, he almost smashed the phone in his hands onto the ground. Who did he think h e was. exactly? He was one of the Mighty Three, the richest man in his city, and was also known as an important figure in the Underground World, Within his domain, it could be said that he was the one who called the shots and that he could get anyt hing he asked for at the drop of a hat. He couldn¡¯t remember thest time he had been humiliated like this. What would happen to the Hummer¡¯s reputation if word got out that they visited the Nicholsons to offer an apology? Would they still have any dignity left after that? ¡°I feel it would be wiser to be the bigger person in this situation, Sir Hummer. We should agree to his terms first in order to save Ms. Hummer.¡± Mr. Lawson advised from the side. ¡°If we agree to his terms now, won¡¯t any Tom, Dick, and Harry gain the right to shit and piss on the Hu mmer name from then on?¡± Edwin snapped in a booming voice. ¡°This is just one way to slow him down, Sir Hummer. Once we manage to save Miss Hummer first, we can still take our time in thinking up ways to get back at that punk,¡± Mr. Lawson suggested. Edwin fell silent after hearing that. His suggestion was reasonable, but the prospect of giving up the reputation of the Hummers to lower them selves to offer an apology to others was an unbearably ufortable thought to him. ¡°Dad, it hurts It¡¯s so painful! Save me! Tina Hummer moaned profusely as sheid in bed. Looking at his daughter¡¯s pain¨C stricken face, Edwin took a deep breath and finally decided to settle on apromise. He dialed Dustin¡¯s number once again and spat into the phone. ¡°I¡¯ll adhere to your terms, kid, but you¡¯d better not y tricks with me!¡± ¡°The apology has to be sincere. If you insist on acting like this, then we have nothing else to talk about, ¡± Dustin said indifferently. ¡°How dare you-¡°Edwin stopped as the corner of his eye began to twitch. ¡°Fine, you win! I¡¯ll send someone over today at noon to give an apology in person!¡± He roared while fo rcefully holding back his anger. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Dustin replied. During noontime, inside a VIP ward in East Swinton Hospital, Dahlia had woken up a long time ago, a nd the redness and puffiness on her cheeks had already faded quite a bit. Her hands were still wrapped with bandages, so she was advised not to move around too much for the time being. When Dustin walked through the door with a fruit basket in hand, he noticed that members of the Nicho lson family had gathered together and were discussing something. Even old Mr. Nicholson, who had been living in seclusion, had shown u 1. up. ¡°The nerve of you to show your face here, Rhys! Do you have the slightest idea about the amount of d amage you¡¯ve caused us? Because of you, the Hummers banned us! Are you happy now that the Quine Group is on the brink of copse?¡± Florence y elled at him the moment sheid eyes on him. She went from her initial state of calm to jumping to her f eet and spewing expletives. The others remained silent but eventually started donning indignant looks on their faces. Even Dahlia w as frowning at him. She received news of the Nicholsons¡® ban from the Hummers the moment she woke up, and the reaso n for that was that Custin had allegedly given Ms. Hummer a beating. Although she knew that she herself was the person he had done it for. But his ¡®help¡® had ultimately sent the entire Nicholson family to the fiery depths of an inlerno instead! ¡°Alright, alright, stop bickering already. We all know that Dustin did all that to stand up for Dahlia, While it was somewhat impulsive, I¡¯d like to think that he did it with pure intentions in mind,¡± Old Mr. Nicholson This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. tried to calm everyone down. ¡°Are you honestly still speaking on his behall when things have gotten to this stage, Dad? Do you only intend to stop when the family is in shambles? Florence said through gritted teeth. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already taken care of the problem with the Hummers, Dustin spoke up calmly. ¡°What do you mean you¡¯ve taken care of It? What¡¯s your solution? If you were that capable in the first p would the Nicholsons still be banned by now? You¡¯d better scram right now. I don¡¯t want to see your fac e anymore! Shoo!¡± Florence screamed. In the middle of her rage, she grabbed the fruit basket from Dustin¡¯s hands and smashed it onto the gro und. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°That¡¯s enough! Now¡¯s not the time to point fingers. Since we¡¯re in a tight situation now, what everyone needs to do is help one another out and ride out the storm together, not grab each other by the throat!¡± Old Mr. Nicholson yelled after witnessing Florence¡¯s burst of rage. ¡°Easy for you to say. This is the Hummer¡¯s ban we¡¯re talking about. Who knows, all of us might go bank rupt in a couple of days and no longer have a ce to call home in Swinton anymore!¡± Florence snapp ed in fury. ¡°That¡¯s right! If it wasn¡¯t for Dustin, who kept stirring up trouble and dragging us down with him, how could the Nicholsons even have ended up in this situati on today?¡± James spoke, and the rest agreed with him. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Dustin? I believe that you can enlighten all of us here?¡± Dahlia suddenly piped up. She was giving him a chance to exin himself properly. ¡°Tina was unruly and unreasonable, which is why I decided to put her in her ce,¡± Dustin replied bluntly. ¡°See, everyone heard that, right? He beat up the girl first, so he was the one who instigated this whole t hing in the first ce. So, he¡¯s entirely to me for the ban on the Nicholson family!¡± Florence shouted even more fiercely. ¡°You¡¯re a thorn in our sides, Dustin! You owe us an exnation for every affliction you¡¯ve caused all of us!¡± ¡°I suggest kidnapping him and handing him over to the Hummers so that we can quell their rage!¡± A bunch of chatter erupted from the crowd, and it could be seen that most of them were in favor of kidn apping him. ¡°You are too impulsive, Dustin! Do you even know who Ms. Hummer is? What makes you think you¡¯re worthy of going head¨Cto¨Chead with her? Do you know how much trouble you¡¯ve caused?¡± Dahlia scoffed with a frown. ¡°So what you¡¯re telling me.Is that I should¡¯ve just sat there and watched as you got brutally beaten up a nd humiliated?¡± Dustin sneered coldly. It didn¡¯t matter if Florence and the others didn¡¯t understand, but if Dahlia still insisted on pinning the me on him, then he¡¯d feel that all his efforts were for nothing. ¡°Don¡¯t you twist my words! I am trying to tell you to consider the consequences first before doing 19 anything! Not only did you get us into trouble, you even hurt your reputation in the process!¡± Dahlia r etorted with a scowl on her face. ¡°I¡¯m not the type to dwell on the details. All I know is that I¡¯ll get revenge on anyone who crosses me!¡± Dustin said in a cold voice. ¡°You guys heard it yoursell! This kid is still as stubborn as ever! Thus, we must hand him over to the Hu mmers! ¡°Florence instigated as she gestured at two of the younger Nicholsons. The two immediately understood her intention and ced their hands on each side of Dustin¡¯s shoulder s.¡± You¡¯d better be more cooperative with us, or else you¡¯ll get what¡¯sing to you!¡± Dustin frowned and was ready to pounce on them when Julle suddenly burst into the room with a panic ked look on her face. ¡°This is bad, Auntie! The Hummers have brought their men here to kill us all!*T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Chanter 145 ¡°What?!¡± A collective gasp arose from everyone in the room as the news startled them. They thought it was already bad that the whole family got banned, but they never expected the Hummers to be this cruel. They were already knocking at their doors. Were they trying to drive them into a corner? ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over! We¡¯re dead meat this time!¡± ¡°How could this happen? Why can¡¯t the Hummers give us a break for once?¡± The crowd panicked and started jumping to their feet anxiously. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that damn bastard! It¡¯s all his fault!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The Hummers must havee for Dustin, so let¡¯s hand him over and we¡¯ll be all right!¡± Everyone in the crowd immediately turned their gazes to Dustin, causing a millionser¨C like res tond on him at the same time. In their opinion, if they could sacrifice Dustin to save themselves, that would be the best course of actio n. Just as the crowd was still in an uproar, a group of people from the Hummer family started boldly enteri ng the venue. The leader of the procession was Tina, who was sitting in a wheelchair, Following behind her were a fe w representatives from the Hummer family, as well as a few escorting bodyguards. At the time. Tina looked weak, as her eyes were half shut and half open. Both of her hands and feet w ere in casts, her entire face was bruised and swollen, and her features seemed to have been disfigured pletely. If someone were not closely acquainted with her, they would have a hard time telling between her curre nt and actual looks. ¡°M¨CMs. Hummer?¡± The crowd let out a gasp. Everyone from the Nicholsons was taken aback as they stared at the nearly paralyzed and disfigured Ti na. Although they knew that she¡¯d gotten her ass beaten, they didn¡¯t expect it to be that bad. Her face had swelled up so much that it almost resembled a pig¡¯s head. If they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn¡¯t have believed that the young, spoiled¨Cto¨Cthe¨C coredy of the Hummer family would even live to see such a day. Wasn¡¯t this Dustin fellow too much for doing that though? ¡°D¨CDustin¡ª Don¡¯t tell me you were the one who beat Ms. Hummer up this badly?¡± One of the Nicholsons asked s hakily as he looked at the others in shock.. ¡°Rhys! You¡¯d better admit everything by your own choiceter and not drag us into this!¡± Florence sho uted as she broke into a nervous sweat. The situation was much direr than she had anticipated. James went straight to the point. After walking three steps forward, he immediately fell to his knees with a loud ¡°Thud¡± in front of the Hummers. The inertia generated by his fall caused his torso to slide forward by a few inches. ¡°Ms. Hummer, this has nothing to do with us! It was Dustin Rhys who beat you up, so if you want to plot your revenge, please just plot it on his head. Please spare our family!¡± James pleaded in desperation. Upon witnessing this, the majority of the Nicholsons unanimously approved of his actions on the inside. They admired him for his humble and responsible nature and thought of him as one of the good men in the Nicholson family. He was probably the type to rush forward in the face of danger too. They were certain that the Nicholso n family would continue to thrive and prosper, what with such an outstanding individual in the family. ¡°Huh?¡± A collective gasp arose from the people from the Hummers. When they all saw James kneel on the floor, some of them exchanged nces with one another,pletely dumbfounded by wh at had just happened in front of them. Shouldn¡¯t they be the ones apologizing? Howe it¡¯s the other way around now? What the hell was h appening now? ¡°I suppose you must be mistaken about something, kid?¡± The butler of the Hummer family asked with p erplexed look on his face. Even though he had imagined countless horrible scenarios that coulde out of this, this wasn¡¯t in hi s predictions at all ¡°Oh right, before I forget¡± before the butler could finish his sentence, James immediately assumed that t he butler wasn¡¯t nning on letting them go. He turned around and started iling his hands in the air. ¡°Someone, anyone! Bring Dustin to me! I¡¯ll ge t him to bow down to the Hummers and beg for their forgiveness!¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯ll do it myself,¡± Dustin said, shaking off the two men before he trudged forward. ¡°Everyone! That¡¯s him! He¡¯s the one who beat her up- James shouted while pointing at Dustin. When the Hummers finally saw what had unfolded in front of their eyes, their expressions changed dra matically and all of them fell to their knees with a loud ¡®Thud¡°. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 ¡°Huh?!¡± James¡± jaw dropped to the floor looking at the representatives from the Hummer family kneeling toward him. Everyone¡¯s eyes were as big as saucers as they stared in disbelief. Who would¡¯ve thought that the high and mighty Hummer family would ever kneel toward them in their li ves? Were these mega¨C bigshots ever this humble before? What was wrong with them today? Were they sick or something? ¡°What¡¯s happening? Didn¡¯t the Hummerse to retaliate? Why are they all kneeling?¡± ¡°What are the Hummers doing? This isn¡¯t some kind of reverse psychology tactic, right?¡± ¡°Something¡¯s fishy here. I think this is part of their n!¡± As the Nicholsons continued to stare at the Hummers who were kneeling in front of them, not only were they not the least bit happy about this, but this even frightened them tremendously. Some of their legs even gave out as time passed. That was because the scene in front of them was to o overwhelming for them to handle. To think that a mega bigshot would kneel for them? They couldn¡¯t even see it happening in their dream s. ¡°Forgive me. Ms. Nicholson. The Hummers were the ones who were at faultst night. Thus, we are ga thered here today for the youngdy to offer her sincere apologies to you in person. I hope you can for give us, Ms. Nicholson.¡± After Fletcher took the lead and spoke up, he immediately bent down and kne eled on the ground with the utmost sincerity. ¡°Our sincere apologies, Ms. Nicholson!¡± The representatives from the Hummer family shouted. All of th em kneeled in unison afterward, without much thought for their reputation. Such a turn of events dumbfounded the Nicholsons yet again. So, it was true! The Hummers were apol ogizing to them! But the question now was, why? ¡°W¨C why are you all? What is going on, Mr. Lawson?¡± Dahlia stuttered while lying on her hospital bed. She was so antsy about the situation that she immediately got out of bed. Weren¡¯t they here for revenge? Why were they kneeling toward her? ¡°The Hummers aren¡¯t unreasonable people. We admit our mistakes when we¡¯ve done wrong, so we h ope that you can forgive us for our trespasses, Ms. Nicholson, Fletcher replied with his head lowered. ¡°What are you talking about, Mr. Lawson? Please get up quickly! I¡¯m afraid there has been a misunderstanding. We¡¯d already be d if the matter was dropped entirely. What other reason do we h ave to use the Hummer family of?¡± Florence apologized profusely with a big smile after she came to her senses. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s right! Please get up from the floor, Mr. Lawson!¡± The Nicholsons were still in a state of shoc k even now. To them, it was already a huge relief that the Hummers were willing to let the matter slide. They wouldn¡¯ t ever have the guts to coerce them into apologizing to them. ¡°As long as you continue to refuse to ept our apology, we¡¯ll continue kneeling like this until the end of time. Ms. Nicholson.¡± Fletcher insisted stubbornly. ¡°Please get off the floor, Mr. Lawson. Let¡¯s just pretend none of this ever happened, alright? Dahlia spl uttered. somewhat at a loss for words. Even though Tina was the one who was at fault, she ended up being the one who suffered more sever e injuries than Dahlia. While she was expected to recover in about three to five days, she doubted if Tina could even get out o f bed by herself without resting in bed for hall a month first. This was the main reason she was so speechless when she heard that Tina, a member of the usually pigheaded Hummer family, was even going to apologize to her. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Nicholson, for being so kind to us!¡± Fletcher eximed as his face lit up with joy. He pr oceeded to give her a bow before gesturing for the representatives from the Hummer family to get up of f the floor. ¡°This is great. So it was a misunderstanding, after all. We should be fine now.¡± Florence let cut a long si gh of relief. Although she didn¡¯t know what had just happened, it was obvious that they managed to tide through thi s time of crisis unscathed. ¡°That¡¯s right! Peace and harmony bring wealth, after all!¡± James grinned, even though his back was dre nched in a cold sweat. Just when everyone thought that they were sale, Dustin suddenly spoke out, ¡°Wait a minute. Tina was t he one who beat Dahlia up, so it¡¯s only fair that she apologize too,¡± The crowd immediately burst into an uproar the moment they heard that. Some of the representatives fr om the Hummer family started exchanging nces with frowns on their faces. Meanwhile, it felt as if the Nicholsons had been struck by lightning, as all of them remained frozen on th e spot. Was that man batshit crazy?! The Hummers had already announced that they nned to drop the matter entirely, so why was it that this man still insisted on courting death on their behall? It was one thing to beat her up and cause such a huge disaster to happen in the first ce, so why did he still insist on getting an apology out of Ms. Hummer when the Hummers had already decided to drop the matter? The fucking audacity of this bastard! ¡°Rhys! Have you been kicked in the head by a donkey? If you don¡¯t know what to say, then shut up!¡± Th e moment she reeled back from her shock, Florence barked at him out of fear, ¡°You little shit! If you want to fucking kick the bucket so much, why don¡¯t you keep us out of this!¡± Jam es cursed and felt like going up to him to throw hands. ¡°Some balls you got. Rhys! The Hummers let you off by the grace of their hearts, and yet you still dare to say that so shamelessly! Do you want to die so badly?¡± To them, Dustin was a lunatic who spouted nonsense. Both parties had already reconciled with one another, so why bother stirring up trouble again? What if this angered the Hummers? Then, who would be the one to take the fall? ¡°Is it not right to seek an apology from someone who beat you up? Am I wrong?¡± Dustin asked inly. ¡°Shut the fuck up, Rhys! You¡¯re a nuisance. You¡¯re going to get us killed!¡± Florence jumped to her feet T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. and cursed. ¡°Dustin! Please stop this, okay?¡± Dahlia pleaded as she broke out in a cold sweat too. She hadn¡¯t expected the man in front of her to spew such outrageous words from his mouth in their curr ent predicament. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll shut up. I¡¯ll leave the rest up to all of you,¡± Dustin replied. Without saying anything more, he re treated to a corner, by his own admission. ¡°I think his brain must have been fried, Ms. Hummer. Thus, you shouldn¡¯t pay him any mind.¡± Florence i mmediately lunged forward to apologize, as she was afraid of offending the Hummer family. ¡°Yes, yes! This guy is a psychopath. He no longer has dealings with the Nicholsons.¡± James was also f ull of smiles as he feigned humility. However, instead of feeling any sort of relief, the representatives from the Hummer family turned extraordinarily gloomy instead. After Fletcher whispered a few words to Tina, who was nearly fully paralyzed in her wheelchair, Tina gri tted her teeth and finally opened her mouth to croak something. 1¨CI¡¯m sorry¡­it was all my fault,¡± She said, out of breath. The whole room fell dead silent the moment she finished. Florence and the rest were even more shell¨C shocked, as their expressions immediately twisted into shock. Did the spoiled youngdy of the Hummers, the one who called all the shots in Swinton, actually just ap ologize? Chapter 147 Chapter 147 When Tina and her entourage left the scene, the Nicholsons still felt like they were in a daze. They were still reeling at the fact that the high and mighty youngdy of the Hummer family had not onl y pardoned their wrongdoings but was also the first to humble herself and apologize to them in person after getting her ass whooped. It was truly unfathomable! ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Hummers today? Who knew that they could even be this humble?¡± ¡°I know, right? If I hadn¡¯t pinched mysell, I would have thought I was dreaming!¡± ¡°Could it be that Ms. Hummer genuinely realized her mistakes, and that¡¯s why she came over to apolog ize in person?¡± ¡°Nonsense! You overestimate how righteous the Hummer family can be!¡± The Nicholsons erupted into a flurry of discussion, and it seemed like it wasn¡¯t about to die down soon. ¡°This can¡¯t be Dustin¡¯s doing, right?¡± Julle asked herself with a suspicious look; she felt uneasy on the i nside. Ever sincest night¡¯s beating session, Dustin had disyed a kind of calm that was umon in mos t people. As if he was confident that everything was going fine as nned. So, either he waspletely aware of the situation, or he was too good at hiding his emotions. Then again, when she thought back to the fact that he¡¯d been married to his cousin for three years and hadn¡¯t aplished much over the years, she found it incredibly hard to believe that he was the guy who brought the Hum mers to their knees. Amid all the confusion, Matt Laney, who was dressed to the nines, suddenly strolled into the room. ¡°Huh, so everyone¡¯s already here. Just in time, too. I have good news for you all the ban by the Humme rs has officially been lifted!¡± Matt announced the news with a big grin. ¡°I understand everything now! So, everything that happened just now was because of you, right Matt?¡± Florence probed, as she assumed she¡¯d seeded in connecting all the dots. Her gaze instantly perke d up too. ¡°That¡¯s right! How did I forget that we still have Matt here with us!¡± James eximed aftering back to his senses. ¡°No wonder the Hummers apologized to us! So, after all, it was because Matt was secretly helping us b ehind the scenes!¡± ¡°Exactly! Who else could be this capable apart from Mr. Laney?¡± At that moment, all of the Nicholsons had starstruck looks on their faces. So the reason why the Hummer family decided to offer an apology was that Matt had pressed them to Content ? N?velDrama.Org. do so. behind the scenes. ¨C Chapter 14) That¡¯s right! That must be the case! ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What just happened?¡± Matt asked around, confused. To think that they just bombarded him with things he didn¡¯t understand. Even if he had sharp wits, he was still unable to piece together everything that had happened yet. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide anything from us anymore, Matt. We all saw what you did. If not for you, how w ould Ms. Hummer even have apologized to us?¡± Florence said with a relieved look on her face. ¡°She apologized?¡± Matt repeated in disbelief, and his heart rate started to increase. He knew exactly the kind of person Tina was. To think that an obnoxious woman like her had shown up at one¡¯s door to apologize in person? ¡°Exactly, Matt! This time, not only did you tide the Nicholsons through our storms, you even managed t o surprise our family. You are a great benefactor to our family!¡± James praised enthusiastically. *Thank you, Mr. Laney! You saved our whole family!¡± The Nicholsons shouted as they stretched out their hands to thank him profusely. ¡°Um¡ª¡± Matt trailed off in confusion. Immediately after reeling from his stupor, the ever¨Cquick¨Cwitted Matt shed a big smile. ¡°No need to be so polite, everyone. It was just something easy to take care of, I did n¡¯t even do much.¡± Although he had no idea what the context behind this was, he felt like he should just ept the Nichols ons¡± gratitude towards him. After all, who would think of turning down another¡¯s kindness? ¡°You¡¯re too modest, Matt! If it weren¡¯t for you, I¡¯m afraid the Nicholsons might have ended up in shambl es!¡± James continued boasting. ¡°Please, please, this is nothing.¡± Matt grinned and shook his head. His modest and courteous appearan ce was worthy of nothing but praise, after all. ¡°You got lucky this time, Rhys! I didn¡¯t expect you to get away with this! What are you still standing ther e for? Hurry up and bow down to Matt and give him your thanks now!¡± Florence yelled as she shifted h er sharp gaze toward Dustin. ¡°You want me to bow down to thank him? On what grounds?¡± Dustin sneered out of the corners of his e yes. ¡°Hmph, you¡¯d better not be ungrateful! You were the one who beat someone up and caused such havo c in the first ce, so if it weren¡¯t for Matt, who saved your ass, do you think that you could even be sta nding here right now?¡± Florence retorted with a re. ¡°That¡¯s right! If it weren¡¯t for Matt, you would have died a hundred Ilmes over for beating someone up b y now!¡± James echoed in agreement. ¡°You guys give Matt too much credit. He¡¯s not even remotely as capable as you think he is,¡± Dustin repli ed with a cold expression. He was even impressed at the mental gymnastics they performed to get to this point. To think that they dared to prop him up and hail him as if he were a savior without knowing the full story yet. And worst of all, Matt was just standing by and taking it all in. ¡°Hmph! Are you telling us that you¡¯re more capable than Matt? Why don¡¯t you look into the mirror and r eflect on the kind of person you really are?¡± ¡°Yeah! People like you only know how to cause trouble and nothing else!¡± ¡°To think that there are people in this world who could be so heartless! Not only did he not thank his sav ior, he even talked shit about him! How disgusting!¡± The Nicholsons berated Dustin. They despised people like him who were hellbent on repaying good wit h evil from the bottom of their hearts. ¡°Is it so hard for you just to thank someone, Dustin? If it weren¡¯t for Matt, you might have been killed by now!¡± Dahlia suddenly piped up. To her, Dustin was still being ignorant until the bitter end. Compared to Matt saving his life, what was a mere thank you? ¡°I would have if he had actually helped me. But he didn¡¯t. In fact, not only did he not help me, he was t he one who started this whole fiasco in the first ce!¡± Dustin replied tly. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°Iran a background check and found out that Matt and Tina are lovers. Tina deliberately targeted you o ut of jealousy, thinking that you and he had some hanky panky going on behind the scenes. So, that wa s what led to the assault! In a nutshell, he¡¯s the true culprit all along!¡± Dustin dered firmly. ¡°Bullshit! Rhys! Not to insult you or anything, but Matt is an upright guy. He¡¯s not as bad as you say he i s!¡± Florence cursed and jumped to her feet without waiting for Matt to respond. ¡°That¡¯s right! I think you¡¯re just jealous! You probably nted all kinds of evidence to frame him, knowing how much better he is than you!¡± James scolded. ¡°Oh, Dustin. Who knew you¡¯d be so despicable!¡± The Nicholsons scoffed. ¡°Why do you always insist on causing havoc, Dustin? Can¡¯t you be more mature and sensible for once ?¡± Dahlia spat with a scowl However, it was fairly obvious to her that he had done all of that as a result of his jealous rage. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Just ask Julie. She was the one who saw it allst night!¡± Dustin defended himself and pointed at something. Everyone¡¯s gazes immediately shifted to see what he was pointing at. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 ¡°What, me? When all eyes fell on her, Julie couldn¡¯t help but be stunned and speechless for a while. She was just here for the show, so why did she get implicated in this whole mess when she was just a nother person in the crowd? ¡°Tell us everything you saw, and don¡¯t try to hide anything, Julie. I want to see how this punk can still a rgue his way out of this!¡± Florence ordered as she crossed her arms. ¡°Yeah, Julic. Just tell us everything that¡¯s or your mind. We must expose this punk for all his lies!¡± The Nicholsons spoke out in agreement. ¡°Um¨CBut before Julie could say anything, she stopped herself. Her response made the people in the crowd feel like she¡¯d be a loose cannon. This was especially true for Matt, as he stood there with his heart pounding out of his chest while his f orehead broke out in a cold sweat. He¡¯d already been scared shitless when Dustin spoke out the truth just now, so if Julie also knew some thing and exposed him for being the one who lied instead, he¡¯d losece! ¡°I believe you know what happened yesterday the best. Julie. So, it¡¯s time to tell everyone the truth,¡± D ustin added tly.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Stop this nonsense at once. Dustin! Save some face for yourself already.¡± Dahlia chided with a frown. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be afraid, Julie. Your aunt here will back you up no matter what you say, so just tell us what you saw!¡± Florence said, acting all protective all of a sudden. ¡°Aboutst night Julie started and trailed off. After hesitating for a few seconds, she mustered up the courage to continue with a firm gaze. ¡°Yesterday night, I saw nothing and know nothing about the event s that went down. All I knew was that Dustin was the one who beat up Ms. Hummer!¡± The moment she finished, Dustin froze on the spot. He didn¡¯t expect Julle topletely flip the story on its head in front of so many people like that. ¡°Did you hear that, Rhys? So, this is the whole truth! I can¡¯t wait to see how you¡¯re going to argue your way out of this!¡± Florence shouted even louder than before. ¡°Not only do you not know how to be grateful, but to think that you even resorted to repaying good with evil, Dustin! You really are shameless! The Nicholsons spal and shook their heads. They stare at him with looks of contempt and disdain. Now that the evidence was conclusive, no amount of arguing could ever get him out of this mess. ¡°Ugh.¡± Dahlia sighed as a look of disappointment appeared on herce. She had given him so many ch ances to back down, and yet the man still insisted on being as stubborn as ever. It was almost as it he wanted all of this to happen to him. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever offended you, so why do you insist on ndering my name, Dustin? It¡¯s a good t hing that Julie has an upright character and helped me clear my name today. If not, I doubt if I could even recover from this!¡± Matt spat, feigning anger. He¡¯d been on tenterhooks the entire time, but he can¡¯t help but be secretly relieved now. ¡°You know exactly what you did. So stop pretending in front of me already.¡± Dustin snapped before turni ng his gaze to Julie. ¡°And as for you. I don¡¯t understand why you¡¯re lying right now. I¡¯m sure you know t he kind of person Matt is very well. But if you insist on standing there and watching your cousin jump int o a firepit, then I¡¯ve got nothing else to say to you.¡± ¡°Stop spouting nonsense! What did I lie anout? It was clearly you who hit Ms. Hummer!¡± Julie insisted o bstinately. ¡°Rhys! Now that your n to nder has failed, are you resorting to threatening people? Do you hones tly think that we¡¯re afraid of you?¡± Florence shouted in fury. ¡°Stop this insanity, Dustin! Stop making a fool of yourself already!¡± Dahlia cried. She only hoped that co uld see himself and the reality of the situation now. Dustin ¡°Since you guys don¡¯t believe me, let¡¯s just pretend that I said nothing today. I¡¯ll be taking my leave no w,¡± Dustin shook his head as he decided not to argue with them any further. He then turned around to l eave. He never asked for any reward or even gratitude, but he felt disappointed by their response today. ¡°Hold it right there! You¡¯ve ndered my name on multiple asions, and yet you still think of running away without giving me an apology first? Aren¡¯t you being a little pretentious right now?¡± Matt ordered. He had never liked Dustin, but to keep up his gentlemanly facade, he always tried to brush his ill feelin gs toward him aside. So, now that the opportunity to take out his anger hade, he naturally didn¡¯t want to let it go so easil y. ¡°You want me to apologize to you? What makes you think that you¡¯re worthy of it?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to leave if you don¡¯t apologize to me today!¡± Matt growled as he used his body to bl ock. the doorway, his gaze menacing. He had practiced martial arts for a few years, so he thought it would be a breeze to put an average ma n like him in his ce. ¡°Is that so? Then, I¡¯d like to see if you can actually block my path. Dustin snorted coldly before pushing past Matt and walking out of the door. ¡°Thinking of leaving? I¡¯d like to see you try!¡± Matt shouted in rage as he grabbed Dustin¡¯s shoulder with one hand and shoved him hard. He thought that he could teach him a lesson by doing that. ¡°You darey a finger on me?¡± Dustin said coldly as he turned around. He then proceeded to give Mall a heavy p on his face, the sheer force of which sent Mali llying into the air. Two teeth could even be seen flying out of his mouth. ¡°Y¨C you actually dare to hit someone at this moment, Rhys?¡± Florence gasped in horror. She didn¡¯t think D ustin would be so bold as to assault someone In public. ¡°An animal! He¡¯s an animal!¡± ¡°Matt saved your life with good intentions, and yet you still did this to him! You¡¯re worse than a dog!¡± Everyone started cursing at Dustin angrily. Everything would¡¯ve been fine if he hadn¡¯tid a finger on Matt, but now that he had, everyone no longer held back their verbal assaults. ¡°Are you out of your mind. Dustin? Why are you beating people up now?¡± Dahlia scowled. She quickly went to help Matt up from the floor. To think that he¡¯d turned his embarrassment into anger and had even resorted to beating people up in p ublic. This was unheard of! ¡°Can¡¯t you see that he was the one who threw hands first? Dustin retorted with a grimace. ¡°He merely grazed you, so why did you have to return the favor so harshly?¡± Dahlia probed with an icy re. ¡°So, are you telling me that it¡¯s fine if he does it? But when I do it back, I¡¯mmitting the greatest sin i n all of humanity?¡± Dustin snickered. ¡°You¡¯re clearly just trying to force a point here! I hereby order you to apologize to Matt right now!¡± Dahli a red. ¡°What if I don¡¯t want to?¡± Dustin frownes slightly. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll make you!¡± Dahlia shouted. With that, she pped him in the face in a fit of rage. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 ¡°p!¡± A crisp noise sounded as Dahlia¡¯s handnded heavily on Dustin Rhy¡¯s face. Due to the excessive force she applied behind the p, the wounds on her hand that had just healed got torn ope n again, causing a stream of fresh blood to flow down her fingers. Dustin touched the side of his face that burned from the p and merely stood right where he was with a neutral expression on his face. He could take all the misunderstandings and contempt from other people, but he refused to ept the f act that his ex¨Cwife had just pped him on behalf of another man. ¡°Why? Why do you insist on being this way?¡± Dahlia said through gritted teeth as her eyes filled with te ars and immense disappointment overtook her. She couldn¡¯t understand for the life of her why Dustin had be the person he was today. He was cl ose- minded, full of jealousy, and a gossipmonger; he was even repaying kindness with evil now. All kinds of bad attributes were concentrated in the body of this man. She wanted this p to serve as a wake- up call to him! ¡°Hmph. Do you want to fight me, kid? Aren¡¯t you a little too young for that?¡± Matt couldn¡¯t help but sneer at him as he witnessed the two of them turn against each other. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Although he had just lost two teeth, he couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat triumphant on the inside when h e saw Dahlia p Dustin to stand up for him. ¡°That was a good p! He deserves to be pped!¡± Florence cheered as her eyes lit up. ¡°That¡¯s right! If you don¡¯t teach him a lesson, are you still considered human at that point?¡± James parro ted out loud. ¡°Ha¡ª¡± Dustin suddenly let out a tired sigh after a long time of silence. After getting married for three years, the two had barely quarreled, let alone thrown hands at one anoth er. Thus, this would be the first andst time this happened! ¡°That p just now was for everything I¡¯ve ever done to you in the past. From now on, you and I don¡¯t o we each other anything anymore,¡± Dustin said quietly. Dustin took a deep breath before calmly turning around to leave. There was no anger, noints¨Cjust an unexpected feeling of quiet indifference. ¡°Huh?¡± Dahlia gasped in shock as she stared at his defeated back. She¡¯d been rendered speechless fo r a while. ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Just then, they all heard a knock on the door. It turned out that Mr. Fletcher, who had taken his leave earlier, had returned. ¡°Huh? Where did Mr. Rhys go?¡± He asked as he scanned the room. ¡°Why are you looking for that punk, Mr. Fletcher?¡± Florence asked in surprise. ¡°Oh, Sir Hummer told me that he hopes to dispel all the bad blood the Hummer family has with Mr. Rhy s, so he specially requested me to send him a gilt,¡± He replied. ¡°A gift?¡± Everyone looked at one another in confusion. ¡°You have got to be kidding us, right, Mr. Fletcher? How is that punk worthy of receiving a gift from Mr. Hummer himself?¡± Fl orence asked in disbelief. ¡°What do you mean ¡°how is he worthy¡®? Don¡¯t you know that he was the reason why the Hummers deci ded to lift the ban against the Nicholsons? And that he was also the one behind the apology? Mr. Fletch er replied, dumbfounded by their reactions. ¡°What?¡± A collective gasp could be heard in the room the moment he finished his sentence. The crowd was dumbfounded and filled with disbelief . They didn¡¯t hear him wrong, right? The person who had saved the Nicholsons and coerced the Hummers to give a public apology was Du stin? The trash that they¡¯d scoffed at and despised? H¨Chow was this possible! ¡°Y¨C you¡¯ve got to be joking, right, Mr. Fletcher? Are you telling us that Dustin was the one who saved us?¡± F lorence asked with widened eyes, she found this fact difficult to ept. ¡°Who else do you think it was?¡± Mr. Fletcher asked seriously. ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible! Wasn¡¯t Matt the one who helped us? How was it that trash Dustin instead?¡± Jam es shouted in rm and shook his head so vigorously it looked like a rattling drum. ¡°Matt Laney? He¡¯s nothing more than a washed¨C up member of some family, so how capable can the man be? Obviously, not enough for the Hummers t o lower their heads.¡± Mr. Fletcher scoffed before shooting Matt a look of disdain. Hearing that, every head in the crowd turned to look at Matt simultaneously. For a moment, Matt¡¯s cheeks turned bright red, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward. His reaction immediately proved that what Mr. Fletcher said was true. ¡°How could this have happened? Could it be that I¡¯ve misunderstood him?¡± Dahlia muttered to herself a fter a bolt of realization hit her. With that, she instantly rushed out of the room and chased after Dustin in the direction he seemed to h ave left 1. in. When she chased him to the gate, she looked at the figure about to get into the car. She immediately r an up to him and grabbed him by the sleeve. ¡°Dustin! Wait. I misunderstood you just now, I was too impulsive. I had no idea that you did all of this fo r us. especially the part where you had to carry so much on your shoulders. But why didn¡¯t you exin it to us? You were obviously the one who saved everyone, so why didn¡¯t you rily it with us?¡± Dahlia c ried while biting her lips. Her face was twisted in pain. ¡°What use was there to exin everything? When have you ever belleved me?¡± Dustin shot back as he shook his head. There was no greater sorrow than death, and he had beenpletely let down by her . ¡°You should¡¯ve made it clear to me at the very least. How can I believe you when you don¡¯t tell me anyt hing?¡± Dahliained angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you believe me or not anymore. We¡¯re done here. Let go of me.¡± Dustin retorted as he br oke away from her grasp with force. His gaze toward her made her feel like he was looking at a strange r. ¡°What do you want from me, Dustin? Can¡¯t you just stop being so impulsive all the time? Can¡¯t you just ask yourself if there¡¯s anything wrong with you? After all, you were the one who went out and beat up p eople who disagreed with you. If not for luck, do you think you could¡¯ve gotten out of there unscathed? All I¡¯m asking is for you to be more mature and sensible. Am I wrong for wanting that from you?¡± Dahlia shouted as his words struck a nerve inside her, causing her emotions to go out of control. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. It was all my fault. I totally deserved that p, don¡¯t I?¡± Dustin said coldly. ¡°You-¡± Dahlia wanted to say more but stopped herself. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. ¡°You¡¯ve always been this arrogant and self¨C righteous woman to me, Dahlia. You were never one to admit your mistakes first. This has proven to be true on multiple asions, especially when you just need to put a bit more thought into something or p erform a simple background check to get the desired oue. But as usual, you prefer to do nothing a nd only listen to the words you like to hear. This is why even now, you still have zero faith in me. ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed? You¡¯ve been living in your little bubble all this time, and you shut yourself off from anyone who tries to get near you. I admit, I tried my best to get to you back then, but now I¡¯ve decided to stop trying. I¡¯ve decided that this will be thest time I ever help you. I wish you all the best in your fu ture endeavors.¡± With that, Dustin got in his car and sped off. Meanwhile, Dahlia looked as if she had been struck by lightning, and she stood quietly in ce and did not say anything for a long time. I ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m so sorry! I had no idea that things would ever turn out like this!¡± Shemented to herself . ¡°I just wanted you to seed too. My only wish was for you to get ahead in life. I really had no idea tha t you¡¯d suffered this much. I was wrong; I was the one who was wrong all along! From the day of our di vorce until now, I knew that I was the one who was in the wrong all along! I remember telling you that no one would be able to make me fall in love again, but in reality, there was already someone there all along. ¡°And that person was you! But knowing that in mind, do you know why I gave you up again at thest s econd? That¡¯s because Dustin, can¡¯t you see that I¡¯m still hopelessly in love with you?¡± She painfully ad mitted. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 After staggering back to her ward, Dahlia felt as if her soul had left her body. She had a dead expression on her face, and her eyes were dull. She didn¡¯t realize that her bandaged hand was still dripping with bloo d. She remembered Dustin¡¯s disappointed gaze on her before he left, and it felt like a knife that kept stabbing at her heart. She knew that the two of them had grown further and f urther apart. In the past, she had always been career¨C oriented, as she was determined to carve her own path, which is why she ignored and sacrificed many things along the way. However, since the day of their divorce, she slowly started to realize something. It turns out that there a re things in life that were more important than one¡¯s career. However, it was a shame that she only reali zed this now. ¡°Honey, I just heard that- Florence said as she burst into the room upon seeing Dahlia enter inside moments before. ¡°I just heard that it was that Rhys kid who was the one whoid hands on Ms. Hummer and used her life as bait to get the Hummer famil y to apologize to us. He was merely using underhanded tactics the entire time!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! This Dustin guy, to make a name for himself,mitted such heinous and shameless acts without a care for his reputation at all! James echoed. Initially, they were shocked to find out that Dustin was the one who had helped them behind the scenes , but after digging for more details, they realized that it wasn¡¯t that the Hummers were scared of Dustin, but that it was Dustin who used despicable means to get them to do what he wanted, which was why th ey came and apologized in person. So although it seemed as though he was a force to be reckoned with, in reality, he had merely backed t hem into a corner! ¡°Mom, can you all just leave, please? I just want to be alone for now,¡± Dahlia responded tly, she didn¡¯ t even flinch at the news. ¡°Honey, even if we¡¯ve misunderstood Dustin, so what? The matter still stands that he¡¯s the one who¡¯s a t fault here. He was just making up for his mistakes. We don¡¯t owe him anything!¡± Florence continued. ¡°I¡¯m tired, Mom. I just want to rest now. Please go outside,¡± Dahlia requested again. ¡°But honey¡­¡± Florence whined. ¡°Just leave me alone!¡± Dahlia yelled sternly. Seeing the scowl on her face, Florence said nothing more and proceeded to usher everyone out of the room. ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that the biggest contributor to the matter would be Dustin, while the person who surprised us the most was Mr. Laney.¡± *Fucking bigshots! To think we let him scare us like that. It¡¯s already a good thing that we didn¡¯t disturb him for anything!¡± ¡°And as for Matt. I suspect that he¡¯s so blinded by love for Dahlia that, to win her over, he resorted to trickery and lies,¡± Florence exined. ¡°If you ask me, a man like this who risked his life for love and even put his reputation on the line is truly worth giving yourself to for life!¡± ¡°All of you should learn from him from now on!¡± After their session of mental gymnastics, everyone turned from discussing how despicable Matt was to putting him on a pedestal instead. But the thing was, many of them seemed to agree with this. Back inside the ward, Dahlia sat frozen on the bed with an empty gaze for a long time. She had no idea how much time had passed since the first tear started dripping down her face and when her shoulders started shaking profusely. Finally, not able to withhold her emotions anymore, she cradled her head between her knees and viole ntly broke down in tears! She didn¡¯t shed a tear when thepany was in danger. She shed no tears when somebody brutally h umiliated her. She also didn¡¯t cry when she was beaten up or tortured in a variety of ways. This was the first time she had ever cried this hard and this heartbreakingly. Over at the Hummer Vi, Tina was sitting in her wheelchair with a look of resignation and anger. ¡°Dad! The Hummers have never suffered such great humiliation before! You must avenge me no matter what!¡± She ordered with gritted teeth. ¡°Of course, we have to take our revenge, but you shouldn¡¯t underestimate this punk either. Thus, we m ust be fully prepared if he stirs up havoc again.¡± Edwin said seriously. He definitely wouldn¡¯t let anyone who dared toy a finger on the Hummers go that easily. ¡°Isn¡¯t Mr. Lawson proficient in mystic arts? Why don¡¯t we just have him use the most powerful mystic arts on Dustin so that he gets tortured half to death?¡± Tina s uggested, her voice full of resentment. ¡°It¡¯s no use. Not only is he a powerful martial artist, but he¡¯s also equally proficient in poison. He even managed to break the venomous mystic arts I used on the Harmons, so I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t do anything to ward him at the moment.¡± Fletcher, who was standing at a corner, answered. ¡°Then what should we do? If we don¡¯t cut him into pieces, I don¡¯t think my hatred toward him is ever go ing to subside!¡± Tina shouted with a fierce gaze. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush things. Just hold it in for a few more days. I¡¯ve already informed your brother a bout this matter. After he clears customs in a few days, he¡¯ll make his return to Swinton, and that¡¯s whe n he¡¯ll exact your revenge for you. When that timees, I doubt if the punk can make any waves, no matter how strong he is!* Edwin said as he narrowed his eyes. What he was most proud of in his life was not his status as the richest man in Swinton, but rather the fa Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ct that he was the father of an excellent individual named Joshua Hummer. Joshua grew up practicing martial arts and was so talented that at the age of 15, he was able to defeat all of his challengers in the entirety of Swinton. When he was 18, he had the honor of joining Boulderthorn and was trained under Clement Lincoln. Now at the age of 25, he was already in the top ranks and dubbed to have a promising future. Not to m ention that he was also known as one of the top ten young martial arts masters in the province.. In no time, he was even expected to surpass Tyler, who was regarded as a natural talent! ¡°Perfect! Then, I will let Dustin live for a few more days. Once Brother returns, I will make sure he¡¯ll be begging for his life once I¡¯m done with him!¡± Tinaughed maniacally. To Tina, her brother was a god who had the power to do anything for her. No matter how difficult the task was, he could get it done as if it was a walk in the park. Thus, wouldn¡¯t i t be a breeze to deal with a mere martial artist this time around? ¡°Sir Hummer, since Joshua is scheduled to return, then we shouldn¡¯t fear Dustin anymore. I propose th at our main target now be the Harmon family instead! The production of Eternumax is being rushed and is taking shape now, so now should be the ideal time for us tounch our attack.¡± Mr. Lawson sug gested. ¡°Good idea! Schedule a press conference to announce our new pill in three days then. Since Natasha i s willing to give her face away. I¡¯ll make sure she never recovers from this! Edwin proimed as he ball ed up one of his hands into a fist. He had balled it up so hard that one could hear his fingerbones crackl e. At best, Dustin was just a stumbling block, while Natasha was a thorn in his side. He must get rid of both of them as soon as possible! Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Back at the Peaceful Medical Center, Dustin downed ss after ss of wine without stopping, trying t o numb himself with alcohol. Although he was expressionless, inwardly he couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated. Maybe he should finally le t go of his past rtionship and move on. ¡°Doctor! Doctor!¡± Just as Dustin felt a little tipsy, a hurried knock was heard at the door. When he opened the doors, two beautiful young women were standing outside. One of them was dressedpletely in white and looked like an angel from heaven. The aura she gav e off was pure and innocent. The other woman was fully dressed in a ck bodysuit that showed off her curves. She had prominent. features that made her appear tough and masculine. However, she was bleeding profusely from the injury on her abdomen. Her face was drawn and pale fr om excessive blood loss. ¡°Excuse me, is the doctor in? My friend is severely injured and needs immediate treatment!¡± The woma n in white said in distress. ¡°I am the doctor,e in.¡± Dustin showed them in. ¡°Thank you so much! udia, let¡¯s go inside.¡± The woman replied gratefully and turned to her friend, th e woman in ck. ¡°Wait a minute! She, I smell alcohol on him. He must be a drunkard, I don¡¯t trust this guy! udia Do yle furrowed her brows. ¡°But you lost so much blood. If you don¡¯t receive treatment as soon as possible, you might die!¡± She Murray spoke with a worried expression. ¡°It¡¯s fine, I can hang on a little longer until support arrives. Anyway, I¡¯m not going to entrust my life into a drunkard¡¯s hands!¡± udia gritted her teeth in determination. Her injury wasn¡¯t superficial. Even skilled doctors would have difficulty treating her injury, let alone a do ctor who seemed to be drunk. ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but will the support you mentioned arrive within 30 minutes?¡± Dustin asked indifferen tly. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business!¡± udia retorted. ¡°Alright then, just letting you know. ording to experience, with the amount of blood you lost, you will be dead in 30 minutes.¡± Dustin gave udia a quick nce and came to a diagnosis. ¡°Nonsense! Do you think I will be convinced by your threats? I am well¨C acquainted with fraudsters like you!¡± udia hissed. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to believe it or not. However, If you are going to die, don¡¯t die at my doorstep. I don¡¯t wan t to have to clean up your mess.¡± Dustin waved them away. ¡°You-!¡± udia¡¯s body jerked suddenly as she spat out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± Dustin decided to close the door on them. ¡°Wait! Please wait! T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Sir, I apologize on behalf of udia for being disrespectful. Please don¡¯t hold it against her. However, y ou seem like a good person. I beg you, please save udia! We will definitely repay your kindness!¡± S he stopped Dustin from closing the door. ¡°She, why are you begging him? Even if I die, I will not let him treat me!¡± udia said stubbornly. ¡°Lady, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m not willing to save her. She¡¯s the one who refused to be treated by me. If she does survive this injury, you really need to get her brain checke d. Maybe that¡¯s why she¡¯s being so retarded.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°You bastard!¡± udia clenched her jaw in anger. She tried to stand up to give Dustin a piece of her mi nd when she suddenly lost consciousness and fell to the ground in a heap. She might have fainted from Dustin¡¯s provocation instead of from her injuries. ¡°udia!¡± She anxiously tried to pull udia up from the ground, but she did not have the strength. She turned to Dustin and pleaded, ¡°Please help udia, I¡¯m begging you! I have the money to repay y ou. As long as you are willing to save her, I¡¯ll give you anything you ask for!¡± Tears ran down her cheeks. She was a pitiable sight. Dustin was weak to a woman¡¯s tears. He sighed and nodded. ¡°Alright, on ount of your sincerity, I¡¯ll save her this time around.¡± He grabbed udia¡¯s cor, lifted her like a sack of potatoes, and carelessly chucked her onto the bed. She suspected that Dustin was paying udia back for her insolence earlier. ¡°Miss. take off her clothes. I will stop the bleeding.¡± Dustin instructed her. She nodded eagerly. ¡°Okay!¡± In a few minutes, she had undressed udia, exposing her bodypletely. Dustin turned back and h ad the shock of his life. ¡°Miss, I didn¡¯t mean for you to strip her naked. At least keep her underwear and bra on!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± She blushed beet red and quickly put udia¡¯s underwear back on. She was too anxious just now and misunderstood Dustin¡¯s Instructions. Thank goodness udia was u nconscious. It would have been extremely awkward if she weren¡¯t. Dustin breathed a sigh of relief. Although he briefly caught sight of udia¡¯s figure, It was obvious that the woman lying on the bed had a curvaceous body. The superficial wound on udia¡¯s abdomen wasn¡¯t too serious. Dustin sewed her up and dressed the wound to prevent more blood loss. For her internal injuries, medication would be needed. ¡°Alright, she is out of danger now. I¡¯ll give her a prescription, and she¡¯ll be fine after a few days,¡± Dustin said as he quickly wrote out a prescription for C ¡°Thank you so much!¡± She replied gratefully. As Dustin handed the prescription to She, he identally touched her hand. He raised his eyebrows. ¡°Miss, your condition seems to be worse than your friend¡¯s!¡± *I¡¯m fine, it¡¯s just a chronic illness.¡± She smiled wryly. Since she was young, she had always suffered from the cold. For her illness, she was ustomed to t aking multiple medications a day. ¡°You¨C¡± Dustin was going to probe further before She got distracted by udia, who was regaining consciousness. ¡°udia, are you awake? How are you feeling?¡± She asked, delighted at her unexpected recovery. ¡°She? Where am I?¡± udia looked around suspiciously. ¡°This man saved you, he is a skilled doctor. With just a few stitches, your wounds had stopped bleeding !¡± She gushed. ¡°No one asked for his help!¡± Taking a look at her bandages, udia muttered under her breath. ¡°udia! He saved you out of kindness, how could you be so rude?¡± She said, annoyed. ¡°She, you¡¯re too naive. There is no knowing what is in a man¡¯s heart. Many things are not what they s eem. Who knows, maybe he saved me with an ulterior motive!¡± udia said cynically. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I believe he is a good person!¡± She was obstinate. ¡°Miss, your words are like music to my ears. Unlike some, who have no sense of gratitude.¡± Dustin said sarcastically. udia opened her mouth to retort before she was interrupted by the ruckus outside. Loud stomping and gruff voices could be heard on the other side of the door. ¡°Boss, their tracks end right here. They must be hiding inside!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach them to run from me! Boys! Surround the medical center. Make sure that even a bug can¡¯t es cape!¡± The doors of the center were violently busted open. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 A resounding crash was heard as the doors to the center were busted open. Without hesitation, seven masked assassins swarmed Into the center. ¡°Shit! They caught up to us!¡± udia cursed. They were ambushed by these assassins, who wiped out their team of bodyguards. Only udia and She managed to break through the siege and escape. udia thought that they ha d shaken off the pursuit. Unfortunately, the assassins were relentless. ¡°She, I¡¯ll hold them back. You have to escape through the back door!¡± udia whispered. ¡°If I escape, you will definitely be killed, I am their target, so they will not hurt me. I¡¯ll let them take me a s a hostage.¡± She¡¯s face was pale. ¡°She! As your personal bodyguard, my duty is to ensure your safety. Listen to me!¡± udia stood in fr ont of She resolutely, protecting her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to argue. We will be taking the both of you!¡± A bald manughed evilly as he walked i n. Unlike the other assassins, this man wasn¡¯t masked and emitted a murderous aura. ¡°Thor Garcia?¡± udia¡¯s eyes narrowed. Thor Garcia was one of the Four Scoundrels, infamous for conducting illegal raids and providing hitmen services in exchange for m oney. They were excellent martial artists and money¨C grubbing lunatics. Their names struck fear into everyone who heard of their reputation. ¡°Oh, my! What an honor for Ms. Doyle to recognize me!¡± The bald man said with a mocking smile. ¡°Thor Garcia! Regardless of how much you werepensated for this assignment, I will double it if you let us go!¡± udia offered. ¡°Ms. Doyle, I may love money, but I¡¯m more interested in your value. As long as I capture both of you, money will naturally roll in!¡± Thorughed, ¡°There will be terrible consequences if you harm us in any way!¡± udia warned him again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to harm both of you. I just need your identities for a deal. It would be better for you not to retaliate. Otherwise, I can¡¯t guarantee your safety. Get them!¡± Thor smirked and gestured to his men. The assassins behind him leaped forward to capture them. ¡°She, run!¡± udia shouted as she rushed forward, ignoring her weakened condition. Her movements were quick as lightning, and her attacks were ruthless. Even though she was severely i njured. she single¨C handedly fought against the group of assassins. It was obvious that her skills were top¨C notch as she put up a good fight. ¡°Having such formidable internal energy at such a young age, It is no wonder that you are from a marti al arts family. I¡¯m envious of your natural talents. However, it¡¯s a shame that you¡¯re stillcking in terms of experience.¡± Thor narrowed his eyes. When udia was distracted by the assassins, Thor saw an opening and sneakily attacked her from b ehind. Blood spurted out from her mouth as she was thrown backward and crashed against a table. *udia!¡± She cried. ¡°That¡¯s a despicable move!¡± udia gritted her teeth and red at Thor. ¡°Despicable or not, it doesn¡¯t matter when I am thest person standing.¡± Thor scoffed, without an oun ce of shame. ¡°Wait a minute! I¡¯m your real target, aren¡¯t I? I¡¯ll go with you! However, you must let udia and that ma n go!¡± She spread her arms wide with her back towards udia. ¡°Ms. Murray, you are in no position to negotiate with us.¡± Thorughed. ¡°If you refuse, I¡¯ll kill myself! Then, you will have nothing to show for your efforts!¡± Suddenly, She pres sed a knife to her neck. The determination in her eyes was zing as she red at Thor. ¡°Stop, Ms. Murray! Don¡¯t be so reckless!¡± Thor was caught by surprise. This youngdy was precious cargo. If any harm came to her, he would be in huge trouble! ¡°I¡¯ll repeat myself. Will you agree to let them go?¡± She increased the pressure on the knife, and a tric kle of blood flowed down her neck. ¡°Alright, alright! I¡¯ll do what you say! As long as you leave quietly with us. I¡¯ll let them go!¡± Thor nodded hastily. ¡°She, stop it! What are you doing?¡± udia screamed. She scrambled to stand up but failed due to h er severe injuries. ¡°udia, this is the best solution right now. You need to stay alive. Besides, they won¡¯t hurt me.¡± Sheil a Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. squeezed out a forced smile. She knew what they were here for. At the very least, she wouldn¡¯t be in immediate danger. ¡°Ms. Murray, time is running out. Let¡¯s get moving!¡± Thor showed her to the doors. Holding the knife to her neck, She walked in silence. The assassins were lined up in two rows as they eyed her fiercely. ¡°Stop right there! Are you going to leave just like that?¡± Dustin, who had remained silent all this while, s poke 1. up. ¡°What? Are you trying to be a hero?¡± Thor turned to him and growled. Anyone who tried to stop him wo uld be beaten into a pulp until he begged for mercy! ¡°You kicked my doors down, destroyed my fumiture, and now you are leaving without anypensatio n? How shameless could you be?¡± Dustin said nonchntly. Everyone was dumbstruck at his request. No one expected Dustin to ask forpensation at this junct ure. ¡°Punk! Are you fucking kidding me? How dare you ask forpensation? Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± Thor cackled. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are. Even if the emperor himself turns up, no one is allowed to leave without payi ng!¡± Dustin demanded. Thor and his men roared withughter at Dustin, thinking that he had lost his mind. ¡°Stop talking any further! You are no match for these men!¡± She motioned to Dustin. ¡°Do you have a death wish? These men will murder you without a second thought. How dare you ask t hem for money?¡± udia frowned. Did this man have a screw loose? Wasn¡¯t he aware of how dangerous a situation he was in? ¡°Murder? Shouldn¡¯t they pay up for causing damage to the property regardless?¡± Dustin reasoned. ¡°You-!¡± udia choked on her saliva. What nonsense was this man spouting? She just told him that Thor was a heartless murderer. How could this man be so persistent about gettingpensated? Was it worth it to lose his life over mere pennies? Chapter 153 Chapter 153 After catching his breath, Thor wheezed. ¡°Punk, you have some guts! It¡¯s been a long time since Ist saw a reckless fellow like you!¡± ¡°Shut up and pay up already!¡± Dustin demanded impatiently. His mood was already ruined. These men needed to be taught a lesson for creating a mess on his property. ¡°You really have a death wish! Boys, break his limbs! Let¡¯s see whether he dares to talk back after this!¡± Thor smirked and gestured to his men. ¡°Yes, boss!¡± Without a second thought, the assassins swung their weapons at Dustin, with the intent to harm him. ¡°Hey! You said you would let him go!¡± She shrieked. ¡°Ms. Murray, I did agree to not kill him. However, he seems to be dissatisfied with us. It would be rude to not teach him a lesson!¡± Thor had a cunning smile on his face. Suddenly, they were interrupted by the cries of pain from the assassins. Before the assassins could rush up to Dustin, they fell over one by one, as if they had been struck by li ghtning. All of the assassins were paralyzed and unable to move. After careful inspection, Thor realized that there were silver needles pierced into their necks! ¡°How could this be?¡± Thor¡¯s lips trembled as a chill ran down his spine. He knew what these silver needles were used for. They could be used for acupuncture or as a hidden weapon. However, he had never seen a technique where multiple hidden needles could be simultaneously shot at the same time. ¡°How could this guy execute stealth attacks with hidden needles?¡± udia was secretly shocked as well. Needles were one of the hardest weapons to master,pared to other hidden weapons. Not only did it require deadly uracy, but perfecting its technique required persistent and grueling training. ¡°Punk! Who the hell are you? How dare you poke your nose into my business?¡± Thor narrowed his eye s as he drew his sword. ¡°Give me mypensation,¡± Dustin insisted stubbornly. ¡°Bastard!¡± Thor was furious. Without warning, he threw a fistful of dust into Dustin¡¯s eyes. After that, he pulled out his sword and rushed tow ard Dustin, using the dust as a smokescreen. Thor had used this tactic many times. When his opponent was taken by surprise, he would stab them w ith his sword. Stronger men than himself had fallen for this sneak attack. However, Dustin did not dodge. With a wave of his hand, the dust cleared Immediately. Dustin flicked two needles from his fingers, which flew swiftly and pierced into Thor¡¯s knees, causing hi m to Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. scream in pain. Thor¡¯s legs crumpled from under him, and he crashed to his knees. His heavy sword fell to the ground with a ng. ¡°H¨CHow could this be?¡± Thor widened his eyes in horror. How could Dustin¡¯s aim be so urate when the dust was obstructing his vision? What¡¯s more, his leg s became as heavy as lead after Dustin attacked him with needles. ¡°The only skills you have are the tricks up your sleeve. Your fighting abilities, on the other hand, aren¡¯t that impressive.¡± Dustin remarked condescendingly. An oppressive aura pressed on Thor¡¯s body as he gasped for air, cold sweat dripping down his forehea d. ¡°Don¡¯t be reckless! I have nothing against you, there¡¯s no need for you to kill me!¡± Thor pleaded for his life. He thought that he had a perfect n in ce. Who would have expected a troublemaker to turn up and make everything go awry? ¡°I didn¡¯t have anything against you before this, but now I have,¡± Dustin said as he inserted another needle into Thor¡¯s neck. With a jerk, Thor¡¯s limbs were paralyzed. Inside Thor¡¯s sleeve, there was a poisonous arrow that shone with an eerie light. Thor had nned to a ttack Dustin with that arrow! ¡°Miss, you can deal with these men. Do whatever you want with them!¡± Dustin patted the dust from his clothes and sat down on a chair nearby. This youngdy had a good heart, so he didn¡¯t mind extending a helping hand. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re an amazing fighter!¡± She eximed with delight. She had almost lost hope. Who knew that the doctor of this medical center was also a master of hidden weapons? He single¨C handedly finished off all the assassins! ¡°What¡¯s so great about using hidden weapons? There¡¯s no honor in stealth attacks!¡± udia scoffed. Being born into a family of martial artists, she had no respect for people who engaged in sneak attacks and underhanded methods. To be fair, she was a victim of Thor¡¯s sneak attack which caused her to be severely injured. As udia thought of this, anger burned within her. udia picked up the sword from the ground and held it to Thor¡¯s neck. ¡°Speak! Who sent you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. Being a hitman, I am employed to kill, steal, and destroy. As long as they pay up, we don¡¯ t care for whom we work,¡± Thor replied with difficulty. ¡°How dare you lie to me!¡± udia sliced the tendons on his arms and legs. Thor screamed in agony,rge beads of sweat rolling down his face. ¡°I¡­I really don¡¯t know. In terms of business deals, I receive instructions from a superior. I¡¯m just following orders!¡± ¡°You are making things difficult for me. I have little patience. If you make me wait any longer, say goodb ye to your jewels.¡± udia ced the sword at Thor¡¯s crotch. ¡°Please don¡¯t! I¡¯ll tell you everything!¡± Thor screamed as he grimaced in pain. ¡°The person who employed us to kidnap Ms. Murray is¡­¡± Before Thor could finish the sentence, he suddenly convulsed on the spot, spitting out blood that was ck in color. After a few seconds, he was as dead as a doornail. ¡°Is he dead?¡± udia was taken aback by the strange urrence. Wasn¡¯t he fine just a minute ago? How could he die so suddenly? While she mused over his death, Thor¡¯s abdomen visibly swelled up. Something seemed to be crawling under the surface of his skin. A spider emerged from his belly button, followed by a whole swarm of spiders, crawling all over Thor¡¯s lifeless body. It was a revolting sight to see. ¡°What are all these spiders doing inside his body?¡± She staggered backward in shock. At that moment, Dustin smirked. ¡°Interesting. Having the ability to activate venomous curses from afar, the person who employed Thor to kidnap you must be very powerful!¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 ¡°Venomous curses? How could you be certain? Are you familiar with curses?¡± udia asked, puzzled. ¡°I know a little.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Only shady, wicked characters would learn the art of venomous curses. As expected, you are not a go od person! Speak up, who are you?¡± udia lifted the sword and pointed it at Dustin. ¡°udia! What are you doing? He is our savior!¡± She quickly stood in front of Dustin to protect him. ¡°She, get out of the way. This man is being suspicious. I must investigate him thoroughly.¡± udia¡¯s eyes glittered. ¡°Before you investigate me, I rmend that you get your head checked.¡± Dustin rubbed his temples. ¡°Don¡¯t you know that curses can be used to heal? Of course, many nefarious viins use curses for thei r own benefit. However, not everyone is as bad as you imagine. It depends on the user¡¯s character. Besides, the martial arts families aren¡¯t as innocent as you make them out to be. Crimes such as piging, corruption, and rape are ramp ant within the martial arts circle as well!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense! In my opinion, you are just quibbling!¡± udia denied. ¡°Quibbling? Look at what you are doing now. Do martial artists like you treat their saviors in such a disr espectful manner? Are you going to bite the hand that fed you?¡± Dustin chuckled. ¡°You¡­¡± udia was at a loss for words. ¡°udia, stop using him! If he is really a bad person, why would he save us?¡± She frowned. ¡°Who knows, maybe he has an ulterior motive!¡± udia insisted. However, her tone was much softer now that she had calmed down. She knew for a fact that logic was n¡¯t on her side. Suddenly, a loud car horn was heard outside the medical center. More than 10 Hummer vehicles stopped outside the doors of the medical center. As the car doors opened, a swarm of bodyguards appeared and surrounded the center immediately. ¡°Finally, the support team is here!¡± Sheughed with delight. ¡°She! udia! Are you alright?¡± A handsome young man stepped into the room. He was tall and well¨Cbuilt, with a sharp gaze. His noble aura was not that of an ordinary person. ¡°We are fine, thanks to this man who saved us,¡± She replied cheerfully. ¡°Oh, really? She, you can only know a man¡¯s face but not his heart. You should stay away from any. strangers when you are out and about.¡± Xavier Horst sized Dusti n up, his gaze was Judgmental. ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± She frowned. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just giving you some advice,¡± Xavier said with a smile. He motioned to his men to clean up the scene.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She, let¡¯s not waste any time. We should head back home immediately. Aunt Lily is waiting for us,¡± udia urged. Although the support team had arrived, this ce wasn¡¯tpletely safe. ¡°Thank you so much for your help, I¡¯ll be sure to repay your kindness. Goodbye for now,¡± She thanke d Dustin warmly and turned to leave. ¡°Miss, your chronic illness has been suppressed for a long time, it might get out of control soon. You should get it treated early to prevent any life¨Cthreateningplications.¡± Dustin blurted out. When he touched her skin, he noticed that her body temperature was lower than normal. Upon closer inspection, he could roughly infer that the illness troubling her wasn¡¯t amon ailment. ¡°Hmph! Nonsense!¡± udia curled her lip in disbelief. ¡°Thank you, I will be more careful!¡± She smiled brightly and waved goodbye. Xavier felt a little jealous when he noticed She being so friendly to Dustin. After She got into the car, he red at Dustin. ¡°A word of advice for you, punk. Stay away from Sheil a if you know what¡¯s good for you! Otherwise, be prepared for the consequences!¡± With that, he strode out of the center. In his opinion, beggars like Dustin did not even have the right to converse with him. ¡°What a lunatic.¡± Dustin shook his head and continued drowning himself in alcohol. Evening, at Fallridge Haven. She was eating her dinner while telling her parents everything that had happened. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m telling you, that man was so amazing. Just two flicks of his wrist, and all the bad guys were killed!¡± She described the situation eagerly. She even acted out a scene for her parents. ¡°Really? I never thought that a small ce like Swinton would have such a talented young man. I would like to meet him one day.¡± Her mother, Lily Doyle, smiled affectionately at her daughter. Her father, Caden Murray, banged on the table. ¡°Hmph! How dare you disobey me! Haven¡¯t I warned yo u? Do not go out and explore without permission! You were lucky that nothing terrible had happened. If you weren¡¯t, you could have died today!¡± ¡°Dad, it¡¯s just an ident. Those bad people were too sneaky. They poisoned and attacked us when w e weren¡¯t prepared, and that¡¯s why udia fell into their trap. Otherwise, no one could have hurt me!¡± S he pouted. ¡°In the martial arts world, winning is everything. No one cares about honor inbat! Anyway, you are not allowed to leave Fallridge Haven without permission!¡± Caden continued in annoyance. ¡°Alright, alright. I won¡¯t go out anymore. Please don¡¯t be angry at me!¡± She pouted coquettishly. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. I had enough of you today, now go and lie down on your emerald bed. You need more rest!¡± Caden ordered. ¡°Okay.¡± Without another word, She quickly left and ran to her room. ¡®Because of her illness, she and her parents would travel to Fallridge Haven every year to regain her health. Once her condition improved, they would only leave. ¡°Lily, when will the Gozoraberry arrive from Stoneray Valley?¡± Caden spoke up. ¡°I think it will arrive soon. Why do you ask? Is it urgent?¡± Lily replied. ¡°She¡¯s illness has been acting up more frequently. The sunburst emerald bed at Fallridge Haven see ms to be not having as much of an effect these days. We have to think of other solutions,¡± Caden said gravely. ¡°How could this be? Isn¡¯t she getting better?¡± Lily frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about it. I have asked Malcolm Shane, the miracle doctor, to have a look at She¡¯s condition. Once he arrives, he will definitely have some idea on how to treat her illness.¡± Cade n forced a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s hope so.¡± Lily nodded thoughtfully. Her daughter¡¯s rare disease had been troubling her all her life and seemed to be incurable. She hoped that this t¨ªme, her daughter could be fully healed. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 The next morning, Dustin was awakened by someone knocking on his door. He opened the door to see Hunter at his door. ¡°Mr. Anderson, what brings you here so early in the morning?¡± Dustin yawned. ¡°Good news, Mr. Rhys!¡± Hunter eximed with excitement. ¡°The rare herb that you¡¯re looking for, the Gozoraberry, I know where we can find it!¡± ¡°Gozoraberry? Are you sure?¡± Dustin¡¯s interest was piqued. The Gozoraberry was rare and hard toe by. As with all other rare herbs, it was invaluable. If he could get his hands on the Go zoraberry, then he would only need three more precious herbs to make the Longevitum! ¡°Of course, I¡¯m sure! The Gozoraberry used to be a treasure from Stoneray Valley, but recently, someo ne bought it at an exorbitant price. And that person happens to be staying at Fallridge Haven!¡± Hunter n odded. ¡°Oh? Who is it?¡± Dustin raised a brow. ¡°It¡¯s Caden Murray!¡± Hunter said. ¡°Caden Murray? What does he need the Gozoraberry for?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed. He had never met Caden, but he used to have some connections with the Murrays. ¡°I heard that his daughter has some sort of disease, and he needs the Gozoraberry to cure her of that.¡± ¡°His daughter¡­ Is it She Murray?¡± ¡°Oh, you know Miss Murray?¡± Hunter was a little surprised. ¡°I guess so. I just met her yesterday.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Mr. Rhys, how do you think we should go about this?¡± Hunter inquired. ¡°I absolutely need to get my hands on the Gozoraberry. I guess we have no choice but to make a trip to Fallridge Haven today!¡± Without any time to waste, Dustin got himself ready and got into Hunter¡¯s car. The Gozoraberry was very important to him, and those precious herbs were usually hard toe by. If this berry passed him by, he knew he would nevere across another. Hence, he had to act on it right then and there. 30 minutester, Dustin found himself in a lounge in Fallridge Haven. Caden Murray was seated in the middle of the lounge, and he looked down his nose at Dustin and Hun ter. As he had long been in a position of power, he carried an intangible air of authority about him. Even a person like Hunter, who had been through a lot, could not help feeling a sense of inferiority. The Murrays were a family with a military background. Caden¡¯s father, Christopher Murray, was a gener al who had fought in numerous battles and had a myriad of meritorious achievements. As his first¨Cborn son, Caden was also a high¨C ranking military officer who was of great influence in the army. ¡°Mr. Anderson, what is the purpose of your visit today?¡± Caden asked. ¡°Mr. Caden, to be honest, we are here for the Gozoraberry.¡± Hunter did not beat around the bush. ¡°The Gozoraberry? Mr. Anderson, seems like you are very well¨C informed on the matter. But I have a use for the Gozoraberry, so I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you.¡± Caden lifte d his gaze. ¡°If you are nning to use the Gozoraberry to cure your daughter of the disease, I think that it would no t be Content ? N?velDrama.Org. necessary, as the Gozoraberry is merely a temporary remedy that will notpletely cure her of it. It w ould not be of much help,¡± Dustin stated bluntly. ¡°What? And who might you be? It¡¯s not your turn to speak here.¡± Caden glowered at him. ¡°Mr. Murray, this is Dustin Rhys, he¡¯s a friend of mine. He saved your daughter yesterday,¡± Hunter hurriedly exined. ¡°Oh, so you were the one who helped She yesterday?¡± Caden¡¯s expression eased up. ¡°Name it, what are you asking for aspensation? Money? Or goods?¡± In his eyes, Dustin was clearl y here to ask for something in return. Of course, the Murrays¡® had money to spare, so he wasn¡¯t very bothered by it. ¡°I want the Gozoraberry.¡± Dustin cut straight to the chase. Caden made a face when he heard that. ¡°Young man, if it were riches or jewelry that you were asking for, I would agree to it in a heartbeat, but the Gozoraberry is the one thing that I cannot give you. I need it to cure. my daughter of a disease!¡± ¡°I just told you that the Gozoraberry would not be able to cure She of her disease. However, I am abl e to do just that,¡± Dustin promised. ¡°You can cure her? And why should I trust you?¡± Dustin was starting to get on Caden¡¯s nerves. This rascal did not know his ce. Did he think he could do as he pleased, just because he had saved his daughter once? ¡°Has your daughter been suffering from chills ever since she was young, and does she get a terrible bo ut of viral infection every month or so?¡± ¡°So what if she does?¡± Caden raised his brows. ¡°That¡¯s because She has Prfrost. Over the years, a venom called Havaska has formed within her body, and the venom can only be temporarily suppressed by medication. However, that will not eradicate the disease from within her. To do so, we will need to take a different approach by improving her cirction and thus raising her metabolism,¡± Dustin expounded. ¡°Hah! Utter rubbish! Prfrost? That sounds downright ridiculous, and I¡¯ve never even heard of it before!¡± Caden roared, upset. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that you¡¯ve never heard of It before. Just let me meet She and I can prove my point ,¡± Dustin requested. ¡°That would not be necessary. I can handle my daughter¡¯s situation myself. I do not need any help. Ple ase, show yourself out!¡± Caden ordered. Wasn¡¯t it just in absurd for a random fellow to just show up out of nowhere and im that he was able to cure his daughter of a disease that had pl agued her for over 20 years? And what¡¯s more, it was a disease that even the top medical experts in the nation were helpless agains t. What made this young man think that he would be able to eradicate it? ¡°Mr. Murray, it would not do She any good to wait any longer. I hope you will consider my proposition,¡± Dustin reminded him. ¡°Get out!¡± Caden mmed his fist on the table, enraged. ¡°Since you do not trust me, Mr. Murray, then I¡¯ll be taking my leave. Right, I have a pill with me here. Yo u can give this to She when the virus attacks again. It will keep her safe for the time being.¡± And with that, Dustin took out a red pill and ced it on the table before he turned to leave. He knew that no matter what he said, he would not be able to change Caden¡¯s mind, because it was impossible for a person of his status to easily trust someone whom he knew nothing about. ¡°Mr. Murray, Mr. Rhys here is not an ordinary person. I wish you all the best.¡± With a slight nod of his head, Hunter turned to leave too. ¡°Hmph! They have no idea what they¡¯re rambling on about!¡± Caden¡¯s expression was one of disdain. How dare an insolent young man run his mouth in front of him? How pompous! ¡°Caden, who were those two gentlemen?¡± Lily Doyle walked out from behind. ¡°Nobody. Just two annoying rascals who are not worth our time,¡± Caden answered offhandedly. ¡°Can this pill really cure She of the disease?¡± Lily picked up the red pill from the table and studied it meticulously. She heard what Dustin had said before he left and couldn¡¯t help feeling curious. ¡°Hah! That¡¯s rubbish. Just throw it away.¡± Caden dismissed it with a wave of his hand. He refused to bel ieve that a single pill would be able to save anyone. Just as they were conversing, a member of the house staff came running in and eximed in a fluster, ¡°Sir, Ma¡¯am,e quick! It¡¯s Miss She! She just passed out!¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 ¡°What? How did this happen?¡± Caden¡¯s expression clouded over as he leaped up instantly. ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t know! I found her out cold when I went to wake her up this morning.¡± The maid was in an anxiou s mess. Before she could finish her sentence, Caden and Lily had already bolted out the door and rushed to the ir daughter¡¯s room. However, the sight that greeted them when they entered frightened them. Sheid unmoving on the Sunburst emerald bed, which originally radiated heat off its surface, but wa s then covered in a thin sheet of ice. Her face waspletely devoid of any color whatsoever, her limbs were cold and rigid, and there was f rost building up on her brows and hair. There were even wisps of white misting off her body. At first nce, she looked like she had just been brought out of an ice cave of some sort. ¡°She!¡± Lily panicked and threw herself on her daughter, rubbing her arms and breathing warm air on her in an attempt to warm her up. ¡°This is bad!¡± Caden¡¯s expression was as dark as night as he went up to She and felt for her pulse, only to find it barely there. Even her breath was faint. She looked like she would notst another day. Caden did not have the luxury of time to consider this any further. He immediately channeled his intern al energy over to She. Soon, the frost around her started to melt. But She¡¯s body remained cold and rigid, and she still wasn ¡¯ting around. ¡°Lily, quick! Call Dr. Shane! Get him here pronto!¡± Caden hurriedly instructed. Though his internal energy was sufficient to keep his daughter¡¯s pulse going, it was not going to hold up for much longer. ¡°Okay!¡± Without a moment to waste, Lily called a number straight away. However, her face fell after a short conversation. ¡°Dr. Shane is on his way here, but he reckons that he can only reach here by nightfall.¡± ¡°By nightfall? That¡¯d be toote!¡± Caden frowned. ¡°Inform udia about this. Get her to find all the doctors avable in Swinton. I want al l of them here!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Lily went out to make another call. Before the hour was up, udia, though distressed, had arrived with a group of doctors in tow. Some of them were heads of departments, some were professors, and some were experts in their field s. But every doctor in the whole of Swinton, who was even the least bit well¨Cknown, was present. ¡°Whoever saves my daughter will receive a handsome reward from us, the Murrays!¡± Caden cut right to the chase and promised them what seemed like a great temptation. ¡°Be at ease, Mr. Murray, we will do our best!¡± The doctors were all motivated by the promise. When they heard that it was the Murrays they were helping out, they figured that the opportunity for their big break hade. Everyone knew the Murrays¡® status. If they could cure Shelia of whatever disease she had, they would not only make a name for themselve s, but they would also make acquaintances with the Murrays. By then, not only would they have gained fame and earned favor from the Murrays, but they would eve n walk away with a huge sum of money. Of course, they were going to go for it! However, when they eagerly went in to check on She¡¯s condition, one by one their brows furrowed an d a troubled look took over their faces. They realized that whatever She was suffering from was indeed strange. She was icy cold all over, with cold airing off her. It was beyond anything they¡¯d ever seen or heard. For a brief moment, nobody dared to take any action. ¡°Doctors, there are so many of you here, please don¡¯t tell me that there¡¯s nothing any of you can do?¡± Caden grimaced at them. ¡°Well¡­¡± They all looked around sheepishly and kept quiet. ¡°A bunch of rubbish!¡± Caden¡¯s expression darkened. Though he had not held much hope that they woul d be able to cure his daughter, the oue was still infuriating. ¡°Uncle Caden! She¡¯s in really bad shape!¡± udia eximed. They looked over to find that She, who was still lying on the emerald bed, was getting colder with eac h passing moment. Her breath was also extremely feeble. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Oh no! Her condition has taken a turn for the worst!¡± Caden¡¯s brows were tightly knit. The channeling of his internal energy to She could only help for so long. It would not be able to cure her. ¡°What do we do? She is going to be alright, won¡¯t she?¡± udia panicked. They had grown up together, and their rtionship was like that of sisters. Naturally, she did not wish for anything bad to befall her. ¡°Caden, why don¡¯t we give this a try?¡± Lily took out a red pill. It was the pill that Dustin gave them. She had not been able to bring herself to just throw it out, so she k ept it in her pocket the whole time. ¡°Are you kidding me? How can this help She?¡± Caden made a face. ¡°Just give it a try. We do not have any better options, do we? Who knows, it might just work!¡± Lily¡¯s expression was solemn. If she had a choice, she would not put her daughter¡¯s life at risk too. But the situation was dire, and th e doctors were helpless. Dr. Shane was still on his way, and they had no other options. She had to resort to every possible way to save her daughter. ¡°What if it¡¯s poisonous?¡± Caden hesitated. ¡°Since he dares toe up to us, he must have a certain level of confidence in what he¡¯s doing. And I think that it is not likely he¡¯d spike the pill with any sort of poison, after all, I do not believe that anyone would do something as imprudent as g oing against the entire Murray household,¡± Lily expounded. Caden fell silent. He took a nce at his daughter, who was icy cold all over, and he clenched his jaws. Then, with a deci sive nod, he said, ¡°Alright then! Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± Lily drew a deep breath before she took the pill and fed it to She. The pill was quick to dissolve, and it slid down She¡¯s throat. As soon as it reached her stomach, the p ill began to work its wonders. The effect was almost immediate as the cold air around She began to dissipate, and a momentter, wisps of warm breath began to escape her. At the same time, the frost that had formed on her brows and hair melted away rapidly. Her body, which had been rigid with coldness, began to warm up and eased up, and a healthy hue of redness crept up her countenance. Even her breath grew steady. ¡°It works!¡± Lily¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. Though they did not know what the pill was made of, its effects were apparent. It did indeed rid their daughter of the coldness within her. ¡°Could it be possible that the rascal was telling the truth?¡± Caden¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He had thought that Dustin was just a scammer who was out to cheat him of his money and demand a n unreasonable sum. It had never urred to him that the pill, which he had considered trash and almost thrown away, woul d save his daughter in their time of need! ¡°Uncle Caden, Aunt Lily, where did this pille from? It¡¯s miraculous!¡± udia was amazed. ¡°udia, do you remember the rascal who saved the both of you yesterday?¡± Caden asked. ¡°Of course I do! Who knows where he came from. He might be dangerous!¡± ¡°He was the one who gave us the pill.¡± ¡°What?¡± udia¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 After getting to know the whole situation, udia was not the only one who was surprised. Even Lily was astounded too. Had she known Dustin¡¯s identity, she would not have let Caden drive him away so easily. After all, he had helped her daughter! ¡°It¡¯s fortunate that nothing serious happened. Had we thrown the pill away, She would have been in grave danger!¡± Lily shuddered to think of what could have happened. She considered herself lucky that she still had the pill with her, or the consequences would have been unim aginable. ¡°She is safe for the time being, but the coldness within her has yet to bepletely eliminated.¡± After checking on She, Caden ordered, ¡°udia, go to the medical center and get Dustin here.¡± ¡°But Uncle Caden, you don¡¯t really believe that the fellow can cure She, do you?¡± udia¡¯s expression was one of disbelief. She had a preconceived notion that Dustin wasn¡¯t a trustworthy person. ¡°I¡¯d just like to see what treatment ns he has to propose,¡± Caden rified. Of course, he did not think that a youngster in his twenties would have any mind¨Cblowing medical skills. But the fact was that the pill he gave them proved to have phenomenal effects, so he was curious as to wh ere he got the pill from. ¡°udia, listen to your Uncle Caden. She¡¯s condition is of utmost importance. We should get him her e to see what information he is able to provide us,¡± Lily urged. ¡°Alright.¡± udia nodded reluctantly. Over at Peaceful Medical Center, Dustin made himself a pot of tea when he got back. He poured a cup for himself, and another for Hunter. Hunter took his tea respectfully. Dustin and Hunter had known each other for years, but they had never had tea together before. ¡°Mr. Rhys, didn¡¯t you say that you need the Gozoraberry? Have you given up on it already?¡± Hunter ask ed curiously when he saw howid back Dustin was. ¡°Of course not! I¡¯m just waiting for the right opportunity.¡± Dustin sipped on his tea. ¡°The right opportunity?¡± Hunter found it difficult to understand what Dustin was implying. ¡°ording to what I observed yesterday. She will be experiencing another bout of attacks soon. And this time, it will be much worse than it had been before. No one in Swinton will be able to hel p her.¡± he said calmly. ¡°So that¡¯s why you left them with the pill? So that they wille to you of their own ord?¡± Hunter quickly understood. + ¡°That¡¯s right. Actions speak louder than words. It¡¯s much more practical to prove myself with actions tha n to try and convince them with words.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°And what if, by any chance, Caden did not take you seriously and threw the pill away?¡± Hunter mused aloud. ¡°Then he would be sending his daughter to her grave with his own bare hands.¡± Dustin shook his head. If he really acted so rashly, then he would have no one else but himself to me. Just as they were conversing, a ck Hummer pulled up at the entrance. udia strode in with her head held high. ¡°Come with me, Dustin!¡± Shemanded. ¡°Follow you? Where to?¡± Dustin continued to sip on his tea leisurely. ¡°Don¡¯t y the fool with me! Of course, we¡¯re going to Fallridge Haven!¡± udia frowned. ¡°Whatever for? We¡¯re not wee there. In fact, we were driven out just a while ago! I wouldn¡¯t want to go back there and bring trouble on myself.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°You!¡± udia gritted her teeth. How she wished she could beat him up then and there. ¡°That was a misunderstanding. We won¡¯t drive you out anymore.¡± She suppressed her anger. ¡°Even if you won¡¯t drive us away, we¡¯re still not going. What do you take us for, making use and go as you wish?¡± Dustin took another sip of his tea. ¡°What exactly do you want?¡± udia was so angry that she was itching to hit someone. ¡°Sure, I can go over, but under one condition.¡± ¡°And what is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple. I want the Gozoraberry.¡± ¡°The Gozoraberry? That is meant to be used on She. I cannot promise you that.¡± udia glowered. ¡°If you won¡¯t agree to that, then we do not have a deal.¡± Dustin continued calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve said it once, and I¡¯ll say it again: The Gozora berry will not cure She of her disease. If you can¡¯t make the call, then get me someone who can.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± udia huffed angrily as she whipped out her phone to give Caden a call and brief him about Dustin¡¯s condition. A whileter, she nodded and looked Dustin in the eye. ¡°Uncle Caden has agreed to your condition. If you can cure She of her disease, then the Gozoraberr y is yours, ¡°udia said coldly, ¡°Deal!¡± Dustin smiled. He got into udia¡¯s car, and they made their way to Fallridge Haven, leaving Hunter astonished and i n awe. ¡°As expected of Mr. Rhys! He has every move under his control!¡± Hunter thought to himself. When Dustin returned to Fallridge Haven yet again, he noticed that a group of doctors had gathered ar ound, and they were mostly people who were influential and of high status in Swinton¡¯s medical field. ¡°You¡¯ve finally returned, young man! Please,e in!¡± Lily greeted him enthusiastically the moment he entered. It took him a moment to get over his difort. ¡°You said you could cure my daughter of her disease. Do you mean it?¡± Caden asked solemnly, as ster n as ever. ¡°Of course. Surely I would not havee if I did not have the confidence to cure her. I just hope that yo u will make good on your promise, Mr. Murray.¡± Dustin smiled lightly. ¡°Of course, I will. But you¡¯d best deliver your end of the promise,¡± Caden answered frostily. ¡°We¡¯ll see in a bit.¡± Dustin did not bother to exin much more. He quickly went forward to the emerald bed to check She¡¯s pulse. Just as he predicted, she suffered from the rare disease of Prfrost. It was an unusual condition that only came around once in a century. People who suffered from such conditions had the potential to achieve great heights if they practiced a special form of martial arts, as it would greatly enhance their powers. However, the problem was that people who suffered from the condition usually had very short lifespans . The Prfrost within them was like a great vortex that continually absorbed the coldness of the universe, so much so that the body was unable to take it. New¨Cborn babies would usually die prematurely before they hit the age of one. Fortunately for them, the Murrays were filthy rich, so She had made it to this day from all the medication and herbs that she consumed. However, the coldness that she had been absorbing all these years had reached a tipping point, and all the medications which had serv ed to suppress it before were no longer effective. ¡°How is it? Can you cure her?¡± Caden asked skeptically. ¡°It¡¯s a bit tricky, but I can do it.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll let you have a go. But bear in mind, if anything happens to my daughter, I¡¯ll see that you pay fo r it severely!¡± Caden threatened. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Just as Dustin took out a needle and was about to apply it, a roar sounded at the door. ¡°Hold it!¡± ¡°Stop whatever you¡¯re doing!¡± The voice bellowed. Xavier Horst strode in imposingly and shouted, ¡°Uncle Caden, we do not know this man! We cannot let him put She¡¯s life at risk!¡± ¡°I understand that you¡¯re worried for She, Xavier. But we do not have any better alternatives now. He is our only hope.¡± Caden shook his head. ¡°Who says we have not got any better alternatives? See who I brought!¡± Xavier gestured dramatically a nd directed everyone¡¯s attention to the entrance. In came a podgy old man dressed in a loose green robe. He made his way in confidently. ¡°Dr. Shane?¡± There was an instant uproar when everyone caught sight of him. The doctors¡® seemed to have transformed into eager fanboys who met their idols. Their level of excitem ent was off the charts. This was, after all, the world¨Crenowned miracle healer, Dr. Malcolm Shane! His expertise in acupuncture was one of a kind, and all these experts and professors were considered nothingpared to him. ¡°Dr. Shane?¡± Caden and the rest of them were initially astounded, but then it quickly turned into tion. They were expecting him to arrive by nightfall, so it was a pleasant surprise that he managed to get there so soon. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were dyed, Dr. Shane?¡± Lily asked inquisitively. ¡°Aunt Lily, I heard that Dr. Shane was held up by traffic and couldn¡¯t make it here soon, so I flew a chop per over and picked him up from where he was. Fortunately, we¡¯re still in time!¡± Xavier exined. ¡°That¡¯s brilliant! How smart of you to think of that, Xavier! I¡¯m proud of you!¡± Caden smiled. No doubt Dr. Shane¡¯s presence calmed his nerves.¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle Caden. Only doing what I should!¡± Xavier nodded modestly. ¡°Dr. Shane, we have no time to lose. Please save my daughter!¡± Caden cut to the chase and brought him to the emerald bed on which Sheid. ¡°Mr. Murray, didn¡¯t you agree to let me cure her? What is the meaning of this?¡± Dustin was not happy wi th the turn of events. ¡°Young man, I appreciate your good intentions. However, since we have Dr. Shane here, I will not put my daughter at risk. You may take your leave now,¡± Caden said. ¡°Mr. Murray, this isn¡¯t right. You were the one who requested my help to cure your daughter, and now you¡¯re backing out on your promise? T Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. his really isn¡¯t right.¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What do you mean it isn¡¯t right? Do you really think that someone like you canpare to Dr. Shane? ¡± Xavier Chapter 158 Chapter 158 asked with disdain. ¡°Young man, I have the freedom to get whomever I please to cure my daughter. And aspared to you, I¡¯d much rather trust Dr. Shane here, with the task,¡± Caden sald frankly. Had he not been at his wits¡® end, he would never have asked this rascal for help. ¡°It¡¯s alright that you got someone else to cure your daughter, Mr. Murray, but the Gozoraberry that you promised me¡­¡± Caden cut him off mid¨Csentence. ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything, why should you have the Gozoraberry? Do you think you deserve it?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going back on your words?¡± Dustin frowned. Dustin was not a short¨Ctempered person, but ungrateful people like Caden never failed to get on his nerves. ¡°Young man, cut the nonsense. Isn¡¯t it just the money you¡¯re after? Guards, bring him 2 million dors!¡± On Caden¡¯s orders, his guards soon came back with two cases of cash. ¡°Here, take this as your payment for helping She. From now on, we¡¯re square.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you hear that? Take the money and leave. Now!¡± Xavier roared. ¡°Hahahaha!¡± Dustin suddenly broke out inughter. But his eyes were cold and icy. ¡°What a good strategy you have there, Mr. Murray. How unfortunate for you though, you¡¯re being overly optimistic. Do you really think that Malcolm Shane can cure your daughter?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Amotion broke out the moment he said that. ¡°You rascal! Have you any idea what you¡¯ve just said? This is Dr. Shane we¡¯re talking about! There hav e not been conditions that he has been unable to cure thus far!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! What an insolent young man! If Dr. Shane can¡¯t cure her, do you think that you can?¡± ¡°Where did this scoundrele from? What cheek he has to doubt Dr. Shane!¡± The doctors gathered around to reprimand Dustin. ¡°Young man, may I know from whom you learned your skills? How dare you brag in front of everyone?¡± Malcolm gave him a once over, obviously displeased. In all the years he practiced his medical skills, he had never once been doubted. Much less by a rascal who was still wet behind the ears! ¡°Hah! You overestimate yourself! How dare you put on airs in front of Dr. Shane? You¡¯re really asking fo r it!¡± Xavier said in a hostile manner. ¡°Young man, I do not know where you got the confidence to doubt Dr. Shane, but I would like you to please leave now. Do not disrupt him from saving my daughter!¡± Caden spoke sternly with a n annoyed expression. How dare this fellow tried to take advantage of his benevolence? ¡°There¡¯s no need to drive him out. Let him stay and watch. Since he doubts my skills, I¡¯ll show him what I¡¯m capable of!¡± Malcolm stood with his hands behind his back. ¡°As expected of Dr. Shane! He carries himself with such dignity and confidence!¡± The doctors ttered him excessively. As Malcolm has spoken, Caden did not go against his wishes and allowed Dustin¡¯s presence. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to have made youe here for nothing, buddy. If She ends up fine, I¡¯ll try to talk to Ca den about the Gozora berry and see if you can have it.¡± Lily brought Dustin to one side and apologized sincerely. This was the man who had saved her daughter. Lily knew that she owed it to him, and would like to repay him if she could. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that, Mrs. Murray,¡± Dustin¡¯s expression eased up. There was finally someone who spoke sense in the family. ¡°Dr. Shane, let¡¯s not wait any longer. Please proceed.¡± Caden waved him over. Malcolm nodded and sat down beside She¡¯s bed, checking her pulse. A short whileter, he announced confidently, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the patient is weak and has poor circ tion due to the coldness within her, and now, the toxins within her body have umted. Once the coldness and toxins in her body are expelled, she will be just fine.¡± ¡°And I presume you have the means to do that, Dr. Shane?¡± Caden asked expectantly. ¡°Though it¡¯s a little tricky, it¡¯s no big deal for me. I shall perform an acupuncture therapy to expel the coldness and to xins from her body!¡± Malcolm smiled lightly. He then took out several needles and swiftly inserted them into She¡¯s skin on her nape, her navel, be low her knees, on the base of her feet, and on her back. His movements were so swift and executed with such ease and skill that his audience was left in awe. By the time his needles were all in ce, wisps of cold air slowly came out of She¡¯s limbs. ¡°And for thest one!¡± Malcolm produced a needle that was thicker and longer than the rest and inserted it straight on top of She¡¯s head. Soon, a great deal of mist emerged from all over She¡¯s skin. For a brief moment, everyone in the room was surrounded by an eerie chill. ¡°Alright, the coldness is now expelled. It won¡¯t be long now before the patientes around,¡± Malcolm dered confidently. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re a world¨Crenowned miracle healer. Your acupuncture therapy is just in magical!¡± Caden eximed excitedly. His gloom and anxiety from earlier on were swept away in an instant. ¡°That¡¯s right! With Dr. Shane around, any disease or condition can be easily handled!¡± Xavier was all smiles. ¡°Hey, you! Do you admit defeat?¡± udia raised her chin at Dustin in a provoking manner. ¡°How dare he doubt Dr. Shane? He doesn¡¯t know where he stands!¡± udia thought to herself. Dustin shook his head as he looked at her with contempt. ¡°She suffered from Prfrost! That was a rare condition that only came around approximately once in a cent ury! How could it possibly be so easily cured?¡± He thought to himself. While everyone was overjoyed, Lily noticed something amiss. ¡°Hey, hasn¡¯t the coldness been expelled? But why does She look even paler than before?¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 The doctors gathered around to reprimand Dustin. ¡°Young man, may I know from whom you learned your skills? How dare you brag in front of everyone?¡± Malcolm gave him a once over, obviously displeased. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. In all the years he practiced his medical skills, he had never once been doubted. Much less by a rascal who was still wet behind the ears! ¡°Hah! You overestimate yourself! How dare you put on airs in front of Dr. Shane? You¡¯re really asking fo r it!¡± Xavier said in a hostile manner. ¡°Young man, I do not know where you got the confidence to doubt Dr. Shane, but I would like you to ple ase leave now. Do not disrupt him from saving my daughter!¡± Caden spoke sternly with an annoyed ex pression. How dare this fellow tried to take advantage of his benevolence? ¡°There¡¯s no need to drive him out. Let him stay and watch. Since he doubts my skills, I¡¯ll show him what I¡¯m capable of!¡± Malcolm stood with his hands behind his back. ¡°As expected of Dr. Shane! He carries himself with such dignity and confidence!¡± The doctors ttered him excessively. As Malcolm has spoken, Caden did not go against his wishes and allowed Dustin¡¯s presence. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to have made youe here for nothing, buddy. If She ends up fine, I¡¯ll try to talk to Ca den about the Gozoraberry and see if you can have it.¡± Lily brought Dustin to one side and apologized sincerely. This was the man who had saved her daughter. Lily knew that she owed it to him, and would like to rep ay him if she could. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that, Mrs. Murray,¡± Dustin¡¯s expression eased up. There was finally someone who spoke sense in the family. ¡°Dr. Shane, let¡¯s not wait any longer. Please proceed.¡± Caden waved him over. Malcolm nodded and sat down beside She¡¯s bed, checking her pulse. A short whileter, he announced confidently, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the patient is weak and has poor circ tion due to the coldness within her, and now, the toxins within her body have umted. Once the coldne ss and toxins in her body are expelled, she will be just fine.¡± ¡°And I presume you have the means to do that, Dr. Shane?¡± Caden asked expectantly. ¡°Though it¡¯s a little tricky, it¡¯s no big deal for me. I shall perform an acupuncture therapy to expel the col dness. and toxins from her body!¡± Malcolm smiled lightly. He then took out several needles and swiftly inserted them into She¡¯s skin on her nape, her navel, be low her knees, on the base of her feet, and on her back. His movements were so swift and executed with such ease and skill that his audience was left in awe. By the time his needles were all in ce, wisps of cold air slowly came out of She¡¯s limbs. ¡°And for thest one!¡± Malcolm produced a needle that was thicker and longer than the rest and inserte d il straight on top of She¡¯s head. Soon, a great deal of mist emerged from all over She¡¯s skin. For a brief moment, everyone in the room was surrounded by an eerie chill. ¡°Alright, the coldness is now expelled. It won¡¯t be long now before the patientes around,¡± Malcolm dered confidently. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re a world¨Crenowned miracle healer. Your acupuncture therapy is just in magical!¡± Caden eximed excitedly. His gloom and anxiety from earlier on were swept away in an instant. ¡°That¡¯s right! With Dr. Shane around, any disease or condition can be easily handled!¡± Xavier was all s miles ¡°Hey, you! Do you admit defeat?¡± udia raised her chin at Dustin in a provoking manner. ¡°How dare he doubt Dr. Shane? He doesn¡¯t know where he stands!¡± udia thought to herself. Dustin shook his head as he looked at her with contempt. ¡°She suffered from Prfrost! That was a rare condition that only came around approximately once i n a century! How could it possibly be so easily cured?¡± He thought to himself. While everyone was overjoyed, Lily noticed something amiss. ¡°Hey, hasn¡¯t the coldness been expelled? But why does She look even paler than before?¡± The doctors gathered around to reprimand Dustin. ¡°Young man, may I know from whom you learned your skills? How dare you brag in front of everyone?¡± Malcolm gave him a once over, obviously displeased. In all the years he practiced his medical skills, he had never once been doubted. Much less by a rascal who was still wet behind the ears! ¡°Hah! You overestimate yourself! How dare you put on airs in front of Dr. Shane? You¡¯re really asking fo r it!¡± Xavier said in a hostile manner. ¡°Young man, I do not know where you got the confidence to doubt Dr. Shane, but I would like you to ple ase leave now. Do not disrupt him from saving my daughter!¡± Caden spoke sternly with an annoyed ex pression. How dare this fellow tried to take advantage of his benevolence? ¡°There¡¯s no need to drive him out. Let him stay and watch. Since he doubts my skills, I¡¯ll show him what I¡¯m capable of!¡± Malcolm stood with his hands behind his back. ¡°As expected of Dr. Shane! He carries himself with such dignity and confidence!¡± The doctors ttered him excessively. As Malcolm has spoken, Caden did not go against his wishes and allowed Dustin¡¯s presence. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry to have made youe here for nothing, buddy. If She ends up fine, I¡¯ll try to talk to Ca den about the Gozoraberry and see if you can have it.¡± Lily brought Dustin to one side and apologized sincerely. This was the man who had saved her daughter. Lily knew that she owed it to him, and would like to rep ay him if she could. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that, Mrs. Murray,¡± Dustin¡¯s expression eased up. There was finally someone who spoke sense in the family. ¡°Dr. Shane, let¡¯s not wait any longer. Please proceed.¡± Caden waved him over. Malcolm nodded and sat down beside She¡¯s bed, checking her pulse. A short whileter, he announced confidently, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the patient is weak and has poor circ tion due to the coldness within her, and now, the toxins within her body have umted. Once the coldne ss and toxins in her body are expelled, she will be just fine.¡± ¡°And I presume you have the means to do that, Dr. Shane?¡± Caden asked expectantly. ¡°Though it¡¯s a little tricky, it¡¯s no big deal for me. I shall perform an acupuncture therapy to expel the col dness. and toxins from her body!¡± Malcolm smiled lightly. He then took out several needles and swiftly inserted them into She¡¯s skin on her nape, her navel, be low her knees, on the base of her feet, and on her back. His movements were so swift and executed with such ease and skill that his audience was left in awe. By the time his needles were all in ce, wisps of cold air slowly came out of She¡¯s limbs. ¡°And for thest one!¡± Malcolm produced a needle that was thicker and longer than the rest and inserte d il straight on top of She¡¯s head. Soon, a great deal of mist emerged from all over She¡¯s skin. For a brief moment, everyone in the room was surrounded by an eerie chill. ¡°Alright, the coldness is now expelled. It won¡¯t be long now before the patientes around,¡± Malcolm dered confidently. ¡°No wonder you¡¯re a world¨Crenowned miracle healer. Your acupuncture therapy is just in magical!¡± Caden eximed excitedly. His gloom and anxiety from earlier on were swept away in an instant. ¡°That¡¯s right! With Dr. Shane around, any disease or condition can be easily handled!¡± Xavier was all s miles ¡°Hey, you! Do you admit defeat?¡± udia raised her chin at Dustin in a provoking manner. ¡°How dare he doubt Dr. Shane? He doesn¡¯t know where he stands!¡± udia thought to herself. Dustin shook his head as he looked at her with contempt. ¡°She suffered from Prfrost! That was a rare condition that only came around approximately once i n a century! How could it possibly be so easily cured?¡± He thought to himself. While everyone was overjoyed, Lily noticed something amiss. ¡°Hey, hasn¡¯t the coldness been expelled? But why does She look even paler than before?¡± Chapter 160 Chapter 160 ¡°What?¡± Everyone turned to look. Sure enough, they found her just as Lily said. She, whose condition seemed to have improved a whil e ago, now looked much paler than before, and more frost had formed on her brows and hair. From the way things looked, not only had her condition not improved, it even worsened. ¡°Dr. Shane, whatever is going on?¡± Caden¡¯s brows knitted together tightly, his expression stern. ¡°This is most peculiar. Technically speaking, she should be fine after the coldness has been expelled.¡± Malcolm found She¡¯s condition very strange. She had been fine just a while ago; how did her conditio n worsen in just the blink of an eye? ¡°What do we do now, Dr. Shane?¡± Caden questioned persistently. ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. Let me give it another try.¡± Malcolm didn¡¯t give up just yet. He used the same techniq ue to rid She of the coldness within her. But the results were the same. In just under three minutes, She¡¯s condition went back to square one. It was as though the coldness within her was never¨Cending. It was truly bizarre. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Malcolm was baffled. It was then that he finally realized the severity of the situation at hand. ¡°Dr. Shane, it is true that you have amazing needling skills to get rid of the cold, but what you did was ju st a temporary solution. It will not eradicate the root cause of the issue,¡± Dustin spoke up. However, that elicited some dissatisfaction from the onlookers. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Who are you to doubt Dr. Shane¡¯s skills?¡± Xavier shot him a murderous re. ¡°Exactly! You¡¯re just a rascal who¡¯s still wet behind the ears! How dare you speak out of turn so shamel essly?¡± The crowd was outraged. Dr. Shane was considered a legendary figure in the medical field! They would not tolerate a random kid criticizing him freely! ¡°If you do not trust me, then go ahead and try as many times as you wish.¡± With that, Dustin held his to ngue and said no more. ¡°Oh no! She¡¯s pulse has disappeared!¡± Lily cried out suddenly. The crowd turned to look and noticed that she was in very bad shape. ¡°Dr. Shane! Quick! Save my daughter!¡± Caden lost his cool and urged Dr. Shane forward. Malcolm dared not waste another second and immediately applied more needles to She¡¯s pressure p oints to rid her of the coldness and steady her pulse. However, the results were not satisfactory, to say the least. 10 The Prfrost seemed to alwayse back no matter what he did, and Dr. Shane was finally rendered helpless. In all the years he had practiced medicine, he had never seen such a peculiar condition. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, but¡ª I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to help with this condition.¡± After a bout of effort to save She, Malcolm could only shake his head in resignation. ¡°What? You can¡¯t help?¡± Everyone was bewildered when they heard that. Nobody had expected him to say such a thing. If such a legendary figure could not help her, then who could? ¡°Please, Dr. Shane, think of something! You must save my daughter! Right! I have a Gozoraberry! Will t hat help? ¡°Caden panicked. ¡°Gozoraberry?¡± Malcolm¡¯s eyes lit up but quickly dimmed again. ¡°No doubt the Gozoraberry is a precious herb with properties to expel coldness and improve cirction, but with how things stand right now, it wouldn¡¯t be of much help anymore.¡± The coldness within She seemed unending, and simply expelling it didn¡¯t seem to do the trick. ¡°Then what should we do? Is there really no hope for my daughter?¡± Lily was almost in tears. If even Dr. Shane can¡¯t help them, is there anyone in this world who could? All of a sudden, she caught sight of Dustin. In that instant, she seemed to have found a lifeline. ¡°Buddy! Didn¡¯t you say that you were able to cure S he? Please, I beg of you, save my daughter!¡± ¡°Mrs. Murray, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to save her; it¡¯s just that some of you do not seem to want me to help!¡± Dustin said helplessly. ¡°Young man, it was a mistake on my part earlier on. If you can save my daughter, the entire Murray hou sehold would be eternally grateful to you!¡± Caden¡¯s expression was a mix of emotions. He was not one to easily yield or admit his mistakes, but for the sake of his daughter, he saw no other c hoice. His final hopey with Dustin. ¡°Uncle Caden! You don¡¯t really believe this rascal, do you? Even Dr. Shane can¡¯t cure her, how is it pos sible that this scoundrel can? Don¡¯t be fooled by him!¡± Xavier lost hisposure. ¡°Well, if I can¡¯t cure her, do you think you can? Dustin gestured for Xavier to go ahead. ¡°You!¡± Xavier had no words to refute. He was adept at fighting, but he knew next to nothing about savin g and rescuing others. ¡°Buddy, please try your best to save her. No matter what the oue is, we can take it!¡± Lily looked at him with resoluteness, her mind made up and ready to face any consequences. ¡°I can help her, but when I¡¯m done, I hope Mr. Murray will deliver on his end of the promise.¡± Dustin approached She, who was still unconscious on her bed and helped her sit up. With just one hand, he applied needles at 13 different pressure points on She¡¯s body. His technique was extraordinary. When the 13 needles began to rotate on the spot in the pressure points, he gave She a strong smack on the back. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. She wavered, her head jerked upwards, and she spat several white crystals, whichnded on the gro und with a resounding thunk. The crystals were a murky white color and gave off a bone¨Cchilling mist. ¡°The coldness has crystallized?¡± Malcolm¡¯s expression was one of disbellef. No wonder his acupuncture served no purpose. It turns out that the coldness that She¡¯s body had be en absorbing over the years had crystallized! Those crystals were like a source of evil that emitted an endless stream of coldness. And that was the r eason he wasn¡¯t able to remove the source of She¡¯s condition! Just as the crowd stared on with uncertainty and suspicion, Dustin produced a bamboo cylinder and poured out of it a small, red beetle. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s that?¡± Lily was shocked and immediately stopped his actions. ¡°This is a fiery beetle. It¡¯s a type of venomous insect that feeds on coldness and produces warmth. Onc e it enters She¡¯s body, it can regte and bnce out her energy,¡± Dustin exined. ¡°A venomous insect?¡± Everyone¡¯s expression changed. To them, venomous insects were considered evil and dangerous. ¡°You¨CYou¡¯re going to put this insect into She¡¯s body?¡± Lily felt her skin crawl. ¡°Don¡¯t be rmed. As I¡¯ve said before, the mystic arts can be used to heal too. This is the perfect exam ple.¡± As Dustin spoke, he proceeded to put the fiery beetle into She¡¯s mouth. Everyone looked at each other, and for a moment, they were at a loss. Malcolm, however, had a thoughtful expression. He had heard of using the mystic arts to heal diseases, but he had never seen anyone actually perform it. Could it be possible that this rascal was really able to work miracles? Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Everyone watched wide¨Ceyed as Dustin administered the fiery beetle. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The moment it entered She¡¯s body, the effect was immediate. The cold air around her began to dissip ate, and in less than three minutes, her body had gone from icy cold to being at a regr temperature. She gained color in her cheeks, and her breathing steadied. Then, under the disbelieving gaze of the crowd, she whimpered and came around. ¡°She¡¯s awake?¡± Astonishment was evident on the crowd¡¯s faces. The fact that a rascal like Dustin was able to cure She of her condition when even Dr. Shane was un able to was beyond them. It was shocking indeed! ¡°H¨CHow is this possible?¡± Xavier¡¯s eyes widened, bewildered. How could an unknown doctor possess such skills? ¡°How did he do it?¡± udia was equally amazed and terrified. She struggled toe to terms with how something she had always thought was evil had healing prop erties. ¡°I never knew that the mystic arts had such amazing effects!¡± Malcolm¡¯s eyes lit up as he marveled at D ustin¡¯s skills. His unconventional means of healing were undoubtedly a groundbreaker. Malcolm, who had initially thought that he no longer had any room for improvement in the medical field, finally found new hope. ¡°She! How are you feeling? Are you experiencing any difort?¡± Caden and Lily were both happily surprised. They had not held high hopes, to begin with, and they were more than pleased to be met with such a m iracle. ¡°Dad, Mom How weird. I no longer feel the coldness within me. It¡¯s as though it has vanished!¡± She p atted herself all over, a surprised expression on her face. She had never felt so warm before. ¡°That¡¯s great! That¡¯s absolutely great! Thank you, thank you so much for saving her!¡± Lily was so ecstati c that she was about to bow to Dustin to thank him. ¡°Mrs. Murray, please, there is no need to bow!¡± Dustin reached out to hold her up. He was not used to s uch unbridled expressions of gratitude. ¡°Was it you who saved me, kind sir?¡± She was delighted to see Dustin. It had just been a day, and they had met again! Was it not fate? ¡°She, it¡¯s all thanks to Mr. Rhys here that you¡¯re still alive! If not for him, you might very well still be un conscious,¡± Lily remarked. ¡°Thank you, kind sir!¡± She bowed deeply. ¡°You¡¯re wee. After all, I get paid for saving you.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°So is my daughterpletely cured, young man?¡± Caden asked cautiously. He had consulted many experienced and well¨C known doctors regarding She¡¯s condition, and all of them had expressed that the condition could only be suppressed, notpletely eradicated. So he had to be sure. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say that she¡¯spletely cured of it, but she won¡¯t be bothered by it for the next 10 years,¡± Dustin guaranteed. ¡°Why is it only for 10 years? Can¡¯t you get rid of itpletely?¡± Caden frowned. ¡°It¡¯s Prfrost. It can¡¯t be eliminated so easily. Unless you are able to get some extremely rare herbs th at can improve her cirction and metabolism, the only solution is to use the fiery beetle to extend her l ife, and a fiery beetle only has a lifespan of ten years,¡± Dustin rified. ¡°10 years is good enough. At least it will give us more time to find other means of solution.¡± Lily smiled. It was already a pleasant surprise that her daughter¡¯s life had been prolonged by 10 years. She dared not ask for much more. ¡°Mr. Murray, now that your daughter¡¯s life is not on the line, is it time you deliver your end of the deal?¡± Dustin went straight to the point. ¡°It¡¯s the Gozoraberry you¡¯re after, isn¡¯t it? Please proceed to the lounge. I¡¯ll be there in a while,¡± Caden said lightly. Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Caden gestured to the butler, who immediately got the message. ¡°This way, please, Mr. Rhys,¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Dustin nodded and followed the butler to the lounge. He took a seat and waited. It was a long w ait. It wasn¡¯t until he finished his third cup of tea that Caden appeared with several men in tow. ¡°I really appreciate you saving my daughter, young man. Here¡¯s a ten¨Cmillion¨C dor check. Consider this your pay.¡± Caden sat down and motioned to one of his men, who presented a check to Dustin. ¡°What? Thank you for your kind intentions, Mr. Murray, but this isn¡¯t what I want.¡± Dustin stared at the c heck, puzzled. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you want it. What matters is that this is what I¡¯m paying you for a job well don e.¡± Caden sipped on his tea. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? The Gozoraberry isn¡¯t yours. All you¡¯re getting is the money.¡± Caden spelled it out in p words. ¡°Mr. Murray, we had a deal. I cure your daughter, and you give me the Gozoraberry. Why are you going back on your words?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression darkened. What was the meaning of all this? Were they turning their backs on him once they no longer had use of him? Had he just been taken advantage of? ¡°The Gozoraberry is not only a precious herb used for healing, but it is also remarkably beneficial to pra ctitioners of martial arts. Don¡¯t you know that, young man?¡± Caden suddenly asked. ¡°So?¡± ¡°It would be a waste of precious resources to give you such a valuable treasure, so I made the decision to give it to someone else,¡± Caden justified himself. ¡°You gave it to someone else? Who?¡± Dustin¡¯s brows furrowed deeply. ¡°Who else but me?¡± Xavier made his way in haughtily. He had in his hands a small, red, wooden box th at held the Gozoraberry. ¡°Hey, buddy! Uncle Caden¡¯s given me the Gozoraberry. It¡¯s mine now!¡± Xavier patted the box smugly wi th a Sneer. ¡°So what if the rascal stole the limelight today? Ultimately, I¡¯m the one who benefited from it! At the end of the day, he¡¯s just a lowly peasant!¡± Xavier thought. ¡°Caden Murray! You are an influential person with high social standing, and you carry the honor of the Murray family with you! How could you go back on your words and betray someone who has helped yo u? Are you not afraid that you¡¯d be ridiculed?¡± Dustin mmed his hand on the table and stood up. He was truly angry. He could understand Caden¡¯s previous change of mind, as it was a matter pertaining to his daughter¡¯s health condition. Malcolm had a reputation for having great expertise in his field, which naturally made him more deservi ng of trust on Caden¡¯s end. But now, it was a different case altogether. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Caden was going back on his word after Dustin had saved She! That was downright outrageous! ¡°Ridicule? Hah! Who¡¯d dare to ridicule me? Do you really think that a few words from you would be able to tamish the M urray family¡¯s reputation? You¡¯re really thinking highly of yourself!¡± Caden scoffed. He looked at Dustin as though he were a fool. ¡°Are you really going to disregard your honor?¡± An icy glint shed in Dustin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Cut the crap! Take the money and scram, or I¡¯ll get my men to throw you out!¡± Caden ran out of patien ce. How dare this peasant go against him? ¡°What? Are you threatening me now?¡± Dustin lifted his gaze. ¡°So what if we¡¯re threatening you? I¡¯m warning you, Rhys! You better get out of here now, or I¡¯ll make y ou!¡± Xavier roared. At that, a group of well¨Ctrained guards rushed in bearing malice. It seems like they came prepared. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 ¡°Hahaha!¡± Dustin was so infuriated that heughed out loud when he saw the guards rush in. Anyone would have assumed that such a prestigious family would at least put in some effort to uphold t heir reputation. Who would have guessed that they would act so shamelessly? Not only did they go back on their word, they even betrayed someone who had offered them help in the ir time of need! And now that things didn¡¯t go their way, they resorted to violence and threats. How tyrannical a nd despicable! ¡°Caden Murray! Are you about to repay kindness with ingratitude?¡± Dustin¡¯s gaze frosted over, and an i mposing air came over him. ¡°Young man, you¡¯d be smart to back off now. Ten million dors is enough tost you a lifetime. You bet ter not get greedy!¡± Caden warned. People in his position were only interested in what benefited them. Naturally, he would ce connectio ns with the Horst family above an unknown doctor like Dustin. ¡°Am I being greedy, or are you the one taking advantage of me? Do you really think that I¡¯m an easy tar get whom you can mess around with however you please?¡± Dustin retorted sharply. ¡°Uncle Caden, let¡¯s not waste time on this scumbag! Just throw him out and get rid of this eyesore!¡± Xa vier got impatient. He was green with envy at how She had called Dustin ¡®kind sir. She had never addressed him as suc h! ¡°I¡¯ll give you one den gave his ultimatum. ¡°And I¡¯m giving you yourst chance too. Give me the Gozoraberry, or you¡¯ll be sorry!¡± Dustin threatene d authoritatively. ¡°Hah! You¡¯re really making things hard for everyone, aren¡¯t you?¡± Finally, Cader could hold it in no longer. He exchanged a look with Xavier. ¡°Throw him out! Do whatever you like. Just make sure that he doesn¡¯t die.¡± ¡°No problem! Tie him up and throw him out! Break his legs if he resists!¡± Xavier sneered as he waved th e guards over. ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± The guards rushed up at hismand. ¡°Insolent bastards!¡± Dustin seethed. He met the guards head¨Con. With just a few simple swings of his arm, he delivered p after p to the guards¡® faces. was a They cried out as they were sent sprawling across the lounge. None of them was a match for Dustin. ¡°Huh?¡± Caden and Xavier were surprised at what they saw. They had not expected that a mere doctor li ke him would be so skilled inbat techniques! ¡°So it turns out that he¡¯s a practitioner of the martial arts! No wonder he has the guts to behave so pom pously! ¡°Xavier scoffed as he slowly took off his coat. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve loosened up. Well, let¡¯s have some fun today, shall we?¡± With that, Xavier got ready to attack. ¡°Hold it right there!¡± Lily, She, and a few other people burst in hastily. ¡°Caden, what¡¯s going on? Dustin saved She! Why are you guys attacking him?¡± Lily questioned. *This is none of your business, Lily. Bring She back to her room to get some rest.¡± Caden frowned. He had brought Dustin to the lounge because he didn¡¯t want his wife and daughter to see what they we re doing. But in the end, they still caught wind of things and came over. ¡°Is this because of the Gozoraberry, Caden? We made Dustin a promise! Why are you backing out on y our words? If word got out, how do you think it¡¯s going to affect our reputation?¡± Lily got the picture the instant she saw the red box. ¡°What would a woman know? Get out!¡± Caden was ashamed, but heshed out at Lily with his frustrati on. ¡°Dad! You¡¯ve always told me to be an honest person, but what are you doing now?¡± She took a step forward and demanded, ¡°Dustin just saved my life, but not only are you not grateful t owards him, but you¡¯ve also resorted to using violence against him. Since when were you so unreason able?¡± Caden¡¯s expression changed when he heard her words. He couldn¡¯t care less about what others thoug ht about him, but he couldn¡¯t disregard how his daughter saw him. He had always kept his dirty deeds hidden from his daughter. It was unfortunate that he was caught red - handed today. ¡°She, Uncle Caden had nothing to do with this. I was the one who wanted the Gozoraberry.¡± Xavier stood up to take the me. I¡¯m just one step away from advancing my skills to the next level, an d a Gozoraberry is exactly what will give me the extra push to help me progress. That¡¯s why I shameles sly requested it from Uncle Caden.¡± ¡°Even so, you should not have resorted to violence!¡± She scowled. ¡°She, you don¡¯t understand! I had nned to buy the Gozoraberry from him for 10 million dors, but not only did this fe here reject my proposal, he even insulted me! I really couldn¡¯t take it!¡± Xavier argu ed indignantly. ¡°I don¡¯t care! Since you¡¯ve agreed to give Dustin the Gozoraberry, then you can¡¯t just back out at the eleventh hour!¡± She reached out, snatched the box from Xavier¡¯s hands, an d passed it to Dustin. ¡°You¡­¡± At a loss, Xavier could only look to Caden helplessly. Caden looked none too pleased, but in the end, he only shook his head. He had an image to keep in fr ont of his daughter, so they could only let it slide. ¡°Dustin, I¡¯m really sorry that you were startled. My father wasn¡¯t in the right state of mind for a while bac k. there. I apologize on his behalf for offending you. I hope you¡¯ll find it in you to forgive him.¡± She sai d apologetically. Seeing the sincerity in her gaze, Dustin was appeased. It was true that Caden was despicable, but he h ad to admit that Lily and She were both very understanding and reasonable. ¡°Mr. Rhys, please have the Gozoraberry. From now on, the Murrays are indebted to you!¡± Lily said. ¡°Please do not feel indebted to me. All I ask is that Mr. Murray would not take revenge on me,¡± Dustin r emarked lightly. ¡°No, he won¡¯t! My father¡¯s not like that!¡± She shook her hand and turned to look at Caden, throwing hi m a threatening nce. Caden had no other choice but to nod. ¡°What happened today was just a misunderstanding, please do All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. n¡¯t take offense.¡± ¡°If that is the case, thank you. I have other arrangements made, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave now.¡± Dustin t urned to leave. ¡°Dustin, will we meet again?¡± She suddenly asked. ¡°We¡¯ll leave that to fate.¡± Dustin walked out the door with a wave. Before he got out the door, he heard a low voice by his ear saying. ¡°You¡¯re lucky She came in the nick of time, you scoundrel. She just saved your sorry ass!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the one who lucked out that She came when she did. Otherwise, you¡¯d be a dead man by now.¡± Dustin left with a scoff. Chapter 164 Chapter 164 When Dustin returned to Peaceful Medical Center, he found a silver Bentley parked right at the entranc e. He walked in to see ady with a beguiling face. Her shapely figure and enchanting temperament, matc hed with her bewitching smile, made her nothing less than a top¨Ctier seductress. ¡°What brings you here, Ms. Harmon?¡± Dustin was slightly startled. Though they were already familiar with cac h other, he still found her stunning every time he saw her. ¡°Why to see you, of course. You¡¯re such a busy person, and you rarely evere to see me. Surely yo u can¡¯t forbid me froming here to meet you?¡± Natasha said begrudgingly. ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Right, how¡¯s it going with Immortunol? Are its effects as expected?¡± Dustin ch anged. the topic awkwardly. ¡°It¡¯s much better than expected! I¡¯vee here especially to thank you. Immortunol has way better effects than Eternumax. I believe that once Immortunol isunched, the big bucks will start rolling in in no time.¡± Nat asha smiled. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s great!¡± Dustin smiled too. ¡°Here. Have a look at the contract.¡± Natasha pulled out a document from her bag and handed it to him. ¡°What contract?¡± Dustin looked at her quizzically. ¡°You came up with the prescription for Immortunol. I can¡¯t take advantage of yourbor. Let¡¯s just take t his as a coboration between us. All future profits from Immortunol will be split evenly.¡± Natasha pushed the contract toward him. ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s a need for that, Ms. Harmon. I have no use for Immortunol. I¡¯d be happy just knowing that it¡¯s of help to you.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Are you daft? You¡¯re rejecting money? I¡¯m giving it to you, so just take it. I might lose sleep over it if yo u don¡¯t. Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, alright¡­¡± Dustin saw no way around it when she put things that way. He could only nod and sign the All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. papers. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right, I have another present for you,¡± Natasha suddenly eximed. ¡°A present? What is it?¡± Dustin was curious. ¡°Close your eyes first.¡± Natasha looked like she was hiding a secret. ¡°Oh.¡± Dustin closed his eyes without giving it too much thought. The next second, he caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance. All of a sudden, he felt warm lips on his.. Dustin frcze instantly. He was so stunned that he felt like he¡¯d been struck by lightning. Had Natasha ju st stolen a kiss from him? He reflexively pulled back, but a pair of arms were hooked around his neck, and he failed to break free. The alluring fragrance at such close proximity caused his mind to go nk. At the same time, a Mercedes¨C Benz had just pulled up at the entrance. The car door opened, and out came a beautiful woman with an elegant bearing. It was Dahlia. She hade to apologize to Dustin. She had mulled things over for an entire day and night and came to the conclusion that she should apol ogize to him. It would be hard to bring herself to say it, but it was absolutely necessary. So she drew a deep breath, mustered up all the courage she had, and pushed the door open. ¡°Dus-¡± She had barely opened her mouth to call out to him when she saw a scene that she likely would not forget. She froze on the spot for a moment. After some time, Natasha, whose cheeks were flushed, finally let go of Dustin when he ran out of breat h. Though she was a strong and independent woman, this was the first time Natasha had ever done som ething like this, to steal a kiss from another person. ¡°That¡¯s my first kiss. It¡¯s my gift to you.¡± Natasha smiled charmingly, her eyes full of tenderness and affe ction. She looked immensely seductive with her flushed face. Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Dustin ran his fingers over his lips, savoring the fragrance that still lingered. He blushed. How embarrassing to have a kiss stolen in broad daylight! ¡°Hmph!¡± A disdainful scoff came from the door. When Dustin looked up, all he saw was a familiar figure walking away indignantly. After she got in the car, Dahlia stepped on the gas and disappeared down the road in the blink of an ey e. ¡°Was that¡ªDahlia?¡± Natasha asked teasingly. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Dustin nodded nkly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going after her to exin what she just saw?¡± Natasha lifted a brow. ¡°What¡¯s there to exin? We¡¯re divorced! It¡¯s not like I¡¯m cheating on her.¡± Dustin stood his ground. ¡°You¡¯ve got a point there.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°You¡¯re mine now, why would you need to exin to anyone else?¡± She thought to herself. As they were conversing, another car pulled up at the entrance. The car door opened, and in came a paunchy man. It was Malcolm Shane. He took in his surroundings as he entered. ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t this Dr. Shane? Why is he here?¡± Natasha was amazed. Dr. Malcolm Shane was a big name across the nation, and he was considered one of the best in the fiel d of acupuncture. No matter where he went, he was always highly sought after by the rich and powerful . ¡°Mr. Rhys! So it¡¯s true that you¡¯re here!¡± Malcolm¡¯s gaze quickly fixed on Dustin the moment he came in the door. He beamed brightly. ¡°Dr. Shane, it¡¯s such an honor to have you here. May I know what brought you here today?¡± Dustin was puzzled. ¡°Mr. Rhys, the treatment you performed with the venomous insect was truly an eye¨C opener! It¡¯s also the reason I¡¯m here today. I¡¯d like to seek your advice and guidance on the matter. I ho pe you can impart some of your wisdom.¡± Malcolm humbly sought knowledge from Dustin. Even Natasha was astounded. The great Dr. Shane, a leading figure in the medical field, was here to seek advice and knowledge from Dustin? Were her eyes ying tricks on her? She knew how proficient Dustin was in his medical skills, but to have Dr. Shane ask for his guidance w as still a shocker. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Dr. Shane, you¡¯re ttering me. You¡¯re my senior, with many more years of experience under your belt. I¡¯m not fit to offer you any advice, but I¡¯ll do my best to help you wherever needed.¡± Dustin waved his hand repeatedly. For someone of Malcolm¡¯s stature toe to him for advice was enough proof of his sincerity. Any other person in his position would never find it in them to humble themselves enough to seek guida nce from someone like Dustin. ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, Mr. Rhys. Your medical skills are one of a kind. I¡¯m ashamed of my inadequacy, espe cially regarding methods of the mystic arts. I really admire it.¡± Malcolm hesitated. ¡°If you¡¯re interested in that, I have a book here that might be of help.¡± Dustin went to a drawer and pulled out a yellowed ancient manuscript. ¡°This manuscript here records v arious methods of how the mystic arts can be used for medical purposes. You can study it if you wish.¡± ¡°Awesome! I¡¯m really grateful, Mr. Rhys!¡± Malcolm was ted. He took the manuscript and started flippi ng through it. The more he read, the more excited he got. The knowledge recorded was so profound and unfathomab le that hepletely lost himself in it. ¡°Dr. Shane, Dustin gave you a book, are you not going to return the favor?¡± Natasha teasingly prompte d. Dustin might be generous, but as his future wife, she could not let people take advantage of him. ¡°Ah, right! I nearly forgot.¡± Malcolm patted himself all over and finally produced a set of golden needles. ¡°Mr. Rhys, these golden n eedles are made of mystical gold. They¡¯re exceptionally durable and impervious to fire and water. I¡¯ve had them for 10 years. They¡¯re considered rarities, I hope you¡¯ll a ¡°Um- ¡°Thank you, Dr. Shane!¡± Before Dustin could reject them, Natasha had already received them with a sm ile. Golden needles made of mystical gold! These are the objects of countless doctors¡® dreams! They were practically a treasure! She saw no reason to reject them! Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Malcolm was surprised that Natasha actually epted the needles so readily. Was she not going to at least act modest by declining his offer? ¡°Before I forget, Dr. Shane, since you have a keen eye for valuables. I have something I¡¯d like you to he lp me evaluate.¡± Natasha requested after epting the golden needles. ¡°Oh? What is it? Please let me have a look,¡± Malcolm said confidently. ¡°Here.¡± Natasha showed him a green pill. Malcolm took the pill from her and nodded with satisfaction after having a good look at it. ¡°This crystal c lear pill has a bright luster to it, and it gives off a distinct fragrance. From the looks of it, it¡¯s quite remark able!¡± ¡°What good judgment, Dr. Shane!¡± Natasha gave him a thumbs up. ¡°This pill is called Immortunol. It can enhance a person¡¯s beauty, promote longevity, and has anti¨C aging effects. If you¡¯re not worried that we¡¯ve spiked it, you may give it a try, Dr. Shane.¡± ¡°So what if it¡¯s spiked? What fear have I of poison?¡± Malcolm smiled proudly and swallowed the Immort unol right then and there. The moment he popped it in, he felt a cool and refreshing sensation enter his bloodstream, reaching hi s limbs. For a moment, Malcolm felt a charge running through him. He was instantly rejuvenated as an inexplica ble sense of rity washed through his entire being. The palpable feeling that all his exhaustion had been swept away caused him to feel much more energi zed. And most importantly, it was not just a momentary sensation. After the medical constituents entered his bloodstream, they continued to fuel him with vitality. He was sure that if the pill was taken for an extended period, it would significantly transform a person. ¡°Brilliant! This is downright brilliant! It¡¯s a treasure in itself!¡± When he perceived just how exceptional Immortunol was, he had nothing but praise for it. ¡°Youngdy, where did you get this Immortunol from? Do you have more of it? Would it be possible for you to sell me a few?¡± Malcolm¡¯s eyes lit up. He rarely got so worked up over things, but he really could not hold back his excitement. The effects he experienced from taking Immortunol were too amazing! Even the Vitalitum that Dr. Watkins gave him could notpare to this precious pill! ¡°Dr. Shane, Immortunol is still in the production stage. We¡¯re not ready to sell it to the public yet, but if you likeAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. it, I can give you some.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°Hahaha! What a generous youngdy! If you don¡¯t mind me asking, who is the genius who produced. Immortunol? I would really appreciate it if you could introduce me to him.¡± Malcolm beamed happily. ¡°Dr. Shane, the brain behind it all is right in front of you.¡± Natasha smiled suggestively. ¡°Do you mean, Mr. Rhys is the one who produced Immortunol?¡± Malcolm¡¯s eyes widened. It was important to note that healing skills and producing pharmaceutical products were two different sk ill sets. Though they might look like branches from a simr field of study, the fact was that there was a world o f difference between the two. Being adept in medical skills didn¡¯t guarantee that one had the skills to produce medicine, and vice vers a. His difference in expertise from Dr. Watkins was the greatest example of that. He was proficient in medical skills, whereas Dr. Watkins was adroit in producing medicine. It was extremely rare to find someone who was seasoned in both fields, and all the existing masters were at least in their seventies. To have a youngster in his twenties be so skilled in both fields was unheard of. It was unimaginable! ¡°I just lucked out and found a prescription form, that¡¯s all.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°You¡¯re being too modest, Mr. Rhys. Even with a prescription form, it would be no easy feat to produ ce.such superb medicine. You have exceptional talent, Mr. Rhys! It¡¯s an honor to have met you today, a nd I¡¯m deeply impressed!¡± At that, Malcolm bowed deeply to Dustin. He was so skilled in both treating patients and producing medicine at such a young age. He was truly a genius! ¡°You tter me, Dr. Shane.¡± Dustin immediately reached out to hold him up. ¡°I wonder if you¡¯d be interested to coborate with us. Dr. Shane?¡± Natasha asked out of the blue. ¡°Coborate? How so?¡± Malcolm¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°You¡¯re a giant in the medical profession, and that makes you a symbol of authority. If you¡¯d be willing to promote Immortunol, I¡¯m sure that it would boost sales.¡± Natasha exin ed with a smile. Malcolm had connections, and he was also a person of high importance in the medical industry. To hav e someone like him endorsing Immortunol would guarantee a steady stream of high¨C ranking officials and nobility chasing after it. ¡°You really have a mind for business, youngdy. But tell me, why should I agree to it?¡± Malcolm wasn¡¯t one to be fooled. ¡°As long as you agree to it, not only will we give you Immortunol for free year¨C round, but you will also get priority supply to it. You¡¯ve just had a taste of it, you should know very well h ow effective it is. You¡¯d be saving a lot of lives by agreeing to it. This is an incredibly meritorious and beneficial deed! As someone of your high moral standing and reputation, surely you wouldn¡¯t want such a precious treasure to go unnoticed, am I right?¡± Natasha coaxed persuasively. ¡°It really does sound like a good deal. Alright, I¡¯ll work with you just this once then.¡± Malcolm nodded. th oughtfully. After all, he had received the ancient manuscript from Dustin. This was the least he could do to repay h im. ¡°Thank you, Dr. Shane! We appreciate it. Oh, Immortunol will be officiallyunched in two days. Please ¡°Sure!¡± Malcolm agreed heartily, unaware that he had agreed to something that he might regret in the f uture. Over in a mansion with ake view. ¡°How is it, Mr. Wangley? Do we have the results yet?¡± Quentin stood up to wee the white¨C browed man. He had lost sleep for the past two days because of Eternumax. After much consideration, the best way out was to join forces with the Hummers¡®. ¡°Mr. Harmon, Sir Hummer has agreed to join forces, but only under one condition.¡± The old man picked up a cup of tea and drank it hastily. ¡°What condition?¡± Quentin asked impatiently. ¡°Sir Hummer hopes that you¡¯ll take this opportunity to put pressure on Natasha from all sides and force her to step down from her position,¡± Mr. Wangley exined. ¡°Hahaha! That is exactly what I intend to do!¡± Quentinughed aloud. He had always been overshadowed by Natasha, ever since they were children, so the family had never ced any importance on him. Now that Eternumax had been lost, the family bore their grudges. If he grabbed hold of this opportunity to recover the family¡¯s losses and prove his worth, there was a high chance that he might take over Natas ha¡¯s position! ¡°Mr. Harmon, the Hummers¡® have agreed to join forces, but we still need money to buy Eternumax. Ho w many boxes are you nning to purchase?¡± Mr. Wangley queried. *The more the better, of course! Put in all the money we have on hand, and if that¡¯s not enough, then g o around and borrow some more!¡± Quentin decided boldly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a little too risky?¡± Mr. Wangley doubted his decision. ¡°How is it risky? We have the market research report for Eternumax, and it shows very promising result s! Countless millionaires are after it. So if we stock up on it now and sell it at a high price in the future, we¡¯ll surely make a huge profit!¡± Quentinughed exuberantly. The return will always be proportionate to the investment made. By then, his worth would have increased ten to twentyfold. Wouldn¡¯t he be the one to call the shots in th e family? Even Natasha Harmon would have to submit to him then! Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Two dayster, the Hummers¡® held the official press conference for theunch of Eternumax at the Hillv iew Hotel. News about it had spread for several days, and with the Hummers¡® unceasing effort to promote it, there was a great deal of discussion surrounding it. Such an amazing drug with beautifying properties that c ould also improve longevity drew the attention of countless people. So the press conference, which was grandly decorated, bustled with activity. There was a never¨C ending stream of guests that made their way in. Right around noon, a silver Bentley pulled up at the entrance of the Hillview Hotel. When the car door o pened. Natasha slowly made her way out of the car, her arms around Dustin¡¯s. As always, she was the center of attention wherever she went. It was hard for anyone to take their eyes off her shapely figure and alluring face. Dustin, who was d in a three¨C piece suit, seemed to have gone through a thorough makeover. He looked handsome and suave, and c arried himself with great poise. ¡°Natasha, why are you here?¡± Quentin and Mr. Wangley caught sight of them and approached. ¡°If you can be here, then so can I.¡± Natasha answered nonchntly. ¡°We¡¯re here because we received an invitation from Sir Hummer. Did you receive an invitation too?¡± Quentin asked with a fai nt, sardonic smile. Of course, he knew that Edwin would never have given Natasha an invitation. ¡°I¡¯m not here for Edwin¡¯s press conference, so naturally, I do not need an invitation.¡± Natasha shrugged. ¡°If you¡¯re not here for the press conference, then why are you here?¡± Quentin didn¡¯t quite get the idea. ¡°Oh, it totally slipped my mind to inform you that I¡¯m having a press conference for a new drugunch t oday too. Same day and location as Edwin Hummer¡¯s, but his is on Basement Level 3, while mine¡¯s on the third floor. I¡¯ve made sure to steer clear of him.¡± Natasha dropped the shocking news on him. ¡°What? You¡¯re having a press conference too?¡± Quentin was startled. He had sent men to keep an eye on Natasha for the past few days, and they had not reported any action on her end. Why was she suddenly having a press conference? And at the same date and location as Edwin¡¯s! Wa s that not a tant sign of provocation? ¡°Natasha Harmon! What exactly are you up to? You have nothing to your name, so where on earth do y ou get your courage to challenge Edwin Hummer?¡± Quentin was equally shocked and suspicious. ¡°This isn¡¯t something that you should be worried about, Quentin. If you¡¯ve got time to spare, you should consider more for yourself,¡± Natasha said casually. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Quentin frowned. ¡°I heard that you¡¯ve purchased Eternumax in bulk, and n to resell it at a higher price to earn some qu ick cash?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°So what if I have? You can¡¯t forbid me from making money just because you refuse to do so!¡± Quentin argued. ¡°Just because we¡¯re from the same family, I¡¯d advise you to do yourself a favor and sell off those Etern umax at a low price before the press conference starts. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll lose everything you have bef ore you even T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. know it!¡± Natasha smiled profoundly. ¡°Utter nonsense! Eternumax is selling like hotcakes right now! There are a whole lot of people out there who are willing to pay good money for it and yet are unable to get their hands on them! I think that¡¯s just you r jealousy talking!¡± Quentin scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s up to you to heed my advice.¡± Natasha couldn¡¯t be bothered to tell him more. She hooked her arm around Dustin¡¯s, and they both made their way into the hotel. ¡°Hmph! She really doesn¡¯t know where she stands!¡± Quentin sneered as he watched them leave. From the way he saw it, Natasha was simply trying toplicate the situation in a final attempt to save herse lf. As time went on, more and more people of the elite ss entered Hillview Hotel. The Hummer¡¯s press conference was filled with distinguished guests and was brimming with activity and excitement. The Harmons¡® press conference, however, painted apletely different picture. It was one of desti on and emptiness, with hardly any attendees. Apart from the staff and several bodyguards, there was b asically no one else present. But Natasha wasn¡¯t bothered by the low turn¨Cup. She sat there with Dustin, leisurely sipping on wine. ¡°Natasha! What are you up to?¡± Two people rushed in. It was Jessica and Ruth. ¡°Why would you hold a press conference so suddenly without any prior preparation! Are you messing a round?¡± Jessica demanded the moment she walked in. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Natasha said calmly. ¡°You know what you¡¯re doing? What do you mean you know what you¡¯re doing? Have you seen the Hu mmers¡® press conference? The ce is jam¨C packed with people! And look at what you have here? Not a person in sight! If word got out about this, what would people out there think about us Harmons?¡± Jessica eximed out of frus tration. Not only was the prescription form for Eternumax stolen, but Natasha was also publicly challenging t he Hummers at such a critical moment when she should have kept a low profile andid low for the tim e being! Wasn¡¯t she just inviting humiliation upon herself? How ridiculous! ¡°Natasha, I don¡¯t get it. You have always been one to make ns in advance and are always in control of the situation, why have you made such a foolish move today?¡± Ruth was puzzled. Since they had Immortunol, all Natasha needed to do was advertise and give it some publicity, and the y would easily be able to go against the Hummers! So out of everything that she could have done, why did she pick the course of action that was most arduous and least promising? ¡°Let¡¯s not get all worked up. Here, have a seat and something to drink. You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Na tasha was still full of confidence. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯d like to see what tricks you have up your sleeves! Jessica huffed as she sat down. Right now, all she hoped for was that nobody would show up. At least then, no one would spread the n ews. about this. If any word about the press conference got out, Harmon Pharmaceuticals would end u p as aughing stock. ¡°Hmm Is this the Harmons¡® press conference? Why don¡¯t I see anyone here at all?¡± Just then, an obese elderly man walked in, his face full of doubt. ¡°Dr¨CDr. Shane?¡± Jessica was so astonished. Dr. Shane was a person who rarely appeared in public. What was he doing here? After all, Dr. Shane was someone who would even disregard a prime minister¡¯s invitation if he so wishe d. ¡°Dr. Shane, what brings you here?¡± Jessica immediately got up to wee him. However, he did not even spare her a nce and walked right past her. He jogged enthusiastically over to Dustin with a huge smile on his face. ¡°Mr. Rhys! You¡¯re here too! Tha t ancient manuscript that you gave me was absolutely wonderful. It¡¯s just that there is some information in there that I¡¯m struggling to grasp. Do you think you could shed some light on them, please?¡± Jessica was struck dumb on the spot. A legendary figure in the medical field, the great Dr. Shane, was actually seeking advice from a poor fellow like Dustin. What? What on earth was going on? Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Jessica was frozen on the spot and struggled for words when she saw how humbly Malcolm was seeki ng guidance from Dustin. She had never once thought that the arrogant and haughty Dr. Malcolm Shane had such a side to him. And most importantly, the person from whom he was modestly seeking advice was the boy toy, Dustin Rhys. It was mind¨Cboggling indeed. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m fit to give you any advice, Dr. Shane, but I¡¯d dly help wherever I can. We can both share our thoughts. Dustin smiled. ¡°Sure, we can do that. Now, have a look here¡­¡± Malcolm took out the ancient manuscript and immedia tely dove into it. He started pointing out some of the areas that he had trouble understanding. ¡°Oh, this is actually quite simple. Take this for example: Put a hundred different insects into a jar, and le t them fight among themselves. After a month, open up the jar, and by then there will only be one remaining insect. The rest of them would have been eaten up by this surviving insect, and this Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. will be the poisonous insect that you¡¯re after. Such a poisonous insect is usually used to cure other pois ons in a method known as counteracting poison with another poison. ¡°As for this, it tells us how to neutralize the poisonous insect¡¯s venom. So what you need to do is smok e the licorice herb until it turns ck, thenbine it with some soybeans and extract the juice. Once t he patient consumes the juice, it will neutralize the venom of the poisonous insect. But of course, this is only applicable to the venom ofmon poisonous insects. And this here. Dustin spoke eloquently on all the topics that Malcolm had questions about, and he managed to give him all the answers he neede d. After hearing what Dustin had to say, Malcolm felt enlightened. ¡°Hahaha! You really are talented! I¡¯m so impressed, and I¡¯ve learned so much from you today!¡± Malcolm was practically dancing with joy. He looked nothing like an expert or a person of status. ¡°What-..¡± Jessica watched bewildered. Was this really the haughty Dr. Shane who was constantly conte mptuous of others? With how he was behaving, he looked more like a schoolboy! Also, what was this mystic art that they were going on about? Would a renowned doctor like Dr. Shane actually take interest in something like that? ¡°Dr. Shane, if you have any other questions, you can discuss them with Dustin some other time. As for now, we need to talk about the press conference.¡± Natasha interrupted them when she saw how excite d they were over their discussion. ¡°Oh, right¡­ Malcolm realized that his behavior was slightly inappropriate. He nodded and said, ¡°Just let me know what you need me to do, youngdy.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing you need to do. Just sit up there on the stage, and if you see anyone you recognize, you may greet them,¡± Natas ha replied with a smile. ¡°Is it that simple?¡± Malcolm could not believe his ears. ¡°Yep, it¡¯s that simple.¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all!¡± Malcolm went and took his seat on the stage and continued reading through the ancient manuscript. ¡°Natasha, so what if you managed to invite Dr. Shane here? Do you think this will suffice to go against Edwin Hummer?¡± Jessica asked in all earnestness. Though it was true that she was awestruck by Malcolm¡¯s presence, that did not mean that he had the means to help the Harmons win this battle against the Hu mmers. In the end, what mattered most in thispetition between the two families was the quality of their pro duct. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Natasha did not exin any further. With a nce at her wristwatch, she t urned to Dustin and nodded. He immediately got the signal and pulled out his phone to make a call. At the same time, over at the Hummers¡® press conference¡­ Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Looking at the crowd in the hall, Edwin couldn¡¯t help but smile broadly. As expected, everything was going smoothly. Once the productunch was done by today, Eternumax¡¯ s reputation would be spread far and wide! When that time came, his aim wouldn¡¯t be limited to Swinton but to market Eternumax throughout the th irteen cities of the South! ¡°Sir Hummer! Congrattions on yourunch!¡± Quentin and his men came up to Edwin, whose face wa s beaming. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Harmon. Please, have a seat,¡± Edwin said pleasantly. ¡°Sir Hummer, Eternumax is really a precious herb! Everyone has been talking about how great it is. Loo k at the crowd here after hearing about its effects! It¡¯s already be so popr that people arei ng in droves!¡± Quentin ttered. ¡°If the product is good, customers will naturally return. Mr. Harmon, you also stocked up quite a bit, it se ems like you¡¯re going to make a big profit this time.¡± Edwin smiled. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Sir Hummer. We¡¯re all working together to get rich!¡± Quentinughed heartily. ¡°Oh, by the way, have you heard any news from Natasha?¡± Edwin asked suddenly. Quentin¡¯s lips curled into a yful smirk. ¡°Speaking of which, there is a bit of news. I just heard that Nat asha was going to hold a press conference at the same time and ce as you.¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Oh? Is she trying to provoke me? But howe I didn¡¯t know about this?¡± Edwin was surprised. ¡°Not only you, but I don¡¯t think anyone in Swinton knows about it. I¡¯ve already checked into it, and her p ress conference has no one in attendance! What a joke!¡± Quentin sneered. ¡°If there is no one there, then what¡¯s the point of her holding a press conference?¡± Edwin asked. ¡°She probably was frustrated by you, that¡¯s why she intentionally pulled this stunt to try and stir up troub le. But now it seems like it¡¯s just backfiring on her.¡± Quentin replied. ¡°Heh! I never expected Natasha to resort to such a foolish move. Does she really think that she can res tore everything just by relying on the Harmon family¡¯s reputation? How naive!¡± Edwin shook his head. In his heart, he couldn¡¯t help but look down on Natasha. Natasha Harmon, the so¨C called queen of the business world, didn¡¯t seem so impressive after all. *Sir Hummer, how about we go over and witness the mockery for ourselves?¡± Quentin extended an invi tation. ¡°I have many important guestsingter, so I can¡¯t leave for now. You go ahead, and please say hell o to Natasha for me,¡± Edwin replied calmly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go have some fun then. I¡¯ll let you know the detailster, Quentin said and left without further ado. Soon, Quentin and Mr. Wangley arrived at the Harmon family¡¯s press conference. When they walked in, they found the hall empty, with only a few people present. ¡°Cousin, I didn¡¯t expect you to really hold a press conference. But why is no one here? What the hell ar e you doing?¡± Quentin teased as he walked in. ¡°Did you note here? Aren¡¯t you a human?¡± Natasha replied coldly. Quentin¡¯s lips twitched, but he continued sarcastically, ¡°I see it¡¯s really empty here. Should I bring some friends over to liven up the atmosphere?¡± Despite his words, the sneer on his lips could not be concealed. ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but it¡¯s unnecessary. My guests will arrive soon,¡± Natasha smiled faintly. ¡°Cousin, I think you shouldn¡¯t be too stubborn. How can youpete with Edwin with such a poor sho wing? In my opinion, I think you should just admit your defeat,¡± Quentin said with a smirk. ¡°Well, it seems like you¡¯re having a lot of fun!¡± Ruth piped in angrily. ¡°Ruth, I¡¯m doing this for your sister¡¯s own good. Rather than making an embarrassment of ourselves, w e should stop our losses while we can. Like me, I¡¯ve bought a ton of Eternumax so that I can make a fo rter.¡± Quentin said confidently. ¡°You bought the Eternumax? How many did you buy?¡± Ruth was surprised and asked tentatively. ¡°I invested all my money and took out many loans to purchase the stocks. This time, I¡¯m going to make a killing!¡± Quentin raised his chin proudly, waiting for them to rain praise on his intelligence and prowes s. After hearing this, Ruth pped her forehead and sighed. ¡°It¡¯s all over!¡± Eternumax wasplete garbage! It was pure stupidity for Quentin to buy so much Eternumax, moreover with money that he didn¡¯t have! What an idiot Quentin was! Chapter 170 Chapter 170 ¡°What do you mean? Can¡¯t you speak more clearly? I¡¯m about to make it big!¡± Quentin rolled his eyes. With the poprity of Eternumax, making a fortune was in the bag. These guys reallycked business acumen! ¡°Sis, did you not remind our cousin not to buy Eternumax? Ruth turned her head and looked at Natasha. ¡°I did remind him, but he didn¡¯t listen. I couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Natasha shrugged. ¡°While there¡¯s still time, quickly sell all your Eternumax, even if it¡¯s at a low price. It¡¯s better than getting nothing back.¡± Ruth advised. ¡°Sell at a low price? Are you talking nonsense? This is an opportunity for me to multiply my worth b y ten times. How could I give up so easily?¡± Quentin frowned. ¡°Cousin, I don¡¯t think you can increase your worth by that much. You are more likely to go bankrupt. Don¡¯t you know that my sister has developed a new drug called Immortunol?¡± Ruth shook her head hel plessly. ¡°What Immortunol? I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± Quentin sneered. ¡°Immortunol has the same benefits as Eternumax, but its medicinal properties far surpass those of Eter numax. Besides, it¡¯s even cheaper. Just think about what would happen once this drug hits the market.¡± Ruth analyzed. ¡°Hmph! Nonsense! There¡¯s no such drug in this world that canpare to Eternumax. Do you think I¡¯m stupid? Quentin didn¡¯t believe it at all.. ¡°It¡¯s true! I¡¯ve tried it myself!¡± Ruth insisted anxiously. Quentin interrupted coldly. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Ruth, I always thought of you as an innocent child who woul d never lie. I did not expect that you would lie to help your sister!¡± ¡°Hmph! If you don¡¯t believe me, then forget it!¡± Ruth snorted and turned away without another word. It¡¯s impossible to change his mind. She had said everything she needed to say, and if he refused to listen, it was not her fault. ¡°You guys are better off thinking about how to bring more people here to liven up the atmosphere instea d of worrying about my affairs. Look at this press conference, it¡¯s as empty as a ghost town. What an e mbarrassment!¡± Quentin¡¯s face was cold as he spoke sarcastically. the ¡°Who said we don¡¯t have any guests? Look, there they are!¡± Natasha suddenly pointed her chin toward th door. The others followed her gaze. Several people dressed in luxurious clothing walked in, turning around a s if they were looking for something. ¡°Excuse me, is Dr. Shane here?¡± ¡°We heard that Dr. Shane has developed a medicine called Immortunol, which could maintain youthfuln ess and increase longevity. Is it true?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. Look, Dr. Shane is sitting on the stage.¡± Natasha smiled and stood up. ¡°Oh?¡± The group looked closely and their faces lit up with joy. ¡°It¡¯s really Dr. Shane! It seems like we¡¯vee to the right ce!¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! I didn¡¯t believe it at first when I heard the rumors, but it turned out to be true!¡± They spoke excitedly to each other. After all, it was extremely difficult to meet a highly skilled expert like Dr. Shane, who was often elusive and rarely seen. ¡°Dr. Shane?¡± Quentin was startled and turned back in surprise. On the stage, there was a fat old man who was reading a book. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention before, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the old man was non e other than the famous miracle doctor, Dr. Malcolm Shane! What¡¯s going on? Did Natasha actually invite Dr. Shane? Quentin mulled it over as more guests streamed in. People were crowding into the hall to see the reno wned Dr. Shane. Many of them were initially skeptical and curious; however, once they saw that it was really him, their hearts were convinced. Even without saying a word, just having Dr. Shane sit there was the best advertisement for Immortunol. ¡°Is it possible? Could Immortunol really be better than Eternumax?¡± At first, Quentin was able to remain calm. but as more guests arrived, he couldn¡¯t help but feel nervous. After a short while, the empty hall had be lively. ¡°It¡¯s about time, let¡¯s begin,¡± Natasha ordered the butler to bring out all of the Immortunol that had been prepared. With a smile, she stepped onstage and stood beside Dr. Shane. ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, the highlight of our press conference today is this new drug, Immortunol! This i s a miraculous medicine jointly developed by Harmon Pharmaceuticals and other medical experts, inclu ding Dr. Shane. Not only does this medicine improve one¡¯s longevity, but it also has anti¨C aging and health¨C promoting benefits, making it suitable for people of all genders and ages. As for its effects, you¡¯ll know after trying it. Your opinion is what matters.¡± Natasha did not waste time and briefly introduced the Imm ortunol before having the butler distribute it to all of the guests. Without question, each person who was present in the hall received a pill. When everyone took the Im mortunol, the entire hall erupted in excitement. ¡°Oh my god! The effect of Immortunol is amazing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! Just after taking one, my whole body is filled with energy! I have never felt so young!¡± ¡°My goodness! Honey, your face seems to be whiter and more radiant; even your dark circles have disappeared!¡± Everyone was enthusiastically discussing the mind¨Cblowing effects of the drug. Initially, many had turned up due to Dr. Shane¡¯s reputation. However, now they werepletely convin ced by the apparent effects of the Immortunol! ¡°I don¡¯t believe this drug could be so incredible! Seeing everyone¡¯s positive response, Quentin scoffed angrily and stuffed an Immortunol into his mouth. At that moment, he was dumbstruck. The indescribable sense of warmth spread throughout his body, strengthening his muscles and boosting his energy. This drug was really out of this world! ¡°H¨C how could this be?¡± Quentin widened his eyes in disbelief. He had initially thought that Natasha was jus t bluffing. He didn¡¯t expect that in just a few days, Natasha had actually developed a new medicine. In addition, the effects of Immortunol far exceeded those of Eternumax! Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Realizing this, Quentin suddenly turned pale and turned to Mr. Wangley. ¡°Mr. Wangley! Hurry up and sell the Eternumax at a low price! Sell them all! Don¡¯t leave a single one! If we don¡¯t sell them right now, we¡¯re done for!¡± Chapter 171 Chapter 171 At the Hummer family¡¯s press conference, the once bustling hall began to slowly empty out. Initially, everyone was talking about Eternumax, but gradually the conversation switched to another topi c. ¡°Hey, have you heard? The Harmon family also held a press conference tounch their product, Immort unol. They partnered up with Mr. Shane, and its effects are incredible! It¡¯s said to be the best suppleme nt ever developed!¡± ¡°Is it true? Can itpare to Eternumax?¡± ¡°Eternumax is garbagepared to Immortunol! To tell you the truth, my friend¡¯s great¨C aunt just ate one pill of Immortunol, and she jumped out of her wheelchair!¡± ¡°Are you exaggerating?¡± ¡®Don¡¯t believe me? Let¡¯s go and see for yourself!¡± As news of Immortunoll spread, more and more people left to gather at the Harmon family¡¯s press conf erence. In contrast, the number of people at the Hummer family¡¯s conference dwindled. Gradually, Edw in finally realized that something was wrong. ¡°Butler, what¡¯s going on? Why did the number of our guests suddenly decrease so much?¡± Edwin aske d. ¡°I don¡¯t know, it¡¯s strange.¡± The butler was puzzled by the situation. ¡°What are you standing there for? Go and find out!¡± Edwin snapped. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The butler dared not hesitate and ran out in a hurry. He returned after a moment, sweating profusely. ¡°Sir Hummer! Something terrible happened! Natasha i s holding a press conference tounch a new product called Immortunol. Those missing guests have al l gone over to their conference!¡± ¡°What? We¡¯ve been T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. going all out on marketing and promotion. How could Natasha have the ability to steal my clients?¡± Edw in¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It¡¯s because of Dr. Shane! It¡¯s said that Immortunol was developed by the Harmon family and Dr. Shan e, so people are flocking to it!¡± The butler wiped away his sweat. ¡°Dr. Shane? Let¡¯s go and take a look for ourselves!¡± Edwin frowned. At this moment, he couldn¡¯t suppress his curiosity any longer. Eternumax was the result of years of research by the Harmon family, and it was top secret. Even if it w as Dr. Shane, he couldn¡¯t develop a new medicineparable to Eternumax in just a few days! When Edwin arrived, he was shocked by the scene before him. He realized that the Harmon family¡¯s pr ess conference was far more lively than his own. All the bigwigs and celebrities had turned up. Most importantly, everyone who had tried Immortunol gav e it high praise. Edwin was curious and stopped a young man, who was passing by. ¡°Young man, did you try the Immort unol?¡± ¡°Yes, I did. What¡¯s wrong?¡± The young man nodded. ¡°What do you think of the effects of the medicine?¡± ¡°What do I think about it? Of course, I feel like I¡¯m on top of the world!¡® ¡°Is it really that powerful? How does itpare to Eternumax?¡± ¡°Eternumax? No one would eat that now!¡± The young man chuckled. Edwin froze, his eyes twitching frantically. Unwilling to ept it, he asked several more people in se ssion. They all said the same thing. ¡°Impossible!¡± ¡°How could a new medicine like Immortunolpare to Eternumax?¡± Edwin frowned deeply, still unconvinced. As he looked around at the people praising Immortunol, he couldn¡¯t help feeling a little annoyed. After thinking for a moment, Edwin whispered a few words to his butler, who nodded and left immediate ly. As time passed, the conference at the Hummer family gradually quieted down. L Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Meanwhile, the atmosphere at the Harmon family¡¯s press conference became increasingly lively. Just when Natasha thought that everything was going smoothly, a scream suddenly rang out from the c rowd. Everyone turned to look. An old man had suddenly copsed to the ground, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Within moments, he was unconscious. ¡°Dad! What¡¯s wrong with you? Please get up!¡± Cried a middle¨Caged man next to him, panic¨Cstricken. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor, let me take a look!¡± A bald man quickly stepped forward to check the old man¡¯s breathing and pulse. With a sigh, he shook his head. ¡°He¡¯s already dead.¡± ¡°Dead?¡± Everyone was shocked by the news. ¡°How could this happen? He seemed perfectly fine just a moment ago.¡± ¡°Who knows? He looked energetic: it¡¯s so strange that he died suddenly.¡± ¡°Could it be a heart attack?¡± Whispers and murmurs of suspicion filled the air. ¡°It can¡¯t be! My dad couldn¡¯t have died! We made sure he had regr checkups, and he was always he althy!¡± The middle¨Caged man sobbed. ¡°It looks like he might have been poisoned. Did he eat anything earlier?¡± The bald doctor asked. ¡°We didn¡¯t eat anything today. The middle¨C aged man trailed off before suddenly remembering something. Wait! My dad took Immortunol earlier, and now he is dead! The medicine must be toxic!¡± ¡°Toxic?¡± Everyone was shocked to hear this. After all, they had all taken the same medicine earlier. ¡°How could this be?¡± Natasha frowned. Having such an incident during the press conference was not a good sign. Regardless of whether the o ld man¡¯s death was rted to Immortunol, it would have a huge impact on Harmon Pharmaceutical¡¯s re putation. Once thebel ¡°toxic¡± was attached to Immortunol, it would not be able to sell at all. ¡°It¡¯s all because of you! It¡¯s all your fault! You killed my father by selling fake medicine! You owe me his l ife!¡± The middle¨Caged man stood up and roared at Natasha. He rushed forward to attack her but was stopped by the Harmon family¡¯s bodyguards. ¡°The cause of your father¡¯s death is not clear yet. Whether it is rted to Immortunol still needs further investigation,¡± Natasha said sternly. ¡°There¡¯s nothing more to investigate! Everyone saw it clearly just now. My father was healthy before he T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. took your medicine. After taking it, he suddenly died!¡± The man shouted. ¡°My father was killed by you! You wicked businesswoman! You look my father¡¯s life!¡± He kneeled beside the body, crying bitterly. ¡°My poor father, you died in vain! I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t avenge your death. I hope that they will get di vine retribution from the heavens!¡± It was a heart¨Cwrenching sight that moved everyone to tears. At that moment, everyone turned to Natasha. Their gazes had changed from ones of respect to ones of scorn. ¡°Natasha! I never knew you were such a despicable person. For the sake of profit, you would actually sell fake medicine!¡± Quentin jumped to h is feet and used her loudly. ¡°Stop talking nonsense. Immortunol is not poisonous. Natasha frowned. *Then how do you exin the old man¡¯s sudden death after taking your medicine?¡± Quentin pressed. ¡°Natasha was at a loss for words. ¡°The old man¡¯s death has nothing to do with Immortunol,¡± Dustin spoke up. He had been watching from the side all along. ¡°Who are you to say that the medicine is not at fault?¡± Quentin retorted coldly. ¡°I can show you that the medicine had nothing to do with his death. If you don¡¯t believe me, I can ask th e old man personally.¡± Dustin stepped forward with a calm expression. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 ¡°Ask the old man?¡± Quentin first looked stunned, then his face darkened. ¡°Punk! Do you think I¡¯m an idiot? The old man is already dead; how could you ask him anything?¡± ¡°He may be dead, but his body is still warm. Coincidentally, I have a way to bring the dead back to life.¡± Dustin smiled faintly. ¡°Nonsense! Do you think you¡¯re a god? Bring the dead back to life? Why don¡¯t you say you know how t o fly?¡± Quentin sneered. ¡°Who is this young man? How dare he speak so arrogantly?¡± ¡°Yeah! Even Dr. Shane wouldn¡¯t dare say that he could bring the dead back to life. This kid is really too conceited!¡± ¡°In my opinion, he just wants to show off in front of Ms. Harmon and impress her.¡± In response to Dustin¡¯s words, the people around him were filled with . The old man was already dead, how could he bring a dead person back to life? Wasn¡¯t he spouting nonsense? ¡°Whether it¡¯s nonsense or not, we¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t exin further and walked up t o the old man. ¡°Hey! What are you doing? I¡¯m warning you¨C don¡¯t mess around with me! My father¡¯s body is still warm, so no one can touch him. I¡¯ve reported this t o the authorities, and the police will be here soon!¡± The middle¨Caged man looked wary. ¡°Don¡¯t be so agitated, I just want to take a look at your father. Maybe I can give you the justice you des erve!¡± Dustin said. ¡°I don¡¯t even know who you are, why should I let you examine him?¡± The middle¨Caged man shouted. ¡°Mr. Rhys is the chief physician of Harmon Pharmaceuticals. If your father really had an ident becau se of ingesting Immortunol, we are willing to take full responsibility,¡± Natasha spoke up. Although she didn¡¯t know what Dustin was going to do, she supported him unconditionally. ¡°If he¡¯s a doctor, then let him take a look.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s really Immortunol that killed him, we can testify for you!¡± Many others chimed in as well. Dustin piped up when he saw the man¡¯s hesitation, ¡°What, do you want your father to die under such v ague circumstances?¡± ¡°Alright! I look forward to seeing what tricks you can y!¡± The middle¨C aged man gritted his teeth and stepped aside. Dustin squatted down and examined the body brielly. ¡°There¡¯s no breath or pulse. It seems like this old man is truly dea d. Since the deceased is foaming at the mouth, it appears to be a case of death due to poisoning.¡± ¡°Listen! Did you all hear that? Even the Harmon family¡¯s physician said it was death by poisoning! My f ather was poisoned to death by Immortunol!¡± The middle¨Caged man shouted. As soon as the people heard his ims, their faces were filled with shock. They started pointing fingers at Natasha and whispering in hushed voices, their eyes full of suspicion. ¡°Dustin! What nonsense are you talking about?! Did you even do a proper examination? You are obviou sly trying to throw the Harmons¡± under the bus!¡± Jessica hissed under her breath. She couldn¡¯t help but suspect that Dustin was a spy nted by the Hummer family. In such a critical moment, he actually said that the old man died of poisoning. Wasn¡¯t he just adding fuel to the fire? ¡°Cousin, it seems like your little boyfriend here has rocks in his head. With his statement, he is confirmi ng that you did sell fake medicine, which caused someone¡¯s death!¡± Quentin almostughed out loud. Could such stupid people actually exist? He was just making matters worse! All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°What an interesting development¡­¡± Edwin smirked to himself as he stood among the crowd. He couldn¡¯t believe that Dustin would add insult to injury. This was more than what he expected! ¡°Based on your reactions, I believe you all trust what I said, right?¡± Dustin stared directly at the man. ¡°We believe it! Of course, we believe it! You are an honest and upright man by publicly exposing the dark side of the Harmon family!¡± The middle¨Caged man nodded vigorously. While he was praising Dustin, the man couldn¡¯t hide the faint smile on his lips. Although his smile quickly disappeared, it was still caught by Dustin. ¡°Now that you believe me, I¡¯m going to save your father,¡± Dustin dered with a cheeky smile. ¡°Save? My father is already dead; how can you save him?¡± The middle¨Caged man was stunned. ¡°I have my ways,¡± Dustin said. All of a sudden, he pped the old man¡¯s face. There was a loud crack as the old man¡¯s dentures flew out and fell directly into someone¡¯s ss. Before everyone could react, Dustin continued pping the old man until his cheeks were swollen and his nose was bleeding. ¡°Hey! Are you crazy? Why are you hitting my father?¡± The man¡¯s face turned as pale as a sheet. ¡°I¡¯m trying to save your father. This is a secret technique that can bring people back from the dead. You shall see for yourself soon,¡± Dustin said as he pped the old man a few more times, increasing the in tensity. The old man¡¯s head swelled up like a balloon from Dustin¡¯s assault. Tears were flowing down his cheek s. ¡°Stop it! You lunatic, stop it!¡± The middle¨C aged man was furious and rushed forward to hit Dustin, but Dustin pushed him away easily. ¡°Is this guy a real doctor? I¡¯ve never seen such a way of saving people before.¡± ¡°What bizarre technique is this? He¡¯s clearly just beating up a dead body!¡± ¡°Is he insane? How could the doctor beat up the old man so violently when he is already dead?¡± ¡°The doctor¡¯s character is corrupt! The Harmon family ispletely rotten to the core! What is the worl ding to?¡± In response to Dustin¡¯s absurd behavior, the crowd began condemning him, filled with righteous indigna tion. The deceased should be respected! Beating up a corpse like this was simply inhumane! ¡°This guy¡¯s crazy! He¡¯s beating up my father¡¯s corpse! The Harmon family killed my father, and now they are treating his body with disrespect! Is there anyone who can hel p me?¡± The middle¨Caged man slumped on the ground, crying bitterly. ¡°Dustin, stop it!¡± Jessica¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°He¡¯s gone mad! This guy is out of his mind!¡± Quentin shook his head. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ruth was stunned. ¡°This is getting more and more interesting.¡± Edwin gloated. Just as everyone thought that Dustin had gone insane, there was suddenly a cry of surprise from the cr owd. ¡°Hey, I think I just saw the dead man¡¯s finger move!¡± ¡°Did you see it too? I thought I was seeing things.¡± ¡°Not only did his fingers move, but look! Tears are flowing out of his eyes too.¡± Incredulous, the crowd noticed something strange about the dead body. Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Could pping someone¡¯s face really bring them back fro m the dead? ¡°He¡¯s pretty resilient.¡± Dustin sneered as he stopped the assault. ¡°It seems like I need to go all out to wake him up. Ruth, bring me my knife, the one I used to ughter pigs. I would have to make a cut on his head to bring him back to life.¡± As soon as these words were spoken, the ¡®corpse¡± on the ground couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and sat up with a scream. Chapter 174 Chapter 174 When the old man suddenly sat up, all the guests were startled. Some of the women screamed frantica lly, losing theirposure. ¡°It¡¯s a zombie!¡± Shocked to the core, the crowd scattered in all directions. No one expected that the motionless corpse would suddenly spring to life. It was such a terrifying moment! ¡°Dad? Y¨Cyou¡¯re not dead?¡± The middle¨Caged man pretended to be shocked. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m not dead.¡± The old man gave a forced smile. an was His voice was slurred as his dentures were knocked out. Combined with his swollen cheeks, the old man aical sight. ¡°Oh my god! This young man could even revive the dead! How could this be?¡± ¡°No words could express my amazement right now!¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°What a strange way to treat people! Are medical techniques nowadays getting more straightforward?¡± Staring at the old man, who was obviously alive and kicking, there was pandemonium in the hall. Some of the onlookers were shocked, and some were curious. ¡°Hey, I saved your father¡¯s life! Is it too much to ask for you to show some gratitude?¡± Dustin smirked. ¡°You bastard! Even if my father survived this ordeal, it¡¯s because of his good luck! It doesn¡¯t change the fact that Immortunol is poisonous!¡± The middle¨Caged man was livid. ¡°That¡¯s right! I almost died after eating your medicine. Now, I¡¯m still feeling sore all over!¡± The old man g ritted his teeth and looked resentful. After enduring such a fierce beating, he couldn¡¯t let Dustin go without extorting sufficientpensation. ¡°Oh? Where else do you feel ufortable? Let me have a look.¡± Dustin stepped forward. In fright, the old man backed away repeatedly. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m warning you, stay away from me!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous! Your illness is not fully cured yet, as you have just regained consciousness. Here, le t me diagnose you for aplete recovery, just in case.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Dustin, the knife you wanted is here!¡± At that moment, Ruth ran over excitedly. In her hand was arge kitchen knife that she somehow managed to find. ¡°Perfect timing. Although it¡¯s bigger than what I¡¯m used to, it¡¯s just right to crack open a skull¡± Dustin too k the kitchen knife and swung it around. ¡°Crack open my skull?!¡± Hearing this, the old man trembled all over. ¡°Son, let¡¯s not waste any more time ! I think I need to go to the hospital for a full examination right away!¡± ¡°Oh, right! Of course, we have to go to the hospital first!¡± Seeing the unfavorable situation, the middle¨C aged man quickly helped the old man to his feet and tried to run away Inconspicuously. ¡°Did I say you could go?¡± Dustin took a step forward and grabbed the old man by his hair, pulling him b ack. ¡°I always treat my patients to the best of my ability, even after their deaths.¡± How can I ignore it when y ou are so sick?¡± With that, he started brandishing the kitchen knife back and forth. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t! I¡¯m not sick, I¡¯ve already recovered!¡± The old man shivered in fright. ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn: your illness is life¨C threatening. Everyone witnessed it just now.¡± Dustin said earnestly. ¡°That¡¯s right, old man. If you¡¯re sick, you should seek treatment as soon as possible. You shouldn¡¯t refu se his good intentions!¡± Someone piped up. ¡°That¡¯s right, this young man is highly skilled in medicine. You should trust him. Nothing bad will happen .¡± The others agreed and began to persuade the old man. ¡°I¡¯m fine; I¡¯m really fine.¡± The old man shook his head frantically, tears streaming down his face. ¡°Lie down and don¡¯t move. Let me see where to make the first incision,¡± Dustin ordered, pinning the hel pless old man down. ¡°Let him go immediately! You¡¯remitting murder!¡± The middle¨C aged man panicked and tried to stop Dustin. but was held back by several bodyguards. ¡°ording to my diagnosis, you are in grave condition! Let¡¯s start by cracking your skull open, and then we will move on to cutting your abdomen¡­¡± Dustin trailed off, lifting his knife to strike. ¡°Wait! I¡¯m not sick, I¡¯m really not! Someone paid me to pretend to be dead!¡± Realizing his life was at stake, the old man finally revealed the truth with a wail. ¡°He was paid off?¡± ¡°Pretended to be dead?¡± As soon as everyone heard this, their faces went red with fury and outrage. ¡°What a bunch of scammers! How dare you have the audacity to cause trouble here?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe I felt sorry for you just now. It turns out that you¡¯re all liars!¡± ¡°Young man, just chop them up. Trash like them deserves to die!¡± After learning the truth, the crowd erupted into chaos. Some of them even threatened to get physical. ¡°Tell me, who put you up to this?¡± Dustin held his knife to the old man¡¯s neck. ¡°I don¡¯t know, we were just paid to do this. We don¡¯t know anything else.¡± The old man shook his head. ¡°Please spare us, we won¡¯t do this again.¡± The middle¨Caged man spoke up, frightened for his life. They were just scoundrels who preyed on the weak. Once their true identities were exposed, they lost all their courage. ¡°Take these troublemakers away!¡± At Natasha¡¯smand, the two were quickly taken away. She didn¡¯t need an answer. She already knew who was behind all this. ¡°Useless idiots!¡± In the crowd, Edwin snorted coldly and left. He knew he had lost today. All his schemes hade to nothing. ¡°It¡¯s over, we¡¯re done for.¡± Quentin¡¯s face was pale with despair. The initial glimmer of hope was instantly da shed in the blink of an eye. If Immortunol was sessfullyunched, how could he sell his Eternumax? He had put in his entire fortune! ¡°Dustin, how did you know that the old man was pretending to be dead? I saw that he wasn¡¯t breathing.¡± Ruth couldn¡¯t help b ut ask out of curiosity. ¡°That old man was using a technique called Breath¨C holding; that¡¯s why he could pretend to be dead. I¡¯m familiar with many of these tricks used by scamme rs everywhere, it¡¯s not even worth mentioning.¡± Dustin replied with a faint smile. ¡°Oh, I see. It¡¯s a good thing you figured it out, or else things would have gone terribly today!¡± Ruth patte d her chest in relief. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you are indeed amazing. You exposed the deception of those two ruffians effortlessly! My admiration for you is immeasurable!¡± At that moment, Malcolm came over to tter Dustin. Just sitting there quietly wasn¡¯t really his thing. ¡°Dr. Shane, he just stumbled upon the solution by chance. How can you lower yourself to his level?¡± Je ssica gave Dustin a cold nce before smiling at Dr. Shane. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your help in developing Im mortunol, the Harmon family would be in huge trouble! You are the biggest hero of the day!¡± ¡°What are you talking about? Who said I developed the Immortunol?¡± Malcolm frowned. ¡°What?¡± Jessica was momentarily stunned. She eximed, ¡°Who else has the ability to do that besides you?¡± ¡°You really have no eye for talent! The mastermind behind Immortunol is none other than Mr. Rhys besi de you! *Malcolm rolled his eyes. ¡°What?¡± At this revtion, Jessica was instantly dumbfounded. Chapter 175 Chapter 175 After a stormy event, the Harmon family¡¯s press conference ended sessfully. On the other hand, the influential Hummer family¡¯s press conference ended in dismal failure. The emergence of Immortunol dealt a huge blow to the sales of Eternumax. Compared to another medi cine with better efficacy and a cheaper price, Eternumax was regarded as garbage. The Hummer family¡¯s Eternumax couldn¡¯t be sold at all. In the end, they were stuck with piles of rotting. inventory. The meticulous game nned by Edwin was aplete failure. Although this disaster was unable to weaken the Hummer family¡¯s foundation, it still caused them heav y losses. After the press conference, Dustin was about to say goodbye when he was stopped by Ruth at the door , ¡°Dustin, I need a favor from you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Dustin asked suspiciously. ¡°I¡¯m going to a reunion with some of my ssmatester, can youe with me and be my bodyguard?¡± Ruth was very straightforward. ¡°The Harmon family has so many bodyguards, why do you need me? I¡¯m not interested,¡± Dustin refuse d. ¡°How can those menpare to you? Well, to be honest with you, there¡¯s a really annoying guy amon g my ssmates who¡¯s been pursuing me. I told him I have a boyfriend, but he doesn¡¯t believe me. That¡¯s wh y I need you toe along.¡± Ruth pouted. ¡°In conclusion, you¡¯re just using me as an excuse! That makes me even less interested.¡± Dustin shrugg ed. ¡°Hey! I consider you a friend, and you won¡¯t even help me with this small matter? Where¡¯s your loyalty? ¡± Ruth had a displeased expression on her face. ¡°What do you mean? Don¡¯t talk nonsense! Dustin¡¯s expression changed as he looked around nervously . ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you didn¡¯t hear me!¡± Ruth crossed her arms smugly. Dustin opened his mouth to exin, but Ruth interrupted him. ¡°I don¡¯t care! If you don¡¯t help me out, I¡¯ll tell my mom!¡± ¡°What?¡± Dustin nodded in rm. ¡°Alright, alright. I¡¯ll just keep youpany. Are you happy now?¡± He didn¡¯t expect this little girl to resort to such a move. He really had to admire her persistence. ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡± Ruth smirked and pulled Dustin out the door. It was the evening at the Phoenix Karaoke, in a private room. She sat on the sofa listlessly, propping her chin on her hands. 1/7/3 Before her, a group of young men and women were singing and rapping, having a great time. *She, you said you were bored out of your mind in the vi. I took a huge risk to bring you out, but wh y are you still being mopey?¡± udia, who was sitting next to her, couldn¡¯t help feeling puzzled. Ever since her illness was cured, She, who was usually lively and cheerful, seemed to be acting weir d. These past two days, she had no appetite and seemed to wander around mindlessly. ¡°Maybe my body hasn¡¯t fully recovered yet,¡± Shezily replied. ¡°Is that so?¡± udia looked skeptical. ¡°She, can I ask you something?¡± At that moment, a young man suddenly cut in with a bright smile. ¡°Did you inform Ruth about this gathering? I haven¡¯t been able to contact hertely.¡± ¡°Of course I did. We¡¯re all good friends, how could I leave her out?¡± She nodded. ¡°That¡¯s great. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯vest seen Ruth, I wonder how she is doing?¡± The young man s miled in relief. ¡°Nigel I advise you to give up on Ruth. She¡¯s not interested in you.¡± She was very straightforward. ¡°Where there¡¯s a will, there¡¯s a way. Maybe one day, Ruth will be moved by my true feelings.¡± Nigel was n¡¯t perturbed at all. ¡°True feelings? Nigel you seem to have a new girlfriend every month. It¡¯s possible that you change girlfr iends as frequently as someone changes clothes.¡± udia sneered. ¡°udia! Don¡¯t talk nonsense, I¡¯m a loyal person!¡± Nigel looked embarrassed. ¡°Okay, okay! You¡¯re loyal, you¡¯re not a yboy.¡± udia didn¡¯t bother to argue. Her duty was to protect She. She had no interest in the love affairs of these young men and women. Just as they were talking, the door to the private room suddenly opened. Ruth, who was dressed luxuriously, entered the room, followed closely by Dustin. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Ruth, you¡¯re finally here! Please, have a seat!¡± Nigel was overjoyed when he saw Ruth arrive. He quic kly poured Ruth a ss of juice, fawning over her. ¡°Dustin?¡± She eximed and stood up suddenly.. Her overreaction took udia by surprise. Why was she so energetic all of a sudden? Following her gaze, udia noticed Dustin standing there. She couldn¡¯t help furrowing her brows. Could it be that She liked him? ¡°Dustin, why are you here?¡± She greeted him with joy, to the point of ignoring Ruth¡¯s presence. ¡°Ms. Murray?¡± Dustin was slightly surprised. What a coincidence! He didn¡¯t expect to meet her here. ¡°She, do you two know each other?¡± Ruth stared at the both of them in astonishment. ¡°I had fallen ill two days ago. It was Dustin who saved me!¡± She smiled sweetly. Chanter 175 ¡°Is that so? As fate would have it, both of you have met again!¡± Ruth had a meaningful smile on her fac e as well. ¡°Yes, it must be destiny!¡± She nodded energetically. Shepletely forgot about being bored. ¡°Ruth, who is this guy? I haven¡¯t seen him around before.¡± Nigel narrowed his eyes and stared at Dustin with an unfriendly expression. Two beautiful women were both fussing around Dustin and being so affectionate with him. This made Nigel green with envy. ¡°Oh, I forgot to introduce him. This is my boyfriend, Dustin.¡± Ruth raised her chin proudly. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Upon hearing this, Nigel¡¯s face darkened, As for She, the happiness she had shown earlier was instantly reced by disappointment and sadn ess. Who knew that Dustin had already been taken by her good friend? Chapter 176 Chapter 176 ¡°Ruth, when did you get a boyfriend? Why wasn¡¯t I informed?¡± Nigel¡¯s face turned ugly as he stared at Dustin with hostility. ¡°Do I need to report to you when I have a boyfriend? You really think too highly of yourself.¡± Ruth rolled her eyes. She had already rejected Nigel multiple times, but he just wouldn¡¯t give up and continued to p ester her. ¡°I¡¯m just worried that you might be deceived. There are a lot of con artists these days who use their goo d looks to cheat people out of their wealth.¡± Nigel said in a mocking tone. ¡°That¡¯s not true! Dustin is not a con man!¡± She quickly defended him. When everyone fixed their gazes on her, She realized that she had spoken out of turn and immediately shut her mouth. ¡°Ms. Murray, what¡¯s with the sachet on your neck?¡± Dustin suddenly noticed something unusual. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± She picked up the sachet and examined it. ¡°Throw it away. It¡¯s a little suspicious.¡± Dustin shook his head. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hey, what do you mean? This aromatic sachet can calm the mind and improve sleep. How suspicious can it be?¡± udia was displeased. ¡°I¡¯m just telling the truth, Dustin replied calmly. ¡°If you¡¯re not sure, then shut up and stop being a smart aleck!¡± udia didn¡¯t mince her words. ¡°udia!¡± She pouted in annoyance. ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s just a sachet. What¡¯s there to argue about? Come on, let¡¯s sit down and enjoy ourse lves.¡± Ruth pulled She to sit down beside her and started chattering away. Dustin was left feeling a little left out. udia red at him and turned away in a huff. For some reason, she always felt uneasy around Dusti n. ¡°udia, who is this guy anyway?¡± Nigel narrowed his eyes at Dustin. ¡°He¡¯s nothing special, just a doctor from the countryside. If you really want to know about him, he¡¯s skill ed in the use of obscure hidden weapons,¡± udia said coldly. ¡°I thought he was some big shot. Turns out, he¡¯s just a doctor. Hey, you there! Don¡¯t me me for not w arning you, you won¡¯t fit in our circle. If you have some brains, you¡¯ll leave on your own initiative!¡± Nigel sneered with disdain. ¡°That¡¯s right, a burn like you doesn¡¯t deserve to be Ruth¡¯s boyfriend, let alonepete with Mr. Lincoln!¡± Another girl dressed in yellow taunted Dustin. ¡°Oh, so what?¡± Dustin remained expressionless. ¡°So, you better have some self¨C awareness. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself. Do you see the Patek Philippe watch on Mr. Lincoln¡¯s wrist? You¡¯ ll never earn that much money in your lifetime!¡± ¡°Oh, so what?¡± ¡°It seems like you still can¡¯tprehend Mr. Lincoln¡¯s background. Let me educate you then. Mr. Lincol n¡¯s family dabbles in real estate located within Millsburg, owning assets worth several billion dors. Their family¡¯swork is spread throughout the marketce and the underworld.¡± The girl in yel low said arrogantly. ¡°Oh, so what?¡± ¡°Not only does Mr. Lincoln have a strong family background, but he¡¯s also extremely outstanding. He graduated from Oxford University and earns millions of dors every year. Besides that, he has practice d martial arts since a young age. Due to his natural talents, he was invited to be a member of the Marti al Arts Association. He¡¯s truly aplished in both literature and martial arts!¡± ¡°Oh, so what?¡± ¡°With Mr. Lincoln¡¯s identity and abilities, he is in the spotlight wherever he goes. A loser like you can ne ver ¡°Oh, so what?¡± ¡°Hey, can¡¯t you say anything else?¡± ¡°Oh, so what?¡± The girl in yellow rolled her eyes. Her face turned red with anger and disgust. It was so damn infuriating to talk to this guy! ¡°Punk, you¡¯ve got a sharp tongue, but what good does it do? You will always be inferior to me in every way. In the face of myplete dominance, sweet talk and ttery will get you nowhere!¡± Nigel sneered. ¡°Oh, so what?¡± Dustin retorted. ¡°You¡­¡± Nigel¡¯s mouth twitched, feeling annoyed. Damn it, why was this punk repeating the same sentence over and over again? Couldn¡¯t they have a decent conversation? Just as they were talking, they were interrupted by amotion outside the door. ¡°Stop right there! This ce has been booked for another event. Everyone who is not involved, please l eave-!¡± ¡°Surround them! Don¡¯t let anyone escape!¡± Amidst curdling screams and cries, the door to the private room burst open. A group of masked assassins dressed in ck rushed in with an imposing aura. The bodyguards guard ing the door were all taken out. ¡°Who are you people? Who let you in? Get out!¡± The girl in yellow stood up angrily. ¡°Fuck you!¡± The assassins¡® leader pped her and sent her flying. ¡°What arrogance! How dare you have the audacity to stir up trouble here?¡± Nigel jumped up in a rage. ¡°Our target is She Murray. Anyone who is not involved, get out of here!¡± The assassins¡® leader shoute d. ¡°What?¡± udia frowned, on high alert. Judging from their attire, these assassins were most likely the s ame ones who ambushed them a few days ago. ¡°Bastards, who do you think you are, demanding to hand She over? If you don¡¯t want to die, get the h ell out of here!¡± Nigel¡¯s gaze was ferocious. ¡°What, are you trying to save the damsel in distress?¡± The assassins¡® leader eyed Nigel carefully. ¡°So what if I do?¡± Nigel puffed out his chest. ¡°You foolish idiot! Kill him!¡± The leader ordered his men without hesitation. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The other assassins drew their swords and attacked Nigel. ¡°How dare you show off such petty tricks in front of me?¡± Nigelughed coldly. He rushed towards the assassins and gave them a roundhouse kick in the guts. His attack was swift an d vicious. In a matter of seconds, he had defeated all of the assassins. After finishing them off, he struck a confident pose. ¡°Oh my god! Mr. Lincoln is amazing!¡± Everyone¡¯s spirits were lifted upon seeing his victory. Some of the girls couldn¡¯t help but scream with adoration on their faces. ¡°These punks are no match for me! Nigel turned around and shed a handsome smile to his fans. However, at the next second, a fist the size of a sandbag hit him square in the face. Nigel was caught by surprise. The attack caused him to be disoriented and his nose to bleed prof usely. Nigel¡¯s high spirits were short¨Clived. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 ¡°You attacked out of turn!¡± Nigel held his bleeding nose and scowled at the assassins¡± leader. Damn it, he didn¡¯t even have a chance to show off in front of Ruth! Where were his manners! ¡°It¡¯s your fault for getting distracted in battle! Are you tired of living?¡± The leader sneered. ¡°Scumbag, you are getting on my nerves! I¡¯ll give you onest chance to kneel and beg for mercy, other wise. I will roundhouse kick you in the arse! Nigel red at him viciously. As he threatened, Nigel leaped into the air and did a somersault, looking quite impressive. ¡°Arrogant fool!¡± The assassins¡® leader¡¯s eyes were cold as he and his remaining men rushed toward Ni gel at once. ¡°Be careful, Mr. Lincoln!¡± The girls eximed in shock. ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate yourself!¡± Nigel reared fearlessly as he took a step back to perform his special mov e. He spun around like a spinning top, attacking the assassins ferociously. His kicks were merciless and deadly; anyone who got close to Nigel was knocked down easily like dom inoes. Even the assassins¡® leader could not withstand Nigel¡¯s attacks and was blown off his feet. In just a minute, all the assassins were defeated. For that moment, Nigel seemed unrivaled and invincible! ¡°Wow, Nigel is amazing!¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, his fighting technique is cut of this world!¡± ¡°As expected of Mr. Lincoln, he is truly a terrifying martial artist!TM Looking at the number of assassins were lying incapacitated on the ground, everyone started ¡°This victory is not worth mentioning. They are just small fries!¡± Nigel stood with his hands behind his b ack, feigning nonchnce. However, he couldn¡¯t help but steal a nce at Ruth while he spoke, with a haughty expression on his f ace. ¡°Mr. Lincoln, you were incredible! You make all of us feel safe just by having you around! Any girl would be lucky to have you as a boyfriend!¡± The girl in yellow held her hands to her chest, looking up at Nigel with admiration. ¡°You¡¯re ttering me.¡± Nigel smiled modestly. ¡°It¡¯s only natural for a man to protect a woman. I¡¯m not like some coward who hides at the back and relies on wo men for protection. That¡¯s really pathetic!¡± Nigel looked at Dustin intentionally to prove his point. ¡°Hey, you! Cidn¡¯t you have a sharp tongue? Why are you not saying anything now? Are you dumb?¡® Th e girl in yellow sneered, her face full of disdain. Chamber 177 ¡°If you ask me, someone here is all talk and no action. Most of the time, he is as arrogant as a peacock. However, when things go wrong, he is the first person to flee.¡± ¡°Ruth, now it¡¯s obvious which choice is better, right? If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Lincoln, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to fight against these vicious people.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! When looking for a boyfriend, we should find a real man like Mr. Lincoln! As for the guy ne xt to you, you should forget about him, What¡¯s the use of having a cowardly and timid man around?¡± At that moment, everyone was gossiping about the two of them. Nigel proved his bravery and strength, while Dustin did nothing like a coward. Comparing the two, it was clear who was better. ¡°Dustin, why didn¡¯t you do anything just now?¡± Listening to the harshments of those around her, R uth couldn¡¯t help but frown. She knew that Dustin was skilled in martial arts, although not necessarily stronger than Nigel. However, dealing with a few petty assassins shouldn¡¯t be a problem. ¡°These small fries don¡¯t interest me.¡± Dustin said nonchntly. ¡°Small fries? You may be a coward, but your words are quite the opposite!¡± ¡°Just admit that you are pathetic. How dare you find excuses for yourself?¡± ¡°He only knows how to talk big, but he¡¯s actually just a coward!¡± ¡°What a wimp, disgusting loser!¡± Remaining silent would have been better for Dustin, as anything he said only led to contempt. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Punk, it¡¯s obvious that you don¡¯t have the guts nor the ability to fight. Why pretend to be tough? If you kneel down and beg. I might teach you a few moves so you won¡¯t wet yourself from fear the next time.¡± Nigel. sneered. ¡°If you¡¯re so capable, then take down those two behind you first.¡± Dustin pointed his chin to the door. Nigel turned around in surprise and saw that there were indeed two more people. Both of them were bald, one dressed in green and the other in ck. They were muscr and burly me n, with fierce eyes and bulging biceps. ¡°Oh! Who are these two men who don¡¯t fear death?¡± Nigel smirked scornfully. ¡°Was it you who injured our men?¡± The bald man in green spoke first. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. What are you going to do about it? What, do you want to have aste of my roundhouse k ick too? Nigel replied arrogantly. ¡°Roundhouse kick? Heh, trash!¡± The green baldy sneered. ¡°Fool! How dare you look down on me? Today, I¡¯ll let you witness my special move, the Whirlwind Kick!¡± As Nigel spoke, he leaped into the air. Whirling around, he kicked up a fierce tornado that looked very impressive. The girls around him were dazzled by his moves. ¡°Mr. Lincoln, go for it!¡± ¡°Take them down!¡± Full of admiration, they cheered Nigel on. Gathering his strength, Nigel smashed a powerful blow into the bald man¡¯s skull. A muffled sound was heard. However, the bald man in green was unscathed by the attack. He didn¡¯t even move a muscle, just slight ly tilted his head. On the other hand, Nigel¡¯s bones were fractured, and his whole body went numb. ¡°You-!¡± Nigel was stunned, his face full of disbelief. Even when he attacked using his full power, he still couldn¡¯t break his opponent¡¯s defense. In contrast, his leg was shattered by the reaction force. What kind of monster was this that popped out of nowhere? ¡°Whirlwind Kick? Is that all?¡± The bald man in green sneered and grabbed Nigel¡¯s leg. He flung Nigel up into the air, smashing into the ceiling. After that, his body fell to the ground, ttened like a mere bug. Before Nigel could get up, a deafening sound was heard as the bald man mmed Nigel¡¯s face deeper into the ground, causing the floor to crack. Blood spurted out from his mouth and nose, and he couldn¡¯t even scream in agony. His body was sever ely injured, with countless fractures all over. ¡°You¡¯re not even worth my time!¡± The bald man in green sneered with an expression of disdain. When they saw Nigel lying motionless on the ground, everyone was stunned. Their eyes widened in sh ock. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 There was pin¨Cdrop silence in the private room. At a loss for words, everyone was aghast at what had happened. No one expected the twist of events. Just a minute ago. Nigel was their hero, unting his strength and skills, but now he was lying helplessl y on the ground like a dead dog. How could this bald guy be so powerful? ¡°H¨Chow dare you hurt me? Do you know who I am? I¡¯m Nigel Lin¡ª¡± ¡°Shut the hell up!¡± With a crack, the bald man stepped on Nigel¡¯s leg and broke it. Nigel wailed in pain, with cold sweat appearing on his forehead. ¡°If you¡¯ve got the nerve, tell me your names!¡± Nigel gritted his teeth, his eyes shing with rage. ¡°Listen up! My name is Brent Garcia, and this is my brother, Wade Garcia!¡± The bald man in green ann ounced loudly. ¡°Brent Garcia, Wade Garcia? Could it be¡­ are you guys the Four Scoundrels?¡± Nigel¡¯s pupils shrank in fear. ¡°The Four Scoundrels!¡± Everyone was shocked at the revtion. The Four Scoundrels was a notorious group of merciless and vicious ouws that terrorized the Southe rn province. These ruffians were infamous for their ruthlessness, and they would stop at nothing to achieve their go als! Wherever they went, destruction and cmity followed. Countless elites in the Southern province were terrified of the Four Scoundrels, living in constant fear and anxiety. After learning the identities of the two men, all the girls panicked. ¡°This is bad!¡± udia furrowed her brows. The Four Scoundrels were all martial artists with incredible internal energy. Brent and Wade were said t o be even stronger than Thor. It was already difficult enough to deal with one person. Now, there were two of them at the same time, undoubtedly making things worse. If she were alone, sh e might still have a chance to escape. The problem was that she had to protect She as well. With her previous injuries, udia had no chance of winning if she had to go up against two viins simultaneously. ¡°Brent! I¡¯m warning you, everyone here Is of elite status. You¡¯d better not mess around!¡± Nigel shouted bravely. ¡°Who cares if we cause trouble? You¡¯re nothing but a plece of shit!¡± Brent kicked Nigel forcefully, sendin g him 170 flying into the crowd. Amidst the screaming and chaos, udia suddenly sprang into action! She drew her dagger and lunged like a cheetah toward Brent¡¯s throat, hoping to take out one of the two opponents. In a fair fight, she knew that she was no match for either of them. By taking out one person, her chances of winning would significantly increase! Although it was a good n, Brent was no fool. As the dagger came at him, he quickly dodged aside and mmed his shoulder into udia¡¯s chest. She grunted and staggered back, but before she could regain her footing, Brent punched her again wit h tremendous force. Desperately, udia lifted her arm to block the blow. There was a loud thud as udia was thrown bac k once more. Her arm hanging limply, she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her internal injuries had opened up again. ¡°Ms. Doyle, if you were at full strength, you might be able to put up a fight with me for a few rounds. In t his state, however, I suggest you surrender,¡± Brent sneered at her. udia¡¯s face darkened, and she rushed at nim again with her dagger. After they exchanged blows for a few rounds, udia was punched heavily in the stomach. She fell to the ground, unable to stand on her feet. ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over!¡± ¡°Even Mr. Lincoln and Ms. Doyle were defeated. Who else can stop them?¡± ¡°What should we do? I don¡¯t want to diel¡± Seeing udia defeated, the girls were on the verge of tears. Theirst glimmer of hope was now gone . ¡°Wade, take Ms. Murray away. I want to have some fun with the beautifuldies here first,¡± Brent said w ith a wicked grin. ¡°Listen up. all of you. If you don¡¯t want to die, take off your clothes. Otherwise, you¡¯ll have to bear the c onsequences of inciting my anger!¡± As soon as he spoke, all the girls turned pale with fear. Were they going to be vited by this pervert? ¡°Ms. Murray,e with me.¡± Wade, the bald guy in ck, stepped forward and approached She. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Suddenly, Ruth grabbed a fruit knile and stood in front of She. ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯te any closer, or Ill stab you!¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Without saying another word, Wade swung his hand toward Ruth. The energy gathered around Wade¡¯s hand was strong enough to whip up a wind around them. At the crucial moment, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Wade¡¯s wrist. Wade¡¯s palm was froz en, inches from Ruth¡¯s face. ¡°You can bully the others, but you can¡¯t touch these two,¡± Dustin said calmly. ¡°How dare you meddle in other people¡¯s business? You¡¯re asking for it!¡± Wade¡¯s expression turned ugly, and he raised his other fist to strike at Dustin¡¯s head. Dustin snorted lightly and made the first move. He punched Wade in the chest, his moves as quick as lightning. With a dull thud, an invisible beam of energy pierced through Wade¡¯s back, shattering a wine bottle sev T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. eral feet away. Wade shuddered and slumped to the ground, unconscious. ¡°Wade!¡± Brent¡¯s face contorted with anger. ¡°How dare you hurt my brother? I¡¯ll send you to hell!¡± He charged forward like a wild bull and threw a punch directly at Dustin¡¯s face. Dustin caught his fist with one hand and squeezed it gently. With a loud crack, the bones in Brent¡¯s fist shattered. Blood and flesh sttered everywhere. Before he could register the pain. Dustin grabbed his cor and mmed him hard against the wall like a sandbag, creating a gaping hole. Brent hung helplessly on the wall, bleeding profusely and unable to move. ¡°I wanted to have a decent conversation with you guys, but you had to resort to violence.¡± Dustin patted the dirt off his clothes indifferently, as if defeating both of the bald guys was a trivial matter. Everyone present was dumbfounded was stunned at Dustin¡¯s nonchnce, including She, udia, a nd Nigel. Dustin managed to defeat both of them with just two moves. It was unthinkable that two of the invincible Four Scoundrels would be trounced and beaten up by a thi n, frail guy like Dustin. Were they dreaming? Was he the cowardly and useless guy they were making fun of before? Chapter 179 Chapter 179 ¡°H¨Chow was this possible?!¡± Nigel gasped, his mouth wide and his face full of disbelief. He finally witnessed how formidable the Four Scoundrels were in person. Either one of them could quic kly snuff him out. It was perhaps fate that an expert like himself had been crippled by a doctor they looked down upon. Such a thing was practically unheard of! ¡°How is this guy so powerful?¡± udia¡¯s eyes widened in shock and bewilderment. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. Initially, she had assumed that Dustin was an unsavory character who only knew how to resort to using dirty tricks up hi s sleeve, so she hadn¡¯t expected him to be so skilled in martial arts. He was miles better than her! He wielded such strength at such a young age, too. She was frozen on the spot once the revtion hit her that she was no longer a goddess among men. ¡°Dustin¡¯s way too cool!¡± She cheered as her eyes sparkled. After exchanging nces with one another, the rest of the girls also started looking at him in a different light. Not used to everyone¡¯s starstruck gazes on him, Dustin walked up to Brent before asking. ¡°Tell me, wh o sent you here?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s my day of reckoning anyway, so kill me all you want!¡± Brent screamed through gritted teeth. ¡°It¡¯s not like killing you guys will do me any good anyways. As long as you¡¯re willing to talk, I¡¯ll let you all live to see another day.¡± Dustin said. ¡°I¡¯ll die either way if I reveal anything!¡± Brent replied solemnly. ¡°You¡¯re referring to the spider venom in your stomach, right?¡± Dustin asked with raised eyebrows. He then pulled out a golden needle and stabbed it directly into Brent¡¯s abdomen, Immediately, a bulge was seen on Brent¡¯s abdomen. The bulge began moving violently as if something inside him w as fighting for their lives. A few exhalester, the writhing stopped, and the bulge could no longer be seen moving. When Dustin pulled out the golden needle, it was now stained with a sliver of ckish liquid. ¡°The venom is gone. You should be able to speak now,¡± Dustin said tly. ¡°H¨C how did you do that?¡± Brent gasped, and his expression Immedtely turned into one that was fearful a nd horrified. That was because the Four Scoundrels had actually been controlled by someone who led them venom all thi s time. The mere thought of resistance could inflict pain that was worse than death on the host. They had tried various ways to get rid of the venom, but not only did none of them have the slightest effect, they even aggravated the pain. However, the person in front of him had gotten rid of the spider venom in his body with a mere needle. These kinds of miraculous means were simply unheard of! ¡°I¡¯m skilled in the art of poisons and venom, so if you wish to regain your freedom, you need to be hone st and tell me everything.¡± Dustin stated indifferently. After hesitating for a long while. Brent finallypromised, saying, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell you the truth, but you must promise to spare the both of us,¡± Which sensible human would choose death over life? ¡°Done.¡± Dustin nodded his head. ¡°To be honest with you, the person who ordered us to kidnap you was- Before Brent could finish his sentence, the doors to the room were forcefully kicked open. Xavier rushed hastily inside the room with a group of elite guards. He scanned the room and quickly found Brent. ¡°It¡¯s the Four Scoundrels again! Prepare to die!¡± Without waiting for the crowd to react. Xavier bashed Brent¡¯s skull in with his fists. He was swift and brutal. Now, his hands were drenched in blood. ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes. Did Xavier just kill him to silence him? ¡°She! udia! Are you guys alright?¡± Right after killing Brent. Xavier immediately turned around and asked She and udia while wiping the blood off his hands. ¡°We¡¯re fine. It was a good thing Dustin came to our aid just now.¡± She forced a smile. ¡°Dustin?¡± Xavier asked as he suddenly turned his head to look at the man. ¡°What are you doing here? Xavier asked with a condescending gaze. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Dustin replied indifferently. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®what a coincidence? You were there thest time She got ambushed, and you¡¯re here yet again, so how can this be a coincidence?¡± Xavier scoffed, ring down at Dustin. ¡°Your point exactly?¡± Dustin shot back. ¡°I suspect that you colluded with the Four Scoundrels toe up with a n to get close to She!¡± Xa vier used. ¡°I can assure you it¡¯s not like that- She spoke up before being interrupted by Xavier again. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled, She! We don¡¯t know where this guy is from or what his intentions are. Thus, he mus t be interrogated thoroughly for your safety. Apprehend this man for me at oncel¡± At hismand, the group of elite guards proceeded to cock their guns. 244 ¡°Stop! I was the one who brought Dustin here, so I can guarantee that he isn¡¯t a bad guy!¡± Ruth steppe d forward, attempting to mediate the situation. ¡°Whether he¡¯s a bad guy or not, we¡¯ll know once we catch him!¡± Xavier retorted. ¡°Hey, do you still have any sense left in that brain of yours? Can¡¯t you see that you¡¯re being cruel by ap prehending an innocent person?¡± Ruth was getting annoyed with Xavier¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°Who are you to talk sense to me? Get lost!¡± Xavier screamed before lifting his hand to give Ruth a hard p across her face, causin g her to stagger and fall to the ground. Everyone could see five visible, bright red fingerprints on her face. ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin gasped as his expression sank. His eyes shed with anger. ¡°Are you crazy, Xavier? Why did you hit my friend?!¡± She scolded Xavier while helping Ruth up. ¡°I was thinking about your safety, She. I refuse to spare anyone who acts even remotely suspicious! Even if I have to be a viin today, I¡¯ll make sure to get rid of every threat to you! Arrest that punk! Kill hi m on the spot if he dares to put up a fight!¡± At Xavier¡¯s order, all the elite guards attacked Dustin at once. Dustin merely let out a cold snort and started gesturing with his hands. ¡°Phew! Phew! Phew!¡± Golden needles shot out from his hands and urately navigated their way to the various acupuncture points on the bodies of the guards. In no time at all all of the guards seemed to be bound by a spell of some sort, as they stood frozen in pl ace, unable to move. ¡°Do you want to die?!¡± Xavier shrieked as a scowl appeared on his face. He then immediately fished ou t his gun and fired at Dustin¡¯s chest. However, with a mere flick of a finger, Dustin swiftly sent two needles flying into the air. One needlen ded on Xavier¡¯s shoulder, and anothernded on his neck. His body instantly stiffened as his arms and legs became paralyzed, and this made it difficult for him to move a bit. ¡°W¨Cwhat kind of sorcery is this?¡± Xavier cried, his face full of shock. He was one of the top martial artists out there, so how could he be rendered immobile by two tiny golde n needles just like that? ¡°Not only are you not that skilled or powerful, you still have the audacity to show up here and start hurli ng insults and beating the shit out of people? Dustin asked with an icy stare as he slowly approached hi m. ¡°Rhys! You¡¯d better let go of me if you know what¡¯s good for you, if not, I¡¯ll make sure that you never lea ve here alive!¡± Xavier sneered fiercely. ¡°You dare threaten me? This is for speaking out of turn!¡± Dustin scoffed as he lifted a hand to p Xavier¡¯s face. He then gave him another p. ¡°This is for cursing me!¡± After that, he gave him a harsh third p. ¡°This is for your audacity to eveny a linger on a woman!¡± The pping continued non¨C stop for a while. Dustin showed no mercy as he kept delivering blow after blow onto Xavier¡¯s face. He delivered a p after every sentence he uttered. The atmosphere in the room became tenser and tenser by the second. ¡°And this is for your stupid fucking face!¡± Dustin roared as he delivered the most powerful p he could muster, smashing Xavier to the ground. Everyone in the whole room became dead silent for a moment! Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Everyone in the room was bbergasted as they stared at Xavier, who¡¯d been mercilessly battered and Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. bruised. No one had expected Dustin to be so bold as to p Xavier. Everyone knew that the Horst family was a mong the five most powerful families in the Southern province. They were the top of the top! They were essentially untouchable! As an immediate heir, he was the rising star of the Horst family. So, no matter where he went, he¡¯d have the starsid out at his feet. No one had ever dared to humiliate him in public like this, much less p him like a maniac so many ti mes. Was this guy batshit crazy? ¡°Y¨C you dare hit me?¡± Xavier asked rhetorically. The corners of his eyes started twitching as he tried to put on a fierce expression. ¡°I¡¯m not just going to beat you, I¡¯m going to make sure you can never use your hands ever again!¡± Dustin snorted and proceeded to stomp on his wrist, breaking it. ¡°Argh!¡± Xavier wailed in pain as he broke out in a cold sweat, his expression twisted. It was a pity that he couldn¡¯t even move a muscle at the moment. ¡°Stop! Have you lost your mind, Rhys? Do you have any idea who Xavier is? How dare you hurt him?¡± udia shouted angrily at Dustin. ¡°I don¡¯t care who he is. Anyone who dares mess with me will get a beating from me,¡± Dustin replied tl y. ¡°Didn¡¯t he just p you, Ruth? Come here and give him ten ps for me!¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Ruth eximed and started adjusting her shirtsleeves before going up to Xavier and pping the shit out of him. ¡°How dare you hit me! How fucking dare you hit me! I¡¯ll beat your ass up!¡± Ruth cursed with gritted teeth while venting her anger as she continued pping him. ¡°Stop!¡± udia yelled in rage and immediately stepped in to put a stop to everything. ¡°Get lost!¡± Dustin sneered and pped her after, sending her flying into the air. ¡°Y¨Cyou dare hit me too?¡± udia whimpered while covering her face as if she were in disbelief. ¡°Don¡¯t you think you deserve it? Dustin let out a snort. ¡°I saved your life on more than one asion, and this is how you repay me? You didn¡¯t say a word whe n Xavier framed me, and you also acted as if nothing had happened when Ruth got pped. So, why is it that you¡¯re turning against us after seeing Xavier get beaten up? Are all of the families who practice martial arts always this vengeful? Dustin snapped at udia. ¡°I-¡°udia stuttered as her face turned bright red. She was stunned and speechless after being bomba rded with a series of valid usations. This even caused She to be at a loss for words, as she simply did not know what she should do now. On one hand, there was the savior of her life, and on the other, a long¨Ctime friend. After getting caught up in the middle, she was at a loss for words. ¡°I¡¯m done with him, Brother¨Cin¨C numb from all the brutal pping. As for Xavier, his face had long since swollen enough to resemble a pig¡¯s head. He felt dizzy all over, a s he didn¡¯t get any chance to catch his breath the whole time. ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say. The fact that youid a finger on Xavier means that you¡¯re now an enemy of the Horst family. I¡¯m afraid no one will be able to save your asses if you don¡¯t state your case right now! ¡± udia shrieked. Despite everything, the Doyle family had been friends with the Horst family for generations, so she coul dn¡¯t possibly stand up for mere outsiders now. ¡°You want us to state our case, right? Fine, I¡¯ll grant you your wish,¡± Dustin said and suddenly turned to face She before continuing. ¡°May I know if the sachet in front of your chest is a gift from Xavier, Miss Murr ay?¡± ¡°I¨CI¡¯m not sure. All I know is that udia gave it to me.¡± She said with her head lowered. ¡°What if I told you it was from Xavier?¡± Dustin continued to probe. udia felt that she had nothing to hide, so she immediately shot back, ¡°Xavier had to beg an expert to procure this sachet, and he had me deliver it to She afterward. It was said to aid in one¡¯s sleep and n ourish the soul, so why are you finding fault in this?¡± ¡°It was said to aid in one¡¯s sleep and nourish the soul? What a load of crap!¡± Dustin snickered before snatching the sachet off her chest and throwing it into a ss of wine. ¡°Gurgle gurgle.¡± The sound of bubbles could be heard as the sachet suddenly started expanding in size , as if hinting that there was something inside. Immediately after, a thin, red¨C colored snake slithered out of the sachet and began thrashing about wildly in the wine. ¡°W¨Cwhat is that?!¡°. ¡°It¡¯s a snake! My goodness, it¡¯s a snake!¡± ¡°How horrifying! How can there be a snake inside the sachet? What if it bites someone?¡± A sea of horrified looks could be seen almost immediately from the crowd. More and more started to m urmur among themselves at the sight before them as their hearts raced with fear. ¡°How could this be?¡± udia gasped and didn¡¯t know how to react to this. ¡°Do you know what this is, Miss Murray?¡± Dustin probed while pointing at the small red snake. She remained frozen on the spot as she shook her head, still reeling from her shock. Chanter 1ED ¡°This is called a Serpent Love Charm and it can be used to confuse people¡¯s minds. Once the snake en ters one¡¯s body, the charm will slowly take effect until the hostpletely falls head over heels for som eone. The host¡¯s heart could even stop beating after that!¡± Dustin exined inly. ¡°That was a ¡°Serpent Love Charm¡°?¡± Everyone in the room was stunned after they heard this. Even udia started feeling a little uneasy after hearing that. She did not expect that there would be a Serpent Love Charm inside the sachet. ¡°I¡¯ve only heard stories about it before, but I didn¡¯t know that such a thing even existed in our world!¡± ¡°Utterly ridiculous, right? To think that he put a Serpent Love Charm on her so that he could manipte her feelings toward him. How shameless!¡± ¡°So, Miss Doyle, do you still think that this sachet can aid in one¡¯s sleep and nourish their soul?¡± Dustin asked sarcastically. ¡°Well-..¡± udia frowned, and her gaze subconsciously shifted to Xavier. She couldn¡¯t believe what wa s happening in front of her right now. ¡°Stop listening to his nonsense!¡± Xavier spoke in defense immediately aftering back to his senses. ¡°What the fuck is a Serpent Love Charm? I¡¯ve never heard of this in my life! This sachet was gifted to m e by someone else! I¡¯m the victim too here!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Even if there was a Serpent Love Charm in the sachet, that doesn¡¯t prove that Xavier was the one who put it there. For all we know, some bigshot could¡¯ve set him up!¡± udia roared. ¡°Yeah! Xavier¡¯s always been an upright and honest person, so he would never stoop this low!¡± Nigel an d the others also backed her up. ¡°Him? ¡®Honest¡® and ¡®upright¡®? You¡¯ve got to be kidding me!¡± Dustin snickered. ¡°The Serpent Love Charm only works if there is a pair of snakes, one female, and one male snake. No w that the female snake has appeared, we¡¯re only missing the male snake. Since you all still don¡¯t belie ve me, allow me to show you!¡± With that, he waved one hand and sent two needles flying toward the arca betw een Xavier¡¯s chest and abdomen. His body spasmed as a pained expression took over his face. Soon after, he spat out a dark, ck liqui d. And thrashing around inside the ck liquid was a thicker, reddish snake. The crowd was dumbfounded the moment they witnessed this! Chapter 181 Chapter 181 ¡°S¨Cso that was a charm after all?¡± Everyone at the scene was frozen in ce as they stared at the red snake that Xavier vomited. One by one, their faces showed looks of disbelief. No one could¡¯ve ever imagined that the esteemed he ir of the Horst family, who had a bright and promising future ahead of him, had stooped this low just to c ourt someone. ¡°Xavier, I never thought you¡¯d be like this!¡± udia yelled angrily in shock. Who knew that she¡¯d be the one who would be deceived by trusting him too much in the end? She alm ost became an aplice in his schemes too! ¡°¨C¡± Xavier was at a loss for words as his face turned pale. The truth was alreadyid bare for all to see, so even if he still insisted on denying it, his attempts woul d be absolutely futile. ¡°Hmph. It¡¯s a good thing Dustin has a good eye to see through your evil schemes. Otherwise, She w ould¡¯ve fallen right into your trap!¡± Ruth spat, her expression full of contempt. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. She hated cespicable and shameless men like him the most, the type who was incapable ofnding a girl for himself, and yet insisted on using unorthodox methods to do so. Absolutely disgusting! She said nothing to all of this and merely looked at Xavier with disgust and a heightened sense of awareness. ¡°Yeah, so what if I gave her the charm? The only reason I did that was because I liked She so much! I assure you that I¡¯m the only person who¡¯s the best match for She in the entirety of South City, so m uch so that Uncle Caden already treats me like his son¨Cin¨C Xavier roared, clearly irritated. ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re such a hypocrite! It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that you had to stoop so low to get what yo u want. You¡¯re disgusting!¡± Ruth spat on the ground. ¡°What do you know? What I have is true love for She, a love that can¡¯t be Xavier retorted angrily. ¡°True love? If it really was true love as you proimed, why¡¯d you have to kidnap Miss Murray in the fir st ce?¡± Dustin snorted. ¡°What the fuck are you talking about, kid?¡± Xavier scowled. ¡°Miss Murray had been attacked twice, and your timing was right on the dot, which meant that someon e secretly tipped you off. And as for the Serpent Love Charm and the Spider Venom you put inside the Fo ur Scoundrel¡¯s bodies, they both came from the same person. So, I¡¯ve concluded that you have close ties to the Four Scoundrels,¡± Dustin exined as a matter of factly. ¡°What a load of bullshit!¡± Xavier yelled in response. ¡°If you really did nothing wrong as you imed, then would there still be any need to kill the man off just now? Dustin threw the question back. ¡°I¨C I was just worried about She¡¯s safety, which is why I struck him with my full power!¡± Xavier exined stubbornly. ¡°Is that so? We still have a survivor here, so what say we call them up to ask them their side of the stor y?¡± Dustin said before picking up a badly injured Wade with one hand. It was a good thing Wade was still semi¨Calive and notpletely out of the picture yet. ¡°That¡¯s enough! Everything ends here, right now!¡± udia shouted all of a sudden. ¡°Didn¡¯t you want me to state my case just now? Why the change of mind now?¡± Dustin snickered. ¡°You¡¯d better quit it now if you know what¡¯s good for you, Dustin! Tearing each other apart like this won¡¯t benefit anyone. Besides, this matter should be kept between the three of us and our families. We¡¯lle up with the best way to deal with this, so we certainly don¡¯t need any outsiders butting into our business now!¡± udia roared at Dustin. The Murray family, Doyle family, and Horst family had always been longtime friends. The three families were basically married to one another as their interests were intertwined. If one of them went down, then the rest would go down together too. Thus, if the scandal got out today, then it wouldn¡¯t just be the Horst family¡¯s reputation that would be da maged, but the Murray family and the Doyle family too. Therefore, even if it were at She¡¯s awkward expense right now, they had to cease all questioning. im mediately. ¡°Wait, this guy¡¯s rotten to the core, and yet you still insist on helping him? Have you ever considered Sh e¡¯s feelings?¡± Ruth yelled back in frustration. ¡°Shut up, you don¡¯t have the right to butt into our business!¡± udia spat in disgust. ¡°Why you-¡± Just as Ruth was about to explode in fury again, Dustin stopped her by putting his hand in front of her. ¡°Just let it go already. She¡¯s right; it¡¯s their own st eaming heap of shit to take care of. It has nothing to do with us.¡± ¡°But what about She?¡± Ruth frowned. The two of them had a good thing going, so she did not want h er best friend to suffer like this. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, Ruth. I¡¯ve decided to leave this matter in the hands of my father,¡± She said as she forced out at smile. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Even though she said that, she secretly knew that her father would take Xavier¡¯s side out of his great fo ndness for him. When one was born into a wealthy family, joy wasn¡¯t as much T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. of a significant consideration as the family¡¯s interests. ¡°Alright. We all know how much Uncle Caden adores you, so he definitely wouldn¡¯t let you suffer,¡± Ruth replied. and she no longer pressed her for answers. ¡°Let¡¯s go back home and take a nice nap, Ruth,¡± Dustin yawned. After retrieving all of his golden needles, he spun around and was about to leave when a voice piped up again. ¡°Running away already?¡± Xavier taunted, his expression now full of furious rage and his gaze scorching. He immediately pounced on Dustin while he wasn¡¯t paying attention and stabbed him with a knife! ¡°Just die already!¡± Xavier roared as he pushed the tip of the de into Dustin¡¯s back. ¡°Behind you!¡± Ruth and She shrieked in horror, Everyone else at the scene was also stunned by Xavier¡¯s sudden attack. No one expected that he¡¯du nch a sneak attack against Dustin. ¡°Oh?¡± Dustin hummed as his footsteps came to a halt. He then slowly turned his back to meet Xavier¡¯s crazed gaze. ¡°You want to kill me?¡± ¡°So what if you die? I can kill trash like you whenever I want!¡± Xavierughed maniacally as he used more force to push the de further inside. But it was soon after that he realized that something was off. It was strange to him that he couldn¡¯t see m to push the knife in any further as he tried to put more force behind it. ¡°Since you explicitly said that you¡¯re cut for my blood, then don¡¯t me me for being merciless,¡± Dustin grabbed Xavier by the neck and lifted him off the ground. ¡°Urgh!¡± Xavier gasped for air as his face turned red. He struggled to break free from Dustin¡¯s grasp as h e iled his legs wildly in the air. ¡°Dustin! Release him right now!¡± udiamanded, her face aghast, after feeling an urge to kill him. ¡°He wants to kill me though? Are you saying I should just stand here and let him kill me?¡± Dustin turned his head sideways, his gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°I don¡¯t care about that! You just can¡¯t hurt Xavier, no matter what. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be making yourself an enemy of all three of our families!¡± udia threatened, ¡°That¡¯s right! Just let go of Xavier already! Or else, you won¡¯t like it when I¡¯m angry!¡± Nigel echoed. ¡°Mr. Horst is not someone you can mess with, Dustin. Just admit you¡¯re wrong, and who knows, you mi ght just receive his forgiveness,¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you look at the situation and adapt? Just let Mr. Horst stab you with a knife to let off steam, and all of this will be over. As long as you dare put up a fight, you and your family will be faced with cmity in the future!¡± ¡°Yeah! In this world, it is useless to rely on strength alone. The most important thing is still power, so jus t kneel down to Xavier and admit your mistakes already. It¡¯s not anything shameful if it¡¯ll help you make it out of here alive, you know.¡± The crowd erupted in a flurry of scoldings toward Dustin. Although they all knew that Xavier was in the wrong, they understood that he was still the one with abs olute power. At this stage, it wasn¡¯t important who was right or wrong. ¡°Heh, you hear that, Rhys? I¡¯m not someone you can simply cross, you know. So what if you can fight? You¡¯re just a puny martial artist, after all. One word from me, and your entire family goes poof! Kneel and bow down to me right now. Who knows¨C if you manage to appease me, I might even spare your puny life!¡± Xavier sneered and believed that he already had this in the bag. ¡°What makes you so sure that I don¡¯t dare to kill you?¡± Dustin asked, amused. ¡°Do you, though? If you do so much as touch a single hair on my head, I¡¯ll have your whole bloodline wi ped out! Come on then, kill me! Aren¡¯t you the one who kept saying they were so powerful? Then kill me if you have the balls! I want to see if you hav e the balls to-!¡± Xavier shouted profusely, taking it to the extreme, until he was rudely interrupted by a vi olent smack by Dustin, which decimated his neck. He died instantly! Chapter 183 Chapter 183 ¡°Why don¡¯t you get a better brain in your next life.¡± Dustin spat as he looked at Xavier¡¯s corpse. And with one swift motion, he threw his dead body to the side with one hand, as if it were trash. Xavier¡¯s bodynded with a ¡°thump¡± near udia and the other¡¯s feet. Xavier¡¯s face was riddled with fear and disbelief. Even up to his death, he didn¡¯t understand why Dustin dared to make a move on him. Everyone gasped, petrified, as they stared at the corpse beneath their feet. Every single one of them w as frozen in ce and was at a loss for how to respond to the scenario in front of them.. To think that an heir from an affluent family, who was also the pride of an entire city, had his life taken fr om him just like that? How was this remotely possible? Content ? N?velDrama.Org. After a brief silence, everyone at the scene erupted into a frenzy of chatter. ¡°Are you out of your mind, Dustin?! D¨Cd¨C did you actually just kill Xavier?¡± udia shouted with a face full of shock, looking at Dustin as if he were a maniac. The action of Dustin killing Xavier was akin to a peasant killing a king. It was simply treacherous and heartless! ¡°You¡¯ve done it this time, bastard! You¡¯ve really done it this time!¡± ¡°Since you were the one who killed Xavier, no matter where you go in this world from now on, you¡¯ve g ot nowhere to hide!¡± ¡°The Horst family would surely want to exact their revenge on you, your entire family, and your friends a fter this. Everyone whom you¡¯ve ever loved will be a target of the Horst family now, and they¡¯ll follow all of y ou to your graves!¡± Nigel hissed frantically. ¡°He¡¯s insane! This guy¡¯s truly gone off his rockers!¡± ¡°The Horst familyes from a long line of martial artists, and their influence spans the entirety of Sout h City. They have countless disciples under their wing, so the fact that youmitted such a heinous act mea ns that you made yourself an enemy of said countless disciples too!¡± ¡°Do you even know what you did? How dare you kill Mr. Horst? Even God can¡¯t protect you now!¡± The crowd was in an uproar. No one had expected that Dustin would be so bold as to kill someone. Did he want to die so badly? ¡°As long as you don¡¯t cross me, I won¡¯t do the same back to you, but if you do, then I¡¯ll return the favor. This Horst wanted to take my life, so how could I let him live?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression remained stoic. ¡°You¡¯re fucking insane! You madman! You¡¯ll definitely regret this!¡± udia roared; she was still in shock at the turn of events. She shot him a look as if she were looking at a dead man. ¡°I never regret anything I do. If the Horst family wants revenge, just tell them that they¡¯re free toe t o me anytime.¡± Dustin snapped before turning around to leave. ¡°Hey, wait for me! You were so cool tonight, Brother¨Cin¨C ut you shouldn¡¯t worry, with the Harmon family¡¯s help, I¡¯m sure we can take care of this matter for you!¡± Ruth eximed before running up to catch up to him. ¡°Don¡¯t bother. I was the one who dealt the killing blow, so I shouldn¡¯t be afraid if his family wants to get back at me. Even if we end up fighting again, who knows which side will emerge as the victor this time around?¡± Dustin was unconcerned. ¡°Are you for real? You don¡¯t need to put up a front, you know!¡± Ruth said while eyeing him suspiciously. The Horst family, while slightly inferior to the Harmon family in terms of power, was still a force to be rec koned. with in the city. While Dustin had great power himself, he was up against an affluent family that had been here for years. Thus, it would seem li ke a single person was unable to fight against such a powerful force. ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Dustin let out a soft chuckle and refused to reveal too much. As soon as the two of them left, the room erupted into chaos once again. ¡°Quick! Notify the Horst family immediately!¡± ¡°To think that that madman dared to kill Mr. Horst. We¡¯ll make sure he pays the price for it!¡± Inside the council chamber at Fallridge Haven, Caden was drinking tea with a middle¨Caged man. ¡°I need to apologize to you about the Gozoraberry, Sir Gabriel. Unfortunately, the gem isn¡¯t in my posse ssion right now, so I can¡¯t give it to you at the moment,¡± ¡°Oh, what happened?¡± Gabriel Horst asked with a puzzled look. The Gozoraberry was said to aid one in their quest to be a high¨C level martial artist. After hearing about this piece of news, he jumped at the first chance to obtain it for h imself. ¡°Two days ago, this punk named Dustin got lucky and managed to cure She¡¯s illness, so he was rew arded with a Gozoraberry,¡± Caden exined. ¡°How can a mere brat have such a valuable item in his possession?¡® Gabriel spat as he narrowed his e yes, his gaze annoyed. ¡°I thought the same thing. Although I was the one who gave it to him, it doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t get it ba ck,¡± Caden insinuated. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Since you can¡¯t be the one who takes it back from him, allow me to take care of this,¡± Gabriel grinned. ¡°That would be the best course of action for now. However, try not to Involve the Murray family, I don¡¯t want anyone gossiping about this,¡± Caden replied. ¡°Consider it done! This won¡¯t be the first time I¡¯m killing someone just to get something I want, so I¡¯ll ma ke sure that everything is done discreetly so that no one ever finds out about this,¡± Gabriel plotted as an e vil glint shed across his eyes. Every man was considered innocent until a bounty was put on their head. How could a mere backgroun d character with no influence on his name possess such a valuable treasure? He definitely deserved to die.. ¡°Sir Gabriel! Something terrible has happened!¡± A guard from the Horst family suddenly interrupted the t wo of them with a panicked look. Because he ran too fast, he tumbled onto the ground after losing his bnce. His movements made Ga briel furrow his brows. ¡°You fool! What are you panicking for?¡± Gabriel snapped at the guard. ¡°I-¡°The guard wanted to say something but stopped himself. ¡°Spit it out! What the hell is going on?¡± Gabriel snapped, confused. *Sir! Something terrible has happened! M¨C Mr. Horst has been killed!¡± The guard wailed as he fell to his knees. ¡°What?! What the hell are you talking about? My son seemed fine not long ago, so how is he dead now ?¡± Gabriel shrieked and shot out of his chair, his face full of horror. ¡°But it¡¯s true, Mr. Horst had his neck broken, and his corpse is outside as we speak!¡± The guard cried. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! Absolutely impossible!¡± Gabriel spat and frantically shook his head in utter disbelief. However, when they carried Xavier¡¯s corpse into the room, Gabriel felt as if he¡¯d been struck by lightnin g, and his face turned pale as a sheet. ¡°Who?! Who the hell did this?!¡± Gabriel yelled frantically after reeling from his shock. His eyes turned bloodshot, and he started acting like a rabid beast. Such senseless violence! Such madness! ¡°I¨Cit was done by a guy called Dustin Rhys.¡± The guard managed to sputter out. ¡°Dustin Rhys, you fucking dog! How dare you kill my son? I¡¯ll break your body into pieces! I¡¯ll tear you t o shreds! ¡°Gabriel roared while gnashing his teeth, his eyes almost popped out of their sockets. ¡°Pass on the order! Use up all your resources t o search the entire city if you must! We must find that bastard at all costs!¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 After sending Ruth home, Dustin returned to the Peaceful Medical Center. However, he couldn¡¯t help but frown the moment he opened the doors to the building. The ce looked as if it had been ransacked. It was a mess. Boxes of medicine were scattered all over the ce, and Dahlia, who had been rushing here and there the whole time, had on a face that was drenched in sweat. ¡°Diarhica, Where did he put the Diarhica? Dahlia mumbled to herself with a prescription in hand. After looking around for a while, she finally saw a box of Diarhica that had been stored in a medicine ca b high above the ground. Since it was out of her reach, she could only retrieve it by stepping on a st ool. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Dustin asked coldly. Dahlia was startled by his question and lost her bnce on the stool, Seeing as she was about to fall to the ground, Dustin instinctively grabbed hold of her before that could happen. It felt as if he was carrying something precious in his arms, as a nice smell wafted into his nostrils. After propping her up on her feet, he immediately without a moment of hesitation and let go of her. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Dahlia asked as her expression lit up for a brief moment before she quickly snuf Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. fed it out. ¡°Where did you go in the middle of the night? Howe you didn¡¯t pick up my calls?¡± ¡°I just went out for a bit and didn¡¯t bother checking my phone. What are you doing here?¡± Dustin answe red back with indifference. He assumed that she wasn¡¯t the type to take the initiative to search for him, especially with her arrogant attitude. ¡°I just so happened to pass by and saw Mr. Jones passed out at the entrance, so I helped him get inside.¡± Dahlia exined. ¡°He passed out? What happened?¡± Dustin asked with a frown. ¡°I heard that his house had been ransacked by thieves, and after fighting them off, he got severely injur ed in the process. I think you should head inside to take a look at him,¡± Dahlia urged. Dustin said nothing more as he immediatelyplied with her request. Sure enough, he saw Gregory Jones lying on the bed with a paleplexion. Inside the steel basin un der his bed was a pool of contaminated blood. When he went up to him to check his pulse, he immediately frowned. Gregory¡¯s Celestial Decay seeme d to be getting worse. It was also getting worse at a faster rate than he had expected. ¡°You¡¯re back already, kid?¡± Gregory asked as he slowly opened his eyes. He had a nonchnt expressi on on his face. ¡°I guess this condition is back again, but since that Dahlia girl gave me some medicine just now, I shoul d be fine now.¡± Gregory exined. ¡°What the hell happened here?¡± Dustin asked as his brows furrowed deeply. To curb his Celestial Decay, he had specially ced several seals on Gregory¡¯s body. But now he could see that the seals had been loosened. This indicated that Gregory had been forced to use his true energy. ¡°Not long ago, a few scums arrived at the medical center and started bbering about arresting you an d talking about taking this Gozoraberry or something from you. Naturally, I refused to tell them anything and even beat their asses before they fled. However, I didn¡¯t know that by doing that, I¡¯d be using my tr ue energy. which would cause all of my old wounds to reopen. I really fucking don¡¯t know what to say!¡± Gregory huffed. To think that ten years ago, he could¡¯ve easily taken care of all of those scum with a flick of a finger. It s eemed that his age had finally caught up to him! ¡°Oh right, before they fled, they left you a note. Take a look at it yourself.¡± Gregory added before pulling out a blood¨Cstained sheet of paper. ¡°What?¡± Dustin gasped after reading the paper over. Two lines of words were written on it. ¡°Meet me at the Horst Dojo at 10 pm! Remember to bring the Gozoraberry as well. If you don¡¯t show up , we¡¯ll get rid of your entire family!¡± were the words that were written on the paper. After he finished reading it, Dustin crumpled the paper into dust with one hand. It was fairly obvious that this was the work of the Horst family. He didn¡¯t want to make a big deal out of it, but since they were the ones looking for trouble in the first pl ace. they couldn¡¯t me him if he decided to y along. ¡°Anyway, it was a good thing that Dahlia girl came in clutch at the right time. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve been in serious danger by now!¡± Gregory let out a small sigh. Although the scoundrels didn¡¯t manage to scratch him, his internal injuries were quite bad. So, if it were n¡¯t for Dahlia¡¯s timely treatment, his life would¡¯ve been in jeopardy. ¡°Thanks.¡± Dustin muttered as he turned around to look at Dahlia with aplex look on his face. ¡°You¡¯re wee. Mr. Jones has always been good to me, so I felt that it was only right that I returned t he favor,¡± Dahlia replied while wiping off her sweat. ¡°Regardless, I should still thank you for everything. Anyway, I have ces to be again, so I¡¯ll have to tro uble you to take care of Gregory here,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Where are you headed to this time?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°To get my revenge!¡± Dustin dered. At night, in themander¡¯s room at South City¡¯s military headquarters, a handsome young general w as analyzing his battle formations on a sand table. Standing behind him were several female lieutenants, all of whom merely stood guard as they allowed him to do his thing. All of their gazes were filled with admiration and worship towards the man. One must know that the person in front of them was actually the youngestmander of Dragonmarsh ! Paired with the Goddess of War, Scarlet Spanner, they were known as the rising stars of the Spanner f amily! Not even thirty years old, he held power over hundreds of thousands of troops, he¡¯d won hundreds of b attles, achieved countless merits, and was definitely worthy of the title God of War indeed! No one was more capable in the entirety of Dragonmarsh than him! He was known as the ¡°National Warrior¡°! At that moment, his phone started ringing. He¡¯d received a call from an unfamiliar number. Adam Spanner raised his eyebrows slightly at this, as he thought that it was a bit strange. ¡°Hello, is this Adam Spanner?¡± A familiar voice asked him the moment he answered the call. ¡°Who are you? How dare you call thismander by his name? The nerve- ¡°This is Dustin Rhys speaking¡± Adam instantly froze on the spot and didn¡¯t know how to respond. He im mediately swallowed his words back down. After staying silent for a while, he finally mustered the courage to reply in a stiff manner, ¡°Well, well, wel l, if it isn¡¯t Mr. Troublemaker. I thought you died in a ditch somewhere, I even brought flowers to visit your grave every year.¡± ¡°Stop talking shit. I need you to do something for me.¡± Dustin snapped. ¡°Hey, watch your tone! I¡¯m themander of an army now, not some puny mafia character you can bru tally beat up!¡± Adam whispered. ¡°Oh, so what do you want me to do?¡± Dustin taunted in reply. ¡°I want you to give me more respect. Like when you ask me to do something for you, you need to word it in a way that sounds like you¡¯re pleading. You could, like, butter them up a little first,¡± Adam said while dusting the badges on his shoulder pad. It seemed to Dustin that he was still as arrogant as ever. ¡°Forget I said anything: I¡¯ll go find someone else,¡± Dustin spat, as he wasn¡¯t in the mood to y games with him. ¡°D¨C don¡¯t hang up on me yet!¡± Adam responded, all startled, before continuing with a face that was all smile s,¡± Look at you, can¡¯t you take a joke? Honestly, you get mad at everything I say. You know how it is between us: if you have anything on your mind, you know that you can just tell me! ¡°What was I thinking? You¡¯re themander and military god of the Dragonmarsh army now, after all. So, how could I possibly trouble you with this? Perhaps it¡¯d be better to just find someone else.¡± Dustin trailed off. ¡°No need to bother with that, Dustin! It would be an honor for me to do something for you. Just take it a s your granting a favor for me, alright? Please give me a chance: I promise to do a good job for you!¡± A dam begged in a panicked tone. After waiting for so fucking long, he finally obtained a chance to show his strength. How could he let go of this opportunity so easily? ¡°Ha! Since you¡¯re the one doing the begging now, I¡¯ll give you a chance, as I can sense your sincerity th rough the phone,¡± Dustin said. ¡°Thanks a lot, Dustin!¡± Adam thanked him with a huge grin on his face. This disy of his soft side caused a few female officers near him to stare at him in disbelief. All of their eyes were wide with shock, and they all looked as if they¡¯d seen a ghost. Was this really their usual death stare and stoicmander? Who exactly was the person on the other side of the phone? How did they manage to make an esteemed military officer act so meekly like this? Chapter 185 Chapter 185 At Fallridge Haven. ¡°Father! Please help Dustin; otherwise, he¡¯ll die!¡± She begged on her knees. ¡°Hmph! You have the audacity to request assistance for him?! He is responsible for Xavier¡¯s death! That is the gravest of offenses! The Horst army has already assembled all of Swinton¡¯s finest warriors! No one can save him now!¡± Caden spoke with a frigi d tone. ¡°Father! Dustin has rescued me on numerous asions. Please help him, for my sake!¡± She pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Ever since she returned to Fallridge Haven, she hadn¡¯t stopped begging his father for his help. That wa s because only her father could go against the Horst army. ¡°It is exactly because he¡¯s saved you that I refrained from taking his life!¡± Caden retorted coldly. ¡°Father! I will do as long as you save Dustin!¡± She begged on all fours. or YOU SAN Soon, her knees started to bruise. ¡°You fool! You have no idea what you¡¯re doing!¡± Caden mmed the table as he stood up. ¡°Do you want me to cross the Horst family for a nobody? Ha T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ve you no care about what might happen to the rest of us?!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the others! I just know that Dustin saved me, and I must repay him!¡± She said with tearful eyes. ¡°You¡°..you¡¯re being foolish and naive! udia! Bring her downstairs and keep an eye on her. She is not allowed to leave Fallridge Haven!¡± Caden was fuming. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± udia replied as she dragged She away. ¡°udia! Please, help me, would you?¡± She¡¯s eyes were swollen red from her tears. ¡°Dummy, it¡¯s not worth it for a stranger.¡± udia sighed. She could see that She had fallen for Dustin. However, this love was destined to fail. She was from a rich family, and he was just an ordinary guy with no background. They were worlds apart. ¡°udia! Let me call Grandpa. As long as he agrees, Dustin will be saved!¡± She begged. ¡°She, General Murray has no longer been concerned with these matters. Your father is the one in charge of everything now.¡± udia shook her head. ¡°No matter what, I must give it a try. I won¡¯t give up!¡± She said, full of stubbornness. ¡°Alright then I hope you don¡¯t regret it.¡± udia could only pass her phone to She. From her standpoint, She was wasting her energy. General Murray was one of the highest¨Cranking generals in Swinton. Ten years ago, he had already retired and passed down all his responsibilities to Caden. Unless his family is threatened, he would never show his face. It was i mpossible for him to put in such great effort for such a small matter. 10.00 pm, at Swinton Horst Dojo. Gabriel, dressed in heavy armor, stood stoically within the ring, his fierce expressions sending chills do wn the spines of any who dared to meet his gaze. Behind him loomed the elite members of the Horst family, their presencemanding respect and fear alike. As far as the eye could see, there were hundreds of them stretching across the horizon, a formid able force to be reckoned with. In the crowd. Nigel was whispering to a group of people. ¡°Mr. Lincoln, do you think that Rhys fellow would show up tonight?¡± The girl in a yellow shirt asked. ¡°Hmph! Even if he doesn¡¯t dare to show up, he¡¯s still dead meat! The only difference is whether he dies alone or with his entire family!¡± Nigelughed coldly. The Horst family reigned supreme at the apex of the martial arts world, their wealth and power cing t hem among the elite in Millsburg. How can a nobody from the countryside be able to fend against them ? ¡°He¡¯s a fool who deserved death for crossing the Horst family!¡± ¡°Sure, he may bask in the glory for a few seconds, but eventually, he¡¯ll have to face the consequences of his actions!¡± A few people in the group shook their heads, waiting for the showdown to begin. ¡°Hey! I think someone¡¯sing!¡± At that moment, someone from the crowd shouted. Everyone looked over and noticed a silhouette slowly approaching them. Chapter 186 Chapter 186 ¡°That fellow really dared toe? He really doesn¡¯t treasure his life!¡± ¡°Your bravery ismendable. But showing up here is a foolish move!¡± The crowd erupted into an uproar, with a variety of expressions on their faces. ¡°Dustin Rhys is it?!¡± A guard from the Horst family took a step forward, his voice booming with authority. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Dustin replied, unfazed. ¡°So, you¡¯re the one who killed my son, Xavier?¡± Gabriel¡¯s fierce gaze remained fixed on Dustin, his expr ession. stern and unyielding. ¡°Yes.¡± Dustin nodded once again. ¡°Kneel down!¡± Gabriel roared. ¡°Kneel? You¡¯re not worthy of such respect.¡± Dustin retorted. Dustin added, ¡°Horst, I¡¯ll give you a chance. Hand over the people who trespassed at Peaceful Medical Center and apologize to Gregory. Then, I¡¯ll spare your life.¡± The crowd went wild at his statement. ¡°Holy shit! Is he out of his mind? He¡¯s still acting so brazen even when his life is at stake?¡± ¡°Having killed Xavier, he dares to demand an apology from Sir Gabriel! He¡¯s wild!¡± ¡°Those who are ignorant are the ones who are fearless. This guy has no idea who he just crossed.¡± The crowd murmured as they pointed at Dustin. ¡°Punk! Do you know what you¡¯re saying? You are the one who is trapped now! If you don¡¯t want to suffe r a painful death, hand over the Gozoraberry and beg for forgiveness on your knees. Otherwise, you wil l be erased from this world!¡± Gabriel¡¯s face darkened, and his voice became cold and ominous. ¡°I may not have the Gozoraberry, but I still have my life. If you think you¡¯re capable of taking it, then co me and get it. Dustin motioned with his finger. ¡°Great! How absolutely fantastic! Since you don¡¯t value your life, then don¡¯t me me for what happens next! Guards! Cut off this insolent punk¡¯s limbs! I want his head on a stick as revenge!¡± Soon after his orders, a few guards rushed towards him, trying to get a head start. ¡°Boom!¡± With a loud stomp of his foot, the ground beneath Dustin shattered, sending debris flying across the roo m in all directions. As the debris flew across the room, some of it moved with such force that it struck the guards like bullet s, causing them to stumble and fall to the ground. Within a matter of seconds, a few of the guards had fallen to the ground, groaning in pain as they clutc hed their wounds. ¡°Go! All of you!¡± Gabriel thundered, his voice filled with anger and frustration. ¡°Kill him!¡± At Gabriel¡¯smand, arge number of guards charged toward Dustin, their weapons raised and thei r faces filled with fury. The guards surrounded Dustin like a tidal wave. ¡°Hmph! This punk is dead meat! The members of Horst dojo are all elites. He won¡¯t be able to fend the m off no matter how skilled he is!¡± Nigelughed. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see him defeated.¡± The girl in yellowughed along with him. ¡°He¡¯s not even running after being surrounded by that many guards. Does he n to fight all of them alone? Hahaha! Does he think he¡¯s Superman?¡± The group of peopleughed as they mocked Dustin, waiting for a good show. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Yet, in a few moments, their smiles were frozen in ce. As the fight began, the match took aplete ly different turn from what they had expected. Dustin was unstoppable and invincible! One, two, three- Ten, twenty, thirty¡­ In just two minutes, more than half of the guards from the Horst family had fallen. Till that moment, no o ne could match Dustin¡¯s level ofbat. The whole scene was a massacre! Dustin alone was ughtering the bunch of them. ¡°H¨Che¡¯s on another level!¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Ten minutester. The entire Horst Dojo was filled with pained groans. Dustin stood amidst the crowd, emanating a presence akin to that of a god or demon. His presence wa s awe- inspiring,manding, and intimidating. A few people in the audience were stunned. They stared with widened eyes as if they saw a ghost. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Everyone was taken aback by Dustin¡¯s strength. Single¨C handedly, he had managed to sweep through the entire Horst dojo! It should be noted that these warriors were the elite of the dojo, capable of facing ten opponents alone. Yet, in the span of a few minutes, all of them were taken down. This was too absurd! ¡°Fuck! He¡¯s that strong? He¡¯s on an entirely different level!¡± ¡°My goodness, where did this demone from?!¡± Nigel and the others were stunned speechless, especially a few girls who covered their mouths in shock. Dustin alone faced off against a hundred soldiers, ughtering people from all directions. It was truly unbelievable! *The Horst dojo is nothing.¡± Dustin stood proudly as his gazended on Gabriel. ¡°I have to admit, kid, you¡¯re pretty good. I underestimated you earlier.¡± Gabriel took off his coat, revealin g his muscr body and long sword at his waist. ¡°But it ends here. Today, I¡¯ll personally take your life!¡± As he spoke, he slowly drew his long sword, and a cold light shed around him. ¡°Sir Gabriel is unleashing his full strength. This kid is doomed!¡± Nigel became excited at the sight. ¡°Have you heard of the Hundred Immortals?¡± ¡°Of course! The Hundred Immortals is abat power ranking list in the martial world, In Dragonmarsh , there are millions of martial arts practitioners, but only one hundred can make it onto the Hundred Im mortals. These one hundred individuals are all the cream of the crop, the most outstanding top¨C tier experts!¡± Nigel arrogantly lifted his head and said, ¡°Good to know. Let me tell you, he is one of the top ten of the Hundred Immortals.¡± ¡°What? Top ten of the Hundred Immortals?¡± The others were all shocked at the news. They knew that Gabriel was powerful, but they never expected him to be ranked so high on the Hundre d Immortals list. It was extremely difficult to even make it onto the list, and even more so to be one of its top memb ers. Any one of the top ten could easily sweep through all the martial arts dojos in Swinton. Chanter 187 ¡°It seems that I underestimated Sir Gabriel¡¯s terrifying power. He truly is a martial art master born into a martial arts family!¡± ¡°This poor guy, he actually provoked Sir Gabriel, He¡¯s looking for death!¡± The onlookers were all full of s urprise and pity, looking at Dustin as if he were already dead. ¡°I heard that Sir Gabriel¡¯s sword is faster than a bullet, and no one can block it. Is it true?¡± The girl in yel low suddenly asked. ¡°Of course it¡¯s true! Sir Gabriel¡¯s sword is famous for its speed, especially his ultimate move. ¡®Eclipse St rike¡°. Whenever he uses it, no one has ever escaped alive!¡± Nigel spoke boastfully. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s amazing! I wonder if we¡¯ll have the chance to witness Sir Gabriel¡¯s ultimate move today?¡± The girl in a yellow dress looked on with anticipation and admiration. ¡°Quick, look! Sir Gabriel is about to make his move!¡± As the crowd discussed, on the stage. Gabriel¡¯s aura became more imposing, exuding an intense and s harp pressure. ¡°Kid, it¡¯s an honor to die by my sword!¡± Gabriel dered. ¡°Now, let me show you what it means to break allws with a single sword strike!¡± With a single step, G abriel leaped high off the stage. Uponnding, he crouched slightly, gathering energy before springing forward like an arrow and hurtlin g towards Dustin. ¡°Eclipse Strike!¡± Gabriel roared, unleashing his ultimate move. Instantly, the air was filled with the glint of the sword and the howling of the wind. ¡°Here ites, Sir Gabriel¡¯s most powerful sword strike!¡± ¡°No wonder it¡¯s his ultimate move! It¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°No one can survive the ¡®Eclipse Strike¡®!¡± The crowd shouted in admiration and shock. Gabriel and his sword merged into a rainbow of light, piercing straight toward Dustin¡¯s chest. Right when it seemed like a killing blow was about tond, a light ¡°ding¡± sound was heard. Suddenly, two fingers appeared out of nowhere, gripping the sword. With a simple twist, the sword sna pped in half. ¡°ng!¡± The wind ceased, and the light dispersed. ¡°Huh?!¡± Gabriel was stunned. He stood in ce, a little lost on what to do. ¡°My famous move was actually blocked just like that? And with just two fingers?¡± He thought. ¡°How is this possible?!¡± cried Nigel, his face turning pale. Chapter 188 Chapter 188 ¡°Smack!¡± When thest p fell, Gabriel waspletely disfigured, with a crooked nose, a twisted mouth, and h alf of his teeth falling out, looking extremely miserable. He copsed on the ground,pletely powerless. He never expected Dustin to be so strong, to the p oint where he couldn¡¯t even fight back throughout the whole fight. He could only passively take the beating without any resistance. With this kind of strength, Dustin might even well be i n the top three of the Hundred Immortals. ¡°D¨Cdid I see it right? Sir Gabriel was actually defeated? And so miserably?¡± ¡°Who is this guy? What kind of monster is he?¡± After a long silence in the martial arts gym, there was fi nally some sound. However, no one responded because the facts were alreadyid out in front of them. Gabriel had indeed lost and waspletely crushed throughout the entire fight. The so¨Ccalled top ten of the Hundred Immortals and his so¨C called ¡°Eclipse Strike¡°, his ¡°ultimate¡± move, had be a joke at this moment. Dustin¡¯s strength was far beyond everyone¡¯s imagination. With just a p, he could render Gabriel pletely powerless. ¡°Who are you?¡± Gabriel sat on the ground, his face twisted with fear. How could there be such a powerful person in a small ce like Swinton, and more importantly, one so young? This was simply abnormal! ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is, will you still be able to survive after this?¡± Dustin looked do wn at him coldly. Upon hearing this, Gabriel first froze, then burst outughing maniacally, his face distorted. ¡°Kid! I admit you are strong¨C even exceptionally talented! But the problem is, you are just one person, and behind me stands the entire Horst family! ¡°The disciples of the Horst family are well into the thousands, spread throughout the seventeen provinc es of Swinton! Will you be able to defeat ten, a hundred, or even thousands of them? If you dare to kill me today, you will be the public enemy of the entire Horst family. By then, you will face countless warriors¡® relentless pursuit, day and night! You should weigh the consequences yoursell!¡± After hearing these words, Nigel and the others, who were initially shocked and confused, immediately came back to their senses. ¡°That¡¯s right, so what if Dustin is so powerful? He was still only a human being who has weaknesses an d ws. The Horst family was a wealthy and powerful family in the capital with tons of skilled warriors, some even stronger than Gabriel himself. Once these strong warriors learn of the news and gather up, it would be easy to crush him.¡± The crowd thought. ¡°A person who acts recklessly will always remain so, and can never attain the heights of true strength!¡± Nigel. shook his head and retained his calm smile. ¡°Exactly! No matter how powerful he is, he is still an ant in front of the great Horst family. He¡¯ll be crush ed easily! The girl in the yellow dress followed up in agreement. ¡°In this world, it is not strength that matters but power and connections. This kid will ultimately face deat h!¡± After realizing this, the group of people couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of excitement about Dustin¡¯s i mpending doom. ¡°Are you so confident that the Horst family can protect you?¡± Dustin looked at Gabriel with a meaningful smile on his lips. ¡°What, do you still want to challenge the entire Horst family with your own strength?¡± Gabriel sneered, with a condescending look on his face. ¡°Challenge? You are overestimating yourself a little. Give the Horst family a call and ask if they can prot ect you. Do they even dare to protect you?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Huh?¡± Gabriel narrowed his eyes and, after confirming that the other party was not joking, immediately took out his phone. However, the dozens of missed calls on it made him frown Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. slightly. He felt a sense of unease in his heart. He took a deep breath and dialed the number back. As soon as the call was connected, his father¡¯s roar came from the other side. ¡°Gabriel! Where the hell have you been? Your phone has been unreachable! You despicable animal! W hat the hell have you done? Our entire family has been ruined by you! If I had known this would happen , I should have strangled you to death earlier! So that you wouldn¡¯t bring disaster to our whole family!¡± His father¡¯s angry rant immediately stunned Gabriel, After a while, Gabriel tentatively asked, ¡°Dad, what happened exactly?¡± ¡°You still have the nerve to ask what happened? It¡¯s all your fault! It¡¯s all because of you, you despicabl e animal! Our entire family has been banned from killing by the military! Do you know who issued the kill ban order? It was Adam Spanner! It¡¯s the God of War, Adam Spanner! One of the twin stars of th e Spanner family and the youngest chiefmander in Dragonmarsh! If the God of War personally tak es action, what the hell have you done to offend him?!¡± As he listened to his father¡¯s shouting in his ear, Gabriel felt as if he had been struck by lightning and st ood there stunned! God of War? Adam Spanner? Kill Ban? H¨Chow could this be possible? ¡°Die! Just go and die! No one can protect you! And no one dares to protect you! Only when you die can the Horst family survive!¡± His father¡¯s voice came through the phone again. Gabriel stood there, at a loss. His face was full of disbelief. How could the world¨C renowned God of War, Sergeant Spanner, suppress the Horst family? Who could request Sergeant Sp anner to intervene? ¡°So? Do you still think that the Horst family will stand up for you?¡± Dustin¡¯s indifferent voice sounded. ¡°W¨Cwas it you?! Was this¡­all your doing? W¨Cwho are you? Why would even Sergeant Spanner stand up for you?!¡± Gabriel trembled all over, raised his head, and looked at Dustin in horror. He couldn¡¯t believe it. How could such a deity¨Clike person be hiding in a small ce like Swinton? ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to know who I am. Now, I¡¯ll give you a chance to take your own life, so that you can still save your family. As he spoke, Dustin kicked the broken sword on the ground toward Gabriel. ¡°Take¡­my own life?¡± Looking at his broken sword, Gabriel was stunned; his face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with despair. Then, in front of a group of people with shocked, astonished, and unbelieving eyes, Gabriel picked up the sword and directly severed his own neck. In an instant, his head rolled off and blood spattered on the ground. Chapter 189 Chapter 189 ¡°Uh¡­¡± Looking at the head rolling on the ground prompted a brief silence from those in the martial arts gym, fo llowed by themotion and screams. No one expected that Gabriel would choose tomit suicide so decisively and ferociously. With one sword, he cut off his own head. Has he lost his mind!? ¡°What did you do to Sir Gabriel?! Nigel was sweating with fear. ¡°You want to find out? Go ask him yourself.¡± Ignoring the shocked expressions of everyone, Dustin turn ed around and left the gym. As soon as he left, a fully armed team immediately rushed in and sealed off the scene. Everyone involv ed was arrested. He didn¡¯t care to worry about what happened next. With Sergeant Spanner¡¯s power, there would naturally be no loopholes in handling this small matter.. On the other side, at Fallridge Haven. ¡°What? Dustin didn¡¯t die?! How could this happen? Gabriel is in the top ten on the Hundred Immortals, and he brought so many elite members of the Horst family to help him out. It should have been easy to deal with that kid.¡± When the news came out, Caden couldn¡¯t help but furrow his brows slightly. ¡°We still don¡¯t know the details. There was no news from the dojo. We only heard that Dustin returned u T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. nharmed,¡± the guard whispered. ¡°That¡¯s odd. Where is Gabriel? Call him and ask,¡± Caden said thoughtfully. ¡°Sir Gabriel disappeared. The phone won¡¯t get through, and the dojo has been sealed off by the military ,¡± the guard replied. ¡°Sealed off by the military? What happened?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not sure yet.¡± ¡°Send someone to investigate and find out what happened,¡± Caden ordered. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The guard agreed and quickly left. However, at that moment, a strong windy de sound could suddenly be heard from outside. A military helicopter descended from the sky andnded steadily on the square. As the cabin door opened, an old man with white hair and a burly figure, followed by several subordinat es, walked out confidently. The old man had a square face, a goatee, and a dignified look, emitting a strong and powerful aura. Th at was the aura of a seasoned warrior, formed after many years on the battlefield! Ordinary people would shiver at the sight of him and wouldn¡¯t dare to get close. The old man was none other than Christopher Murray, the founding father of Dragonmarsh! ¡°Father? What brings you here?¡± When Christopher walked into the council chamber, Caden, who was drinking tea, was startled. The tea spilled all over the floor, and the teacup shattered on the ground. But he didn¡¯t have time to care about that and got up to greet him respectfully, like a mouse meeting a c at. Although Christopher had not been involved in the family¡¯s affairs for ten years, his umted influence over the years still made people tremble with fear. Even Caden, as the heir, didn¡¯t dare to behave out of line. ¡°Kneel down,¡± Christopher uttered two words softly. ¡°What?¡± Caden was stunned for a moment, then obediently knelt down on the ground. In the Murray family, Christopher was like a god, and no one dared to defy him. ¡°Do you know the reason why I made you kneel?¡± Christopher sat down on the chair, his presence was imposing. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Caden lowered his head. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯ve damaged the reputation of our family. You did things you shouldn¡¯t have done and offen ded people you shouldn¡¯t have offended. The Murray family¡¯s reputation was almost ruined by you!¡± Christo pher spoke with a cold expression. ¡°Huh? Father, I don¡¯t quite understand.¡± Caden was stunned. ¡°You don¡¯t even know you¡¯ve made a big mistake. The Murray will be destroyed by you sooner orter i f you don¡¯t step down from the position of head of the family. If you¡¯re not capable of handling it, then ste p down now!¡± Christopher was livid. ¡°Step down?¡± Caden was stunned. He thought his father was just going to scold him a few times, but he didn¡¯t expect him to directly strip h im of his power! Over the years, he had worked hard for the Murray family, focusing on his work and getting things done . Although he didn¡¯t have much merit, he at least kept the entire family in order. Now, he was suddenly a sked to step down without knowing the reason behind it. He was very dissatisfied. ¡°Father, I don¡¯t understand. What did I do wrong?¡± Caden was unwilling. ¡°You are ignorant and shortsighted. You don¡¯t recognize a true dragon when you see one. Retire and re flect on it before you cause any bigger trouble. After you¡¯ve figured it out, then we¡¯ll talk.¡± Christopher le ft no room for argument. 1- Caden opened his mouth to exin but was interrupted by Christopher. ¡°Save some dignity for yourself , and don¡¯t disappoint me further!¡± Upon hearing this, Caden fell silent, feeling confused as he knelt on the ground. ¡°Leave and call She.¡± Christopher waved his hand. ¡°Yes¡­¡± Caden didn¡¯t dare to disobey, so he bowed deeply before turning and leaving. His face was fille d with gloominess. ¡°Grandpa! You really came?¡± After a while. She ran into the living room with a surprised look on her f ace. She threw herself into Christopher¡¯s arms and tearfully pleaded, ¡°Grandpa! You came just in time. Please, save Dustin! H e¡¯s about to die!¡± ¡°Okay, alright. Silly girl Dustin is fine now.¡± Christopher showed a rare smile. Back then, Caden was able to take the position of head of the family because he gave Christopher this precious granddaughter. ¡°Really? Dustin is really okay?¡± She wiped away her tears quickly. ¡°Of course. When has Grandpa ever lied to you?¡± Christopher patted her head. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa!¡± Excited, She nted a kiss on her grandfather¡¯s face. This made the old man burst intoughter, and he couldn¡¯t stop grinning. ¡°Little girl are you so nervous about Dustin because you have a crush on him?¡± Christopher suddenly a sked. ¡°Huh?¡± She was stunned at first, then her face turned red in an instant. ¡°Grandpa! What are you talking abou t? I don¡¯t have a crush on him!¡± ¡°Hehe¡­ if you like someone, then you like them. What¡¯s there to be afraid of admitting? Young people should be bold.¡± Christopherughed. ¡°Grandpa, Dustin saved me before. I¡¯m just grateful to him,¡± She lowered her head, stuttered, and he r neck turned red. ¡°Just grateful? Then why were you crying for him? Little girl, if you really like him, take the initiative to p ursue him, and don¡¯t miss any opportunity. That kid is not an ordinary person. If you can win him over, it will be great news for me too.¡± Christopher rubbed his beard andughed. After all, Dustin was the kirin! ¡°If he can be my grandson¨Cinw, those old guys will be jealous and crazy, won¡¯t they? Hahaha ¡ª He thought. Chapter 190 Chapter 190 When Dustin returned to Peaceful Medical Center, everything that had been smashed and damaged ha d been cleaned up. The whole clinic was like new again. Dahlia was sleeping on the table, leaning on it with a slightly haggard look on her beautiful face and ey ebrows slightly furrowed. Looking at her. Dustin felt aplicated mix of emotions and couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful. After all, sh e had saved Gregory¡¯s life. He took off his coat and draped it over Dahlia. ¡°Mmm?¡± Dahlia trembled all over and instantly woke up. ¡°You¡¯re back? Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you for today,¡± Dustin said politely. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it; it¡¯s only right for me to take care of Mr. Jones when he¡¯s injured,¡± Dahlia said, pursing her lips. ¡°Have you eaten? Are you hungry?¡± ¡°A little.¡± ¡°You want your usual, spaghetti bolognese?¡± ¡°Mmm, thank you.¡± ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Without much ado, Dustin walked into the kitchen and began to skillfully cook the dis h. In the three years of their marriage, whenever Dahlia came backte and hungry, he would prepare a midnight snack for her. Especially spaghetti bolognese; she never got tired of it. But at some point, the distance between them grew farther and farther, and their rtionship became more and more estranged. Eventually, they ended up divorcing. ¡°Here¡¯s your spaghetti.¡± About 15 minutester, Dustin brought up a steaming te of spaghetti bologn ese. ¡°Mmm, it smells so good.¡± Dahlia sniffed, immediately digging in. In no time, she had finished the bowl of pasta, even drinking up all the sauce. ¡°The taste is amazing. It seems like your cooking skills have improved.¡± Dahlia gave a rare smile. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just that you haven¡¯t eaten it in a long time,¡± Dustin said suddenly. ¡°Is that so? Maybe.¡± Dahlia¡¯s gaze became a little dim. Unknowingly, three years had passed. Over time, many things that had once been routine had be second nature to Dahlia. She had gro wn ustomed to having someone bring her warm clothes when the weather turned cold, to having some one cook for her whenever she felt hungry, and to having someone by her side when she was ill. But when those routines changed, she found herself at a loss. ¡°Dustin, will we¡­ be able to return to what we were before?¡± After a moment of silence, Dahlia suddenly asked. Dustin, who was about to wash the dishes, froze for a moment and was speechless for a while. Could they go back to the past? Maybe a while back, they could have. At one point, he even wished that she would say so. But now¡­ ¡°Ring ring ring!¡± At that moment, a phone started ringing. Dustin put down his fork and answered, greeted by a gentle and crisp voice. ¡°Hey honey, where are you? Do you want toe out for ate¨Cnight snack together? This is a great opportunity for you to get me drunk.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I can¡¯t go tonight. Gregory¡¯s not feeling well, I have to stay home and take care of him,¡± Dustin replied awkwardly. ¡°Gregory is sick? Then I¡¯lle over right away!¡± Natasha said anxiously. ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a minor illness, nothing serious,¡± Dustin quickly responded. ¡°Gregory is getting old. We shouldn¡¯t be careless about it. How about this, I¡¯ll send someone over tomor row to help take care of him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much trouble. I can take care of him myself.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a big man, clumsy, and prone to making mistakes; you¡¯ll inevitably overlook something. I¡¯ll send an experienced caretaker over to take care of Gregory¡¯s daily needs, and that¡¯s settled!¡± Natasha decl ared, leaving no room for argument. ¡°Alright then.¡± After thinking about it, Dustin finally agreed. Having someone around to apany Gregory would make it safer to avoid any further idents. ¡°Oh, by the way, there¡¯s one more thing. Immortunol has already made a name for itself, but if we want to sell it everywhere, we¡¯ll need to find a few agents. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll be holding an open recruitment at Mi rage. You, as the major shareholder, can¡¯t be absent,¡± Natasha said. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll definitely be there tomorrow.¡± After hanging up the phone, Dustin met a pair of resentful eyes. ¡°That was Natasha who just called, right? Talking on the phone sote at night, it seems like your rti onship with her is not ordinary.¡± Dahlia said in a sour tone. ¡°We¡¯re just-¡± ¡°Enough! You don¡¯t need to exin anything to me. I¡¯m not interested in listening. Take care of Gregory well, I¡¯ll go back to rest,¡± Da hlia said, getting up and leaving before Dustin could even respond. Dustin shook his head; he was rendered speechless by Dahlia¡¯s behavior. What was that all about? The following morning, the council hall at Mirage was packed with people who had gathered for the dist ributorship of Immortunol. Ever since the press conference held by the Harmon family, news of the pop r medicine had spread across Swinton, and many wealthy people were looking to get a piece of the action. As Matt and Julie walked in, Matt turned to Julie and asked, ¡°Can that Harvey guy really help me get a distributorship?¡± ¡°Of course! Harvey is a key member of Harmon Pharmaceuticals, and he has influential people support ing him. If he¡¯s willing to help, it¡¯s a guarantee!¡± Julie replied confidently. ¡°Fantastic! I¡¯ll make sure to show my appreciation generously after the deal is done,¡± Matt replied, feeli ng energized. The Laney family was struggling, and they desperately needed a way to revive their fortunes. Immortun ol was that chance. Therefore, this was an opportunity that could not be missed! ¡°Matt, you¡¯re too kind. A small favor like this is nothing.¡± Julie smiled. As Julie was speaking, she suddenly frowned. ¡°What is that piece of trash, Dustin, doing here?¡± T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Matt followed her gaze and saw Dustin¡¯s face, feeling a sense of irritation as he remembered their enco unter a few days ago. Since they had bumped into Dustin today, they needed to humiliate him somehow. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun with him.¡± Matt said coldly to Julie, then walked towards Dustin. ¡°Well, well, well, if it isn¡¯t Rhys! Are you also trying to be a distributor for Harmon?¡± ¡°Rhys? He¡¯s nothing but a piece of trash! Why would the Harmon family work with someone like him wit hout any qualifications?¡± Julie added sarcastically. ¡°I don¡¯t have the qualifications? Do you have the qualifications to work with the Harmon family then?¡± D ustin sneered. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we? The manager here, Harvey, is like a brother to me. As long as I say the word, it will be easy to get the distributorship!¡± Julie replied arrogantly. Dustin shook his head and replied, ¡°Really? I don¡¯t think that would be the case. I believe the Harmon f amily won¡¯t give you the distributorship.¡± ¡°What? You say they won¡¯t give it to us, and they won¡¯t? Who do you think you are?!¡± Julie sneered. Dustin smiled faintly and said, ¡°Me? I¡¯m the chief physician of the Rhys family, and I¡¯m also the major shareholder of Immortunol,¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 ¡°What did you just say? A major shareholder?¡± Julie paused for a moment before sheughed. ¡°Hahah a! Have you lost your marbles, Rhys? You? A major shareholder? What a joke!¡± ¡°Oh, Rhys, you can go around boasting to others for all I care, but what¡¯s the point of bragging to us? Y ou¡¯re just humiliating yourself!¡± Matt guffawed. He had done a thorough investigation on Dustin, and fro m what he found out. Dustin was, simply put, a good¨Cfor¨C nothing. He might have had some underhanded tactics up his sleeves, but he definitely had no real cap abilities. ¡°Whether or not you believe me, that¡¯s your choice to make. But I guarantee that you won¡¯t be getting thepany¡¯s rights,¡± Dustin said calmly. ¡°Hah! You guarantee? How highly you think of yourself! Mr. Marcs is in charge here. Just one word fro m him. and the decision is final!¡± Julie made a disdainful face. ¡°I do not know any Mr. Marcs, but I¡¯m sure he does not have the authority to do so.¡± Dustin remained u nfazed. ¡°Hah! And do you? Take a look in the mirror, sucker! Who are you to say who has the authority and who doesn¡¯t?¡± Julie ridiculed. ¡°Oh, get out of here, Dustin. Quit embarrassing yourself!¡± Matt jeered, looking at Dustin as one would a clown. He didn¡¯t even quite understand how he had lost to such a loser twice in a row.T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. *Julie.¡± As they were speaking, an obese man approached them. The man was the manager of Harmon Pharmaceuticals. ¡°Harvey, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Julie¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly went up to him and hooked her arm aro und his. fawning all over him. ¡°Julie, it¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you. I swear you¡¯re much lovelier by the day.¡± Mr. Marcs gave J ulie a light smack on her behind and a lecherous smile on his face. ¡°Stop it.¡± Julie whined coquettishly as she twisted away. ¡°Harvey, I¡¯ve got some serious business to discuss with you today. Here, allow me to introduce y ou to Matt Laney. Mr. Laney herees from a distinguished family in Millsburg.¡± ¡°Oh? Mr. Laney? Pleased to meet you!¡± Mr. Marcs¡® eyes lit up, and he immediately reached out to shak e Matt¡¯s hand. The Laneys were a prestigious family with assets amounting to tens of billions. He definitely considered it an honor to be acquainted with someone from the family. ¡°And this is?¡± Mr. Marc¡¯s gaze turned to Dustin. ¡°He¡¯s just a useless burn. Take no heed of him.¡± Julie spared Dustin no ck. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Mr. Marcs threw him a contemptuous side¨Ceye. ¡°To tell you the truth, Mr. Marcs, I¡¯m actually here for Immortunol. I¡¯m really interested in getting the Har mons¡±pany¡¯s rights.¡± Matt cut right to the chase. ¡°Mr. Laney. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t call the shots regarding thepany¡¯s rights.¡± Mr. Marcs shook his head, pretending that he was stumped. ¡°Ms. Harmon has given full authority on thi s matter to Mr. Rhys. He¡¯s the one who calls the shots on who thepany¡¯s rights go to.¡± ¡°Mr. Rhys? Who¡¯s that? Is he a very powerful person?¡± Julle was curious. ¡°Truth be told, not only is Mr. Rhys the chief physician of Harmon Pharmaceuticals, but he¡¯s also some one who¡¯s really close to Ms. Harmon. I heard that he¡¯s the one who came up with the prescription form for Immortunol!¡± Mr. Marcs exined. ¡°He must be a really brilliant person to be able to produce Immortunol! I wonder if I¡¯ll ever have the privi lege of meeting him!¡± An expectant expression came over Julie¡¯s face. She always had the habit of forming connections with people by bringing them into her bed. ¡°Mr. Marcs, where is Mr. Rhys? Could you please introduce him to me?¡± Matt tried his luck. ¡°Well¨C¡± Mr. Marcs hesitated. ¡°Ah, right, I have a gift for you. Please have this.¡± Matt quickly pulled out a million¨C dor check and handed it to Mr. Marcs. ¡°Hahaha! How generous of you, Mr. Laney!¡± Mr. Marcs beamed brightly at the sight of the check. ¡°And about thepany¡¯s rights?¡± Matt prompted. ¡°Of course, there won¡¯t be a problem!¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 ¡°To tell you the truth, Mr. Rhys is a tight buddy of mine. We¡¯d give our lives up for each other. In fact, I had a night out drinking with him just yesterday! As long as I put a word in for you, he¡¯ll definitely do me this favor!¡± Mr. Marcs assured. Dustin chuckled lightly at that. What an artful liar! ¡°Hey! What are you sniggering at?¡± Mr. Marcs red at Dustin. ¡°Ignore him, Harvey. He¡¯s just a loser.¡± Julie rolled her eyes. ¡°Mr. Marcs, if you can get me thepany¡¯s rights, I¡¯ll be sure to repay you handsomely!¡± Matt promise d. ¡°Haha! No problem! I¡¯ll get it done!¡± Mr. Marcs was beyond ted. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Marcs!¡± Matt grinned too. Judging from the high demand for Immortunol, he would soo n be filthy rich once he got thepany¡¯s rights. And then, he would have no difficulty restoring his fam ily to its former glory! ¡°Mr. Matt, I happen to have another business opportunity apart from thepany¡¯s rights. Would you b e interested?¡± Mr. Marcs asked sneakily. ¡°Oh? And what business opportunity is that?¡± Matt raised a brow. Mr. Marcs looked around him and said softly. ¡°Ourpany¡¯s demands a very high quality on Immortu nol, so products that do not reach the benchmark will be destroyed. Several of us managers agree that that¡¯s a waste, so we kept those substandard products and n on selling them off. If you want them, I can sell them to you at a really good price.¡± ¡°Substandard products? What good will they do?¡± Julie wondered aloud. ¡°See, Julie, they may be substandard and less effective, but they can easily be passed off as quality pr oducts. Nobody can tell them apart from genuine Immortunols when they are put together!¡± Mr. Marcs s miled profoundly. ¡°Really?¡± Julie¡¯s eyes lit up. T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°When have I ever lied to you? Here, how¡¯s this? If you take them, I¡¯ll sell them at a fifth of the original p rice. You can sell them off and earn a great deal!¡± Mr. Marcs proposed.. ¡°That sounds amazing! Thank you, Harvey!¡± Julie was overjoyed. ¡°What do you think of this deal, Mr. Matt?¡± Mr. Marcs¡® gaze bore into him. ¡°It¡¯s a great deal, no doubt! I¡¯ll take however much of the stock you have, Mr. Marcs!¡± Matt beamed. It was a steal to be able to purchase Immortunol at a fifth of the original price. Matt was not one to let suc h a good offer pass him by. As for the quality of the products, he couldn¡¯t care less about that. All he cared about was that h e¡¯d make money from them. If anything were to Chapter 193 Chapter 193 ¡°You! How dare you hit me?¡± Mr. Marcs held his face, which still burned from the smack. A mix of anger and shock was evident on his face. With the Harmons behind him, people fought to curry favor with him everywhere he went. When has anyone ever had the gall to hit him? Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So what if I smacked you? As an employee, you¡¯re supposed to uphold the standards of thepany. but look what you¡¯re doing! You steal from thepany and mix substandard products with quality prod ucts. I think you deserve every bit of that smack!¡± As Dustin spoke, he went up and delivered a few mor e smacks. Mr. Marcs saw stars and bled from both his nose and mouth. Themotion attracted a lot of onlookers. ¡°Goodness! Who¡¯s this? How dare he hit Mr. Marcs?¡± ¡°Wreaking havoc on Harmons¡® premise! I gotta say, he¡¯s something else!¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s just ignorant. He¡¯s going to end up in a lot of trouble!¡± The crowd gathered around to watch and exchangedments among themselves. ¡°Rhys! Are you out of your mind? Stop it this instant!¡± Shocked, Julie halted him immediately. ¡°Dustin! Have you any idea how much trouble you¡¯ve gotten yourself into? How dare you hit Mr. Marcs? You¡¯re not getting out of this door in one piece today!¡± Matt roared. But Dustin was not the least bit fazed. He went ahead and gave Mr. Marcs another round of beatings. He could let things slide if all he did was run his mouth and be unrepentant about them. But he was eve n about to get violent! How reckless! That did not sit well with Dustin at all. ¡°Security! Someone! Anyone!¡± Mr. Marcs shouted in agony. Soon, arge number of guards swarmed over. They had Dustin surrounded in less than a minute. ¡°Rhys! How dare you beat Mr. Marcs up! You¡¯ll be sorry!¡± Julie scowled when she saw that they had ba ckup. She looked at Dustin, waiting to see what misfortune would befall him. ¡°Hmph! You ignorant fool! Nobody can save you now!¡± Matt also basked in the pleasure of seeing Dustin get Into trouble with Mr. Marcs. Dustin had rubbed him the wrong way for quite a while now. He simply hadn¡¯t taken action yet because he had an image to uphold. Matt couldn¡¯t be happier now that someone was about to teach Dustin a lesson. ¡°What are you guys doing just standing there? I want to see his arms and legs broken. Right now! I¡¯ll bear the consequences!¡± Mr. Marcs hollered at the guards as he pointed his finger at Dustin. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± A loud voice rang just as the guards were about to get rough. A man with a squarish face rushed over with an imposing presence. He had several men following behi nd him. Dustin spared him a nce and recognized him as Morgan Finn, the vice president of Harmon Pharmaceuticals. The moment they caught sight of him, the crowd made way for him to pass through. Even Mr. Marcs, w ho had been barking orders at the guards, quieted down. ¡°Is this their superior? We can¡¯t be so unlucky, can we?¡± Julie wondered. She gulped dryly, an inexplica ble anxiousnessing over her. She could tell that this man approaching them was someone of statu s based on how much Mr. Marcs feared him. ¡°This bastard really lucked out!¡± Matt thought as he gritted his teeth out of annoyance. He had thought t hat Mr. Marcs would be able to avenge his grudge against Dustin, but this man¡¯s unexpected appearance seemed to have ruined that. ¡°Mr. Finn, you¡¯vee at the right time. This man here is stealing from thepany when he should be protecting it. He¡¯s stolen and sold substandard products. This will badl y tarnish thepany¡¯s reputation. You need to arrest him,¡± Dustin said as he pointed at Mr. Marcs. Morgan squinted and hummed lightly. ¡°Oh? Are you telling me what I should be doing? And who are yo u to be doing that? Do I even know you?¡± ¡°Mr. Finn, we¡¯ve met before,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°So what? I¡¯ve met lots of people. Am I supposed to know all of them?¡± Morgan gave Dustin a derogatory once over. ¡°Also, who do you think you are? Who are you to butt into the internal affairs of thepany?¡± Dustin frowned when he heard what Morgan had to say. ¡°Mr. Finn, as vice president of thepany, ar e you not going to look into actions that will ruin thepany¡¯s reputation?¡± ¡°Whether or not I look into the matter is my call to make. What evidence have you got to im that Mr. Marcs is selling substandard products?¡± ¡°You want evidence? Here¡¯s your evidence!¡± Dustin kicked the box over, spilling Immortunol all over the ground. ¡°Hey, young man, so what if these Immortunols are substandard? How are you going to prove that they belong to Mr . Marcs? Who¡¯s to say you didn¡¯t steal them?¡± Morgan retaliated. Mr. Marcs was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly reacted. ¡°That¡¯s right! Mr. Finn, this fe here i s a thief! I caught him stealing from us! I did not expect this brazen rascal to fight back so violently! He¡¯ s truly heinous and despicable!¡± ¡°I can vouch for that! He¡¯s the one who stole the Immortunols!¡± Julie added. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 ¡°Do you hear that? Everyone¡¯s saying that you¡¯re the thief.¡± Morgan smirked maliciously. Which insolent bastard is this who dared meddle in his affairs? ¡°Mr. Finn, it seems like you¡¯re going to cover up for him, then?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes narrowed, a menacing loo k in his eyes. It suddenly made sense to Dustin why Mr. Marcs dared to act so rampantly. It was because he had an equally unrighteous superior! Dustin had thought that he had seen the worst from Mr. Marcs, but it turn s out that Morgan was worse! Not only did he distort the truth, he even framed others for things that the y did not do. It was in for all to see that his subordinate was in the wrong, but he tantly put the me on Custin. That was too much! ¡°So what if I cover up for him? Who do you think calls the shots here?¡± Mr. Finn pressed his lips togeth er into a thin line. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a chance now. Get down on your knees and apologize to Mr. Marcs ri ght now, and admit that you were wrong. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make sure you spend the rest of your days behind bars!¡® ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s what you want to do?¡± Dustin challenged. ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m joking? You should check if your opponent has someone behind him before you go th rowing your weight around like that! Who do you think you are to do as you wish on my turf? Now get o n your knees and apologize!¡® Morgan roared. ¡°Do you hear that? Get on your knees!¡± Mr. Marcs jeered, looking at Dustin like he had victory over him. ¡°Rhys! Why did you even intervene in the first ce? This is what you get for meddling in other people¡¯ s business!¡± Julie gloated. ¡°You really think too highly of yourself! Matt shot him a contemptuous and dismissive look. In the face of absolute power, it was irrelevant whether you were right or wrong. So what if you were right? When the person in power dictated that you¡¯re wrong, you have no way of defending yourself, Such wa s the ¡°Alright, if you¡¯ve made your choice, then don¡¯t regret it.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t waste much time talking to them. He whipped cut his phone and made a call. ¡°Oh? You¡¯re calling for backup? Hahaha!¡± Morgan snickered. ¡°Hey, brat! I don¡¯t think you get the idea here! This is my turf, and I call the shots here! Who do you think can save you now?¡± ¡°Mr. Finn, let¡¯s not get too cocky. I think the Harmons are in charge here at Harmon Pharmaceuticals, n ot you. Mr. Finn,¡± Dustin corrected him. ¡°So what? I¡¯m a founding member of Harmon Pharmaceuticals! Even Natasha Harmon has to address me respectfully, what more of a scoundrel like you?¡± Morgan announced arrogantly. As he finished his sentence, a crisp and clear feminine voice rang out. ¡°Is that so? So I should be addre Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ssing you respectfully now?¡± The crowd turned to the source of the voice to see an elegant woman dressed in red entering and approaching them. It was Natasha Harmon! ¡°Ms. Harmon?¡± Morgan felt a premonition of oing trouble. He immediately forced a smile and went up to her. ¡°Why have youe?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to join in the fun! Am I not wee here, respected Mr. Finn?¡± Natasha put extra emphasis o n how she addressed Mr. Finn. ¡°Ms. Harmon, that was just a joke. Don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± Morgan exined awkwardly. How was he to that she would appear at such terrible timing? know ¡°A joke? It didn¡¯t sound like one to me. You sounded so sure of yourself back there,¡± Natasha said, unp erturbed. ¡°Well¡ª Morgan could not find the words to excuse himself for what he said. ¡°Forget it; I¡¯ll let that go. Now tell me, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Natasha asked calmly. ¡°Ms. Harmon, here¡¯s what happened.¡± Mr. Marcs was just about to exin when he was cut off by a re from Natasha. ¡°Are you in a position to speak now?¡± ¡°Know your ce!¡± Morgan turned to Mr. Marcs and scolded him. Then he turned back to Natasha and smiled apologetically. ¡°Ms. Harmon, it ¡¯s nothing much. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s someone here with hical intentions who stole some Immortuno ls. I¡¯m already handling it, and this will be settled in no time.¡± ¡°Oh? Who¡¯s so audacious to steal Immortunols?¡± Natasha asked. ¡°It¡¯s that rascal!¡± Morgan pointed at Dustin. ¡°Mr. Finn, are you sure it¡¯s him?¡± Natasha looked like she was holding back a smile. ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure!¡± ¡°And do you know who he is?¡± Natasha asked, amused. ¡°No matter who he is, he¡¯smitted a grave offense by stealing the Immortunols! We need to ensure t hat justice is served!¡± Morgan dered in feigned righteousness. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll have you know!¡± Natasha¡¯s expression darkened over. ¡°This man whom you¡¯ve use d of theft is the chief physician of Harmon Pharmaceuticals and the developer of Immortunol, Dustin Rhys!¡± An uproar broke out when the crowd heard that. Chapter 195 Chapter 195 ¡°What? Mr. Rhys?¡± Morgan had shock written all over his face. He had indeed received news that the developer of Immortunol, Mr. Rhys, would be present today, but he hadn¡¯t expected him to be so young! ¡°N¨Cno way! H¨C he¡¯s He¡¯s Mr. Rhys?!¡± Mr. Marcs¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagin ed that the person he had been bragging about being a tight buddy with was right there in front of him. This was bad. This was really bad. They were in deep trouble now. ¡°Mr. Rhys? Dustin Rhys?¡± Julie looked around in bewilderment. ¡°They must be mistaken! The brilliant M r. Rhys who developed Immortunol was Dustin? How is that possible?¡± She mused. ¡°What ability does this rascal possess to be able toe up with the prescription form for Immortun ol?¡± Matt felt astonished, which was soon taken over by jealousy. Immortunol was a precious drug that was able to bring in endless fortune! But how did such a treasure end up in the hands of such a worthless person ? It was truly a waste! ¡°Mr. Finn, I¡¯ll ask you one more time,¡± Natasha said. ¡°Do you think that Mr. Rhys is the person who stole theseContent ? N?velDrama.Org. Immortunols?¡± ¡°This Well¡ªThis might be a misunderstanding.¡± The corners of Morgan¡¯s eyes twitched and he forced a smile. ¡°A misunderstanding? So what you¡¯re saying is that Mr. Rhys isn¡¯t the thief?¡± Natasha scoffed. ¡°Of course! Why would Mr. Rhys steal his own products?¡± Morgan nodded repeatedly. ¡°Alright, then tell me, who was the one who stole this box of substandard Immortunol?¡± Natasha asked authoritatively. ¡°I understand now!¡± Morgan pretended to finally understand what was going on. ¡°It must have been Mr. Marcs who stole thepany¡¯s products when he was supposed to b e guarding them! He misused his authority and used Mr. Rhys before we even looked into the issue! We cannot tolerate such a vile person in thepany! I¡¯ll fire him right away!¡± ¡°Mr. Finn, I-¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Just as Mr. Marcs was about to speak, Morgan gave him a hard p and reprimanded him lo udly. You piece of trash! Admit your mistakes or I¡¯ll not go easy on you!¡± ¡°Yes, yes. I was wrong. Please forgive me, Mr. Finn. I¡¯ll never repeat my mistakes again.¡± Mr. Marcs co vered his face with his hands, shaking as he admitted his wrongdoing. ¡°Why are you apologizing to me? It¡¯s Ms. Harmon you should be apologizing to!¡± Morgan roared. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯m so sorry! Please let me off this time. I know that I was wrong!¡± Mr. Marcs fell to his kn ees, asking for forgiveness. Natasha ignored himpletely, her gaze fixed on Morgan. ¡°What a smart move, Mr. Finn. You¡¯re push ing someone else under the bus to save your own sorry ass. But do you really think that you¡¯ll get away scot¨Cfree?¡± ¡°Ms. Harmon, what do you mean? I¡¯m afraid I do not follow.¡± Morgan¡¯s brows were tightly knit. ¡°Don¡¯t assume that I do not know what you¡¯ve done. I just never bothered to take action. But you¡¯ve me ssed with the wrong person now! I¡¯m giving you onest chance. Give Mr. Rhys a sincere apology for your behavior today, or be prepared to bear the consequences!¡± Natasha ordered with an icy expression. ¡°Ms. Harmon, you must be kidding me!¡± Morgan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°I¡¯m a founding member and th e vice president of thepany! How could you make me apologize to a mere boy toy like him? How w ill I put my subordinates in line if I do that?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not apologizing, are you? Guards, beat him up!¡± Natasha wasted no time with him. With a snap of her fingers, two bodyguards came up to them and gave Morgan several hard smacks on his face. He was totally befuddled. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 ¡°H¨Chow could you order them to smack me?¡± Morgan cradled his face in his palms as disbelief consumed him. ¡°Not only did I get them to hit you, I¡¯m throwing you out too! As of this moment, you are no longer vice president of thepany! Natasha said bluntly. ¡°Natasha Harmon! This is too much! I¡¯ve ved my ass off in thepany all these years, and you¡¯re l aying me off all because of this scoundrel? How won¡¯t sit well with the rest of the employees? You dismiss my effort andbor! Are you not afraid that thi s ¡°What? Is that a threat? Do you think that you are in a position to threaten me?¡± Natashaughed mockingly. ¡°Let me be honest here. I¡¯m not only going to fire you, but I¡¯m also sending you to prison today! I have records of all your dirty deeds, which I¡¯m sure are enough to keep you in th ere for a lifetime!¡± ¡°Natasha Harmon! How dare you! I have the support of your cousin, Quentin Harmon!¡± Morgan shouted loudly. though he was trembling within. ¡°Quentin Harmon? Hah! Why don¡¯t you get him toe here now? See if I¡¯ll cut him any ck?¡± Natas ha threatened him domineeringly. Quentin, who had just set foot through the door, heard that and immediately retraced his steps. Damn it ! He dared not mess with her when she was already angry! ¡°Natasha Harmon, you can¡¯t do this! I- ¡°Shut up!¡± Natasha lifted a hand and delivered a p to his face so strong that his nose started to bleed. ¡°I¡¯ve given you your chance, but you didn¡¯t take it. Guards! Tie them up and send them to the police station!¡± Following her order, several security guards came and tied Morgan and Mr. Marcs up. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I was wrong! Please, give me another chance! I¡¯ll never do this again!¡± Morgan finally lost his ¡°Yes, Ms. Harmon, we were just momentarily taken over by greed. Considering how we¡¯vebored for t he in tears. Even Mr. Finn, the person on whom he relied to support him, was going under. How could he, a mere manager. put up a fight against Natasha? ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m terribly sorry! I was rude and ignorant, please, have mercy on us and let us go!¡± Morgan saw how Natasha was ignoring them, so he quickly changed his target and turned to beg Dustin. ¡°What?¡± Julie and Matt watched the proceedings with their mouths agape. The vice president of Harmo n Pharmaceuticals was on his knees, begging for forgiveness from a worthless piece of trash? How hu miliating! ¡°It¡¯s toote to repent now! Take them away!¡± Natasha signaled to her guards. They were both quickly d ragged away. Their cries and shouts for forgiveness fell on deaf ears. Natasha¡¯s swift and decisive course of action caused the crowd to look at her in awe. She was impressi ve and domineering, truly deserving of her title of the Steel Lady. ¡°Dustin, I¡¯ll leave the rest to you. I¡¯m taking this opportunity to rid thepany of anyone else bearing ill intentions. I don¡¯t want an insignificant employee of thepany to ruin our reputation.¡± Natasha gave Dustin a heads¨Cup and proceeded to leave with her men in tow. It was a critical moment for thepany, so she would no t allow anyone to jeopardize them from the inside. After Natasha left, all eyes were on Dustin. In the end, Mr. Rhys was the one with the power to decide who thepany¡¯s rights would go to. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Rhys! Why didn¡¯t you help plead for Mr. Marcs?¡± Julie confronted him, looking dissatisfied. ¡°He stole what he was supposed to guard and sold substandard products in secret. He deserved everyt hing. that he got today. Why should I help him?¡± Dustin asked calmly. ¡°He¡¯s a close friend of mine! You could easily have helped him! Why didn¡¯t you? Do you even have an o unce of empathy for others in you?¡± Julie red at him. ¡°He¡¯s your friend, so what¡¯s that got to do with me? In fact, what do you even have to do with me?¡± Dus tin said. ¡°You¡¯re my ex¨Ccousin¨Cin¨C e said brazenly. ¡°Haha! So you do know that I¡¯m your ex¨Ccousin¨Cin¨C , you even stepped out to vouch for those who ndered me. Why didn¡¯t you think about how I was your ex¨Ccousin¨Cinw then?¡± Custin snorted. Julie¡¯s face flushed instantly. She found no words fit to clear herself of her actions. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 ¡°Alright, alright. Let¡¯s put all those behind us and talk business, shall we?¡± Matt stepped in to smooth thi ngs over. ¡°Dustin, let¡¯s be professional here. I¡¯m really interested in thepany¡¯s rights. Here¡¯s a millio n¨Cdor check. I¡¯d like to buy an allocation for the rights.¡± ¡°A million dors? Do you take me for a beggar? Dustin found it ridiculous. ¡°Hey! Are you saying that a million dors is too little? Aren¡¯t you getting greedy?¡± Julie protested indign antly.¡± Just because the Harmons¡® gave you a prescription form, you think that you can unt your a uthority? You only have authority because you are affiliated with the Harmons!¡± ¡°Dustin, let¡¯s cut to the chase. Name your price: how much will it take for you to give me thepany ri ghts?¡± Matt tried his best to stay calm. ¡°No amount of money will be able to get you that. A person of your character is simply not qualified to obtain thepany rights for I mmortunol Dustin t¨Cout rejected him. ¡°What? You¡¯re rejecting money?¡± Matt narrowed his eyes. ¡°Well, it depends on the source of the money. Yourse from unsolicited sources, and I don¡¯t like that .¡± Dustin turned his nose up at Matt¡¯s offer. ¡°Dustin! You¡¯re going overboard!¡± Matt¡¯s expression clouded over. ¡°I¡¯m giving way to you and letting go of past grudges, but you better not overstep your boundary and stand in the way of my money!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! It¡¯s your honor that Matt is interested in having thepany rights for Immortunol! Don¡¯t b e ungrateful and shameless!¡± Julie boasted arrogantly. ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Dustin lifted a brow. ¡°That depends on how you see it. It could be a piece of advice as much as it could be a threat!¡± Matt said in a low voice. ¡°I don¡¯t care if it¡¯s advice or a threat. I stand by my words. No way in hell are you getting thepany ri ghts!¡± Dustin said it in and clear. ¡°Rhys! Are you really hellbent on crossing me?¡± Matt gritted his teeth; his gaze was as cold and poison ous as a serpent¡¯s. ¡°So what if I cross you? Do you think I¡¯d be afraid of you?¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°Alright then, just you wait!¡± Matt glowered at him before making his way out. ¡°Rhys! What good will it do to burn bridges? You¡¯re just lucky that you got the prescription form. Don¡¯ t get all cocky thinking you¡¯re all that. You¡¯re only making things difficult for yoursell by going against Ma tt! You despicable person! All you do is rely on others! Just you wail, Rhys! You¡¯re going to get it!¡± Julie was just about to leave after she ran her mouth berating Dustin, when several police officers came in. ¡°Are you Julie Amberson?¡± The leader asked. ¡°So what if I am?¡± Julie shot them a dirty look. ¡°We just received a report that you are in league with Morgan Finn and Harvey Marcs for selling drugs i n private. We have concrete evidence. You¡¯ll need toe with us.¡± ¡°Hey! What nonsense is that? When have I sold drugs in private?¡± Julie was terrified. ¡°Still denying, are we? Harvey Marcs has just pointed you out as the mastermind!¡± ¡°N¨C no way! That¡¯s not possible! How could Harvey point me out? You must be mistaken!¡± Julie shook her h ead vigorously. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Come with us, and we¡¯ll find out if we¡¯re mistaken. Bring her away!¡± The leading officer could not be bo thered to waste more time with her. He gave the order to have Julie cuffed and brought away. ¡°I¡¯m innocent! This is an injustice! Matt! Save me, Matt!¡± Julie was utterly flustered. She cried out despe rately for help, but there was no one there to help her. Matt had hidden away the moment he sensed tro uble. He wasn¡¯t about to get himself involved. He did not expect Mr. Marcs to push the me on Julie. Chapter 198 Chapter 198 An hourter, James burst into the Nicholson manor hurriedly. ¡°Mom! I¡¯ve got bad news! Julie¡¯s in big tr ouble!¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Trouble? What trouble?¡± Florence was enjoying her tea and responded slowly. ¡°Matt just called to tell me that Julie¡¯s been sent to jail!¡± That was a shocking piece of news. ¡°What?¡± Florence sat bolt upright when she heard that. ¡°How did that happen? Why would Julie suddenly be locked up?¡± ¡°Matt said that Julie went to the Harmons to buy something called Immortunol, and she got into some s ort of conflict with Dustin. Somehow, Julie ended up detained for stealing drugs, James exined. ¡°Stealing drugs? No! That¡¯s impossible! Julie might be spoiled, but she would nevermit thell!¡± As Fl orence spoke, she suddenly seemed to catch an important piece of information, ¡°Hang on, did you just say that Julie had a conflict with Dustin, which was why she got caught? Could it be possible that the worthless piece of trash pulled a dirty trick on her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! That¡¯s what Matt said too!¡± James nodded. ¡°That rascal has been resentful towards us all along. This time, he must have framed Julie up to seek revenge for his personal grievances!¡± ¡°That monster! Has he no conscience?¡± Florence was so furious that she mmed her hand on the tabl e. She spat her words through clenched jaws. ¡°The Nicholson family has been nothing but kind to him, but not only is he not grateful, he repays our kindness with enmity. He¡¯s nothing but a treacherous beast who b etrays people who showed him kindness!¡± ¡°What do we do now, Mom?¡± James asked. ¡°We have to use our connections to bail Julie out!¡± Florence was flustered. Julie was her only niece, an d she doted on her 1. so. ¡°Mom, it seems like the only person who can help us now is Matt,¡± James said solemnly. Matt rushed in hurriedly right then. From the looks of it, he had already been running around trying to h elp Julie. Florence immediately went up to him and started pleading when she saw him. ¡°Matt, you¡¯vee at th e right time! Julie¡¯s been apprehended and you¡¯re the only one who can save her now!¡± Matt sighed heavily. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, I¡¯ve been asking around; Julie has been pointed out as the maste rmind behind the theft. The Harmons won¡¯t let her off easily. From the way things look right now, Julie might b e sentenced to prison for around eight to ten years.¡± ¡°What?¡± Florence was so startled that she nearly lost her footing. ¡°Julie is just a dainty little girl who¡¯s never been through any hardships! How could she possibly survive eight to ten years behind bars? Please, M att! Think of something! You must save her!¡± ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, based on the severity of the issue, I need to get my father to help out with this,¡± Matt s aid with a shake of his head. ¡°Anything will do! We¡¯ll forever be indebted to you if your father can get Julie out of there!¡± Florence loo ked at him expectantly. ¡°I¡¯ll give him a call to see what he says about this.¡± Matt pulled out his phone and gave his father a call. After a brief conversation, he ended the call and said with a troubled expression. ¡°Mrs. Nicholson, my f ather has agreed to save Julie on one condition.¡± ¡°And what condition is that?¡± Florence asked. ¡°ording to my father, Dustin has the prescription form for Immortunol. If you can get the prescription form from him, then not only will my father be able to save Julie, but he will also give you thirty thousand dors as a reward!¡± Matt¡¯s offer was shocki ng. ¡°Thirty thousand dors? Do you mean it?¡± Florence¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Of course! My father never backs out on a promise.¡± Matt nodded. ¡°That¡¯s no problem at all! It¡¯s just a prescription form, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ll go get it right away! That worthless man would never dare to reject me if I asked for it!¡± Florence was roused. Not only would she be able t o get Julie out of prison, but she would also get arge sum of money out of it. What an enticing deal! ¡°Alright, then I¡¯ll be waiting for your good news. Mrs. Nicholson.¡± Matt smiled. ¡°James! Get a few men ande with me!¡± Florence ordered and stormed out the door. Chapter 199 Chapter 199 At noon, after settling the issue with the dealer, Dustin returned to Peaceful Medical Center. However, as soon as he walked in, he realized that there was an additional person there¨Can 18¨Cyear¨C old girl with a sweet face. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was dressed casually. She was cleaning the medical center, and sweat poured down her face from how hard she was working. Meanwhile, Gregory was passed out on a recliner, snoring in his sleep. He was covered in a nket, w hich was rare. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re back?¡± When the girl saw Dustin, she immediately stood up straight and greeted him, looking nervous. ¡°Who are you?¡± Dustin found the situation rather strange. ¡°I¡¯m Caitlyn Lawler. Ms. Harmon sent me here to take care of Mr. Jones,¡± the girl replied, nodding her head in greeting. ¡°A¨Care you of age?¡± Dustin was a little taken aback. He thought Natasha was going to send a middle¨C aged housekeeper, not a young teenager. ¡°I am! I¡¯m already 18 years old!¡± Caitlyn nodded her head fervently. ¡°Miss, I still think you¡¯re too young. At your age, you should be in school.¡± Dustin shook his head. It was just a casual statement, but after Caitlyn heard it, she actually fell straight to her knees. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m begging you to not fire me! I¡¯m very capable. I can doundry, cook, and clean. No matte r how tiring or tedious the task may be. I¡¯m willing to do it. Don¡¯t be fooled by my thin figure: I¡¯m actually very strong. Not to mention, I eat very little, so I definitely won¡¯t be a burden to you!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Dustin was stunned by the sudden outburst. She was fine earlier, so why was she on her knees right now? ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m begging you! If I do anything poorly, you can scold me and hit me as you wish. I can take anything. So please, don¡¯t fire me!¡± As she spoke, she smacked her head on the floor over and over again. After a few harsh knocks, her forehead. began to bleed as her skin scraped the hard floor. ¡°Foolish girl, what are you doing?¡± Dustin was shocked at the scene before him. He immediately helped her up andforted her. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to fire you, I was just worried that the work Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. would be too hard on you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard at all¡­ Caitlyn shook her head profusely. With teary eyes, she said, ¡°It would be the blessing of a lifetime to be able to serve you and Mr. Jones. I ¡¯m not afraid of hard work. If you don¡¯t mind, Mr. Rhys, then I am willing to be yourborer!¡± ¡°Caitlyn, is there something that you¡¯re too embarrassed to share?¡± Dustin tried asking. ¡°Nothing of that sort. It¡¯spletely voluntary on my part.¡± Caitlyn exined hastily. ¡°I was orphaned when I was young. It was Ms. Harmon who saved me and helped me survive this long. I dare not ask for too much; all I want is to be able to repay Ms. Harmon. I¡¯m very stupid; I don¡¯t know anything but hardbor. I hope you won¡¯t detest me for it, Mr. Rhys.¡± Seeing the person in front of him look so terrified and pitiful, Dustin let out a sigh. He couldn¡¯t help but f eel pity for her. She was at the peak of her youth and knew how to tug on people¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°Caitlyn, since you want to stay, then stay,¡± Dustin responded in a gentle voice. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Rhys! Thank you!¡± Caitlyn got on her knees and began bowing again, knocking her he ad on the floor once more. Dustin instantly pulled her to her feet. Feigning sternness, he warned, ¡°Caitlyn, you may stay, but we m ust set some rules. From today onward, you¡¯re not allowed to kneel before anyone!¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll remember that!¡± Caitlyn promised cheerfully. ¡°From today onward, you belong to the Peaceful Medical Center. If anyone dares bully you, you just ha ve to tell me.¡± Dustin said, smiling softly. ¡°Okay!¡± ¡°Alright. Go get some rest; you don¡¯t need to work now.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Caitlyn nodded again. Despite agreeing, she still didn¡¯t dare remain idle and continued to wipe t he tables and clean up the medical center instead. Dustin felt helpless, but he didn¡¯t stop her. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Dustin knew that Caitlyn deeplycked a sense of security. If he asked her not to do anything, she would feel even more lost. At that moment, his phone rang. When he picked up the phone, he heard an unfamiliar voice. ¡°Hello, is this Mr. Rhys? I¡¯m the new chief inspector from the investigation bureau, Aspen Cruiser.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Chief Cruiser. Is something the matter?¡± Dustin was surprised. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. We just arrested a suspect named Julie Amberson. ording to our investigation, she was your sister¨Cin¨C en asked tentatively. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This has nothing to do with her,¡± Dustin replied. Although he didn¡¯t like Julie, he wouldn¡¯t stoop so low as to use his power for his personal revenge and send her to jail. ¡°Alright, I know what to do now. Enjoy your day, Mr. Rhys.¡± Dustin said nothing as he hung up. Then, he took out an ancient text and began to leaf through it. It was an old habit of his. Whenever he had some free time, he¡¯d pick up a book to read. Suddenly, there was a furious shout from outside. ¡°Dustin, get the fuck out here now!¡± Soon after, Florence stormed inside, apanied by James and a few other thugs. ¡°Did you need something from me?¡± Dustin raised his head to level her with a look. ¡°You inhumane animal! What did Julie ever do to you? How dare you try to get her in trouble?¡± Florence screamed as soon as she stepped through the door. ¡°You¡¯re truly devoid of a conscience, you pathetic, shameless, ungrateful, degenerate animal!¡± ¡°Mom, since when did you know so many adjectives?¡± James was taken aback. She didn¡¯t even graduate from middle school, but she sure knew how to give a good scolding. ¡°Is that the point? Florence turned her head and red hard at James. Then, she wiped her head and l ooked back at Dustin. ¡°Rhys, I bet you have nothing smart to say anymore! I knew you were guilty from the start!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where you heard this unfounded rumor from, but Julie¡¯s arrest has nothing to do with me. She was the one who made friends with the wrong crowd,¡± Dustin said, unfazed by her usations. ¡°Bullshit! Do you think that it¡¯ll blow over if you keep denying it? I¡¯m warning you, if something happens to Julie in there, you¡¯ll never hear the end of it from me!¡± Florence warned through gritted teeth. ¡°Did youe here just to tell me this?¡± Dustin was expressionless. ¡°Of course not! The reason we graced you with our presence is to ask you for the form for Immortunol!¡± 200 James dered. ¡°That¡¯s right! For getting Julie into trouble, you mustpensate us. I order you to hand us the form! ¡± Florence demanded arrogantly. ¡°The form for Immortunol?¡± Custin lifted a brow. ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t give it to you. It now belongs to the Harmon family.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care! You have to give us a copy today!¡± Florencemanded unreasonably. ¡°Exactly! If the Harmon family can have it, then so can we. If you hand us the form, we won¡¯t hold th e past. against you!¡± James yelled. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t give you the form. If you¡¯re here for this, then please leave.¡± Dustin tried to chase t hem out of the medical center. ¡°Bullshit! You have to give it to us today, no matter what! Or else, don¡¯t me us if we do it the hard wa y!¡± James threatened, an evil glint in his eyes. Seeing the situation turn sour, Caitlyn immediately stood in front of Dustin, shielding him. ¡°Y¨C you¡¯re being so unreasonable! Mr. Rhys has already said he won¡¯t give it to you. If you keep insisting. I¡¯l l call the authorities!¡± Although she was shaking from fright, she didn¡¯t retreat. ¡°Where did this bitche from? Get the fuck out of the way!¡± Angered, James gave Caitlyn a harsh p, and thetter fell to the floor. Her pink cheek began to swell. ¡°Hmm?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression darkened. An indescribable anger began to boil inside of him. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 ¡°James, I¡¯m giving you three seconds to apologize to Caitlyn!¡± Dustin slowly got to his feet, his expression dark. ¡°Apologize? Who the fuck do you think you are? As if I¡¯m going to apologize just because you asked me to. Not to mention, isn¡¯t she just a stupid bitch? So what if I hit her? What are you doing to do about it? If you¡¯re going to keep yapping at me, I might even hit you too! ¡± James yelled; his expression was ferocious. ¡°You dimwitted fool!¡± Dustin snorted humorlessly,unching a kick at James¡® abdomen. Thetter let out a pained cry as he flew a few feet backward. His entire body was curled up into a ball as he rolled backward. At first, Florence was utterly dumbfounded. Then, her eyes red with rage, screaming as she pounced at him.¡± How dare you hit my son?! You ruthless animal, I¡¯m going to teach you a lesson!¡± She started to scratch and hit him, throwing out moves like it was a catlight. ¡°Get off!¡± Dustin¡¯s body shook, and an invisible force pushed Florence to stagger backward. In the end, she lost her bnce, falling onto her bottom with an ¡°ouch¡®. Her head banged against the do or. ¡°You horrible piece of shit! How dare you hit me too? This is wrong. This is all wrong! How did our famil y raise such an ungrateful bastard like you?!¡± Florence sobbed, seated on the floor. After watching his mother fall, James immediately shouted furiously, ¡°What are you all doing just standing there? Get him!¡± The thugs suddenly woke up from their daze. They instantly brandished their steel pipes and charged toward Dustin, roaring. However, in the next second, they were all sent flying out of the medical center, screaming. ¡°Fuck, you¡¯re all useless!¡± James shouted, disappointed to the point of fury. He thought that by bringing thugs over, he could get the upper hand in the battle. He never thought that the thugs he hired would be so useless. Suddenly, Dustin spoke up, ¡°Caitlyn, he pped you just now, so you can give him two ps in return.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± James¡® expression was demonic. Caitlyn seemed frozen in fear. She shrank in on herself, not daring to step forward. All her life, she had only been beaten¨Cshe had never hit someone else before. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t dare, I¡¯ll do it for her then!¡± Without another word, Dustin pped James hard in the face two times. Thetter was dazed from th e blows, and his cheeks grew red and puffy. Chooter 201 ¡°You savage, you¡¯re even lower than an animal! Did you just smack your former brother¨Cin¨C beggar? Are you even human?! Our family has done so much for you, but not only do you not know ho w to repay us, you choose to bite the hand that fed you! ¡°You¡¯re truly heartless! No wonder my daughter wanted to divorce you. Because of your ungrateful char acter, you deserve to die alone! You petty, immoral, and hopeless piece of trash, you¡¯ll neverpare t o Matt!¡± Florence screamed, pointing her finger at Dustin¡¯s nose. She was showing her true colors as a wicked shrew. ¡°The Nicholson family has done so much for me? I¡¯m being ungrateful?¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t hold back his Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ughter at her ridiculous words. ¡°Why does that sound so funnying from your mouth? When you say you did so much for me who do you think helped you get to where you are today? Ever since Dahlia started herpany three years ago, it¡¯s only been smooth sailing and se ssful; who do you think helped her out behind the scenes? ¡°Trevor¡¯s revenge, the Harmon family¡¯s partners, James being detained at the bar, Dahlia running into d anger, and also getting rid of the Hummers¡® boycott who do you think took care of these things? It was me! When you say you¡¯ve done a lot for me, it¡¯s me who¡¯s done a lot for the Nicholson family! But how did you all repay me? By verbally abusing me and framing me. Let me ask you this, who¡¯s the ungratef ul one?!¡± Dustin spoke in a booming voice. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 hapter 202 Dustin finally let out the grievances that he had bottled up for a long time. ¡°You¡­ ¡­ That¡¯s bullshit!¡± Florence did not believe it in the slightest. Her tone grew even shriller as she screamed, ¡°As if you had the capability to help us! My daughter¡¯s ac hievements today are all thanks to her own excellence! It has nothing to do with you! Also, don¡¯t think y ou¡¯re all that. You had to rely on a woman to climb your way up to where you are today! If Ms. Harmon hadn¡¯t protected you, the Hummers would have ughtered you long ago! So don¡¯t feel too happy now. Ms. Harmon will kick a useless gigolo like you to the curb sooner orter. And when the timees, y ou¡¯ll be the public enemy!¡± Hearing these words, Dustin simply shook his head andughed. Sure enough, there was no point in saying all those things. These people wouldn¡¯t believe it at all. In the Nicholson family¡¯s eyes, he had always been nothing but an ipetent average Joe. Of course, he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Alright. I don¡¯t want to waste my breath with you anymore. Please leave the medical center right now. You are not wee here!¡± Dustin said, leaving no room for their bullshit. ¡°Just you fucking wait! This is not over! James bellowed. Then, he helped Florence into the car and left. He couldn¡¯t beat him in a fight, so he could only think of another way. ¡°Caitlyn, are you okay?¡± Dustin asked with concern. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m sorry for causing trouble for you, Mr. Rhys.¡± Caitlyn looked ashamed. ¡°You silly girl, if you encounter this again in the future, run far away and hide. Don¡¯t try to act tough,¡± Du stin admonished. ¡°Okay.¡± Caitlyn nodded her head with a sweet smile on her face. In the evening, Dahlia returned to the Nicholson Vi after work. As soon as she stepped through the d oor, she saw James¡® bruised face as well as Matt¡¯s stern one. As soon as James saw her, he told her what happened. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re finally home. Did you know that Mom got beaten up?¡± ¡°Mom was beaten? What happened!?¡± Dahlia was shocked. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. You need to go to Mom¡¯s room and see her as soon as possible!¡± James urged. Dahlia frowned and quickly went to Florence¡¯s room. She found Florence lying on the bed, looking pallid. Her head was wrapped in thick bandages, and her hands and feet were in casts. On the bedside table, there are several bloody towels. It was a scene from a nightmare. ¡°Mom, what happened to you? How did you get hurt so badly?¡± Dahlia was aghast. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re finally back. If you hade anyter, I may not see you ever again¡­¡± She trailed off before erupting in a fake coughing f it. ¡°Mom, just what happened to you? Who did this to you?!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression turned frosty. ¡°Ugh It was all because of that animal, Dustin! Your brother and I went to the Peaceful Medical Center today to ask him to help us write a form, but not o nly did that animal refuse to help, he even spewed many offensive things. I got mad and told him off, bu t that savage was so ashamed that he flew into a rage and beat me and your brother up. I got lucky. Ot herwise, I may not have been able to return!¡± Florence sighed, recounting the incident with a few embel Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. lishments. ¡°Dustin? He would never do that.¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes widened. She found it a little hard to believe. The Dustin she knew was definitely not a vicious person. ¡°Dahlia, I know it¡¯s hard for you to believe, but the truth is already in front of you. Look at Mom, and the n look at my face. We were beaten to a pulp! That Rhys bastard is simply not human!¡± James whined in dignantly. ¡°No, that can¡¯t be. Was it some kind of misunderstanding?¡± Dahlia held onto thest glimmer of hope. ¡°Dahlia, things have alreadye to this. Don¡¯t tell me you still want to defend that trash! Fine, since you don¡¯t believe me, I¡¯ll show you proof! This is a recording f rom my dashcam. You¡¯ll know whether it¡¯s true or not once you watch it,¡± James said, fishing out his ph one from his pocket. He opened a video and pressed y. Dahlia focused on the screen. In an instant, she felt as though she¡¯d been struck by lightning. Chapter 203 Chapter 203 The video on James¡® phone showed Dustin getting violent. First, he kicked James, then he pushed Florence aside, causing her to fall onto the floor and bang her head against the door. Finally, it ended with Dustin pping James twice. The start and end of the video had been edited out, and there was no audio, only images. After watching it. Dahlia was frozen. She couldn¡¯t believe it before, but the video was right here; she had to believe it. ¡°Dahlia, you saw what happened, right? This is proof that he beat us! Mom is already getting old; she c an¡¯t handle that piece of trash¡¯s beatings! We already went to the hospital to get checked out. The doct or said that her concussion is so severe that she might develop Alzheimer¡¯s disease! Not to mention, s he even broke a few bones. She¡¯ll have trouble looking after herself in the future. Dahlia, do you still wa nt to believe such a savage?! ¡°James spat through gritted teeth, looking downtrodden and furious. ¡°Why? Why would he do that?¡± Dahlia clenched her fists, and her face was pale. Their rtionship had just begun to improve. She was even considering remarrying him. But why did Dustin hit her mother? Could he have lost all feelings? ¡°Dahlia, not only did that brute hit me, but he also framed Julie and sent her to jail!¡± Florence said grave ly. ¡°What? Julie is in jail?¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes grew wide. ¡°That¡¯s right! Today, Julie went to the Harmons¡® to buy Immortunol and got into a disagreement with Du stin. Then, that bastard wanted to take revenge, so he got someone to arrest Julie and charge her with theft.¡± James said venomously. ¡°I was there the whole time. I can vouch for it,¡± Matt chimed in from the side. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t give up an opportunity to kick a man while he was down. ¡°Dahlia, did you hear that? That bastard, Dustin, is an ungrateful son¨Cof¨Ca¨C bitch. We were all fooled by him back then. He has already shown his true colors now, and he does no t want to forgive and forget. How can you trust a man like him?!¡± Florence added, stoking the mes. A s she spoke, she began to cough again. She looked like she was at death¡¯s door, and Dahlia¡¯s heart clenched at the sight. Thest ray of hope in her heart waspletely extinguished. Instead, it was reced by fury! Without another word, she took out her phone and dialed Dustin¡¯s number. ¡°Hello? I demand an exnation!¡± ¡°An exnation? For what?¡± Dustin responded calmly. ¡°I¡¯m asking you whether you were the one who beat my mother and James up?!¡± Dahlia asked, suppressing her anger. ¡°I did hit James, but he deserved it. As for your mother, she caused her own fall by ident.¡± ¡°By ident?¡± Dahlia¡¯s voice rose sharply. ¡°You say it like it¡¯s nothing! Not only did your so¨C called ident cause my mother to break her hands and legs, she even suffered a severe concussion! ¡± ¡°Is it that serious?¡± Dustin was suspicious of that im. She¡¯s lying in bed, unable to move due to her injuries. Do you think that¡¯s not serious? ording to yo ur logic, does my mother have to die on the spot for her injuries to be serious? Are you even human?¡® Dahlia¡¯s blood was boiling. ¡°You¡¯d better calm down and take your mother to have her injuries examined,¡± Dustin said. When Florence left earlier, she had been fine. There was no way she was this badly injured all of a sud den. ¡°Have her examined for what? I¡¯ve already seen it with my own eyes, so why do I need to get her check ed out? Are you still trying to justify yourself at this point?¡± Dahlia said, fuming. He had beaten up her family. Now, not only was he refusing to apologize, but he was also acting so righteously. When did he be so unreasonable? ¡°Since you believe your mother¡¯s story, then why are you asking me?¡± Dustin¡¯s tone grew cold. ¡°What? Are you throwing in the towel just because you¡¯ve been caught? You¡¯re the one who beat them up; are you saying you were in the right?¡± Dahlia said. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s say I did beat them up, but did you ever ask why?¡± Dustin said. ¡°Of course, I asked! My mother asked you for the form; not only did you refuse, you even said some harsh things. She told you off, and then you beat her up. Isn¡¯t that what happened?!¡± ¡°Heh If that¡¯s what you think happened, then that¡¯s what happened.¡± Dustin snickered. The current him was toozy to exin. No matter what he said, they wouldn¡¯t believe him. ¡°Dustin, ch, Dustin. I really didn¡¯t expect you to be this kind of person! Did you have to go that far over a form? What would have happened it you¡¯d given her the recipe? Would you lose a limb? You know what, I can just pay for it! Is one million dors enough? Or two? Name your price, and I¡¯ll buy it no mat ter the amount! Dahlia grew angrier and angrier as she spoke. Her hands started to tremble with rage. ¡°Do you think this is about money? To tell you the truth, I¡¯ve already given the form away.¡± Dustin st ated indifferently. ¡°Who did you give it to? Was it Natasha? So are you saying that you would rather give her the form for free than sell it to me?¡± ¡°Can you be more reasonable?¡± ¡°Am I being unreasonable, or are you just a cold and heartless person who grew tired of your old toy in favor of a new one? Am I not even worth one form in your eyes?!¡± Dah was about to lose her min d. She wasn¡¯t this upset earlier, but at the thought of Natasha, she felt a knife pierce her heart. She couldn¡¯t help but feel as if someone had taken something important from her. ¡°Dahlia, I don¡¯t want to argue with you. If you called me to talk about this, then I don¡¯t think we have any thing to talk about,¡± Dustin said, taking a deep breath. ¡°Fine! Let¡¯s not talk about the form¨Clet¡¯s talk about Julie! Were you responsible for her arrest?¡± Dahlia changed the subject. ¡°If I said no, would you believe me?¡± Dustin said indifferently. ¡°Do you think I would believe you? Matt saw you nt fake evidence with his own eyes and got Julie se nt to jail! I know you don¡¯t like her, but must you be so petty? How could you do such a cruel thing over a small conflict? That¡¯s my cousin! How could you do such a horrible thing?!¡± Dahlia was practically roa ring by the end of the sentence. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So you¡¯ll believe whatever Matt says? Am I such a narrow¨C minded asshole in your eyes that you¡¯d rather believe Matt over me?¡± Dustin asked, his eyebrows knitti ng together. ¡°You¡¯ve done so many terrible things. How can I believe you?¡± Dahlia retorted back. When Dustin heard those words, he fell silent, his mouth curving into a self¨C deprecating smile. He didn¡¯t want. to exin further, nor did he have the energy to do so. Once the seeds of doubt were nted, they could never be removed. There had always been a chasm between him and Dahlia. It was due to ack of trust. No matter what he did or said, he would never receive an acknowledgment. But whenever there was a minor misunderstanding, it would explode into a full¨Cblown argument. That was the crux of their problems. He had really done his best. Chapter 204 Chapter 204 ¡°You don¡¯t have anything else to say? I knew you were lying! Why? How did you turn out this way? Wh y do you have to push my boundaries over and over again? Must you keep causing trouble until we turn against each other? Dahlia¡¯s face was full of disappointment, and sh e felt disheartened. ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯ve changed, but you¡¯ve never believed in me, whether it was before or now. Since you wo n¡¯t believe me anyway, then there¡¯s nothing to talk about. I¡¯ll figure out a way to repay you for what you did for Gregory.¡± As soon as Dustin finished speaking, he hung up. Could things go back to the way they were before? No, it was impossible. This was his answer to her questionst night. ¡°Dustin, what do you mean? Are you trying to cut ties with me? You ¡­ Dahlia still had more to say, but t he line had already gone dead. Dustin¡¯s indifference and coldness felt like a knife in her heart. She couldn¡¯t understand why the two of them couldn¡¯t get along peacefully. Why must they hurt each ot her? Why? Why couldn¡¯t he try to understand her? ¡°Dahlia, I told you a long time ago that Dustin is inhuman. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve seen his true self by now,¡± Ja mes said, adding fuel to the fire. ¡°Dahlia, we won¡¯t go and beg him. That animal will get his reckoning sooner orter!¡± Florence added a nother blow. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t talk anymore; just focus on getting better. I¡¯ll think of something to help Julie.¡± Dahlia¡¯s men tal state was a mess. ¡°Dahlia, you don¡¯t have to worry too much. My father is already talking to his connections about Julie¡¯s arrest. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll hear something soon,¡± Matt saidfortingly from the side. A woman was most vulnerable when she was injured. If he took advantage of this opportunity, she would be his soon. ¡°Thanks.¡± Dahlia forced a smile. While they were talking, a police car suddenly stopped at the entrance of the vi. The car door opened, and Julie jumped off the car joyfully. As soon as she stepped through the door, she hollered, ¡°Aunt Florence, I¡¯m back!¡± ¡°Julie?!¡± When the others saw her, they all had looks of surprise. Florence even dropped her sickly act and leaped off the bed. Grabbing Julie¡¯s hand, she looked her up and down with a worried face. ¡°Julic, are you okay? Did you g et hurt in there? Do you know how worried I was about you?¡± ¡°Aunt Florence, I¡¯m fine. I was just locked up for half a day. I didn¡¯t get hurt.¡± Julie smiled. Although she was a little shaken up, she was d to be back safe and sound. ¡°You were released after just half a day? That was quick¡± James said, a little bbergasted. ¡°The situation was rather strange. When they interrogated me, they were so fierce and scary. However , after they got a phone call, they immediately released me,¡± Julie said, sounding confused. A light quickly went off in Florence¡¯s head. ¡°Ah, I know! It must have been Matt¡¯s father who helped you. If it wasn¡¯t for Mr. Laney Sr.¡¯s connections, you¡¯d probably still be stuck in there.¡± Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Really? Thank you so much, Matt!¡± Julie hurriedly thanked him. ¡°No, it was just a small favor. It was nothing.¡± Matt faked a humble smile. Although he said that, he thought the situation was weird, too. ording to the n, his father would o nly help Julie after he got the form for Immortunol. So why had she been released so soon? ¡°See. Dahlia? This is the difference between Matt and Dustin! That Rhys bastard has no capabilities aside from using dirty tactics to get people in trouble! Then look at Matt¨C every time there¡¯s a critical moment, he always lends us a hand and saves the day! Now you should kn ow which man cares about you the most,¡± Florence said, purposely dragging one man down to lift the other up, showering Matt with praise. *Exactly, Dahlia! That loser is not good enough for you. Matt is still the best match for you. Since you¡¯re already divorced, the way I see it, you should just get together with Matt, James added. ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk about this right now.¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Dahlia frowned slightly, slowlying back to her senses. Looking at Florence hop around energetically, she was asto unded. ¡°Mom, I thought you said you broke your hands and feet? How can you still stand?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Florence¡¯s face froze, and she forced a smile. ¡°When I saw Julie, I got a little too emotional and temporarily forgot about the pain. I should lie back down and get some rest right away.¡± With that, she limped to the bed. But those horrible acting skills fooled no one. ¡°Mom, are you actually actually fine and were just pretending to be hurt in front of me?!¡± Dahlia¡¯s face sank. ¡°How can I be fine? Didn¡¯t you see how Dustin hit me? Ouch held her head and began to put on a show again. My head is starting to hurt again!¡± Florence ¡°You said you have a concussion and broken limbs. Well, where¡¯s the case file from the hospital? Show it to me!¡± Dahlia demanded. ¡°Well¡­¡± Florence and James both looked at each other, speechless. Seeing their reaction, of course. Dahlia caught on. ¡°So you two have been lying to me all along? All for what?¡± She bit the bottom of her lip. ¡°Fine. I¡¯m not hurt! So what? Seeing that her ruse was up, Florence stopped pretending. She said indignantly, ¡°Although I didn¡¯t get hurt, it¡¯s still true that that animal beat us up. You saw what happ ened in the video. Could that be faked?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Dahlia, look at the injuries on my face. He did this to me!¡± James yed along. ¡°Give me your phone!¡± Dahlia demanded, her gaze cold. ¡°W¨Cwhat do you want my phone for?¡± James felt a niggling sense of guilt. ¡°Just give it to me!¡± Without another word, Dahlia snatched the phone from his hands. She looked for the full video and yed it with the volume turned up. After grasping the entire situation, her body began to tremble from head to toe. She finally understood why her brother had been beaten up. Dustin wasn¡¯t the ungrateful one. It was her mother and brother who crossed the line and went to his d oorstep to kick up a fuss! ¡°Why? Why did you guys lie to me?!¡± Dahlia was extremely upset. ¡°Dahlia, we didn¡¯t lie to you. That animal was wrong to hit us. Even if we started it, he had no right to hit us back! So what if we hit him? We¡¯re older than him; can¡¯t we teach him a lesson?! Florence argued righteously as if her actions were justified, ¡°You¨C you guys are really unbelievable!¡± Dahlia was furious. She didn¡¯t expect that her mother would be so u nreasonable and evil. It was clearly her own fault, but she still pinned the me on Dustin, deliberately twisting the truth and misleading her. 1 ¡°Fine! Even if we were impulsive this time, it doesn¡¯t mean that ass wasn¡¯t responsible for this as well. If he hadn¡¯t framed Julie, would we have gone over to pick a light? In the end, he had iting for him!¡± Florence shouted with conviction, her hands on her waist. As soon as she said that, a middle¨C aged man in uniform alighted from the police car that stopped in front of their door. ¡°You must be Julie Amberson¡¯s family, am I right? I am Chief Aspen Cruiser. Regarding Julie¡¯s case of medicine theft, although Mr. Rhys has decided not to pursue the matter, you still need to make sure she learned her lesson and won¡¯t make the same mistake again. If Mr. Rhys hadn¡¯t said anything today, Julie would probably have remained in there for a few more yea rs. Do you understand?¡± Aspen said, giving them a stern verbal warning. ¡°Mr. Rhys?¡± Florence and the others looked at each other. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Mr. Laney Sr. who helped Julie?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never heard of him,¡± Aspen replied, stone¨Cfaced. As soon as he said that, everyone¡¯s eyes llicked over to Matt. After everything that happened, it wasn¡¯t even Phineas Laney who helped. Then, had they thanked the wrong person? Being on the receiving end of everyone¡¯s gazes, Matt felt his face flush, as if he¡¯d been pped on both cheeks. This was fucking humiliating! ¡°Chief Cruiser, may I ask who this ¡°Mr. Rhys¡® is that you¡¯re talking about?¡± Florence still couldn¡¯t believe it. Aspen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who else could it be? Of course, it¡¯s Dustin Rhys. Who else would help you out?¡± As soon as he said that, the entire room fell dead silent¡­ ¡°D¨C Dustin Rhys? How could it be him?!¡± After learning the truth, Florence and the others looked at each ot her for a while, disbelief written on their faces. Never in a million years had they considered that it wasn¡¯t Matt who saved Julie, but the person they had dubbed ungrateful. This was simply a p in the face! ¡°So Dustin never framed Julie in the first ce, and it was you guys purposely slinging mud at him?¡± D ahlia stood rooted to the ground, expressionless. Her face was as white as a sheet. ¡°W¨C Content ? N?velDrama.Org. who slung mud at him? I bet he¡¯s feeling guilty because he knows what he did wrong, so he¡¯s trying to make things up to us!¡± Florence insisted stubbornly. She was used to bossing people around; of course, she would never admit that she had gotten the wro ng idea about Dustin. That would be too humiliating. ¡°Mom, things have alreadye to this, and you still want to justify yourself?¡± Dahlia bit her lip. Even h er heart was clenching. ¡°How am I justifying myself? If that Rhys bastard hadn¡¯t framed Julie, why would he have saved her? In the end, he was just feeling guilty for doing something wrong!¡± Florence insisted indignantly. ¡°That¡¯s right! If he didn¡¯t do it, why did he save her?¡± James echoed. ¡°I¡¯ve really had enough of you guys!¡± Dahlia¡¯s emotions finally exploded. ¡°Why? Why do you always have to pick on Dustin? What exactly did he do to you? Must you purposely pick fights with him? In our three years of marriage, he has always been honest and agreeable, but you have always had a prejudice against him. Even though he had never done anything wrong, you kept p ushing me on him again and again. Could you really be so blinded to how good he is?¡± She was basically roaring by the end of her tirade. Everyone was scared stiff. After that spiel, Dahlia couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She threw the door open and left. She got in her car and sped down the road. Her tears, however, couldn¡¯t stop falling. She regretted it. She really regretted it. She regretted being so impulsive; she regretted believing her mother¡¯s words; and she regretted misun derstanding Dustin. ¡°You¨C you guys are really unbelievable!¡± Dahlia was furious. She didn¡¯t expect that her mother would be so un reasonable and evil. It was clearly her own fault, but she still pinned the me on Dustin, deliberately twisting the truth and misleading her. ¡°Fine! Even if we were impulsive this time, it doesn¡¯t mean that ass wasn¡¯t responsible for this as well. If he hadn¡¯t framed Julie, would we have gone over to pick a fight? In the end, he had iting for him!¡± Florence shouted with conviction, her hands on her waist. As soon as she said that, a middle¨C aged man in uniform alighted from the police car that stopped in front of their door. ¡°You must be Julie Amberson¡¯s family, am I right? I am Chief Aspen Cruiser, Regarding Julie¡¯s case of medicine theft, although Mr. Rhys has decided not to pursue the matter, you still need to make sure she learned her lesson and won¡¯t make the same mistake again. If Mr. Rhys hadn¡¯t said anything today. Julie would probably have remained in there for a few more years. Do you understand?¡± Aspen said, giving them a stern verbal w arning. ¡°Mr. Rhys?¡± Florence and the others looked at each other. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Mr. Laney Sr. who helped Julie?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s that? I¡¯ve never heard of him,¡± Aspen replied, stone¨Cfaced. As soon as he said that, everyone¡¯s eyes flicked over to Matt. After everything that happened, it wasn¡¯t even Phineas Laney who helped. Then, had they thanked the wrong person? Being on the receiving end of everyone¡¯s gazes, Matt felt his face flush, as if he¡¯d been pped on both cheeks. This was fucking humiliating! ¡°Chief Cruiser, may I ask who this ¡°Mr. Rhys¡® is that you¡¯re talking about?¡± Florence still couldn¡¯t believe it. Aspen raised an eyebrow. ¡°Who else could it be? Of course, it¡¯s Dustin Rhys. Who else would help you out?¡± As soon as he said that, the entire room fell dead silent ¡ª Chapter 206 Chapter 206 ¡°D¨C Dustin Rhys? How could it be him?!¡± After learning the truth, Florence and the others looked at each ot her for a while, disbelief written on their faces. Never in a million years had they considered that it wasn¡¯t Matt who saved Julie, but the person they ha d dubbed ungrateful. This was simply a p in the face! *So Dustin never framed Julie in the first ce, and it was you guys¡­ purposely slinging mud at him?¡± Dahlia stood rooted to the ground, expressionless. Her face was as white as a sheet. ¡°W¨C who slung mud at him? I bet he¡¯s feeling guilty because he knows what he did wrong, so he¡¯s trying to make things up to us!¡± Florence insisted stubbornly. She was used to Original from N?velDrama.Org. bossing people around; of course, she would never admit that she had gotten the wrong idea about Dustin. That would be too humiliating. ¡°Mom, things have alreadye to this, and you still want to justify yourself?¡± Dahlia bit her lip. Even h er heart was clenching. ¡°How am I justifying myself? If that Rhys bastard hadn¡¯t framed Julie, why would he have saved her? In the end, he was just feeling guilty for doing something wrong!¡± Florence insisted indignantly. ¡°That¡¯s right! If he didn¡¯t do it, why did he save her?¡± James echoed. ¡°I¡¯ve really had enough of you guys!¡± Dahlia¡¯s emotions finally exploded. ¡°Why? Why do you always have to pick on Dustin? What exactly did he do to you? Must you purposely pick. fights with nim? In our three years of marriage, he has always been honest and agreeable, but yo u have always had a prejudice against him. Even though he had never done anything wrong, you kept pushing me on him again and again. Could you really be so blinded to how good he is?¡± She e was basically roaring by the end of her tirade. Everyone was scared stiff. After that spiel, Dahlia couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. She threw the door open and left. She got in her car and sped down the road. Her tears, however, couldn¡¯t stop falling. She regretted it. She really regretted it. She regretted being so impulsive; she regretted belleving her mother¡¯s words; and she regretted. mis understanding Dustin. Chanter 200 She felt distraught and confused. She didn¡¯t know whether they could go back to the way things were before. At the Peaceful Medical Center, Dustin took a deep breath. He quickly calmed down after hanging up the phone. After all it wasn¡¯t the first time something like this happened. Hence, he wasn¡¯t much bothered by it right now. ¡°Beep beep!¡± At that moment, a Maybach with a Millsburg license te stopped at the entrance. Soon after, a middle¨Caged man in a shy, red suit strutted over with his head held high. Next to him was a stocky bodyguard. ¡°Are you Dustin Rhys?¡± The moment the man in the red suit entered, he began to eye Dustin up and d own, acting all high and mighty. ¡°And who are you?¡± Dustin raised his head, sparing the man a nce. ¡°My name is Laney, Phineas Laney. I am from the Laney family of Millsburg.¡± Phineas picked up his handkerchief and wiped down the chair before taking a seat of his own ord. Dustin quickly made the connection. ¡°The Laney family? What¡¯s your rtionship to Matt Laney?¡± ¡°Matt Laney is my son and the heir of the Laney family.¡± Phineas pushed his sses up his nose and c ontinued indifferently. ¡°Of course, I didn¡¯te here to your doorstep to tell you these things, but to offe r you riches.¡± ¡°Oh? What do you mean?¡± Dustin raised his eyebrows. ¡°I heard that you have the Immortunol form in your hands. It¡¯s something I am very interested in.¡± As Phineas spoke, he took out a check and slid it onto the table. ¡°This is a check for 30 million dors. If y ou give me the form, then the money is yours. For people like you, this amount is enough for you to live without worry for the rest of your life!¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested.¡± Dustin rejected it immediately. ¡°Why? Is it too little?¡± Phineas narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°I didn¡¯t peg you for someone with a big appetite. Alright, why don¡¯t I add on another 20 million dors, which makes it 50 million dors in total? Give me the form.¡± ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not interested,¡± Dustin repeated indifferently. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 ¡°Young man, I advise you to consider this carefully. I do not like to be rejected. If something catches my eye. I¡¯ll do anything to get it.¡± Phineas began to ramp things up. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°If you agree, then not only will you get the money, you¡¯ll also be a friend of the Laney family. If you ever run into trouble, our family will help you. Conversely, if you turn me dow n, you¡¯ll be an enemy of the Laney family. You have to decide for yourself whether you want to be our friend or foe.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t help butugh when he heard that. ¡°I don¡¯t like to be threatened. If you¡¯re going to spea k like that, then we can only be enemies.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Phineas¡® face darkened. ¡°Punk, are you sure you want to do this?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t think you can go around fearlessly because you have the Harmons backing you. To tell y ou the truth, I have a hundred ways to deal with small fry like you. If you¡¯re going to remain stubborn, I don¡¯t mind ying this game with you,¡± Phineas threatened with a nasty expression. ¡°I¡¯ll y with you to the end.¡± Dustin was not the least bit afraid. ¡°Good. I hope you won¡¯t regret it!¡± Phineas snorted, got up, and left. A country bumpkin actually had the guts to go against him? He must have a death wish! The night went by uneventfully, but the next morning ¡°Ah!¡± Dustin was rudely awoken by a scream. When he opened his door, he found Caitlyn copsed on the floor, her face white with fear. ¡°Mr. Rhys, Dusty is dead!¡± Caitlyn pointed at the door with tears in her eyes. Dustin looked over to find a dead gray cat hanging from the top of the entrance of the medical center. The cat had been disemboweled, its blood dripping onto the floor. It was a grisly sight. This was the cat that Caitlyn brought back yesterday. ¡°Hmm?¡± Dustin frowned. When he stepped outside to take a look, he discovered that dog blood had been sshed all over both sides Chanter 207 of the main entrance, including the medical center¡¯s sign. Hanging a cat and sshing dog blood¨Cthis was no longer just humiliation. This was a tant threat and provocation! ¡°Beep beep! At that moment, the Maybach from yesterday slowly pulled over at the side of the road. The window rolled down to reveal Phineas¡® and Matt¡¯s faces. Both father and son had the same arrogant smirk on their faces. ¡°Did you do this?!¡± Dustin¡¯s face turned stormy. ¡°Congrattions! You¡¯ve got the right answer!¡± Matt grinned. ¡°Dustin, oh, Dustin, we have already given you a chance. You didn¡¯t appreciate it then, so don¡¯t me us for pulling some tricks!¡± ¡°You insist on fighting me?¡± Dustin¡¯s eyes were icy. ¡°Fight? Heh Are you worthy of fighting us? You need to know that we¡¯re still ying right now.¡± Matt sneered. ¡°Of course, all this is just a taste. The main event willeter! Aren¡¯t you always on your high horse? I have plenty of time to y with you! Of course, I¡¯m not just going to y with you but also with your woman. I know you still have feelings for Dahlia, but don¡¯t wor ry. Once I get her in my bed. I¡¯ll film a video for you to enjoy. I want you to watch me defile your woman ! Tsk just the thought of it is wonderful!¡± At the end of the sentence, he even licked his lips. ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± Dustin was seeing red. ¡°Asking for death? Heh Are you capable of killing me? Do you think the Harmons would turn against the Laneys for you? Without Natasha¡¯s protection, you¡¯re fucking nothing! I¡¯ll give you three days to think. Either you hand over the Immortunol form, or you start shopping for your own coffin!¡± After Matt finis hed speaking. he wound up the car window and left. With a dark expression, Dustin took out his phone and dialed a certain number. ¡°Hey, I need a favor Chapter 208 Chapter 208 After hanging up, Dustin began to clean the medical center with Caitlyn. Although she didn¡¯t let out a word ofint, Dustin could tell that the death of her pet cat had taken a huge toll on her. Her eyes were constantly red, and she was trying her hardest to cry without making a sound. This young woman had had such a tough life that she lived so pitifully and carefully that she didn¡¯t even dare to cry. She was such a good kid that it tugged at Dustin¡¯s heartstrings. The two of them worked together for a long time before the medical center was finally clean. After a few moments, a silver Bentley pulled up at the entrance. The door opened, and Natasha got out of the car, dressed in a red dress. ¡°Ms. Harmon?¡± When Caitlyn spotted Natasha, she immediately greeted her. ¡°Come on, Caitlyn, I¡¯ve told you many times that you don¡¯t need to be so formal with me. You can just tr eat me as your sister.¡± Natasha smiled, patting Caitlyn¡¯s head. ¡°Okay.¡± Caitlyn nodded obediently, but it would take some time for her to act casually with Natasha. ¡°Ms. Harmon, what can I do for you?¡± Dustin walked over to Natasha from inside the medical center. ¡°Can¡¯t Ie to see you without a reason?¡± Natasha raised her eyebrows. ¡°Of course not. You cane whenever you like, and I¡¯ll always wee you.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Hehe¡­ That¡¯s more like it.¡± Natasha smiled gently. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s have lunch together today. I¡¯ll intro duce you to a big shot.¡± ¡°A big shot? Who is it?¡± Dustin was curious. ¡°You¡¯ll know if youe.¡± Then, Natasha called out, ¡°Caitlyn,e, let¡¯s go eat together.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t go this time. I want to stay and take care of Mr. Jones.¡± Caitlyn shook her head. ¡°In that case, that¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll have Dustin bring some food back for you.¡± o the car. Natasha didn¡¯t force Caitlyn to tag along. Instead, she just tugged Dustin into 20 minutester, the car pulled to a stop in front of the entrance to A¡¯roma. A¡¯roma was a high¨Css Stonian restaurant that was also one of the Harmon family¡¯s businesses, Natasha would usually choose this ce whenever she invited important guests for a meal. The two of them walked up to the second floor and sat down at a table by the window. Through the window, they had an amazing view of the garden outside. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I think you can tell me who we¡¯re meeting now, right?¡± Dustin asked again. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Roderick Brooks of Millsburg. Have you heard of him?¡± Natasha said, smiling lightly. ¡°Roderick Brooks? He sounds familiar.¡± Dustin gave it some thought. ¡°Roderick is the chairman of the Riversouth Bank and a renowned tycoon in Millsburg. Apparently, he c ontrols one¨C third of the cash flow in Millsburg. That¡¯s how he got his nickname. Big Bucks Brooks,¡± Natasha exin ed. ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s him¡­¡± Dustin nodded. He was getting a rough idea of this person. ¡°It¡¯s not known to others, but Big Bucks Brooks is actually suffering from an illness. He¡¯s seen many do ctors. but none of them could cure him. I heard that you¡¯re an excellent healer, so I invited you here to meet him. I think he¡¯ll be here soon,¡± Natasha exined. As the two were talking, a female voice suddenly sounded from behind them. ¡°Why, isn¡¯t it Ms. Harmon ?¡± Turning her head, Natasha saw an elegant woman dressed up to the nines in an extravagant custom¨C made evening gown walking toward her, carrying a Hermes handbag. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Mrs. Brooks. Where¡¯s Mr. Brooks?¡± Natasha nced left and right. ¡°What, do you miss my Roderick that much? Ever since thest time you saw him, your heart is still set on him, huh?¡± Chloe Marshall said sarcastically. She had never liked Natasha. On the one hand, it was because they were businesspetitors. On the other hand, it was because Natasha was an outstanding individual. Not only was she born into a wealthy family, but she was also gorgeous, and her business was boomin g. This made her very jealous. Especially after she learned that Natasha had frequent contact with her husband, she felt even more threatened. Hence, she had to establish dominance! ¡°Mrs. Brooks, you must have misunderstood me. Mr. Brooks and I only talk about business,¡± Natasha said indifferently. ¡°Oh, talking about business, are you? You want to talk about business in his bed, don¡¯t you?¡± Chloe¡¯s s mile turned cold. ¡°Ms. Harmon, it¡¯s not a good habit to constantly be lusting after the next best thing. You¡¯re already kee ping a gigolo, so why are you still thinking about my Roderick? Everyone says you¡¯re as pure as the dr iven snow, but I don¡¯t think so. If I remember right, Ms. Harmon, you¡¯re almost 28 years old, right? This gigolo looks to be in his early twenties. In that case, aren¡¯t you a cougar?¡± She deliberately raised her voice to draw the attention of the people around her, letting them hear her words. She was trying to damage Natasha¡¯s reputation. Natasha merely frowned lightly in response. If she didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with Roderick, she would have gone up there and given her two ti ght. ps. ¡°Where did this witche from? Are you sick in the head?¡± At that moment, Dustin couldn¡¯t stop hims elf from speaking up. ¡°If you are, then walk out the door, turn left, and go to the hospital to get your hea d checked. Don¡¯t bother those of us eating here.¡± ¡°You gigolo, do you know who I am? How dare you talk to me like that?!¡± Chloe whipped her head to gl are at him furiously. ¡°Does it matter who you are?¡± Dustin scanned her up and down. ¡°You¡¯re dressed like a person, yet you bark like a dog. Whenever you open your mouth, shites out. Your mouth stinks. You should go and brush your teeth, not make us gag here!¡± ¡°You How dare you insult me?!¡± Chloe widened her eyes, shocked and enraged. She was the wife of Big Bucks Brooks! Everyone kissed the ground she walked on. However, this gigolo had the guts to insult her to her face. He really had huge balls! ¡°So what if I insult you? If you keep humiliating Natasha, I¡¯ll p you. You¡¯d better believe it!¡± At that mo ment. Dustin had a domineering expression. Meanwhile, Natasha looked at the scene with a tender gaze, cupping her cheek with one hand. There was a blissful smile on her face. ¡°Gigolo, I demand you get on your knees and apologize at once! Or else, there will be consequences!¡± Chloe was steaming out of her ear s. ¡°Get on my knees and apologize? Are you worthy?¡± Dustin snickered. ¡°Also, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you, but you really should head to the hospital for a check¨C up. You¡¯re really sick!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the sick one! Your entire family is sick!¡± Chloe gritted her teeth.. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me? Then let me ask you this¨Chave you been experiencing headaches, fever, weakness in the limbs, asional nausea, and difficulty breathing these days?¡± Dust in asked indifferently. ¡°Yes, but so what? I just have a cold!¡± At first, Chloe was stunned, but she quickly stuck her nose in the air again. ¡°A cold? Heh¡­ You¡¯re quite the optimistic person.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°I can see that you have sh ortness of breath, the lymph nodes in your neck are swollen, you look lethargic, and you have a rash on your body. If my guess isn¡¯t wrong, then I think you have Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome.¡± ¡°The what syndrome?¡± Chloe was dumbfounded. ¡°Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, or AIDS for short.¡± As soon as he said that, Chloe turned to stone. Chapter 209 Chapter 209 ¡°A¨CAIDS?¡± Chloe was frozen in ce, at a loss. She was truly shocked. Not only because Dustin hit the nail on the head for all the symptoms she was experiencing, but mainl y because she had gotten a new boy toy a while back. When they were intimate, they hadn¡¯t used protection.. Now, hearing his words, she couldn¡¯t help but panic a little. ¡°Dustin, are you sure?¡± Natasha also looked surprised. AIDS was not a trivial matter. Could it be that this was Roderick¡¯s secret illness? ¡°Although I can¡¯t be a hundred percent sure, I¡¯m sure I¡¯m not too far off,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°You. You¡¯re bullshitting me!¡± Chloe shrieked. ¡°I just had a medical checkup at the hospital this morning. How can I have AIDS? Stop trying to scare me! ¡°It¡¯s up to you whether you want to believe me.¡± Dustin shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Bastard, you¡¯re scaremongering and humiliating me in public. I¡¯ve got to teach you a lesson! Wally, be at him up!¡± Chloe flew into a rage and ordered the young bodyguard standing behind her to hit Dustin. However, the bodyguard named Wally was rooted to the floor, his face pale. Cold sweat dripped down his face. ¡°Wally, what are you still standing there for? Do something!¡± Chloe shouted. ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± At that moment, a tan, obese middle¨Caged man suddenly walked in. Two burly bodyguards trailed behind him. ¡°Huh Isn¡¯t that Big Bucks Brooks of Millsburg? What is he doing here?¡± ¡°That seems to be his wife, Chloe Marshall. A good show is about to go down!¡± ¡°Big Bucks Brooks is known for spoiling his wife. It seems like that punk is going to get it today!¡± The restaurant broke into a heated discussion when the middle¨Caged man appeared. ¡°Honey, you¡¯re finally here!¡± The moment Chloe saw him, she immediately ran into his arms and starte d to sob. ¡°That guy kept bullying me earlier. You have to help me!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the ballsy asshole brave enough to bully my wille?!¡± Roderick¡¯s eyes turned fiery with anger. Even though he knew his wife could be rather unruly, he still chose to dote on her unconditionally. It¡¯s that gigolo next to Natasha!¡± Chloe turned around to point at Dustin. ¡®Hm?¡± Roderick narrowed his eyes, displeased, ¡°Ms. Harmon, is that man your friend?¡± ¡®This is Dustin, my boyfriend.¡± Natasha threw out straightforwardly. These words shocked Roderick. Wasn¡¯t Natasha¡¯s man Tyler? Howe there¡¯s another one now? And judging from her expression, it didn¡¯t seem like she was joking. ¡°Honey, not only did that gigolo call me a shrew, but he also humiliated me and said that I have a disea se. If you don¡¯t stand up for me, I will be too ashamed to leave the house ever again!¡± Chloe put on a pi tiful look. As she spoke, tears spilled from her eyes. It was like she was now apletely different person than her unruly self earlier. She was a drama queen, in and simple. ¡°Okay, calm down. I will definitely get justice for you.¡± Afterforting his wife, he turned back to Natas ha. Ms. Harmon, I need an exnation.¡± ¡°What exnation? Your wife was the one spitting ugly words first. Dustin was just having a normal conversation with her,¡± Natasha responded indifferently. Even though Roderick¡¯s family was filthy rich, she wasn¡¯t scared of it. If they could talk it out, then they would. If they couldn¡¯t, then she¡¯d let things get ugly. It was no big deal. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense! It¡¯s obvious that you¡¯re the ones ganging up to bully me!¡± Chloe shouted. ¡°You have to speak from your conscience. I was just kindly letting you know that you¡¯re sick,¡± Dustin sai d in a serious manner. ¡°See, honey! You heard it, right? He said I¡¯m sick! He¡¯s clearly insulting me!¡± Chloe was furious. ¡°I¡¯m only speaking the truth when I say you¡¯re sick. How is that insulting you?¡± Dustin asked back. ¡°Punk, you¡¯re pretty arrogant, huh? Then I must ask¨C what disease does my wife have?¡± Roderick narrowed his eyes, his expression was livid. ¡°AIDS.¡± Dustin uttered casually. ¡°Bullshit!¡± Roderick¡¯s face darkened. ¡°I¡¯ve always been clean, and I¡¯ve never fooled around with anyone else. How could I possibly have contracted AIDS?¡± ¡°I know you haven¡¯t, but your wile has,¡± Dustin said. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Roderick¡¯s gaze was steely. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Your wife is having an affair,¡± Dustin uttered those shocking words. The entire room broke out into pandemonium. ??? All of them pointed at Dustin as if they were looking at an idiot. He¡¯d just told Big Bucks Brooks to his face that his wife was having an affair. Wasn¡¯t this just asking for death? Everyone knew that Big Bucks Brooks was known for covering up his wife¡¯s mistakes. ¡°Punk, do you know what you are saying?¡± Roderick gritted his teeth, his eyes ferocious. If it wasn¡¯t for Natasha, he would have shot this man in front of him already. ¡°Of course I know what I¡¯m saying.¡± Dustin said, his expression remaining unchanging. ¡°Mr. Brooks, yo ur wife just hired that bodyguard, Wally, a few months ago, right?¡± ¡°So what? Roderick frowned. ¡°Based on my observation, his symptoms are much more severe than your wife¡¯s. Hence, my guess is t hat he was the one who gave your wife AIDS,¡± Dustin said. Hearing these words, Chloe and the young bodyguard could not help but tremble in fear. Panic flickered across their faces. Roderick also caught this strange reaction. ¡°You That¡¯s bullshit! By the time she returned to her senses, Chloe¡¯s shame had transformed into rage.¡± You dog, you¡¯re smearing my innocence! I¡¯m going to beat you into a bloody pulp today!¡± With that, she got ready to pounce on him and attack him. At that moment, Roderick¡¯s cell phone suddenly vibrated. A message arrived. It was the result of the medical checkup this morning. Roderick perused it, and his face instantly turned stormy. Veins popped on his forehead. ¡°Honey, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Chloe was feeling a little uneasy. Suddenly, a sharp p rang out. Roderick, who was known for being overbearingly protective of his wife, pped Chloe with so much fo rce that she staggered backward. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. The blow caused her to bleed from her nose and mouth, and her cheeks began to swell. The entire room was shocked! Chapter 210 Chapter 210 ¡°Honey, why did you hit me?¡± Chloe cupped her face, looking hurt. The others also looked at each other, unable toprehend what had just unfolded. No one expected that Big Bucks Brooks, the man who had always covered for his wife¡¯s behavior, woul d smack her with his own hand. ¡°See for yourself!¡± With a dark look, he threw the phone straight at Chloe. Chloe picked up the phone and took a look. Suddenly, her face turned ashen, as if she¡¯d been struck b y lightning. It was the medical checkup report from the hospital, and the diagnosis was indeed AIDS! ¡°How could this happen? No, it can¡¯t be!¡± Chloe shook her head frantically in utter disbelief. ¡°This medical report must have been falsified! Honey, I don¡¯t have AIDS. I really don¡¯t!¡± ¡°Are you still trying to defend yourself at this point?!¡± Roderick roared, his blood was boiling. Any man would not be able to stomach finding out they were cheated on. Even worse, his wife had contracted AIDS because of it. This was simply humiliating! ¡°Honey, I¡¯m sorry! I was just momentarily confused. I¡¯m begging you, please forgive me!¡± With a thud, C hloe fell to her knees. Then, she pointed at the young bodyguard next to her and bellowed, ¡°It¡¯s all his f ault! It¡¯s all because he seduced me! It¡¯s not me; I¡¯m innocent!¡± ¡°Mrs. Brooks, you have to speak from your conscience. You were the one who came onto me, so how c ould you push the me all on me?¡± Wally was a bit upset. If he were to carry the me for seducing a married woman, considering Big Bucks Brooks¡¯s power, his life may be in danger. Naturally, he didn¡¯t want to be the scapegoat. ¡°S¨C shut up! It was you! You seduced me! Not only that, but you also gave me AIDS, you animal!¡± Furious. Chloe stormed over to Wally and gave him a few huge ps. Afterward, she returned to her position on her knees in front of Roderick and begged, ¡°Honey, I know I made a mistake. I won¡¯t do it again. I¡¯m begging you, we¡¯re husband and wife, so please forgive me this time!¡± Roderick was unmoved, his face icy. He loved his wife, but only on the condition that she was faithful to him. If she couldn¡¯t do the basics and remained loyal to him, then who was she to deserve his love? ¡°It¡¯s all your fault! It¡¯s all because of you two pieces of shit. I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± Seeing Roderick¡¯sck Original from N?velDrama.Org. of response, Chloe became infuriated and lunged straight toward Natasha. She also purposely smeared her hand with the blood from her nose, intending to give Natasha a taste of AIDS. ¡°Get lost!¡± Dustin stepped forward andunched a kick straight at Chloe. After getting sick, she still wanted to pass it on to others. She really deserved a beating. ¡°Honey, he¨Che hit me¡­ Chloe held her stomach with a look of agony. ¡°Take Chloe home and keep an eye on her. Don¡¯t let her leave the room for even a moment!¡± Roderick ordered with a cold expression. ¡°Roger!¡± Without another word, the two sturdy bodyguards immediately hauled Chloe up and left. No matter how much thetter wailed and apologized, it was to no avail. After the noise died down, Roderick couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath, Soon enough, he managed to suppress his anger. He was far more adept at controlling his emotions than the average person. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯m sorry for my wife¡¯s poor behavior. I¡¯m sure you were frightened,¡± Roderick apologized . ¡°What happened today was nothing but an ident.¡± Natasha smiled politely. Chapter 211 Chapter 211 ¡°This young man must be the skilled healer you mentioned, Mr. Rhys, right? From what happened toda y, you do live up to your reputation,¡± Roderick said. ¡°I only hope you won¡¯t take it too hard, Mr. Brooks,¡± Dustin said. Any man wouldn¡¯t be able to handle hearing that he¡¯d been cheated on. ¡°Speaking of, I should be thanking you, Mr. Rhys. If it wasn¡¯t for your sharp eyes, I don¡¯t know how long I would have been lied to.¡± Roderick forced a smile. In this case, it was better to rip the bandage off. Although it was a bit humiliating, it still beat getting cheated on repeatedly. ¡°Mr. Brooks, forgive me for asking, but could the secret illness you¡¯ve been suffering from be the same as your wife¡¯s?¡± Natasha asked tentatively. Typically speaking, if his wife got it, then Roderick must have caught it too. ¡°Um. I probably don¡¯t have it.¡± Roderick looked slightly embarrassed. ¡°To be honest, because of how bu sy I have been with work, I haven¡¯t slept with my wife for half a year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. You dodged a bullet.¡± Natasha smiled. ¡°Mr. Rhys, can you tell what disease I have?¡± Roderick went straight to the point. ¡°Mr. Brooks, have you been experiencing back and knee pain, mood swings, and insomnia?¡± Dustin su ddenly asked. ¡°How did you know?¡± Roderick raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Of course, I observed it.¡± Dustin smiled slightly. ¡°Not only do I know that your body is weak and sickly, but I also know about the hidden injury at your lower back. If my guess isn¡¯t wrong, you injured your lower back a few years ago, right?¡± The moment Roderick heard those words, his face instantly grew solemn. The way he looked at Dustin also changed. Indeed, he had gotten hurt a few years ago. That time, he¡¯d been on his way to a meeting to discuss a business deal when a hitman suddenly appe ared, stabbing him in the lower back. Fortunately, he didn¡¯t lose his life, but ever since then, his injury had been causing him pain. The problem was that he¡¯d never told anyone about this, so how did Dustin find out? ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re really amazing! But how could you tell?¡± Roderick was both shocked and suspicious. ¡°I¡¯m a doctor. For most ailments, you can identify clues from the smallest details. For example, you wer e walking in a stiff manner earlier, putting less pressure on your left footpared to the right. Evidentl y, you have a lower back injury.¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯re truly a miracle doctor, Mr. Rhys! I acknowledge your talent!¡± Roderick said. ¡°What apliment, Mr. Brooks. I¡¯m just using my wits.¡± ¡°Mr. Rhys, could you take a good look and see whether this illness of mine can be cured?¡± Roderick ext ended his wrist. Dustin felt for his pulse. Then, he responded, ¡°It¡¯s curable, but it will take some time. That knife injured your kidney, which has affected your ability to have children. Your reproductive ability has also greatly d eteriorated. This is also why you still haven¡¯t had children until now.¡± When he said that, Natasha and Roderick paused, clearly taken aback. ¡°Mr. Rhys, are you sure you didn¡¯t make a mistake?¡± Roderick frowned. ¡°That¡¯s right, Dustin. Mr. Brooks has a four¨Cyear¨Cold son,¡± Natasha added. The reason why Roderick had doted on Chloe so much was because she¡¯d borne him a son. Being able to have a son as a middle¨C aged man, he naturally had a lot of love and care for both mother and child. ¡°Huh?¡± This time, it was Dustin¡¯s turn to be confused. He reached for Roderick¡¯s wrist again and said with certainty, ¡°It¡¯s impossible! Your knife injury happene d at least six years ago. The knife went all the way in, so there is no way you are fertile, unless ¡°Unless what?¡± Roderick found himself asking. ¡°Unless your son isn¡¯t biologically yours.¡± Roderick was speechless.Original from N?velDrama.Org. ??? Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Roderick stood there frozen, his face was pale. He¡¯d experienced all kinds of hardships all his life, but at that moment, he didn¡¯t know what to do. He thought it was bad enough that he¡¯d gotten cheated on. He didn¡¯t expect that there¡¯d be a bigger ¡°surprise¡± that followed. His son wasn¡¯t actually biologically his? This revtion was even more severe than finding out he was being cheated on! ¡°Mr. Rhys, are¡­ you sure?¡± Roderick¡¯s eye twitched. He was clinging to the veryst glimmer of hope. ¡°Mr. Brooks, it¡¯s a hard pill to swallow, but based on your body¡¯s current condition, you lost your ability t o have children a long time ago. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can go get tested yourself,¡± Dustin said firmly. To be honest, he was starting to pity Roderick. Although he was swamped with riches, his wife had an affair, and his son wasn¡¯t his. This double whammy would have driven any ordinary person insane. ¡°Alright. Thank you, Mr. Rhys. There are too many people here. Shall we find another ce to talk?¡± Ro derick asked, his facepletely neutral. ¡°Of course.¡± Dustin caught Natasha¡¯s eye and immediately agreed. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Alright. Dan, take Ms. Harmon and Mr. Rhys to the Brooks Manor. I¡¯ll be there after a while,¡± Roderick instructed his driver. Dan hummed in response. Then, he led Dustin and Natasha to the Rolls Royce outside. After the two left. Roderick¡¯s expression finally turned gloomy. Whether his son was his or not, he would find out with a paternity test. He could forgive his wife for her affair, but he couldn¡¯t handle raising someone else¡¯s child. Dustin and Natasha walked around the garden at the Brooks Manor, gazing at the beautiful scenery surrounding them. A few housekeepers trailed behind them, carrying trays of pastries and tea, ready to be called upon anytime. After taking a stroll through the garden, they found a cool area to rest their feet. ¡°Ms. Harmon, do you think Mr. Brooks can handle this shocking truth?¡± Dustin asked out of the blue. Il Chloe hadn¡¯t done something so demeaning, he actually wouldn¡¯t have stuck his nose where it didn¡¯t belong. ¡°Mr. Brooks has gone through all sorts of trials and tribtions. He should be fine. Of course, that¡¯s if y ou can cure his secret illness.¡± Natasha smiled faintly. For a man, the ability to produce children was very important. ¡°As long as Mr. Brooks believes me,¡± Dustin responded. As he spoke, arge shadow suddenly fell over them. It was Roderick! ¡°Hello, you two. Sorry for making you wait so long.¡± Roderick wiped the sweat from his forehead, forcin g a smile. ¡°Mr. Brooks, has the matter been settled?¡± Dustin asked cautiously. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s settled.¡± Roderick nodded. Thanks to the power of money, the results of the paternity test were out in less than an hour. As Dustin said, his son was indeed not his. When he learned of the oue, he was furious. He even had the urge to kill. However, after so many years, he had developed some attachments to them. In the end, he let the mother and son live. But from today on, they were not to appear before him ever again. ¡°Ah fate truly dealt me a rotten hand! All my life, I did only good deeds, so who would have thought that not only would I lose my ability to have children, but I would also end up parting ways with my wife and chil d.¡± Roderick heaved a long sigh. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Despite running such a huge family business, Roderick didn¡¯t even have an heir now. It was truly a trag edy. ¡°Mr. Brooks, don¡¯t take it too hard. Although the knife injury damaged your fertility, it can actually be trea ted. Once you¡¯re recovered, you can have another son, or even ten! It won¡¯t be a problem.¡± Dustin smil ed as he attempted to cheer Roderick up. ¡°Really?¡± Roderick trembled, his face expectant. In the past six months, the main reason he hadn¡¯t slept with his wife was because he couldn¡¯t get it up. However, because of his dignity as a man, he¡¯d always kept it a secret. So, to hear that he¡¯d be able to rise up again, naturally, he was ted. ¡°Mr. Brooks, if I dare to say it, it means I can do it.¡± As Dustin spoke, he took out a tablet and said, ¡°This Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. is Gemiphen, which I created. It helps clear up circtory pathways and heal internal injuries. Give it a try.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Without another word, Roderick took the Gemiphen and swallowed it. As soon as the tablet entered his system, it turned into a rush of warmth that spread through his body.. Instantly, he felt his mood lift, and his body felt better in a way he couldn¡¯t exin. The pain in his lower back had also improved significantly. ¡°Amazing This is amazing! Mr. Rhys, your miracle tablet is extraordinary!¡± After experiencing the fascin ating changes in his body, Roderick was practically over the moon. In an instant, he felt as if he¡¯d gotten a brand¨Cnew body. If he previously had doubts about Dustin¡¯s abilities, then now, he was utterly convinced! Any famous doctor was trash inparison to Dustin! ¡°Mr. Rhys, take the Gemiphen once every three days. After a month, your body willpletely recover. ¡± Dustin took out a small ss bottle filled with Gemiphen and handed it to Roderick. ¡°Thank you so much, Mr. Rhys! I¡¯ll remember your great kindness for the rest of my life!¡± Feeling emotio nal, Roderick knelt on the ground. ¡°Mr. Brooks, please get up It was nothing.¡± Dustin quickly helped him to his feet. Since this all happened because of him, now that he was able to cure Roderick¡¯s illness, there was at l east a good ending. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re too humble. If it weren¡¯t for your help, my life would have been over!¡± Roderick said, his face glowing with gratitude. A man who couldn¡¯t get it up wasn¡¯t a real man. Now that Dustin had given him the chance to regain his dignity as a man, It was as though he¡¯d been g iven a new lease on life! ¡°Mr. Brooks, now that Dustin has cured your illness, how do you n to repay him?¡± Natasha said, half joking. As his other half, she knew that it was time to ask for remuneration. ¡°Name whatever you need, Mr. Rhys. If I can do it, I won¡¯t say no!¡± Roderick said, cing his hand on h is chest to show how genuine he was. ¡°I don¡¯t need anything else. All I¡¯m interested in are precious herbs such as heliotropes, cherusia, and flowers of Crimson Gem. If you have them, Mr. Broo ks, I would be nothing but pleased,¡± Dustin said, naming his price. ¡°I¡¯ve never collected precious herbs before, but no worries. I¡¯ll send someone to check it out. Once I get any news. I¡¯ll buy it for you right away, Mr. Rhys!¡± Roderick promised. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Brooks,¡± Dustin said. ¡°No, no. I should be the one thanking you, Mr. Rhys,¡± Roderick said in return. He now had a profound sense of worship for Dustin¡¯s impressive abilities. ¡°Sir¡­ At that moment, an elderly butler suddenly walked over and reported, ¡°Phineas Lacey and his so n are here to see you. They say they have something to discuss with you.¡± ¡°Phineas Lacey? What is he doing here?¡± Roderick rubbed his chin. ¡°It¡¯s such a small world. I never expected I¡¯d run into them here.¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes when he he ard their names. ¡°What, do you know these people, Mr. Rhys?¡± Roderick pressed. ¡°I do, and we even got into a conflict. Without leaving anything out, Dustin quickly recounted the entire story. After Roderick listened to the whole incident, he couldn¡¯t help but snort. ¡°Those two bastards are truly a rrogant bullies. I hate people like this the most! Come with me to see them, Mr. Rhys. Today, I¡¯ll give th em something to see!¡± Chapter 214 Chapter 214 At that moment, Phineas and Matt were in the Brooks Manor living room. ¡°Dad, do you think Big Bucks Brooks will lend us money?¡± Mall nced around, looking worried. ¡°Big Bucks Brooks is filthy rich and generous to boot. He¡¯s always had a good rtionship with our fami ly. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem to borrow some money,¡± Phineas said, raising his cup and taking a sip. It w as obvious that he was very confident. Although the Lacey family hadn¡¯t been restored to its previous glory, they were still above the average person. Outside, they still had some status. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for our family¡¯s capital chain rupture causing our businesses to suffer majorly, we would ne ver have to borrow money from others,¡± Matt said, sighing. Not long ago, they¡¯d suddenly received terrible news. Many of their big¨C shot partners had retracted their investments. All the business deals they¡¯d made previously had gone bust. Their entire family suffered serious damage overnight. Now, they desperately needed a capital injection, or else the Lacey family would go bankrupt in less than a month. At this point, the only one who could help them was Big Bucks Brooks. ¡°Speaking of that, it¡¯s really strange how all of the investments were retracted collectively, and disaster struck from all sides. I bet somebody¡¯s targeting our family,¡± Phineas rubbed his chin in thought. ¡°Who¡¯s gutsy enough to go mess with our family?¡± Matt mmed his palm into the table. Their original n was to get the Immortunol form in their hands and then use the investment funds to conduct their own research. This way, the Lacey family would be restored to their former glory! However, after everything that had happened, their n was ruined. ¡°We still haven¡¯t been able to look into it yet. Once we raise the funds we need and get through these t ough times, we¡¯ll drag that bastard out!¡± An evil glint shed through Phineas¡® eyes. ¡°Dad, how much money does our family need to operate normally?¡± Matt asked uncertainly. ¡°At least three billion dors!¡± Phineas put up three fingers. ¡°That much?¡± Matt¡¯s expression drooped. ¡°Would Big Bucks Brooks agree to loan us three billion in on e go?¡± ¡°Big Bucks Brooks controls one¨C third of all the cash flow in Millsburg. What¡¯re three billion dors to him?¡± Phineas took a sip of tea an d said casually, ¡°Not to mention, I even came here personally. Would he dare to say no? He should be happy that our family is cozying up to him on our own ord instead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Hearing those words, Matt let out a sigh of relief. The Laney family did have prestige out there; Big Bucks Brooks had to give them some respect. As the two were speaking, the door suddenly opened, and a few people entered. The one in the lead was none other than Roderick. The moment they met. Phineas stood up and extended a hand, his face full of smiles. ¡°Hey, Mr. Brooks! Long time no see. You¡¯ve gotten much more handsome!¡± However, when he saw Dustin behind Roderick, his smile froze on his face. ¡°Punk, what are you doing here?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re here, so why can¡¯t I be here too?¡± Dustin retorted indifferently. ¡°Hmph! And who are you? Can you even be ¡°Dustin, are you here to also get a loan from Mr. Brooks?¡± Matt said with a suspicious look. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why I¡¯m here doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± Dustin¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Mr. Brooks, we¡¯ve always been friendly with each other. Don¡¯t lend that punk any money! We have bad blood!¡± Phineas said, calling a spade a spade. In his eyes. Roderick would never go against the Laney family for a small fry. So, he definitely won today. ¡°Phineas, are you sure that you have bad blood with Mr. Rhys?¡± Roderick smirked coolly. ¡°Of course!¡± Phineas puffed out his chest. ¡°Mr. Brooks, to be frank, the two grudges I have with him can never be solved, so please don¡¯t try to lobby for him!¡± Chapter 215 Chapter 215 The Immortunol form would definitely be his soon. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I don¡¯t mean it that way.¡± Roderick uttered calmly. ¡°Huh?¡± Phineas was puzzled. ¡°What do you mean, then?¡± ¡°Both of you are here to borrow my money, aren¡¯t you?¡± Roderick asked back instead of answering. Phineas let out a sheepishugh. ¡°Our family ran into some trouble recently, and we need some money to turn things around. That¡¯s why we¡¯vee to you, Mr. Brooks.¡± ¡°How much do you need?¡± ¡°About three billion dors?¡± ¡°Three billion!¡± Roderick raised an eyebrow. ¡°Sorry, but no can do.¡± ¡°What?¡± Phineas shock quickly turned to dismay. ¡°Mr. Brooks, three billion is nothing to you. Why can¡¯t you lend us the money?¡± ¡°Technically, I¡¯ve already lent the money to Mr. Rhys, so you¡¯ll have to beg him for the money.¡± Roderick replied with a sarcastic smile. ¡°What? You lent it to him?¡± The father¨Cson duo was stunned, unable to believe their ears. There was no way Roderick would have lent that useless punk three billion dors! ¡°You¡¯re not pulling our leg, are you, Mr. Brooks?¡± Phineas asked again, eyes wide. ¡°Yeah! What are we supposed to do if you give the money to him?¡± Matt was dismayed. ¡°That¡¯s none of my business!¡± Roderick responded frankly. ¡°Mr. Brooks, how could you lend your money to him instead of us? Considering our friendship, you¡¯re c arrying it too far. Do you think that brat is better than the Laney family?¡± The Laney family was a noble family that was leagues above Dustin in terms of wealth and connections . Any normal person would know who to side with. ¡°Firstly, we¡¯re not friends. Secondly, it¡¯s my money. I decide who it goes to. I don¡¯t have to ask anyone¡¯ s opinion. Lastly, who the fuck do you think you are? How dare youpare yourselves to Mr. Rhys! You should really look in a fucking mirror!¡± Roderick snapped scornfully. ¡°Mr. Brooks! Are you going to make the Laney family your enemy just because of that brat?¡± Phineas g rowled. ¡°Exactly! You should think this through carefully. Is the Laney family more important or that brat?¡± Matt quipped. They were sure that a businessman like Roderick would never turn his back on the Laney fa mily. ¡°So what if we be enemies? A penniless family like yours is trying to threaten me? Ha! You must h ave a death wish!¡± Roderick curled his lip. ¡°I can cut off all your funds right now. I¡¯ll make sure you never get a penny in this province!¡± at this was Bi His words hit thether¨Cson duo like a bucket of ice. They¡¯d been so agitated that they forgot that Bucks Brooks they were talking to, whose influence and wealth exceeded the Laney family a gazillion ti mes. Even when they had been at full power, they still had to lower their heads in front of Roderick, let alone now. Nheless, they could never have dreamed that someone as powerful as Roderick would butt heads with Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. their family for someone like Dustin. Did Dustin have connections they weren¡¯t aware of? Chapter 216 Chapter 216 ¡°Mr. Brooks, why on earth are you willing to go against our family for him?¡± Phineas demanded with a t hreatening re. He had approached Roderick confidently but never expected this oue. ¡°To tell you the truth, Mr. Rhys is my savior and honored guest. If you have a problem with him, that m eans you have a problem with me! So, you either beg for his forgiveness, or your family is over!¡± Roder ick dered: the aura he exuded was overwhelming. ¡°You want us to apologize to that asshole? In your dreams!¡± Matt yelled angrily. ¡°Then, get lost! I wonder how long your family canst.¡± Roderick kicked them out. ¡°Roderick Brooks, life has its ups and downs, so don¡¯t look down on a broke man! You¡¯ll regret it one da y!¡± Matt forced through gritted teeth and stormed away. ¡°Mr. Brooks, you¡¯ve incurred the wrath of the Laney family. I doubt my family can¡¯t borrow merely three billion dors elsewhere!¡± Phineas red at Roderick before following his son. ¡°Arrogant fools!¡± Roderick sneered. No one in the province would dare lend the Laney family money since Roderick already rejected them. Matt and Phineas returned home displeased with the oue. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Roderick Brooks today? He refused to help us because of that brat!¡± Matt seethed. ¡°It seems like that kid has some connections.¡± Phineas frowned. ¡°As if! He¡¯s just a pretty boy who got lucky because of Natasha! I bet Roderick only went against us bec ause of Natasha¡¯s support too.¡± Matt was displeased. ¡°The Harmon family sure is bothersome. I have a feeling that our financial issues have something to do with. them.¡± Phineas pondered. ¡°What do we do now, Dad? Should we fight to the death?¡± ¡°No. We aren¡¯t at the end of our rope yet. Let me make some calls. Phineas pulled out his phone and b egan asking for help. The Laney family still had some friends and partners, so they¡¯d definitely pull thro ugh as long as he managed to raise the funds. ¡°Hey. Mr. Smith, it¡¯s me. I¡¯m kind of short on cash, so do you think you could help me out? I¡¯ll pay you b ack with interest after the turnover.¡± ¡°Hi, Mr. Thompson. This is Phineas Lancy. I¡¯m calling to ask for avor.¡± ¡°Hey, Mr. Johnson. I need your help.¡± Phineas made call after call to any of his friends who were well off. However, his face darkened with ea ch call he made. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. As soon as they heard that he was trying to borrow money, these people who imed to be his friends . immediately changed their attitudes and came up with all sorts of excuses to refuse, and some even hu ng up without responding. Phineas finally knew what fair¨C weather friends were like. After all the calls, he still couldn¡¯t get any money. Instead, he stirred up more trouble. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 ¡°How did it go, Dad? Is anyone willing to help us?¡± Matt asked tentatively. ¡°Fuck those bastards! Theye wagging their tails as soon as they have something they want and ca ll themselves my friends, but the moment they find out that our family is in trouble, they start running away! Those fucking fakes!¡± Phineas¡® face contorted with rage. H e never thought that he, the head of the Laney family, would end up like this. ¡°Dad, everyone always says that misfortune shows you those who are not your real friends. Stop hangi ng out with them from now on. I¡¯ll make them regret their choice after we pull through.¡± Matt swore solemnl y. ¡°Matt, my contacts are useless now. You¡¯re the only one I can rely on.¡± Phineas suddenly thought of someone. ¡°Aren¡¯t you close with Edwin Hummer¡¯s daughter? Why don¡¯t you ring her up and see if sh e can lend us some money?¡± ¡°Oh, right! I nearly forgot! The daughter of the wealthiest man in Swinton should be able to spare us thr ee billion dors easily. I¡¯ll call her now.¡± Matt pulled his phone out and dialed a number. ¡°My, my. If it isn¡¯t Mr. Laney? How did you find the time to call me?¡± Someone grumbled over the phone . ¡°Don¡¯t put it like that, Tina. I¡¯ve been busy at work recently. I called you the second I got some free time,¡± Matt said with a smile. He was a professional when it came to coaxing women. ¡°Humph! At least you remembered to call me. So, why are you actually calling?¡± Tina smiled. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Because I miss you so much, of course! Why else?¡± Matt teased. Tine chuckled mirthlessly. ¡°Right. I¡¯m hanging up if you won¡¯t tell me the truth.¡± ¡°Hold on, hold on. I do have a favor to ask you.¡± Matt cleared his throat. ¡°My business ran into some fin ancial issues recently, so we need some money to turn things around. Would you like to invest in us?¡± ¡°How much do you need?¡± Tina asked back. ¡°Not much. About three billion dors.¡± Matt answered with a smile. ¡°Three billion isn¡¯t a lot? You¡¯re Joking, right?¡± Tina¡¯s voice went up an octave. ¡°To others, it may be a lot. But you¡¯re the daughter of the Hummer family, the prettiest and most talente d woman in Swinton. Three billion can¡¯t be much for someone like you.¡± Tina was pleased with all the ttery. After all, who didn¡¯t like to hear their lover praising them? ¡°I don¡¯t mind getting you the money, but you have to tell me why.¡± Tina stated. ¡°To tell you the truth, someone ruptured our capital chain, and I have a feeling that the Harmon family was the one who did it,¡± Matt answered bluntly. ¡°You and the Harmon family had always kept a wide berth. Why would they do something like that to you?¡± Tina asked curiously. ¡°Because of Dustin Rhys!¡± Matt briefly exined everything to her. ¡°What? You threatened that psychopath?¡± Tina shrieked. ¡°That¡¯s right! That shameless bastard tried to humiliate our family, so I had to teach him a lesson. I¡¯ll de stroy his family with your investment!¡± Matt fumed. ¡°Are you a fucking idiot? Why would you try to piss that psycho off?¡± ¡°Why are you so afraid? He¡¯s just a country bumpkin. I¡¯ll get rid of him easily.¡± Matt dered confidently. ¡°In your dreams, you moron! Don¡¯t drag me along your death quest!¡± With that. Tina hung up the phone. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 ¡°Hello? Hello!¡± Matt held his phone by his ear with a dumbfounded expression. All he did was mention Dustin¡¯s name. Why did Tina sound so frightened? Matt had no idea that Tina was still traumatized from the time Dustin pped her. What¡¯s worse was that instead of gettin g her revenge, she had been forced to grovel for Dustin¡¯s forgiveness, which was nothing less than an utter embarrassmen t and a terror for her. Although she was bitter about it, she couldn¡¯ty a hand on Dustin because her family didn¡¯t dare seek revenge before her brother returned. Dustin was someone who could defeat a martial arts master like Mr. Milfroy with ease. If someone like him were to go crazy, he could destroy the entire Hummer family in a heartbeat! Because of this, they didn¡¯t dare seek revenge, and Tina shook in fear every time someone mentioned Dustin. ¡°What did Ms. Hummer say, Matt?¡± Phineas saw his son in a daze and asked. ¡°Fuck! That bitch is terrified of Rhys. There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll lend us money.¡± Matt scowled. ¡°The daughter of the Hummer family is scared of that brat? Is it because of the Harmon family?¡± Phinea s pondered aloud. ¡°Possibly.¡± Matt nodded, thinking hard. He couldn¡¯t think of any other reason. ¡°This is bothersome¡­¡± Phineas frowned. ¡°Our family is doomed if we don¡¯t get any money soon. We mi ght have to beg for that brat¡¯s forgiveness.¡± ¡°Beg for his forgiveness? Fuck, no!¡± Matt yelled. ¡°Why should we lower our heads to someone like him? I¡¯d rather suffer than beg!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be rash, Matt!¡± Phineas warned gravely. ¡°He has the Harmon family to support him, and now, he has Roderick Brooks¡® support as well. We¡¯ll sink further if you do an ything to him!¡± s, those words failed to reach Matt, who has lost repeatedly to Dustin recently. Today¡¯s incident only fueled his anger, and his hatred toward Dustin peaked. ¡°Matt, leave this matter to me. You should take a break for the next two days. Just don¡¯t get into any trouble.¡± Phine as instructed his son seriously, who didn¡¯t reply as he began to plot his revenge. Soon, night fell. Inside Midnight Rose, Dahlia downed shot after shot in a corner. Lyra sat beside her, her face full of worry. This was the first time she saw Dahlia like this. Dahlia refused to return to thepany or care about what was going on,pletely abandoning her strong woman character and letting herself go. Lyra heard that it was because of Dustin, but was it worth it? ¡°Please stop drinking, Ms. Nicholson. Let¡¯s go back. Your mother is worried about you.¡± Lyra implored. ¡°Leave me alone. I want to keep drinking. All my worries disappear when I¡¯m drunk.¡± Dahlia chuckled humorlessly before chucking another shot down her throat. She didn¡¯t know what to do. She was under constant pressure because of her family and had to fight her feelings for Dustin at the same time. Dahlia knew she misunderstood him, but she didn¡¯t know how to exin herself. Actually, it¡¯d be more urate to say that she was terrified of seeing Dusti n¡¯s heartless expression, so she decided to use alcohol to numb herself. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. She may be a capable leader in the business world, but when it came to her personal feelings, she realized she was an utter failure. Even though she knew that she had been the one who misunderstood Dustin, her pride wouldn¡¯t let her apologize. Instead, she expected Dustin to step forward and request a reconciliation. ¡°So this is where you are, Dahlia.¡± Matt entered the bar and spotted the twodies immediately. ¡°Mr. Laney, you¡¯re here. Please stop her. Her body can¡¯t take it if she drinks so much!¡± Lyra quickly stoo d up and greeted Matt, whom she called. She felt that Matt was a much better option than Dustin. *Please get her some water, Lyra. I¡¯ll talk to her,¡± Matt assured with a smile. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Laney.¡± Lyra nodded and darted off. ¡°Why are you drinking so much, Dahlia?¡± Matt asked with a concerned expression. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business. Go away!¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes were hazy, but her tone was colder than ever. Matt¡¯s smile froze for a second before he recovered himself. Without anyone noticing, he slipped a pill into her wine and smiled. ¡°You still want to drink, don¡¯t you. D ahlia? Let me join you.¡± He poured another ss for Dahlia. Dahlia, who was already tipsy, didn¡¯t notice anything wrong and do wned the ss without a word. Soon, her head became heavy and her vision blurred, making her sway. ¡°Mr. Laney, I think Ms. Nicholson is drunk.¡± Lyra returned just then. ¡°It¡¯s a alright. I¡¯ll send her home now. Her family¡¯s worried sick.¡± Matt promised with a kind smile. ¡°Alright. Thanks, Ms. Laney.¡± Lyra didn¡¯t think too much about it and helped carry Dahlia into Matt¡¯s car. Since the car only had two seats, she could only watch as the car¡¯s headlights disappeared. ¡°Humph! You¡¯re finally in my arms. You like acting high and mighty, don¡¯t you? Well, I¡¯ll have some fun with you tonight.¡± Matt smiled sinisterly and headed straight to the hotel. Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Meanwhile, at Peaceful Medical Centre, Dustin was reading a book in silence when a Maybach pulled up at the door. The car door opened, and Phineas came out holding some gills. ¡°Mr. Rhys.¡± Phineas entered the building with a smile, no longer carrying the arrogance he had when th ey first met. ¡°Do you need me for something?¡± Dustin nced at the other man indifferently. ¡°Mr. Rhys, I¡¯m really sorry about today¡¯s incident. Please forgive us for being so ignorant.¡± Phineas smil ed apologetically. He finally understood that there was more than meets the eye when it came to Dustin, who had the support of the Harmon family and the friendship of Big Bucks Brooks. If Phineas wanted to borrow three billion dors, he had to first get Dus tin¡¯s forgiveness. ¡°How could a nobody like me make the Laney family apologize?¡± Dustin replied, unconcerned. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What are you talking about, Mr. Rhys? You¡¯re young but talented. We admit defeat proudly. Please giv e us a way out.¡± Phineas bowed his head. However, Dustin didn¡¯t respond. Gritting his teeth, Phineas f ell to his knees. with a thud. ¡°Mr. Rhys, please ept our family¡¯s sincere apologies. As long as you give us another chance, you¡¯ll be our honored guest forever! I¡¯m willing to offer a third of¨C no, half of our property as an apology.¡± Phineas quickly bowed lower, surprising Dustin, Dustin admired the older man for having the courage to put his pride aside to apologize. ¡°What should we do about the death of Caitlyn¡¯s cat?¡± Dustin asked coldly. ¡°We¡¯ll pay her back! We get her as many cats as she wants!¡± Phineas frantically vowed. ¡°Dusty¡¯s dead. It doesn¡¯t matter how many cats you get.¡± Caitlyn murmured sadly next to Dustin. ¡°Did you hear that? I don¡¯t mind forgiving you, but you offended Caitlyn.¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. Ms. Lawler. I swear I won¡¯t do it again! Please forgive me this once. I¡¯ve learned my mista ke!¡± Phineas quickly dragged himself to Caitlyn without getting up, and he began to apologize. ¡°I forgive you on the condition that you never do anything evil again!¡± Caitlyn dered gravely. ¡°Definitely! I¡¯ve learned my mistake.¡± Phineas nodded frantically, having no choice but to lower his head toward them. ¡°Since Caitlyn forgives you, I¡¯ll let this matter go. You better remember your promise. Hall of your prope rties.¡± Dustin reminded calmly. ¡°Of course. As long as the Laney family is able to pull through, they¡¯re yours!¡± Phineas dared not object. Dustin hummed. He was about to say something else when his phone started ringing. Dahlia was calling him. Muffled noises could be heard as soon as he picked up. ¡°Let me go. I want to go home.¡± Dahlia demanded weakly. ¡°What do you mean ¡®go home¡°? Look at how pretty Estelle Hotel is. Let¡¯s keep drinking there.¡± Matt cac kled. ¡°You can go alone. Piss off.¡± ¡°Fucking slut! You better appreciate the chance I¡¯m giving you. You don¡¯t have a say in this. You¡¯re drink ing tonight. Get in!¡± As the phone fell to the floor, the cursing became softer until itpletely faded away. Dustin¡¯s face darkened immediately, and the air around him became unbelievably cold. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Rhys?¡± Phineas shivered. A loud p rang out as Dustin struck Phineas across the face, causing thetter to fall to the floor. ¡°You motherfucker! You better hope your son didn¡¯t make a mistake, or I¡¯ll destroy your entire family!¡± Dusti n opened the door and dashed out. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 ¡°Huh?¡± Phineas covered his cheek with a hand, dumbfounded. Meanwhile, inside a room in Estelle Hotel, Dahlia was lying strewn across the bed, nearly unconscious, her head heavy and her body weak. Matt stood next to her, grinning wickedly as he admired her voluptuous figure. ¡°Dahlia, I have to admit. You sure are a beauty.¡± He tsked. ¡°Your looks and figure are perfect. I¡¯ve fucked countless women, but none were as charming as you. N aturally, I¡¯m the perfect man for you. How dare Dustin Rhys try to im you as his! But don¡¯t worry, you ¡¯ll be mine after tonight.¡± Sneering, Matt began to unbutton his shirt before remembering something. He pulled out his phone an d panned the camera toward Dahlia. ¡°I nearly forgot to record our wonderful night. I promised Dustin that I¡¯d send him a video of us making l ove. Men don¡¯t break promises.¡± Matt grinned excitedly. ¡°You despicable, shameless bastard! I¡¯ll throw you to jail if you touch me!¡± Dahlia seethed feebly. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind others seeing the video, go ahead. I don¡¯t mind. So what if I have to go in for a few y ears? At least I get to fuck you. Still, there¡¯s no need for us to take things that far. You¡¯ll just have to ma rry me after tonight. That way, you¡¯ll be able to protect your reputation while having the honor of being fucked by m e. Isn¡¯t that a great deal?¡± Matt sniggered confidently. ¡°In your dreams, fucker! I¡¯d rather die than marry a hypocritical asshole like you!¡± Dahlia tried to get up several times but flopped back to the bed pathetically each time. Soon, her face flushed from the exertion, and the drug was still doing its job. ¡°Huh?¡± Matt¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Are you still thinking of that loser right now? I don¡¯t get it. How is he better than me? Why do you keep thinking of him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s better than you in every way. You don¡¯t even deserve topete with him!¡± Dahlia fumed. ¡°He¡¯s a fucking nobody. If someone hadn¡¯t supported him, do you think he would have made it to where he is. today? That dickhead ruined my ns so many times. I swear I¡¯m going to kill him one day!¡± Matt sna Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. rled. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you if you touch a hair on his head!¡± Dah swore, her expression ferocious. ¡°You¡¯re still protecting that asshole? I better teach you a lesson!¡± Matt tugged his belt off and began to nt!¡± Soon, Dahlia¡¯s fair skin turned bloody as whip marks littered her body. Still, she kept silent, digging her teeth into her lip stubbornly. ¡°Fuck! You¡¯re stubborn, eh? I¡¯ll fuck you up tonight!¡± Infuriated, Matt yanked his clothes off and lunged toward her. As he was tearing at Dahlia¡¯s clothes, the room door flew open with an ear¨C splitting boom, and a formidable figure stormed in murderously. Instantly, the freezing wind whistled in, and lightbulbs exploded. Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Bang! As the room door was kicked open, the lightbulbs in the room exploded simultaneously, shattering into pieces of ss, and an ominous chill nketed the room. ¡°Who the fuck is it? Who¡¯s ruining my fun?¡± Matt spun around, scowling. He was unable to identify the p erson due to the sudden darkness in the room. ¡°Matt Laney, you have a death wish!¡± An icy voice growled as the shadow approached. The moonlight peeked through the window, and Matt saw the other person¡¯s face. It was Dustin! ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Matt¡¯s expression changed, and he hastily pulled out a handgun from the bedside drawer. He yelled. ¡°You imbecile! I haven¡¯t paid you back for ruining my ns so many times, yet you approached me first!¡± ¡°Dustin? Hurry up and go. Don¡¯t care about me ¡ª Dahlia cried out weakly. When she saw Dustin, she t hought she¡¯d finally be saved, but she never expected that Matt would have a gun, so she instantly panicked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you talking so big, dipshit? Ha, you still have to admit defeat to our family. I guess you¡¯re scared now, eh?¡± Matt raised his gun and sniggered. ¡°You better grovel if you don¡¯t want to die, or I¡¯ll send a bullet st raight through your head!¡± ¡°Grovel? As if you¡¯re worthy of that.¡± Dustin red at the other man. ¡°Worthy?¡± Matt grinned maniacally and fired two shots near Dustin¡¯s feet. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to just grove l. I¡¯ll fuck your woman right in front of you!¡± ¡°Y¨C you shameless bastard!¡± Dahlia¡¯s chest rose and fell violently as she fumed. However, because of the drug, her flushed face looked more alluring than ever. ¡°So what? I¡¯ll have my fill with you before dealing with that brat!¡± Matt dered. ¡°I nned to finish you off in one go, but I changed my mind.¡± Dustin approached calmly, his overwhel ming presence making it hard for Matt to breathe, and Matt¡¯s hand began to tremble uncontrobly. ¡°Stop right there! You better stop, or I¡¯ll fucking shoot your Matt yelled. However, Dustin continued his way forward as if he hadn¡¯t heard the other man. ¡°You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Matt gritted his teeth and aimed the gun at Dustin¡¯s head before pulling the trigger. Ear¨Csplitting bangs rang out as the chamber was emptied of bullets. However, Dustin had disappeared. Abruptly, he appeared less than two feet away in front of Matt. ¡°You-¡± Startled, Matt tried to jerk backward, but Dustin grabbed his hair and mmed his head into the wall wit h bang. Matt immediately passed out, his head bleeding. ¡°D¨CDustin Now that the danger had passed, Dahlia¡¯s body finally rxed, and she fell into slumber. 10 Dustin nced at the fallen man and pulled out his phone to call someone. 15 minutester, Hunter an d a dozen bulky men walked into the room. ¡°Mr. Rhys, here are the men you wanted.¡± Hunter said politely. These men were not onlyrge, but they were also studs who only had an interest in pretty boys. ¡°Good job.¡± Dustin nodded in approval before waking Matt with acupuncture. ¡°W¨Cwhat are you guys doing? I¡¯m warning you. I¡¯m the heir of the Laney family, so you won¡¯t get away if you do something to me!¡± Matt began making threats as soon as he woke up. ¡°Mr. Laney, I purposely asked these men to serve you. Enjoy.¡± Dustin gestured with his hand, and the men instantly pulled Matt away, beaming sinisterly. ¡°Let me go!¡± Matt paled, terrified. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dustin! Please forgive me! I won¡¯t do it again!¡± Matt shrieked before being hauled into a car. All that awaited him was pain and misery. ¡°Mr. Anderson, tell your men to take good care of him. I want him to suffer as much as possible!¡± Dustin ordered coldly. ¡°No problem!¡± Hunter promised before leaving. Matt¡¯s ass was going to be gaping after tonight for what he did to Dustin¡¯s woman. After everyone left, Dustin walked over to the bed and began applying ointment to Dahlia¡¯s wounds. ¡°Dustin. I¨CI¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Dahlia finally mumbled the long¨C awaited apology dazedly. Dustin¡¯s body stiffened. and a sense of loss glinted in his eyes. After a secon d, he shook his head and continued applying the ointment. All of a sudden, the door opened again with a boom. Florence, James, and many others barged into th e room. their faces darkening as they spotted Dahlia¡¯s unconscious body. ¡°Rhys! How dare you touch my daughter, you despicable man! I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Florence darted forward to s ¡°What? Are you going to strike me back? You disgusting asshole!¡± Furious, Florence kicked Dustin in th e shin instead. The man frowned but didn¡¯t fight back. ¡°Call the police right now! We need to arrest this motherfucker!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! A hypocritical asshole like him should be in jail!¡± Several people shouted, and James pulled out his phone to call the police. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you believe me or not, but this has nothing to do with me,¡± Dustin stated. indiffe rently. ¡°Bullshit! Why would she be here if you didn¡¯t kidnap her?¡± Florence shouted, ring at him. ¡°Exactly! Everyone here can tell that you were nning to do something nasty to her!¡± ¡°You dare to defend yourself even though we caught you in the act? I guess you refuse to give in until t he end!¡± Chanter 221 The crowd threw out usations indignantly as they red at Dustin like they wanted to skin him alive. They were disgusted that Dustin stooped so low because he couldn¡¯t have Dahlia. ¡°Whatever. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong anyway.¡± Dustin shook his head and got up to leave. He knew th at these people wouldn¡¯t believe him if he tried to exin himself anyway. ¡°Hold right there. Who said you could leave? You¡¯re not stepping out of this room without exining ev erything!¡± James put himself between Dustin and the door, but with a shove from thetter, James went Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. tumbling to the ground. Chapter 222 Chapter 222 ¡°You fucker!¡± James got up and was about to spew insults when he realized that Dustin was already go ne. Damn it! That kid¡¯s lucky he got away, or I¡¯d have taught him a lesson!¡± ¡°He can¡¯t run away forever! After doing something like this, I¡¯ll make sure he stays in jail for the rest of his life!* Florence gritted her teeth. ¡°That¡¯s right! You can¡¯t let him go!¡± Julie and the others quickly agreed. Dustin had gone too far! ¡°Hmm Just then, Dahlia began to wake up. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake!¡± Florence lit up. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°What are all of you doing here, Mom?¡± Dahlia rubbed her aching temples, her memory was a mess. ¡°Lyra called and told us that you might be in danger, so we hurried here. Thank God we made it in time, or Dustin would have raped you!¡± Florence got angry again. ¡°Dustin?¡± Dahlia frowned, seeming to have recalled something. She asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We chased him away.¡± Florence reassured Dahlia. ¡°That¡¯s right. We called the police too. We¡¯ll catch that asshole!¡± James nodded. ¡°Why would you arrest him? He was the one who saved me!¡± Dahlia blurted. ¡°What? He saved you?¡± Everyone was shocked to hear that. Exchanging incredulous looks with each o ther. confusion was written across their face ¡°You¡¯re kidding, right, Dahlia? He can¡¯t be the one who rescued you. We clearly saw him touching you and was about to do something nasty!¡± Florence obviously didn¡¯t believe Dahlia. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°She¡¯s right, Sis. He tried to take your clothes off while you were unconscious!¡± James fanned the me s. ¡°We can all testify that Dustin was the one who did it!¡± Julle and a few others agreed. Dahlia shook her head frantically, which made her alcohol¨Cridden head heavier. ¡°Who else could it be? There were only two of you in this room when we came in,¡± Florence said. ¡°It was Matt Laney, that bastard!¡± Dahlia struggled to organize her memories. ¡°You must be drunk, Dahlia. Matt¡¯s a decent man. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d do something like this.¡± ¡°Sis, did Dustin slip you a drug? Is that why you¡¯re so confused?¡± ¡°I heard that some drugs can cause hallucinations. That must be why your memory got jumbled up.¡± One after another, the people in the room refuted what Dahlia said, making her doubt herself. ¡°Did I really remember wrongly? But how could that be?¡± she thought. Staring at her injuries, she had a hard time believing that Dustin was the one who did this. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s a phone here, and it¡¯s recording a video.¡± Julie spotted the phone on the television cab and brought it over. ¡°It must be that asshole¡¯s!¡± Florence fumed. ¡°He was even nning to record himself assaulting Dahlia! How disgusting!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way that brat can defend himself now that we have this evidence!¡± ¡°We have to put that guy in jail!¡± The crowd began to hurl insults at Dustin. ¡°It can¡¯t be. Dustin wouldn¡¯t do that Dahlia shook her head, unable to ept that. ¡°Why are you still defending him, Dahlia? Why do you still have feelings for that asshole? I¡¯m telling you , Matt¡¯s the better man for you. He¡¯s leagues above Dustin! I¡¯ll show you Dustin¡¯s true colors right now!¡± Florence yelled and began the yback, showing exactly what happened. By the time they reached the middle of the video, everyone had frozen in dismay. ¡°Matt Laney?¡± Florence was rooted to the spot as she stared in disbelief at the man violently assaulting Dahlia in the video. Everyone else¡¯s jaws had dropped as well. Never in their dreams would they have imagined that the pe rson who kidnapped Dahlia and tried to assault her would be Matt, a respectful man from a noble family . How could this be possible? However, the video was right before their eyes. It turned out that the despicable person had been the ¡°d ecent¡± man, Matt, instead of Dustin. Everyone¡¯s faces began to burn in shame as they recalled what they had said just now, and they fell sil ent. ¡°I told you it wasn¡¯t Dustin, but none of you believed me! How about now? Who¡¯s the despicable person ? Who¡¯s the hypocritical asshole now? I¡¯m sure all of you should know.¡± Dahlia cried exasperatedly. ¡°I might have made a mistake, but so what? You two were once married, so it¡¯s his duty to protect you. We didn¡¯t ask him to do that! Besides, why didn¡¯t he exin himself? We wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood if he had.¡± Florence insisted stubbornly, having no intention of apologizing. ¡°Exin himself? Dahlia chuckled mirthlessly. ¡°Would you have believed him if he had?¡± ¡°That¡¯s up for us to decide, but it¡¯s his fault for not exining. He had iting!¡± Florence defended her self. ¡°That¡¯s right! He deserved it! James agreed. So what if they misunderstood a loser? ¡°All of you are incorrigible!¡± Dahlia was utterly disappointed. She staggered to her feet and bumped past the two of them to run out. She wanted to stop Dustin from leaving. Unfortunately, by the time she reached the hotel entrance, he was already nowhere to be foun d. Chapter 223 Chapter 223 At the Laney vi. Phineas paced back and forth in the living room, looking extremely anxious. It was th e break of dawn, but he hadn¡¯t slept a wink since he lost contact with Matt, who left at midnight. It was as if Matt had vanished into thin air. Phineas sent a group of bodyguards to search, but there was still no news of Matt, which told him that s omething was wrong. Suddenly, someone¡¯s car beeped at his door. He nced outside and saw a ck SUV parked outside. The car door opened, and a figure wrapped in a bup sack was dumped out as the car drove away. ¡°Huh?¡± Confused, Phineas nodded to the bodyguards at the entrance, who quickly opened the sack to r eveal a naked man with a swollen nose and bruised body. ¡°Dad ¡­The young man opened his eyes dazedly and cried out hoarsely. ¡°Matt?¡± Phineas was bbergasted. ¡°W¨Cwhat happened to you?¡± ¡°It was Dustin Rhys H¨Che Matt burst into tears. No one knew what he¡¯d been throughst night. There had been many times whe n Matt wanted to kill himself but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He had no idea how he pulled himself thr ough the agonizing pain. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. Tell me what happened. I¡¯ll take care of it!¡± Phineas quickly told his men to bring Matt inside. Because of the adrenaline shots he received. Matt was still conscious despite his injuries. So, under his to finish, withholding some details. father¡¯s questioning, he told Phineas everything that happened from 5/ ¡°That bastard! How dare he do that to you! He¡¯s gone too far!¡± Phineas pped the table furiously. A shi ver went down his spine every time he thought of what Matt had to endure. ¡°Dad. I want you to tear him to pieces, no matter the cost!¡± Matt seethed loathingly. ¡°Matt, that asshole is being protected by the Harmon family and the Brooks family. It¡¯ll be hard to deal w ith him.¡± Phineas considered. ¡°Do you expect me to pretend like nothing happened?¡± Malt scowled, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°I want my re venge no matter what!¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll avenge you!¡± Phineas decided to light after seeing how miserable his son looked. As long as h e was willing to pay a hefty sum to hire a killer, getting rid of Dustin should be easy. Suddenly, someone knocked on their door. Phineas signaled for the guards to open the door, and three men strolled into the house. One of them wore a dated suit while carrying a cane with a dragon head a ttached to it. He was followed by Hunter and a burly man with an overwhelming aura. ¡°Who are you?¡± Phineas was puzzled, ¡°Dad!¡± Matt pointed at Hunter. ¡°That¡¯s the guy who helped Rhys!¡± He could clearly recall the man watching him get ravaged. ¡°So you¡¯re Dustin Rhys¡® men. Are you here to apologize?¡± Phineas growled. ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter if you grovel. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll forgive that punk!¡± Phineas¡® expression was mur derous. What happenedst night would be his nightmare for the rest of his life, so he had to avenge M att. ¡°Apologize?¡± The old man in the suit smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken. I¡¯m here to collect a debt.¡± ¡°A debt?¡± Phineas sniggered. ¡°With just the three of you? You¡¯re delusional!¡± He pped his hands. Immediately, a few dozen ferocious and bulky men engulfed the vi. Phineas h ad been prepared since Matt went missing, and it came in handy now. He chortled. ¡°You didn¡¯t expect this, did you? You¡¯ve fallen into my trap! I¡¯ll make sure none of you make it out alive today.¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± The strong man flung out his arm at lightning speed, and Matt immediately went flying. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How dare you hit someone on my tur!! You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Phineas was outraged. Just as he was abo ut to order his men to attack, a gold badgended near his feet with a clink. He picked it up and froze in terror at the sight of the majestic five¨C wed golden dragon emblem on the front of the badge. On the back of the badge, ¡°Rhys¡± was engraved in bold. In Dragonmarsh, the five¨C wed dragon meant utter domination, while ¡°Rhys¡± was the pinnacle of power. Many people shared th e same surname, but there was only one family that held the Emblem of Drakon. That family incurred fear from countless others, and no one dared to challenge them. ¡°The Rhys Drakon Emblem! W¨C who are you?¡± Phineas gripped the badge with both hands, his body began to shake, and beads of swe at ran down his forehead. ¡°You must be blind! This is Sir Albert Horst!¡± Therge man hollered. ¡°Albert Horst?¡± At the sound of the name, Phineas immediately paled in fear. Not many knew of that name, but that man had a popr nickname¨Cthe Executioner! He had an infamous reputation for being the human butcher who sliced people like butter. There were three great generals in the Rhys family¨C the Executioner, the Sword Whisperer, and the Drunken Maniac. Each one of them was enough to sha ke the country. The Executioner, Alfred Horst, was the strongest of them all. He was so terrifying that kids would cry at the mention of his name. Rumor had it that he had his first battle when he was 18 years old and ended up ughtering tens of thousands of foes. His cruelty and violence earned him the title of the Great Executioner. After he started working for the R hys family, not many got to see him, but his reputation did not diminish in the slightest. This was because he was the one who got rid of anyone who offended or threatened the Rhys family. Not many knew what he looked like because the majority of those who saw his face were already dead. 24 His ruthlessness made him the leader of the three great generals. And he terrified the officials in Drago nmash. Everyone knew that once the Executioner visited someone¡¯s home, that family would never see daylight again. Still, Phineas couldn¡¯t understand what he¡¯d done that led the Executioner to his home. Chapter 224 Chapter 224 It was at that moment that Phineas felt pure terror. Who would have thought that the in old man in front of him was the Executioner? Why had the Executioner visited them personally? ¡°How dare you hit me!¡± His head spinning, Matt pulled himself up and roared. ¡°You¡¯re dead! It¡¯s over for all of you! Men, finish them off!¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Phineas yelled before falling to his knees before the old man. He frantically begged. ¡°Sir Albert, we don¡¯t know what we¡¯ve done to incur your wrath, but please forgive us.¡± ¡°Have you gone crazy, Dad? Why are you groveling?¡± Matt was in disbelief. He didn¡¯t understand why h is dad was begging the old man for forgiveness when they were on the winning side. ¡°What do you know, you moron! We can¡¯t afford to mess with them, so hurry up and kneel!¡± Phineas fra ntically signaled Matt. ¡°I¡¯m not kneeling!¡± Matt looked around maniacally. ¡°What do you mean we can¡¯t afford to mess with the m? There are only three of them. We¡¯ll be able to drown them with just the piss of our men alone!¡± ¡°Y¨Cy¨Cyou dumbass! Do you have any idea what you¡¯re saying? This is the Executioner we¡¯re talking about!¡± Phineas¡® face was ashen. In front of the Executioner, they were merely ants waiting to be squashed. ¡°What executioner? I¡¯ve never even heard of him! He¡¯ll still die today even if he¡¯s God!¡® Matt shouted arr ogantly. Alfred chuckled when he heard that. ¡°Interesting. I almost don¡¯t wish to kill you now.¡± ¡°You think losers like you can kill me? Arrogant bastards!¡± Matt sniggered. Last night¡¯s events had twist ed him inside, and he yearned to let that hatred out. ¡°It¡¯s over. Everything¡¯s over.¡± Phineas copsed onto the floor, his face pale. Why did he have to have s uch a stupid son? How could Matt hurl insults at the Executioner? ¡°You¡¯re trying topete in numbers? Alright, then. Let¡¯s see who has more men!¡± Therge man wav ed his arm, and synchronized footsteps were heard immediately. Soon, armed men charged into the ce from all directions, surrounding everyone instantly. The guards were fully geared up and donned ck masks. Their gazes were sharp, and they gave off at murderous aura that made people turn their heads away instinctively from fear. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. The Laney family guards were nothingpared to these men. No words or threats were exchanged, but ngs rang out as the Laney family¡¯s guards, who were terrified by the new arrivals, threw their weapons down and stood aside. Matt froze at the sight of the geared men, his haughtiness vanishing rapidly, and terror took its ce . What happened? Where did all those mene from? ¡°Aren¡¯t wepeting by numbers? Who has more men now?¡± The bulky man waved again, and the m en drew their swords in unison, overwhelming everyone with their presence. Matt felt the strength leave his legs, and he copsed to the ground. ¡°Sir Alfred, please go easy on us!¡± Phineas crawled toward Alfred and begged. ¡°My son has lost his min d and doesn¡¯t know what he¡¯s doing. Please spare his life!¡± ¡°Then, you¡¯ll have to die in his stead.¡± Alfred drew a sword from the burly man¡¯s back and threw it to the floor. Calmly, he said. ¡°Only one of you can live. Make your decision.¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 In the morning, at the airport. Edwin and Tina waited in front of a Rolls¨C Royce Phantom. ¡°Dad, we¡¯ve already been waiting for two hours. Why isn¡¯t Joshua here yet?¡± Tina n ced around, looking anxious. ¡°It¡¯s normal for flights to be dyed. Let¡¯s wait it out a little longer. Edwin looked calm. Last night, he¡¯d suddenly received a call from Joshua, saying he¡¯dpleted his refinement, which meant he was now the Hummer family¡¯s trump card. As they spoke, a young couple exited the airport. The man was handsome and dignified, giving off an a ir reminiscent of a sharp de, making one unable to look him in the eye. The woman beside him was dressed in red and equally outstanding. She was beautiful, elegant, and looked powerful. ¡°Dad, he¡¯s here!¡± Tina¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. She¡¯d been eagerly anticipating his return. ¡°Josh, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Edwin approached him with a bright smile. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, Dad.¡± Joshua smiled and gestured to the woman beside him. ¡°Allow me to i ntroduce you to Jade Grant, my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡°Jade Grant?¡± Edwin looked taken aback before asking tentatively. ¡°Is she the third daughter of the Gra nt family?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Joshua smiled. ¡°Nice to meet you, Mr. Hummer.¡± Jade nodded. ¡°Yes, yes, nice to meet you, too. As expected of a daughter of the Grant family¨C you¡¯re the very embodiment of beauty and grace!¡± Edwin looked delighted. He never would¡¯ve expecte d his son to be able to win the Grant family¡¯s favor. The five wealthiest families in Millsburg were known as the Fabulous Five, but there were three other families even more powerful than them¨C the Tremendous Three. The Grant family was one of them. If the Hummer family could form an alliance with the Grant family through Joshua¡¯s marriage with Jade, they¡¯d have a bright future ahead! ¡°Dad, why did you summon me home so urgently? Joshua asked when they were all in the car. He¡¯d justpleted his refinement the night before when he¡¯d been told to return immediately. ¡°I hate to say this, but Swinton has a new kid on the block. He¡¯s powerful beyond our expectations and has defeated all my men. Our famil y¡¯s been having a tough time recently because of him. I had no choice but to summon you home.¡± Edwi n sighed, looking helpless. ¡°Exactly! You have no idea how obnoxious he is, Joshua. He even beat me up on my birthday over the smallest things!¡± Tina started toin. ¡°Look at what he did to my arm¨C I¡¯ve yet to fully recover! I¡¯ve never been treated like this in my life. You have to get back at him for me!¡± ¡°Who is this guy? How dare he bully a member of the Hummer family!¡± Joshua¡¯s face darkened, and a menacing aura surrounded him. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°His name is Dustin Rhys, and he¡¯s not someone to be taken lightly,¡± Edwin said. ¡°He also has the Har mon family backing him up.¡± Edwin said. ¡°The Harmon family?¡± Jade chuckled lightly. ¡°They¡¯re only one of the Fabulous Five¨C they don¡¯t hold much ¡°Y¨C you¡¯re not keeping your fucking word! You said you¡¯d let me live, Horst! Why? Why?!¡± Matt wailed bitterl y. However, the only reply he got was the strike of a cold de. As they stepped out of the vi, Alfred asked abruptly, ¡°How many members are then in the Laney family¡¯s main lineage?¡± ¡°The report says 35 of them,¡± the burly young man replied. ¡°I see. Well, get rid of all of them.¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 In the morning, at the airport. Edwin and Tina waited in front of a Rolls¨C Royce Phantom. ¡°Dad, we¡¯ve already been waiting for two hours. Why isn¡¯t Joshua here yet?¡± Tina n ced around, looking anxious. ¡°It¡¯s normal for flights to be dyed. Let¡¯s wait it out a little longer. Edwin looked calm. Last night, he¡¯d suddenly received a call from Joshua, saying he¡¯dpleted his refineme nt, which meant he was now the Hummer family¡¯s trump card. As they spoke, a young couple exited the airport. The man was handsome and dignified, giving off an a ir reminiscent of a sharp de, making one unable to look him in the eye. The woman beside him was dressed in red and equally outstanding. She was beautiful, elegant, and looked powerful. ¡°Dad, he¡¯s here!¡± Tina¡¯s eyes lit up with excitement. She¡¯d been eagerly anticipating his return. ¡°Josh, you¡¯re finally back!¡± Edwin approached him with a bright smile. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting, Dad.¡± Joshua smiled and gestured to the woman beside him. ¡°Allow me to i ntroduce you to Jade Grant, my fianc¨¦e.¡± ¡ª ¡°Jade Grant?¡± Edwin looked taken aback before asking tentatively. ¡°Is she the third daughter of the Gra nt family?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Joshua smiled. ¡°Nice to meet you. Mr. Hummer.¡± Jade nodded. ¡°Yes, yes, nice to meet you, too. As expected of a daughter of the Grant family¨C you¡¯re the very embodiment of beauty and grace!¡± Edwin looked delighted. He never would¡¯ve expecte d his son to be able to win the Grant family¡¯s favor. The five wealthiest families in Millsburg were known as the Fabulous Five, but there were three other families seven more powerful than them¨C the Tremendous Three. The Grant family was one of them. If the Hummer family could form an alliance with the Grant family through Joshua¡¯s marriage with Jade, they¡¯d have a bright future ahead! ¡°Dad, why did you summon me home so urgently?¡± Joshua asked when they were all in the car. He¡¯d ju stpleted his refinement the night before when he¡¯d been told to return immediately. ¡°I hate to say this, but Swinton has a new kid on the block. He¡¯s powerful beyond our expectations and has defeated all my men. Our family¡¯s been having a tough time recently because of him. I had no choi ce but to Summon you home.¡± Edwin sighed, looking helpless. ¡°Exactly! You have no idea how obnoxious he is, Joshua. He even beat me up on my birthday over the smallest things!¡± Tina started toin. ¡°Look at what he did to my arm¨CI¡¯ve yet to fully recover! I¡¯ve never been treated like this in my life. You have to get back at him for me!¡± ¡°Who is this guy? How dare he bully a member of the Hummer family! Joshua¡¯s face darkened, and a menacing aura surrounded him. ¡°His name is Dustin Rhys, and he¡¯s not someone to be taken lightly,¡± Edwin said. ¡°He also has the Har mon family backing him up,¡± Edwin said, ¡°The Harmon family?¡± Jade chuckled lightly. ¡°They¡¯re only one of the Fabulous Five¨C they don¡¯t hold much weight. If you need any help, Mr. Hummer, just say the word.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary for the Grant family to get involved in something as menial as this.¡± Joshua said calml y. Now that I¡¯m back. I won¡¯t allow anyone to challenge the Hummer family¡¯s authority¨C not even the Harmon family!¡± ¡®Josh, have you have you have you had a breakthrough?¡± Edwin asked tentatively. ¡°Yes, I have. I¡¯ve now achieved divinity!¡± Joshua smiled proudly. ¡°A divine¨Clevel martial artist?¡± Edwin was delighted. ¡°That¡¯s great! I knew you wouldn¡¯t let me down!¡± Joshua was probably the only divine¨Clevel martial artist in all of Swinton. Low¨C level martial artists were no match for divine¨Clevel martial artists¨C they could refine their martial arts prowess, but physical abilities could only take one so far. Original from N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Divine¨C level martial artists, on the other hand, could manifest their energy externally and use it to harm or even murder others without anyone realizing it. Low¨C level martial artists weren¡¯t even in the same league as them. Even in Millsburg, where powerful martial artists converged, divine¨C level martial artists were existences to fear. It was no wonder Joshua had won the Grant family¡¯s favor¨C how could he not when he possessed such talent and potential? Which family wouldn¡¯t want to have so mething to do with him? ¡°Dad, are divine¨C level martial artists truly that powerful? How will Joshua fare against Dustin?¡± Tina asked curiously. *Joshua can destroy that brat with a snap of his fingers!¡± Edwin said proudly. ¡°That¡¯s great! Joshua, you have to teach him a good lesson on my behalf!¡± Tina said excitedly. ¡°There¡¯s no hurry to deal with Dustin¨C he¡¯s a weakling that can be ughtered at any time. What¡¯s more important now is that we have to give Joshua and Jade a proper wee.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s head home.¡± At this moment, at Peaceful Medical Center. Dustin received a call from Ruth. ¡°Dustin, something¡¯s hap pened at Harmon Pharmaceuticals. You¡¯ve gotta get over here right now.¡± ¡°Something¡¯s happened? What is it?¡± Dustin asked curiously. ¡°A bunch of people suddenly showed up and demanded that we partner with them for the production of Immortunol,¡± ¡°Is that so? Where¡¯s your sister? I¡¯ll leave the decision up to her.¡± ¡°She went to Millsburgst night and won¡¯t be back so soon. In any case, she was the one who told me to call you, saying that you had thest say.¡± ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll be right there.¡± Dustin hung up and drove to Harmon Pharmaceuticals. When he arriv ed. twenty minutester and strode into the conference room, he saw some people already seated insi de. Jessica, Quentin, Ruth, and Mr. Wangley sat on the left, while a distinguished man was on the right . ¡°Dustin, you¡¯re finally here. Have a seat, quick.¡± Ruth stood up and gestured for him to sit. The others lo oked at. him coolly. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Dustin nced around curiously. ¡°I have a question for you,¡± Jessica said. ¡°I heard Natasha gave you 50 percent of the shares for Immo rtunol. Is that true?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°d to hear that. Now, hand the shares over,¡± she said coolly. ¡°What? Why?¡± Dustin was taken aback. ¡°Because you don¡¯t deserve them.¡± Jessica didn¡¯t mince her words. ¡®The Harmon family handles everyt hing from the production, sales, and marketing for Immortunol. You don¡¯t contribute anything to this pro cess¨C why should you deserve 50 percent of the profits? Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being a little too greedy?¡± ¡°Mrs. Harmon, there must be a misunderstanding somewhere. Ms. Harmon was the one who decided t hat the shares-¡± Jessica cut him off with a wave of her hand. ¡°That¡¯s enough! I don¡¯t want to hear it. Hand the shares ov er if you know what¡¯s good for you; at least you¡¯ll be able to walk out of this unscathed.¡± ¡°Does Ms. Harmon know about this?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes slightly. He knew what was going on now- they¡¯d obviously tricked him here to snatch the ownership of the shares away from him. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether she knows. This has to do with our family¡¯s interests; her word isn¡¯t the only one that matters. Rest assured that we¡¯llpensate you handsomely for this. We¡¯re willing to pay you 50 million dors if you hand over the shares.¡± Jessica looked like she was talking about something inc onsequential. ¡°Hey, just hand them over when we tell you to and stop fucking around!¡± Quentin said impatiently. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression became icy. ¡°Then you won¡¯t leave this room today!¡± Quentin mmed a hand on the table. The next second, a gro up of security guards barged into the room, circling Dustin with menacing looks. Chapter 228 Chapter 228 ¡°What, are you gonna resort to physical violence?¡± A cold smile curved Dustin¡¯s lips at the sight of the s ecurity guards surrounding him. He¡¯d always been the type who was open to persuasion, not coercion. Perhaps he would¡¯ve given in to them if they¡¯d talked to him nicely, but if they wanted to opt for physical violence he didn¡¯t mind teaching them a lesson or two, well, ¡°So what if I am? Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself, you brat!¡± Quentin snarled. He¡¯d always harbored a grudge against Dustin for humiliating him at their first meeting. If not for Natasha keeping him in check, he would¡¯ve exacted revenge on Dustin ages ago. Now that Natasha wasn¡¯t around, it was his chance t o get payback! ¡°Quentin, don¡¯t take things too far!¡± Ruth couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°It¡¯s up to Dustin whether he wants t o sell the shares. If you dare do anything to harm him, I won¡¯t let you off the hook!¡± ¡°Ruth, this has nothing to do with you. Keep your nose out of this! Quentin didn¡¯t back down. ¡°Why, you- ¡°Ruth was about to say something else when Jessica stopped her. ¡°Dustin, a wise man knows how to adapt to the situation. You can¡¯t hoard all those shares for yourself, s o cough them up when we¡¯re asking nicely, Jessica said. ¡°Many people have gotten into trouble not bec ause of things they¡¯ve done but because they possess things that shouldn¡¯t belong to them. With your i dentity and ability, you¡¯ll only get yourself into more trouble if you keep these shares.¡± ¡°Is that a threat, Mrs. Harmon?¡± Dustin cidn¡¯t bat an eye. ¡°It¡¯s a piece of advice. One should know their limits¨C do you think you would¡¯ve achieved what you have if not for my daughter protecting you?¡± Jessica look ed at him contemptuously. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that Ms. Harmon has given me plenty of help, but I didn¡¯t rely on anyone to get to where I am now, Dustin said coldly. ¡°As for Immortunol, I think there¡¯s something you need to get straight¨C I provided the form and was the first to develop it sessfully. I don¡¯t care about the shares, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll allow you to push me around like this!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± Jessica mmed a hand on the table and shot to her feet. ¡°Dustin, I¡¯ve tried to y nic e with you. Don¡¯t push me!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s pushing who?¡± Dustin retorted. ¡°When the Hummer family sessfully developed and markete d Eternumax, the Harmon family had nothing and no way topete with them. I was the one who helped you make it past that crisis, yet here you are, burning bridges as soon as you get the chance. Is this how un grateful the Harmon family¨Cor certain family members, at least¨Cis? ¡°Why, you- Jessica fumed. She didn¡¯t expect a brat who relied on the Harmon family¡¯s protection to reb uke her like this. ¡°Aunt Jessica, don¡¯t waste your breath on this brat. All we need to do is capture him; I have plenty of w ays to make him give in!¡± Quentin fanned the mes. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t do anything rash. If youy a hand on Dustin, Natasha won¡¯t ever forgive you!¡± Ruth warne d. Jessica stiffened. Ruth¡¯s words made her stop to think for a while. Her rtionship with Natasha was al ready strained; if she were to go ahead with this, Natasha would probably sever ties with her. At this moment, the man who¡¯d been sitting opposite Jessica and the others spoke. ¡°Mrs. Harmon, I tho ught it would be easy for you to retrieve the shares, but it seems I was wrong.¡± ¡°And who are you?¡± Dustin gave him a cold look. He¡¯d noticed this man as soon as he¡¯d stepped into th e conference room. He supposed this guy was the cause of Jessica¡¯s sudden interference. ¡°The name¡¯s Williams, Brody Williams. I¡¯m from Boulderthorn Guild; my father¡¯s the second¨Cin¨C man said coolly. ¡°Mr. Williams is your father, huh?¡± Dustin raised an eyebrow in surprise. He¡¯d met Oliver Williams earlie r, it seemed Brody was his brother. ¡°I¡¯m sure you know how powerful the Boulderthorn Guild is.¡± Brody lit a cigarette and took a drag. Then, he waved a hand around and said arrogantly. ¡°So, you¡¯re left with two options¨C either you hand over the shares and take the 50 million or make an enemy out of me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t give the shares up unless Ms. Harmon personally asks me to.¡± Dustin said coolly. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Brody¡¯s expression became frosty. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about, you brat? Ha ve you thought about the consequences you¡¯d bear if you make an enemy out of the Boulderthorn Guil d?¡± ¡°Firstly, you don¡¯t represent the Boulderthom Guild. Secondly, so what if I make an enemy out of you? Do you think the Boulderthorn Guild runs the world?¡± Dustin didn¡¯t bat an eye. ¡°I admire your audacity, brat. It¡¯s been a while since someone had the nerve to speak to me like that. St Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ill you¡¯ll have to pay for your arrogance! As for the rest of you.¡± Brody grinned menacingly as he turned t o Jessica and the others. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to make an enemy out of the Boulderthorn Guild, you¡¯d bett er show me some of your sincerity in forming an alliance. If this brat refuses to give us ownership of his shares, you¡¯re the ones who¡¯ll have to cough it up. Either way, we¡¯re definitely getting our hands on 50 percent of Immortuncl¡¯s shares!¡± Jessica¡¯s expression changed at his words, as did the others. Il Dustin refused to hand over his shares, he¡¯d drag the rest of them down with him. Boulderthorn Guild was backing them into a corner. ¡°I¡¯ve already said everything there is to say: I¡¯ll leave the final decision in your hands. See you around.¡± Brody snorted and stood up. ¡°Hold it!¡± Dustin said. ¡°What, changed your mind already?¡± Brody sneered. ¡°I thought you were a tough cookie, but it seems y ou¡¯re a bigger pushover than you look.¡± Then again, it made sense. How many people in Balerno dared to stand up against the Boulderthorn Guild? ¡°At least you haven¡¯t lost all sense of rationality. Dustin. We could¡¯ve avoided all this hassle if you¡¯d just . agreed to it earlier.¡± Jessica heaved a sigh of relief. Not even the Harmon family wanted to get on the Boulderthorn Guild¡¯s bad side. Quentin scolled. ¡°So you were just pretending to be a tough guy. You had to give in to the Boulderthorn Guild in the end anyway, didn¡¯t you? Stop acting like you¡¯re such a big shol.¡± The way he saw it, Brody only had to threaten Custin a little to make him pee his pants. ¡°Brody Williams from the Boulderthorn Guild, right?¡± Dustin slowly got to his feet. ¡°Do you think you ow n this Chanter 228 ce,ing and going as you like? Did you bother asking me for permission?¡± ¡°What?¡± Brody raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean, brat?¡± ¡°Do you think you can march in here, act all high and mighty, then leave whenever you want? What ma de you think you could do that?¡± Dustin gave him the stink¨Ceye. Brody snorted and pointed at his face. ¡°What, do you wanna start a light or something? Go on, then. I d are you toy a punch on me, you-¡± Before he finished his sentence, he was sent flying by a crisp p to the face. He spun a few times mid air beforending headfirst in a gigantic vase in the corner. It wasrge enough for his whole body to fit inside. leaving his feet sticking out of the mouth, Jessica and the others were stunned to see that. Their jaws dropped, and silence descended upon the room. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Nobody expected Dustin to suddenly get physical and attack someone from the Boulderthorn Guild. Ha d he lost his mind? ¡°Dustin, are you out of your mind? How dare you attack Mr. Williams¡® son! Do you have a death wish?¡± Jessica red at him with a mixture of shock and fury. Attacking Brody was equivalent to issuing a chal lenge to the Boulderthorn Guild. ¡°You may have a fucking death wish, but the rest of us don¡¯t! Mr. Williams isn¡¯t someone you can afford to offend!¡± Quentin bellowed. Though he wanted nothing more than for Dustin to get in trouble, that did n¡¯t mean he wanted to perish with him. ¡°Dustin, you¡¯ve really done it now!¡± Even Ruth looked panicked. The Boulderthorn Guild was much too powerful; even the Harmon family wouldn¡¯t survive a retaliation from them, ¡°He¡¯s nothing but a piece of trash. What does it matter if I¡¯ve attacked him?¡± Dustin said coolly. ¡°You¨Cyou¡¯re so thickheaded!¡± Jessica red daggers at him. At this moment, Brody had finally managed to free himself from the vase. Compared to his previous dig nified appearance, he looked disheveled, with his face red and swollen from the p and being stuck in the vase. How dare youy a hand on me, you brat!¡± he bellowed. pointing at Dustin. Never in his life had he been on the receiving end of a beating: he was always the one beating people up. ¡°So what if I did? Do you really think no one has the nerve to teach you a lesson just because you thro w Boulderthorn Guild¡¯s name around like it means nothing?¡± Dustin scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re fucking dead!¡± Brody¡¯s blood boiled. He raised a list and swung it at Dustin, Earlier, Dustin had managed to get him because his guard was down; now that he knew what to expect, he wouldn¡¯t losel Dustin snorted and caught his fist easily before kicking him in the stomach. Brody howled in pain and b ent over, falling to his knees as the pain coursed through him. He curled into a ball on the floor. ¡°Dustin, stop it!¡± Jessica¡¯s expression changed drastically. Wasn¡¯t it enough that he¡¯d attacked Brody on ce? He was digging his own grave by doing it again! ¡°Fucking hell! Capture that psycho!¡± Quentin roared. At his words, the security guards in the room whip ped our electric batons and held them up threateningly. ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try!¡± At this moment, Natasha barged into the room. Her domineering aura was overpowering enough to make everyone stop what they were doing. ¡°Natasha, thank goodness you¡¯re here.¡± Jessica said grimly. ¡°This man was obnoxious enough to attac k a member of the Boulderthorn Guild in public. He¡¯s unforgivable!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯ll only be keeping a ticking time bomb around if we let him go. I say we get rid of him right here and now,¡± Quentin snarled. ¡°I¡¯ve already heard about everything that¡¯s happened today. I don¡¯t think Dustin did anything wrong.¡± Na tasha said calmly. ¡°What?¡± Jessica was taken aback. ¡°Natasha, have you lost your mind? How can he not have done anyt hing wrong when he attacked a member of the Boulderthorn Guild?¡± Natasha said calmly, ¡°He had valid reasons for doing so, Brody was throwing the Boulderthorn Guild¡¯s weight around to coerce us into giving up what belonged to us. Doesn¡¯t he deserve to be beaten up? If everyo ne were to throw their weight around and use a measly amount of money to purchase our shares, we might as well. just give them Harmon Pharmaceuticals for free!¡± Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. The others had nothing to say in retort. Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Buying 50% of the shares with 50 million dors was like robbing. It was that they didn¡¯t want to displease Boulderthorn. Therefore, rtively speaking, they could only sa crifice Dustin. With that, they didn¡¯t really need to pay the price and could also take the opportunity to be on friendly terms with Boulderthorn. However, they didn¡¯t expect that Dustin would be so unyielding. Not only did he refuse to hand over the shares. but he also attacked Brody, Plus, Natasha also happened to be strongly supporting what he ha d just done after she hurried back. Everything was such a mess that they couldn¡¯t resolve the situation. ¡°Natasha Harmon! Break his arms and legs right now! This is an order! If not, we won¡¯t have mercy on the Harmon family!¡± Brody stood up and staggered to his feet with a sullen look. ¡°Mr. Williams, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do it.¡± Natasha spoke calmly. ¡°Boulderthorn is indeed powerful, but t he Harmon family isn¡¯t weak either. Nobody is able to harm the family easily.¡± ¡°So, are you trying to set yourself against Boulderthorn because of him?¡± Brody gritted his teeth. ¡°Dustin is the Harmon family¡¯s quest. It is our responsibility to protect him. If Boulderthorn still insists, y ou¡¯ll have to defeat me first.¡± Natasha was upromising. ¡°Very well! Since you must stand in our way, do not me us for turning against the Harmon family!¡± Br ody threw a note to Natasha, which threw down the gauntlet, and said fiercely, ¡°My father had said that if you refuse to agree, we¡¯ll meet at the battle ring. We will settle things with deathmatches! ¡°If you win, the Boulderthorn will never speak anything about it again. However, if you lose, you must h and over Immortunal¡¯s shares! This is your only chance. I challenge you!¡± Brody exuded an intimidating aura, He looked like he was sure to win. ¡°Why not? I will ept it. You¡¯ll decide on the time and venue.¡± Natasha did not bat an eye. ¡°We¡¯ll have the battle at Williams Dojo tonight, at eight,¡± he said coldly and left immediately. ¡°Natasha Harmon! Have you lost your mind? How dare you provocate Boulderthorn just because of this little boy toy?¡± Quentin was flustered and exasperated. ¡°Boulderthorn¡¯s connections were more important than that country bumpkin!¡± he thought. ¡°It is not your ce to interfere with my decisions,¡± Natasha sneered, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know who in volved Boulderthorn in this?¡± ¡°You¡± Quentin, shifty¨Ceyed, looked guilty because of her usations. ¡°Natasha, Boulderthorn is one of the most powerful guilds in Balerno. You¡¯ll put yourself in trouble.¡± Jes sica knitted her brow. It would be difficult to predict what would happen once the battle started. If they lost the battle, they nee ded to give the shares away, and it would also bring the Harmon family into disrepute. ¡°Mr. Williams himself is powerful indeed, but that doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t stand a chance of winning against them.¡± Natasha replied. ¡°Win? But how? Skills and strength aside, we don¡¯t even have enough people to fight, Jessica grumble d. Natasha wasn¡¯t worried about her concern. ¡°Who said so? I¡¯ve already invited an expert from The Hund red Immortals.¡± ¡°The Hundred Immortals? Who is it?¡± Jessica asked. She was desperate for the answer. Natasha didn¡¯t reply directly. She pped her hands, and an old man with gray hair and a hawked nose Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. strode out quickly. He was wearing a ck shirt with a tall and muscr physique. He made no sound when he walked, exactly like a ghost. ¡°Is this the King of Kicks, who was ranked ninth among The Hundred Immortals?¡± Quentin couldn¡¯t help but gasp at the old man¡¯s presence. The Hundred Immortals, especially those ranked in the top ten, were all equipped with powerful skills. T he King of Kicks, ranked ninth, was famous for his kicks. He had worked on his legs for years. His kicks were second to none. Quentin once saw The King of Kicks flip a car by kicking it casually. There was no doubt that he was ex tremely skilled. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Buying 50% of the shares with 50 million dors was like robbing. It was that they didn¡¯t want to displease Boulderthorn. Therefore, rtively speaking, they could only sacrifice Dustin. With that, they didn¡¯t really need to pay the price and could also take the opportunity to be on friendly terms with Boulderthorn. However, they didn¡¯t expect that Dustin would be so unyielding. Not only did he refuse to hand over the shares. but he also attacked Brody, Plus, Natasha also happened to be strongly suppor ting what he had just done after she hurried back. Everything was such a mess that they couldn¡¯t resolve the situation. ¡°Natasha Harmon! Break his arms and legs right now! This is an order! If not, we won¡¯t have mercy on the Harmon family!¡± Brody stood up and staggered to his feet with a sullen look. ¡°Mr. Williams, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t do it.¡± Natasha spoke calmly. ¡°Boulderthorn is indeed powerf ul, but the Harmon family isn¡¯t weak either. Nobody is able to harm the family easily.¡± ¡°So, are you trying to set yourself against Boulderthorn because of him?¡± Brody gritted his teet h. ¡°Dustin is the Harmon family¡¯s quest. It is our responsibility to protect him. If Boulderthorn still i nsists, you¡¯ll have to defeat me first.¡± Natasha was upromising. ¡°Very well! Since you must stand in our way, do not me us for turning against the Harmon fa mily!¡± Brody threw a note to Natasha, which threw down the gauntlet, and said fiercely, ¡°My fath er had said that if you refuse to agree, we¡¯ll meet at the battle ring. We will settle things with dea thmatches! ¡°If you win, the Boulderthorn will never speak anything about it again. However, if you lose, you must hand over Immortunal¡¯s shares! This is your only chance. I challenge you!¡± Brody exuded an intimidating aura, He looked like he was sure to win. ¡°Why not? I will ept it. You¡¯ll decide on the time and venue.¡± Natasha did not bat an eye. ¡°We¡¯ll have the battle at Williams Dojo tonight, at eight,¡± he said coldly and left immediately. ¡°Natasha Harmon! Have you lost your mind? How dare you provocate Boulderthorn just becaus e of this little boy toy?¡± Quentin was flustered and exasperated. ¡°Boulderthorn¡¯s connections were more important than that country bumpkin!¡± he thought. ¡°It is not your ce to interfere with my decisions,¡± Natasha sneered, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t kno w who involved Boulderthorn in this?¡± ¡°You¡± Quentin, shifty¨Ceyed, looked guilty because of her usations. ¡°Natasha, Boulderthorn is one of the most powerful guilds in Balerno. You¡¯ll put yourself in trou ble.¡± Jessica knitted her brow. It would be difficult to predict what would happen once the battle started. If they lost the battle, t hey needed to give the shares away, and it would also bring the Harmon family into disrepute. ¡°Mr. Williams himself is powerful indeed, but that doesn¡¯t mean we don¡¯t stand a chance of winning against them.¡± Natasha replied. ¡°Win? But how? Skills and strength aside, we don¡¯t even have enough people to fight, Jessica g rumbled. Natasha wasn¡¯t worried about her concern. ¡°Who said so? I¡¯ve already invited an expert from Th e Hundred Immortals.¡± ¡°The Hundred Immortals? Who is it?¡± Jessica asked. She was desperate for the answer. Natasha didn¡¯t reply directly. She pped her hands, and an old man with gray hair and a hawk ed nose strode out quickly. He was wearing a ck shirt with a tall and muscr physique. He made no sound when he walked, exactly like a ghost. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Is this the King of Kicks, who was ranked ninth among The Hundred Immortals?¡± Quentin coul dn¡¯t help but gasp at the old man¡¯s presence. The Hundred Immortals, especially those ranked in the top ten, were all equipped with powerful skills. The King of Kicks, ranked ninth, was famous for his kicks. He had worked on his legs for years. His kicks were second to none. Quentin once saw The King of Kicks flip a car by kicking it casually. There was no doubt that he was extremely skilled. Chapter 232 Chapter 232 The King of Kicks made Mr. Wangley spurt out blood without even using half his strength. If he did it wit h full strength, Mr. Wangley would probably die on the spot. Were experts from the top tenths of The Hundred Immortals so scary? ¡°Brilliant! King of Kicks, you¡¯ve just blown our minds!¡± Quentin was surprised at first, then put up a smile and blew the King of Kicks with ttery. He thought that if he could be on good terms with masters like the King of Kicks, he could solve problems easily in the future with his help. ¡°Mr. Wangley, are you okay?¡± Natasha frowned slightly. One of their allies was hurt before the battle ev en started. She thought that the King of Kicks had gone too far. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Mr. Wangley wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth and paid his respects. ¡°King of Kicks, I expected no less from you. I concede defeat from the bottom of my heart.¡± ¡°At least you know your limits.¡± The old man raised his head with a sense of arrogance and defiance. ¡°Alright. Everyone, time to go back and prepare. We cannot afford to lose tonight¡¯s battle!¡± Everyone left right after Natasha gave the order. As Boulderthorn intentionally spread the news of the battle. Williams Dojo was already crowded with pe ople at 7 pm. Everyone interested in martial arts came to watch the battle. People were dueling at the b attle ring before it started. They were excited about the battle. Dustin and Ruth were the first to enter the dojo. They sat and waited at the seats. ¡°Rhys, why are you here?¡± Dustin heard a familiar voice beside him. He turned and saw Julie approachi ng him with a crowd of young people. ¡°You¡¯re here. Why can¡¯t I?¡± Dustin said calmly. ¡°Julie, who is this?¡± a muscr man beside Julle asked. ¡°Otto, this is my ex¨Ccousin¨Cin¨C ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Otto sized Dustin up and mocked, ¡°Such slim arms and legs, what a sissy. No wonder no woman wants him.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m a sissy, are you a chimpanzee? Dustin asked coolly. ¡°Chimpanzee?¡± Everyone was stunned by the statement and looked at Otto. He was a hairy man with t anned skin. He actually did look like a chimpanzee. However, they recovered from the thought quickly. ¡°Hey! What do you mean? Otto is such a line¨Clooking man¨Che doesn¡¯t look like a chimpanzee at all!¡± ¡°Do you know who he is? He¡¯s the kickboxing champion of our city! Show some respect!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Look at your arms and legs; Otto could easily break them!¡± 12 The crowd mored aggressively. Otto put on a gloomy face due to Dustin¡¯sment. ¡°You! You savage! Stop being a smart mouth. Let¡¯s have a battle and fight like a man!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in that,¡± Dustin rejected without hesitation. ¡°Not interested? I bet you are afraid,¡± Otto sneered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t be beating you to death since we can learn from each other from fighting.¡± Dustin replied nothing. Julia macked, ¡°Rhys, aren¡¯t you cocky? Why are you afraid of Otto? You don¡¯t e ven dare This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. to fight with him.¡± ¡°I can just fight with one of my hands if you are afraid. Or only with my legs, if you like. How is it? I dare you!¡± Otto provoked. ¡°Such a coward! He doesn¡¯t dare to fight with Otto even if he¡¯s only fighting with his legs!¡± ¡°Definitely! What a shame to us men!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just be a woman?¡± The crowd of young peopleughed as if they had just listened to a hrious joke. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Dustin was speechless by the moring crowd. ¡°Where did these psychopathse from?¡± he thought. They looked like they had just gone insane an d were howling and shouting nonstop, like dogs. ¡°Hey, enough!¡± Ruth, who was sitting beside them, couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. ¡°Gosh, there¡¯s a beauty here!¡± Otto¡¯s eyes lit up with a burning desire. Her outstanding figure and visual Original from N?velDrama.Org. s attracted him. ¡°Hey beautiful, you should break up with such a coward. He¡¯ll probably be busy saving his own life whe n you¡¯re in danger,¡± Otto taunted. ¡°Exactly! You should find a boyfriend like Otto. Look at his muscles. It¡¯ll make you feel secure!¡± the crow d jeered. ¡°He¡¯s so tanned and ugly. Why would a woman like a man like him?¡± Ruth snorted with a contemptuous look. ¡°Hey, what nonsense are you talking, you little bitch! Watch your mouth!¡± ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ll probably beat you up if you are not a woman!¡± The crowd grew angry after listening to what she had said. ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t bother her. She¡¯s just a woman. We should act like gentlemen.¡± Otto held his hand up t o stop them from arguing, acting like a gentleman. He didn¡¯t want to lose his manners in front of a beau ty like Ruth. ¡°Dustin, I thought you were hiding your light under a bushel. It turns out that you are a good¨Cfor¨C nothing after all. You¡¯re such a wimp. You only dare to pick up a fight with people weaker than you and even rely on women to protect you. There¡¯s no doubt why Dahlia had to dump you!¡± Julie scoffed and s hooked her head. Her upper lips curled with disdain. ¡°He didn¡¯t even dare to ept the battle with Otto. How useless!¡± she thought. ¡°Are you done? If yes, get as far away from me as you can. You¡¯re so noisy and irritating, buzzing non¨C stop like a fly.¡± Dustin stuck his finger in his ear. He thought she was so noisy. ¡°You¡± Julle gritted her teeth. Her face flushed. She nced at Otto and acted coquettishly toward him. Otto, have you heard what he had just said? He said I am a fly! How could he?¡± ¡°Insolence! How dare you say something like that to my girl! Apologize immediately, or don¡¯t me me f or being rude!¡± Otto¡¯s face fell. He had always disliked Dustin, but he never had the chance to make a f uss about it. It was perfect timing for him now as he had the reason to do so, which was to protect Julie, his girlfriend. ¡°Apologize? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of that?¡± Dustin sneered. He looked like he was looking at an Id iot. ¡°You! You better give up before it¡¯s toote! I¡¯ll show you the power of a kickboxing champion!¡± Otto wa s mad. He said nothing more and attacked. He made a small step and jumped, preparing to attack with his stealth ack, Hot Knees. That moveme nt of his was strong but cool at the same time. The opponent could easily be deleated if targeted precis ely. It was the best movement for fronting. ¡°Such badass! Otto!¡± ¡°Did you see that? This is Otto¡¯s masterstroke! He¡¯s unstoppable!¡± ¡°One must stay as far away from him as possible when he uses Hot Knees!¡± The crowd was ttering Otto when he had just started his movements. However, the next moment, Otto¡¯s body, which was still in midair, was flipped by Dustin with a smack and hit the ground. He took a huge spill and was lying on the ground, motionless, like he was dead. ¡°Otto!¡± They were stunned by the scene. They didn¡¯t expect Otto, a kickboxing champion, to be defeate d by just one move. It was insane. ¡°How weak.¡± Dustin dusted his hands off and sat down. He thought that he could finally be in peace. ¡°Otto! Otto!¡± The crowd of young people quickly helped Otto up after they realized what had happened. They tried w aking him up by pping and pinching him. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 After struggling for a while. Otto gradually regained consciousness. Since he¡¯d fallen face¨C first. he had lost his front teeth, contributing even further to his disheveled appearance. ¡°What happened?¡± He shook his head, confusion lining his features. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. He remembered the surge of power he felt as he reveled in his mastery barely seconds ago before wea kness seized him, and he found himself lying on the floo ¡°Otto, you were knocked out by that guy just now!¡± Julie told him, her expression strange. She¡¯d initially thought Otto would be able to defend her¨Ccontrary to her beliefs, the first punch found him sprawled on the floor, unconscious the next instant. ¡°Knocked out?¡± Otto was slightly taken aback. He touched his throbbing face, an argument bursting fort h. Fuck that! I must have slipped and lost my bnce. That brat would never have been able to hurt me otherwise!¡± His deration elicited a flurry of nods through the crowd. ¡°That¡¯s right! With Otto¡¯s strength, it would¡¯ve been beyond effortless for him to take that guy down. If it hadn¡¯t been for a moment of carelessness on his part, how else could that guy manage to sneak in an attack?¡± ¡°Exactly! Otto must¡¯ve been careless and didn¡¯t dodge it on time!¡± Otto¡¯s strength and skills weremon knowledge among them all. After more than a decade of professional kickboxing training and championship titles under his belt, his capabilities were unquesti onable. If it hadn¡¯t been for him underestimating the opponent, he would never have been taken down in just one move. ¡°Oh, just admit that you lost and move on. What¡¯s the use in trying to make all sorts of excuses for your self? With your mediocre martial arts skills, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to hold your own against Dustin even if he only used one hand.¡± Ruth rolled her eyes. She¡¯d never seen anyone so shameless¨Chis defiance and feigned bravado despite having been taken down squarely by the opponent irked her to n o end. ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t talk to me like that!¡± Otto red in response. ¡°People make mistakes. Hell, even the strong est. horses stumble. You think that little brat is impressive? You think he¡¯s better than me? Fine! Let him fight me again¨Cfair and square. I, for one, am interested in seeing what he¡¯s capable of.¡± ¡°What he said! If you have the guts, let Rhys fight Otto in the battle ring and see who¡¯s the real man!¡± Julie and the others chimed in. At the end of the day, all of them were convinced that Dustin had only won out of sheer luck. When it came to strength and pure skill, Otto reigned superior. ¡°What? Do you not have the guts to face me like a man?¡± The longer Dustin remained silent, the more arrogant Otto became. ¡°I knew it! That brat had always be en all talk and no show. He would never be able to stand up to the challenge!¡± ¡°He only knows how to attack when someone¡¯s back is turned. He¡¯s evidently too much of a coward to f ight. head¨Con. Guess that¡¯s the most people like him can ever achieve anyway.¡± Disdain took over the room instantly. Any surprise they¡¯d initially felt was soon reced by contempt. To them. Dustin¡¯s reluctance to rise to Otto¡¯ s challenge was the greatest sign of his quilt. ¡°Look! The Harmons are here!¡± someone eximed out of nowhere. The rest of them followed the direction of their gaze, only to behold a group led by Natasha entering fro m the passageway on the left. The King of Kicks, Mr. Wangley, Stephan, Jessica, and Quentin, among others, were present as well. ¡°No way! I didn¡¯t think they¡¯d bring Mr. Chapman along today. Now that they did, they must be determin ed to win!¡± Otto¡¯s face was a picture of surprise when he caught sight of Stephan in the crowd. ¡°Who¡¯s Mr. Chapman? Is he a good fighter?¡± Julie asked tentatively. ¡°He is much more than that,¡± Otto began. ¡°Mr. Chapman is the best of the best. He¡¯s one of the best among The Hundred Immortals¨Cskill¨C wise, it¡¯s hard to find someone in Swinton who can rival his abilities!¡± ¡°The best among The Hundred Immortals? No wonder his aura stands out! The way he carries himself i s truly remarkable.¡± A group of disciples watched Stephan make his entrance fervently, their eyes glea ming with respect. After all, anyone who could make it into The Hundred Immortals demanded every shred of respect they could possibly offer. Otto, do you know Mr. Chapman?¡± Julie asked with interest. It was, undoubtedly, an honor to be acquai nted with such a renowned master of martial arts in Swinton. ¡°Do I know him? I don¡¯t just know him¨C I had the privilege to learn a few tricks from him, and I¡¯m still reaping the benefits from his invaluable le ssons today!¡± Otto¡¯s voice dripped with pride. ¡°Of course you did! To have learned from Mr. Chapman is such an incredible achievement in itself. I en vy you!¡± ¡°No wonder you fight so well, Otto. The apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree, indeed!¡± The praisesvished upon him made Otto feel rather high and mighty. As they were still engaged in conversation, Stephan walked over suddenly. ¡°Otto! Herees Mr. Chapman! He seems to be walking toward you!¡± Julie said with excitement. ¡°Quick! Prepare to wee Mr. Chapman properly!¡± Otto¡¯s face lit up. He adjusted his clothes hastily and went up to Stephan with the rest of his followers. ¡°Mr. Chap-¡± he began fawningly. Unexpectedly, Stephan barely spared him a single nce. Instead, he sidestepped him and, under the watchful and somewhat astonished gaze of the bewildered group, the renowned master walked up to D ustin, raised his arms in the universal gesture of respect, and intoned gravely, ¡°Greetings, Mr. Rhys-¡° Chapter 235 Chapter 235 ¡°Mr. Rhys?¡± Otto and hispany were entirely dumbfounded by Stephan¡¯s disy of respect toward Dustin. Never in their wildest dreams had they ever anticipated the renowned Mr. Chapman to havee forward speci fically for Dustin, let alone greet him with such reverence.. What was happening? ¡°Mr. Chapman, it¡¯s been a while. Your abilities seem to have improved.¡± A quick nce from Dustin dre w his attention to the differences he spotted in the other man almost at once. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to the Gemiphen you gave me, of course. Not only did it heal my internal injuries, it gave me ample power to have a small breakthrough.¡± Stephan¡¯s face was filled with gratitude. ¡°Really? I suppose congrattions are in order, then.¡± Dustin smiled faintly. ¡°Mr. Rhys, where you¡¯re sitting now doesn¡¯t seem befitting for your status. How about we head over to t he reserved seats for the Harmon family?¡± Stephan gestured with one hand, still courteous as ever. ¡°Very well. This ce is infested with flies anyway. I¡¯d rather sit amidst humans¨C less tiresome.¡± Dustin nodded, not refusing the offer. Just as they prepared to leave, Otto couldn¡¯t help but speak up. ¡°Mr. Chapman-¡± ¡°What?¡± Stephan turned, his expression cold. The way he treated Otto was theplete opposite of w hen he¡¯d been conversing with Dustin earlier. ¡°Mr. Chapman, I¡¯m Otto Marsh. We met before, and you gave me a few pointers too.¡± Otto attempted to turn the situation in his favor. ¡°I¡¯ve given pointers to a lot of people. As for you¨C I have no recollection at all.¡± Stephan left after replying dismissively. Otto stood paralyzed, awkwardness creeping up his features. To have boasted for so long only to be brutally rejected was humiliating beyond words. ¡°Who¡¯s that little brat anyway? How could he turn out to be acquainted with Mr. Chapman?¡± someone a sked. ¡°He looks like a pretty boy taken in by Ms. Harmon. If it hadn¡¯t been for his rtionship with the Harmon s, Mr. Chapman would never stoop down to this level otherwise, let alone treat someone like him so respectfu lly!¡± Julie said indignantly. ¡°After all that fuss, he turns out to be nothing but a leech, basking in the glory of the Harmon family. To think that I, for a second, genuinely believed him to be someone important!¡± Otto released a sigh of relief, though his expression was contemptuous. There was no glory in depending on women to climb the ranks. A real man depended on no one else b ut himself and his own strength! ¡°Finally, Come sit.¡± As Natasha caught sight of Dustin, she immediately patted the seat next to herself, signaling for him to sit. Dustin didn¡¯t hesitate either. He gracefully took his seat and said, ¡°Boulderthorn is well¨C prepared this time. I advise you to be more cautious.¡± Natasha had yet to reply when Quentin, who was sitting beside her, scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. With the King of Kicks on our side, victory is guaranteed to be ours!¡± ¡°If that is indeed the situation, I suppose it couldn¡¯t be more perfect, then.¡± Dustin smiled lightly and sai d no more. Amid the low hum of conversation, another group emerged from the right passageway. At their very fro nt was a man about thirty years of age, d in white. The man¡¯s eyebrows were sharp, his demeanor c ommanding along with those strongly piercing eyes. The crowd parted around him easily, allowing his p resence to stand out with minimal effort. This man was the principal disciple of Mr. Williams, Maximus Kane. Behind him, Brody Williams and his tropes followed as well. As soon as the two sides met, tensions rose immediately. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I admire your courage to rise to my challenge, but today, victory belongs to none other th an Boulderthorn!¡± Brody was the first to speak.. ¡°Words are futile. Prove it to me with your actions if you really believe so.¡± Natasha returned indifferentl y. ¡°I will! Today¡¯s fight will be something else¨C there shall be no limits on the number of rounds and participants. Thest person standing in the battle ring is the victor. How does that sound?¡± ¡°I have no objections to that.¡± Natasha nodded. In order to make it count, they had to make the other pa rty submit to them wholeheartedly. Upon reaching an agreement, both sides began their preparations. Shortly after, the first matchmenced. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. Boulderthorn was the first to mount the ring. Their first contestant was an exceedingly heavyset beast of a man. Ever y step he took sent shudders down the loosely¨Changing flesh on his body. The sight of him was ratherical, to say the least. When he climbed up the battle ring and took his position, he even held the leg of roasted mutton in one hand. his teeth tearing into the meat voraciously. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 ¡°What¡¯s going on with Boulderthorn? Why would they send that chunkster on stage? With his physique, he¡¯ll be out of breath after taking just a few steps¨C can he even handle the Battle Royale?¡± Quentin scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate the opponent. Since Boulderthom dares send him into the ring, he must have so me extraordinary qualities that could potentially push the tide in their favor. Which one of you wants to g o first?¡± Natasha asked the three of them. ¡°Ms. Harmon, let me handle the first round.¡± Stephan stood and strode into the battle ring. Among the three of them, his strength appeared to be the weakest. Because of that, it was only natural that he took the lead. After all, if he co uld secure their victory in the first match, he might as well haveid the foundation for their eventual wi n, ¡°Dustin, who do you think would win? Ruth asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s hard to tell. The chunkster looks peculiar enough, but if Mr. Chapman can find his weaknesses and attack. focally, he might still stand a chance.¡± Dustin analyzed. ¡°Hmph! That¡¯s so close¨C minded!¡± Quentin pursed his lips. ¡°What right does he have to fight against Mr. Chapman? A few rounds of simply running around, and he¡¯ll be as good as dead!¡± Dustin did not argue against that. Instead, he fixed his gaze on the battle ring, seemingly deep in thoug ht. Meanwhile, in the battle ring, both parties prepared themselves as the referee mounted the stage. ¡°There are no rules in this ring. Live or die¨C that¡¯s on you. Surrendering, severe injuries, death, or being thrown out of the ring will result in a loss of said round. Do the both of you understand?¡± The referee threw his hands down as soon as the two contestants nodded. ¡°Let the games begin!¡± With a frenzied shout, the atmosphere around the ring instantly surged to a new peak. ¡°I¡¯ve long heard about the many talents cultivated under the lead of Mr. Williams. I¡¯m honored to be abl e to witness them with my own eyes today!¡± After a firm salute, Stephan took a step forward andunched his first attack. The strategy he elected was to take control of the fight and exhaust his opponent. As the man¡¯s physiq ue was beyond massive, his strength was apparent. Direct attacks were not a smart option if he wanted tost in the ring. To be on the safe side, he had to fully leverage the advantages of his lightweight body and the subsequ ent agileness it inevitably brought him. Stephan inched closer toward his opponent but did notunch a frontal attack. Instead, he rounded to t back of the chunkster and pped him on the back. The A crisp p rang out, but the chunkster stood unmoving. Throughout his body, his flesh rippled and tre mbled shudderingly. The force brought down by Stephan¡¯s palm had beenpletely dissipated by the violent Chapter 2.36 shudders of flesh, leaving the manpletely unaffected by its magnitude. ¡°So, this is what it is then?¡± Stephan¡¯s gaze narrowed, but he didn¡¯t stop. He delivered two more sharp, consecutive ps¨C one to the chunkster¡¯s waist, the other to his back. Both of themnded on spots that should¡¯ve been vulnerable had it not been for the protection of his voluminous flesh and body fat that s hielded Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. him from even remotely sensing the impact of Stephan¡¯s punches. Contrary to what Stephan expected, his opponent paid him no heed despite his efforts to garner his attention. From the start, he simply chewed on the roasted mutton leg he held in one hand,pletely disregarding Stephan¡¯s presence. Stephan was beginning to get mad. His palms transformed into brutal fists that pounded wildly from top to bottom in rapid session. The series of punches heunched after that was almost crazed and merciless. and yet the chunkster continued devouring th e mutton leg with the fervor of a famished man. Stephan¡¯s pride, having suffered the fall it did, transmuted into wild fury. As his rage suffused him, he d elivered a swift kick to the mutton in the chunkster¡¯s hands and watched with satisfaction as the man turned to him. stunned at first. Then, a roar followed as he charged toward Stephan with astonishing speed, his actions reminiscent of a distraught bear. A moment of carelessness had him colliding head¨Con with the chunkster¡¯s advance¨Chis body air¨C bound the next moment and his gut churning. Midair, the chunkster¡¯s head struck him squarely in the chest, sending him flying even further, a mouthful of bright¨Cred blood spilling from his lips. Before he knew it, he was already on the ground, thrown out of the battle ring before he¡¯d even gotten t he chance to retaliate. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 ¡°How could this happen? Mr. Chapman lost?¡± Quentin¡¯s face was ck with shock as he beheld Stephan¡¯s injuries and the blood he was still coughing up as a result of the man¡¯s attack. He¡¯d never anticipated the strength the chunkster had shown¨C not even Mr. Chapman could rival that kind of power. ¡°Who is that chunkster? Not even Mr. Chapman could break through his defenses- Natasha¡¯s face grew serious. She was well aware of the extent of Stephan¡¯s capabilities. He was a mar tial artist who specialized in harnessing the body¡¯s internal energy, and his punches were enough to bre ak through store. And yet, for someone of his expertise to have not been able to impact the other man in the slightest¨C it was evident that his opponent would not be easily defeated by ordinary means alone. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, he¡¯s Mr. Williams¡® second disciple. They call him Rotund Tiger.¡± Mr. Wangley stroked his beard and said nonchntly. ¡°This person might seem simple¨C minded, but the talent he possesses when ites to martial arts is extraordinary. His body is capable of both attack and defense- it¡¯s tough yet flexible. It¡¯s very difficult for someone unfamiliar with his fighting style to take him on sessfully.¡± ¡°Mr. Wangley, can you take him on?¡± Natasha asked in return. ¡°I can¡¯t guarantee a win, but I think I have an eighty to ny percent chance of holding my own against him.¡± Mr. Wangley¡¯s tone was proud. ¡°Good. Please do your best then, Mr. Wangley.¡± Natasha nodded imperceptibly. ¡°Mr. Wangley, the man¡¯s weakness lies on the crown of his head. If you time your attacks well and seiz e the opportunity when it presents itself, you might be able to take him down in one strike!¡± Dustin spok e up suddenly. It¡¯d only taken him a single round to discern the opponent¡¯s vulnerable spots. If they wanted to win, it was crucial to strike where the opponent was the weakest¨C not only would that ensure an easy win, but it would also further guarantee their overall victory. ¡°What? Are you trying to tell me what to do?¡± Mr. Wangley peered at Dustin out of the corner of his eye, his tone displeased. ¡°I¡¯m just offering a friendly reminder.¡± ¡°A reminder? Do I look like I need your reminders? Mr. Wangley sneered. ¡°Who do you think you are, b oy? What right do you have to tell me how to take this man down? Do you think you¡¯re stronger than m e?¡± ¡°Dustin! Shut your mouth if you don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. Does Mr. Wangley look like he ne eds your advice to win? Really, it¡¯s about time someone put you in your ce for a change!¡± Quentin was e qually impatient. ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, it¡¯s your call. Forget it, then.¡± Dustin shrugged. There was no point in trying to r eason with them anyway. He¡¯d only thought to offer a suggestion out of pure goodwill. Since none of them appreciated it, he wouldn¡¯t scramble to make them listen, either. ¡®Little brat! Keep your eyes wide open and look at how it really is done!¡± Mr. Wangley turned and spran g away. leaving Dustin with those words. The older man scared into the battle ring like a proud eagle, nding steadily amid the feverish apuse from the audience. Someone whistled, raucous cheers erupting all over in response to Mr. Wangley¡¯s elegant move. The chunkster, however, paid him no attention. He picked up the fallen mutton leg and continued devouring it vehemently. ¡°Young man, that Adamantine Shield of yours is undeniably impressive, but unfortunately, you¡¯re faced with me tonight. It is only fate for you to end up as my stepping stone!¡± Mr. Wangley ced both hands behind his back, arrogance permeating his features. ¡°Chunkster! Knock this old man out of the ring, and I¡¯ll treat you to a whole roastedmb in return!¡± Bro dy shouted from the audience. ¡°Lamb¡­mb!¡± The chunkster¡¯s eyes lit up as he turned to Mr. Wangley. At present, it was not a renowned fighter who stood. before him but the promise of a fragrant, whole roastedmb. ¡°Defeat you eatmb!¡± He struggled to utter a few words from his limited vocabry beforeunching his first attack. With a stomp, the chunkster charged towar d Mr. Wangley like the sputtering engine of a car, violently aiming for a collision. ¡°Ineffectual amateur!¡± Mr. Wangley flexed his soles and sprang,nding not a momentter on the chunkster¡¯s back. Then, without pausing, he extended his fingers and struck the pressure points pr esent on the chunkster¡¯s back relentlessly. The chunkster stumbled along with Mr. Wangley¡¯s momentum. He swayed, seconds away from losing h is bnce. ¡°Lamb! Meat!¡± The chunkster was growing impatient now. His assault became crazed and frantic, but Mr. Wangley was smart enough not to meet them head¨C on. Instead, he ducked agilely,unching a few sneak attacks here and there as he egged his opponent on. When it came to manipting the pressure points of his opponent to turn the situation in his favor, he w as, no doubt, an expert. He believed that no matter how strong the chunkster¡¯s defenses were, he could effectively target his pressure points and bring him down, once and for all! At the end of the day, those were the p oints he believed to be the chunkster¡¯s weaknesses. His idea was undeniably a good one, but as time passed, Mr. Wangley couldn¡¯t help but feel that somet hing was off. Because of the chunkster¡¯s build, his delenses were different from the patterns exhibited by the usual a damantine shields wielded by the opponents he¡¯d faced in the past. Thet on his body was key in dissipating the impact of his attempted attacks. As for the pressure point s he¡¯d been targeting all this while, they only proved to be mildly effective for a short period of time befo re fully W recovering shortly after, rendering most of his strikes ineffective. After their long¨C withstanding struggle, the chunkster appeared to be spirited while Mr. Wangley seemed more out of breath than ever. The consumption of energy after channeling the internal energy he possessed drained him to the core. ¡°This is impossible!¡± Mr. Wangley eximed inwardly, his brow knitted. The chunkster¡¯s appearance was unremarkable, but he was extremely tenacious. ¡°Mr. Wangley! Try targeting the crown of his head! That¡¯s where his weakness lies!¡± Natasha¡¯s voice ra ng out from the audience. No one believed Dustin but her. ¡°That brat speaks nothing but nonsense! He¡¯s just trying to disrupt the state of my mind!¡± Mr. Wangley¡¯s expression was icy. Not even he could identify the chunkster¡¯s weaknesses, let alone someone whose name he hadn¡¯t even heard of in his entire life. He was not about to believe his words just like that. ¡°I need to finish this soon! And quickly!¡± His stamina was swiftly waning, and he couldn¡¯t afford to waste any more time. Mr. Wangley threw himself forward boldly, targeting a punch toward the chunkster¡¯s throat. That area h ad the least amount of flesh¨Cit must be his opponent¡¯s weakest spot. If itnded where he intended to, the subsequent effects would be extraordinary. ¡°Gotcha!¡± The chunkster grinned as he grabbed ahold of Mr. Wangley¡¯s wrist. ¡°Shit-¡°Mr. Wangley¡¯s expression changed as the magnitude of the situation he was caught in dawned upon him. He was about to pull back, only to realize he couldn¡¯t break free. ¡°Up you go!¡± The chunkster bellowed and tossed Mr. Wangley up in the air, spinning him around. About ten rounds or soter, he swatted the old man like a fly and sent him crashing to the ground. A loud boom reverberated around the arena, shaking it momentarily. Mr. Wangley coughed up blood as he convulsed on the ground before stillingpletely. He was sever ely injured, rendered motionless by the impact of his fall. That plummet must have also broken a great number of his bones. ¡°Mr. Wangley!¡± Quentin stood up immediately. Shock and, inexplicably, fear had taken hold of his featur es. When he¡¯d watched Mr. Wangley¡¯s attempts to take control of the situation earlier, he thought victory was theirs at longst. Never in his wi ldest dreams would he imagine the tides to turn on them. ¡°Quick! Get a doctor over here!¡± Natasha¡¯s expression was stem as she ordered someone to lift Mr. Wa ngley off the ground. ¡°Even Mr. Wangley lost to this chunkster, Could he actually be invincible?¡± Ruth¡¯s brows were perpetual ly furrowed, worry evident on her face. The situation was far from optimistic after losing two rounds in a row. ¡°Another great master from the Harmons has fallen. Looks like their loss today is inevitable! Otto shook his head. ¡°Exactly! Competing against Boulderthorn today was a surefire way to bring disgrace upon themselves. Not even the Harmons could emerge victorious against an opponent this powerful!¡± Julie grinned gleef ully. After knowing that Dustin had connections with the Harmon family, she couldn¡¯t help but take pleasure i n the misfortune of said family. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be so sure about that.¡± Suddenly, a man spoke up from beside them. ¡°I heard the Harmons s Original from N?velDrama.Org. till have their biggest trump card to turn this around!¡± ¡°What trump card?¡± Otto asked tentatively. ¡°This trump card of theirs is none other than the warrior ranked ninth among the Hundred Immortals, th e King of Kicks!¡± Chapter 238 Chapter 238 ¡°The King of Kicks?¡± ¡°The one ranked ninth on The Hundred Immortals?¡± Everyone looked astonished upon hearing the mention. They had clearly heard of the King of Kicks¨C those who ranked on The Hundred Immortals were extraordinary talents, not to mention the legends w ho made it into the top ten! A powerful man like the King of Kicks wouldmand respect anywhere he went. His presence at their unremarkable guild was akin to an attack from a higher level. Not even the Boulderthorn disciples coul d overshine him. ¡°Wow! I¡¯m surprised that the Harmons have hired the King of Kicks! They are indeed wealthy!¡± ¡°With the King of Kicks around, the Harmons are definitely winning the battle.¡± ¡°He can take on every single opponent at the scene with his capability!¡± After the initial shock, the spectators started to anticipate the fight. After today, they could boast that the y had witnessed the King of Kicks in action. ¡°Ms. Harmon, your martial artists seem weak. Why don¡¯t you send the top gun?¡± Brody challenged her with a sneer. Winning two consecutive rounds boosted his confidence. ¡°Sir Cavaliere, I¡¯ll bank on you.¡± Natasha looked at the hawk¨Cnosed elder. ¡°Hmph! Didn¡¯t I tell you not to waste your time? What are those two good¨Cfor¨C nothings doing here?¡± The man appeared disdainful. His remark upset Stephan and Mr. Wangley, who were being treated for their injuries on the side. Still, they dared not talk back to him. ¡°Sir Cavaliere, you¡¯re right. These two aren¡¯t at the same level as you. They¡¯re just here to fill up the qu ota,¡± Quentin quickly sucked up to the King of Kicks.. ¡°Please, Sir Cavaliere.¡± Natasha, refusing to engage in more talk, gestured toward the battle ring. ¡°Sure! Since I¡¯m paid to do this, I¡¯ll walk around the ring!¡± He smiled and marched right into the ring. His appearance led to a hugemotion among the audience. ¡°Fuck! It¡¯s truly the King of Kicks! Am I dreaming?¡± ¡°That¡¯s unexpected! The Harmons must have spent a fortune to get him here!¡± ¡°When you have one of the top ten from The Hundred Immortals in the ring, it¡¯s practically a massacre, isn¡¯t it?¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I thought the Harmons were going to lose! But the tables have turned!¡± The atmosphere in the guild reached a climax due to the presence of the King of Kicks. ¡°Although this has cost us a fortune, it is worth it solely for the shock factor. The corner of Jessica¡¯s lips curled into a rare smile. ¡°That¡¯s true! Once the King of Kicks defeats the lineup from Mr. Williams¡® side, no one will look for troub le with us anymore!¡± Quentin concurred with a nod. ¡°Too bad the King of Kicks is an egotistical lone wolf. We can¡¯t work with him for long.¡± Natasha shook her head regretfully. ¡°Oh, what do you know? Legends are special and act in their own ways. That¡¯s why they¡¯re different fro m us!¡± Quentin sounded like a know¨Cit¨Call and was promptly ignored by Natasha. ¡°Silence!¡± The hawk¨C nosed elder pressed on the floor of the ring. When the audience quieted, he announced, ¡°I have caught the flu and felt sick today. Therefore, I shall surrender and forfeit the battle today!¡± Chaos erupted among the audience. ¡°What? Is he surrendering?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be! He¡¯s the King of Kicks and ninth on The Hundred Immortals. How could he give up beca use of flu?¡± ¡°Fuck! That¡¯s no surrender. He¡¯s doing it on purpose!¡± The audience was stunned and confused as they didn¡¯t expect the King of Kicks to act in such a way. A fter going into the ring, he surrendered before the battle. What was that? Was there some shady deal g oing on? ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why did he surrender?¡± Jessica and her group exchanged astonished nces. The Ki ng of Kicks had received the payment but surrendered before he rendered his services. He had crossed a lin e! ¡°Did he switch sides at thest minute?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes, looking hostile. He had not expecte d the King of Kicks to pull off that trick. ¡°Sir Cavaliere! What was that?¡± Natasha shot up from her seat, looking frosty. The whole reason she ac cepted the invitation to the battle was because she had him as an ace card. His unexpected behavior had mes sed up her ns. ¡°Ms. Harmon, you paid me to join the battle, but you did not specify that I have to win. Isn¡¯t it a normal t hing to fall sick and give up on the battle?¡± He shed a half smile at her. *Sir! You are a respected senior in the martial arts world! Aren¡¯t you worried you¡¯d be the butt of the jokes if you flip¨C flopped on your promises?¡± Natasha chided him. ¡°The butt of jokes? I am an honorable and upright man. No one dares to joke about me.¡± His eyes swep t across the area, and those who felt his gaze quickly lowered their heads in deference. ¡°Sir Cavaliere, I believe I have treated you generously. Why would you do this?¡± She furrowed her brow . At that moment, she was no longer oblivious to the fact that she had been fooled. The King of Kicks a greed to join the battle, only to surrender at a critical moment, catching her off¨C guard. It was a cruel and raw betrayal! ¡°Ms. Harmon, I do not see the need to hide the truth from you.¡± The hawk¨C nosed old man straightened his shirt and said to her, ¡°I y fair, and I work for the highest bidder. This t ime around, someone has offered me a higher price. So, I can¡¯t help you out. Of course, I can reconsid er my decision if you¡¯re willing to bid for my service at a higher price.¡± ¡°Are you marking up the price now?¡± There was a wintry look in Natasha¡¯s attractive eyes. ¡°Since this is a transaction, it¡¯s only normal to mark up prices at thest minute.¡± He showed no guilt in his DUT behavior. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± She sneered, feeling aghast at the rotten character of the King of Kicks she had pa instakingly hired. ¡°Ms. Harmon, if you refuse to offer a higher price, I shall leave the ring.¡± He looked like he was about to leave. ¡°Wait! We¡¯ll do it!¡± Jessica¡¯s face fell apart, and she immediately stopped him. If the King of Kicks surre ndered, the Harmons would lose the battle without a doubt! They had to ept the fact, even if he had demanded more money at the eleventh hour. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Your replyes toote.¡± He sneered at them and walked up to the Boulderthorn guild gan g in front of everyone. The Harmons instantly paled upon witnessing that. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 The Harmons were shocked that the handsomely¨C paid King of Kicks had tricked them instead of lending them a helping hand. At that moment, they were lost and helpless. Meanwhile, the Boulderthorn guild was all smiles, a stark contrast to the anger and indignation on the H Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. armons¡® end. ¡°Hahaha Ms. Harmon, your family has lost three rounds. Anyone else wants to get into the ring? If not, we¡¯ll dere victory!¡± Brodyughed insolently. Very few knew the fact that the King of Kicks was a goo d friend of Mr. Williams. The betrayal was part of his n as well. That would force the Harmons into a corner! ¡°Oh no! Are the Harmons leaving in defeat?¡± ¡°I was looking forward to a great battle tonight. Who knew we¡¯d witness such a botched situation!¡± ¡°At the end of the day, the Harmons have fallen into a trap. The King of Kicks that they wasted the effort on recruiting turns out to be a rat from the Boulderthorn guild!¡± ¡°Might is right! There¡¯s no point arguing over this. The Harmons are destined to lose!¡± There was a lot of gossip surrounding the sharp turn of events. People were shocked and sympathetic; some were even gleeful at the disaster. ¡°Natasha, your King of Kicks is a sham! What do we do now? Do we take the defeat?¡± Quentin put on a n odd and critical look. Natasha bit her lips but said nothing. The situation had unfolded beyond her control, and she wondered if there was anyone who could save the day. ¡°Ms. Harmon, is anyone from your side going into the ring? Just admit defeat if you have no one else to send. Stop wasting time,¡± Brody challenged her again. ¡°Yeah! Just admit defeat! Don¡¯t waste our time!¡± Those from the Boulderthorn guild chanted, and the Ha rmons had nothing to say in return, only upset looks on their faces. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± A voice boomed and echoed in the guild. Everyone looked at the handsome man who emerged from the crowd. It was Dustin Rhys! ¡°Huh?¡± The audience standing beside him was puzzled. ¡°Rhys! Are you kidding? The audacity to join the battle!¡± Quentin was taken aback before sniggering as he gave Dustin a look of disbelief. ¡°Dustin, stop fooling around! Even Mr. Wangsley and the rest were no match for the Boulderthorn guild. What can you do up there? Losing your life?¡± Jessica rebuked, but she was more concerned about the reputation of the Harmons than Dustin¡¯s safety. If he lost the battle, the Harmon family¡¯s reputation would suffer. ¡°Dustin, you don¡¯t have to take the risk. If they want our stocks, we¡¯ll give it to them.¡± Natasha was worri ed for her man. No amount of stocks or benefits was worth risking his life lor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He smiled. ¡°I will not offer them our stocks, and I¡¯ll save our reputation!¡± With that, he marched into the ring. He wasn¡¯t nning on getting involved, but he was forced to do so after the King of Kicks switched sides at thest minute. ¡°Sis, do you not want to stop him?¡± Ruth was a little concerned. ¡°He¡¯s not a reckless man. If he¡¯s fine with joining the battle, he must be confident in his chances of winn ing.¡± Natasha put on a brave face, but her eyes betrayed her worry. However, she had no choice but to trust him unconditionally in such a critical time. ¡°Kiddo, you must be on a suicide mission! How dare youe into the ring?¡± Brodyughed like a man iac and stared at Dustin like he was looking at a dead man. He had been thinking hard about getting re venge against Dustin, but Dustin made it easy for him. ¡°Who is that?¡± Maximus questioned. ¡°Max, that¡¯s the inventor of Immortunol. He was the one who pped me this morning.¡± Brody exine d. Chapter 240 Chapter 240 ¡°Oh, it¡¯s him.¡± Maximus smiled coolly. ¡°It¡¯s really gutsy of a physician to join the battle. Looks like the Harmons have r un out of candidates.¡± Dustin¡¯s appearance came as a shock to the members of the Boulderthorn guild as well as Julie and her group. ¡°Is he crazy? He can¡¯t even beat me. What makes him think he¡¯s capable of fighting the Boulderthorn m asters? to Marsh was dumbfounded by Dustin¡¯s decision. Even Mr. Chapman was beaten to a pulp in the ring. Where did a weakling like Dustin get the courage to enter the ring? ¡°Hmph! He still wants to show off at this point in time. That¡¯s just courting death.¡± Julie chuckled gleefull y. She looked forward to Dustin being beaten up badly onstage. ¡°You¡¯re damn right! Even Otto knows better than to show off at this serious event. That dude is on a sui cide mission!¡± The group of youngsters scoffed at Dustin, whom they believed was an attention¨C seeker. An average person should never get involved in the battle of the masters, for a tiny slip¨C up could cost one¡¯s life. ¡°Young man, are you sure you¡¯d like to fight on behalf of the Harmon family? The hawk¨C Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. nosed elder suddenly questioned in a threatening voice. Everyone in the guild could hear him well, even though he wasn¡¯t speaking loudly. The elder had made it clear that anyone w ho represented the Harmons would be his enemy. ¡°Well, at least I¡¯m not as shameless as those who took the money but refused to make good on their promise and even stabbed others in the back!¡± Dustin taunted him mercil essly. ¡°Even dogs are thankful to the hand that feeds them. I guess that somebody is worse than an ani mal.¡± The audience gasped and murmured upon hearing the remark. They were already startled when Dustin went on the stage, but they were once again shocked by his audacity to mock the King of Kicks in publ ic. Was Dustin Rhys ying with fire? ¡°You punk! Do you even hear what you¡¯re saying?¡± The old man¡¯s expression crumbled. ¡°Why? Can¡¯t stand being criticized for your actions? You¡¯re just a greedy, dishonest, and ungrateful bas tard, aren¡¯t you?¡± Dustin jeered at him. ¡°You have a death wish!¡± The old man stared coldly at Dustin, but he was stopped by Maximus before h e could make a move. ¡°Sir Cavaliere, we cannot break the rules of the battle. You should leave any per sonal grudges for post¨Cbattle.¡± ¡°You punk! I sure hope you survive!¡± The hawk¨Cnosed old man scoffed and begrudgingly took his seat. ¡°Sir Cavaliere, calm down. That punk is certainly going to be dead today.¡± Brody cackled and yelled in t he direction of the ring. ¡°Chunkster, smash him! I¡¯ll give you two more mutton legs if you cripple him!¡± ¡°Mutton leg! Mutton leg!¡± Chunkster giggled, his eyes shining bright when he stared at Dustin, Before th e referee even officiated the match, he had hurled himself toward Dustin at high speed and with explosi ve energy like an invincible human tank. Compared to Chunkster, Dustin was as thin as a rail. ¡°That punk is going to die! Not even Mr. Chapman could beat Chunkster. Dustin Rhys is going to be mi nced meat in the ring.¡± Otto chuckled with anticipation. ¡°He deserves it for being a show¨C off.¡± Julie crossed her arms on her chest and waited for ill fate to befall Dustin. Just when everyone thought that it was a David and Goliath battle with a clear winner, Dustin suddenly made a move. He kicked against the ground andunched himself forward like an agile serpent. When he wa s near Chunkster, ne quickly leaped into the air, tapping his index and middle fingers on the Meridian p oint on top of Chunkster¡¯s head with precision. With a grunt. Chunkster immediately cked out in the ring. Due to the momentum, his ball¨C like figure elerated for a good ten feet beforeing to a stop and dropping off the tform with a thud. The audience watched on, their jaws dropping on the floor. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 ¡°What the fuck? Has the battle ended?¡± The audience in the guild stared at Chunkster, who was lying t on the ground lifelessly. They looked at each other in disbelief. At first, they thought that Dustin would never win, but the battle ended with a huge twist. More importantly, Dustin had only made one move throughout the battle, which was terrifyin g, to say the least. ¡°Fuck! That dude won? What happened?¡± Otto¡¯s eyes widened, and he looked incredulous. Dustin Rhy s beat Chunkster, who had defeated Mr. Chapman. Would that mean Dustin was more powerful than M r. Chapman? ¡°I¨Cimpossible! That guy must have pulled some tricks. Why else could he win without breaking a sweat?¡± Julie vehemently sho ok her head, refusing to ept the oue. ¡°What happened just now? Why did Chunkster copse after the touch?¡± Brody was confounded. Chuc kster¡¯s defense should have been imprable for most, except for Maximus and the King of Kicks. W hat trick did Dustin pull to win? ¡°He¡¯s quite something. He found Chunkster¡¯s weakness in no time.¡± Maximus narrowed his eyes and appeared quite taken aback. The others might be oblivious to the strategy behind the move, but Maximus knew that Dustin had found Chunkster¡¯s weakness and f ocused his attack on it, which resulted in the surprise victory. ¡°No wonder he was so confident. He came prepared.¡± The hawk¨C nosed old man scoffed. He would have acknowledged Dustin¡¯s talent if thetter had taken down the o pponent with his skills, but the trick that Dustin pulled was cowardly. ¡°Hahaha! He won! Dustin, you¡¯re awesome!¡± After oveing the shock, Ruth jumped up and down wit h joy. ¡°What¡¯s so great about it? He had to thank Mr. Wangley and Mr. Chapman for exhausting Chunkster. H e wouldn¡¯t have taken advantage of Chunkster otherwise.¡± Quentin was a little jealous about Dustin¡¯s w in. In his opinion, Dustin merely beat the opponent due to luck. Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mr. Wangley, Mr. Rhys was right. Chunkster¡¯s weakness is on the top of his head.¡± Stephan, who was being. treated for his injury, shot a nce at Mr. Wangley, who seemed embarrassed and quiet. The unexpected victory set the crowd aze. Most were confused and doubtful about Dustin¡¯s move, b ut he proved that the Harmons still had a chance to fight and win. ¡°Is that all the Boulderthorn disciples have to show?¡± Dustin stood boastfully in the ring with a disdainful smile on his lips. ¡°That insolent bastard!¡± ¡°How dare you? ¡°This is too much!¡± Upon hearing the insult, the Boulderthorn gang stood up in rage. Anyone who looked down on their g uild would be ying with fire! ¡°You punk! You¡¯d better tone down your ego!¡± Brody angrily pped the table and shot up, ¡°Quit the nonsense. If you can, take me on.¡± Dustin was as calm as ever as he looked down upon thos e beneath him. Right then, the hawk¨C nosed elder suddenly cackled menacingly. ¡°Kiddo, did you really think you could show off a couple of a mateur moves over here?¡± ¡°If you do not believe me,e try it out for yourself.¡± Dustin wiggled his fingers at the old man provoca tively. ¡°Great! If death is what you¡¯re after, I shall grant your wish.¡± The old man finally lost it and walked up to the ring. At the sight, everyone at the scene cheered enthusiastically. ¡°Great! The King of Kicks finally joins the battle!¡± ¡°How dare that dude challenge the King of Kicks? He doesn¡¯t know his limits.¡± ¡°Either way. he¡¯s going to lose. At least he¡¯d lose with glory if he is defeated by the King of Kicks.¡± ¡°Hmph! The King of Kicks is known to be violent. He wouldn¡¯t go easy on that kid.¡± The crowd was murmuring about the scene in the ring. Otto snickered. ¡°Well, at least the punk will die an honorable death in the hands of the King of Kicks!¡± ¡°He¡¯s too reckless! Did he think he could call the shots after his one lucky victory? Facing off the King o f Kicks is the same as staring at death!¡± Julie couldn¡¯t resist the touch of schadenfreude. But she admitt ed that Dustin had given her many surprises. At the end of the day, she believed that he wouldn¡¯t escap e his fate of being butchered. ¡°That old fart is utterly despicable! When he was repping the Harmons, he immediately ceded the fight. Now, he¡¯s fighting against us. He¡¯s the ultimate definition of shameless!¡± Ruth was irritated. Just when there was a sliver o f hope for the Harmons, the King of Kicks showed up to give them a blow. It was disgusting. ¡°There¡¯s no point talking about that. Let¡¯s think about what we¡¯re going to do after the loss.¡± Quentin shook his head. He obviously decided that Dustin would be defeated. ¡°Hey, little punk! I¡¯ll give you a chance to live. If you bow to me here, I¡¯ll spare your life!¡± the King of Kick s announced evilly in the ring. ¡°Bow to you? Are you asking me to bow to a filthy animal? You don¡¯t deserve that.¡± Dustin chortled. ¡°You¡¯re a brave one. I bet you¡¯ll only regret it when you¡¯re staring at death!¡± Looking offended, the old m an took one step after another toward Dustin with an imposing air. An average martial artist would have cowered under the pressure, but Dustin stood firmly on the groun d. unaffected. ¡°To avoid usations of bullying the young, I shall only make three moves on you. If you sessfully block all the attacks, I¡¯ll consider you victorious,¡± the old man said coldly. ¡°Bring it on.¡± Dustin gestured at him. ¡°The first kick is to destroy your core!¡± After snorting, the old man suddenlyunched the first kick. He propelled himself like an arrow projecting from the bow. He was moving at an unbelievably high speed t hat the crowd could not make out his figure. Chanter 241 When the old man was near enough, he quickly gave Dustin a kick in the abdomen. The strength of the kick wasparable to the destructiveness of a bullet. It was so powerful that it could make a hole in a metal board, not to mention destroying a human. Seeing that, Custin merely smiled and swayed aside, narrowly avoiding the attack. ¡°Hmm?¡± When the kick didn¡¯tnd, the old man looked quite perplexed. He had applied only half of his full. strength in the first kick, which made it impossible to dodge. ¡°He is something No wonder he¡¯s so b old.¡± The old man scrunched his eyes and scoffed. ¡°But that¡¯s the end of it!¡± ¡ª With that, he moved across the ring again,unching his second kick with 80% of his full strength, aimi ng at Dustin¡¯s head this time. He was confident that Dustin would be annihted after being struck. A figure shed across the ring quickly. Like an apparition, Dustin twisted his body and narrowly escap ed the second kick. ¡°Why? Are you starving? Why are you moving so slowly?¡± Dustin jeered at him as though he was staring at a clown. His disdainful gaze hadpletely infuriated the old man. Chapter 242 Chapter 242 ¡°You¡¯re asking for death!¡± Incensed, the King of Kicks finally decided to give it his all. He leaped into the air and served multiple flying kicks as hended in Dustin¡¯s direction. This time, he did not only attack Dustin point¨Cto¨Cpoint¨Che was undiscerning in his moves, offering no escape for his opponent. ¡°You punk! Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to dodge this!¡± Heughed maniacally as the number of kicks inc reased and covered a wider scope. Dustin, who was targeted, stood there without fear. ¡°It¡¯s clear who¡¯s the winner here.¡± Maximus shook his head and stood up to leave. He was initially surpr ised by Dustin¡¯s agility, but even that was no match for the King of Kicks. No level of agility could save t he young man from the indiscriminate attacks by the King of Kicks. In the face of actual talent, Dustin¡¯s tricks would be of no use. All of a sudden, they heard a deafening explosion from the ring. The kicking legs in the air were nowher e to be seen. Instead, The King of Kicks stopped his leg right by Dustin¡¯s ear, but it wasn¡¯t an attempt to show mercy to Dustin. Unfortunately, his shin was locked in Dustin¡¯s grip, immobilizing him. ¡°Did I ever say I¡¯d dodge your attacks?¡± Dustin grinned as he grabbed the leg of the King of Kicks. ¡°Did he block the kick?¡± Maximus, who was ready to leave, stood still, looking astonished. Not even he would think of blocking a full¨C strength attack from the King of Kicks, but Dustin seemed to have grabbed the opponent¡¯s leg with much ease. Maximus wondered what had happened. Was the King of Kicks conserving his energy on p urpose, or did he underestimate Dustin¡¯s capability?Content ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°H¨C how is that possible? How did you block that move?¡± The old man widened his eyes in utter disbelief. k nowing he had not held back on the attack. Even though the kick wasn¡¯t his most fatal move, it was more than enough to fight against most martial artists in the field. Therefore, he was shocked to see Dustin holding his powerful leg with one hand. It was too eerie a scene to make sense of. ¡°Is there even anything great about that kick of yours? It¡¯s so weak that even a three¨Cyear¨C old could block it,¡± Dustin remarked, looking unbothered. ¡°Nonsense!¡± The old man was a ball of rage as he leaped into the air and struck again with an earth- sh attering force. ¡°Hey! You used up your three moves! You lost!¡± Ruth yelled at the old man, but he ignored her reminder and capitalized on the force of gravity to strike Dustin on the head. This time, he was confident that Du stin wouldn¡¯t be able to fend it off. ¡°You never learn, do you?¡± Dustin snorted and lifted his arm to block the kick without as much as movin g aside. The collision between the leg and arm resulted in an explosive sound. An invisible st wave s pread across the space from the core of the collision while strong gusts of winds roared. Dustin stood o n the ground without moving an inch. He looked poised and unhurt, but multiple cracks had formed un derneath his feet. On the other hand, the old man had ced one leg on Dustin¡¯s arm as he mustered up all his energy i n an attempt to press his opponent onto the ground. No matter how much force he exerted, Dustin¡¯s a rm remained motionless, like it was made of metal. ¡°Is that all?¡± Dustin raised a brow, looking disdainful. ¡°Is that all the King of Kicks have to show?¡± ¡°No! This can¡¯t be! How could you possibly block that attack? You aren¡¯t even tanked on The Hundred I mmortals!¡± The old man had shock written all across hisce. He was sure that Dustin wasn¡¯t ranked b ecause he had fought the top ten in the ranking. ¡°The Hundred Immortals?¡± Dustin chuckled and whispered, ¡°Let me tell you a secret: I made it to The H eavenly Immortals ten years ago.¡± ¡°The Heavenly Immortals?¡± The old man was stunned by the revtion. The Heavenly Immortals were levels above The Hundred Immortals, and those ranked on that list were the creme de creme. It soun ded impossible that a twenty¨C something like Dustin managed to make it to that list. One must know that the martial artists who made it to The Heavenly Immortals were the ones who achieved divinity, at the very least! ¡°No! Impossible! You must be bluffing!¡± The old man refused to believe Dustin¡¯s words. It was rare to ru n into martial artists ranked on The Heavenly Immortals, and a ranked martial artist wouldn¡¯t have lived in a small town like Swinton, to begin with. ¡°Look out for my Phoenix Kick!¡± The old man put a distance between them, followed by kicking himself off the ground andunching himself into the air. Through consecutive kicks that morphed into shadow s, he initiated a crazed attack on Dustin. ¡°All show and no go!¡± Dustin scoffed at the move and sent a punch into the sole of the old man¡¯s fool. F ollowing another explosive sound, the old man was sent flying across the air like a ser ball. With an other thud, he copsed underneath the ring, bleeding from the orifices on his face and suffering from fr actures in his legs. The crowd went dead silent at the sight of the lifeless King of Kicks on the ground. People were gaping with rmed looks. They could not believe that the King of Kicks, from the top ten of The Hundred Imm ortals, had lost a battle in record time and without warning. Some of the spectators had not even recov ered from the blow. More importantly, Dustin seemed to have attacked only once throughout the fight, apart from all the defensive moves and the dodging. That was the scariest observation of the night. Had the crowd not witnessed it with their own eyes, they would have scoffed at the idea of the King of Kicks losing to an obscure young ma n. ¡°Has the King of Kicks lost?¡± Brody¡¯s mind went nk. He could notprehend the situation and even went as far as to susp ect the King of Kicks of staging the loss. ¡°My lord! Where did that guye from?¡± Otto swallowed hard as his disrespect for Dustin was reced by shock and fear, Dustin defeating the King of Kicks was a testament to his capability. At the thought of hi s previous provocations toward Dustin, Otto suddenly felt a prick of fear. Thankfully, Dustin did not take the remarks too seriously. Else, Otto might have ended up as dead meat. ¡°Im ¡ª impossible!¡± He¡¯s just a good¨Cfor¨C nothing! Since when has he be a master? Julie was both dumbstruck and doubtful. She refused t o believe that Dustin was capable of such powerful moves. The only possible exnation was that the two men in the ring were putting on a show. The King of Kicks must h ave been bribed by Dustin and yed out his part as the loser. Right! That must be it! ¡°Haha! He won! We won!¡± Ruth squealed in excitement and showed off to the others, ¡°See that? That¡¯s my brother¨Cinw in the ring! Isn¡¯t he amazing?¡± ¡°Wait, he won? How did he do it? Quentin stared on, eyes widened into saucers. ¡°Never have I thought that he was a hidden talent. Since he¡¯s beaten the King of Kicks, I believe he is c apable of being ranked within the top eight in The Hundred Immortals, Jessica mused. She admitted th at she had missed the unpolished gem. Dustin Rhys was more remarkable than she had assumed. ¡°He¡¯s my man! So impressive!¡± Natasha¡¯s lips curled into a dazzling smile. Her lovely eyes were filled w ith affection. Curiosity grew in her¨Cshe started wondering about Dustin¡¯s real identity. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 In the ring. Dustin stood tall with hands behind his back, exuding an imposing and majestic air. He no lo nger hid his talents and shone from the full disy of his powers. No one dared to meet his eyes. The f act that he had defeated the King of Kicks with one move made everyone look at him with awe. ¡°Surprising! The Harmons have an ace under their wings.¡± Maximus narrowed his eyes, putting on a se rious face. Dustin had won his respect through the disy of strength. Not even Maximus could easily beat the King of Kicks with bare hands. ¡°Weakling!¡± Dustin dusted and straightened his sleeve. Then, he coolly announced, ¡°Next?¡± The Boulderthorn disciples exchanged furtive nces. They knew they weren¡¯t Dustin¡¯s match, especia lly after he had defeated the King of Kicks. ¡°Max, what do we do? That punk is wild!¡± Feeling aggrieved, Brody clenched his jaws. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll have to go.¡± Maximus stood up slowly, his eyes shining with excitement. He had shown up to the battle as the ace and wasn¡¯t originally nning to fight. In his eyes, the battle was child¡¯s y and offered. no challenge. However, Dustin¡¯s presence shocked him and introduced some excitement. Maximus was not in the martial arts practice for fame or wealth: he was in search of excellence in swordsmanship. Every time he crossed paths with an ace, he would bebative. ¡°Max, he¡¯s quite strong. Are you confident in beating him?¡± Brody questioned cautiously. ¡°I am not his match if we fight bare¨Chanded, but I have full confidence if I fight him with a sword,¡± Maximus remarked mildly. ¡°Great! Max, give it your all! He¡¯s just trouble. We should get rid of him as soon as possible!¡± Brody snig gered with malice. Maximus was one of the rare talents in the art of swordsmanship, ranking sixth on T he Hundred Immortals before reaching thirty years of age. He was levels above the King of Kicks and e specially invincible when fighting with a sword. Once, Brody¡¯s father predicted that Maximus would achieve divinity within three years. By that time, Ma ximus would already make it to The Heavenly Immortals. ¡°What¡¯s up? Is there no one else from Boulderthorn?¡± Dustin scanned the space with a sharp re. ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Maximus leaped into the air, and when he was close tonding, he tapped the tip of his feet on the shoulder of a spectator before bouncing back up in the air with extreme nimbleness. His movement s were fairy - This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. like, making the group of women in the guild squeal in admiration, their eyes sparkling in awe. ¡°Wow! He¡¯s so cool!¡± ¡°A young man who looks great in white¨Che¡¯s my type!¡± Not only was Maximus blessed with good looks and gentlemanly, but he also pulled off a spectacr entrance, giving off the impression of a young knight. ¡°Who are you?¡± Dustin scanned him from head to toe. ¡°I¡¯m Maximus Kane, one of Boulderthorn¡¯s disciples. I¡¯m here for the experience.¡± Maximus bowed at hi m politely. His self¨Cintroduction caused amotion within the guild. ¡°Maximus Kane? Isn¡¯t he ranked sixth on The Hundred Immortals?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! He¡¯s the famous ¡®Lightning de¡® in Balerno. I had the honor of witnessing him in action!¡± ¡°Oh, fuck! It¡¯s Maximus ¡®Lightning de¡® Kane! I heard that his sword moved as fast as lightning. He¡¯s never lost a battle ever since he gained his fame. This is going to be fun!¡± The crowd discussed Maximus with great interest, for Maximus was an ace ranked sixth on The Hundred Immortals, much stronger than the King of Kicks, who ranked ninth. The gap in their rankings was huge, even though they were three ces apart. It was hard to climb up i n the ranking once a martial artist entered the top ten. The top five names in the ranking barely change d¨Cthey practically maintained the same ranking all year round. ¡°Ah, finally, a normal opponent.¡± Dustin looked amused and gestured, ¡°Please.¡± *Just a minute. Maximus said with seriousness. ¡°I¡¯m good at swordsmanship. Shall we change the battl e into an armed fight?¡± ¡°Hey! You can¡¯t change the rules as you wish! We disagree with that!¡± Ruth instantly protested unhappil y at the suggestion. Any sane person knew that a bare¨C handed fight was totally different than fighting with weapons. An average man armed with a weapon co uld beat a group of opponents, not to mention that the person in question was Maximus ¡°Lightning d e¡± Kane. ¡°Why? Are you afraid that he¡¯d lose to Max?¡± Brody jeered at her. ¡°If you¡¯re scared, just admit defeat right now! Stop wasting our time!¡± ¡°We¡¯re not! You guys are the ones who break the martial arts code! Ruth argued the facts. ¡°Nonsense! We never banned weapons from battles. Why don¡¯t you get Rhys to use a weapon too?¡® Brodyughed frostily. ¡°You-¡± Ruth choked in anger. ¡°Sure! Use a weapon if you¡¯d like. It doesn¡¯t make a difference.¡± Dustin was unconcerned and agreed t o the change without fuss. A frustrated Ruth felt that his remarks went against all her effort to fight in his interest. ¡°Many thanks.¡± Maximus bowed again and drew his sword out of the sheath from the back. He even introduced it. ¡°My sword is t hree feet and six inches long. It is made from deep iron and has been mypanion for five years. It i s so solid that it prates almost everything!¡± ¡°Come at me.¡± Dustin waved. ¡°Where¡¯s y your weapon?¡± Maximus raised an eyebrow quizzically. ¡°My bare hands are my weapons.¡± Dustin answered. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Maximus narrowed his eyes, thinking that his opponent was capable but overconfident. Dustin would be humiliated if he wanted to block the sword attack with bare hands. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ll give it to you if you manage to injure me.¡± Dustin waved at him once more. ¡°Come on!¡± ¡°Okay! Be my guest!¡± Without further ado, Maximus propelled himself forward with the unsheathed swo rd in hand. When he got closer to Dustin, he plunged his sword at the opponent, creating glimmers of metalli c reflection and stirring gusts of wind in the quild. ¡°Great move!¡± Most of the martial artists eximed in astonishment, Maximus sword moved fast and was unusually s harp. It was hard to tell the sword from its shadows, hence it was hard to defend oneself. Even skillful martial artists at the same level dared not fight bare¨C harded against the sword. However, Dustin stood in the same spot and appeared as though he hadn¡¯t noticed the attack. ¡°That rascal is bold! Why isn¡¯t he dodging Maximus sword attack?¡± ¡®Did he think he¡¯s invincible after beating the King of Kicks? He has no idea how powerful Maximus is!¡± ¡°Right! There is a huge gap in capability between each member of the top ten of The Hundred Immortals! Looking down on Maximus is the sam e as digging your own grave!¡± Amid the murmurs, everyone heard a soft clunking sound as Maximus¡® sword came to a halt. The sharp de. came to a stop an inch before Dustin¡¯s throat, unable to move. When the crowd t ook a second look, their faces. turned white because they realized that Dustin had caught the sword be tween his two fingers. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 ¡°Hmm?¡± Maximus¡¯s pupils dted. He didn¡¯t expect Dustin to grab his sword with bare fingers. It appear ed that he had underestimated Dustin¡¯s sheer talent and confidence. Still, he was unflustered by the str ength of his opponent. Quite the opposite¨Cthe stronger the opponent, the more excited he felt. He was getting more belligerent as a result. ¡°Return!¡± With the wave of a hand, Maximus called his sword back from Dustin¡¯s fingers. The sword ca me flying back like a serpent. ¡°Oh?¡± Dustin was rather surprised by the move. Although he had reined in his capabilities to match his opponent at the earthly level, he acknowledged Maximus¡® talent from how Maximus managed to free th e weapon from his grip. ¡°Look out! I¡¯ll show you my Illusory Sword Technique!¡± Maximus dropped a reminder before waving his sword again. In one move, his sword split into hundreds and thousands of different swords. The gleaming des danced a round, weaving a confusing web of swords within ten meters around them. The mind¨C boggling amount of swords made it hard to discern the actual sword from the illusory ones. ¡°Wow! It is the Illusory Sword Technique! Looks like Maximus Kane is getting serious!¡± ¡°I heard that no one could fight off the Illusory Sword Technique. That punk is going to lose!¡± ¡°Kill! Kill! kill him!¡± There was an uproar among the audience. Some were shocked, some were concerned, and some wer e merely adding insult to injury. Soon, Dustin vanished in the midst of the illusory swords in front of their eyes. He and Maximus were nowhere to be seen, leaving only the blinding shine of des dancing in t he ring. The audience glued their eyes to the match and struggled to figure out which of them was mak ing the moves. Even so, they couldn¡¯t take their eyes off the climactic fight for fear of missing out on the highlights. Dustin, the ck horse, had garnered all the attention that night by fighting alone against Mr. Williams¡® l ineup. Earlier, he took down two masters in the top ten of The Hundred Immortals. Even if he lost the fi ght against Maximus, he still won himself the right to feel proud of his aplishments. Three minutester, the audience heard the nking of metal as the web of illusory swords suddenly v anished. A figure, who seemed to have taken a bad blow, stumbled speedily toward the edge of the ring . where he finally managed to steady himself. Everyone focused on the figure and realized that it was Maximus! As for Dustin, he stood in the middle of the ring without moving, remaining in the same position as before. ¡°What happened? Who won?¡± The audience exchanged nces in confusion. Dustin and Maximus loo ked unharmed, but one appeared poised while the other looked grim. ¡°Sir, you are indeed talented, I¡¯ll give you that. I concede defeat.¡± After a long silence, Maximus finally o pened his mouth. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°He conceded?¡± The audience gasped. What was going on? The two of them stood there uninjured. N o one had the upper hand yet, but why did Maximus concede defeat? Could he have been bought off b y the Harmons, just like the King of Kicks? ¡°Max, what is that nonsense? Us Boulderthorn guild men never concede defeat! Murder that punk!¡± Bro dy stood up and bellowed after recovering from the initial shock. ¡°Shut up!¡± Maximus scoffed. ¡°You have to admit defeat when you know it. There¡¯s no shame in admittin g you¡¯re not as good as your opponent!¡± The audience might not be able to tell, but he was well aware of the truth. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Maximus witnessed how Dustin handled the Illusory Sword Technique with ease. Even if he maxed up his powers and executed theplete set of moves in the technique, he still failed to harm a hair on D ustin¡¯s head, not to mention that Dustin had only fended off the attacks with one hand. To Maximus, the se were proof that Dustin was greatly ahead of him in terms of capability. ¡°You have indeed mastered the illusory Sword Technique, but unfortunately, there are three ws. Dusti n suggested mildly. He orded Maximus respect due to thetter¡¯s humbleness. Else, he would have sent him flying out of the ring. ¡°What are the three ws?¡± Maximus furrowed his brow. ¡°The third move, the ninth move, and the twenty¨C sixth move.¡± Dustin deliberately offered a reminder. ¡°The ws you exhibited in the three moves were extremely subtle. They will go unnoticeable in the eyes of an average martial artist, but they will also pu t you at a huge disadvantage when you are fighting the real masters.¡± ¡°Impossible! I have been practicing the technique forever. How could there be fatal ws?¡± Maximus wa s in disbelief. ¡°Sure, you have spent a lot of time on the practice, but it is also true that you exhibit those ws. If my guess is right, your mentor did not teach you everything¨C he hid part of the three moves from you. Plus, the three moves are extremely crucial and damaging. Th e mentor must have wanted to put you in harm¡¯s way. Why else Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. would anyone do that? You¡¯d better look out.¡± Dustin lowered his voice into a whisper that was only audible to both of them. The revtion was a huge blow for Maximus. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! My mentor sees me as his son. He¡¯d never put me in danger!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to say more. Believe me or not, it¡¯s all up to you.¡± Dustin shrugged and sank into silence. The only reason he gave Maximus the advice was because he saw potential in the guy. Whether Maxi mus trusted his word and whether the man lived or died, Dustin would not be affected in any way. ¡°We lost the battle today. Hence, we shall not bring up the topic of Immortunol. Farewell!¡± Maximus nod ded at Dustin and left the ring in strides. ¡°He won! The Harmons won again!¡± Ruth squealed in delight at the sight. Who else would beat Dustin when even Maximus, ranked sixth on The Hundred Immortals, admitted deleat? ¡°You punk! We shall see! This is not the end!¡± After shooting a death re at Dustin, Brody fled the sce ne with his group of men, looking demotivated. He thought that their n was perfect, only to be ruined by a formidable opponent out of the blue. Talk about bad luck! ¡°Otto, have we gotten ourselves into trouble? The young men anddies, who had previously mocked Dustin, trembled at the sight of the victorious man in the ring. ¡°Fuck! He¡¯s a monster. Let¡¯s leave now!¡± Otto was covered in a cold sweat and fled the scene immediat ely. He would be easily crushed by Dustin, Judging from how the man had defeated the King of Kicks a nd Maximus ¡± Lightning de¡± Kane. ¡°Young man, congrattions on the win. I am the leader of Humming hill. I wonder if you¡¯d be intereste d in joining us as a consultant? Our pay and benefits are among the best! Right after Dustin exited the r ing, a group of martial artists circled him to poach the talent. ¡°Humminghill? That¡¯s a really tiny guild. Better not stunt the growth of our handsome dude here. Well, i n my opinion, you should join us at the Valley of Joy! We have hot chicks around, and we offer a wealth of resources. I guarantee you¡¯ll be on cloud nine after joining us!¡± ¡°Young man, I am the Falcon King of Glenstead and have a good¨Clocking and well¨C educated granddaughter. If you¡¯re willing. I will offer you her hand in marriage ¡ª¡± Dustin was speechless by the greedy expressions on their faces. His excellent performance in beating t he King of Kicks and Maximus ¡°Lightning de¡± Kane had attracted a high level of attention. He made a mental note to keep a low profile moving forward, ¡°Get out of my way. At that moment. Natasha squeezed her way through the crowd with her people. Th en, she took Dustin by the arm and publicly dered their rtionship, ¡°First of all, I¡¯d like to introduce him as my husband. You¡¯d better give up if you¡¯re trying to matchmake!¡± Not onl y that, she kissed Dustin on the cheek as a reward, causing him to turn red in the face. Her action was embarrassing and rather improper in fr ont of the crowd. ¡°Darling, let¡¯s go!¡± She ignored the eyes on them and left the guild with Dustin in tow, looking gleeful, pr oud, and boastful. The battle, which was full of twists and turns, ended with a victory for the Harmon family. From that mo ment, a new talent rose in Balerno¡¯s martial arts scene. After beating Maximus. Dustin naturally assum ed his opponent¡¯s ranking, and he was subsequently ranked sixth on The Hundred Immortals, which w as a brilliant feat for a neer. Chapter 246 Chapter 246 After the battle concluded, Dustin, Natasha, and some members of the Harmon family had supper toget her. It was midnight when he returned to the medical center, which was still brightly lit. He entered the c enter and immediately saw the stunning Dahlia Nicholson, who was merrily chatting away with Caitlyn Lawler. At that moment, she appeared more easygoing than how she usually presented herself¨Cicy. ¡°Mr. Rhys, you¡¯re back. Seeing Dustin, Caitlyn stood up and greeted him. ¡°Have a chat with Ms. Nicholson. I¡¯ll serve supper.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. I had supper before I came home.¡± He smiled and turned his attention to Dahlia. ¡°Why are yo u here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to thank you.¡± She shed him a rare smile. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t saved me yesterday, I would have been screwed. Never in my life would I have thought that Matt Laney was a phony bastard.¡± ¡°You¡¯re most wee. I¡¯d offer the same help to anyone in that situation,¡± he replied unemotionally. ¡°Why? Are you still upset?¡± Her tone softened. ¡°My mom was a little rash. There was a misunderstandin g. I¡¯ll apologize to you on her behalf. We¡¯re sorry.¡± Dustin was rather surprised by her action. In his recollection, Dahlia was never one to back down. It wa s unusual of her to offer an apology. Still, the apology arrived toote. ¡°There¡¯s no need to apologize. After all, this is not the first time I¡¯m misunderstood. It doesn¡¯t matter to me.¡± He shrugged, looking unbothered. ¡°Dustin, I know you were treated unfairly and went through hard times. I promise that I¡¯ll never treat you badly again,¡± she dered with a serious face. ¡°What was that? That was out of the blue.¡± He stared at her funny. She took a deep breath and mustered up her courage to say. ¡°Come home with me. Alright?¡± His body froze at the simple suggestion, andplicated emotions clouded his eyes. Had Dahlia aske d him earlier, he would have agreed to her suggestion without hesitation. s, after experiencing a seri es of challenging events, he was bone¨Ctired, scared of being hurt, and had moved on. Although he still had feelings for her, he refused to experience the past anymore. His life in the past was one of silent suffering. ¡°I know you¡¯re in a difficult position. You don¡¯t have to give me an answer now.¡± Dahlia merely beamed This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. at him. ¡°I have thought it through. From now on, I will take back what¡¯s mine! Even if I have to fight aga inst Natasha Harmon, I will never back down! You know me well. I never give up until I get what I want!¡± He was taken aback by the serious expression on her face. ¡°Did you drink tonight?¡± Dahlia was known to be distant and haughty, never sparing anyone a disy of friendliness. It was hard to believe she¡¯d make that remark with a belligerent attitude. What had gotten into her? ¡°I¡¯m not drunk. In fact, I¡¯m very sober. When you¡¯re free, ry my message to Natasha¨C let¡¯spete fairly. and we shall see who¡¯s the winner!¡± With that, she stood on tiptoe and gave him a sudden peck on the lips. She coolly marched out of the medical center, but her flushed face betrayed her emotions. ¡°Uh¡­¡± Dustin was frozen on the spot as he tasted her sweetness on his lips. Was he ambushed just n ow? Since when did Dahlia learn to flirt? He wondered if women were all fickle¨Cminded. ¡°Mr. Rhys, if it¡¯s inconvenient for you to ry that message to Ms. Harmon, I can help.¡± Caitlyn, blushin g in embarrassment, twiddled with the hem of her top. After all that was a scene only found in TV shows. ¡°What nonsense? Go to bed!¡± He red at her, to which she responded by sticking out her tongue. She ran into the guest room but soon poked her head out and questioned timidly. ¡°Mr. Rhys, which one of t hem do you love? ¡°You little rascal! Why do you keep running your mouth?¡± Dustin grabbed a duster and acted as though he wanted to give her a good whopping, and she quickly disappeared into the room out of fear. After a quiet night, Dustin woke up early the next morning, stirred by the memory of the kiss from the d ay before. He had tossed and turned in bed, feeling disturbed by it. ¡°Oh, Dahlia, why did you show up from nowhere just to mess with me?¡± he wondered. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Dustin decided that Dahlia must have had nothing better to do. He tossed his head, washed up, and op ened the door to the medical center as usual. As the door grated and groaned, a blood¨C soaked figure suddenly copsed on the floor of the room. The injured man was dressed in white, whic h was drenched in blood. He carried a broken sword on his back and appeared to have fainted for some time. Dustin approached the man to check him out, only to realize that it was Maximus Kane! ¡°I did not recall hurting him yesterday. Or did I?¡± Dustin rubbed his chin in confusion. Although Maximus , ranked sixth on The Hundred Immortals, was not exactly the cream of the crop, he was still one of the best in tiny Swinton. How did he get himself beaten up this badly? ¡°Consider yourself lucky.¡± Dustin mumbled and lifted Maximus into the medical center. After all, he coul dn¡¯t turn a blind eye to a dying man at the entrance of the medical center. Maximus suffered from multiple external injuries, but those were simple wounds that could be treated w ith some bandages. However, he suffered huge damage to his nerves, including the energy in his core. Whoever did this to him wanted to cripple him for good. Thankfully, years of extensive martial arts pract ice resulted in a solid foundation that protected Maximus from beingpletely crippled by the attack. With Dustin¡¯s medical skills, he was confident to heal Maximus within a few weeks. First, Dustin gave Maximus an injection, followed by feeding the patient some medicine. About half an hourter, Maximus finally regained consciousness as he slowly opened his eyes. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake. How do you feel?¡± Dustin casually asked him. ¡°Did you save me?¡± Maximus was a little taken aback. Last night, he sustained severe injuries and foun d a medical center on the street in between consciousness. Before he had a chance to knock on the door, he cked out at the entrance. ¡°Who else? Do you see anyone around?¡± Dustin was a tad speechless at the thoughtless question. ¡°Thank you.¡± Maximus struggled to get up and bow. Dustin forced him back onto the bed and chided him, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Stop moving around when you¡¯re badly injured.¡± ¡°He¡¯s on the brink of death, yet he is hung up on manners. What¡¯s wrong with this dude?¡± Dustin wonde red. ¡°You¡¯re not bad at martial arts. So, how did you end up getting beaten up?¡± Dustin asked. Maximus cle nched his teeth as he struggled to open up. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t tell me if you don¡¯t feel like it. I¡¯m not that curious e ither.¡± Dustin waved at him dismissively and proceeded to leave. ¡°Wait ¡­¡± Maximus took a deep breath and finally confessed, ¡°What you said yesterday was right. I had Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. three fatal ws in my Illusory Sword Technique.¡± ¡°Oh, really? Did you meet a worthy opponent that fast?¡± Dustin was quite surprised to learn that his prediction came true after he dropped a casual mention of t he wed moves during the battle. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just any stranger It was my mentor, Luther Williams! Maximus gritted his teeth, his face clouded by a grim expression. ¡°Your mentor?¡± Dustin was astounded. ¡°Why did he hurt you for no good reason?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because ¡­ I caught him having an affair with my female mentee!¡± Maximus said, filled with rese ntment. ¡°I went home after the defeat, thinking to question Luther Williams about the ws in the techni que he taught me, but instead, I caught him going at it with my young female mentee in the bedroom!¡± Maximus continued, ¡°So, I kicked the door open out of anger and confronted him loudly. He was probab ly humiliated and provoked, and he fought me with his sword, shing me twice. I had no choice but to fight him with my sword. Silly me. I thought that, given my expertise in swordsmanship, I could at least fend off his attack s even if I couldn¡¯t win.¡± Then, he hissed, ¡°I realized how naive I was when we started fighting. It wasn¡¯t practice or strength that Icked he took advantage of my wed moves! The third, ninth, and twenty¨C sixth moves. Whenever I put these moves into action, Luther was able to spot my ws and destroy me . It was at that moment I found out that Luther, the mentor I was so proud of, had set me up from the ve ry beginning! I am nothing but a tool to him; he has never treated me from the heart. When I am upset at him, he¡¯ll exploit my wed moves to kill me off and save himself from trouble!¡± Maximus¡® eyes reddened and brimmed with tears. He had always regarded his mentor as a father figur e. Who would have thought that the kind and generous old man was nothing but a hypocrite? ¡°Well what can I say, except that you have a scoundrel of a mentor?¡± Dustin shook his head sympathetically. Maximus¡® situation wasmonce in the martial arts world. History was full of cases where disciples and. mentors of the same guild tore each other apart. The human heart is the m ost deceitful of all things. ¡°I¡¯m fine with being taken advantage of. He could have sent me on a dangerous mission, and I would h ave taken on the task withoutining. But why? Why did he have to sully my female mentee? She¡¯ s my fianc¨¦e!¡± Maximus bellowed and smashed a hole in the wall out of rage. Dustin gaped at the confession. He opened his mouth a few times but was unable to speak. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Justin felt sympathetic as he stared into Maximus¡® reddened eyes. Not only was the poor chap taken ad vantage of by his mentor, but he also had his fianc¨¦e taken away. How miserable! No man could endure the humiliation and resentment of losing his future wife. Heck, not even anyone c ould stand losing a future spouse. It was hard to imagine that the second¨Cin¨C ¡°Just focus on your recovery for now. When you¡¯re fully recovered, it¡¯ll be time to take back what you lo st.¡± Dustin gave Maximus an encouraging pat on the shoulder. To that, Maximus howled with a deste expression, ¡°I¡¯ll never get better again, not after my core was shattered and my nerves damaged! After losing my internal energy, I have nothing left in me to take revenge. I¡¯m trash! I¡¯m a worthless piece of trash!¡± He rolled his fists, digging his fingernails deep into the flesh of his palms until blood trickled from betwe en his thumb and index finger. He badly wanted to take his revenge and seek justice, but he had lost th e opportunity to do so. ¡°Who said you¡¯re trash? I can heal your injuries,¡± Dustin interjected coolly. ¡°W¨Cwhat did you say?¡± Stunned, Maximus lifted his head almost instantly. ¡°I said I can heal your injuries and rejuvenate your core,¡± Dustin repeated himself. ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯re not kidding me, right?¡± Maximus was wide¨C eyed with a mix of shock and anticipation. ¡°Your core suffered some damage, but it¡¯s not utterly ruined. There¡¯s still a chance. Rejuvenating your n erves is even simpler. As long as you stick to my treatment, you¡¯ll regain full strength within ten days.¡± Dustin promised. Maximus¡® face lit up with joy upon hearing that. He thanked Dustin profusely. ¡°If you heal me. I shall ow e my life to you. Be it scaling mountains or diving into the deep ocean, I¡¯ll do whatever you ask of me without aint!¡± He seemed serious about his promise. As a martial artist and a geek for swords, he never had an interest in much else but the pursuit of excellenc e in swordsmanship. The moment he learned that his core was destroyed, he fell into deep despair and even contemted ending his life. However, Dustin¡¯s rem ark reignited his hope and his will to live. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s enough. I¡¯m not a sadist. Why would I send you to the mountains and the ocean?¡± Dustin helped him up. ¡°Consider it fate that you fainted right in front of my medical center. It was God¡¯s will to have me rescue you. Get some good rest, and remember not to harness your internal energy in these two days.¡± ¡°Thank you. You¡¯re my savior!¡± Maximus bowed a few times to Dustin, who said nothing more but wrot e a prescription for Caitlyn and reminded her to prepare the medicine ording to the schedule. At that moment, they heard a deafening crash from the outside. They jumped in shock and hurried out t o check the situation. Two cars¨Cone red and one white¨C collided on a street not far away. The red BMW, it appeared, had reversed and crashed into a white Ho nda, causing thetter to flip. Both cars were mangled beyond recognition, with debris scattered all acr oss the ground. ¡°Help! Please help my daughter!¡± A bleeding woman d in white clothing climbed out of the white Hon da. Due to the impact of the collision, she looked dizzy and feeble. At the same time, a young girl was i n the front passenger seat; she had lost consciousness. The girl was no older than eight years old, and she seemed to be in a critical state because her abdomen was pierced by a sharp object. The woman in white called for help while attempting to save her daughter, but she failed to open the ca r door because it was too misshapen. ¡°Crap!¡± Dustin¡¯s face fell, and he jogged toward the Honda. By then, a crowd had formed around the ac cident. and a few good samaritans offered help. Unfortunately, the collective strength of a few people w as insufficient to pull the girl out because the Honda was flipped over, and the car door remained locke d. As the smoke started billowing from the car, the situation became dire. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± Dustin went up and yanked at the door handle. They heard a crack, and the entire car door came detached, much to th e surprise of the onlookers. After Dustin pried the door open, he unfastened the seat belt and quickly lifted the young girl to the side of the road. She suffered from head trauma, multiple fractures across the body, and massive blood los s in the abdomen. The situation did not look good at all. ¡°Quick! Call an ambnce and get her to the hospital!¡± someone yelled. ¡°We have no time for that. I¡¯m a doctor. Let me give it a try.¡± After Dustin announced his identity, he took out at gold needle and immediately applied first aid to the girl. ¡°Get out of my way! All of you!¡± Right then, two women exited the red BMW. The mother was a plump l ady in her fifties, and the daughter was an attractive woman in her twenties. One could tell that they we re wealthy from their branded outfits and the way they were decked in jewelry, like walking Christmas tr ees. ¡°Hey! Do you even know how to drive? Are you blind?¡± Jane Engleton, the plumpdy, pointed a finger at the woman in white and started scolding her. ¡°Do you know how much our car costs? One million dors! And it¡¯s a new car!¡± She added, ¡°You have t opensate us after turning our car into scrap metal! If you refuse, I¡¯ll send your family to prison!¡± The woman in white was taken aback by the ferocity of Jane Engleton and apologized profusely. ¡°I¨C I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I did not see your car just now.¡± ¡°Is saying sorry enough? Do you take us as pushovers?¡± Jane pressed on. ¡°I¡¯m warning you now. You¡¯l Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. l pay me what the car¡¯s worth. Add thepensation for mental damages on that, and you¡¯re looking at at least 800 thousand to a million dors inpensatio n to get this settled!¡± ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t have that money!¡± The woman in white almost cried helplessly from the harassment. ¡°I don¡¯t care! Sell your house or your organs. Do what you need to gather the money, or I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Jane threatened the poor woman. Finally, Dustin had had enough and blurted out, ¡°Can you be more shameless? It was you who reverse d and crashed into the white car. How dare you demandpensation from the victim?¡± The truth immediately woke the onlookers up. Upon examining the scene of the ident, it was the B MW that reversed and crashed into the Honda. Therefore, the BMW driver should be held fully ount able for the collision, but she had instead held the victim responsible. ¡°Nonsense! She crashed into my car!¡± Jane remained unfazed and coercive. ¡°So what if I reversed my car? Her eyes were not focused on the road! Look, the lives ofmoners like you are not worth much . Even if they died in a crash, they totally deserved it!¡± The crowd instantly gasped at her outrageous remark. Chapter 249 Chapter 249 ¡°Hey, you¡¯re being unreasonable!¡± ¡°Right? How dare she scolds the others when she¡¯s the culprit? I¡¯ve never seen someone as outrageou s as her! ¡°Talk no more. Let¡¯s report her to the police!¡± The crowd was annoyed at Jane¡¯s arrogance and pointed fingers at her. ¡°Shut up! All of you!¡± Hands on her waist, Jane yelled at them, ¡°Do you know that we¡¯re the Nicholsons from Glenstead? Even your mayor has to show us respect, let alone you worthless plebs! Make more f uss, and I¡¯ll get you arrested!¡± The usatory voices instantly died down. An average citizen would not want to get on the bad side of the famed aristocratic Nicholson family from Glenstead. ¡°Mom, just ignore those peasants. Look at this. I¡¯m hurt.¡± The young woman, Dakota Nicholson, sudden ly spoke up as she pressed against her wound and winced. ¡°Are you hurt? Let me take a look!¡± Jane¡¯s expression crumbled, and she hurriedly checked out Dakota¡¯ s injury. ¡°Gosh, it¡¯s bleeding. This is not good. Her face paled, and she scanned the surroundings until h er eyesnded on Dustin. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re a doctor, aren¡¯t you? Quick, give my daughter a checkup! She¡¯s hurt!¡± Anyone would have thought that Dakota contracted a terminal disease from the worried look on J ane¡¯s face. ¡°She¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just a scrape on the elbow.¡± Dustin turned around and nced at Dakota¡¯s injury before looking away. ¡°What do you mean? A scrape?¡± Jane immediately looked irritated. ¡°My precious daughter has never su ffered injuries. But she has a huge wound now. Of course we¡¯ll have to treat it with caution. What if an infection happens? ¡°If you¡¯re worried about wound infection, buy a bandaid at the pharmacy next door. If you keep dilly¨C Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. dallying. the wound¡¯s going to heal by the time you get to it,¡± Dustin.mocked her. He had never seen a woman as ridiculous as Jane, who kicked up a fuss over a tiny wound. ¡°What did you say? How could you ignore my daughter¡¯s injury when you¡¯re a doctor? Are you even human, you fuckface?¡± Jane was truly cross. No one had ever turned down her requests ever since she married into the wealthy Nicholson fa mily. ¡°I have to set my priorities. This girl is fighting for her life. Your daughter¡¯s wound is nothingpared t o hers! * Dustin chided her. ¡°How dare youpare that peasant to my daughter?¡± With a re, Jane rebuked him, ¡°Dakota is the daughter of the Nicholson family¨C she¡¯s important and precious! You cannotpare her to amoner!¡± ¡°Yeah! She¡¯s just a nobody. Well, if she dies today, just consider it her wretched fate!¡± The haughty Dak ota towered over them. ¡°Treat my wound now! It¡¯s an order. If I get a scar from this, I will not let you off the hook!¡± ¡°Are you even human? Nobody speaks in that way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Is a life worth less than your minor scrape?¡± The indignant crowd gave their opinions. ¡°What now? Are you testing me? The audacity to talk back to the Nicholson family! Come here! Which one of you wants to be the hero?¡± Jane hissed maliciously as the onlookers held in their rage in silence in the f ace of her insolence. Indeed, the average citizens were helpless when harassed and bullied by the rich . ¡°Madam, my daughter is in a critical state. Can you kindly allow her to get the treatment? Just think of this as my plea!¡± The woman in white plopped onto the ground with t eary eyes. ¡°Hmph! Knock it off! I don¡¯t care! My daughter has to be treated first!¡± Jane refused to budge. ¡°Are you deal? Do you hear what my mom said?¡± Dakota kicked Dustin but was infuriated when the ma n showed no response. ¡°So, you¡¯re refusing to treat my wound. Great! Don¡¯t bother saving anyone toda y!¡± With that, she went up to the young girl and pulled out the gold needle. With the gold needle removed, the young girl started bleeding profusely again, and her face grew paler because of that. ¡°Hm?¡± Dustin frowned and spun around with a deadly stare in his eyes. ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re doin g? You might kill someone by pulling out the needle without thought!¡± ¡°So what? You can¡¯t save any life without my permission.¡± Dakota crossed her arms on her chest, looki ng bold and arrogant. Jane chimed in with the same attitude. ¡°That¡¯s right! If you don¡¯t treat my daughter¡¯s wound, you won¡¯t g et to save that uselessmoner!¡± ¡°Please Please show mercy and stop making things difficult for the doctor. I beg of you!¡± The woman in white kneeled and pleaded to the Nicholsons, all while hitting her head on the ground. She knew she c ould not afford to get on the bad side of the wealthy; her only wish was to keep her daughter safe. ¡°Try messing around again, and I won¡¯t go easy on you next time!¡± Dustin warned Dakota. She scoffed. ¡°Oh! You got the guts, don¡¯t you? Do you know who I am? How dare you speak to me in that way? Did you tell me not to touch anything? Well, I¡¯m going to do it anyway!¡± While speaki ng, she moved to remove the needle again. ¡°Get lost!¡± Fuming. Dustin gave her a p across the face. She yelped as she was flung ten feet away, even rolling on the ground afternding. Her fair skin was red and swollen. She even lost a few of her dental ¡°Shit! That doctor is mad! How dare he p a Nicholson?¡± ¡°Being hot¨Cblooded is one thing; offending the Nicholsons is another. He might suffer because of it.¡± The crowd murmured and cast sympathetic nces at Dustin. ¡°H¨C how dare you hit me?¡± Dakota got up from the ground, still a little dizzy and utterly baffled by Dustin¡¯s m ove. From a young age, she was treated like a princess wherever she went. She had never been p ped, not to mention being pped in public. ¡°So what? Don¡¯t you deserve the p for being rude?¡± Dustin wore a hostile expression on his face. ¡°How dare you hit my daughter? I¡¯m going to fight you!¡± After the initial shock, Jane recovered and, her blood boiling, sheunched an attack on Dustin. He merely pped her, and she copsed from the impact. The mother and daughter both fell t onto the ground. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 ¡°Mom! Are you alright?¡± Dakota¡¯s expression crumbled as she quickly helped her mother up. She was b oth rmed and enraged. ¡°Ouch! My teeth!¡± Jane wailed while pressing a hand against her face, feeling the stinging sensation. H er mouth was throbbing after it almost went out of shape from the p. ¡°How dare you hit us? You¡¯re dead! Your entire family is damned! Be a man and stay where you are! I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± An incensed Dakota started making calls and requesting backup, but Dustin had n o time for her as he continued applying first aid to the poor young girl. Thanks to the magical needle, th e young girl¡¯s condition stabilized soon. At that time, the ambnce arrived at the scene. ¡°Your daughter is fine now, but her wound needs bandaging and careful care to heal.¡± Dustin ced th e young girl onto the stretcher. Seeing that, the woman in white thanked him profusely before leaving in the ambnce. ¡°You enjoy being the hero, don¡¯t you? Just wait and see. You¡¯ll get med.¡± Jane and Dakota fixed their keen eyes on him, looking as though they wouldn¡¯t let it slip. Dustin scanned them from head to toe andmented mildly, ¡°Rather than wasting time on me, you sh ould really get checked at the hospital. From the looks of it, you¡¯re suffering from blood stasis. You don¡¯t have much internal energy, and your eyes are those of dead fish. I¡¯m afraid your days are numbered.¡± ¡°Nonsense! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s dying! I¡¯m fine!¡± Jane red at him. He raised a brow, looking amused, ¡°Oh, you don¡¯t believe me? Have you been feeling dizzy and weak t hese few days? And do you suffer from nosebleeds now and then?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± Her expression crumbled a little. Indeed, she had been feeling sick, and the symp toms matched his descriptions. However, she went for a checkup at the hospital and found no issues. Hence , she had put it to the back of her mind. ¡°It¡¯s no cause for concern. Just a terminal illness,¡± he added nonchntly. ¡®T¨Cterminal illness?¡± The color drained from Jane¡¯s face. She was stunned by the diagnosis. How was a terminal illness not a cause for concern? ¡°Mom, don¡¯t listen to his nonsense. He¡¯s obviously scaring you because he worries we¡¯ll get back at hi m!¡± Dakota suddenly jumped in to assuage her. ¡°You take supplements all the time. Why would you fall sick? And no sick person would be full of energy like you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right¡­ I do not suffer from any illness! I¡¯m in the pink of health!¡± Jane nodded furiously and jeer ed,¡± You bastard! I¡¯m warning you¨Cyou¡¯d better quit all that nonsense!¡± *Judging from the progression, you¡¯ll face a life¨C threatening situation in three days. On the first day, you¡¯ll lose consciousness, followed by coughing up blood on the second day. You¡¯ll be paralyzed on the third day. Three dayster, you will be staring at de ath,¡± he remarked quietly. It made Jane feel oddly anxious, and her heart skipped a beat. Still, she bit the bullet and bellowed at him, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a coward? Tell you what¨C you can¡¯t bluff your way out of this!¡± ¡°Believe it or not, it¡¯s up to you. Take care.¡± He was uninterested in engaging further with the Nicholson s and left. ¡°Hey! Stand there! I didn¡¯t tell you to leave!¡± Dakota was frustrated and went up to stop him, but his r e immediately put her in her ce. She promptly stopped in her tracks out of consideration for her safet y. knowing that Dustin was a madman. ¡°Let him leave. He won¡¯t run far. When our backup arrives, we¡¯ll double down on him.¡± Jane had a hostil e look on her face. During their conversation, they noticed a few ck SUVS stopping by the intersection. The door slid op en to reveal Florence and James. The two marched toward Jane and Dakota. ¡°Gosh! Jane! Dakota! What happened?¡± Florence, acting humbly, immediately started with pleasantries . Henry Nicholson¡¯s family was a branch of the Nicholsons of Glenstead. However, due to Henry¡¯s prote st against an arranged marriage, he eloped to Swinton with his lover. The two families were not in frequ ent contact. After the demise of the Glenstead patriarch, Edgar Nicholson, the family in Glenstead sent two representatives- Jane and Dakota¨C to meet with Henry in Swinton, mainly to fulfill Edgar¡¯s wish. Edgar¡¯sst wish was for Henry, the second son, to return to Glenstead. ¡°Hmph! How dare you ask us?¡± Jane was ashen¨Cfaced. ¡°We came all the way to this tiny town of yours. Not only did you not host us well, but you also made us go through humiliation! It loo ks like your family doesn¡¯t want to reunite with us at Glenstead!¡± Florence, James, and theirpanions almost peed themselves after hearing that. They were well aw are of the perks of reuniting with the Nicholsons of Glenstead. The move would elevate the status of th e Nicholson family of Swinton, and they would never let the opportunity slip. ¡°Jane, please calm down. Let us know if you need anything else. I promise I¡¯ll take care of it for you!¡± Fl orence hurriedly put on an apologetic smile. James echoed her with confidence. ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯ll take action on that rascal who hits you no matter who he is!¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use of saying that? He¡¯s gone!¡± Dakota pouted crossly. If her grandfather hadn¡¯t ordered th em to get the task done, she wouldn¡¯t have visited a small town like Swinton with her status. ¡°It¡¯s okay! There¡¯s a surveince camera by the intersection. I will get someone to check on it right awa y and catch the culprit tomorrow to ensure justice is served!¡± Florence promised. ¡°Hmph! That¡¯s more like it.¡± Dakota¡¯s features softened, and she added. ¡°Oh, and get the best doctor for me.¡± ¡°Dakota, are you hurt?¡± James looked shocked. He stole a few nces at her but did not see any tears on her outfit or any visible wounds. ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! Didn¡¯t you see that I¡¯m bleeding from my elbow? Are you blind?¡± She scoffed while showing everyone the gra Original from N?velDrama.Org. ze on her elbow. When they took a better look at it, they were baffled at what she described as an injury, for that was a wound that only required a bandaid. ¡°Why are you standing there? Get the car and send Dak to the hospital! I¡¯ll give you a whopping if yo u miss the golden hour!¡± Florence was quick to p James on the back of his head. Jane Engleton and Dakota Nicholson had the final say on whether or not Florence¡¯s family could rejoin their Glenstead rtives. Therefore, she would treat the two women with the utmost respect. ¡°Okay¡± James dared not object. Along with a few other rtives, he helped Jane and Dakota into the S UVS like they were royalties. Then, they rushed the two women to the hospital. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 In the afternoon, several ck SUVS abruptly screeched to a halt right in front of the entrance to Park ce. The doors opened, and the first to get out was a young man dressed in bright¨C colored clothes. With his handsome features and lofty demeanor, he carried an imposing presence. Foll owing behind him were a group of martial artists d Watching their departing figures, Stephan shouted out. ¡®Inform Mrs. Harmon immediately!¡± in entric uniforms, each of them emanating an intimidating air with their controlled breaths. It was ev ident that they were far from ordinary. ¡°This is the Harmon family¡¯s territory. All of you, leave immediately!¡± the two bodyguards by the entranc e warned them. ¡°Too loud.¡± With a wave of his hand, the two bodyguards flew away as blood spurted from their mouths. It was as if they w ere hit by a speeding car. The group of people then strutted into Park ce. In the hall, Natasha was enjoying tea, and a copy of a financial report was in her hands. These past fe w days. because of the invention of Immortunol, business was going very well for the Harmon family, and thepany stock prices were skyrocketing. If this continued, Natasha would be able to rece Edwin¡¯s status within a year and a half, bing th e first woman to be the wealthiest person in Swinton. ¡°Ms. Harmon, enjoying your day. I see.¡± She suddenly heard someone by the entrance and looked up, f inding the group of entrically¨Cdressed men. Leading them was a young man standing right at the center. ¡°Who are you?¡± She raised her eyebrows. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hummer. Joshua Hummer,¡± he smiled faintly. ¡°So it¡¯s you.. Natasha narrowed her eyes. ¡°Mr. Hummer, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s too much for you to barge into my residence like this?¡± ¡°Is it? I don¡¯t think so.¡± With an ambiguous smile, he continued, ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯ll go straight to the point . I¡¯m here for three things. First, Immortunol has caused considerable loss to the Hummers. Hence, you are to hand over the formtion. Second, my sister was humiliated some time back, which brought sh ame to the Hummers. All thanks to a bastard named Dustin. Get your men to bring his head to the Hummer¡¯s resid ence as an apology, and for the third. It¡¯s simple. All you need to do is be a guest at Hummer¡¯s residence toni ght.¡± Joshua spoke lightly like a master giving orders to his servant. Even the usuallyposed Natasha lost her cool when she heard him. ¡°Joshua Hummer, did you hit your head somewhere? You want my man¡¯s head? Who gave you the courage to speak that way?¡± To spout unreasonable demands as soon as he walked through the door, this guy was too much! ¡°Natasha Harmon, I¡¯m not negotiating. I¡¯m giving you a chance. Know your ce.¡± ¡°Hmph! Do you think you are in Hummer territory?¡± she mmed the table with force. Instantly, a huge number of bodyguards came out from different directions and surrounded the Hummer entourage. ¡°Ms. Harmon, what happened?¡± Stephan asked as the leader. ¡°Mr. Chapman, we have a few uninvited guests at home. Kindly show them the way out,¡± Natasha order ed coldly. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Then, he red directly at Joshua. ¡°Dear guests, you are not wee here. Please leav e.¡± ¡°Hmph! A pity.¡± Joshua smirked. He suddenly disappeared like a ghost and appeared in front of Stepha n. ¡°You Stephan¡¯s pupils dted. He was about to make a move when he realized he was already held in a chokehold. The next thing he knew, it became hard to breathe, and his limbs turned limp. He wasn¡¯t able to muster an ounce of energy. ¡°The audacity of a low¨Clevel martial artist like you. Kneel!¡± Joshua lifted him single¨C handedly and mmed him to the ground, An explosion¨C like sound echoed through the room, and the floor cracked open, leaving a crater in its wake while Step han¡¯s incapacitated legs sprayed out blood. ¡°Scram!¡± Joshua delivered a kick, aiming straight at his core. With a grunt, Stephan was thrown a few meters away. He violently crashed into the wall, and blood spurted out of his mouth. That kick had dissipated Stephan¡¯s internal energy. ¡°How insolent! Get them!¡± Natasha was furious. Under her orders, the bodyguards took out their batons and charged. ¡°Ants,¡± Joshua muttered in disdain. With a wave of his hand, a surge of energy that could move mountains and seas burst forward and rippled toward them. Before the bodyguards could reach him, th ey were sent flying by the impact and fell to the ground. During that moment, groans could be heard all around. ¡°An external manifestation of energy? Have you achieved divinity?¡± A seriously injured Stephan locked on in horror. Countless martial artists dreamed of achieving divinity. Skilled low¨C level martial artists could split open rocks and lift thousands of pounds of weight. However,pared to divine¨C level martial artists, their differences were like the sky and earth. Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Low¨Clevel martial artists were restricted to only channeling their energy through physical attacks, while divine- level martial artists surpassed human ca pabilities. With the ability to manifest energy externally, they were able to strike across space itself! In the face of a divine¨Clevel martial artist, even the best low¨C level martial artists paled in significance. They existed on different nes of status and prowess. The strange thing was that Joshua was only in his twenties. His talent in martial arts was terrifying for him to be able to achieve divinity at his age. ¡°Ha You¡¯re quite perceptive.¡± Joshua smiled proudly, ¡°Since you¡¯ve realized I¡¯m a highly¨Cskilled, divine¨C level martial artist, you should understand my words carry weight.¡± Natasha¡¯s brow furrowed. So they¡¯de prepared,ying low all for this day. ¡°After you, Ms. Harmon. Don¡¯t make me go on a massacre,¡± he smiled teasingly. A wealthy princess wa s nothing in his eyes. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t regret it.¡± Natasha walked out with a sneer. She knew if she didn¡¯t obey, everyone her e today would die. ¡°Tell the Harmons to fulfill my demands, and Natasha will be safe. Otherwise, there¡¯s no telling what I¡¯d do to her.¡± He took out an envelope. With a swipe of his hand, it shot out like a dagger and stabbed right into the d oor frame. Watching their departing figures, Stephan shouted out, ¡°Inform Mrs. Harmon immediately!¡± ¡°What? Natasha has been kidnapped?¡± After the news arrived and Jessica was briefed about the situation, her expression hardened, along wit h the rest of the people present. ¡°How could that happen? We have dozens of bodyguards. How could Natasha be taken away?¡± Ruth w as in disbelief. ¡°They were too strong. We were no match for them.¡± Stephan mourned. His legs were crippled, and his core was destroyed. He was as good as useless. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who was it? The audacity to kidnap my daughter!¡± Jennifer was furious. ¡°We¡¯re not sure of their true identity, but they left a letter.¡± Stephan signaled his men to give the letter to Jennifer. She opened up the letter, and her expression grew dark as she read it. ¡°Mom, what does it say?¡± Ruth asked impatiently. ¡°It says, before the sun rises, bring the formtion of Immortunol and Dustin to Hummer Vi as ranso m.¡± Her tone was almost a growl. ¡°Hummer Vi? Isn¡¯t that Edwin¡¯s territory?¡± Ruth frowned. Did this have to do with the Hummer family again? ¡°Inform headquarters immediately. Get them to deploy the shadow guards for support!¡± Jennifer was so lemn,¡± Make a call to Dustin as well. Ask him toe here immediately!¡± ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t be thinking of surrendering him to them, are you?¡± Ruth implored. ¡°This happened because of him. Why should he be free?¡± ¡°But ¡°No buts. Natasha¡¯s safetyes first. Go now!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She pursed her lips as she made the call, not daring to go against her mom. Meanwhile, at Peaceful Medical Center, Dustin¡¯s expression turned solemn as he listened through his p hone. He felt a surge of anger rising within him. ¡°I¡¯ll be there right away.¡± He spared the nonsense and hung up, leaving the house in a fury immediately after. He stepped on the gas pedal for the entire journey. Within 20 minutes, he arrived at Park ce. As soon as he walked in, the first thing he saw wa s the casualties lying on the floor. Stephan¡¯s injuries were the worst. His face was pale as he constantly coughed up blood, and his core energy had beenpletely destroyed. ¡°Dustin, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Ruth found sce in his appearance. ¡°Who did this?¡± Dustin¡¯s piercing gaze could kill ¡°See for yourself!¡± Jennifer threw him the letter. Dustin read it, and his temper red. ¡°The Hummer family are all pigheaded! It seems like they will nev er learn their lesson!¡± ¡°My daughter has been pulled into your mess. What do you n on doing?¡± Jennifer questioned. ¡°I will definitely rescue Ms. Harmon,¡± he assured her. ¡°And if you fail?¡± she retorted. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay with my life!¡± Dustin¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°Hmph! At least you¡¯re able to man up. My daughter¡¯s affection has not gone in vain.¡± Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Suddenly, she pped. Right on cue, a group of domineering martial artists d in all¨C ck gear strode in proudly. Taking the lead was a woman with short hair. She had striking features that gave her a cool look. Beca use of her tight¨Cfitting outfit, her figure appeared exceptionally curvaceous and left an impact. Jennifer said impassively. ¡°This is Isfrid. She leads team five of the Harmon family¡¯s shadow guards an d is highly skilled, Bring her team with you so you have each other¡¯s backs.¡± ¡°Mrs. Harmon, forgive me for my bluntness, but our team is enough to ensure Ms. Harmon¡¯s safety. Wh y do we need to involve outsiders?¡± Istrid gave Dustin a contemptuous once over. ¡°Team five is well trai ned, and our teamwork is unparalleled. Having our members are more than enough to save Ms. Harmo n. We can¡¯t afford to bring along baggage since it will make the operation riskier. I hope you will reconsi der, Mrs. Harmon.¡± ¡°Dustin is a good fighter, and the Hummer family asked for him personally. He has to be there,¡± she repl ied frankly. ¡°If that is the case, please have him listen to our orders and not get in our way, lest it affects our operati on,¡± Istrid said unfeelingly. An exceptional fighter, she was extremely confident in her abilities. Her team always worked in the shadows. but her skills wereparable to the highly skilled martial artists of The Hundred Immortals. ¡°Suit yourselves. I only have one demand¨Cbring my daughter back to me alive,¡± she ordered solemnly. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Harmon.¡± Isfrid bowed before leaving arrogantly with her team behind her. ¡°Mr. Rhys, be careful. The Hummers have a highly skilled martial artist among them. He¡¯s possibly achi eved divinity,¡± Stephan warned Dustin. ¡°Achieved divinity? They¡¯re mere ants to me.¡± With that, he left. Night gradually fell. Meanwhile, in the square outside Hummer Vi, a group of armored fighters sat around a bonfire, roasti ng a wholemb. Beside them was a dog cage, and inside the cage was a ragged woman. Her hair was dis heveled, and her body was covered in injuries. It was clear that she had been tortured. There was even a cor around her neck, which was attached to a dog leash held by an elderly man. T hat man This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. was Fletcher Lawson. ¡°Mr. Lawson, it¡¯s about time. It seems like he¡¯s too scared toe since he hasn¡¯t shown up till now.¡± A bald man smirked. ¡°Of course! With so many of us keeping guard here, who would send themselves to death? That punk has long fled!¡± Everyone chimed in,ughing heartily. Who would barge in foolishly when they knew it w as a trap? ¡°Mr. Lawson, the woman in the cage is exceptional. Why don¡¯t you allow us to enjoy her first?¡± the bal d man Chapter 25! said with an evil grin. ¡°That¡¯s right. Mr. Lawwon. We¡¯ve been deprived for too long. How can we give up the chance when a beautiful woman is present?¡± the rest jeered. It wasn¡¯t the first time they¡¯d engaged in acts of arson, murder, and looting. ¡°y around if you must, but keep yourselves in check,¡± Fletcher said calmly. ¡°No problem.¡± The bald man chuckled, then approached the cage eagerly. He ripped the woman¡¯s skirt apart, exposing her white thighs. ¡°What a beauty! Just as we thought!¡± He licked his lips and pounced with a devilish smile. Just as he was about to carry out his intentions, a f leeting flicker of light sliced through the air with a faint whistle. Emerging from the darkness and piercin g through the bonfire¡¯s glow, a golden needle found its mark between the man¡¯s eyebrows. With a groan, his eyes widened as he convulsed. Soon, he turned stiff. He was rooted in ce with no signs of breath. ¡°Hey! What are you dawdling for? If you can¡¯t do it, we¡¯ll go instead. Don¡¯t make us wait longer!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! There are so many of us waiting for our turn. Can you be faster?¡± Nobody noticed anything strange. They were rushing him instead. ¡°Hey! We¡¯re talking to you. Are you deal?¡± A muscr man walked up and nudged his shoulder. Immediately, like a statue that had lost its bnce , the bald man toppled to the ground. The muscr man was shocked and extended out his hand. ¡°What the fuck? He¡¯s not breathing!¡± He¡¯d just finished his sentence when another faint whistle was heard. A second gold needle sliced through the air and embedded straight between his brows. Falling to the ground with his head up, he died instantly. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Everyone looked at each other in dismay. They only reacted when they saw blood between the victims¡® eyebrows. ¡°We¡¯re being ambushed! Stay alert!¡± Following the shouts, the fighters took out their swords, looking around in all directions. ¡°Who the fuck is it?¡± ¡°Step out if you dare! You¡¯re a pussy for hiding!¡± The crowd roared incessantly. Right then, a sudden, powerful gust of wind whipped through the surroundings. Illuminated by the stree t lights, a tall, slender figure walked into the vi with deliberate steps. Fletcher took a closer look and suddenly let out augh. ¡°How brave. He really walked into the lion¡¯s de n.¡± ¡°Release her immediately!¡± Dustin ordered coldly. His voice wasn¡¯t too loud, but it reverberated acros s the whole vi. His expression was impassive, but his gaze was as cold as ice. ¡°Know your ce! There¡¯s no need to think about being a hero when you¡¯re dying soon.¡± Fletcher waved, ¡°Get him! Whoever brings me his head first will be rewarded 100 million!¡± 100 million?¡± The crowd of fighters was excited. There was nothing money couldn¡¯t solve, and avish reward would certainly give birth to brave warrior s. People would kill friends and rtives for 100 million, not to mention a stranger. Get him!¡± The crowd roared and rushed forward without dy. ¡°Attack!¡± Suddenly, a group of all¨C ck, masked assassins emerged from the darkness. They had a knife in one hand and a crossbow in the other. Although they were few in numbers, all of them were well¨C trained. Pushing forward, they surrounded the Hummer family¡¯s fighters. It was like nothing could stand in their way. They were the shadow guards led by Istrid. Although the Harmon family¡¯s shadow guards were not well¨C known, they were all handpicked talents among hundreds of candidates. They were specifically tasked with removing obstacles and eliminating dissidents for the Harmon family. ¡°See that? This is the true power of the Harmon family¡¯s shadow guards!¡± Istrid emerged from the dark ness and stood beside Dustin. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Coldly, she said, ¡°Wait here, and don¡¯t run off. I don¡¯t want you to cause us any trouble. Understand?¡± ¡°They have highly skilled fighters among them. Your men won¡¯t be able to handle them.¡± Dustin respon ded. tly. ¡°Ha! What a joke! I¡¯ve fought in countless battles, and I¡¯ve seen it all. A burn like you will never understa nd how strong we are.¡± Her expression grew colder. ¡°Having confidence ismendable, but don¡¯t be too blind. You should always believe there is someon e. better out there,¡± he reminded. ¡°Shut your nonsense. Just stay here as I told you to. I won¡¯t forgive you if you ruin our operation!¡± she s houted coldly before joining the fray. Dustin didn¡¯t say anything more and narrowed his eyes, staring silently at Fletcher. Seated behind him were a few martial artists d in entric clothing. From their breathing patterns, Dustin could tell that they were all the best low¨Clevel martial artists, with two of them already considered a high¨C level martial artist. ¡°So he has backup. No wonder he dared be so wild.¡± Even though his men were going down, Fletcher wasn¡¯t anxious. In fact, his expression showed one of amusement. It didn¡¯t matter if they died since they were just cannon fodder. The real fighters were seated right behin d him. There weren¡¯t many of them, but they were all ranked on The Hundred Immortals. Especially the twin brothers with the code name Darkwrath and Lightwrath. They were the seventh and eighth on The Hundred Immortals, respectively. They practiced the dark arts, and their moves were ter rifyingly lethal. When they fought separately, they werefortably ranked in the top ten. When they joined forces, their power doubled. Of course, besides the twins, another highly skilled martial artist was hidden within the vi. That perso n was ranked third on the Hundred Immortals¨C Judge. Whenever Judge appeared, only a trail of death would follow. Regardless of how many fighters the Harmon family sent, they were all going to meet their demise. After a brutal fight, hundreds of the Hummer family¡¯s fighters were left lying on the ground. The shadow guards of the Harmon family, on the other hand, had suffered only a single casualty and five injuries. T heir losses were rtively minimal inparison. ¡°Hmph! You dare kidnap Ms. Harmon with these pitiful weaklings? You should have known better!¡± Istri d stood with a sense of pride. With a swift downward flick, droplets of blood glistened as they sttered off her sword. She looked gant and imposing. ¡°Impressive! The Harmon family¡¯s shadow guards are indeed Impressivel Fletcher apuded with a s mile. ¡°Since you¡¯re aware of our skills, why aren¡¯t you releasing the hostage yet?¡± Istrid pointed her sword f orward. ¡°The person you¡¯re looking for is right here in this cage. Come save her yourself if you have the guts.¡± Fletcher overturned the dog cage with a kick, and the woman inside trembled in fear. However, her dis heveled appearance made it difficult to discern her features. ¡°Ms. Harmon?¡± Istrid¡¯s expression hardened, and she rushed forward with her men. As they neared the cage. Istrid drew her sword and severed the chains with a resounding ng. ¡°Ms. Harmon! Are you okay?¡± Istrid opened up the metal door and was about to save the woman inside when the woman suddenly fl ashed an evil grin, With a sudden wave of her hand, she threw out a barrage of yellow powder that was highly toxic. Any ordinary person who came into contact with it would surely meet their demise. Istrid¡¯s pupils constricted, and she immediately stepped back, covering her mouth and nose to avoid in haling the dust. ¡°Hah¡­ You reacted quickly. You almost fell into my trap,¡± the woman chuckled lightly, pushing her hair aside to reveal a pale and unfamiliar face. ¡°Who are you?¡± Istrid¡¯s brow furrowed. It was fortunate that she dodged in time, or she would have been in trouble. ¡°That¡¯s not important. What¡¯s important is how much your head is worth.¡± the woman replied andunc hed another attack, thrusting her knife forward. ¡°Hmph!¡± Istrid¡¯s longsword quivered as it severed the woman¡¯s arm and, at the same time, pierced thro ugh her chest with lightning speed. Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°So fast. The woman¡¯s eyes widened as she toppled backward. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 ¡°How weak.¡± Istrid wore a disdainful expression as she scanned her surroundings. ¡°Anyone else?¡± ¡°Interesting¡± Leering at her curvaceous figure, Darkwrath licked his lips in excitement. ¡°Hey, prettydy, let me have a taste of you!¡± As he spoke, his toes tapped the ground, propelling him forward like a ghostly shadow. His body flickered in and out of existence, making it hard to figure out his movements, Istrid bellowed, ¡°Die!¡± With a flick of her sword, two des that were both swift and deadly danced forward. Just as her attack was about to hit their target, Darkwrath suddenly vanished from thin air. ¡°Hey, prettydy, where are you looking?¡± She heard a sinister voice behind her, and her expression changed slightly. Without looking back, she thrust her swo rd backward. She was fast, but Darkwrath was faster, and her sword sliced through the empty air. Taking advantage of her distraction, Darkwrath grabbed her butt forcefully. Chuckling obscenely, he re marked,¡± Soft and supple. What a treasure.¡± He didn¡¯t harm her, clearly reveling in ying with his prey like a game of cat and mouse. Fueled by the humiliation, Isfrid erupted in fury. ¡°You will pay with your life!¡± Her sword danced with rapid speed. In an instant, she was enveloped in a whirlwind of swirling des t hat radiated with shimmering brilliance. Yet, Darkwrath continued to flicker in and out of existence, appearing to be at ease and in control. Istrid was out of breath when Darkwrath suddenly wrapped her in an embrace from behind. His tongue slithered out on her face, and he licked her slowly and forcefully. ¡°Beauty, you¡¯re delicious! I¡¯m going to eat you tonight!¡± He chuckled devilishly, his face full of lust. ¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡± Her eyes were red from a mix of anger and embarrassment. She redirected her sword. toward her own abdomen, intending to deal a severe blow to Darkwrath through herself. However, Darkwrath was obviously prepared as he pressed a finger onto a pressure point on her bod y. She let out a muffled groan and copsed to the ground, her arm feeling so numb that she was unabl e to hold up her sword. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Who¡­ who are you?¡± she asked in shock and anger. She didn¡¯t expect her opponent to be that strong . ¡°I am Darkwrath, ranked eighth on The Hundred Immortals.¡± Realization struck Istrid, and her expression changed. It was no wonder he was so formidable¨C he was among the top ten highly skilled martial artists on The Hundred Immortals. ¡°Prettydy, what¡¯s the point of serving the Harmon family? You¡¯d be better off with me. I¡¯ll make sure y ou live luxuriously, and every night will be like our honeymoon!¡± Darkwrath licked his lips, smirking obscenely. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°You insolent bastard!¡± Seeing their leader humiliated, the shadow guards behind Isfrid couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and bran dished their swords, charging toward him. ¡°Fools.¡± Darkwrath sneered and propelled out into their midst. With a swift motion, two steel ws exte nded out from his sleeves, piercing through the throats of two shadow guards. He then yanked back for cefully. painting the air with blood and flesh. The two shadow guards let out an anguished shriek before dying an immediate death. That wasn¡¯t the end, as his steel ws continued to strike fiercely and relentlessly. Like a violent storm, he was unstoppable. In the span of a few breaths, the entirety of the shadow guards were left lying on the ground. Half of them were dead, and the other half were seriously injured. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 ¡°It¡¯s over. It¡¯s all over now.¡± Looking at the scene before her, Isfrid¡¯s face turned ashen, and her expressi on was full of despair. She had barged in full of confidence, but she didn¡¯t expect to encounter Darkwra th here. In terms of raw strength, ultimately, she was the loser. ¡°Allow me.¡± Dustin had somehow ended up beside her. ¡°You?¡± She frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not even his match. What can you do? Leave immediately! Don¡¯t throw your life away like that!¡± Ev en though she looked down on him, she didn¡¯t wish for him to die in vain. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you.¡± Seei ng hisck of reaction, Istrid¡¯s frustration grew. ¡°This guy is unpredictable. He¡¯s also ranked in the top ten of The Hundred Immortals. You¡¯re no match f or him. I¡¯ll buy time for you. Escape while you can! When you get back, ask Mrs. Harmon to send a highly skille d fighter. Go!¡± She bellowed out herst word. As the leader of team five, naturally, she wouldn¡¯t leave her teammates behind and escape on her own. That was why she needed someone else to deliver the message. ¡°So what if he¡¯s ranked eighth? He¡¯s nothing but a mere ant.¡± With a frosty expression, Dustin pushed f orward. ¡°Hey! Are you crazy? Do you know what you¡¯re doing? This is not the time to try to be brave. You¡¯re nev er going to beat him. What you¡¯re doing is sending yourself to certain death.¡± Istrid was both anxious and angry. She¡¯d never seen anyone so foolish to choose to light a losing battle . This guy was hopeless. ¡°Kiddo, you should have taken her advice. If you¡¯d escaped earlier, you might¡¯ve had a chance at living. But now, goodbye.¡± Darkwrath¡¯s mouth curved up into a sinister smile. While he spoke, he licked the bl ood on his steel ws like a maniac. ¡°Where¡¯s Natasha? Let her go, and I¡¯ll let you live. Dustin ordered coldly. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Everyone present was stunned. Nobody expected those words toe out of his mouth. ¡°Kiddo, you¡¯re pretty wild for someone who¡¯s about to die. It seems like I need to teach you a lesson for you to recognize my prowess!¡± Darkwrath finally lost his patience as his expression turned cold. With one step forward, he propelled out like a rocket, charging toward Dustin with sheer force. Once he was near, he waved his hand, and his steel ws shimmered like rays of light, alming straight for Dustin¡¯s th roat. ¡°Run!¡± Istrid shouted. That was the move that killed most of her team. Even she might have difficulty d odging 1. it. ¡°Can you outrun me?¡± Darkwrath grinned devilishly and sped up. ¡°Lend me your sword.¡± With a tap of his fool, the sword on the floor sprung up andnded firmly in his hands. He flicked his wrist, and the de pierced Darkwrath with a shimmer and a thunderous whistle. What followed was the sound of a deafening ng of metal. The shimmering de shattered Darkwrath¡¯s steel ws, and without stopping, pierced through his neck. His body stiffened as if he had turned to st one. A thin line of blood formed slowly at his throat. Soon, the bloody line grewrger, quickly turning int o a gaping wound. The next second, his head, like a ball, rolled off the ground with a thud and straight to Istrid¡¯s feet, his w idened eyes staring right into hers. He had died a regretful death. Chapter 257 Chapter 257 hapter 257 ¡°Uh¡­¡± Isfrid was bewildered at the sight of the head beside her feet. Who would have imagined that the mighty and iparable Darkwrath would be killed so easily? He was ranked eighth of The Hundred Immortals! He had decapitated the entirety of team five on his own. It was preposterous for him to be killed with one strike of the sword. ¡°What?¡± Looking at the headless body. Fletcher was taken aback as well. He knew Dustin was strong but didn¡¯t realize he was that strong. With just a strike of his sword, he killed Darkwr ath, ranked eighth of The Hundred Immortals. It seemed like only Judge, who was ranked third, would be able to suppress his formidable strength. ¡°You ¡­ you killed my brother?¡± Lightwrath finally stood. His pale face appeared ghastly. Original from N?velDrama.Org. He allowed his brother to y his game of cat and mouse without intervening since victory was within r each. He didn¡¯t expect a highly skilled martial artist to be hidden among them. On top of that, that highl y skilled martial artist unexpectedly brought about his brother¡¯s demise. ¡°I gave both of you the opportunity to attack together. He¡¯s the one who didn¡¯t appreciate it,¡± Dustin res ponded tly. ¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡± Lightwrath flew into a rage. He took out two pistols and charged forward violentl y. ¡°All of you, go!¡± Fletchermanded. Finally, the remaining few highly skilled, ranked martial artists joined the fray and nked Lightwrath to protect him as they surged forward, attempting to encircle Dustin. From their perspective, even if Dustin¡¯s skills were formidable, he wouldn¡¯t be able to hold back their co llective assaults. After all, he only had four limbs. ¡°It¡¯s over. It¡¯s really over this time!¡± Istrid grew increasingly worried as she watched the martial artists, al l ranked on The Hundred Immortals, join forces in the attack. Although she was surprised by Dustin¡¯s performance, she knew that victory and defeat in a battle betw een skilled martial artists hung by a thread. Dustin could turn out victorious if it were a one¨Con¨C one battle, but when going against numerous opponents, only certain death would face him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Faced with the approaching Lightwrath and his group, Dustin remained still and swung his sw ord once more. With a sharp whistle, the sword glimmered across the air. Lightwrath and the others appeared to have been cursed in ce, their movementsing to a halt. T heir legs gave way, and they copsed to their knees. Finally, heads rolled off onto the ground in se ssion. sttering blood all over the floor. Immediately, a dead silence engulfed the area. Isirid and the rest of the shadow guards looked on in s hock and disbelief. If Darkwrath¡¯s death was described as the result of an ambush or a surprise attack, then, right now, it w ould be described as the result of sheer strength. One single strike had in a number of skilled martial artists ranked on The Hundred Immortals. It was truly terrifying! When Istrid thought of how she had looked down on him, she was filled with shame. It turned out that s he was the true bum. ¡°Release her, or die!¡± Dustin ignored the lifeless bodies on the ground, staring straight at Fletcher. It wa s as if he was looking at a dead man. ¡°You How could you. Fletcher broke out in a cold sweat, looking terrified. Dustin¡¯s prowess made him see the man in a new light. ¡°Release her!¡± Dustin repeated. He spoke straight to the point, yet it was exceptionally domineering. ¡°You just you wait!¡± Fletcher panicked. Without another word, he rushed into the vi. Hummer Vi was vast, with an entire hill enveloped within its grounds. While the outer square was fille d with chaos, inside, it was bustling with music and wine. A group of esteemed guests was gathered in t he luxurious vi, attending the Hummers¡® party that was currently underway. Their focus was all on Jo shua and Jade. Chapter 258 Chapter 258 ¡°Mr. Hummer! Something terrible has happened!¡± Fletcher suddenly rushed in, stumbling in his steps. His disheveled and panicked appearance looked extremely out of ce. ¡°What¡¯s with themotion?¡± Joshua¡¯s expression turned cold, and he appeared upset. ¡°Speak up. W hat¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°D¨CDustin is out here on a killing spree!¡± Fletcher reported in a whisper. ¡°Oh?¡± Joshua raised an eyebrow. ¡°He dares barge in here despite knowing it¡¯s the lion¡¯s den? Is this ki ddo really that brave?¡± ¡°What do we do now, Mr. Hummer?¡± Fletcher asked anxiously. ¡°What do you mean? Get Darkwrath and Lightwrath to kill him. Don¡¯t let him interrupt our party.¡± Joshua waved him away. ¡°Mr. Hummer he¡¯s already killed them both!¡± Fletcher was somber. ¡°Huh?¡± Joshua frowned. ¡°When Darkwrath and Lightwrath join forces, even Judge would need to exert his full strength. Is this kiddo that skilled?¡± ¡°It would have been great if they joined forces, but they were too arrogant and gave him a chance to defeat them,¡± Fletcher sounded helpless. ¡°Those fools! What useless trash!¡± Joshua was displeased. He was upset to have to expend extra effort on an ant that was supposed to be easily squashed. In the midst of their conversation, the huge doors to the vi were kicked open with a deafening crash. A tall figure strode in with a murderous look. ¡°Listen up, Hummers. I¡¯m giving you three minutes. Let her go immediately. Otherwise, nobody is leavin g this ce alive.¡± Dustin scanned his surroundings, his voice cold. The hall exploded in a frenzy when they heard him. ¡°Who is this punk? How dare he make a scene at the Hummers¡°? Doesn¡¯t he value his life?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, scram right now. Otherwise, your end will be near!¡± ¡°Fuck! Who is this punk? He¡¯s so wild.¡± Everyone present whispered and pointed in righteous indignation. ¡°Everyone, please calm down. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Joshua walked slowly to the center, a faint smile ying on his lips. ¡°You must be Dustin. Kneel and ap ologize to my honored guests tonight, and I might spare your life.¡± ¡°Who do you think you are? You¡¯re not worthy for me to kneel before you,¡± Dustin responded coldly. Joshua¡¯s expression turned dark. ¡°Kiddo, do you know who you¡¯re talking to? Do you think you can act recklessly here just because you defeated Darkwrath and Lightwrath? Let me tell you, those two are ju This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. st like you, mere ants in my eyes.¡± ¡°You have two minutes left.¡± Dustin was stone¨Cfaced. Joshua chuckled, ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you. You¡¯re fearless for someone nearing death.¡± With a sneer, he order ed. Judge, I¡¯ll leave this person to you. Deal with him cleanly. I don¡¯t want blood to stain the floor.¡± ¡°No problem!¡± ¨C Right then, a middle¨Caged man in a long robe suddenly leaped wn from the second floor. He had a tall stature and wore a mask. He held a rtively short, steel spear in his hand, exuding a chilling air around him. ¡°Damn! Isn¡¯t that Judge, who is ranked third on the Hundred Immortals? I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s here!¡± ¡°With Judge here, there is no escape. This punk is dead for sure!¡± After the long¨Crobed man appeared, the hall erupted in another frenzy. Judge had a well¨C known reputation to his name, and his sudden appearance was bound to bring forth a torrent of bloods hed. ¡°Dustin! We¡¯re here to assist you!¡± At this moment. Isfrid and a few injured shadow guards staggered into the room. ¡°You won¡¯t be of any help. Go wait at the side,¡± Dustin remarked tly. Isfrid frowned after hearing him. It was the first time in her life being shunned as such. ¡°Even though we¡¯re not as skilled as you are, we still have our merits. It would be advantageous to hav e more numbers,¡± she said with a resolute expression. ¡°Suit yourselves. Just don¡¯t stand in my way.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°You¡± She pursed her lips. As an exceptional female fighter, she¡¯d never experienced such tant disregard. No matter what, she was determined to showcase her full strength, to prove to the person be fore her that women were as formidable as men. Just as the thought crossed her mind, she nced ahead and noticed Judge standing right in the cent er. She froze on the spot. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is Judge here? Did the Hummers invite bystanders to the fray?¡± Isfrid was secretly apprehensive and w orried at the same time. With the warrior ranked third among The Hundred Immortals here, they were going to suffer an immea surable loss. That was because Judge¡¯s skills far surpassed those of Darkwrath and Lightwrath¨C they weren¡¯t even on the same ne. This screamed trouble! Chapter 259 Chapter 259 ¡°Kiddo! I¡¯m giving you two options. Either you kneel before Mr. Hummer or die!¡± Judge¡¯s tone was frosty , and his gaze was stagnant like a pool, calm and impassive. He¡¯d been killing since he was ten and had a body count of h undreds, if not thousands. ¡°I choose death. Come at me if you can.¡± Dustin beckoned him forward with his finger. ¡°How insolent!¡± Judge¡¯s gaze turned increasingly frosty as heunched his spear forward. Like a canon , it shot straight for Dustin¡¯s chest. Dustin stood unmoved and grabbed the spear, flinging it back. With a sharp whistle, it shot back out to ward Judge with greater speed. Judge sneered and mirrored Dustin¡¯s stance, grabbing his own spear. However, as soon as he grabbed hold of it, it was as if he was struck by lightning. He staggered backward, his feet skidding along the gr ound, leaving deep imprints with each step. ¡°How could this be?¡± Judge¡¯s expression changed, and he exerted his entire strength in an attempt to s top the momentum of his steel spear. A gaping wound was forming between his thumb and index finger, and his fingers were turning into a bloody mess of flesh and blood from the sheer force of energy. Even so, he didn¡¯t dare let go. ¡°Ahhh!¡± As he realized that no amount of force would be able to stop his weapon, he let out an anguish ed scream, and his expression was full of despair. ¡°Save me, Mr. Hummer!¡± he screeched loudly, losing his previous arrogance. Before the crowd could react, his spear trembled and escaped from his grasp, piercing straight through his chest. With a final whistle, it embedded into the wall, disappearing out of sight, leaving only a hole the s ize of an egg. Moaning painfully, Judge looked at his wrangled hands and the gaping hole in his chest. His mouth opened like he wanted to speak, but no sound could be heard. Falling backward onto the ground, he died in grievance. In the end, the mighty, third¨Cranked Judge met his demise at the hands of his own weapon. Silence engulfed the scene as the crowd looked on in shock, their eyes fixed on the lifeless body of Judge sprawled on the ground. This oue was b eyond anyone¡¯s imagination. They had been certain that Dustin would meet his end with Judge¡¯s appea rance. However, with just a casual flick of his hand, Judge was impaled by his own spear. Nobody reacted as the entire situation happened abruptly. Some of them couldn¡¯t even believe it. Just li ke that, the warrior ranked third among The Hundred Immortals had fallen. His death was so sudden a nd bizarre that they wouldn¡¯t have believed it if they hadn¡¯t seen it with their own eyes. ¡°Oh my goodness, where did this monstere from?¡± Istrid waspletely dumbfounded, her eyes wide open. Darkwrath, Lightwrath, and Judge were all highly¨C skilled experts ranked on the Hundred Immortals. However, Dustin handled them like they were mere vegetables on a chopping board. It was truly terrifying! ¡°Damn it! Who is this kid? He actually killed Judge!¡± ¡°Who knows? He¡¯s truly talented for his age and skills.¡± Whispers filled the air, and they took in Dustin¡¯s figure with tinges of awe. ¡°Kiddo. I didn¡¯t expect you to have skills like that. I underestimated you.¡± Joshua was slightly taken aba ck but sneered again after a brief moment. The Hundred Immortals was a power ranking for low¨C level martial artists. However,pared to divine¨C level martial artists, they fell short by more than a mile. At present. Joshua was already a divine¨Clevel martial artist and had the potential to challenge the ranks of The Heavenly Immortals. In his eyes, a low¨C level martial artist like Judge was no different from an ant. Just like how Dustin had killed him instantly with a single strike, he could do the same, and with even less effort. That was the true power of a divine¨Clevel martial artist. ¡°Release her, or die,¡± Dustin said coldly. ¡°Kiddo, don¡¯t be too arrogant! Do you think you can act recklessly in front of me just because you killed Judge? Let me tell you honestly, I¡¯m already a divine¨C level martial artist. I can destroy you, ordinary people, with nothing more than a flick of my finger!¡± As Joshua spoke, his arms trembled, and a terrifying air emanated from him.This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Under Joshua¡¯s impressive prowess, the guests in the hall began to retreat involuntarily. It felt as if rock s were pressing on their chests as their breathing grew heavy. ¡°Damn! Mr. Hummer is impressive. He¡¯s already achieved divinity!¡± ¡°He¡¯s truly deserving to be Boulderthorn¡¯s genius. To achieve divinity before the age of thirty, he¡¯s truly a terrifying man.¡± ¡°Although a low¨Clevel and divine¨C level martial artist only differed in a single word, the disparity in strength, just like their name, was like heaven and earth. This kid¡¯s strong, but he¡¯s still a weakling in front of Mr. Hummer.¡± The crowd started a frenzied discussion as they witnessed Joshua¡¯s imposing presence and arroganc e. At that moment, Tina, who was among the crowd, burst intoughter. ¡°You fucking bastard! How dare y ou cause a scene at Hummer Vi? Look at yourself in the mirror! Give him a good beating for me, Joshua !¡± ¡°I have good taste in men. He¡¯s so cool.¡± Jade¡¯s lips curled up into a smile, and she looked at Joshua w ith a gaze full of affection. A divine¨Clevel martial artist in their twenties was a desirable catch anywhere. Not to mention, he was Boulderthorn¡¯s direct disciple. Talent, skills, backgro und¨Che had it all. Promising individual like him was few and far between in the whole of South City. She was proud and pleased with her choice. Her man would definitely make a name for himself in the f uture. As long as Joshua married her, he would definitely receive the full support of the Grant family. As long a s the family focused on nurturing him, then there would be a chance for him to be the second Tyler Gra nt. Edwin chuckled heartily, ¡°The Hummer family has experienced consecutive setbacks, but today is the d ay to restore our prestige.¡± Edwin watched the entire scene happening below from the second floor of the vi, a proud smile ador ning his face. How could he not be happy with such a talented son? ¡°What? The Hummer family has a divine¨C level martial artist in their midst?¡± Istrid paled from the shock. As she took in Joshua¡¯smanding pre sence, her legs started trembling involuntarily. Divine¨C level martial artists were one in a million. It wasn¡¯t something that could be achieved through sheer effort, and it also required exceptional talent. Some practitioners would spend their entire lives without attaining divinity. However, once they did, it wouldpletely transform their lives for the better! There were more than a hundred martial artists among the Harmon family¡¯s shadow guards, but only o ne had achieved divinity. And that was themander of the shadow guards. ¡°Isfrid, what should we do now? With a divine¨C level martial artist as our opponent, we won¡¯t be a match for him even if all of us joined forces.¡± The shadow guards behind her also had terrified expressions. Isfrid remained silent, looking at Dustin instead. Even though she wanted to save Ms. Harmon badly, with the Hummer¡¯s divine¨Clevel martial artist present, it was inevitable for them to retreat. Joshua was smugly pleased to see Dustin fall silent. ¡°Hey, kiddo! Are you afraid now? You must be feel ing terrified! This is the disparity between us. To me, you¡¯re just a mere ant! I¡¯ll give you a chance now. If you don¡¯t want to die, kneel immediately!¡± He¡¯d never shown himself since he became a divine¨C level martial artist, which exined why not many people knew about it. Today was a good opportunity for him to make a name for himself and rise to prominence! ¡°So what? If you don¡¯t let her go today, I will kill you!¡± Dustin was stone¨C faced. It was as if he was looking at a dead man. ¡°Kill me?¡± Joshua scoffed. ¡°Kiddo, it seems like you haven¡¯t realized the gravity of the situation. Since y ou don¡¯t seem to value your life, allow me!¡± With that, he waved his hand, and a burst of violent energy ripped toward Dustin with full force. Dustin didn¡¯t dodge it, allowing the burst of energy to crash into him as he stood unmoved. ¡°Hmm?¡± Joshua narrowed his eyes, looking slightly surprised. When a divine¨C level martial artist manifested energy externally, even a minor attack was not something a low- level ma rtial artist could take on. Since his opponent could use his body to hold off the attack, it meant he was. highly skilled. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such abilities up your sleeves. No wonder you were able to kill Judge. But it ¡¯s too bad that you have to go up against me! Today, I will let you witness the difference between low¨C level marital artists and divine¨Clevel martial artists. Watch me!¡± Joshua grunted lightly as his body soared into the air like an eagle, aiming a p toward Dustin¡¯s foreh ead.This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The wind howled fiercely as his clothes fluttered in response. Under his terrifying prowess, the crowd r etreated once again, afraid of being entangled in the conflict. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Isfrid and her team, who were standing behind Dustin, had it worse. They had difficulty breathing and st aggered backward involuntarily. ¡°Is this what a divine¨Clevel martial artist is like? How frightening!¡± The crowd looked at each other in apprehension, silently worried. ¡°Fool.¡± Dustin sneered coldly at Joshua¡¯s oing attack and made a move,nding a fierce p on his face. The thunderous p sent Joshua into a backflip in the air, and hended head first onto the gr ound. At that moment, everyone was stunned into oblivion. ¡°What the fuck!¡± Everyone was shaken by the abrupt scene. No one could have imagined that the previously heroic Jos hual would fall by Dustin¡¯s p, and they wondered if it was a coincidence or an ident. ¡°Josh!¡± Jade and Tina¡¯s expression paled as they rushed up to him. They helped him up to his feet whil e he was still feeling dizzy. *Josh, are you alright?¡± Jade was taken aback and worried. ¡°What happened just now?¡± Joshua shook his head, appearing dazed. Everything happened so sudden ly that he didn¡¯t notice Dustin¡¯s movements. He only felt his sight go dark, and the next thing he knew, h e was thrown to the ground. ¡°You ¡ª were beaten to the ground by that bastard,¡± Jade exined with a strange expression. ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible!¡± Joshua could never believe it. ¡°How could he have hit me? I must have slipped and fell on my own!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! You must have slipped!¡± Tina nodded furiously beside him. ¡°Kiddo! That didn¡¯t count. Let¡¯s go again!¡± Joshua couldn¡¯t admit defeat. With a tap of his feet, heunched himself out aga in. Another clear, booming p rang out before he wasunched back with even greater speed. Joshua suffered a crushing defeat and was badly battered. The crowd was shocked once again. They could have exined his first victory as the result of a coinci dence or ident. But the second victory was absolutely remarkable. ¡°Let her go,¡± Dustin spat out coldly. ¡°You ¡ª y¨C you¡¯ve gone too far! I won¡¯t be able to sleep if I don¡¯t kill you right now!¡± Joshua flew into a rage and. pu shed the two women beside him away,unching himself toward Dustin for the third time. This time, instead of his empty lists, he took out a dagger from his waist. With a weapon in hand, his at tack would be exceedingly lethal! ¡°Go to hell!¡± As he drew near, Joshua swung his dagger forcefully. A sharp whistle was heard, and only the gleam of the dagger was seen. It aimed toward Dustin¡¯s forehead with fierce velocity. Dustin stood still, allowing the iing assault to ur. With a loud bang, the dagger exploded as it c ame into contact with his forehead, dissipating into sparks of light. ¡°What?¡± Joshua¡¯s pupils dted in horrified shock. How was that possible? Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Dustin had taken his sh head¨Con, literally. But Joshua was the divine¨C level martial artist! Any sh of his would break open boulders. Even a block of steel would slice in half with his previous attack, but Dustin blocked that attack with his head! ¡°Impossible! I must have been mistaken!¡± Joshua shook his head furiously, unable to believe it. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Joshua gritted his teeth and brandished his dagger again. ¡°Die!¡± He exerted all his strength into this attack, channeling every ounce of his internal energy. He believed Dustin wouldn¡¯t be able to block the attack even if he was made of steel. ¡°Hmph!¡± Dustin had clearly lost his patience. As he watched the oing assault, he moved and grab bed the de firmly. Tightening his grip, two crisp metallic crunches were heard, and the dagger made of refined iron was crushed into pieces. ¡°What?¡± Joshua was bewildered. Before Joshua reacted, Dustin extended out his arm again, pressing a finger on his chest. ¡°Boom!¡± The next second, it felt as if his bones had disintegrated as he fell limp to the ground. Feeling numb all over, he couldn¡¯t move an inch. ¡°You What did you do to me?¡± Joshua was shocked and horrified. He never dreamed that he would be defeated by an unknown kid. He was a divine¨C level martial artist! Boulderthorn¡¯s direct disciple! He should have been invincible in Swinton after his return. Why? Why couldn¡¯t he even defeat this punk? Where the hell did hee from? ¡°Let her go!¡± Dustin ignored him, looking at him condescendingly from above as it he was looking at an ant. ¡°Punk! You can¡¯t be my opponent. What trick did you use?¡± Joshua still couldn¡¯t believe it. He couldn¡¯t a ¡°You speak too much nonsense!¡± Dustin was irritated and stomped violently on Joshua¡¯s knees. With a crisp crack, his knees sprayed blood everywhere. Joshua screamed in agony as his face contort ed in pain and beads of sweat dripped down from his face. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°You insolent bastard!¡± When they saw Joshua getting injured, the crowd erupted in anger. Arge number of the Hummer family¡¯s guards swarmed in from different directions, surrounding Dustin in no time. These guards were armed with guns. They had clearly made preparations in advance. ¡°Rhys! Let go of my brother! Otherwise, after mymand, you will be shot to oblivion!¡± Tina screeche d, putting on a front. Even though Dustin was powerful, he was still a mass of flesh that could get injured and bleed. With s o many armed guards surrounding him, he wouldn¡¯t be able to escape unscathed. ¡°Fire if you dare. I¡¯d like to see who¡¯d die first.¡± Dustin remarked coldly, without a hint of fear. ¡°You fire. Tina was exasperated. Since Joshua was right beside Dustin, he would also get shot if they opened ¡°Dustin Rhys! We¡¯re in Hummer Vi. This is not a ce for you to behave atrociously. Let him go! Oth erwise. you will regret it!¡± Jade¡¯s expression was stone cold. She didn¡¯t expect Joshua to be defeated b y Dustin either. However, in this world, bravery changed nothing. Power was more important. Joshua had the Hummer family and Boulderthorn behind him. After she married him, he would also have the support of the Gran t family. Who would dare challenge him then? ¡°I¡¯ll regret it? I¡¯d like to see how much I¡¯ll regret it !¡± As he spoke, he stomped on Joshua¡¯s other leg, breaking it. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 After a short moment of astonishment, Joshua let out an ear¨C piercing scream. He sounded like a pig sent for ughter. ¡°How dare you, you imbecile!¡± Edwin¡¯s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. He couldn¡¯t believe Du stin had the guts to chop Joshua¡¯s arm off in front of everyone. He¡¯d crossed the line! ¡°You¨Chow dare you harm Josh!¡± Jade shrieked. How could a peasant like Dustin dare to rebel against them like this? Did he have a death wish? ¡°Rhys! You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Tina screeched. Dustin had humiliated her before: now, Joshua was the one suffering. How could the Hummer family possibly face the world if they didn¡¯t get revenge for this? ¡°Let her go,¡± Dustin said coldly. ¡°Fuck you! You have hell to pay for harming my brother!¡± Tina snarled. Dustin didn¡¯t waste his breath. Instead, he brandished his sword and swung it lightly, slicing Joshua¡¯s ot her arm off. Blood sttered over the floor, and Joshua¡¯s right armnded in a pool of it. He howled again, his face contorting in a mask o f pain. Sweat beaded on his forehead. Now, he was no different from amb up for ughter. His earlie r arrogance and dominance had dissipated. ¡°You abomination!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°This is outrageous!¡± Dustin¡¯s second attack brought about more furious exmations. It was bad enough that he¡¯d chopped Joshua¡¯s left arm off; he¡¯d now made things worse by chopping off the right one as well. It was an insult to the Hummer family¡¯s dignity and pride! Amidst their fury, the members of the Hummer family came to a conclusion¨CDustin was a madman! ¡°Let her go!¡± Dustin brandished his sword again. This time, he pressed it to Joshua¡¯s neck. The cold, st eely look in his eyes made the onlookers subconsciously shudder. They¡¯d seen their fair share of nefarious characters, but this was their first timeing into contact with the cold, inhumane look in Dustin¡¯s eyes. He wasn¡¯t mad, nor had he raised his voice. On the contrary, he¡¯d been calm and collected throughout the whole exchange. However, the more he acted like that, the more terrifying it was. There was no doubt in everyone¡¯s minds that he would behead Josh ua if the Hummer family didn¡¯t do as he said. ¡°Let ¡­ let her go!¡± Edwin forced out through gritted teeth, ultimately choosing to give in. He couldn¡¯t tak e this bet, not with Joshua¡¯s life on the line. He¡¯d already witnessed how ruthless Dustin could be. ¡°Dad!¡± Tina couldn¡¯t believe her ears. Were they, the almighty Hummer family, going to give in to a brat This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ? ¡°I said, let her go!¡± Edwin turned to bellow at her. Nothing mattered more than Joshua¡¯s life. Tina bit her lip and loosened Natasha¡¯s ties. As soon as she was free, Natasha gave Tina two tight ps. Tina stared at her, dumbfounded. ¡°That¡¯s only the interest you owe me. I¡¯ll collect the rest of my debtter.¡± With that, she turned and strutted toward Dustin. She¡¯d never been the type to suffer in silence¨C since she¡¯d been pped, she had to return the favor. ¡°Why, you- Tina gnashed her teeth, looking humiliated. Dustin and Natasha were too obnoxious for wor ds! Chapter 264 Chapter 264 ¡°Dustin, we¡¯ve already let her go, so it¡¯s your turn!¡± Edwin tried his best to suppress his rage. If not for Dustin pulling such dirty tricks, he wouldn¡¯t be in this situation! ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything about letting anyone go.¡± Dustin obviously wasn¡¯t going to let the matter slide. ¡°Yo u abducted Ms. Harmon and harmed members of the Harmon family. Do you think I¡¯ll let you off the hook so easily?¡± ¡°Rhys, I¡¯m waming you¨C don¡¯t take this too far!¡± An ugly look crept onto Edwin¡¯s face. ¡°This is the Hummer family¡¯s territory; you¡¯re dreaming if you think you can walk out of here unscathed! Now, I¡¯m giving you a chance. Let Josh go, and I won¡¯t begrudge you for everything that¡¯s happened before this. Otherwise, you won¡¯t step a foot out of here without getting injured!¡± Jade added, ¡°He¡¯s right! Let Josh go, or you¡¯ll be making an enemy out of the Grant family!¡± Dustin didn¡¯t say anything and nced at Natasha. If she were to give the order, he¡¯d behead Joshua w ithout batting an eye. However, Natasha said calmly, ¡°Losing both arms is good enough to teach him a lesson. Leave him alive for now.¡± She wanted nothing more than to kill Joshua, but he was an esteemed disciple of the Boulderthorn Guil d and Jade¡¯s fianc¨¦. If she were to take his life, she¡¯d only be causing trouble for herself. Dustin would also b e public enemy number one to the Boulderthorn Guild and the Grand family. Things wouldn¡¯t be so easily resolved then. Dustin nodded. ¡°Alright. I can let him live, but he still has to pay for what he¡¯s done.¡± With that, he kicke d Joshua in the abdomen, sending him flying as he howled in pain. Edwin and the others cried out his name and ran over to him, helping him up. He spat out a mouthful of blood as his face contorted in a mask of pain. He forced out through gritted teeth, ¡°Dad, he¨Che destroyed my cultivation!¡± That earlier kick had shattered his core. ¡°What?¡± Edwin and the others were horrified. Joshua would be no different from a cripple with his cultiv ation and core destroyed. Edwin¡¯s eyes bulged with rage as he roared. ¡°How dare you ruin my son¡¯s fut ure, you brat!¡± They could find a way to reattach Joshua¡¯s limbs, but there was no way to recover from a shattered core. ¡°Dustin, you and your whole family s dead meat! From this day onward, you¡¯re the Grant family¡¯s biggest enemy! I¡¯ll chase you to the ends o f the earth!¡± Jade shrieked, her face filled with deep hatred. Joshua had been her ticket to a great future : Dustin¡¯s kick had ruined everything. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t think karma woulde back to bite you in the ass when you bullied and murdered innocents. *Dustin said coolly. ¡°What goes aroundes around¨C since youmitted crimes against others, I¡¯m here tomit crimes against you and give you a tast e of your own medicine.¡± ¡®Dustin Rhys! From this day onward, the Hummer family, the Grant family, and the Boulderthorn Guild will be out for your blood! We won¡¯t rest until you¡¯re dead!¡± Edwin roared. ¡°Come at me with everything you have. I¡¯d like to see what you have in store for me.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t even flinch. He would¡¯ve beheaded Joshua with the first swing of his sword if not f or the consequences it would bring Natasha. Then again, he didn¡¯t intend to let the Hummer family off t he hook. If they really chased him to the ends of the earth, he¡¯d eradicate them. ¡°Shoot him! Hurry!¡± Tina shrieked. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am!¡± A team of gun¨C wielding bodyguards cocked their guns and aimed them at Dustin. However, before they could pull the t rigger, Dustin swung his sword. A beam of light shot toward the bodyguards, slicing them clear through their waists. In that instant, pained cries pi Original from N?velDrama.Org. erced the air. That was only a portion of Dustin¡¯s ability, and he¡¯d taken out more than twenty people wit h a single swing of his sword! ¡°T¨Cthis¡­¡± Everyone else was dumbfounded¨Cthey didn¡¯t dare move. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t linger. He kept an eye on Natasha and the others to ensure their safety while w alking out. Tonight, he¡¯d singlehandedly dealt a devastating blow to the Hummer family. He was invincib le! Chapter 265 Chapter 265 As they walked out of Hummer Vi, Natasha, who¡¯d put up a strong front earlier, suddenly felt her kne es buckle under her. She almost fell t on her face. Dustin quickly caught her and asked worriedly. ¡°Ar e you okay? Do you feel sick?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m just out of strength. My knees feel like jelly.¡± She shook her head. She¡¯d been on edge earlier; now that she could rx, she felt weak. ¡°Ms. Harmon, I¡¯ll carry you!¡± Istrid stepped forward and volunteered to help her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to inconvenience you when you¡¯re seriously injured,¡± Natasha said. ¡°I¡¯m fine. These injuries mean nothing.¡± Istrid patted her chest to show she was okay. ¡°You¡¯re seriously injured if I say so!¡± Natasha¡¯s tone suddenly became stern. She red at Isirid. ¡°Huh?¡± The realization dawned on Istrid when she nced at Dustin. ¡°Oh, uh, yeah. I feel really dizzy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Dustin looked helpless as he swept Natasha into his arms. She had a strong personality but was only an ordinary woman¨Cshe had to be in shock after experiencing an abduction. ¡°Thanks for tonight.¡± Natasha smiled sweetly and leaned her head against his firm chest. His masculine pheromones made her heart race. Perhaps this was what people meant when they talked about a sen se of security. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I couldn¡¯t stand by and watch when a friend¡¯s in trouble, right?¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Am I only a friend?¡± Natasha raised an eyebrow, looking slightly bitter. ¡°What else could you be?¡± Dustin pretended not to know what she was talking about. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re so dense!¡± Natasha frowned and chomped down on his shoulder. Dustin hissed in pain but didn¡¯t dare retaliate. ¡°This is a mark I¡¯m leaving on you. You belong to me for as long as this is arou nd. I¡¯ll bite you to death if you dare reject me!¡± She bared her teeth as she spoke. Dustin grimaced but didn¡¯t dare say anything to refute her. He savored the feeling of her soft and pliant body in his arms; he couldn¡¯t help feeling aroused as her sweet scent enveloped him. They hadn¡¯t known each other long, but he¡¯d unknowingly started to fall for the vivacious woman. That was why he¡¯d been so anxious when he heard about her b eing abducted. It was also why he¡¯d devastated the Hummer family. At this moment, Hummer Vi was in a mess. Dustin had crashed the ce and ughtered their men with a single de, even crippling Joshua, who was the Hummer family¡¯s pride and joy. The Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Hummer family¡¯s dignity and arrogance had been flung to the ground and repeatedly stomped on. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m crippled I¡¯m crippled!¡± Joshua howled as hey in bed. With his core shattered and cultivation destroyed, his life was over. ¡°Josh, don¡¯t panic. I¡¯ll immediately have our men search for a miracle doctor. I guarantee I¡¯ll spare no e xpense and pay any price to have you cured!¡± Edwin said. Jade nodded vigorously. ¡°He¡¯s right, Josh. You¡¯ll definitely recover from this! The Grant family has an abundance of rare medicines. I¡¯m sure they¡¯l l help to restore your core!¡± ¡°A full recovery isn¡¯t the only thing I want¨CI also want to get revenge! I want that Rhys brat to pay for this!¡± Joshua snarled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already informed Mark about this. He¡¯ll be here in no time. That brat will be dead mea t when Mark arrives!¡± Jade said. ¡°Mark?¡± A trace of hope shed in Joshua¡¯s eyes at this. ¡°No matter how powerful that brat is, he¡¯s no match for Mark!¡± Joshua had only achieved divinity a few days ago. He¡¯d yet to fully adapt to this change, and his foundation had been shaky. That was why he could only manifest 50 to 60 percent of his abilities. Marcus Kent, on the other hand, had already achieved divinity three years ago and had ev en ranked among the Heavenly Immortals. He was more than enough to deal with Dustin. ¡°Killing him swiftly would be letting him off easy. I say we go after everyone rted to him so that he can see what it¡¯s like to be public enemy number one!¡± Tina sp at. ¡°You¡¯re right. Issue an order for everyone to focus on catching Dustin and his posse. Whoever brings m e his head on a tter will receive a reward of a billion dors!¡± Edwinmanded. With that, everyone in th e Hummer family got to work. As the word spread, everyone was raring to go, especially when they heard about the reward. At Park ce. Jessica paced the living room, looking worried. Ruth also fidgeted restlessly, obviously anxious. Quentin was the only one who looked unruffled. In truth, he¡¯d been delighted by the news of Natasha¡¯s abduction. If anything were to happen to her, there was a high chance of him taking over thepany. Of course, in a best- case scenario, both Dustin and Natasha would die at Hummer Vi. That way, Quentin would fi nally have gotten his revenge! ¡°Mrs. Harmon!¡± The butler ran into the living room. ¡°So? Is there any news on Natasha?¡± Jessica¡¯s heart leaped to her throat. Though she believed the Hu mmers wouldn¡¯t do anything rash, she couldn¡¯t be absolutely sure. ¡°The shadow guards just sent word back that Ms. Harmon¡¯s been rescued. She¡¯s a little roughed up but is fine as a whole,¡± the butler said. ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Jessica heaved a sigh of relief, looking joyful. ¡°I knew she¡¯d be fine! How could anything happen to her?¡± Ruthughed. Quentin gnashed his teeth, looking pissed. He¡¯d stuck around for so long to receive such terrible news¨C what was wrong with the Hummer family? How weak could they be, allowing Natasha to get away so easily? ¡°As expected, we made the right choice by mobilizing the shadow guards. Otherwise, this rescue missi on wouldn¡¯t have been so sessful.¡± Jessica smiled. ¡°Mrs. Harmon, the shadow guards weren¡¯t the ones who rescued Ms. Harmon,¡± The butler¡¯s expression became a little odd. ¡°Who else could it be? Don¡¯t tell me the Hummers voluntarily let her go.¡± ¡°The Hummers didn¡¯t free her of their own volition, and neither did the shadow guards contribute to rescuing Ms. Harmon,¡± the butler said. ¡°Mr. Dustin Rhys was the one who singlehandedly saved her. He ughtered Darkwrath, Lightwrath, Judge, and the Hummer family¡¯s elite army. No one i n the Hummer family was a match for him!¡± His words dumbfounded Jessica and the others. Dustin had singlehandedly defeated so many people? Was he truly human? Chapter 266 Chapter 266 The following morning, at Peaceful Medical Center. Dustin got up early, washed up, and started preparing breakfast. As usual, it was his signature dish, de viled eggs. It was simple but smelled amazing. He¡¯d just brought the food to the dining table when som eone walked in. ¡°Wow, that smells great!¡± It was Dahlia. Today, she wore a smart suit and heels. Her hair was in a ponyt ail, revealing her fair and slender neck. She looked happy to see the food. ¡®Are those deviled eggs? Ho w did you know I hadn¡¯t had breakfast yet, Dustin? Since you prepared this for me, I won¡¯t stand on cer emony!¡± She sat down and started to dig in. ¡°This isn¡¯t ¡°Dustin was about to say something when his bedroom door swung open to reveal a gorgeou s woman standing there. ¡°Darling, I¡¯m starving. Is breakfast ready yet?¡± It was Natasha. She had on an oversized shirt. As she st retched, it dipped to reveal her cleavage. ¡°Hmm?¡± She and Dahlia met each other¡¯s gaze. They were b oth equally stunned. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± they asked simultaneously. The air crackled with electricity, and the tension was so thick one could slice it with a knife. ¡°Dustin, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Dahlia locked hostile. She could tell that Natasha was wearing Dustin¡¯s shirt. That, coupled with the fact that Natasha wasing out of Dustin¡¯s room, was more than enoug h for even a fool to tell that something was afoot. ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Dustin wanted to exin, but Natasha cut him off. ¡°Darling, since she¡¯s caught us redhanded, we might as welle clean. There¡¯s nothing to hide, anyw ay!¡± ¡°So, you slept with her? Dahlia bit her lip, looking jealous. She¡¯d always thought Dustin could keep it in his pants; she was obviously wrong. ¡°Why bother asking when it¡¯s obvious?¡± Natasha tugged the shirt lower to reveal more of her cleavage. ¡°Nothing of the sort happened.¡± Dustin felt a headacheing on. ¡°Ms. Harmon was injured yesterday, so I brought her back here to treat her. Nothing else happened.¡± Dahlia took a closer look at Natasha and noticed the wounds on her body. Even so, she couldn¡¯t keep t This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. he jealousy from her tone as she said, ¡°Why didn¡¯t she go to a hospital if she was injured? Whye here?¡± ¡°I can go wherever I want. It¡¯s up to me.¡± Natasha smirked. ¡°Correct me if I¡¯m wrong, but you two are divorced, right? If so, it¡¯s none of your business even if anything were to happen between me and Dustin.¡± ¡°So what if we¡¯re divorced? We can always remarry!¡± Dahlia red at her, refusing to back down. ¡°Do you think marriage and divorce is a game? What do you take Dustin for?¡± Natasha¡¯s smile faded. ¡° Ms. Nicholson, one shouldn¡¯t be too greedy. Since you¡¯re the one who chose to give up, you should be ar the consequences ordingly.¡± ¡°Everyone makes mistakes; it¡¯s fine as long as they realize where they went wrong and correct them. I made a mistake in the past, but now, I¡¯ll do whatever I can to make it up to him!¡± Dahlia nced at Dustin as sh e spoke, seemingly hinting at something. ¡°Since you refuse to give up, let¡¯s see who¡¯s better at this.¡± 717 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Natasha shrugged and sat at the dining table. She pulled the deviled eggs to her and said with a smile, ¡°Thank you for breakfast, darling. You¡¯re so considerate!¡± ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. These eggs are mine.¡± Dahlia pulled the eggs back. ¡°It¡¯s been three years, but I¡¯ve yet to fall out of love with Dustin¡¯s cooking. Besides, he knows I love deviled eggs.¡± ¡°Ms. Nicholson, stop thinking so highly of yourself. What¡¯s in the past is just that¨C the past. These eggs belong to me now.¡± Natasha didn¡¯t back down. She dragged the eggs to herself a gain. ¡°Ms. Harmon, robbing someone of something they love isn¡¯t the best habit to have. These eggs have b een cooked to my taste; they only suit me!¡± ¡°What makes you think I don¡¯t like deviled eggs? I love anything Dustin cooks!¡± ¡°Hmph! Just because you like them doesn¡¯t mean they suit you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s up to me to decide whether they¡¯re suitable!¡± The conversation between the two women became increasingly heated as they dragged the te of de viled eggs back and forth. Neither of them wanted to back down. It was as if they¡¯d lose something prec ious if they were to give in. Dustin felt a headacheing on as he watched them duke it out. Honestly, he didn¡¯t think he was worthy of their affection. At the entrance to the guest bedroom, Caitlyn stuck her head out to peek at themotion. She asked in confusion. ¡°Max, what do you think Ms. Harmon and Ms. Nicholson are doing? Do they need to act like this over some eggs?¡± ¡°Caitlyn, you¡¯re too young to understand the intricacies of a rtionship between a man and a woman, ¡± Maximus mysteriously said as he stroked his chin. ¡°They¡¯re not fighting over the eggs, but their dignity as women!¡± ¡°Dignity?¡± Caitlyn still didn¡¯t get it. Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Dustin personally cooked those eggs; whoever gets to taste them first wins this round.¡± Maximus look ed in awe. ¡°As expected, he¡¯s truly admirable¨C beautiful women surround him, yet he remains unaffected by them. Look, they¡¯re about to get into a brawl, but Dustin still looks so calm and collected. He truly is someone to look up to!¡± Dustin, with his sharp senses, heard this. He turned around to re at Maimus and Caitlyn. The two h eads immediately shot back into the room. A few secondster, they sneaked out again. ¡°Dustin, you decide! Who do these eggs belong to?¡± After an inconclusive argument, Natasha and Dahlia turned to look at Dustin. They looked like they wouldn¡¯t give up until they had the answer they wanted. Faced with the toughest question he¡¯d ever been asked, Dustin¡¯s lips twitched, sweat beaded on his for ehead.¡± Uh these are my eggs!¡± he blurted out. He grabbed the te and scooped all the eggs into his mouth. With nothing left to fight over, the crisis had been averted. ¡°Hmph!¡± The two women red at each other before turning away in opposite directions, still refusing to give in to each other. *As expected of Dustin¨C only he would¡¯ve thought of such a great idea!¡± Maximus was in awe of Dustin¡¯s ability to avert such a deadly crisis: he wanted to drop to his knees and worship the ground Dustin walked on. He was amazi ng! Perhaps this was what a true pro was like. Dustin was the first to break the silence after finishing the eggs. ¡°Dahlia, did youe here for somethi ng?¡± ¡°Do I have to have a purpose foring here?¡± Dahlia still looked miffed. ¡°Uh, no.¡± Dustin looked a little awkward. ¡°I came because we¡¯re having guests; you need to meet them with me. In fact, you might make some money from this. I don¡¯t want people saying you¡¯re leeching off me.¡± Dahlia gave Natasha a pointed loo k as she spoke. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him leeching off someone? Others may not even have the chance to do so!¡± Natas ha didn¡¯t bat an eye. Before long, the women started squabbling again. Chapter 268 Chapter 268 ¡°Ms. Nicholson, did youe here because you wanted something from me?¡± Dustin asked when he saw how tense the atmosphere was. ¡°What, do I have to have a reason foring here?¡± Dahlia red at him. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡± He looked awkward. ¡°Whatever. Let¡¯s get down to business¨C you know Dr. Rowan Cross, right? I want to ask him to examine someone.¡± Dahlia stopped beating aro und the bush. ¡°Examine someone?¡± Dustin sized her up, then checked her pulse. Confused, he said, ¡°Aside from bein g a little out of whack, you¡¯re fine. You just need to control your emotions and diet.¡± your period ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s out of whack!¡± Dahlia red at him again, her face turning red. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I was the one who needed an examination¨C it¡¯s for a rtive of mine who suddenly fainted yesterday. She¡¯s beenining of a headache, but th e hospital said she¡¯s fine. She wanted Dr. Cross to examine them just to be sure.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother Dr. Cross for something as simple as that¨C I¡¯m more than enough.¡± ¡°You?¡± Dahlia eyed him doubtfully. ¡°Can you handle it?¡± ¡°My medical center¡¯s been around for a number of years now. Wouldn¡¯t it have closed down long ago if I didn¡¯t have a few tricks up my sleeve?¡± Dustin said confidently. Dahlia was speechless. She¡¯d never seen any patients in the dingy medical center; how was it different from being closed down? ¡°We can forget about it if you don¡¯t trust me.¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°Who said anything about me not trusting you? You¡¯ll do!¡± Dahlia said decisively. ¡°I¡¯ll be frank¨C this rtive of mine is a pretty big deal, so if you can cure her, it could be your ticket to sess. You w on¡¯t have to leech off anyone anymore when that happens.¡± As she spoke, she gave Natasha a pointed look. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with leeching off someone?¡± Natasha puffed out her chest. ¡°At least my darling is capabl e of leeching off someone¨Cothers may not be able to do so even if they wanted to!¡± Dahlia snorted. ¡°No upstanding man would want to be at a woman¡¯s beck and call. Think about how hu miliating that¡¯d be!¡± ¡°What good is a man for if not to serve a woman? He can¡¯t fool around with himself, can he?¡± Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°Why, you-¡°Dahlia was exasperated. How could this woman be so crude? She wasn¡¯tdylike in the slig htest! ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. We should focus on whatever¡¯s ailing your rtive. Let¡¯s head to the hospital.¡± Dustin quickly interjected when he saw the two women were about to start quarreling again. He dragge d Dahlia out of the medical center. ¡°Darling, be back soon, okay? I¡¯ll be waiting for you!¡± Natasha called, smiling seductively and sending h im an air kiss. At the same time, she undid another button on her shirt to reveal more of her cleavage. Dustin stared at her. ¡°Hmph!¡± Dahlia stomped on his foot and gave him a warning look. He smiled awkwardly and retracted his gaze. ¡°Get in the car!¡± She stuffed him into the car before speeding off. ¡°Do you think you stand a chance against me, you t¨C chested preteen?¡± Natasha smiled victoriously as she looked down at her voluptuous chest. It was eno ugh to put any woman to shame, and none of her future children would ever go hungry. Half an hourter, in one of the wards at East Swinton Hospital. ¡°My head hurts! I feel like it¡¯s gonna split in half!¡± Janey in a hospital bed and clutched her head, asionally smacking it to alleviate the pain. ¡°Mom, hold on for a little longer. Dr. Cross will be here soon.¡± Dakota keptforting her. Nobody knew what had happened¨C Jane had suddenly passed out yesterday and keptining about a headache when she¡¯de to. They¡¯d done all the examinations possible, but the results showed nothing was wrong with her. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t havee to this ursed ce. We¡¯ve had problem after problem since arriving. First, someone crashed into our c ar. Then, I got pped for no reason at all. Now, I¡¯m having a terrible headache. What have I done to d eserve this?¡± Jane looked positively miserable. ¡°We¡¯ll head home once you¡¯re okay; we¡¯re nevering to this dump again!¡± Dakota said. Then, she t urned to Florence, who stood at the ward¡¯s entrance, and screeched, ¡°What¡¯s taking so long? When is Dr. Crossing? Tell him to hurry!¡± ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Florence didn¡¯t dare dy. She hurried out of the ward, took out her phone, and was about to dial a number when she saw two people approaching her¨C Dahlia and Dustin. ¡°Dahlia, you¡¯re finally here!¡± Her face lit up as she hurried toward them. ¡°Your aunt¡¯s headache is getting worse, and the doctors here are too useless to do anything about it. Dr. Cross is o ur only hope now! Where is he?¡± She looked around but didn¡¯t see him. Dahlia shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s busy with something else and can¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°What? What are we gonna do, then? Florence was taken aback. Had they waited for nothing? ¡°Dustin has some medical expertise. How about we have him give it a shot?¡± ¡°Him?¡± Florence frowned. ¡°Have you lost your mind? How can this good¨Cfor¨C nothing possibly know anything about treating a patient? Who¡¯s gonna bear the responsibility if anythi ng goes wrong?¡± ¡°He cured Granddad when he was poisoned, remember? I have faith in him,¡± Dahlia said firmly. She¡¯d misunderstood Dustin one time too many; this time, she chose to trust him unconditionally. ¡°Stop this nonsense! Your granther only made it through because of Dr. Cross¡® Hexanavir, it had not hing to do with this man!¡± Florence scowled, looking contemptuous. ¡°Do you have a better idea, then?¡± Dahlia asked. ¡°Well, I- Florence had no words. LINDRY 200 ¡°Since we¡¯re out of ideas, why don¡¯t we let Dustin try? We can think of something else if it doesn¡¯t work. ¡± Dahlia¡¯s tone became domineering. ¡°Rhys, you¡¯d better watch what you¡¯re doing. Don¡¯t you dare try to pass just about anything off as a cur e!¡± Florence warned. The two people in the ward were her cash cows. If anything were to go wrong, sh e¡¯d be in big trouble. ¡°Let¡¯s see how the patient¡¯s doing.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t want to waste his breath on her. ¡°Hmph! Come with me!¡± Florence led Dustin and Dahlia into the ward. Once she stepped in, her arroga nce faded, reced with a fawning smile. ¡°Florence, what the hell took you so long? Where is Dr. Cross?¡± Dakota asked impatiently. ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Florence said sycophantically, gesturing to the people behind her. ¡°Behold the doctor we¡¯ve Original from N?velDrama.Org. brought! ¡°Huh?¡± Dakota and Jane looked up, then eximed in unison. ¡°It¡¯s you?¡± Chapter 269 Chapter 269 ¡°It¡¯s you!¡± Dakota was momentarily taken aback when she recognized Dustin. Simrly, he looked at h er funny with a hint of astonishment. Never had he expected that the two bitches were the rtives that Dahlia had mentioned to him. What a small world! ¡°Oh, did you know each other?¡± Dahlia¡¯s quizzical gaze traveled between the two. ¡°Not only are we acquainted,¡± Dakota hissed through clenched teeth, ¡°He¡¯s also the guy who beat us u p yesterday!¡± ¡°What?¡± Everyone was surprised to learn that. ¡°Um, Dakota, did you get the wrong person?¡± Florence questioned cautiously. ¡°No! How could I? I¡¯d recognize him even if he turned into ashes! I also suspect my mom¡¯s gotten a hea dache from his p!¡± Dakota seemed merciless. ¡°Right! I must have fallen sick because of that p! Get someone to arrest him!¡± Jane was bellowing in bed. She had been unable to put yesterday¡¯s events behind her, and she was extremely furious upon m eeting her enemy again. ¡°Dustin, what¡¯s the matter? Why did you hit them?¡± Dahlia was baffled to learn that he had a grudge ag ainst Jane and Dakota when she introduced him to her Glenstead rtives. ¡°They deserved it, Dustin replied bluntly. ¡°They reversed and crashed into another car, almost killing th e victim. But they acted unreasonably like two bullies. I pped them across their faces because I coul dn¡¯t stand them anymore.¡± ¡°You rascal! Do you know who they are? How dare you hit them?¡± Florence was incensed to learn that Dustin hadid a fin ger on her two Goddesses of Fortune. She took it as a personal affront as well. ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time talking to him! Call the police now!¡± Dakota seethed resentfully. ¡°No, wait!¡± Dahlia jumped out to stop her. ¡°This might be a huge misunderstanding. There¡¯s no need to make this a bigger issue than it is. Why don¡¯t we have Dustin work on Aunt Jane¡¯s illness to make up f or his mistake?¡± ¡°Hmph! Nobody needs his help!¡± Jane spat on the ground. ¡°Just look at his behavior. What if he makes things worse? Will anyone take the responsibility?¡± ¡°That works. I have no intention to cure you either,¡± Dustin said in an unperturbed manner. ¡°Oh, by the way, do not forget what I told you before¨C headaches on the first day, coughing up blood on the second day, and paralysis on the third day. You¡¯ll suffer a sudden death on the fourth day. Since today is the second day, it will not take long before you start coughing up blood. By that time, you¡¯ll have to leave your fate in the hands of God.¡± ¡°Y¨Cy¨Cyou¡¯re a jinx! Quit the nonsense! As Jane trembled in anger, her headache worsened as well. ¡°See? Did you hear him? How dare he curse my mom! This is an order¨Cget him arrested! If you don¡¯t. I¡¯ll hold you ountable! Dakota started ordering people around. Florence¡¯s face fell, and she yelled at Dustin,¡± Dustin Rhys! Apologize to them now! If you don¡¯t, I will not go easy on yo u!¡± ¡°Apologize to them? They don¡¯t deserve it.¡± Dustin chortled. ¡°If anything, they should be apologizing to me. It they do that, I might consider saving the mother.¡± ¡°Bullshit! Who do you think you are? You aren¡¯t qualified to treat my mom!¡± ¡°Yeah! With our status, we can hire any skilled doctors we want! We don¡¯t need you showing off here!¡± Jane and Dakota were being stubborn. In their eyes, an ordinary man like Dustin had no business atten ding to This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. their medical needs. ¡°Hah! Sure, keep being stubborn, I do hope you don¡¯t have to beg me in the end.¡± Dustin chuckled with a shake of his head. ¡°Beg you? What a joke!¡± Jane sneered. ¡°Look, even if I am suffering from a horrible headache or in so much pain to the point of jumping off a building. I still wouldn¡¯t give in to you!¡± ¡°Okay. We shall see.¡± Without further ado, Dustin took leave. Dahlia frowned at his exit, but after a mo ment of hesitation, she ran after him. After they left, James brought in an old man dressed in a cloak and dashed into the bedroom. ¡°Mom! T he skilled doctor you asked for is here!¡± ¡°The skilled doctor? Where is he?¡± Florence asked in a hurry. James jumped aside and presented the old man in a cloak, introducing him, ¡°This is Dr. Fenton Reyes f rom Bloomington Medical Center in Stonia. He¡¯s a veteran in his field and had ancestors who were royal physicians! No doubt, his skills are legendary!¡± ¡°Royal physicians?¡± Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Florence, Jane, and Dakota were delighted by the doctor¡¯s presence. They could tell that he came from an impressive background just from how James described him. Jane and Dakota believed they deserved t Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. he best. such as seeing a skilled doctor like Fenton Reyes. ¡°James. Dr. Reyes is a legend in Stonia. How did you get him to show up?¡± Florence asked curiously. James smiled. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t me. It was Mr. Langford who arranged for Dr. Reyes to see Aunt Jane.¡± ¡°Mr. Langford?¡± Florence¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing the name. Luis Langford was an aristocrat from Stonia who wielded great wealth and influence. He was also well- connected in the military and the government. More importantly, the Langford family was a close friend of the Nicholson family of Glenstead, Morcover, the Glenstead Nicholsons were greatly interested in an arranged marriage between Luis and Dahlia. In other words, if Dahlia was willing, she could marry into the wealthy Langford family in no time, elevating the entire family to greater heights! ¡°That¡¯s very thoughtful of Mr. Langford! He immediately asked for a skilled doctor to see my mom after hearing about her sickness. This way, Dr. Reyes!¡± Dakota led the old man to Jane¡¯s bed. He asked, ¡°Where are you hurting?¡± ¡°I have a headache! My head feels like it¡¯s splitting in hall!¡± Jane scrunched up her face. She seemed fe eble and lifeless. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look.¡± The old man carefully ced his stethoscope on Jane. A few momentster, he replied , There doesn¡¯t seem to be an issue. I assume you are just sleep¨C deprived and stressed out.¡± With that, he took out a medicine bottle and poured three white pills. ¡°Take one pill a day for three days, and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± *Awesome! Thank you. Dr. Reyes.¡± Jane was beyond joyful. Florence took the chance to suck up to the doctor,¡± You¡¯re indeed the legendary Dr. Reyes! You managed to cure an illness that has gotten many doctors in a bind! ¡°Hmph! That Rhys guy was fear¨C mongering when he said my mom would cough up blood! He¡¯s talking crap. A fake like him should be d ealt with!¡± Dakota said unhappily.¡± ¡°Right! When I¡¯m recovered, I will get him!¡± Jane swallowed a pill. However, her headache only worsen ed after that, to the point where she was in greater pain and drenched in cold sweat. As she was about to question the doctor, she coughed violently, her face red from the exertion. ¡°Mom! What happened? Are you okay?¡± Dakota asked her with concern. Soon, Jane opened her mout h and coughed up a mouthful of blood that sttered across her face. ¡°What was that?¡± Everyone in the room was shocked by Jane¡¯s declining condition. They exchanged confused nces w ith each other. A frantic Dakota hurriedly called for the doctor. ¡°Dr. Reyes, what¡¯s wrong? Why did she cough up blood ?¡± ¡°That¡¯s odd. I¡¯ll take another look.¡± The old man furrowed his brow and went ahead with the checkup. N ot long after, his expression became grim as he sighed. ¡°I am sorry. Your mother has a terminal illness. She¡¯s i n thete stage. I¡¯m afraid she doesn¡¯t have much time left.¡± ¡°Huh? A terminal illness?¡± The people in the room were stunned. Didn¡¯t Dr. Reyes just say that Jane wo uld be line? Why did he suddenly change his diagnosis? ¡°I am not knowledgeable enough to help you with this. I shall take my leave now.¡± The old man hung hi s head in shame. Then, he shook his head and stood up to leave. The others stared at him agape and panicked soon after. ¡°Headaches on the first day, coughing up blood on the second day, and paralysis on the third day. Was that guy right?¡± Jane mumbled to herself and suddenly broke into a scream. ¡°Quick! Get Dustin Rhys b ack here! Now!¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Dahlia caught up with Dustin at the hospital entrance and pulled on his arm. ¡°Hey! Stop! You¡¯re walking too fast. I almost couldn¡¯t catch up!¡± ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I can¡¯t handle those rtives of yours. You should get some other doctor to deal with t hem.¡± Dustin remarked coolly. He was aversed to the two difficult women and refused to engage with th em. ¡°Did I force you to cure Aunt Jane? Why are you being sensitive?¡± She rolled her eyes at him. ¡°Well, I thought ¡°What? Did you think I¡¯m an unreasonable woman who¡¯d force you to grovel at them?¡± she scoffed. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± He shed an embarrassed smile at her, feeling rather uneasy at her newfound considerate personality. ¡°Alright. I know they¡¯re in the wrong. Just stay away from them in the future.¡± She dispensed a kind rem inder.¡± They¡¯re from a wealthy and powerful family in Glenstead. Even Natasha Harmon couldn¡¯t protect you if you get into trouble with them.¡± ¡°Is that so? They sound quite remarkable, then.¡± He smiled carelessly. ¡°They¡¯re beyond remarkable! The three powerful families in Glenstead are steeped in history, dating back to a fe w centuries ago. They are well¨Cconnected in the military, government, and business field¨C living up to their reputation!¡± She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°Well, I had nned to bring yo u along and suck up to them. I didn¡¯t know you got into a fight with them. What can I say, except that yo u¡¯ve missed the opportunity to get rich!¡± ¡°Oh, no thanks. I don¡¯t need that opportunity.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Hmph! Seems like you don¡¯t appreciate my help at all!¡± She rolled her eyes at him once more, but a litt le flirtatious this time. ¡°Hey! Dustin Rhys! Stop!¡± Dakota emerged out of nowhere, drenched in sweat. ¡°My mom coughed up b lood just now! I¡¯m telling you to get back there and check on her!¡± To catch up to Dustin, she opted to u se the stairs instead of the elevator, which exined her current breathless state. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, I recall that someone has vowed not to seek my help even if she has to jump from a building in pai n! Why did she take back her word?¡± he mocked. ¡°Quit the nonsense! Do what I tell you to!¡± She red at him. ¡°I will write off the p if you cure her, and I¡¯ll grant you a chance to forge a connection with us.¡± In her eyes, the chance to suck up to her family was a rare opportunity for a worthless man like Dustin Rhys. ¡°Well, sorry. I don¡¯t care for that opportunity.¡± He looked unbothered. ¡°Dustin Rnys! Think carefully. Not everyone gets a chance like this! You should feel honored that I gran ted you the chance!¡± Dakota tossed her head. A spolled princess from a young age, she was ustomed to acting. arrogant and getting showered withpliments everywhe re she went. ¡°No. That is too great of an honor,¡± he turned her down without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯d better not think too highly of yourself! I wouldn¡¯t have stopped you if you weren¡¯t a half¨C decent doctor. Don¡¯t be delusional!¡± She frowned at him. ¡°If so, please leave. I shall not see you out,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°You-¡± She choked on anger at Dustin¡¯s stubbornness. She would have gotten him torn apart if they were in Glenstead. ¡°Dustin Rhys, what will it take for you to help us? Give us an offer if money is what you wan t!¡± Dakota hissed. ¡°Want me to save your mom? I can do that on the condition that both of you apologize to me. I¡¯ll also need handwritten apology letters!¡± he suggested with a calm expression. ¡°An apology? Dream on!¡± His words fanned her anger. ¡°Who do you think you are? You have no right to ask us for an apology!¡± The Nicholsons were aristocratic and different from the lowly peasant ss tha t Dustin Rhys belonged to. There was no way for the aristocratic Dakota to give in to his demand! ¡°If you refuse, let¡¯s drop this matter. Please get a better doctor for your mom.¡± He did not care at all. ¡°You don¡¯t have to scare us! With our connections, we can hire any skilled doctor we need! I am offerin g you a chance to redeem yourself, but if you don¡¯t appreciate it, don¡¯t me me for making you pay!¡± Chapter 272 Chapter 272 ¡°Once my Mom is cured, we¡¯ll hash out our past and present grievances together!¡± Dakota said in a sharp tone, her eyes ferocious. ¡°Knock yourself out.¡± Dustin shrugged nonchntly. ¡°You¡± Dakota choked out. She was grashing her teeth so hard that the grinding was audible, but she c ouldn¡¯t do anything anyway. While they were both in a stand¨C cft, a sudden uproar broke out near the hospital entrance. They raised their heads to find a fully armed motorcade bulldozing their way over. The motorcade was from the military, and it was a huge spectacle. All the guards sitting on top were ar med and radiating murderous energy. Everywhere they passed, people and cars parted to make way fo r them. ¡°That¡¯s strange. What is the military doing? Could they be here to arrest some ouw?¡± Dahlia looked a round in confusion. Dakota also locked perplexed. At that moment, themander ordered, ¡°Hurry, surround them now!¡± The guards got down from the motorcade and instantly encircled Dustin and the two women. Seeing th e muzzle of the guns lined up next to each other gave them chills. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Huh?¡± Dahlia was startled, and her face paled. She had been ready to watch the show. Never in a milli on. years did she expect that these guards would be encircling them instead. ¡°Don¡¯t panic. This has nothing to do with you. They¡¯re here for me.¡± Dustin swept his gaze over the gua rds. He already had a n in mind. ¡°They¡¯re here to arrest you? Why?¡± Dahlia asked, bbergasted. She couldn¡¯t understand what kind of crime the man in front of her hadmitted that could incite the military¡¯s arrival. ¡°It¡¯s just a trivial matter. It¡¯s nothing.¡± Dustin smiled mildly. ¡°A trivial matter?¡± Dahlia frowned. The military was here for him, and he still called it a trivial matter? ¡°Dustin, youmitted the heinous crime of murder in broad daylight! We have been ordered to arrest you and bring you to justice! If you resist, you will be killed!¡± themander said with a cool face.. The murderous vibe he was exuding scared the wits out of Dahlia. ¡°Commander, is there some kind of misunderstanding?¡± she asked tentatively. ¡°Unrted persons are to make way at once! Otherwise, you will be charged with the same crimes!¡± th emander said mercilessly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. You should go home first.¡± Dustin ced a hand on Dahlia¡¯s shoulder and smil ed gently. ¡°I ¡ª¡± Dahlia said hesitantly. How could this huge spectacle be nothing? But she couldn¡¯t help in any way right now. ¡°Rhys, I bet you never thought this day woulde!¡± At that moment, Dakota suddenlyughed, taking pleasure in his misfortune. ¡°You must havemitted a huge crime to have sparked the military into co ming here. Now, I¡¯ll give you another chance. If you cure my mother¡¯s illness and then apologize to me , I¡¯ll agree to save you.¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± Dustin said, rejecting Dakota outright. ¡°You don¡¯t need it?¡± When Dakota heard his answer, she was stunned. She never thought that even at this moment of life and death, Dustin would still dare to reject her. Did he really not want to live anymor e? ¡°Dustin, don¡¯t make decisions based on your emotions!¡± Dahlia tugged on his sleeve, trying to talk som e sense into him. ¡°I don¡¯t care what crime youmitted, but your life is important. The Nicholson famil y has connections in the military: only she can save you now!¡± ¡°She can¡¯t save me, and I don¡¯t need her saving.¡± Dustin shook his head. Judging from the license t es and gs, this troop was from the Balerno Military. The people in nstead couldn¡¯t do anything. Not to me ntion, Edwin had to pull strings to send this huge troop after him. He wouldn¡¯t let Dustin get away that e asily. ¡°Hmph! You¡¯re already on death¡¯s door, yet you¡¯re still so stubborn!¡± Dakota jutted her chin out derisivel y. ¡°It seems like you still haven¡¯t grasped the severity of the problem. I dare guarantee that without the help of the Nicholsons, you¡¯ll be rotting in there for life!¡± ¡°Dustin, I¡¯m begging you, alright? Agree to her terms!¡± Dahlia urged anxiously. An average citizen couldn¡¯t fight an officer. The high¨C ranking officers in the military could easily squash a civilian. With just one word, they could have them buried six feet under. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯m just going in to have a cup of tea. I believe I¡¯ll be out in no time, so you should just go home.¡± Dustin said with a small smile. The military hade all the way here, so of course, he had to show them some respect. ¡°Enough yapping! Take him away!¡± Themander had obviously run out of patience and ordered his men to cuff Dustin and push him into the car. Then, with a troop of guards in tow, they made a grand exit. The entire process had been so simple an d straight to the point. No one had been dragging their feet. Dahlia was extremely anxious, but she couldn¡¯t do anything to help. With herwork, she couldn¡¯t eve n reach the high¨C ranking officials in the military, much less get them to save someone. As if she thought of something. s he turned to Dakota and begged, ¡°Dakota, you have a widework. Can you help Dustin and break hi m out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already given him a chance, but he wouldn¡¯t ept my kind gesture. It¡¯s none of my business!¡± Da kota said huffily. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t care about Dustin, you have to think about your mother,¡± Dahlia said, changing the subject. ¡°Well¡­¡± Dakota frowned. She didn¡¯t care whether Dustin lived or died, but her mother was now sufferi ng from a terminal illness, just like Dustin had said. If he kicked the bucket, then wouldn¡¯t her mother b e at high risk? ¡°If I save him, are you sure he¡¯ll treat my mother?¡± Dakota asked doubtfully. ¡°I promise that he definitely will! Dahlia said with a serious face. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll trust you this time!¡± Dakota nodded. Then, she took out her phone and began to contact so me people. A few of the Nicholson family members were working in the military. To her, this small favor was clearly not an issue at all. At that moment, Natasha was lying down on the lounge chair in Peaceful Medical Center, sipping her te Original from N?velDrama.Org. a slowly like a dignified owner of a medical center. ¡°Natasha, something happened!¡± Ruth barged into the room in a panic. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Natasha said, slightly stunned. ¡°I just received word that Dustin has been arrested by the military!¡± In a no¨C nonsense manner, Ruth quickly gave a simple exnation of what happened. After Natasha heard the whole story, her face instantly grew solemn. ¡°Using the military to arrest him? It seems like the one behind thises from a decent background.¡± ¡°Natasha, do you think the Hummers did this?¡± Ruth asked, frowning slightly. ¡°Yesterday, Dustin went o n a killing spree at the Hummers and even crippled Edwin¡¯s son. The Hummers definitely won¡¯t let this go easily.¡± Original from N?velDrama.Org. ¡°It definitely has something to do with them. However, just Edwin¡¯swork alone is clearly not enough to invoke the power of the military. I¡¯m guessing the Grant family must have yed a hand in this,¡± Nata sha said thoughtfully. Jade was Joshua¡¯s fianc¨¦. Considering their rtionship, there was no way the Grant family would sit a round and do nothing. As one of the Tremendous Three, the Grant family had immense power over the Brno Military. Taking care of someone with no backing would be far too easy. Although she already knew that Dustin would be in trouble, she didn¡¯t expect it to be so soon. ¡°Natasha, what do we do now?¡® Ruth asked hesitantly. ¡°Go and find out where Dustin is being locked up. Leave the rest to me.¡± As soon as Natasha finished speaking, she turned around and went out the door. She knew that the battle was starting. This time, she was going to fight the Hummers to the death! Meanwhile, at the Hummer Vi, Joshuay on the bed, his face ashen. His arms were wrapped in thic k bandages, and he looked listless. Next to him sat an old man that was only skin and bones. He waspletely focused on administering treatment, droplets of sweat beading on his forehead. Edwin and Tina watched silently from the door, n ot daring to make a noise for fear of disturbing him. The old man in front of him was none other than the miracle doctor, Dr. Rowan Cross! After a long time, Rowan finally stood. Edwin couldn¡¯t stop himself from speaking up. ¡°Dr. Cross, how is my son?¡± ¡°Mr. Hummer, I have reattached your son¡¯s arms. It¡¯s just that from today onward, he won¡¯t be able to lif t heavy things anymore.¡± Rowan dabbed the sweat on his forehead. ¡°What about his internal injuries? Can his injured core recover?¡± Edwin pressed. Whether or not he cou ld restore his cultivation was the most important part. It concerned his son¡¯s future. ¡°The core is not like the arms; restoring it would be very difficult. Nevertheless, I can continue to resear ch any ancient methods that could work,¡± Rowan said, not making any promises. ¡°Then please, Dr. Cross, do everything that you can. Once it¡¯s done, our family will reward you handso mely!¡± Edwin said gratefully. As long as there was a glimmer of hope left, they couldn¡¯t give up so easily . ¡°Hmph, it¡¯s all that damn Dustin¡¯s fault! How could he hurt my brother so badly? I¡¯m going to rip him to s hreds! * Tina grumbled fiercely. ¡°Wait a minute Rowan paused. ¡°Did you just say Dustin hurt your brother?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! It was that animal!¡± Tina nodded heavily. When Rowan heard that, his face darkened, and he said coldly, ¡°Based on my observation, your brother cannot be treated. He¡¯ll just be a cripple for the rest of his life. You should hope for the best. Farewell!¡± With that, he left with his medical kit. Both father and daughter looked at each other, unable to understand what had just gone down. What the fuck just happened? He¡¯d been very pleasant earlier, so why did his demeanor change in a blink of an eye? Were all miracle doctors this moody? As Rowan walked out of the Hummer Vi, he didn¡¯t forget to turn around and spit on the ground, cursi ng.¡± How dare you ask me to treat your family after you wronged my savior? Eat shit!¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 At the drill ground of a military base. Dustin had been chained to a pir by several thick chains made o f darksteel, which was extremely malleable yet also durable. The zing sun shone down on him, and he was surrounded by a troop of armed forces. They scrutinized his every action warily. Dustin didn¡¯t seem bothered by it. He merely allowed himself to remain chained, looking poker¨C Original from N?velDrama.Org. faced. His calmness surprised the soldiers¨C any ordinary person would¡¯ve peed their pants long ago. It seemed there was something special about him. ¡°So, you¡¯re Dustin Rhys?¡± At this moment, a man in a deputy general¡¯s uniform walked over with a troo p of soldiers behind him. He had a beer belly and a round face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you captured me without even knowing who I am,¡± Dustin said coolly. ¡°Cut the crap! Answer the general¡¯s question!¡± one of the military officers roared. ¡°Fine. Yes, I¡¯m Dustin Rhys.¡± ¡°Good, good. The man nodded. ¡°Since we didn¡¯t get the wrong guy, let¡¯s start by giving him 50 military whips. It¡¯ll also act as a deterrent to others like him.¡± The military officers with him subconsciously winced at his words. Military whips weren¡¯t the same as n ormal whips¨Can ordinary person would faint from three to five military whips; ten were enough to make one feel like one had a foot in the grave . If one were fortunate enough to survive 20 whips, they¡¯d probably have to spend the rest of their life in a wheelchair. As for 50 whips. No one had survived it thus far. It looked like he was out for Dustin¡¯s life! ¡°Hold on,¡± Dustin suddenly said. ¡°You¡¯re a whip me without asking a single question?¡± general, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a little against protocol to The round¨Cfaced man gave him an arrogant look. ¡°My words are the only protocol to follow here¨C I¡¯m the one who calls the shots over your life and death, you peasant. You don¡¯t even have the right to say no.¡± ¡°I suppose that means you¡¯re gonna abuse your power.¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes. ¡°So what if I am? I have hundreds of guns aimed at you. Do you think you stand a chance against them?¡± The round¨Cfaced man scoffed. ¡°Quality over quantity. Having that many guns doesn¡¯t actually mean anything.¡± Dustin shook his head. The round¨Cfaced man sneered. ¡°Putting up a brave front, are we? You¡¯ll regret this when you¡¯re on the brink of death! Whip him!¡± He waved a hand. Before long, a burly man walked over with a steel whip in hand. Salt water dripped from it¨C it would make the wounds burn even more. ¡®T¡¯ll ask you onest time before you do anything else¨Cwho sent you here?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°I did!¡± Someone walked out from behind the round¨C faced man and lowered her hood. It was Jade. ¡°I bet you didn¡¯t expect to end up in my hands, Rhys!¡± S he sneered, ¡°You were so obnoxiousst night, but so what? You¡¯re nothing but my prisoner now!¡± ¡°What happenedst night was between me and the Hummer family. I¡¯d advise you to stay out of it,¡± Du stin said coolly. Jade snorted. ¡°Joshua¡¯s my fianc¨¦: I want nothing more than to skin you alive for crippling him!¡± ¡°Joshua deserved what he got. You shouldn¡¯t do anything to jeopardize yourself.¡± Jadeughed derisively. ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand your predicament. Your life and death are in my h ands- how dare you threaten me!¡± ¡°Believe what you may. I just hope you don¡¯t regret this.¡± Dustin didn¡¯t want to waste his breath. ¡°Keep this up. I¡¯d like to see whether you¡¯ll still be this arrogant when you¡¯re bruised and battered!¡± Jade looked at him like he w as already dead to her. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough talking. Jade, don¡¯t waste your breath on him. Let¡¯s just sit and watch the show.¡± The round¨C faced man waved a hand. Soon, some military officers brought a table and two chairs over. The round- faced man gestured for them to be ced in the shade. Then, he and Jade sat down. ¡°Well, what are y ou waiting for? Whip him with all you¡¯ve got!¡® With that, the burly man got to work and started whipping. Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Each of the burly man¡¯s whipsnded with a loud crack; they could be heard from miles away. Jadeu ghed derisively at the sound and eximed, ¡°He¡¯s doing a great job!¡± Dustin had been so obnoxious th e night before, crashing the Hummer Vi and ughtering their men. She had to make him pay for it! ¡°Jade, you must¡¯ve been exaggerating when you said this brat was hard to deal with.¡± The round¨C faced man snorted. ¡°Look, he¡¯s nothing more than a prisoner with his life in my hands.¡± ¡°He¡¯s an extremely powerful martial artist, just so you know. There were several people at the Hummer Vi . ¡°Ha. No matter how powerful he is, he¡¯s only a martial artist. Do you think he¡¯ll be able to withstand my troops? ¡°The round¨C faced man looked contemptuous. ¡°Over the years, the military¡¯s captured plenty of martial artists renow ned for their prowess. Still, haven¡¯t they ultimately yielded to the military¡¯s authority?¡± ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right.¡± Jade nodded. The martial world was separate from the government, but it was n¡¯t an organized entity. How could it go up against the authorities? As they spoke, the burly man continued to whip Dustin. It cracked loudly, but Dustin didn¡¯t bat an eye. I nstead, the whip shattered from the force. ¡°What the hell?¡± The burly man was dumbfounded. The steel whip had been specially forged and tested against des and mes to ensure itOriginal from N?velDrama.Org. was basically unbreakable. Why had it shattered after being used to whip someone? Could Dustin poss ibly be forged from some precious metal? The burly man scrutinized Dustin, but it only added to his confusion. He¡¯d already whipped Dustin at le ast a dozen times; any ordinary human would already be mutted, but Dustin looked perfectly fine. His clothes were in tatters, but there wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of an injury. It was as if he hadn¡¯t even been whipped. ¡°What the fuck?¡± The burly man broke into a cold sweat. He¡¯d done this for years, but this was his first t ime being in this situation. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why has the whipping stopped?¡± The round¨Cfaced man finally stopped chit¨C chatting and noticed something was wrong. ¡°S¨Csir the whip broke.¡± The burly man gulped. ¡°Get another one, then! Don¡¯t stop until you¡¯re done with the 50 whips!¡± the round¨Cfaced man berated. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The burly man didn¡¯t dare dy. He had someone bring him another steel whip before whippi ng Dustin again as if his life depended on it. After a while, the second whip shattered, just like the first h ad. ¡°What in the ¡°The burly man couldn¡¯t believe his eyes. Shattering one whip could be described as a coi ncidence; shattering two was an ominous sign. He was starting to think there was something about Du stin that made him impossible to whip. ¡°Why have you stopped again? Go on!¡± the round¨Cfaced man urged impatiently. ¡°Sir, the whip broke again.¡± The burly man looked like he was in a dilemma. ¡°What? How fucking useless can you be? I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± the round¨C faced man spat. He ordered a soldier to bring him another steel whip before storming over to Dustin. He started whipping him without the slightest hesitance, but he¡¯d only swung the whip a few times when it shattered. At this moment, Dustin, who¡¯d been lying there with his eyes shut, opened his eyes and asked, ¡°Are yo u done? If you are, can I get something to eat? I¡¯m feeling a little hungry.¡± Chapter 277 Chapter 277 ¡°What?¡± The round¨Cfaced man stared at Dustin, who was cool as a cucumber, in shock. He knew very well how much the steel whip could withstand and how much pain it could cause. Not even the strongest of men could take more than ten whips in one go, yet Dustin looked perfectly fine after enduring more than that. In fa ct, he¡¯d made three whips shatter. What the hell was going on? ¡°Brat, what sort of sorcery do you have going on?¡± he snarled. ¡°Look, cut the crap and do what you need to.¡± Dustin yawned. His nonchnce made the round¨C faced man¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Fucking hell. I¡¯d like to see you survive this!¡± The round¨C faced man swiped his subordinate¡¯s sword and swung it at Dustin. There were two loud ngs as the de came into contact with Dustin¡¯s body twice; he was fine, but the de became chipped. ¡°Is that is that an Adamantine Shield?¡± Jade¡¯s eyes widened. As a member of the martial world, she immediately realized what was up. The fact that Dustin could make himself impermeable to weapons p roved that he¡¯d learned the art of defense. However, it would take a huge toll on one¡¯s internal energy. Most m artial artists wouldn¡¯t be able to keep it up for long. ¡°Regr weapons won¡¯t do anything to him. We have to b ring in a pro.¡± Jade said. ¡°Hmph! I¡¯ll admit this brat isn¡¯t your run¨Cof¨Cthe¨C mill martial artist; it¡¯s no wonder you guys had problems dealing with him. It¡¯s too bad he¡¯s up against m e, though!¡± The round¨Cfaced man narrowed his eyes. ¡°Do you have any way of dealing with him?¡± Jade asked tentatively. ¡°We soldiers are only good at taking down enemy forces; torture devices aren¡¯t our forte. It doesn¡¯t matt er, though. I know someone in the Ministry of Penalties that¡¯s an expert in this. Once he¡¯s here, this brat wi ll beg for death!¡± The round¨Cfaced man bared his teeth in a savage grin. ¡°Oh? And who is this expert?¡± Jade¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°One of the Ministry of Penalties¡® two most powerful executioners, Bloodbeast!¡± ¡°Wait, you know him?¡± Jade gasped. She wasn¡¯t a member of the authorities but had still heard of Bloo dbeast. Rumor had it that he murdered people without blinking an eye and loved drinking human blood. Throug hout his career with the Ministry of Penalties, hundreds, if not thousands, of people had died at his hands. E ach and every one of them had died horrible deaths after being subject to inhumane torture: anyone who found themselves in his hands truly wished for death. That was why most criminals chose to take their lives b efore ¡°Torturing others is Bloodbeast¡¯s favorite pastime, and he¡¯s taken a particr liking for tormenting powe rful martial artists because of how hard they are to kill. Someone like this brat is right up his alley!¡± The round- faced man¡¯s eyes gleamed menacingly. ¡°This brat won¡¯t stand a chance against Bloodbeast, no matter how impermeable he is! Provided you c an get Bloodbeast to agree to this, of course.¡± Jade sneered. She wasn¡¯t asking for much¨C all she wanted was for Dustin to be subject to the most inhumane torture possible. ¡°I¡¯ll contact him right now.¡± The round¨C faced man pulled out his phone and started punching in a number. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°Enjoy your final moments of peace, Rhys! Once Bloodbeast is here, you¡¯ll be done for!¡± Jade looked at Dustin contemptuously. He¡¯d talked about karma biting one in the ass, hadn¡¯t he? She wanted him to h ave a taste of his own medicine! Dustin couldn¡¯t even be bothered to spare a nce. He shut his eyes, taking the chance to rest them. . ¡°Jade, it¡¯s far too hot, standing in the sun. Let¡¯s go sit in the shade. The round¨C faced man led Jade over to the table after hanging up. After a moment. Dustin suddenly said. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m hungry. Is there anything to eat?¡± ¡°Hungry, are you? Someone get him some refreshments!¡± The round¨C faced man smirked. Soon, a soldier ced some food and drinks by Dustin¡¯s feet. ¡°How am I supposed to eat when I¡¯m bound like this? Can you loosen them?¡± Dustin asked coolly. The round¨Cfaced man burst into derisiveughter. ¡°Giving you some sustenance is the extent of my generosity; it¡¯s not my problem if you can¡¯t reach it. Since you¡¯re so powerful, why don¡¯ t you try breaking free of the chains?¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 ¡°Are those chains enough to keep him bound? He¡¯s a lot more powerful than he seems. What if he reall y breaks free?¡± Jade asked. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Our chains are all forged from darksteel and are designed to withstand any force. Not even an elephant would be able to break free, let alone a human. Now that he¡¯s bound, he won¡¯t be able to get away from them without the key!¡± the round¨C faced man said confidently. He¡¯d seen his fair share of powerful martial artists; none of them had se ssfully broken free from the darksteel chains. ¡°Well, that¡¯s good to know.¡± Jade sighed in relief. However, the words were barely out of her mouth whe n she heard the sound of the chains breaking. She whipped around to look at Dustin¨C he¡¯d only stretched, but the chains alreadyy at his feet in pieces. ¡°What the fuck?¡± The round¨Cfaced man was so shocked that he dropped his pastry. Jade also looked dumbfounded. What happened to the chains being made of darksteel and able to withstand any force? How could Dustin have snapped them so easily? The round¨Cfaced man quickly returned to his senses and At hismand, the armed soldiers dashed over and surrounded Dustin. He looked unruffled, though. ¡°Rx, I just want to eat.¡± He plopped onto the floor and started eating the food ced there. The round¨C faced man gaped at him. What the hell was this brat capable of? How could he be so rxed when so many guns were aimed at him? When Dustin was done eating, he was chained and bound again. This time, however, double the number of chains were used¨C he resembled a taco by the time they were done with him. Even so, the round¨C faced man didn¡¯t let his guard down. He had his men keep an eye on Dustin at all times. If Dustin were to make any false moves, he would immediately be shot. After a long time, a military¨C use Jeep entered the military base and stopped at the drill ground. A skinny, middle¨C aged man got out leisurely. Despite his thin stature, his aura gave one the chills, and his eyes made one¡¯s hair stand on end. Jade¡¯s mind went nk when she met his eyes. She felt like she¡¯d caught the eye of a savage beast w ho would pounce on her at any moment. A trace of fear bubbled up from the depths of her heart. ¡°Mr. Bloodbeast!¡± The round¨C faced man hurried forward with a bright smile when he saw him. ¡°Forgive me for not giving you a prope r wee. It¡¯s a pleasure to see you here.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s cut to the chase, General Jenkins. I¡¯ve been boredtely, and it¡¯s time to spice things up. Where¡¯s the tough cookie you mentioned?¡± Bloodbeast didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Right here! He¡¯s the one bound to the pir.¡± The round¨Cfaced man pointed at Dustin. Bloodbeast¡¯s gaze traveled in the direction he pointed. He squinted at Dustin and said, ¡°Odd. He seem s rather familiar.¡± ¡°Oh? Small world, isn¡¯t it? The fact that he¡¯s familiar to you means you two were destined to meet. I onl y hope you¡¯ll show him a good time, Mr. Bloodbeast.¡± The round¨Cfaced man smiled menacingly. Bloodbeast chuckled. ¡°Why, of course. It¡¯s my pleasure, and I¡¯ll only be doing what I love. I hope he doe sn¡¯t disappoint.¡± He pulled out a canvas bag and poured its contents out. There were various delicate¨C looking instruments of torture. They were shaped oddly; most people would live out their lives without Original from N?velDrama.Org. ying eyes on them. Only members of the Ministry of Penalties would know what these instruments mea nt¨Cthe more delicate they were, the more horrific the results they produced. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 ¡°Huh?¡± General Jenkins and Jade were stunned as they watched Bloodbest suddenly drop to his knees. They l ooked at each other, taken aback. What was he doing? He was perfectly fine just a moment ago, so why was he kneeling on the floor now? Was he saying a prayer before he tortured him? Compared to the others¡® surprised expressions, the skinny man appeared terrified, his face drenched in cold sweat. As a student of the Executioner, he couldn¡¯t possibly be oblivious to the true meaning of the kirin tattoo. In the entire world, the ck kirin tattoo was one of a kind. Not to mention, it had already be a symbol of power! No wonder that person looked familiar. No wonder he dared to call the Executioner by his real name. It turned out that this person was the Kirin of the Rhys family, who almost incited chaos that could have devastated an entire nation ten years ago! Shit! What kind of sins had hemitted? He¡¯d actually run into a harbinger of doom of this magnitude! No! While the shitstorm hadn¡¯t hit, he had to escape as soon as possible! ¡°Mr. Bloodbeast, what¡¯s the matter? Are you hurt somewhere?¡± Watching the skinny man¡¯s knees buckle, General Jenkins immediately rushed over and tried to help hi m up. ¡°Fuck, it¡¯s all your fault!¡± Bloodbeast flew into a rage. He raised his hand and delivered a harsh p acr oss General Jenkins¡® face. General Jenkins staggered backward, nearly losing his bnce. ¡°Mr. Bloodbeast, why. Why did you hit me?¡± He cupped his stinging face, unable to process what had just happened. ¡°Why did I hit you? You should be grateful I didn¡¯t ughter you! What did I ever do to you? If you¡¯re so fucking suicidal, you don¡¯t have to drag me down with you!¡± The skinny man kicked General Jenkins to the ground. Then, he grabbed his bag a nd fled. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. He even dropped his torture tools but didn¡¯t dare turn around to pick them up, acting as if he¡¯d run into a ghost. ¡°Huh?¡± General Jenkins was once again dazed. Just what had scared Bloodbeast¨C the infamous ruthless killer -into fleeing for his life? ¡°How did things turn out this way?¡± Jade¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She had initially thought that Bloodbeas t could help her get her revenge. In the end, even before he¡¯d used his torture tools, he¡¯d run away for some reason. What was going on? ¡°Punk, what the hell did you do? How did you manage to make Bloodbeast spare you?!¡± General Jenki ns¡® gaze shifted to Dustin, ring fiercely. He¡¯d been a distance away earlier, so he couldn¡¯t hear their conversation. ¡°You have me tied up: what could I have possibly done?¡± Dustin asked. Since Bloodbeast was Albert¡¯s student, it was no surprise that he had recognized the kirin tattoo on his back. ¡°Hmph, that had better be the case!¡± General Jenkins glowered. Then, he turned to Jade and whispere d, ¡°Jade, this bastard seems to know the dark arts. Are you sure he¡¯s a nobody?¡± The way Bloodbeast had left was too strange; he couldn¡¯t help but feel suspicious. I¡¯ve already looked into him. He¡¯s just a small fry who was once someone¡¯s live¨Cin son¨Cin¨C ,¡± Jade said with certainty. With the Grant family¡¯s influence, looking into Dustin had been a piece of cake. Hence, she was very s ure that Dustin didn¡¯te from a powerful background. ¡°Well that¡¯s rather strange,¡± General Jenkins said, looking thoughtful. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re scared?¡± Jade frowned. ¡°Considering your status, don¡¯t tell me you can¡¯t take care of that pipsqueak?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. As if I¡¯m scared of him!¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 General Jenkins puffed out his chest and dered arrogantly, ¡°I am none other than the Deputy Gener al of the White Tiger Army, under themand of Chief General Spanner. No matter who that bastard may be, I can take him down easily. Just wait and see!¡± As soon as he finished speaking, his phone ringtone began sting. The first phone call came in. ¡°Hello, General Jenkins. This is Hunter Anderson speaking. You¡¯ve captur ed someone you shouldn¡¯t have. You should let him go immediately. Maybe you can still save yourself.¡± ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are? How dare you order me around? Fuck off!¡± General Jenkins replie d. promptly ending the call. ¡°Seems like someone called to beg for Dustin¡¯s life.¡± Jade said sarcastically. She¡¯d long predicted some thing like it would happen. ¡°Hmph, they think they can get him out of my hands? It¡¯s not going to be that easy!¡± General Jenkins pu rsed his lips. With the backing of the Grant family, only a handful of people in the entire Southern provi nce could scare him. At that moment, the second phone call came in. ¡°General Jenkins, I¡¯m calling on behalf of the Harmon f amily. One of my associates was captured by your subordinate. I believe there must have been some ki nd of misunderstanding. I kindly request that you release him, General.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen! Dustin¡¯s crimes are unforgivable. I¡¯ve already turned him over to the Minist ry of Penalties. No matter whoes to beg for his life, it¡¯s useless!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. However, things didn¡¯t end there. After the second call, the third one soon came, followed by the fourth, then the fifth. They just wouldn¡¯t stop. ¡°Hello. General Jenkins, this is Roderick Brooks ¡ª¡± ¡°General Jenkins, I¡¯m calling on behalf of the Glenstead Nicholson family ¡°Jenkins, I have a favor to ask Calls started pouring in one after another. Not only were they increasing in numbers, but they were also bing more pressing. At first, General Jenkins had been greatly irritated, but by the end, even military officers of the same ra nk as him were calling him to plead for mercy. Although he wasn¡¯t scared, it was still rather troublesom e. Eventually, he turned his phone off. He couldn¡¯t be bothered any longer. ¡°Punk, I didn¡¯t think you had such awork. I underestimated you.¡± He slowly raised his head to reve al a cold smile. ¡°Unfortunately, your efforts are in vain¨CI can hold them off all on my own!¡± ¡°Oh, really? Then I¡¯m looking forward to seeing you do that.¡± Dustin smiled lightly. ¡°Hmph. And I want to see what kind of tricks you have up your sleevel¡± General Jenkins said disdainfully. Just as he spoke, an officer suddenly hurried over. ¡°General, the Murray family is here!¡± ¡°The Murray family? Who is it?¡± General Jenkins raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°He introduced himself as Adjutant General Damon. He said he wishes to speak with you,¡± the officer re plied. ¡°Adjutant General Damon? What¡¯s he doing here?¡± General Jenkins face grew solemn. He clearly looked a little apprehensive. Others might not know it, but he knew for a fact that Adjutant General Damon served as Christopher¡¯s personal guard. And who was Christopher? He was the second¨Cinmand general of the current generation! He was the backbone of the Murray family! Even though Christopher had been discharged, he still held a great influence within the army. He wasn¡¯t exaggerating when he said he would even treat Christopher¡¯s dog with the utmost respect.. After a few seconds of silence, General Jenkins decided to go outside and wee Adjutant General Damon. Come, let¡¯s go take a look.¡± When he¨Calong with his men¨Cwent to the entrance of the base, he saw a casually¨Cdressed middle¨C aged man in sses standing there quietly. The elegant man looked like any average guy, but hidden b ehind his sses were eyes as sharp as an eagle¡¯s. ¡°Why, if it isn¡¯t Adjutant General Damon? What brings you here? General Jenkins said, stepping forwar d with a grin. He was just about to offer some small talk when Adjutant General Damon raised his hand and pped him to the floor. Chapter 281 Chapter 281 The moment Adjutant General Damon saw General Jenkins, without uttering a single word, he delivere d him a resounding p. General Jenkins was left dazed, taking quite some time to recover from the impact. He¡¯d weed Adj utant. General Damon with a smile, but the man fucking responded with a p instead. That was crossing the line! ¡°Adjutant General Damon, what is the meaning of this?!¡± General Jenkins¡® face darkened, his gaze turn ing hostile. Even if he was Christopher¡¯s adjutant general, it didn¡¯t mean he had a free pass to humiliat e him. After all, Chief General Spanner was backing him. In terms of rank, he held an even higher position than Christopher! ¡°General Jenkins, that p was a lesson for you,¡± Adjutant General Damon said with a cool expression . ¡°You should not have captured Mr. Rhys. Release him now, or you¡¯ll have to bear the consequences!¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± General Jenkins snorted. ¡°Damon, you¡¯re nothing but an old general¡¯s dog. What right do you have to order me around?!¡± ¡°Indeed, I cannot, but the general can. If you don¡¯t want trouble, do as I say,¡± Adjutant General Damon said expressionlessly. ¡°Hmph, don¡¯t use the general¡¯s name to scare me!¡± General Jenkins said furiously. ¡°The person I captured hasmitted a heinous crime, and the evidence is beyond any reasonable doubt. You can¡¯t just ask for him to be released!¡± If Adjutant General Damon had spoken in a kinder manner, perhaps he might have released Dustin out of respect for Christopher. But he¡¯d fuckinge up to him and p him. No one would be alright with that. *General Jenkins, don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. If you choose to remain obstinate, then no one can save you!¡± Adjutant General Damon warned. ¡°You think I¡¯m scared?¡± General Jenkins said, ring at him. ¡°To tell you the truth, I am Chief General Spanner¡¯s subordinate. If you want toy a hand on him, you¡¯d have to ask for his permission!¡± ¡°It seems like you really won¡¯t release him?¡± Adjutant General Damon frowned. ¡°No! Even if God asked, I wouldn¡¯t release him!¡± General Jenkins bellowed. ¡°Fine! I hope you won¡¯t regret it!¡± Without another word, he got into his car and left, leaving General Jenkins to choke on the exhaust. ¡°Damn it, that dog! How dare he act all high and mighty in front of me?¡± General Jenkins spat on the flo or. lifting his hand to caress his stinging cheek. Fuck, he was really unlucky today! First, Bloodbeast had pped him, and now Adjutant General Damon. Not to mention, it was all under This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. strange circumstances. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jade walked over. ¡°Don¡¯t ask. A crazy dog from the Murray family came to ask me to release Dustin,¡± General Jenkins sai d annoyedly. ¡°No way. Could that punk have ties to the Murray family?¡± Jade frowned. ¡°Who fucking cares? The Grant family is also one of the Tremendous Three, just like the Murray family. Why should we be afraid of them?¡± General Jenkins said, irritated. ¡°You have a point.¡± Jade nodded. As the two were speaking, an armed motorcade suddenly appeared on the far end of the road. The Murray family gs decorated the motorcade. Dozens of military trucks were filled with people, zing their way over. Soon after, theypletely blocked off the entire entrance of the base. As the cars came to a stop, over three hundred armed soldiers hopp ed off. Their gazes were all fixed on General Jenkins. Tension was palpable in the air, as it war was going to break out at any moment. ¡°Damon, what do you think you¡¯re doing?!¡± When General Jenkins saw Adjutant General Damon in the l ead, he almost blew his top. ¡°How dare you bring so many people to crash my base? Are you trying to start a rebellion? ¡°I am merely carrying out my general¡¯s order to obtain your hostage. If you won¡¯t give him to me, then I can only grab him from you,¡± Adjutant General Damon said indifferently. ¡°The audacity!¡± General Jenkins yelled, his eyes furious. ¡°I am the subordinate of Chief General Spann er. Is the Murray family dering war against him?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m merely following orders. Anything else doesn¡¯t concern me,¡± Adjutant General Damon said without beating around the bush. ¡°It seems like there¡¯s no more room for negotiation today, is there? Fine! If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s se e who has bigger numbers!¡± General Jenkins roared at the top of his lungs. In the next second, arge wave of soldiers surged out of the base. Chapter 282 Chapter 282 General Jenkins¡® men started to face off against the Murray family¡¯s army. Instantly, the tension in the ai r gave way to murderous intent. ¡°Go in and save him!¡± Adjutant General Damon immediately ordered. ¡°No, you won¡¯t!¡± General Jenkins blocked the way with his body. He then pulled out a gun from his wais t. Anyone who dares take a step forward will be shot!¡± ¡°You can try.¡± Without a trace of fear, Adjutant General Damon stalked ahead. ¡°You¡¯re fucking testing me!¡± General Jenkins gritted his teeth, fury filling his eyes. Just as the two sides were in the midst of battle, several military helicopters suddenly materialized in th e sky. Whizzing through the air, they finally stopped, hovering above everyone¡¯s heads. that¡¯s Chief General When General Jenkins took a look, a delighted expression crossed his face. ¡°Hahaha Spanner¡¯s privat e helicopter! Damon, you¡¯re dead meat. Let¡¯s see what you can do with Chief General Spanner himself on the field!¡± Heughed in excitement. Chief General Spanner was known for protecting his subordinates. Now that they were being invaded, he definitely wouldn¡¯t sit around and do nothing. He could already imagine Adjutant General Damon getting the beating of his lifetime. As the crowd parted, the helicopter began to descend slowly beforending firmly on the field. Then, th e cabin door opened. A handsome young man with a remarkable aura stepped off hastily with a few female officers in tow. ¡°Chief General Spanner, you came just at the right time!¡± The moment General Jenkins spotted the you ng man, he scampered over to wee him, trying to suck up to him. He then reported, ¡°These treach erous rascals are trying to incite a prison break at my base. I hope you¡¯ll set things straight, Chief Gene ral Spanner! That¡¯s right! Hemitted a heinous crime of tormenting the people! I was just about to t orture him, too.¡± General Jenkins said, nodding profuse/ ¡°Torture him?¡± Adam¡¯s eye twitched, and a murderous look shed in his eyes. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯s tied up right there!¡± General Jenkins pointed in the other direction. Adam shifted his gaze, and his eyes immediately widened. Fuck, it really was him! When he first heard Dustin Rhys¡® name, he still had a glimmer of hope. After all, many people in the world. share a name. What if it was just a coincidence? Unfortunately, he still ran into Dustin. Moreover, it was in this fashion.. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Rhys, even Chief General Spanner is here! Let¡¯s see whether you can live to see another day!¡± Hidden amongst the crowd, Jade couldn¡¯t help butugh at his misery. Clupter 232 At first, when she saw how big the Murray family army was, she was a little worried. But now, everythin g would be fine because Chief General Spanner was here. Who would dare cross him? ¡°Chief General, this guy is built tough. I tried to torture him earlier but failed. No worries. Since you¡¯re h ere, I¡¯m sure you have a way to deal with people like this.¡± General Jenkins smiled tteringly,plet ely unaware of the severity of the problem. ¡°Your name is Richard Jenkins, right?¡± Adam suddenly asked. ¡°That¡¯s right! I am the deputy general of the White Tiger Army under yourmand. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d remember me. Chief General!¡± General Jenkins¡® face lit up with joy when he thought he was being acknowledged. ¡°Capture him, then strip him of his position and prosecute him.¡± Adam gestured with his hand, and imm ediately after, two female officers sprung into action, pressing General Jenkins to the floor. ¡°Chief General, what did you say?¡± General Jenkins looked confused. Everything was going so well, so why was he getting fired all of a sudden? However, Adam didn¡¯t bother to deal with him. He jogged over to Dustin and smiled apologetically, sayi ng.¡± Buddy, sorry about my subordinate. He caused you so much trouble.¡± The moment he said that, everyone fell silent. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 ¡°B¨Cbuddy?!¡± Seeing Adam¡¯s friendly expression, General Jenkins was stunned. His mind went nk. The man in front of him was none other than the renowned God of War! He was also the youngest chief general of Dragonmarsh! He reported to no one, while thousands reported to him! However, this all¨Cpowerful figure had actually called Dustin his buddy? What the fuck was going on? ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible! How could that bastard know Chief General Spanner?!¡± Jade was thunderstruck . Her eyes were as wide as saucers, and her face was filled with disbelief. ording to her investigatio n, Dustin was just an irrelevant small fry. How could he have a rtionship with the famous God of Wa r? ¡°Now that you mention it, we indeed haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time.¡± Dustin regarded him up a nd down, then said happily, ¡°I must say, you¡¯re doing quite well for yourself, you rascal. I think I may ne ed to start relying on you for money soon.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke like that!¡± Adam said with a strange expression. ¡°My small ce cannot house someone as great as you.¡± ¡°Since we meet again today, then allow me to treat you to a cup of tea,¡± Dustin said with a small smile. ¡°Someone,e and free him!¡± Adam made another hand gesture. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Dustin stretched his back, and the sound of metal clinking against each othe r could be heard. The thick chains on his body suddenly broke into pieces. Everyone¡¯s jaws dropped at the sight. Those chains had been forged from darksteel and were said to be unbreakable, but he¡¯d just broken th em by fucking stretching his back? It was bewildering. ¡°Oh, right. How are you nning to take care of those two?¡± Dustin turned to look at General Jenkins and Jade. ¡°Of course, we¡¯ll follow the procedure. For kidnapping and torture, no matter how you look at it, that¡¯s got to be at least a few decades, no?¡± Adam said indifferently. ¡°A few decades? When the two heard that, their faces paled from shock. A lifetime only consisted of a few decades. Were they going to die in prison? ¡°No! You can¡¯t lock us up!¡± Jade shook her head furiously. ¡°The one who¡¯s guilty is clearly Dustin. What right do you have to lock us up?¡± ¡°What right do I have?¡± Adam smiled faintly. ¡°Well, I have more power than you, Does this reason satisf y you?¡± ¡°Y¨Cyou¡¯re tantly abusing your power!¡± Jade said defiantly. ¡°You¡¯re right, I am,¡± Adam said bluntly. He was exactly like how General Jenkins described earlier. ¡°Y¨Cyou can try to lock me up! I am a member of the Grant family!¡± Jade said, refusing to give up. ¡°The Grant family?¡± Adam burst outughing as he tossed her a phone. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to ask t he Grant family for help. I want to see who would daree rescue you!¡± When he said that, Jade was thunderstruck. She knew better than anyone that the Grant family wouldn¡¯ t cross the God of War, Adam, for her. ¡°Why? Why did things turn out this way? Just who are you?¡± She stared straight at Dustin. Her eyes we re filled with surprise, defiance, hatred, but mostly despair. *Since you¡¯re going to die anyway, I¡¯ll enlighten you,¡± Adam replied nonchntly. ¡°The young man you j ust kidnapped is Logan Rhys, the eldest son of the Rhys family and one of my closest friends!¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Logan Rhys?!¡± When General Jenkins heard the name, he copsed to the floor, ovee with despa ir. Now, he finally understood. He finally understood why Bloodbeast had fled in fright, why all those influe ntial figures called him to ask for his release, why General Murry had sent his army, and why Adam wa s so nervous. Chapter 284 Chapter 284 The person he had arrested turned out to be the eldest son of the Rhys family, an existence that could shake the military effortlessly. ¡°We we¡¯re doomed Blood had drained out of Jade¡¯s face the moment she heard Dustin¡¯s real name, feeling unbelievably sorry for herself. She shouldn¡¯t have tried to avenge Joshua. There was no way a loser wit Original from N?velDrama.Org. h broken arms and a shattered core was worth the lives of her entire family. ¡°Jade Grant, this is what you fucking call a nobody?¡± General Jenkins spun around and shot Jade a vici ous re. ¡°I never did anything to you, so why the hell are you dragging me into this mess?¡± ¡°1-¡°Jade ¡°¨C¡± Jade was about to burst into tears. ¡°How dare you trick me! You¡¯re dead meat!¡® General Jenkins roared before leaping toward Jade with hi s mouth wide open. Things became chaotic as he tore up the woman¡¯s face with his teeth. ¡°Come on. Let¡¯s go have a drink. Dustin Ignored them and left with Adam. Meanwhile, inside the East Swinton Hospital ward, Dakota¡¯s face hardened after finishing a call. ¡°So? Was there news about Dustin? Can he be saved?¡± Dahlia quickly asked. ¡°He can¡¯t. The person who arrested him was General Jenkins from the Grant family. I tried calling the el ders, but they said he wasn¡¯t listening to their requests. Glenstead¡¯s military has no jurisdiction over Balerno.¡± Dakota shook her head helplessly. ¡°The Grant family?¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°But why? How did Dustin piss them off?¡± ¡°I dug around and heard that hemitted a grave crime. Apparently, he barged into the Hummer famil y¡¯s home and began killing people. He even crippled Edwin Hummer¡¯s son, Joshua Hummer! Worse, J oshua¡¯s fianc¨¦e is Jade Grant, the daughter of Sir Robert Grant. There¡¯s no way the Grant family would let Dustin go easily. He¡¯s doomed.¡± Dakota shook her head sadly. She didn¡¯t care if Dustin died, but she still needed him to heal her mother, and her mother would be in grave danger if Dustin died now. Dakota wondered if she still had enough time to seek out miracle doct ors. ¡°Isn¡¯t there another way?¡± Dahlia was upset. ¡°What if I beg the Grant family? I¡¯ll pay any amount, even i f I go bankrupt!¡± ¡°Nonsense, Dahlia!¡± Florence shrieked. ¡°Why should you go so far for a man you divorced?¡± ¡°He¡¯s helped me too many times. I have to save him!¡± Dahlia answered firmly. ¡°You¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± Dakota shook her head. ¡°The Grant family is one the strongest families in Balerno. They could care less about your measly assets,¡± ¡°Then what should we do? We can¡¯t just sit here and wait.¡± Dahlia¡¯s brows furrowed deeper. ¡°Money is useless. We need to beg someone influential to negotiate with them.¡± Dakota suggested. ¡°Someone influential? Who?¡± Dahlia asked tentatively. ¡°The only one who can stand against the Grant family is Mr. Langford from Stonia.¡± Dakota suggested. ¡°Saving Dustin should be a piece of cake if you ask Mr. Langford for help.¡± ¡°Mr. Langford?¡± Dahlia was troubled. There was no reason for him to help a stranger like her. ¡°That¡¯s right. Dahlia. The best way is to beg Mr. Langford for help. I managed to save his number durin g dinnerst night. I¡¯ll call him right now!¡± Florence drew out her phone eagerly and dialed a number. While she was worried that her daughter might sacrifice all her wealth for Dustin, she also hoped to pus h Dahlia closer to Luis. During their meetingst night, Florence realized that Luis had feelings for Dahli a. At the same time, the Glenstead Nicholsons were also hoping for the two to get married. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 ¡°Hello, is this Mr. Langford? Dahlia has something to say to you.¡± Florence shoved the phone to Dahlia as soon as the call got through. ¡°Dahlia? Let me know if you need any help. I¡¯ll definitely get it done If I can,¡± a voice drawled. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Langford.¡± Dahlia responded stiffly. ¡°I¡¯ll get to the point. I have a friend who¡¯s in trouble and has been arrested by the military. I hope you can help me save him.¡± ¡°Arrested by the military? Your friend must be into hot water,¡± Luis guessed arrogantly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have turned to you if I had another choice.¡± Dahlia responded tiredly. ¡°What¡¯s your friend¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Dustin Rhys.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll help you on one condition,¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Treat me to dinner tonight.¡± Luis responded frankly. ¡°Um ¡ª Dahlia stiffened, instantly understanding what he meant. ¡°You won¡¯t refuse such a small request, would you?¡± Luis teased hall¨Cjokingly. ¡°Of course not.¡± Dahlia forced a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothingpared to what you¡¯re willing to help me with.¡± ¡°Great! It¡¯s a date. See youter!¡± Dahlia hung up after chatting for a while more. ¡°Well? Did he agree?¡± Florence inquired. ¡°He did, but I¡¯ll have to have dinner with him tonight.¡± Dahlia was exasperated. ¡°That¡¯s great! Hurry home and make yourself look good. Don¡¯t make Mr. Langford wait.¡± Florence usher ed excitedly. ¡°Dahlia, you should make good use of this opportunity,¡± Dakota advised with a knowing look. ¡°Glenstea d is keen to see you and the Langfords take your rtionship further through marriage. The Langfords i nitially had someone else in mind, but Mr. Langford wasn¡¯t pleased with her. Instead, he chose you. Thi s is your greatest blessing. You better not waste this chance!¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in marrying into a rich family.¡± ¡°Who else would you marry? A loser like Dustin? What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Dakota rolled her eyes. ¡°You can have anything you want if you marry into the Langford family. Why would you choose to suffer in a tiny ce like this?¡± ¡°Precisely! You¡¯ve basically hit the jackpot. You should make good use of this chance. Our family is de pending on you to be rich!¡± Florence piped. Compared to Luis, men like Chris Nn and Matt Laney were nothing. After all, the Langfords were the This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. true aristocrats in Stonia. Their very existence stood at the peak of power. Dahlia nced at the eager eyes surrounding her and remained silent. She used to yearn for power as well but had finally realized it didn¡¯t matter much to her. Soon, night fell. A jeep slowly pulled into the entrance of Fairyharbor Restaurant. The doors opened, an d Dustin and Adam emerged. ¡°Weren¡¯t we going to have a drink? What are we doing here?¡± Adam muttered. ¡°The wine here isn¡¯t too shabby. The wines are brewed in¨Chouse. You should try some.¡± Dustin replied. ¡°Really? I¡¯ll have a taste, then.¡± As the two men chatted, they walked into the restaurant and chose a ce on the second floor. ¡°Hey, b uddy. Is it true that you got married?¡± Adam quizzed Dustin as soon as they sat down. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 ¡°I was, but I¡¯m already divorced,¡± Dustin answered straightforwardly. ¡°Aw, damn!¡± Adam grinned. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, my sister finally has a chance! I¡¯ll be your brother¨Cin¨C ¡°Get lost!¡± Dustin rolled his eyes. ¡°What kind of brother are you? Why would you throw your sister unde r the bus?¡± ¡°She threw herself in!¡± Adam retorted in exasperation. ¡°You have no idea how much she bugged me alt er finding out that you were still alive. She would have flown back for you if the war hadn¡¯t broken out at This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. the border.¡± ¡°Has Scarlet been well?¡± Dustin suddenly asked. ¡°You¡¯re still worried about her? That kid¡¯s been practicing martial arts since young, and with her talent, s he¡¯s already a grandmaster. I can¡¯t even win against her anymore. Who would dare to cross her?¡± Adam res ponded nervously. All his life, Adam has only ever been afraid of two people¨C Dustin, the person who¡¯s been throwing punches at him since they were kids, and his sister Scarlet. He always lost his dignity when it came to them. Dustin chuckled. ¡°She is talented, so it¡¯s natural that you can¡¯t beat her.¡± It¡¯s been ten years. He never expected the little girl who used to follow him around everywhere to be Stonia¡¯s well¨Cknown Goddess of War. ¡°Won¡¯t you just marry her? No one else can handle her!¡± Adam implored. The sooner his sister got marr ied, the sooner he¡¯ll be free from being forced to be her sparring partner and ending up with bruises all over his body every day. ¡°Nonsense!¡± Dustin kicked the other man. ¡°Scarlet¡¯s nothing more than a sister to me.¡± ¡°But she might not see you as her brother.¡± Adam shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just going to put it out there. She prob ably won¡¯t marry anyone but you, so you¡¯ll have to take responsibility for her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. Shut up and drink!¡± Irritated, Dustin poured Adam a full ss of wine. ¡°Drink it!¡± Adam boldly downed the entire ss in response. Chatting away while drinking, the two of them quickly began to feel tipsy. ¡°That reminds me, when are you going back?¡± Adam asked coldly. ¡°Why would I go back? Isn¡¯t it quite nice here? All I need to worry about is making sure Gregory recovers nicely. ¡°Dustin responded indifferently. ¡°That¡¯s true. Still, the Rhys family needs an heir.¡± Adam sighed. ¡°There¡¯s still Austin.¡± ¡°That useless idiot? He only cares about his debaucherous pleasures. Who knows how many people wi ll die if he takes your ce.¡± Adam snapped disdainfully. ¡°He isn¡¯t that bad. The kid¡¯s smart. Just give him some time, and he might outshine you.¡± Dustin said seriously. ¡°Are you serious? You¡¯re pitting me against him?¡± Adam looked at him suspiciously. ¡°Many people have called me a loser in the past few years too.¡± Dustin smiled but didn¡¯t borate furth er. With that woman around, his step¨Cbrother could never be mediocre. ¡°Holy shit! Look at that chick!¡± Adam lit up suddenly. ¡°Where?¡± Dustin followed Adam¡¯s line of sight and spotted a Lamborghini at the restaurant entrance. A smartly dressed man emerged, and a gorgeousdy stepped out of the passenger side in a long ck dress, as if she had juste out of a painting. ¡°Why is it her?¡± Dustin frowned, instantly sobering. The beautiful woman was none other than Dahlia! Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Dustin never expected to run into Dahlia there. Worse, she was apanied by another man, and it s eemed like those two were on a date. It irked him for some reason. He had just been captured by the military, his life in danger, but here Dahl ia was, carefree and rxed, as she went on a date with another man. It was clear that Dahlia didn¡¯t gi ve a damn about him, and it made him feel like a fool. ¡°Do you know thatdy?¡± Adam quickly caught onto the change in mood and asked. ¡°Yeah. She¡¯s my ex¨Cwife.¡± Dustin answered bluntly. ¡°Your ex¨Cwife?¡± Adam¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go somewhere else?¡± No one would be happy to see their ex¨Cwife happily chatting away with another man, ¡°Forget it. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong, so why should I be afraid?¡± Dustin lifted his ss to his lips and s wallowed a mouthful of wine resentfully. Just then, Dahlia and Luis arrived on the second floor, and the woman immediately spotted the two me n. Dustin? What are you doing here?¡± she eximed excitedly. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Dustin asked coldly. ¡°When did you get free? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? Dahlia dashed toward him and asked joyfully. ¡°Does it matter if I tell you?¡± Dustin nced at her stoically, stunning Dahlia with his attitude. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you get hurt? Should we go to the hospital?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ms. Nicholson. Thank you for asking. You should focus on your date with your boyfriend inste ad of me,¡± Dustin answered. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± Dahlia looked at the man standing next to her and quickly exined. ¡°You¡¯re getting it wrong. Dustin. We¡¯re just friends.¡± ¡°It¡¯s unnecessary for you to exin yourself.¡± Dustin¡¯s attitude was harsh. Just friends? Did she think that he was a kid? Since when did normal friends of opposite genders arrive together in the same car for dinner? ¡°I¡¯m telling you, you¡¯re misunderstanding things, Dustin.¡± Dahlia gestured to the other man. ¡°Let me intr This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. oduce you to Mr. Luis Langford. He¡¯s from Stonia, and he has a good rtionship with the military. You got out so quickly thanks to him.¡± ¡°Is this the friend you were talking about, Dahlia? He¡¯s fortunate to have someone like you helping him. ¡± Luis suddenly spoke. Although the man was wearing a smile, the look he was giving Dustin was full o f contempt. ¡°I don¡¯t know who Mr. Langford is, nor do I care. He has nothing to do with me getting free anyway.¡± Du stin responded bluntly. ¡°Ha, aren¡¯t you being too cocky?¡± Luis sniggered, ¡°Do you really think you¡¯d be here right now if I hadn¡¯t made a call to the Balerno Military?¡± ¡°I have no idea what you did, but don¡¯t think too highly of yourself. I don¡¯t need your help.¡± Dustin retort ed coolly. ¡°Dustin! How could you talk to him like this? Shouldn¡¯t you be polite to the person who helped you?¡± Da hlia frowned. She knew that Dustin reacted that way because he was jealous, but he still shouldn¡¯t offe nd Luis, who held a much higher status than him. ¡°When did I ever ask him for help? You guys did this willingly.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°You-¡± Dahlia stomped her foot angrily and forced herself to take a deep breath to calm herself. ¡°Stop making. a fuss, Dustin.¡± ¡°What did I do? Was I interrupting your date? If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯ll leave you two alone right now.¡± Dusti n got up to leave right away. ¡°Wait!¡± Dahlia instantly grabbed his arm. ¡°What on earth is going through your mind? I told you that we¡¯re just friends. Why won¡¯t you b elieve me?¡± Chapter 288 Chapter 288 ¡°Just friends, eh? Then you won¡¯t mind going home with me right this instant!¡± Dustin snapped. ¡°But ¡­ Dahlia frowned and nced at Dustin and Luis, troubled. Although she didn¡¯t have any feelings for Luis , the man had helped her, so it wouldn¡¯t be right to turn her back on him now. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t want to?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Is this what you call an ordinary friend? How am I supposed to believe you?¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t believe that Dahlia was still hesitating. It seemed that he was even less important than her ordinary friends, and here he thought that their rtionship had been improving. It must have been his imagination. ¡°Forget it, Ms. Nicholson. You don¡¯t have to think about it so hard. We¡¯re nothing to each other now. Enj oy your meal. I¡¯ll be taking my leave. Dustin shook his head and turned around. ¡°Wait for me.¡± Grabbing two bottles, Adam hurried after Dustin. He didn¡¯t have any experience when it came to l ove, so he couldn¡¯t help Dustin. After stepping out of the restaurant, Dustin remained motionless as he faced the cold wind, feeling frustrated. He was at a loss for how to deal with his emotions. He may have said it was fin e, but his heart still stung when he saw Dahlia with another man, ¡°Forget about her, buddy. There are lots of women everywhere else.¡± Adam stepped forward and patted Dustin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°With your skills, it won¡¯t be hard for you to get any woman you want. Why don¡¯t youThis content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. consider my sister?¡± ¡°Hell no!¡± A feminine voice rang out from behind them. The two men spun around to see a stunning woman heading toward them. It was none other than Dahlia. ¡°Why did youe out?¡± Dustin was surprised. He didn¡¯t expect her to chase after him, assuming she would ignore him. ¡°You¡¯re such a petty man!¡± Dahlia huffed. ¡°How could you run out when we¡¯ve barely spoken!¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you having dinner with your friend? What are you doing here?¡± Dustin pretended to be calm b ut was actually relieved. ¡°I¡¯m here to enjoy the breeze, alright?¡± Dahlia rolled her eyes, secretly pleased to see Dustin jealous. ¡°Ugh, the stench of love.¡± Adam shook his head. ¡°Shut up!¡± Dahlia and Dustin shouted in unison. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried if you just leave that man alone?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°What else can I do? I¡¯ll just have to get him a present as an apology.¡± Dahlia shrugged. She seemed t o have finally opened her eyes. ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten, have you? Why don¡¯t you join us?¡± Dustin offered. Dahlia humphed. ¡°At least you¡¯re considerate.¡± She patted her belly, realizing she was hungry. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll bring you somewhere nice.¡± Dustin walked over to the car to open the door. Just as she was about to get into the car, Dahlia¡¯s eyes widened when she saw a truck loaded with dirt heading straight for them at top speed. Watch out!¡± She frantically shoved Dustin away. Chapter 289 Chapter 289 ¡°Watch out!¡± As the truck headed toward them, Dahlia¡¯s immediate reaction was to push Dustin away,pletely disregarding her safety. Realizing that she had nowhere else to escape to, she instinctively shut her ey es tightly. Right then, she came to a realization that it might not necessarily be a bad thing to die like this. At least he would remember for the rest of his life. As her eyes closed, a strong figure dashed forward and put itself in front of her. With an ear¨C splitting boom, a fistnded on the front of the truck, and metal bent under the force. The sudden oppos ing force upturned the entire truck, flipping it around, and the trucknded on the ground behind Dahlia with a crash, debris flying in all directions. ¡°Are you okay, Dahlia?¡± Dustin drew his hand back and quickly surveyed the woman for any injuries bef ore letting out a breath of relief. ¡°What in the world happened?¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes were opened wide as she gaped at the empty space in fr ont of her before turning around to look at the overturned truck, shocked. She couldn¡¯t understand how the truck had made its way behind her, but she might faint if she found out it was thanks to Dustin¡¯s list. ¡°Are you an idiot? Don¡¯t you know how to run away when there¡¯s danger? Why the hell would you think of me first?¡± Dustin snapped furiously. Fortunately, his reflexes were sharp, or she would have died on impact! ¡°At the spur of the moment, I couldn¡¯t think much.¡± Dahlia was pale from fear. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°You better remember that your safetyes first from now on!¡± Dustin warned sternly. He would be pl agued by guilt for the rest of his life if she died because of him. ¡°Bro, can¡¯t you give me some attention as well?¡± Adam staggered to his feet grumpily. ¡°What the hell? Even if you¡¯re saving someone, why would you throw the truck toward me? Is my life no t important to you? What happened to bros before hoes?¡± he thought. ¡°You¡¯re alive anyway.¡± Dustin responded nonchntly before turning his attention back to Dahlia. ¡°It¡¯s l ate. Let me send you home.¡± He walked over to the road junction and gged a cab to send her home. It was obvious that he had been the truck¡¯s target, and he didn¡¯t want to drag her into this mess. At the entrance to the vi, Dahlia halted and spun around to ask, ¡°Would you like toe in for a cup of tea?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. You should get some rest.¡± Dustin politely refused as if he hadn¡¯t understood what she was trying to say. ¡°You idiot!¡± Dahlia humped, ring at him before spinning around and going into the house. Dustin waited until the doors closed to look away, his eyes now cold and ruthless. ¡°Adam, help me loo k into the truck.¡± ¡°On it. Give me three minutes.¡± Adam whipped out his phone and made a call. In less than three minut es, the results came in. ¡°Done. It turns out the Hummers put a bounty of up to ten billion dors on your head. Most of the bounty killers should have their eyes on you by now. That truck was one of their atte mpts.¡± He summarized. ¡°The Hummers.¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes, the air around him turning murderous. He hasn¡¯t settled the score of being captured by the military. How dare they act up again! ¡°What¡¯s the n? Do you want me to bring my team to their house and destroy their whole family?¡± Ad am asked nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Dustin answered coolly. ¡°If they¡¯re going out of their way to ensure my deat h, they better not be surprised when I do the same!¡± He spun around and disappeared into the darkness. Back at the Hummer Vi. ¡°Josh, it¡¯s time for you to take your meds.¡± Tina brought some medicine over to Joshua¡¯s bedside. ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered to take them right now.¡± Joshua frowned in displeasure. ¡°Jade hasn¡¯t returned since morning, and I can¡¯t reach her phone. Do you think something happened to her?¡± ¡°Stop overthinking. Josh. She¡¯s from the Grant family. What could happen?¡± Tina shook her head. ¡°T¨C then, do you think she¡¯s disgusted that I¡¯m crippled and wants to end it with me?¡± Joshua asked again. Ever since his core was destroyed, he lost his pride, turning anxious and sensitive instead. ¡°Of course not!¡± Tina refuted him straight away. ¡°I can tell that she really likes you. I bet she¡¯s running al l over the ce for you. Didn¡¯t she promise to avenge you before she left this morning? So, stop worryi ng.¡± ¡°I must be thinking too much.¡± Joshua sighed. As the fallen Chosen One, something inside him had cha nged tremendously. ¡°Josh, rest well, and don¡¯t overthink this. Dad went to Millsburg to ask for medicine from Dr. Watkins. I¡¯ m sure all your injuries will be gone in no time with the panacea.¡± Tina reassured him. ¡°You¡¯re right. After I recover, I¡¯ll rise to the top once more!¡± Joshua swore through gritted teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll mak e sure Rhys suffers like never before!¡± Just then, the lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Joshua demanded anxiously. ¡°Calm down, Josh. The breaker must have tripped. Tina went over to the door and shouted, ¡°Somebod y go check the breaker.¡± Silence was all she got in response, the entire vi terrifyingly silent. ¡°Hey! Are you guys deal?¡± Tina yelled again, but no one responded. Joshua had a bad feeling something was going to happen. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong! Let¡¯s get out of here!¡± He sprung up and prepared to run when a tall figure walked into his room without a sound. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± he shouted. ¡°The person who¡¯s going to kill you.¡± The figure slowly lifted its head, and from the moonlight shining th rough the window, Joshua finally had a clear look at the other person¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s you? W¨Cw¨Cweren¡¯t you arrested? When did you get out?¡± Joshua began to back up in terror. Just this morning, he¡¯d received Tina¡¯s message that the military had captured Custin. How did he get free in less than a day? ¡°Anyst words?¡± Dustin asked coldly. Tina threatened. ¡°You better not mess around, Rhys! We have Boulderthorn and the Grants¡® protection. If you touch-¡± Before she could finish her sentence. Dustin flicked his wrist, and a silver needle embedded itself into h er forehead. Tina twitched before tilting her head back and falling to the ground, dead. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 ¡°What?¡± Joshua stared at his sister¡¯s body incredulously. He never thought that Dustin would be so ruth less, killing without warning. ¡°Anything else you want to say?¡± Dustin calmly asked. ¡°D¨C don¡¯t kill me! Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Joshua fell to his knees, begging. ¡°I was an idiot to offend you. Pleas e forgive me. I swear I won¡¯t go against you ever again!¡± ¡°You had your chance, but you didn¡¯t appreciate it.¡± Dustin¡¯s face was void of any sympathy. ¡°N¨Cno. I do. I promise! Please! I¡¯m still young. I don¡¯t want to die! Just let me go. I¡¯ll do anything you want. I swear!¡± Joshua began ramming his forehead into the floor. He wasn¡¯t able to win against Dustin when he was i n peak condition, so why would he have a winning chance now? For Dustin, killing Joshua would be as easy as killing an ant. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not what you said just now.¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were going to make me suffer like never before after you recovered?¡± ¡°N¨Cno, I didn¡¯t!¡± Joshua shook his head frantically. ¡°I would never dare!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Edwin?¡± Dustin demanded, clearly having lost his patience. He had searched the entire vi, but there was no sign of Edwin Hummer. ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t know! I heard that my dad went to Millsburg to get me medicine, but I have no idea where he is.¡± Joshua cried. ¡°He¡¯s in Millsburg, eh? Lucky bastard.¡± Dustin felt regretful that Edwin managed to get away. ¡°Are you looking for my dad? D¨C don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll let you know as soon as he¡¯s home! I¡¯ll be your faithful hound from now on.¡± Joshua smiled weakly, grasping at straws. Dustin sneered. ¡°You¡¯re willing to betray your father? You¡¯re worse than an animal.¡± He slowly raised his hand. holding a silver needle. ¡°No! You can¡¯t kill me! My mentor is the master of Boulderthorn, and my fianc¨¦e is the Grants¡® third dau ghter. You¡¯ll be their enemy if you kill me. People will keeping for your head, and you¡¯ll have t o live in lear for the rest of your life!¡± Joshua roared, going berserk, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°You should have thought about that when you kidnapped Natasha. As for the Grants and Boulderthorn , well, I don¡¯t care about them. So, you¡¯ll definitely die today,¡± Dustin replied coldly. With a flick of his finger, the silver needle lodged itself in the space between Joshua¡¯s forehead. ¡°No!¡± Joshua wailed with hisst breath, the sound resonating in all directions. Early the next morning. Inside a mansion in Millsburg, Edwin woke up with a start from his nightmare, sweat nketing his whole body. For some r eason, his sleep had been restless, an ominous feeling constantly He sprung up and prepared to run when a tall figure walked into his room without a sound. ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± he shouted. ¡°The person who¡¯s going to kill you.¡± The figure slowly lifted its head, and from the moonlight shining thr ough the window. Joshua finally had a clear look at the other person¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s you? W¨Cw¨Cweren¡¯t you arrested? When did you get out?¡± Joshua began to back up in terror. Just this morning, he¡¯d received Tina¡¯s message that the military had captured Dustin. How did he get free in less than a day? ¡°Anyst words?¡± Dustin asked coldly. Tina threatened. ¡°You better not mess around, Rhys! We have Boulderthorn and the Grants¡® protection. If you touch- Before she could finish her sentence, Dustin flicked his wrist, and a silver needle embedded itself into h Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. er forehead. Tina twitched before tilting her head back and falling to the ground, dead. ¡°What?¡± Joshua stared at his sister¡¯s body incredulously. He never thought that Dustin would be so ruthless, killing without warning. ¡°Anything else you want to say?¡± Dustin calmly asked. ¡°D¨C don¡¯t kill me! Please don¡¯t kill me!¡± Joshua fell to his knees, begging. ¡°I was an idiot to offend you. Plea se forgive me. I swear I won¡¯t go against you ever again!¡± ¡°You had your chance, but you didn¡¯t appreciate it.¡± Dustin¡¯s face was void of any sympathy. ¡°N¨C no. I do. I promise! Please! I¡¯m still young. I don¡¯t want to die! Just let me go. I¡¯ll do anything you want. I swear!¡± Joshua began ramming his forehead into the floor. He wasn¡¯t able to win against Dustin when he was i n peak condition, so why would he have a winning chance now? For Dustin, killing Joshua would be as easy as killing an ant. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s not what you said just now.¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you were going to make me suffer like never before after you recovered?¡± ¡°N¨Cno. I didn¡¯t!¡± Joshua shook his head frantically. ¡°I would never dare!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Edwin?¡± Dustin demanded, clearly having lost his patience. He had searched the entire vi, but there was no sign of Edwin Hummer. ¡°I¨CI don¡¯t know! I heard that my dad went to Millsburg to get me medicine, but I have no idea where he is.¡± Joshua cried. ¡°He¡¯s in Millsburg, eh? Lucky bastard.¡± Dustin felt regretful that Edwin managed to get away. ¡°Are you looking for my dad? D¨C don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll let you know as soon as he¡¯s home! I¡¯ll be your faithful hound from now on.¡± Joshua smiled weakly, grasping at straws. Dustin sneered. ¡°You¡¯re willing to betray your father? You¡¯re worse than an animal.¡± He slowly raised hi s hand. holding a silver needle. ¡°No! You can¡¯t kill me! My mentor is the master of Boulderthorn, and my fianc¨¦e is the Grants¡® third dau ghter. You¡¯ll be their enemy if you kill me. People will keeping for your head, and you¡¯ll have t o live in fear for the rest of your life!¡± Joshua roared, going berserk, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°You should have thought about that when you kidnapped Natasha. As for the Grants and Boulderthorn , well, I don¡¯t care about them. So, you¡¯ll definitely die today,¡± Dustin replied coldly. With a flick of his finger, the silver needle lodged itself in the space between Joshua¡¯s forehead. ¡°No!¡± Joshua wailed with hisst breath, the sound resonating in all directions. Early the next morning, inside a mansion in Millsburg, Edwin woke up with a start from his nightmare, sweat nketing his whole body. For some reason, his sleep had been restless, an ominous feeling constant ly hovering over him. ¡°Sir Hummer!¡± One of his bodyguards barged into his room, overjoyed. ¡°We finally got our hands on Dr. Watkins Substratumis. With this. Mr. Hummer will finally recover!¡± ¡°Excellent! Show me!¡± Edwin¡¯s face lit up, his worries forgotten. ¡°Here you go, sir!¡± The guard brought out a jade box and opened it, revealing a glistening sheer milky w hite pill that emitted a sweet, rxing scent. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 ¡°Well done. Well done, indeed!¡± Edwinughed boisterously. ¡°This Substratumis may be expensive, but it¡¯s definitely worth the price!¡± While he was still chortling away, another bodyguard rushed into the room anxiously. ¡°Sir, something b ad happened back home!¡± The guard fell to his knees, weeping. ¡°What?¡± Edwin frowned. ¡°We just received news from Swinton that Hummer Vi turned into a ughterhousest night. All of o ur fighters are dead, and Ms. Hummer and Mr. Hummer were both killed as well. The Hummer family is gone!¡± These words struck Edwin like lightning, and the Substratumis in his hand crashed to the floor, shatteri ng instantly. ¡°Son!¡± Edwin wailed mournfully, copsing to the floor. The devastated man stayed on the floor for what felt like ages. When he finally staggered to his feet, he seemed to have aged ten years, looking extrem ely haggard. ¡°Get ready. I want to head to Boulderthorn¡¯s branch right this instant!¡± Edwin seethed menacingly. He no longer had anything to fear now that his children were dead. He only cared about avenging them, no matter the cost! After an hour, in Boulderthorn¡¯s branch¡¯s meeting room. ¡°What? Joshua was killed?¡± A man in a green shirt shot up and roared. ¡°Who the hell dares to touch someone from Boulderthorn?¡± ¡°It was Natasha Harmon and a man called Dustin Rhys!¡± Edwin growled. The other man humphed. ¡°How dare a family like them challenge us! They must have a death wish! Ga ther up our men. No matter what, we must avenge Joshua!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The Boulderthorn disciples immediately left to carry out the man¡¯s orders. Soon, the entire branch began to make a move. Boulderthorn had hundreds of thousands of disciples throughout Balerno, and this particr branch ha s fostered the highest quantity of skilled martial artists. The reason for that was simple: their mentor was the guildmaster of Boulderthorn. Boulderthorn has four branch leaders, eight guildmasters, and thirty¨Csix second¨Cin¨C emand, guildmasters could control thousands of disciples. However, each guildmaster had strong animosity against the other, so they were extremely protective of their disciples. So, whenever someon e was in trouble, everyone would immediately chip in to help. And out of all Boulderthorn disciples, Jos hua was the most talented and skilled, earning him the head guildmaster¡¯s affection, His sudden death shocked the entire guild, and if Boulderthorn didn¡¯t avenge him, their reputation woul d be sullied, particrly for this branch. Edwin felt some sense of relief when he saw the effort the guild disciples were putting in. Without sayin g another word, he got back to his car and headed towards the Grants home. No matter who was responsible for Jade¡¯s disappearance, he was sure to ce the me on Dustin, a nd, knowing the Grants, Dustin wasn¡¯t going to get away with this easily. With Boulderthorn and the Gra nts working together, even the Harmon family, one of the wealthiest families around, wouldn¡¯tst long, This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. and when the time came, the Harmon family would surely make Natasha take responsibility alone. As for Dustin, he was nothing but a sitting duck for the Boulderthorn disciples. ¡°My dear son, I will avenge you soon,¡± Edwin swore solemnly. Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Meanwhile, in Park ce, Swiston. ¡°What? Joshua Hummer is dead, and his entire family was massacred? They even burned Hummer Vill a down to the ground?¡± Jessica, who had been rxing a second ago, sobered when she heard her guard¡¯s report. The Hummer family was well known for being the top family in Swinton. While it couldn¡¯t win against th e Harmon family, it was still a force to be reckoned with, especially with Boulderthorn¡¯s support. So who could be powerful enough to destroy that family? ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Jessica pushed. ¡°The fire burned almost everything. It¡¯ll be difficult to trace the source.¡± The guard shook his head. ¡°We¡¯ll be in trouble if we can¡¯t find the culprit!¡± Jessica frowned, pondering. Under normal circumstance s, she¡¯d be over the moon to learn that the Hummer family was gone. However, most people now knew that the Hummer family and her daughter had something against each other, so Natasha would natural ly be the prime suspect. What Jessica feared the most was that should Boulderthorn start digging into this matter, thing s would get much moreplicated. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Just then, Natasha walked into the room wearing silk pajamas. ¡°Joshua Hummer is dead, and the entire Hummer family was destroyed while Edwin Hummer is still mi ssing!¡± Jessica summarized everything she knew. ¡°I already knew that. Nothing to be surprised of.¡± Natasha stretchedzily. ¡°Huh? When did you find out?¡± Jessica asked, astonished. ¡°Dustin called mest night,¡± Natasha responded calmly. ¡°Last night?¡± Jessica froze before understanding dawned. ¡°Are you saying that he¡¯s the one who did it? ¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Natasha nodded. ¡°Is he crazy? How could he kill Joshua Hummer? Doesn¡¯t he know that Joshua¡¯s mentor is Clement Lin coln? Isn¡¯t he worried that Boulderthorn would retaliate?¡± Jessica snapped. ¡°The Hummer family and I are already enemies, so I don¡¯t think Dustin did anything wrong.¡± Natasha co untered. The truth was she¡¯d already been prepared to fight against them after hearing that the military had arrested Dustin. Still, it was a good thing he returned safely. ¡°He did nothing wrong?¡± Jessica frowned. ¡°Natasha, do you have any idea what you¡¯re saying? Even y our father has to be careful around Lincoln! Dustin won¡¯t be the only one to die if Lincoln wants revenge . You¡¯ll be dragged down too!¡± Boulderthorn was one of the strongest guilds in Balerno. The Harmon family wouldn¡¯t be able to stand up against them, much less the guildmaster, who had the power to control o ver ten thousand men. To put things into perspective, without military aid, no one would be able to stop those martial artists. ¡°Boulderthorn may be powerful, but they are not above thew. They won¡¯t be able to do as they pleas e. Besides, did you really think that the Hummer family was going to simply let us go if Dustin hadn¡¯t kill ed Joshua? Since nothing can stop us from being enemies, the next best option would be to make the f irst move!¡± Natasha exined calmly, having thought about it earlier. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Dustin is in big trouble this time. If you don¡¯t want to drag our family into this mess, you be tter cut all ties with him right now!¡± Jessica warned. ¡°That¡¯s your n? Cutting ties with him?¡± Natasha snorted. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t forget that Dustin offended t he Hummer family for me. Are you telling me to turn my back on him right now?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Jessica responded scornfully. ¡°Everyone has their value. Once they¡¯re no longer of use, the y should be discarded. You should always focus on the bigger picture.¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°How could you say something like that? You haven¡¯t changed, have you? You¡¯re still so disgusting!¡± Na tasha sneered before spinning around to leave. ¡°You¡± Jessica fumed. Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Was it wrong for a mother to worry about her daughter¡¯s safety? So why couldn¡¯t Natasha understand h er? ¡°Istrid!¡± Jessica called out. A voluptuous woman immediately hurried into the room. ¡°Yes, Madam?¡± This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. ¡°Send an anonymous letter to Clement Lincoln to let him know everything Dustin has done.¡± Jessica instructed. ¡°Huh?¡± Isfrid was stunned. ¡°A¨Care you sure, Madam?¡± Dustin had been severely injured just to save Natasha, yet Jessica was telling her to betray him. That w as crossing the line. ¡°Shut up and do as I say! Natasha will only be safe if we sacrifice Dustin. Hurry up!¡± Jessica ordered co ldly. ¡°Yes. Madam.¡± Istrid could only nod. Although she felt sorry for Dustin, as the Harmon family¡¯s shadow guard, she had no choice but to obey Jessica. Meanwhile, a red BMW suddenly pulled up at the door of Peaceful Medical Center. The car door flung open. and Dak ota Nicholson rushed into the building frenziedly. ¡°I know you¡¯re here, Rhys! Come out!¡± she yelled. ¡°Which uneducated brat is it?¡± Dustin emerged from the kitchen. He looked up and gave her a knowing look. So it¡¯s you. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Cut the crap! My mother¡¯s sick. Follow me to the hospital and help her!¡± Dakota ordered rudely. She w oke up this morning to find that her mother was paralyzed, unable to feel anything below her shoulders, and could only move her neck. Although Dakota was shocked, she was forced to admit that everything happened just as Dustin had sa id it would. Her mother had fainted the first day, coughed up blood on the second, and became paralyz ed on the third, just like he said. So, if her mother couldn¡¯t receive treatment in time, she would die tomorrow. ¡°What does your mother falling sick have to do with me?¡± Dustin shrugged, not at all surprised. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t be sick if you hadn¡¯t pped her,¡± Dakota replied arrogantly. ¡°Wow, to be terminally ill from a p. Your mother sure is something else.¡± Dustin chuckled, shaki ng his head. ¡°Stop messing around. I¡¯m giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Come with me to the hospital to sa ve my mother right now!¡± Dakota ordered. ¡°Sorry, but I don¡¯t give a damn.¡± Dustin refused bluntly. ¡°What?¡± Dakota frowned. ¡°How dare you refuse! Do you have any idea what the consequences will be? ¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Dustin shook his head. Dakota humped, displeased. ¡°That means you¡¯ll offend the Glenstead Nicholsons. If I can pull you out o f jail, I can certainly put you back in.¡± ¡°It sounds like I have you to thank for my freedom?¡± Dustin asked, amused. ¡°Do you think I would have saved you if Dahlia didn¡¯t keep begging me?¡± Dakota humphed. ¡°You shoul d be grateful. Since I saved you, it¡¯s time for you to repay the favor. I¡¯m giving you a chance to save m y mother!¡± ¡°I have no idea where you found the confidence to say all that.¡± Dustin snorted and shook his head. ¡°If t hat¡¯s the attitude you¡¯re going to carry, I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t help you. Please leave.¡± Dakota was supposed to ask for a favor, yet she acted arrogantly. It was as if she expected him to be g rateful. that she was telling him to save someone. Who did she think she was? Chapter 294 Chapter 294 ¡°You shameless bastard!¡± Dustin¡¯s repeated refusal angered Dakota, the proud daughter of a wealthy f amily. Usually, people would be tripping over their feet trying to tter her, yet here Dustin was, ignoring her. ¡°Who¡¯s the shameless one?¡± Dustin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Have you been eating so much junk food that you fried your brain? This is Balerno, not Glenstead, so don¡¯t give me that attitude!¡± ¡°You-¡± Dakota was so angry she gritted her teeth, but she couldn¡¯t do anything else since she desperat ely needed him to save her mother. She would have already struck him if her mother¡¯s life wasn¡¯t at sta ke. ¡°What do you want, Rhys?¡± Dakota took a deep breath, trying to keep her anger at bay. ¡°I won¡¯t make things difficult for you, for Dahlia¡¯s sake, Dustin answered. ¡°I can save her, but first, I wan t you to stop that haughty attitude of yours and give me a sincere apology. Next, I want you to write a letter o f apology.¡± ¡°Never!¡± Dakota balked. ¡°How could I, the daughter of the Glenstead Nicholsons, apologize to someone like you? Absolutely not.¡± ¡°Then forget about it. I¡¯m not the one suffering anyway.¡± Dustin respondedzily. ¡°But don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. Your mother will die tomorrow if she doesn¡¯t receive treatment in time.¡± ¡°You-¡± Dakota choked, her face dark. Although she didn¡¯t like hearing that, it was still the truth. If her mo ther didn¡¯t receive help in time, she would be dead by the next morning. ¡°Please leave if you aren¡¯t happy with my conditions.¡± Dustin waved her away. ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll do it!¡± Dakota eventually gave in. Biting her lip, she stammered. ¡®I¨CI¡¯m sorry. I was wrong.¡± ¡°Are you talking to the air? Speak up!¡± Dustin ordered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I was wrong!¡± Dakota shouted, her face red. That was her first time apologizing to someone, and it was utterly humiliating. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll forgive you because of Dahlia, but you better remember not to be so arrogant from now on. N ot everyone is as kind as me,¡± Dustin reminded her. Dakota¡¯s face darkened, and her palms ached from how hard she clenched her fists. She forced out a s mile and asked, ¡°You¡¯ll save my mom now, right?¡± ¡°What about the apology letter?¡± Dustin asked instead. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll write it!¡± Dakota gritted her teeth and began writing as soon as she got some pen and paper. Soon, a long letter waspleted. ¡°As expected of an aristocratic family¡¯sdy. Your writing is perfect.¡± Dustin nodded, pleased. He stored the letter away and pulled out a bottle of pills. ¡°Here. One pill a day, and she¡¯ll be as good as new after a month.¡± ¡°Just this? Are you serious?¡± Dakota epted the bottle and studied it suspiciously. ¡°Are you messing with me, Rhys? My mom can be saved with just a few pills?¡± ¡°What else were you expecting? Was I supposed to open her up instead?¡± Dustin questioned back. Chapter 29M ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll believe you this once. Your medicine better work, or I¡¯ming for you!¡± Giving Dustin a vici ous re, Dakota turned to leave. Chapter 295 Chapter 295 ¡°Hold on.¡± ¡°What now?¡± Dakota halted and spun around, impatient. ¡°You haven¡¯t paid yet. This medicine is precious. You can just pay me ten million, Dustin casually told h er. ¡°What? A bottle like this costs ten million dors? You might as well rob a bank!¡± Dakota fumed. ¡°This is obviously easier than robbing a bank. You can always give it back if you find it too expensive.¡± Dustin reached out to grab the bottle back. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± Dakota gritted her teeth and wrote up a ten¨Cmillion¨C dor check before leaving angrily. She¡¯d made up her mind to make Dustin pay after her mother recov ered. After half an hour, she reached the hospital. As soon as she returned to the ward, she saw a group of d octors gathered there, shaking their heads and sighing. Her mother, Jane, was lying on the hospital be d, unable to move. ¡°You¡¯re back, Dakota!¡± Florence rushed forward and asked, ¡°How did it go? Does he have the solution? If there¡¯s no other method, we¡¯ll have to seek out Dr. Cross.¡± ¡°He gave me a bottle of pills and told me Mom would be fine after taking them for a month.¡± Dakota pull ed out the bottle and poured out an ordinary¨C looking ck pill the size of a peanut that emitted a musty odor. ¡°This thing can heal her?¡± Florence gaped in dismay. Instead of the panacea she had been expecting, all she saw was a booger. ¡°That¡¯s what he said.¡± Dakota nodded her head. ¡°Ms. Nicholson,¡± a bald doctor suddenly spoke. ¡°Your mother¡¯s life is in danger. The best choice right now would be to perform a craniotomy surgery, not listen to some voodoo doctor.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even figure out what¡¯s wrong with her, yet you want to perform a craniotomy? How¡¯s that diff erent from murder?¡± Dakota snapped. The doctors had previously told her that her mother might be paralyzed due to the tumor in her brain. H owever, the CT scan results came back clean, so how could she blindly believe their assumptions? ¡°All surgeriese with risks, but at least our professional team is more reliable than the doctor you found!¡± the bald doctor promised. ¡°I have to try no matter what!¡± Dakota¡¯s tone was firm. ¡°What an idiot.¡± The bald doctor shook his head and looked at Dakota like she was a moron. ¡°Why would the world need doctors if medicine can c ure everything?¡± ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ll take a shit while doing a handstand if it works!¡± another doctor voiced. Ignoring them, Dakota grabbed the pill and put it into her mother¡¯s mouth. The pill melted instantly, and a gush of energy spread through Jane¡¯s limbs. A few secondster, Jane began to cough, her face flushed. ¡°What the hell is this? It tastes atrocious!¡± Jane sputtered and sat up to gargle using the cup of water b eside her. ¡°You can move again, Mom?¡± Dakota froze, then she lit up in excitement. ¡°Huh?¡± Jane halted, swallowing the water she had just gargled, before springing up happily. ¡°Oh my! I c an move again!¡± ¡°Who said they¡¯d take a shit while doing a handstand? Step forward right now!¡± Dakota red at the do Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ctors.. rendering them speechless. Chapter 296 Chapter 296 The doctors looked at each other in shock after seeing how lively Jane was. They couldn¡¯t believe that such a small pill had cured what a group of medical professionals had been unable to. It was incredible! Was that ck pill a panacea or something? Getting over his shock, the bald doctor tentatively asked, ¡°Ms. Nicholson, may I know what pill that is? Could we study it?¡± ¡°Yeah, right. Fuck off!¡± Dakota immediately kicked him, making the man groan in pain. Knowing he had lost, he quickly led the other doctors out of the room in disappointment. ¡°Who knew a small pill like this could be so powerful?¡± Florence was in awe. Despite its looks and smell , its effects were evident. ¡°It may have cost ten million dors, but it was worth it!¡± Dakota eximed happily. ¡°What? Ten million?¡± The other two women instantly sprung up. ¡°Are you joking. Dakota? A bottle like this costs ten million dors? Florence asked, wide¨Ceyed. ¡°Yeah! Were you tricked? How could this ordinary¨C looking medicine cost so much?¡± Jane demanded, pained. The richer someone was, the stingier they w ere. ¡°Forget it. As long as it could save you, the price isn¡¯t that important.¡± Dakota wasn¡¯t too angry about it. ¡°What do you mean forget about it?¡± Jane fumed. ¡°I still haven¡¯t gotten even with that brat for pping me. How dare he con us out of ten million dors! I have to get that money back!¡± She immediately trie d to get out of bed, but her agitated state,bined with her weak body, made her knees go weak, and she immediately co psed back on the bed. ¡°Mom, we can think about the moneyter. Your health is way more important,¡± Dakota said worriedly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jane. I¡¯ll get the money back for you.¡± Florence volunteered, not letting the opportunity to prove herself escape. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll leave this to you.¡± Jane agreed without hesitation. She couldn¡¯t be happier that someo ne was volunteering to run errands for her. ¡°Mom, bad news!¡± Just then, Dahlia barged into the room anxiously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Florence was puzzled since she rarely saw her daughter so panicked. ¡°It¡¯s James.¡± Dahlia panted before continuing. ¡°I just received news that he got drunkst night and identally ran his car into someone, killing that person. He¡¯s already been arrested!¡± ¡°He killed someone?¡± Florence was stunned. ¡°How is that possible? He never drives after drinking. Ho Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. w could this have happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics either. He¡¯s being held in police custody. Let¡¯s go now.¡± Dah urged. ¡°Right! Let¡¯s go!¡± Florence quickly followed Dahlia out of the room. Dahlia was the one who drove, and momentster, they arrived at the investigation bureau. After a sim ple registration, the two women entered the meeting room and saw a roughed¨Cup James. ¡°Mom! Sis! You¡¯re finally here!¡± James burst out crying the moment he saw them. ¡°You asshole! How dare you drink and drive!¡± Dahlia walked forward and pped him across the face. Chapter 297 Chapter 297 ¡°Enough. Stop fighting. Let us know what happened first.¡± Florence said worriedly. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what happened either.¡± James sobbed. ¡°I cked out after drinking with my friends. By th e time I woke up, I was already in the car, and there was wreckage everywhere. I was so scared I ran away im mediately, but I got caught the same night.¡± ¡°You did a hit¨Cand¨C run? Do you know how severe this crime is? You won¡¯t be getting out without a decade or two of jail time!¡± Dahlia spat. ¡°What?¡± James immediately paled. ¡°I¡¯m still young. I don¡¯t want to go to jail. Please save me!¡± ¡°You have to pay the price for your mistakes. How can you think that you¡¯ll be safe after killing someon e?¡± Dahlia sighed. Although she loved her brother dearly, she could do nothing about his crime. ¡°Sis, Mom, help me! I swear I¡¯ll never do this again! I¡¯ve learned my lesson, I swear!¡± James swore frant ically. unable to stand the thought of living out his life in prison. ¡°Calm down, James. I¡¯ll call you aunt right now. With the Glenstead Nicholsons¡® help and some money, we should be able to get your out.¡± Florence quickly drew out her phone and called Jane. ¡°Hello? Jane? J ames is in danger. He ran his car into somebody and killed them. Could you make a few calls to get him out?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to help you, Florence, but Dahlia ran away from her datest night, so our fami ly is very unhappy. They¡¯ve given the order that unless Dahlia marries Mr. Longford, our family will not be providing any assistance,¡± Jane responded calmly. ¡°What?¡± Florence stiffened and turned to look at Dahlia questioningly. ¡°I¡¯ll never marry him!¡± Dahlia immediately refused. ¡°Then forget about it. Deal with James on your own.¡± Jane hung up. ¡°Just agree, Dahlia. What¡¯s wrong with marrying Mr. Langford? He¡¯s powerful and rich, and hees fr om an aristocratic family. As long as you marry him, we can save your brother and livefortably for t he rest of our lives.¡± Florence urged. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t like him!¡± Dahlia frowned. ¡°You¡¯ll fall in love with him after some time. Would you rather see your brother being sent to prison?¡± Fl orence This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. wailed. ¡°That¡¯s right, Sis. Just marry Mr. Langford, or I¡¯m doomed!¡± James sobbed. ¡°Did the two of you ever think of my future?¡± Dahlia was troubled. ¡°You¡¯ll have a wonderful life if you marry Mr. Langford, and our family will be powerful too, What¡¯s not to like about that? Besides, I¡¯m your brother. Do you want to see me rot away in jail?¡± James roare d, his eyes bloodshot. ¡°Let me think about it. T¨Cthere must be another way.¡± Dahlia shut her eyes helplessly. ¡°What¡¯s there to think about? We¡¯re running out of time.¡± James shouted frantically. ¡°He¡¯s right. Won¡¯t you please help him? I¡¯m begging you!¡± Florence cried and fell to her knees. ¡°What are you doing, Mom? Get up!¡± Dahlia paled and tried to help Florence stand. ¡°I won¡¯t get up until you agree!¡± Florence dered. At the sight of her mother¡¯s firm attitude and her brother¡¯s terrified expression, Dahlia stood rooted dum bly, at a loss. She never thought that things would turn out this way. The happiness she¡¯d been praying for was just a few steps ahead, so why was God treating her this way? Didn¡¯t she deserve happiness? ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it ¡­¡± Dahlia shut her eyes, tears spilling down her cheeks. She had given in.. Chapter 298 Chapter 298 ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do it¡­¡± Within an exclusive club, Luis couldn¡¯t help grinning when he heard the other voice from the phone. ¡°Gr eat. See you tonight. You better not stand me up again.¡± With that, he hung up. The young men and women surrounding him immediately gave him a thumbs¨C up after learning what had happened. ¡°Never thought a tiny trick like this could get that chick to obey you, Ms. Langford. You¡¯re incredible!¡± a blond man praised. Luis chuckled evilly. ¡°She would never have agreed if I hadn¡¯t sent her brother in. Besides, how could I l et a chick like her slip through my fingers like that?¡± None of the women he set his sights on have ever gotten away from him. All it took was some time and some tricks. Dahlia may look like an innocent woman, but as long as he used her friends and family as bait, she would surely bite. ¡°I¡¯m curious, Mr. Langford. Why would you marry her? You could have just had fun without getting marri ed. This doesn¡¯t seem like something you¡¯d do.¡± The blond man observed. ¡°Excellent question.¡± Luis paused to light a cigar. ¡°Truthfully, what I want is the Glenstead Nicholsons¡± s upport. Marriage between our families has been set, and Dahlia will soon carry out her family¡¯s orders. Through her, I will take over the Nicholsons¡® powerpletely!¡± His words caused a stir among the crowd, and they immediately began singing his praises. ¡°As expected of Mr. Langford, he thinks so far ahead. How impressive!¡± ¡°He has brains and brawn. He¡¯s amazing!¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Once I take over the Nicholsons, I will be the head of the Langfords!¡± Luis dered confidently. Competition between him and his brothers was fierce, as everyone wanted to be the head of the f amily. To win against them, he must have enough strength and power. ¡°Then let us wish you a happy marriage in advance!¡± The blond man led the group to offer Luis a toast. Soon,ughter resonated through the room. 8 pm at Hillview Restaurant. Dustin had arrived earlier than the agreed time. He had chosen the most luxurious room they had to cat er to him and Dahlia, which didn¡¯t matter much to him since this was one of his businesses, and he did n¡¯t have to pay. ¡°Sir, our chef prepared these dishes specially for you. Please let us know what you think.¡± The manage r, carrying a menu, began to introduce each dish to Dustin. ¡°No need for all this. You can arrange it as you see fit. Just make sure to get us the chef¡¯s signature dis h,¡± Dustin instructed. ¡°Of course, sir.¡± The manager nodded and waved his hand to those outside the room. A group of waiters immediately began setting up the ce with flowers, wine, candles, and more, maki ng the room look romantic and warm. They had even hired a guitarist and three dancers to perform. So on, everything was ready. ¡°Sir, I took the liberty to arrange some performers. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± the manager said with a smile. ¡°This looks quite grand. You must have put in a lot of effort.¡± Dustin was surprised. ¡°I can always tell them to leave if you don¡¯t wish them to be here.¡± The manager lowered his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s quite nice. Thank you.¡± Dustin smiled. Dahlia would like this, wouldn¡¯t she? ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to serve you, sir. May I know when Ms. Nicholson will be arriving so I can prepare thin gs?¡± the manager asked tentatively. ¡°She should be here soon.¡± Dustin nced at the time. It was already past eight.. Dahlia always kept her promise and was neverte. Did something happen? Puzzled, Dustin pulled out his phone to call her. Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Dahlia didn¡¯t pick up the first two times. It wasn¡¯t until his third attempt that the call got through. ¡°Hey, Dahlia. Didn¡¯t you tell me to treat you to dinner? Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± Dustin asked. ¡°About that I¡¯m sorry, but something came up. I might not be able to leave any time soon.¡± Dahlia¡¯s voic e sounded strange. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Work is more important. Take your time. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Dustin answered understandin gly despite the tinge of regret. Dahlia hummed. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you another day.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Dustin smiled. He was just about to hang up when he heard a familiar voice. ¡°Dahlia, who are you calling? Hurry up. You¡¯ve got to drink with me-¡± With a beep, the call ended. ¡°Sir, when is Ms. Nicholson arriving?¡± the manager asked. ¡°She has something to deal with, so she can¡¯te. You can put everything away. I¡¯m sorry, everyone.¡± Dustin smiled politely and got up to leave. Everyone exchanged confused nces. Why had the carefully nned dinner gone to waste? Meanwhile, inside a Barkarole Hotel room. ¡°Mr. Langford, I can¡¯t drink anymore. Let¡¯s stop here tonight.¡± Dahlia waved her hands frantically as ano ther ss of wine came towards her. Her face was flushed, and she was light¨Cheaded, her body weak. ¡°It was quite hard to get your brother out of that mess. You can¡¯t be that ungrateful, can you?¡± Luis held up his ss unhappily. ¡°Just drink it, Dahlia. It¡¯s just one ss.¡± Florence, who was sitting beside them, urged. They were here because they wanted to save James, so they had to make sure they pleased Luis. ¡°But ¨C Dahlia hesitated, troubled. Knowing her limits, she was sure she¡¯d copse if she drank anymore. ¡°I won¡¯t force you anymore, Dahlia. This is thest ss.¡± Luis pushed the ss towards her once mor e. ¡°See, Dahlia? It¡¯s thest ss. You shouldn¡¯t embarrass him.¡± Florence pressed softly. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drink it.¡± Taking a deep breath, Dahlia lifted the ss to her lips and downed the entire thing. As soon as the liquid settled, she felt herself getting dizzier. Her body swayed, and she almost tripped. With quick reflexes, Florence grabbed Dahlia to keep her still. ¡°Mr. Langford, Dahlia is drunk. Why don¡¯t I send her home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve already booked a presidential suite for the two of you. She can just rest here.¡± Luis said wi th a smile. ¡°Won¡¯t that be too much trouble?¡± Florence questioned tentatively. ¡°Of course not. We¡¯ll be a family soon. You should go and rest.¡± Luis drew out a room card and passed This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. it to Florence. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Langford.¡± Florence nodded and helped Dahlia out of the room. ¡°Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to escape tonight.¡± Luis cackled, seeing Dahlia¡¯s retreating figure. He lifted his ss and took a big gulp before following behind the two women. Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Inside the presidential suite, Florence helped Dahlia onto the bed and took off the younger woman¡¯s sh oes. She then went to grab a basin of warm water to wipe Dahlia down. ¡°Mom, I feel horrible. I want some water.¡± Dahliay on the bed weakly, feeling parched. ¡°Water won¡¯t work. I¡¯ll get you some milk. Wait here.¡± Florence made up an excuse and quickly left the r oom, bumping into Luis straight away. ¡°How¡¯s Dahlia doing. Mrs. Nicholson?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine. Nothing a night¡¯s sleep won¡¯t fix. Florence smiled. ¡°Where are you heading, Mrs. Nicholson?¡± Luis asked again. ¡°To get Dahlia some milk to case her stomach ache.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Luis smiled knowingly. ¡°No one sells milk nearby, so I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to search further. Yo u might have toe backter too.¡± ¡°Are you sure? I¡¯m pretty sure I saw a grocery store downstairs.¡± Florence smiled awkwardly. ¡°Are you questioning me?¡± Luis¡® smile slowly disappeared, an animalistic, cruel expression taking over. ¡°O¨Cof course not. Got it. I¡¯lle backter.¡± Florence promised hurriedly, smiling apologetically. ¡°Good.¡± Luis¡® smile returned, and he watched the woman leave. As soon as she was gone, he opened t he room door and let himself in. ¡°How did you get the milk so quickly, Mom?¡± Dahlia asked weakly from the bed. ¡°Your mother isn¡¯ting back anytime soon, so I¡¯ll be taking care of you,¡± Luis responded. ¡°Mr. Langford? What are you doing here?¡± Dahlia¡¯s face tightened. ¡°How did you get in? Where¡¯s my m om?¡± ¡°She went to get you some milk, of course,¡± Luis answered, beginning to take his clothes off. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing. Mr. Langford?¡± Dahlia began to panic. ¡°What do you think is supposed to happen when a man and a woman are left alone in a room?¡± He sne ered. removing his tie, eyes full of lust. ¡°Don¡¯t mess with me, Mr. Langford. I¡¯m not that kind of person!¡± Dahlia shouted. ¡°We¡¯ll be engaged in a few days and getting married soon, so what does it matter? Luis jeered. ¡°I prom ise you Infinite luxury if you please me tonight.¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re not touching me until we¡¯re married!¡± Dahlia stood her ground. ¡°That¡¯ll take too long. You¡¯re going to sate me right now!¡± He lunged forward and began yanking at her clothes like a beast. ¡°Go away!¡± Struggling with all her might, Dahlia nted a firm kick at Luis¡® groin, and the man immediately doubled, groaning. ¡°Are you alright, Mr. Langford?¡± Dahlia was startled. Things would be bad if she cau sed him permanent injury down there. ¡°You bitch!¡± Furious, Luis pped Dahlia across the face, making her stagger and fall to the floor. ¡°No woman has ever rejected me, much less kicked me. How dare you!¡± Luis exploded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Mr. Langford. I didn¡¯t do that on purpose.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°Shut the fuck up! If you don¡¯t This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. want something to happen to your brother, you better kneel and beg for forgiveness!¡± ¡°You¡¯re crossing the line, Mr. Langford!¡± Dahlia snapped. Chapter 301 Chapter 301 If Luis was going to rape her, she¡¯d rather die than suffer and be humiliated that way. ¡°So what? How dare a secondhand good like you act innocent. Take off your clothes right now!¡± Luis Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. shouted. ¡°No!¡± Gritting her teeth, Dahlia ignored her weak body and staggered to the door. ¡°Do you think you can escape?¡± With a sneer, the man ran after her. Just as Dahlia was about to reach the lift, he sped up and made a lunge for her, dragging her to the floor. He immediately began to tug at her clothes. Just then, the lift doors opened with a ding. The two of them lifted their heads and froze when they saw Dustin emerging from the lift with a dark face. ¡°What are you two doing?¡± Dustin seethed, a murderous air surrounding him. He realized that something was wrong when he heard Dahlia¡¯s earlier reply, so he quickly told someone to track her car, and this was the first thing he saw. ¡°So, it¡¯s you.¡± Luis leisurely pulled himself to his feet and lifted his pants, grinning tauntingly. ¡± Are you here to peek at me and my girlfriend making love?¡± ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Dustin frowned and stared at Dahlia. ¡°What is going on?¡± ¡°I-it¡¯s not what you think it is.¡± Dahlia frantically shook her head, but she didn¡¯t know how to exin this to him. ¡°Why are you hiding this from him, Dahlia? Weren¡¯t you drinking with me so that we could do this? Since he¡¯s caught us, we might as well let him know.¡± Luis smiled. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson! Is this what you meant when you said you were meeting a client?¡± Dustin¡¯s face had contorted with rage. He thought that she was in trouble, but it turned out that she was on a date. ¡°I ¡­¡± Dahlia was at a loss for what to say. It was true that she had lied to him, but it was only because she didn¡¯t want him to misunderstand. However, things had still turned out this way. ¡°Nothing to say?¡± Dustin sneered at himself. ¡°So, you¡¯ve been lying to me this entire time?¡± ¡°N-no. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Dahlia¡¯s eyes were red. ¡°Then what?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression contorted with agony. ¡°You promised to have dinner with me, yet you abandoned me to visit someone else in a hotel room. Are you still going to tell me you weren¡¯t lying to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dustin. I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I didn¡¯t think things would turn out this way.¡± ¡°Right. You didn¡¯t expect me to ruin your fun, or you could¡¯ve continued treating me like a fool.¡± Dustin shook his head and sneered. ¡°I was an idiot to think that you changed and even tried to ept you. It took me so long to realize that you¡¯ve been toying with me this entire time I don¡¯t get it. What did I ever do to you? Why would you do something like this to get even with me? Why won¡¯t you let me go even though we¡¯re divorced? Was it fun toying with my emotions? Will you never stop until you¡¯vepletely humiliated me?¡± ¡°Listen to me, Dustin. I really like you. I never wanted to hurt you. Please believe me!¡± Dahlia sobbed. ¡°You like me? Then what about him?¡± Dustin pointed at Luis. ¡°I saw everything just now. Did you think that I¡¯m blind?¡± ¡°N-no. That was a misunderstanding.¡± Dahlia bit her lip ¡°A misunderstanding? Are you telling me that he was about to rape you?¡± Dustin¡¯s face darkened instantly. ¡°If you say yes, I¡¯ll make sure to get rid of him!¡± Hearing that, Dahlia immediately fell silent. She wanted to admit everything, but she couldn¡¯t. Luis was not someone she could cross, and definitely not someone Dustin could cross. Things would be disastrous should Dustin try to harm Luis. After all, the Stonia Langfords were not someone they could win against. Chapter 302 Chapter 302 ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Do you agree with what I said?¡± Dustin¡¯s final glimmer of hope disappeared along with Dahlia¡¯s silence. He¡¯d given her a chance to exin herself, but she didn¡¯t give him the answer he wanted. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I have my reasons.¡± Dahlia felt her heart bleeding, and breathing became difficult. ¡°Reasons?¡± Dustin sneered. ¡°What could make you sell your body? What could stop you from exining things to me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Dahlia sobbed, anguished. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize to me. We¡¯re already divorced, sol have no right to control anything you do, and you didn¡¯t betray me.¡± Dustin¡¯s face gradually turned hard. ¡°However, please don¡¯t ever bother me again. I¡¯m still human. I can¡¯t keep being hurt by you. So, won¡¯t you please let me go?¡± ¡°I ¡­¡± Dahlia didn¡¯t know what to say. Perhaps the best thing for her to do now was topletely cut ties with him since she had no choice but to yield to Luis for her brother, her family, and Dustin. Still, she¡¯d already made up her mind. The day of her union with Luis would be the day she died. ¡°Alright. That¡¯s enough. You¡¯ve said everything you needed to say.¡± Luis grinned tauntingly. ¡°Wait for me in the room, Dahlia. We¡¯ll have some funter.¡± Dahlia didn¡¯t move. However, Dustin¡¯s breathing began to quicken. ¡°What are you waiting for? A show?¡± Luis gave Dustin a disdainful look over. ¡°Though I must admit. You¡¯ve got good taste in women. Her smooth, supple skin sure is lovely! I¡¯ll have lots of funter. Well, you can watch from the side if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Luis chuckled, grinning wickedly. ¡°You¡¯re dead meat!¡± Enraged, Dustin nted his foot into Luis¡¯ abdomen and, with a bang, thetter crashed into the wall, passing out on the spot ¡°Are you crazy, Dustin? Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done?¡± Dahlia immediately paled. Luis was an aristocrat in Stonia. Offending someone like him was like asking for someone to kill you. ¡°What? Are you worried about him?¡± Dustin sniggered. ¡°For you to fall for a pervert like him, I can¡¯t help wondering if there¡¯s something wrong with your eyes. || ¡°That has nothing to do with you. Get out! I never want to see you again!¡± Dahlia bit her lip, trying to control her emotions. Injuring Luis was no small matter. Dustin would be in trouble if Luis¡¯ bodyguards were to arrive now. ¡°Are you finally showing your true colors? Have you decided to stop pretending?¡± Dustin chuckled coolly ¡°So what? I don¡¯t mind letting you know I¡¯m not just dating him. We¡¯re engaged, and our wedding is in three days!¡± Dahlia revealed the shocking news. ¡°What? Engaged?¡± Dustin¡¯s expression immediately darkened. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? How could you marry someone like him?¡± ¡°Who I marry is none of your business! And you¡¯re right. I was toying with your feelings, but so what? You were the one who was stupid enough to listen to me. Why don¡¯t you look in the fucking mirror? Do you think a broke loser like you can stand beside me? Luis is different. With his family background and power, I¡¯ll live a luxurious life once I marry him! Compared to him, you¡¯re nothing! There you go. This is the truth you wanted! Are you happy now!¡± Dahlia roared. ¡°You¡¯re shameless!¡± Unable to stop himself, Dustin pped her, and clear marks appeared on her face instantly. Dustin was shocked. Never once in their three years of marriage had he ever struck her, so he never expected himself to lose control of his emotions. Still, anger quickly took over his dismay. She deserved it! ¡°I was an idiot to believe you. Please don¡¯t ever appear before me ever again!¡± Dustin spat before This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. leaving. ¡°Dus-¡± Dahlia reached out a hand to stop him but managed to stop herself. She knew that this was the end for them. However, this was still a good ending. So, why? Why did her heart ache so much? Her chest was throbbing so much she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Dahlia! What happened?¡± Just then, Florence had arrived. When she spotted Luis unconscious on the floor, she paled. ¡°Did you do this?¡± ¡°Mom, Dustin dropped by just now. He knows everything now. We¡¯re never getting back together.¡± Dahlia wailed, throwing herself into her mother¡¯s embrace. ¡°Shh¡­ Mom¡¯s here.¡± Florence patted her daughter¡¯s back. ¡°Your status has changed. Dustin isn¡¯t good enough for you anymore. ¡°B-but I love him! I really want to be with him! Why is God doing this to me? I don¡¯t want to ept this!¡± Dahlia wailed tormentedly. ¡°Life isn¡¯t always smooth sailing, Dahlia. You should look on the bright side instead. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be happier in the future.¡± Florence sighed. ¡°Mom, do you know how much it hurt when I said those hurtful things to him? It was like a knife was twisting inside me! I wanted to tell him the truth and that I loved him, but I couldn¡¯t. I¡¯m worried he might get arrested again. Mom, it hurts. It hurts so much!¡± Dahlia howled, thumping her heart furiously like it would make her feel better. While she was weeping, her vision suddenly turned ck, and she lost consciousness. Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Even after returning to the medical center, Dustin still felt restless after the heavy blow Dahlia had given him. He never thought that she was the kind of person who would toy with hist emotions for revenge. This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. They could have ended their rtionship on a good note, yet she decided to make them enemies. Dustin just couldn¡¯t understand why. No matter how hard he thought back, he was sure he had never once done anything bad to her. ¡°Dustin, are you in trouble?¡± Maximus emerged from the living room and asked. ¡°Let me know if you need my help.¡± The past few days of treatment have healed his core. He might not be as strong as before, but he was satisfied with just this. ¡°Won¡¯t you drink with me?¡± Dustin fumbled around the cabs for two bottles of wine. With Gregory around, there was never a shortage of alcohol. ¡°Sure.¡± Maximus sat down without a second thought. The two men began to drink, but no one spoke, so the tension in the air increased. After a few sses, Dustin eventually spoke. ¡°How¡¯s your injury?¡± ¡°It¡¯s healing great. I¡¯ll be fine in another two days.¡± Maximus was filled with gratitude. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to your skills. I¡¯d be doomed if it weren¡¯t for you.¡± ¡°You can stop being so formal. It sounds weird. Just talk to me casually.¡± Dustin topped up their sses. ¡°I-I can¡¯t do that. I¡¯ll just keep talking like this.¡± Maximus grinned sheepishly. ¡°Do it your way.¡± Dustin tipped his head back and downed his ss. ¡°Did you run into rtionship problems?¡± Maximus asked, finishing his ss as well. ¡°How did you know?¡± Dustin raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s easy to realize once you¡¯re in the same boat.¡± Maximus smiled sadly. What could be worse than someone¡¯s fianc¨¦e sleeping with their mentor? ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Dustin calmed slightly when he thought of the things the other man had gone through, and he began spilling everything to Maximus, everything since he needed someone to confide in. ¡°Say, did I marry the wrong person to end up this way?¡± Dustin smiled sadly. ¡°I have a different opinion, Dustin.¡± Maximus paused. ¡°Did you ever think that Ms. Nicholson had no choice?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t she have told me why?¡± Dustin shook his head. She probably would if she could.¡± Maximus sighed, ¡°You were married to her for three years. You should know her best. Do you think she¡¯s that kind of person?¡± Dustin stilled for a second before recovering. ¡°Everyone can change. Just because she wasn¡¯t before doesn¡¯t mean she won¡¯t be in the future. No one can truly tell what¡¯s going through a woman¡¯s mind.¡± ¡°Take it easy, Dustin. Time will prove everything.¡± Maximus consoled him. ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking about this. Let¡¯s drink!¡± Dustin pulled out another two bottles of wine, fully intending to enjoy himself that night. Just then, a ck car pulled up at the entrance, and a man in a suit trudged into the building. ¡°Who is Dustin Rhys?¡± Chapter 304 Chapter 304 The man¡¯s arrogant gaze swept the room. ¡°I¡¯m Dustin. May I know why you¡¯re here?¡± Dustin nced at the man before continuing to drink. ¡°I¡¯m a messenger of Boulderthorn¡¯s Royal Valor. We want to challenge you to a duel. You killed Joshua Hummer, our seventh disciple, so something has to be done. My senior will be visiting Swinton to challenge you to a duel to the death!¡± the man dered haughtily, throwing them a piece of paper. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. As a well-known guild, they had to do things publicly, including exacting revenge. They were also going to use this opportunity to show off their power. ¡°You can take that back. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Dustin refused without even looking at the paper. ¡°Are you scared?¡± The other man sneered. ¡°Weren¡¯t you brave when you killed Joshua? Why are you shying away after hearing that my senior is your opponent?¡± ¡°As if. I don¡¯t even know who your senior is,¡± Dustin replied calmly. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you right now. His name is Tatum Thunders, and his name can be found on The Heavenly Immortals. He¡¯s also one of the eight geniuses of Boulderthorn. His nickname is Fanatic de!¡± The man humphed proudly. ¡°The Fanatic de, Tatum Thunders?¡± Maximus eximed, his expression paled. As a Boulderthorn disciple himself, he has heard of Tatum before. Boulderthorn has eight subsidiary guilds-Royal Valor, Quickshields, Forsakenstriders, Shadowfall, Thundersong, Frosnders, Boneguard, and Killingbane. Each guild had its respective principal disciple, who were expert martial artists ranking only below the guildmaster. In terms of power and strength, they were even stronger than the second- inmands of Boulderthorn, and Tatum happened to be the principal disciple of Royal Valor. Only in his early thirties, the genius has already made his way onto the Heavenly Immortals. ¡°Fanatic de? Never heard of him. He better stay away if he doesn¡¯t want to die.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t care less. ¡°Arrogant fool!¡± The man humphed. ¡°No one has ever dared to refuse our challenge, you brat. If you refuse to ept the duel, everyone around you will suffer, not just you, so you better think this through.¡± ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Dustin narrowed his eyes dangerously. ¡°That¡¯s right! We¡¯ll be waiting for you at Mount Halgue in two days¡¯ time. You¡¯d better be prepared for the consequences if you don¡¯t show up. And don¡¯t even think about running away. We¡¯re watching you. Rather than hiding like a mouse, why don¡¯t you die honorably in a fight instead? At least your pride will be intact, and no innocent people will be hurt. Well, you should think carefully before making your decision. Goodbye.¡± With that, the man spun around and left. The man wasn¡¯t worried that Dustin might not ept their challenge since no one had ever gotten away from Boulderthorn. ¡°We¡¯re in trouble now, Dustin!¡± Maximus¡¯ expression was grave. ¡°Tatum is no ordinary fighter. He¡¯s a legendary figure who already achieved divinity five years ago. He¡¯s leagues above Joshua Hummer!¡± ¡°Really? He sounds strong,¡± Dustin responded calmly. ¡°I think you should bring your loved ones and run as far as you can right now, or you¡¯re doomed!¡± Maximus warned ¡°Run?¡± Dustin smiled softly. ¡°He isn¡¯t enough to scare me.¡± ¡°Do you have another n?¡± Maximus asked curiously. ¡°There¡¯s always a solution to a problem. Since they¡¯re challenging me first, I should give them a response too.¡± Dustin smiled coldly. His mood was already terrible, but now that Tatum was stupid enough to poke an angry bear, Dustin might as well use that man to relieve some anger. Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Time flew by, and two days passed. News about Tatum challenging Dustin to a duel had spread far and wide, and all the martial artists who caught wind of the challenge came in droves to watch the duel The challenger was the principal disciple of Royal Valor, Fanatic de of the Heavenly Immortals - Tatum Thunders, while the challengee was Dustin Rhys, a dark horse. Eager to watch their challenge, many people woke up before dawn to get to Mount Halgue, so now, This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. people crowded at the foot of the mountain ¡°I didn¡¯t know there would be this many people.¡± Thanking that this was just an ordinary duel, Dustin was surprised by the size of the crowd ¡°That¡¯s just how Boulderthorn is Anytime a famous disciple challenges someone to a duel, their guild makes sure to promote themselves and show off their strength. It¡¯s an unspoken rule among guilds Maximus was used to the sight ¡°Really?¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°In that case, wouldn¡¯t they be embarrassed if they lose?¡± ¡°Lose?¡± The corner of Maximus¡¯ lips twitched This was Tatum Thunders they were talking about. Even among his peers in Boulderthorn, the man rarely had any opponents, so how could he lose? The only reason the guild would make such a bigtuss about this was because they were certain they would win Therefore, they invited multiple witnesses, including the disciples of other guilds, to show off their power ¡°Dustin, it¡¯s not toote to turn back right now. Are you sure you want to do it?¡± Maximus asked tentatively. ¡°Why would we turn back when we¡¯re already halfway there? Let¡¯s go. I want to meet that guy.¡± Dustin stretched and began to climb the stairs. Halfway up the mountain, they suddenly heard a fierce battle going on. Dustin turned and saw a group of people fighting in the dense forest next to the path. More urately, a bunch of burly men were attacking an old man simultaneously. Despite his white. hair and frail body, the old man was surprisingly agile, his strikes catching his opponents by surprise, so the group of men was having a hard time fighting him. A young girl stood behind the elderly man ¡°How dare they attack an old man! I¡¯ll go help them¡± Maximus rushed forward righteously. Dustin shook his head and followed suit. ¡°Hey! What are you guys doing?¡± The young girl immediately stopped them as they approached. The old man is in danger. I¡¯ll help him!¡± Maximus told her. It¡¯s fine. Those vermin won¡¯t be able to hurt my grandpa,¡± the girl refused. ¡°He¡¯s your grandfather?¡± Maximus was surprised. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried he might get hurt?¡± The little girl immediately humphed proudly ¡°My grandfather¡¯s Ralph Dunn, the leader of the Steel Legion! There¡¯s no way those vermin are a match for him lust watchi¡± Hearing that, Maximus stood back and watched the battle silently. After exchanging a few more blows, Ralph finally put in more effort and began raining down strikes from his palms on the men. Unable to withstand the attack, the men soon became severely injured and threw up blood. ¡°Damn it! He¡¯s a beast! Retreat!¡± the leader hollered, and everyone else immediately rushed after him, not wanting to stay another second. ¡°Humph! How dare those losers dare to take advantage of me with their pathetic skills!¡± Chapter 306 Chapter 306 The old man patted the dust off his body in a poised manner. ¡°That was a wonderful fight!¡± The young girl excitedly pped after Ralph won. She turned to Dustin and Maximus. ¡°See? Isn¡¯t my grandpa amazing?¡± ¡°Abby, did you see my palm strikes just now? Those are our guild¡¯s signature moves. You¡¯ll amaze the world when you finally learn it,¡± Ralph said loudly. ¡°I¡¯ll work hard to meet your expectations, Grandpa Abby nodded fervently. ¡°Oh, and they are?¡± Ralph turned his attention to Dustin and Maximus. ¡°They¡¯re passersby who were being nosy, but I stopped them in time. With their abilities, they¡¯ll only be a bother,¡± Abby exined. ¡°I see.¡± Ralph gave them a look over. ¡°Treacherous bandits and ferocious beasts always roam this mountain. You two shouldn¡¯t run around carelessly. ¡°Thanks for the advice. We¡¯ll make a move since you¡¯re safe.¡± Dustin thanked them and spun around to leave. ¡°Hold on!¡± Abby suddenly called out. ¡°You¡¯re here to watch the fight between Tatum and, er, Dustin, right?¡± ¡°Yes. Are you guys here for that too?¡± Dustin asked ¡°Of course!¡± Abby lifted her head proudly. ¡°To tell you the truth, Boulderthorn invited many witnesses for today¡¯s duel. My grandpa¡¯s one of them!¡± ¡°Witnesses?¡± Dustin was amused. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Of course it is!¡± Abby rolled her eyes. ¡°I can tell that you¡¯re clueless. Well, any fight between famous martial artists always needs witnesses to ensure thepetition¡¯s fairness.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Dustin nodded. It was true that he had no idea about deathmatch rules. ¡°Both of you young men seem like fine people with strong bodies. I¡¯ll give you a chance to be Steel Legion disciples,¡± Ralph suddenly said. ¡°Disciples?¡± Dustin was caught off guard. ¡°You two should thank your lucky stars. Being my grandpa¡¯s disciple is a dream many people have. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and thank him!¡± Abby ordered arrogantly. ¡°Sorry, but no thanks,¡± Dustin refused, shaking his head. ¡°What?¡± Abby immediately turned angry. ¡°Hey, you should be grateful that Grandpa¡¯s willing to take you in.¡± ¡°Young man, you won¡¯te across this opportunity twice. You should think about it carefully!¡± Ralph stood proudly with his hands behind his back. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to be my disciple. All I have to do is teach you a few moves, and you¡¯ll be famous.¡± Dustin couldn¡¯t help but find their confidence amusing. To think that someone who hasn¡¯t reached divinity yet was trying to take him in as a disciple. Had the requirements for bing mentors fallen so low? ¡°Thank you for your offer, but I¡¯m not interested.¡± Dustin shook his head once more. ¡°Insolent fool!¡± Abby humphed before turning to Maximus. ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested either.¡± He shrugged. ¡°You¡¯ll regret your decision one day!¡± Abby fumed. Her grandfather, the leader of Steel Legion, a well-known martial expert, was gracious enough to offer to take them in, yet they foolishly refused. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 ¡°Forget it I was just repaying your kindness earlier Since you don¡¯t want to, forget it.¡± Ralph shook his head pretentiously, giving them a you¡¯ll regret-it-one-day look Dustin and Maximus exchanged amused nces silently ¡°Let¡¯s go. Since we¡¯ve run into each other, I might as well escort you two up in case there¡¯s danger again.¡± Ralph said, walking ahead with his hands sped behind his back. ¡°You guys are lucky to be able to walk with my grandpa!¡± With a humph, Abby red at them and hurried after Ralph. Dustin smiled and followed behind them without protest. After all, there was only one way up the mountain Moving at a brisk pace, the group soon made it to the top At the center of the hilltop was a tform, which was where Dustin and Tatum¡¯s fight was supposed to take ce. Many people had already gathered around the tform, most of them martial artists, making things much. livelier ¡°Mr. Dunn? Nice to meet you. ¡°I¡¯ve heard so much about you, Mr. Dunn It¡¯s an honor to meet you¡± As soon as Ralph appeared, many people came unto greet him. It was clear to see that the Steel Legion was quite famous ¡°Do you know how powerful my grandpa is now?¡± Abby goaded. ¡°I bet you regret your decision now Ha, but it¡¯s toote!¡± Dustin pretended not to hear her, while Maximus ignored her by turning his head away. ¡°I heard you¡¯re the witness for today¡¯s match, Mr. Dunn Who do you think will win?¡± someone asked ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Fanatic de, of course!¡± Abby chimed in ¡°Tatum is the principal disciple of Royal Valor and someone on the Heavenly Immortals. He¡¯s never lost a fight before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s true that he¡¯s strong, but I heard that Dustin Rhys is not someone to underestimate either. Even Joshua Hummer, who had just reached divinity, lost to him,¡± another person responded. ¡°Why would youpare Tatum to Joshua?¡± Abby humphed. ¡°One hasn¡¯t even fully reached divinity yet, while the other already did that five years ago. With Tatum¡¯s skills today, how hard can it be for him to defeat a country bumpkin?¡± ¡°She¡¯s right. No matter how I look at it, Tatum has a higher winning chance,¡± Ralph opined, and This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. everyone instantly nodded in agreement. Ralph was a revered senior martial artist and the witness for today¡¯s duel, so naturally, everyone believed him. ncing at the people around him, Dustin shook his head with a smile. ¡°What are youughing at? Did Grandpa say anything wrong?¡± Abby demanded, annoyed. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys being too hasty? The battle hasn¡¯t even begun yet.¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Why? Do you think that Dustin might win?¡± Abby pursed her lips. ¡°We¡¯ll only know once the batter starts,¡± Dustin answered. Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Abby humphed. ¡°Stop pretending when you don¡¯t know anything ¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll know who¡¯s better soon enough!¡± ¡°Even if Dustin doesn¡¯t win against Tatum, he¡¯s still a rare genius, so we should still respect him,¡± the man from earlier said. ¡°You¡¯re right. Just getting Tatum to challenge him to a duel is a feat of its own. Otherwise, Boulderthorn wouldn¡¯t have wasted so much energy on this.¡± ¡°I heard that he¡¯s only around twenty. It¡¯s extremely rare to see someone that age reach divinity. He¡¯s practically a genius!¡± ¡°Even if he doesn¡¯t win against Tatum, it will be an honorable defeat.¡± Everyone began to chip in their opinions. Although they were sure Dustin would lose to Tatum, they still acknowledged the former¡¯s talents and skills ¡°I heard that Dustin doesn¡¯t have a quild and is self-taught He¡¯s bound to shine if he enters Ironshade!¡± one said Another chuckled. ¡°Ironshade only has around a hundred disciples. A talent like him would be wasted there¡± Someone else agreed, ¡°In terms of size and growth, Highfield is definitely better. I¡¯m sure Dustin. wouldn¡¯t refuse my offer.¡± ¡°Hey, are you guys forgetting about Steel Legion?¡± Abby shouted unhappily. ¡°My guild is obviously the best If Dustin actually wants to pick a guild, he¡¯d clearly choose us!¡± Dustin was puzzled. He couldn¡¯t figure out where Abby got her confidence from How could she be so sure when she didn¡¯t even know who he was yet? Worse, Ralph seemed to think the same, judging from his smug expression. Just as they were talking, a group of Boulderthorn disciples approached them. Leading them were Brody and Oliver Williams. ¡°My, my. If it isn¡¯t Max.¡± Brody sneered when he spotted Maximus. ¡°What¡¯s a useless man like you. doing here?¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°That¡¯s none of your business¡± Maximus retorted coldly. ¡°We¡¯re peers, Max. Even though you¡¯ve lost all your powers, I won¡¯t push you away. For Caitlyn¡¯s sake, I can help you return to being my father¡¯s disciple if you beg me.¡± Brody sniggered, wrapping an arm around the delicate woman beside him. Maximus¡¯ face immediately darkened when he saw who it was. Caitlyn Lawler, his fianc¨¦e! Previously, she had been with his mentor, yet here she was, in Brody¡¯s embrace. ¡°Oh, right. I forgot to tell you that Caitlyn has agreed to marry me. She¡¯s mine from now on. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Brody mocked. ¡°What? Maximus¡¯ eyes widened, his hands clenched into fists. ¡°Is that true, Caitlyn?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t me me, Max. I¡¯m just a weak woman. I need someone to protect me. Now that you¡¯ve lost all your powers, I can only rely on Brody,¡± Caitlyn answered frankly. ¡°Why? WHY?¡± Maximus¡¯ eyes had turned bloodshot. ¡°You said you¡¯d wait for me, and we¡¯d be together forever, so why would you marry him?¡± ¡°Are you an idiot, Max?¡± Caitlyn rolled her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t think that I truly like you, do you? What I like is power. Power to control others. I only agreed to marry you back then because you were the most talented disciple of us all. Look at you now. Besides getting kicked out, you¡¯ve also lost all your powers. Without any power, what makes you think that you¡¯re worthy of being with me? Was I supposed to suffer with you? Don¡¯t be foolish!¡± Chapter 309 Chapter 309 ¡°Brody!¡± The crowd jumped in shock and anger when Brody was sent flying by Maximus¡¯ punch. Never had they imagined Maximus to wield such power after his core was destroyed. ¡°H-how dare you hit me?¡± Brody said spitefully, pressing against his chest, which was throbbing with excruciating pain. The audacity of someone emunicated, a good-for-nothing toy a finger on him! ¡°So what? You should thank the heavens that I didn¡¯t take your life.¡± Maximus went up and took the hand of thedy in white. He soothed her affectionately, ¡°Caitlyn, don¡¯t you worry. I won¡¯t let anyone bully you when I¡¯m around. I¡¯ll protect you even if I have to risk my life!¡± ¡°M-Max, what are you doing?¡± Her expression fell as she slowly stumbled away from him. ¡°Caitlyn, I know you¡¯ve been through a lot. I¡¯ll be good to you. Let¡¯s run away, shall we? We can leave Balerno for a ce where no one knows us. How does that sound?¡± He looked at her with anticipation. Although he was no match for Luther, he could elope to a ce far from danger and trouble with his lover. ¡°Max, are you crazy? I¡¯m Luther¡¯s woman now.¡± Caitlyn frowned at his words. ¡°I know you were forced into it. You don¡¯t like him at all, do you? Just give me a nod, and I¡¯ll immediately take you with me!¡± His gentle gaze caressed her face. ¡°No, I won¡¯t!¡± She gave her an adamant shake of the head. ¡°Caitlyn, are you in a difficult situation? Fret not. I will do my best to get you out of any trouble!¡± Maximus was earnest. ¡°Let go of me!¡± She shook off his grip and scolded him, ¡°Max, do you still not get it? I have never loved Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. you at all! Don¡¯t be delusional!¡± That caught him by surprise, and his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°W-what did you say?¡± ¡°Max, at this point, I¡¯ll just tell you the truth.¡± She inhaled deeply and exined without much emotion, ¡°I had only agreed to the engagement because of your status. I need someone to protect me as a defenseless woman in the martial arts field You were my best choice back then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ That¡¯s impossible! You told me you loved me and you¡¯d marry me! Were you lying to me all along when you made those eternal vows?¡± A hint of resentment and rage crept into his reddened eyes. ¡°Max, you¡¯re cute.¡± She shook her head with a scoff. ¡°Haven¡¯t you realized I was only into you because of your influence and potential? You were Maximus Kane, a fighter with great prowess and the most remarkable disciple of our generation. That was why I took a liking to you. But look at you now. You have been emunicated and even had your powers destroyed by Luther. You¡¯re no different than a pauper, so why do you think you¡¯re a match for me? Did you really believe I¡¯d put up with a life of suffering with you? Dream on!¡± That was a huge blow for Maximus, whose face was grim when he heard her cruel confession. He did not expect those remarks from his lover, not even in his wildest dreams. At first, he thought Caitlyn was forced to be with Luther, but it turned out that she willingly went along with it. At the end of the day, he made a joke out of himself. All his life, he had been focused on achieving excellence in swordsmanship and lived a life free of other desires. The only time he fell for a woman, he ended up in such misery. What a joke! He slumped on the floor in a daze. In that instance, he seemed to have lost his faith and hope, turning into an empty shell of himself. Faith was the main reason he could rejuvenate his core in record time. And he held on fast to the faith that he would rescue Caitlyn. Now that he had lost it, he appeared disoriented and helpless. ¡°Fuck you! How dare you punch me? I¡¯ll sh you! Brody cackled when he saw the soulless Maximus and swung his sword at the man. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 The sword nked as it moved. Right when it was about to cut Maximus¡¯ neck, a hand reached out and caught it. ¡°Hm?¡± Brody lifted his gaze, and his eyes immediately shook in fear. ¡°I-it¡¯s you!¡± He had been too focused on Maximus to notice the legend standing behind the man. ¡°Is it worth grieving over a woman who doesn¡¯t deserve it?¡± Dustin ignored Brody and stared straight at Maximus ¡°If what you want is death, I can grant your wish. I shall forget ever having saved a useless thing as you. But, if you have any bit of ego left in you, as a man, you should stand up straight. You don¡¯t look a bit like a swordsman right now, even though you once said you wanted to be the best swordsman in the world! Wake up!¡± Then, he gave Maximus a hard p, sending thetter trembling from the impact. He seemed to have pped some sense into Maximus, whose eyes had a new sparkle in them. He noticed Brody¡¯s mean and murderous look, and he took in the look of disgust in Caitlyn¡¯s eyes. Finally, he shed a rueful smile. ¡°Dustin, you¡¯re right. I shouldn¡¯t grieve and wail over a woman who This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. doesn¡¯t love me. Thank you for that.¡± Then, he slowly rose from the ground. He had a determined look after he let go of his obsession. Hid depression and misery had gone, while the internal energy stirred and whirred in the core with signs of a breakthrough. ¡°Hm?¡± Dustin raised a brow with surprise. His sharp instinct told him that Maximus would achieve divinity soon! ¡°What happened?¡± A few men showed up at that moment, with a middle-aged, clean-shaven man in the lead. The leader seemed harmless and friendly, but his eyes betrayed a wicked quality. The man was, in fact, the second-inmand of Boulderthorn-Luther Williams. ¡°Dad! You came at the right time!¡± Brody¡¯s eyes lit up, and he immediatelyined to his father. ¡°I met Maximus just now, and he punched me because he was jealous! I¡¯m badly injured- his punch messed up my blood cirction and energy.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The man squinted and turned his attention to Maximus. ¡°It¡¯s you, the traitor. Why? Did you not learn a lesson from before? Do I have to take your life?¡± ¡°And you must be Mr. Williams.¡± Dustin examined the man and remarked, ¡°You¡¯re well-dressed, but too bad you¡¯re just a filthy animal within.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Luther scrunched up his face, a murderous look in his eyes. ¡°No, that¡¯s wrong. I¡¯d be too kind topare you to an animal. A man who sullies the fianc¨¦e of his - mentee is worse than an animal.¡± Dustin did not hold back. ¡°You jerk! Where did youe from? The audacity to talk to me in that manner!¡± Luther¡¯s eyes gleamed with evilness. He was never reckless in his moves. Even before a killing, he¡¯d need to look into the background of his victim to avoid future troubles. Dad! This is Dustin Rhys! He¡¯s ruined our ns many times!¡± Oliver, who was standing behind his father, finally spoke. He and his sibling, Brody, had been defeated by Dustin multiple times. ¡°Oh, that was you?¡± Luther smirked. ¡°I¡¯m amazed by your courage, especially when you are soon to be a dying man.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too early toe to a conclusion about that.¡± Dustin smiled calmly and stared at Maximus. ¡± Maximus, this is a good chance to take your revenge. Get into the ring and fight this sub-animal being. Beat him and free yourself from your demons!¡± Chapter 311 Chapter 311 ¡°Beat me?¡± Luther was first taken aback by the outrageous idea, followed by a series of explosive two were fools. Maximus might have been a formidable mentor for many of the disciples, but he was nowhere close to Luther¡¯s level. ¡°Oh, you little jerk. Do you even know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± Scowling, Luther challenged them, ¡°I was the one who taught everything to that traitor. Even at his peak, he was no match for me! Are you asking him to fight me with a destroyed core after he¡¯s lost all his prowess? And does he have the guts to do so?¡± ¡°Right! A trash like him doesn¡¯t deserve the honor of fighting Dad!¡± Oliver, Brody, and the other disciples scorned at the same time. Unfazed, Dustin challenged back, ¡°We¡¯ll know after the battle. The most important question is- are you brave enough to take on the challenge?¡± ¡°I have nothing to be scared of.¡± Luther sneered. ¡°If that little traitor loves flirting with death, I shall rid him from my guild today!¡± With that, he walked right up to the stone tform Since the actual battle hadn¡¯t started, he didn¡¯t mind warming up the scene. ¡°Dustin, he was the one who taught me everything I can¡¯t defeat him,¡± Maximus admitted with a serious expression. Dustin assured him with a faint smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry If I said you could, you will. Didn¡¯t he keep the three moves a secret from you? I will teach you those moves and throw in some hacks.¡± ¡°Do you practice the Illusory Sword Technique as well?¡± Maximus looked astonished. ¡°Well, just a bit. So, are you learning?¡± Dustin smiled again. He had researched and practiced many branches of martial arts from a young age and was particrly good at sword fighting. The Illusory Sword Technique was one of the variations of a core technique, and with a nce, he could spot any ws in the moves. ¡°Yes!¡± Maximus nodded gravely. The only way for him to rid his internal demons was to defeat Luther Williams, just like Dustin had advised. ¡°Cool. I¡¯ll teach you now.¡± Dustin snapped a branch from a tree nearby and started his instructions. Maximus watched on intently, careful not to miss any detail. ¡°Hahaha! Dustin Rhys, are you kidding me? That¡¯s somest-minute prep. Do you think it¡¯s going ¨Cto work?¡± Brody mocked him. Oliver chimed in, ¡°Yeah. Do you think teaching him some sloppy moves will save him from a huge defeat? You¡¯re delusional!¡± Dustin ignored the heckling from the two guys and taught Maximus six moves in total. The first three moves were the ones that Luther kept from Maximus, and the final three moves were the solution to beat the first three. T The moves appeared simple on the surface, but it was difficult to pick them up because the practitioner would have to be proficient with the technique and build on the foundation. Copying the moves would not work in the battle. Thankfully, Maximus was a genius and a fast learner. After three rounds of practice, he had mastered the essence of the moves. ¡°You got it?¡± Dustin came to a stop. ¡°Yes. Roughly.¡± Maximus gave him a firm nod. ¡°That¡¯s good enough. You only need to use these moves well to beat him.¡± Dustin smiled coolly. This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Maximus¡¯ capability was not far off from Luther¡¯s, and the only reason leading to his previous defeat was due to Luther teaching him the wed moves. Now that Maximus was introduced to theplete moves, coupled with the additional hacks, he was ready to take on Luther by himself. ¡°You there! Why are you dragging your feet? Come up now!¡± Luther urged Maximus to join him in the ring. ¡°Go. Vent all your frustrations, and don¡¯t go easy on him.¡± Dustin patted Maximus on the shoulder. ¡°Thanks, Dustin!¡± Maximus bowed at him and marched into the ring, carrying his sword on his back. Chapter 312 Chapter 312 ¡°Bear witness for me-after I kicked this traitor out, he felt vindicated and returned to challenge. me. Since the official battle hasn¡¯t kicked off, I shall do some warmups to entertain you all.¡± Luther¡¯s booming voice instantly attracted everyone¡¯s attention. He was keen to set up a precedent to deter any future traitors and rebuild his reputation! ¡°Hey! Why is your friend up there in the ring?¡± Ralph, Abby, and the others came up to Dustin with curious and odd expressions. ¡°He¡¯s getting some personal grudge out of the way¡± Dustin offered a curt answer. ¡°Personal grudge?¡± Abby was a little doubtful. ¡°Do you know who that other guy on the tform is? He¡¯s Mr. Williams from Boulderthorn! Well, of course, he¡¯s not as great as Tatum, but he¡¯s decent! He¡¯s at the same level as Grandpa!¡± ¡°And?¡± Dustin was unimpressed ¡°How can your friend fight off Mr. Williams with his subpar skills? He¡¯ll be crushed and humiliated!¡± Abby shook her head. Ralph nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯d advise you to talk your friend out of the ring. Even I might not be able to fight Mr. Williams, let alone that young man¡± ¡°There¡¯s no talking him out of it. The two are destined to fight today. Their fates are in the hands of God,¡± Dustin answered. ¡°You should listen to the wisdom of your elders lest you suffer unnecessarily. You¡¯ll see what I mean Dustin merely smiled at the old man. In the ring on the tform, Luther stared straight at Maximus with a smirk. ¡°You chose the harder path, didn¡¯t you? If death is what you want, I shall grant your wish!¡± ¡°Bring it on!¡± Maximus was cold and fearless. ¡°Killing you is a piece of cake!¡± Luther slowly unsheathed the sword, and with a leap, he broke into a run toward his opponent. When he got near Maximus, the sword in his hand started trembling. In a second, the air was filled with illusions of the sword, confusing the eyes of the viewers and making it hard to discern reality from illusion. ¡°He used the Illusory Sword Technique! That was a surprise. He went ahead with the technique that ¡°Poor dude! Mr. William¡¯s Illusory Sword Technique is ever-changing and hard to defend against. Not even I could block the moves.¡± The crowd murmured andmented. ¡°Hmph!¡± With a shake of the body, Maximus unsheathed his sword and held it in one hand. He Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. repeated what Luther did andunched his attack with the same moves. Soon, the two were in the heat of the battle. The swords and their illusions created a web of shes. Sparks could be seen flying along with the nking of metal. ¡°Hah! I taught you all your moves, and now you¡¯re trying to use them against me! How ridiculous. Now, it is time to give you a taste of the third move you have never mastered!¡± While speaking, Luther waved his hand to make his sword turn back. The sword was aimed at Maximus¡¯ abdomen. It was the move that Luther had used to destroy Maximus earlier. He was confident that Maximus could not defend against the move, even if it were his second time experiencing it. They heard the sound of the de ripping through flesh, and suddenly, the arrogant Luther froze up. When his sword was inches away from Maximus¡¯ abdomen, he finally realized that Maximus¡¯ sword had pierced through his arm, immobilizing his move. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Luther¡¯s expression crumbled. He had never expected Maximus to defend against the attack and counterattack by hacking those moves. How could Maximus gain that insight within a mere few days? Chapter 313 Chapter 313 ¡°Luther Williams, you have gotten slower in sword fighting,¡± Maximus casuallymented. ¡°No! That¡¯s impossible! How did you manage to strike me? It must have been dumb luck!¡± Feeling. indignant, Luther turned around andunched his attacks again, even though he was injured. This time, he did not hold back and put in his 100%, evident from his frenzied and merciless attacks that were hard to dodge. During the ninth move, he switched it up and aimed his de at Maximus¡¯ throat with the intent to kill. However, Maximus didn¡¯t shun the attack and instead shed Luther in the abdomen with greater speed and uracy. Luther stumbled backward, aghast. He would have been gutted had Maximus¡¯ sword shed upward. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Where did that punk learn the trick from?¡± He pressed against his bleeding abdomen in shock. He could not wrap his mind around how Maximus had recovered from the grave injury with significant improvements to his skills all within a few days. ¡°Luther Williams, it¡¯s my turn to make a move now¡± Maximus didn¡¯t give his mentor any room to breathe. He swung his sword and charged at his opponent. Luther hurriedly collected himself and raised his sword in defense. At this point, he lost his confidence and was forced to put on a defensive y due to his injury. In contrast, Maximus was getting stronger by the second and demonstrated great sword-fighting skills, bringing Luther to his knees. ¡°This is a good chance!¡± At the twenty-sixth move, Luther suddenly gathered all his internal energy, This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org. huffing and puffing as he made his final move in a bid to turn the tables. Just when he was about to gain the upper hand, he found a de pressing against his neck. If he made the slightest move, he would be killed on the spot. ¡°Huh?¡± Baffled, he dropped the sword onto the floor. He still didn¡¯t understand how the three wed moves he intentionally taught Maximus had, in turn, contributed to his own downfall. ¡°Why? Why did it turn out this way?¡± The crowd gasped at the sight of Luther¡¯s defeat. No one had expected to see the second-inmand lose to his mentee in record time. Throughout the battle, Luther seemed to be put at a disadvantage. ¡°I-impossible!¡± ¡°How could Maximus Kane beat Dad? I thought Dad was the one who taught him all the moves.¡± Brody, Oliver, and the other disciples were covered in cold sweat. They had been proud and confident in Luther¡¯s victory, but they were surprised to witness Maximus¡¯ prowess which sent Luther into a defensive position, and the way Maximus ended the battle with a decisive sword move. ¡°Ourst-minute prep works.¡± Dustin looked amused. Upon hearing the remark, Brody and his gang looked shaken to the core. Did Maximus win with the few moves that Dustin had taught him? That would have been frightening! ¡°W-who did you learn the moves from?¡± Luther sweated profusely as he pressed against his bleeding abdomen. ¡°That is not the point. The point is that I will do the same to you based on how you destroyed my core in the past.¡± While speaking, Maximus drew his sword again. ¡°Hold on!¡± Luther pleaded in panic, ¡°Max, I am sorry for what happened earlier, but it was a careless mistake. Please give me another chance. ¡°A chance? Did you give me a chance when you decided to destroy my core?¡± Maximus looked grim. ¡°Max, I know I¡¯m in the wrong! Please have mercy on me-we shared years of rtionship!¡± Then, Luther fell onto his knees. ¡°I have a lot of enemies If you destroy my core and my skills, I will not survive a day. Please spare me!¡± Maximus fell silent at the sight. Despite his urge to seek revenge, a voice in his heart held him back. After all, he had learned everything in sword fighting from Luther, even though Luther had done so with an ulterior motive. At the end of the day, Maximus owed his swordsmanship to Luther¡¯s teachings. Even though Luther was a merciless bastard, Maximus decided to be the bigger man. Chapter 314 Chapter 314 ¡°Don¡¯t ever show up in front of me!¡± Maximus kicked Luther aside and proceeded to leave. ¡°Got it¡­¡± Luther put on a fake smile. When Maximus turned his back against Luther, the man had a gleam in his eyes as he picked up the sword on the floor and plunged it into Maximus¡¯ body. ¡°Look out!¡± Dustin yelled, and Maximus jumped aside at the final moment. Although Maximus wasn¡¯t critically wounded from the stabbing, the sword left a long, gaping wound that oozed blood on his waist. Luther was taken aback when he realized that his ambush failed. Then, he threw the sword away and frantically pleaded, ¡°Max! I¡¯m wrong! I¡¯m definitely in the wrong! I was blinded for a moment just now. Please don¡¯t take it to heart!¡± ¡°You stubborn old donkey!¡± Fuming, Maximus took out his sword and attempted to sh Luther, this time showing no mercy at all. ¡°Stop!¡± a thunderous roar sounded out of the blue Next, a majestic figure descended from the air and shielded Luther. The man, in his thirties, gave off a powerful air, and his eyes twinkled with a sharp and aggressive look. He was as grand as a mountain when he stood in the ring. The man was the so-called ¡± Fanatic de¡±- Tatum Thunders! Tatum bellowed when he noticed that Maximus did not stop, ¡°I told you to stop!¡± He lifted a hand, and the figure of a palm appeared from thin air, punching Maximus in the chest. Almost. immediately, Maximus coughed up a mouthful of blood and was thrown out ten feet away. It was clear that he was no match for Tatum. ¡°Shit! It¡¯s Tatum Thunders!¡± ¡°He¡¯s the ace of Royal Valor indeed! With a punch, the ace, who¡¯s ranked as one of The Heavenly Immortals, has severely injured his opponent.¡± ¡°Pretty good of that young man to beat Mr. Williams, Too bad he ran into Tatum Thunders!¡± ¡°Tatum lives up to the nickname of Fanatic de! The crowd murmured in shock at Tatum¡¯s presence. From the first move, he demonstrated the awe - striking capability of The Heavenly Immortals, something that The Hundred Immortals could only dream of. ¡°That¡¯s our Tatum! He¡¯s so cool!¡± Abby pped furiously while gaping at the man on the tform with looks of adtion. It was her lifelong dream to be ranked as one of The Heavenly Immortals. Thus, her future partner must be one of them as well. ¡°Hmph! How dare you hurt your mentor in public! How terribly wicked of you to do so! There¡¯s no point keeping a piece of trash like you in the martial arts field. Today, I shall carry out God¡¯s will!¡± After giving his self-righteous speech, he hurled a punch at Maximus again with the intent to kill. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh no, that guy¡¯s done for!¡± Everyone shook their heads sympathetically. Although Maximus was talented and capable, he wasn¡¯t at Tatum¡¯s level. Just when Maximus was close to meeting his fate, a figure hopped onto the tform and fended off the iing punch. The winds from the punch died down, reced by puffs of smoke. Dustin cast an icy re at Tatum. ¡°Boulderthorn disciples are all the same-shameless.¡± ¡°Who are you? How dare you stop me?¡± Tatum narrowed his eyes, looking hostile. ¡°I¡¯m the Dustin Rhys that you wish to battle,¡± Dustin replied. ¡°What? Is that Dustin Rhys?¡± The crowd froze in shock. Abby and Ralph gaped at Dustin. They had no idea that the martial art genius they kept discussing was right beside them all along. Chapter 315 Chapter 315 ¡°Gosh, who is that kid? He¡¯s quite something to challenge Tatum in public! Is he asking for death?¡± ¡°He is gutsy but not the sharpest tool in the shed.¡± Dustin¡¯s presence became the talk of the town. No one had expected any martial artist to have a showdown with Tatum at thest minute. ¡°Hey! Why did you go up there? Are you mad? Get down here now!¡± After a slight pause, Abby loudly called out to Dustin. In her eyes, he was nothing more than a clueless young man who did not know his ce. ¡°What is that dude doing? Doesn¡¯t he know that he¡¯s up against one of The Heavenly Immortals, Tatum Thunders? He¡¯ll die in Tatum¡¯s hands!¡± Ralph shook his head forlornly and looked on as though he could predict Dustin¡¯s demise. After all Ralph wasn¡¯t strong enough to take on Tatum, and he did not expect a no-name as young as Dustin to seed too. ¡°Hmph! That reckless thing! How dare he insult Tatum? He¡¯ll meet his end!¡± Brody and the others started cackling with glee. Not only would Tatum tid Boulderthorn of traitors like Maximus, but he would also get Dustin, the thorn in the flesh, out of the way. ¡°You little jerk! Who are you, and how dare you stand in my way?¡± Tatum scrunched up his eyes with a menacing look. So far, no one had dared to stop him from taking the lives of his targets. ¡°Tatum! He¡¯s Dustin Rhys! y him!¡± Brody suddenly yelled at the tform. ¡°What? Dustin Rhys?¡± There was an audible gasp from the audience, who had initially taken Dustin to be a show-off, only to realize that he was the martial art genius who had gained fame recently. ¡°How could that be? He¡¯s Dustin Rhys!¡± Abby froze up and found it hard to believe that the dark horse she had been talking about was by her side all this time. ¡°Good gracious! I almost missed the hidden gem!¡± Ralph was simrly stupefied. If Dustin was capable of defeating Joshua Hummer and confident enough to go for a battle with Tatum Thunders, he must at least be a martial artist who had achieved divinity. Ralph, upon realizing that Dustin must be way more advanced than him in the practice, felt rather embarrassed for offering to take Dustin under his wing. ¡°Had I known he was Dustin Rhys, I would have gotten on his good side just now!¡± ¡°Damn right! We missed our shot!¡± Ralph¡¯s martial art colleagues were full of regrets upon learning the truth. It wasmon knowledge that the existence of a martial arts genius would give any guild a major boost, and this was especially true for the rtively small guilds. They¡¯d enter a golden age if they produced a martial arts genius. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Oh, kid, you¡¯re Dustin Rhys?¡± Tatum snickered. ¡°You are digging your own grave! As payback for. killing Joshua, you will not be spared today!¡± Joshua Hummer said something along those lines as well. But he¡¯s dead now,¡± Dustinmented without flinching. ¡°Hah! You¡¯re a bold one! Tatum scrutinized him. ¡°But you¡¯re gravely wrong topare Joshua with me! People like you have no idea how scary an individual from The Heavenly Immortals could be!¡± ¡°Scary?¡± Dustin merely scoffed. ¡°More like ludicrous. You thought you were something, but you¡¯re just a frog in the well.¡± ¡°What did you just say?¡± Tatum¡¯s expression hardened. He had never been looked down upon ever since he gained fame. ¡°I was being kind, describing you as a frog in the well. Turns out you¡¯re just a worm in the apple- rotten and foul!¡± Dustin didn¡¯t hold back at all, and his insult evoked a collective exmation from the audience, who didn¡¯t expect him to be so rude and fearless from the start. Everyone shuddered at the thought of provoking Tatum Thunders, as that would be inviting death. ¡°Oh, great! Look at you, the stubborn one, not knowing you¡¯re close to death. You¡¯ll pee your pants when you¡¯re staring at death!¡± Tatum, now enraged, hurled a punch in the air that morphed into a translucent shadow. Chapter 316 Chapter 316 The impact of the punch barreled toward Dustin with the weight of a mountain. A martial artist who achieved divinity could easily decapitate the opponent ten feet away by releasing his or her internal energy. ¡°He¡¯s indeed one of The Heavenly Immortals! That punch could easily crush a car!¡± ¡°That rash young man shouldn¡¯t have provoked Tatum Thunders. Now, he¡¯s cornered.¡± The martial artists watching from the crowd shuddered when they saw the shadows of Tatum¡¯s punch. In their opinion, the punch was indefensible. ¡°Hah¡­¡± Dustin smiled and tapped his feet on the floor. He disappeared into thin air and dodged the punch with ease. ¡°You¡¯re quick! But let¡¯s see how many times you could dodge my punches!¡± Scoffing, Tatumunched three punches, each quicker and stronger than the previous ones. Dustin skipped around speedily but calmly and dodged all the attacks with his freakish skills. ¡°Fuck! He¡¯s like a slippery eel!¡± Brody was quite frustrated at the sight. He badly wanted to witness Dustin crushed to death, but Dustin was too agile and swerved out of the way of Tatum¡¯s punches. Meanwhile, Ralph was clicking his tongue, amazed at the sight. ¡°I did not expect him to show off such talent at his young age. ¡°So what? He¡¯s just pulling off tricks. If he¡¯s really talented, he wouldn¡¯t have dodged the attacks. At the end of the day, he could not beat Tatum!¡± Abby pouted unhappily. Even after learning about Dustin¡¯s identity, she still looked down on him. In her opinion, a true man should face the fight. instead of hiding. ¡°Is this what ¡®Fanatic de¡¯ has to offer? That¡¯s nothing much.¡± Dustin shook his head in disappointment, wondering if the standards of The Heavenly Immortals had decreased. A decade ago, only the best of the best was inducted into The Heavenly Immortals. ¡°You brat! Better not be arrogant!¡± Tatum¡¯s expression sank. ¡°You think you can show off in front of me with a couple of tricks? I was warming up just now. And now, it¡¯s time to show you the skills gap between us!¡± Then, he tapped his feet on the floor and threw himself at Dustin. When he was close, he drew his hands in before throwing a heavy punch. Almost immediately, a gale started blowing, and the air was filled with shadows of the forceful punch hurtling toward Dustin. ¡°I-i-is that Tatum¡¯s signature move thatunched him to fame? The Crushing Waves from the Poseidon Punches?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s Crushing Waves, rumored to turn a punch into countless punches. There¡¯s no escape!¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I guess Tatum must be furious, seeing how he served his signature move. That guy will be dead today. The other martial artists stared at the punches in the air with horrified faces. Even from afar, they felt the force and tension that could easily rip them apart. ¡°Dustin Rhys! Time to die!¡± Brody chortled with malign and glee. ¡°That¡¯s a pity. He cannot escape his fate.¡± Ralph let out a soft sigh filled with regret. ¡°Didn¡¯t we tell him to stay low profile? He refused to listen and offended Tatum. No one can save him now!¡± Abby shook her head and braced herself for Dustin¡¯s imminent death. ¡°These are just bells and whistles!¡± Dustin snickered and crushed the punches in the air with a p, and the momentum of the counterattack hit Tatum hard in the face. Everyone heard an explosive sound. Tatum was seen flying and crashing t onto the ground like a loose kite. The hall plunged into dead silence. Chapter 317 Chapter 317 An eerie silence hung over the scene. The spectators were wide-eyed at the sight of Tatum¡¯s lifeless body on the ground. They struggled to make sense of the oue, as it was totally out of their expectations. They had assumed that Dustin would be defeated when Tatum used his signature attack. To their shock, Dustin sent Tatum flying with a p. It was a sight that no one would have believed unless they saw it for themselves. They could not help but wonder about the reason behind the Fanatic de¡¯s shameful loss. Was it a momentary slip-up, or was Dustin simply too powerful? ¡°Heavens! Did I see it wrong? Was Tatum¡­ defeated?¡± ¡°A sight that was unseen and unheard of!¡± After moments of utter silence, the audience exploded in a raucous chatter, punctuated by exmations and expressions of shock, astonishment, confusion, and disbelief. No one had expected that the Fanatic de, one of the Heavenly Immortals, had been taken down by Dustin. ¡°T-that¡¯s impossible. How did that little rascal beat Tatum? He must have pulled off some fishy tricks!¡± Brody Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. shook his head furiously, refusing to believe in the oue. Meanwhile, Luther frowned grimly. ¡°He¡¯s really a freak.¡± On the other hand, Abby and the others were too stunned beyond speech at the result. ¡°This can¡¯t be right! Is Tatum defeated?¡± ¡°Is that Dustin¡¯s real capability? He¡¯s really extraordinary!¡± Maximus looked on with admiration.. No one else could send the Fanatic de flying across the air. ¡°Aagh!¡± At that moment, Tatum suddenly let out a feral roar, and his body shot up from the ground. In stark contrast to his confidence and arrogance from before, he was transformed into a wild beast that was provoked. ¡°Oh! He woke up! He¡¯s indeed one of the Heavenly Immortals-¡± Dustin was surprised by Tatum¡¯s Dustin¡¯s p. ¡°You jerk! You¡¯re done for! I¡¯ll tear you into pieces today!¡± Tatum bellowed, his eyes looking angry and crazed. As the ace of the Royal Valor and a formidable martial artist ranked as a Heavenly Immortal, he had never experienced this degree of humiliation. Imagine getting pped and copsing onto the ground in front of countless pairs of eyes! ¡°Someone get me my brass ring saber!¡± He turned around and yelled. Almost immediately, two men showed up carrying a weapon that was five feet long. It was heavy, thick, and wide, too difficult to be lifted by the average martial artist, not to mention waving it around. ¡°Great! Tatum is finally getting serious!¡± Brody had a look of joy on his face as he felt calmer. There was a reason Tatum received the nickname Fanatic de. Tatum had two signature techniques, the first being Poseidon Punches, which was good for offensive and defensive y, and it was unpredictable as well. His second technique was the de of Gale! Rumors had it that once put in action, the de of Gale would render an area barren. Inparison to the punches, the de of Gale was more aggressive and ruthless, like a gust of strong wind that sted away all the leaves in its path, powerful and unstoppable! ¡°He should have used the de from the start. A predator still needs to give it its all, even if it¡¯s going after small prey.¡± Luther sighed in relief, knowing that having the de made a world of difference for Tatum. ¡°I almost forgot that Tatum is the best in his de technique. Dustin is in trouble now.¡± Ralph narrowed his eyes and seemed pensive. ¡°Hmph! Tatum must have lost the round earlier because he was careless. Now that he¡¯s getting serious, he can take down ten Dustin Rhys!¡± Abby tossed her head back as though she had regained her confidence again. ¡°Fuck! He agreed to a bare-handed fight, but he decided to get his de all of a sudden. He¡¯s shameless!¡± Chapter 318 Chapter 318 ¡°You rarely see a decent man who¡¯s from Boulderthorn. They¡¯re all bullies.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pity. I wonder if Dustin could survive this Some martial artists started worrying about Dustin¡¯s fate. As the grassroots, they would rather Dustin win the battle. Given how conceited and bold they were, it would be great if someone could teach Boulderthorn a lesson. However, it was a tough feat to beat Tatum due to his killer technique -the de of Gale. ¡°You little rascal, I have to admit that you¡¯re quite something. You¡¯ve forced me to use the de. s, this shall be the end of it. Dying under my de today shall be an honor for you.¡± Tatum waved the brass ring saber with a sharp look in his eyes. He handled the heavy weapon weighing hundreds of pounds like it was a strand of straw, showing off the strength of his bicep. ¡°Just cut to the chase ande at me.¡± Dustin wiggled his fingers, a provocative gesture to get Tatum to start the fight. ¡°You¡¯re asking for it!¡± The look in Tatum¡¯s eyes hardened as he charged at Dustin with the saber in hand. The lengthy and cumbersome brass ring saber left a mark as it was dragged across the ground, leaving sparks flying from the friction. ¡°The Three Tornadoes!¡± When Tatum was close, he bellowed and started wielding the saber frenziedly. The shadows of the fast-moving saber formed the illusion of a web in the air as the weapon crushed toward Dustin¡¯s head. The audience struggled to breathe due to the horrific and stifling pressure from the impact. ¡°The Three Tornadoes technique is famous for a reason!¡± ¡°Even demons would get out of the way when it¡¯s used. That rascal is going to die!¡± the martial artists eximed at the sight of the atrocious attack. Still, Dustin stood his ground without moving. He waited until the saber was about to split on his hand and reached out to grab the de. Amid an explosion, Dustin activated all his internal energy, crushing the web of des in the air. The illusion of the des scattered away in the wind. Meanwhile, Tatum¡¯s saber was stuck in Dustin¡¯s tight grip. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Tatum¡¯s pupils wavered as he wore a terrified expression. He had never expected Dustin to grab the saber he shed at full strength. He thought, ¡°Who the fuck is this monster?¡± ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got? That¡¯s disappointing.¡± Dustin shook his head and added, ¡°Since you have nothing more to show, I¡¯ll end it here.¡± Then, he gave Tatum a kick in the abdomen. ¡°Ahhh-¡± Tatum yelped in excruciating pain as he was sent flying a good 30 feet away. When hended on his knees, he started coughing up blood Once again, the audience was left gaping at the scene. They had expected Tatum to regain the upper hand with the use of the saber, but he was badly defeated anyway. It left everyone wondering about Dustin¡¯s background. ¡°H-how could you destroy my core?¡± Face flushed, Tatum was both appalled and enraged. ¡°You were trying to kill me. Why couldn¡¯t I destroy your core?¡± Dustin replied coolly. ¡°Bring a message to your mentorter-do not cause trouble for me. Else, I¡¯d uproot the entirety of Royal Valor!¡± The audience gasped and murmured at the daring threat, thinking that Dustin was crazy for threatening to ruin the Royal Valor. ¡°Fine! Just wait and see!¡± Tatum clenched his jaw and left the scene with his men, tails between their legs. ¡°How did that happen?¡± Abby was stunned by the sight of Tatum¡¯s disgraced escape. She couldn¡¯t believe that her idol had been defeated just like that at the hands of a man she looked down on. She Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. thought, ¡°God, are you ying a joke on me?¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 The audience was split in their reactions toward Dustin¡¯s victory. Cheers exploded around Dustin, but some spectators seemed sour at the oue. ¡°Fuck! Who¡¯s that guy? How could Tatum lose to him?¡± a surly and fearful Brody hissed. ¡°Whoever he is, let¡¯s get out of here before he notices us!¡± After the initial shock, Luther dared not stay a minute longer and nned his immediate escape. ¡°Stand still!¡± Dustin turned around and instantly spotted the few suspicious-looking men. ¡°Luther Williams, did I tell you to leave?¡± ¡°Dustin Rhys, I¡¯m the second-inmand at Boulderthorn. You¡¯d better steer clear of me!¡± Luther warned him with a stern look. At the critical moment, he had no choice but to use the Boulderthorn name as protection. ¡°The second-inmand? Hah¡­¡± Dustin scoffed and remarked, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d be scared of the second-inmand when I couldn¡¯t care less about the guildmaster?¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± Luther¡¯s expression sank. ¡°Give up your practice, and I¡¯ll spare your life,¡± Dustin suggested calmly. He had to teach Luther a grave lesson for being a hypocrite who self-professed as a teacher and imed the moral high ground. ¡°Dustin Rhys, that¡¯s too much!¡± Luther¡¯s face was scrunched up. If he gave up his practice, he would have no purpose and reason to exist in the martial arts field. ¡°Too much? Did you ever consider the consequences when you were fucking around without conscience?¡± Dustin showed no respect for the old man. ¡°You¡± Luther gritted his teeth and tried to hold back his temper. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t burn your bridges. Aren¡¯t you worried you¡¯d be amon enemy of our field if you force me to the wall? ¡°Courtesy is useless when confronting trash like you. If you aren¡¯t doing it yourself, I will do it for you.¡± Dustin refused to engage in further conversation and bent his fingers to send a silver needle into Luther¡¯s abdomen. Luther promptly yelped and copsed onto the ground, grimacing. ¡°Maximus, I¡¯m done destroying his core. I¡¯ll leave his fate in your hands.¡± When it came to ending Luther, Dustin allowed Maximus to make the decision. After all, Maximus was the one who had a grudge against Luther. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Since he¡¯s basically paralyzed, I shall spare his life.¡± At first, Maximus lifted his sword, but he finally put it down after some thinking. He wasn¡¯t doing so out of mercy. He knew very well that Luther had made countless enemies and would be a hot target after his core was destroyed. In the future, Luther¡¯s life would be a living hell, and that was the best punishment for him. ¡°Consider yourselves lucky. Get lost now!¡± Dustin softly chided the Boulderthorn men. Upon hearing that, Luther and the rest immediately scampered away, leaving behind only thedy in white. ¡°Max Caitlyn went up to Maximus with a feeble look on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I said those cruel words because I was under pressure. Please forgive me.¡± At present, Maximus was stronger than Luther and had a bright future ahead of him. It was clear who she should suck up to. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Forgive you?¡± Maximus snickered. ¡°How dare you ask for forgiveness after what you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°Max, I know I¡¯m in the wrong, but I had no choice. It¡¯s hard for a weak woman like me to stand on my own feet in the martial arts field. Plus, Luther has gotten something on me. I couldn¡¯t fight back. I am a victim too¡­¡± Her voice faltered and turned into a sob. The way she cried softly would melt the heart of anyone watching, but Maximus said to her coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t put on a show in front of me. That¡¯ll only disgust me.¡± ¡°Whether or not you believe in me, I do love you a lot. I¡¯m willing to run away with you and live like nomads!¡± she pleaded, tears glistening in her eyes. ¡°Did you say you love me?¡± He sneered. ¡°Would you have said that if my core was destroyed? Would you have apologized if I hadn¡¯t defeated Luther Williams? You do not love me for who I am- you¡¯re only after my power, my potential, and my social status!¡± ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough. I do not want to hear any exnation. From now on, you and I shall go separate ways. There¡¯s nothing left between us!¡± He wore a steely expression. ¡°Max, I know I don¡¯t deserve you, but I¡¯ll still pray for you. When you¡¯re alone in the night, I hope you think of me, your mentee, and the beautiful memories we made in the past. I¡¯ll leave now and never show up in front of you. I wish you a great career ahead¡­¡± With that, she left with tears in her eyes He opened his mouth but said nothing. He felt both love and hatred for Caitlyn, and he knew very well that they could never get back together. Once bitten, twice shy! ¡°Let¡¯s go. Time to drink.¡± After settling the trouble, Dustin and Maximus left in no time. The battle started abruptly and ended in a simr fashion. Through this incident, Dustin¡¯s poprity skyrocketed, and he was known as a martial arts genius. Many believed that the martial arts field in Balerno would be shaken up with the arrival of Dustin Rhys after this battle. ¡°Mr. Dunn, if I recall correctly, Dustin Rhys came here with you, right? Does that mean you haveid im to him?¡± a middle-aged martial artist from the crowd threw out a question. ¡°Well¡­¡± Ralph felt the eyes on him and forced a smile. ¡°Since you found out about it, I shall not keep it a secret. To be honest with you, Dustin Rhys has be the principal disciple of the Steel Legion!¡± His im prompted a collective gasp. ¡°What? Has Dustin Rhys joined the Steel Legion?¡± ¡°My goodness! Mr. Dunn, you hit the jackpot!¡± ¡°Mr. Dunn, you hide your talents well. How did you manage to scout a genius like him? We¡¯re envious!¡± Congrattions, Mr. Dunn. Do remember me if you have anything good to share with themunity.¡± The martial artists started ttering Ralph and currying favor, especially the hot-blooded teens who were itching to join. ¡°Mr. Dunn, do you still take in disciples? I want to join the Steel Legion!¡± ¡°Me too! Count me in!¡± ¡°The Steel Legion must have a solid foundation to nurture a genius like Dustin Rhys. I want in too!¡± The young martial artists around them were a bubbling cacophony; each worried they¡¯d be one step behind ¡°That is always open to consideration. The Steel Legion always wees upstanding men who fight for justice!¡± Ralph was beaming merrily at the enthusiastic response. He was taken aback by the effectiveness of name-dropping Dustin, which immediately garnered the interest of many young martial artists. If the trend continued, he believed the Steel Legion would prosper under his wise and courageous leadership! ¡°Uh¡­¡± Abby had a funny look on her face when she witnessed the crowd¡¯s eagerness. Her grandpa¡¯s brazenness came as a surprise-he wanted to associate the guild with Dustin, even though Dustin had clearly turned him down. She wondered, ¡°Is this what they call the ¡®real world¡¯? Chapter 320 Chapter 320 It was noon. At the clubhouse of the Hummer¡¯s residence, Edwin Hummer was struck on the head with a wine bottle. Blood trickled down his body, along with the merlot. ¡°Hummer! I was screwed because of you!¡± Tatum sat on the couch; his features contorted in anger. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Dustin Rhys was a nobody? Why was he that powerful? Did you lie to me on. purpose?¡± At his mentor¡¯s request, Tatum had shown up to avenge Joshua Hummer. In the beginning, he thought he could show off his talent, but he was badly defeated in the end. Not only that, his core was destroyed. He had all the reason to be mad. ¡°Sir Thunders, in my records, Dustin Rhys did note from a remarkable background. It wasn¡¯t wrong to describe him as a nobody. As for his actual abilities, I recall giving you a heads up, but you didn¡¯t take it seriously,¡± Edwin murmured with his head hung low. ¡°Are you ming me for being weak?¡± Tatum glowered at him. If he weren¡¯t hurt, he would have taught Edwin a lesson. ¡°In my opinion, it is unnecessary to issue a public challenge to men like Dustin Rhys. You can use whatever means to get him killed,¡± Edwin further exined. ¡°Oh, are you fucking teaching me how to get things done now? Tatum¡¯s expression darkened, his eyes gleaming with hostility. ¡°Of course not.¡± Edwin lowered his head. ¡°I have no time for you!¡± Tatum looked irritated. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get Substratumis from Dr. Linden Watkins? Give it to me now. I need it for my injuries¡± Substratumis, the core restoration pill, was created to heal internal injuries. It was rather effective in restoring one¡¯s core. As long as the patient took it within 24 hours, they would stand a chance to regenerate their core. However, due to the preciousness of the ingredients, the Stoneray Valley only produced a few pills annually. Each batch of pills would be scooped up by members of various guilds upon hitting the market. Thankfully, Edwin had spent a fortune on one of those pills, just in time for Tatum to use it. ¡°Sir Thunders, I identally crushed the pill. So, I can¡¯t help you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Edwin shook his head regrettably. ¡°You crushed the pill?¡± Tatum¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he snickered. ¡°Are you kidding me? Any sane person would take great care of that precious pill. How could you have crushed it? Your son¡¯s dead anyway, so you can¡¯t use it on him. Who else except for me will need your pill?¡± ¡°Sir Thunders, I am telling you the truth.¡± Edwin appeared serious. ¡°Oh, shut up! If you don¡¯t hand me the restorative pill today, I¡¯ll crush your legs!¡± Tatum threatened him spitefully. Edwin stared at Tatum with his cold but bright eyes. ¡°But, Sir Thunders, I wonder how you are going to do that, given that your core has been destroyed.¡± ¡°Hah! I might not have any bit of internal energy left, but killing a man like you is child¡¯s y!¡± Tatum was conceited. ¡°Is that so?¡± Edwin chuckled icily and brandished a gun from his back without warning. He pointed it at Tatum. ¡°Can a man without internal energy defend himself from bullets?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Tatum¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°How dare you point a gun at me, you son of a bitch. Do you know who I am? Put the gun down and cut your hands in front of me. If not, I¡¯ll¡­¡± Edwin suddenly pulled the trigger before Tatum could finish his sentence. Following a loud bang, the bullet shot Tatum in the forehead, leaving a sttered mess of blood on the wall. Tatum grunted, his body trembling and his eyes wide-opened in disbelief. He¡¯d never believe that Edwin would pull the trigger on him, and a fatal, point-nk shot at that. Finally, Tatum¡¯s body slumped heavily onto the floor, his eyes remaining open as he drew hisst breath. ¡°Huh?¡± Fletcher Lawson, who had been standing by the side, appeared mortified at the scene. ¡°S- Sir Hummer, what are you doing? Tatum Thunders is Sir Lincoln¡¯s principal disciple. How are we going to exin this to Sir Lincoln?¡± He secretly thought Edwin had gone mad for having the guts to murder Tatum. ¡°Yeah, I killed him. Why do I need to exin that? Edwin took out a handkerchief and calmly wiped the spot of his head injury from the wine bottle attack. ¡°If Sir Lincoln learns about this, he will not let this slip!¡± Fletcher was panicking as he pictured the guildmaster of Boulderthorn, halfway to bing a grandmaster. The man was powerful enough to massacre the entire Hummer Family! ¡°If we don¡¯t tell, no one will know,¡± Edwin muttered emotionlessly. ¡°But Tatum died on our territory. How can we hide the fact?¡± Fletcher was drenched in cold sweat by now. ¡°You don¡¯t have to panic. Just remember-none of us met Tatum Thunders today. He suffered a sudden death in his home after the battle with Dustin. We shall leave Boulderthorn to figure out the murderer, and we have no clue about it at all. Got it?¡± Edwin tilted his head, his eyes shimmering with a cold gaze. ¡°Sir Hummer, are you telling me to¡­ shift the me to Dustin Rhys?¡± It didn¡¯t take Fletcher long to piece the puzzle. ¡°It was Dustin Rhys¡¯ doing all along. When did we shift the me to him?¡± Edwin questioned. ¡°Oh, right! It¡¯s all Dustin Rhys¡¯ fault!¡± Fletcher nodded furiously. At that point, he finally caught a glimpse of the depths of Edwin¡¯s dark soul. Edwin had decided to kill a top ace like Tatum without blinking an eye. The mere thought of it was mind-numbing. At the Boulderthorn branch in Millsburg, Clement Lincoln sat on the throne, his expression darkening when Tatum Thunders¡¯ body was brought back. As the guildmaster of Boulderthorn who had extensive experience in the field, he never had anyone offending him in this manner. ¡°Who was it? Who did this?¡± He gritted his teeth as his eyes bulged. Sir Lincoln, it was Dustin Rhys!¡± Luther started fanning the mes. ¡°Dustin Rhys pulled dirty tricks in the battle and destroyed Tatum¡¯s core. Tatum was assassinated right after that!¡± ¡°Dustin Rhys! It¡¯s him again!¡± Clement banged his fists on the table out of rage, and the wooden table instantly cracked and split into pieces. First, it was Joshua Hummer. Now, it was Tatum. Clement had lost two beloved disciples, one of whom was his heir. It was tough not to feel anger and hatred at the culprit. ¡°Sir Lincoln, Dustin Rhys is sly and ruthless. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. If we don¡¯t get rid of him in time, he might be a pain in the ass in the future!¡± Luther added fuel to the fire. ¡°Send out my orders-The Royal Valor of Boulder thorn is looking to arrest Dustin Rhys!¡± Clement said with grief. ¡°I¡¯ll use all necessary means and make any sacrifices to tear him into pieces!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± His disciples bowed and took his orders The Royal Valor was shaken from the orders, and its aces were called back from all corners of the world for the quest. At that moment, Dustin Rhys was the most-wanted man on the Royal Valor¡¯s cklist. Chapter 321 Chapter 321 In the evening, Dustin was focused on drug research at the Peaceful Medical Centre when a silver Bentley rolled to a stop at the entrance. The door opened, and Natasha, dressed in a bodycon silver dress, strutted out, her hips swaying alluringly as she walked. ¡°Dear, I¡¯m here¡­¡± She entered the medical center with a sweet smile and took Dustin by his arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go! I¡¯ll bring you out to have a nice dinner tonight!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°A nice dinner? Where to?¡± He was, curious, but she dragged him into her car without further exnation. ¡°You¡¯ll know when we¡¯re there.¡± The car cruised at a steady speed down the streets. Forty minutester, it parked in front of the entrance of a high-end recreational club. ¡°Ms. Harmon, you¡¯re here! Pleasee with me,¡± one of the ushers led the way as the other ushers lined up and bowed to the guests. They shuffled up to the restaurant on the second floor and made their way to a spacious private lounge, where a couple of young men and women had congregated. They were dressed to the nines and acted gracefully. One could tell that they were no ordinary folks. ¡°Natasha, you¡¯re finally here! I thought we¡¯d be stood up again because you¡¯re too busy!¡± A woman in a crimson dress stood up to greet Natasha and Dustin. She was lovely and tall, and her bodycon long dress hugged her curves at the perfect ces, showing off her voluptuous figure to everyone. ¡°Zoey, I will never stand you up. We don¡¯t get to meet up often as old schoolmates. We definitely need to catch up in this rare gathering.¡± Natasha beamed at the woman named Zoey. ¡°Natasha, is this your boyfriend?¡± Zoey scanned Dustin from head to toe with curiosity. She decided that he was good-looking but dressed rather shabbily. He didn¡¯t look like he was from a wealthy family. ¡°That¡¯s correct. I¡¯ll introduce you to each other. This is my man, Dustin Rhys.¡± Smiling, Natasha introduced her friends to Dustin as well, ¡°Dear, these are my schoolmates. This gorgeous woman here with big tits and a big ass is Zoey Forster. This is L Benson, with short hair and dimples. Oh, and this is a mega star in Dragonmarsh, queen of entertainment-Adriana Lovett. These two guys are Zeke Perry and Gordon Flynn.¡± ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± Dustin shed them a dignified smile. One had to admit that birds of a feather do flock together. Natasha was attractive, and so were her friends. Adriana stood out especially, and she rivaled Natasha in terms of appearance. It was no surprise that she was crowned the queen of entertainment. ¡°Natasha, your boyfriend doesn¡¯t look familiar. I wonder what he is working as,¡± the man named Zeke Perry inquired. ¡°Oh, my man is a doctor.¡± Natasha looked proud, but her friends were baffled. ¡°He¡¯s a doctor?¡± They thought it was ridiculous that Natasha, the precious daughter of the Harmon Family, was dating a doctor. So, Natasha, is Mr. Rhys an alumnus of Harvard Medical School or Stanford Medicine?¡± Zeke pressed on. In their eyes, only the best could date Natasha. ¡°No.¡± Dustin shook his head. Zeke asked, ¡°Oh! May I know which medical school you graduated from? And where are you practicing now?¡± ¡°I did not attend university. I¡¯m now running a humble medical center,¡± Dustin did not shun the topic. ¡°A medical center? Are you kidding us?¡± Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Zeke¡¯s jaw dropped to the floor. Not only was Dustin not an alumnus of a prestigious institution. but he also did not attend university Was he even a good match for Natasha? ¡°Natasha, what¡¯s going on? You didn¡¯t drag a random man here just to shut us up, did you?¡± Zoey was This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. displeased, for she believed that a doctor from an ordinary medical center wasn¡¯t worthy of sharing a dinner table with their group ¡°Stop acting funny Dustin is an expert in medicine and martial arts You¡¯ll know soon.¡± Natasha puffed her chest with a smile. ¡°Natasha, I¡¯m sorry, but you¡¯d be better off dating me if you were giving this doctor a chance,¡± Gordon finally spoke up half-jokingly He had once pursued Natasha but was turned down. Now that Natasha got her eyes on an ordinary doctor, he started to think he had a chance because he felt that he was way better than Dustin. After all, the Flynn family was one of the elites in Balerno. ¡°Right, Natasha, I think Gordon¡¯s pretty decent He stayed single just to wait for you. Why don¡¯t you. consider him?¡± Zoey winked at Natasha and started matchmaking ¡°Gordon? Nah, he¡¯s not my type,¡± Natasha shot down the suggestion. ¡°Natasha, now, you¡¯re being harsh Gordon graduated from a prestigious university He runs apany worth billions Isn¡¯t he a stronger candidate than a doctor? Zoey analyzed ¡°Gordon¡¯s life is none of my business My boyfriend is Dustin Please do not joke about this topic¡± Natasha frowned a little, clearly crossed. ¡°Plus, if you are talking about an excellent candidate, Dustin is the best for me Even a hundred Gordons Ean¡¯t beat a single Dustin Rhys ¡± The expression on the faces of Natasha¡¯s friends froze, none expected that remark from Natasha Haimon, and they wondered if Natasha, the Steel Lady, was just like the average woman blinded, by love ¡°Hmph¡¯ I¡¯m not a big shot, but I rake in billions annually. If this gentleman here is a hundred times better than I am, does that mean he is making hundreds of billions per year?¡± Gordon started acting funny. He was obviously unsatisfied with Natasha¡¯sparison. ¡°The money you earn doesn¡¯t mean a thing Even if Dustin is dirt poor, I will still love him. Do you get it now?¡± Natasha schooled her friends coldly ¡°Hah! So, he¡¯s a sugar baby Gordon snorted with disdain, and the other friends joined him to look down on Dustin. ¡°Gordon Flynn, watch your mouth! If you¡¯re not hungry, perhaps you should see yourself out!¡± Natasha¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Alright, alright Natasha, we¡¯re all old schoolmates here. They¡¯re only pulling your leg. Just rx. Come here. Take a seat, everyone,¡± Zoey hurriedly yed the mediator when she realized the situation was rapidly deteriorating. Gordon didn¡¯t say a word after that, but he shot a venomous look at Dustin. After they took their seats, they started chatting and eating harmoniously. However, they gave Dustin the cold shoulder due to his low social status. Still, he was unconcerned by the treatment and enjoyed his drinks and food as though he wasn¡¯t part of the group. In the middle of the conversations, the door to the private lounge flung open. A middle-aged man. with a beer belly marched in with two bodyguards in tow. Adriana, who had been rather quiet, suddenly seemed frantic when she noticed the intruders. ¡°Ms. Lovett, why didn¡¯t you pick up our calls? Do you think we couldn¡¯t hunt you down if you hid in a small town?¡± The middle-aged man shed a menacing grin. ¡°My contract with thepany is annulled! Stop harassing me!¡± Adriana warned them. The man scoffed. ¡°Hah! Is that for you to decide? What do you take our boss for? Thepany invested money and effort tounch you to fame. Now that you¡¯re established, you n to go solo! You¡¯re taking advantage of us, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve paid you back the money I made over these years! What more do you want?¡± Her face fell. ¡°Hmph! That tiny amount of money isn¡¯t worth a thing! Our boss is interested in you as a product. As long as you¡¯re with the agency, you¡¯ll bring in dough constantly. You must know that, don¡¯t you?¡± The man chuckled. ¡°I will not go with you! Just give up!¡± Adriana appeared adamant, but the man snickered and said, ¡± That¡¯s not for you to decide too. Guys, take her!¡± Chapter 323 Chapter 323 ¡°Guys! Take her!¡± Under the man¡¯s orders, the two bodyguards stepped forward, ready to act. ¡°Hold on!¡± Zeke stood up suddenly and hissed, ¡°Adriana is my schoolmate. I don¡¯t care who you are. You need to get the fuck out right now, or I won¡¯t go easy on you!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! The audacity to take her in our presence!¡± Gordon mmed the table with ant imposing air. Adriana was a rising star, crowned the queen of entertainment, and she rivaled Natasha in the This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. looks department Of course, the guys would not give up on the opportunity to save the damsel in distress. ¡°Sir, this has nothing to do with you Stay out of it¡± the middle-aged man warned the guys icily. ¡°Hmph! We see it as our business! Get out of here if you don¡¯t want to die!¡± Zeke bellowed at them.. ¡°Throw these jerks out!¡± the middle-aged man roared, and the two bodyguards went to work. Seeing that, Zeke and Gordon confidently took on one bodyguard each. Zeke¡¯s style was more of a street gangster¡¯s-he ruthlessly hit the bodyguard on the head with a beer bottle. Meanwhile, Gordon showed off his martial arts skills from his past practice, looking majestic in action. With their teamwork, they managed to take down the two bodyguards in no time. ¡°Who are you? And why did you poke your nose in others¡¯ business?¡± The middle-aged man had a frosty look on his face. ¡°Listen up-I¡¯m Zeke Perry, from the Perry family!¡± ¡°And I am Gordon Flynn. If you have any grudges, you shoulde at us instead of harassing a woman That¡¯s cowardice.¡± The two men were beaming after showing off their heroism in front of the prettydies. It felt good. ¡°Okay! I have your faces in my mind! Just wait for it!¡± The middle-aged man shot them a deadly re and left. ¡°Hmph! Run any slower, and I¡¯ll break your leg!¡± Zeke waved his beer bottle wildly. ¡°Clowns! How dare they make a scene in front of us! Gordon seemed arrogant. Zoey¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration. ¡°I never knew you guys were that great at fighting! It was eye- opening!¡± ¡°Hah, that was nothing! Back in the day, Gordon and I took down ten guys in the bar!¡± Zeke proudly reminisced. She beamed at him. ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s amazing!¡± ¡°Zeke, Gordon, thank you so much.¡± Adriana was grateful to them. She had gone to tiny Balerno from Stonia to run from the trouble, but they hunted her down anyway. She couldn¡¯t picture the oue if she were caught and dragged away. ¡°Adriana, we¡¯re all schoolmates. Just rx when you¡¯re with us. If youe across any trouble, just Natasha was rather curious. ¡°Adriana, who did you get into trouble with, to the point that you had to run all the way to Balerno from Stonia?¡± ¡°I got into trouble with the boss of the entertainment agency,¡± Adriana replied with a sigh. ¡°When I was younger, I had a dream to be a star and signed a contract with an agency without much thinking. Since then, I¡¯ve be their money tree They worked me all year long without off days. I didn¡¯t mind working hard, but after I achieved some fame, the bosses started arranging for me to attend dinners and parties. I was made to entertain the government officials and business magnates.¡± She added, ¡°At first, they wanted me to drink at the parties. Later, they wanted me to sleep with some of the men. There was no way I¡¯d agree with that, so I kept saying no. They tried a lot of methods on me, offering me money and threatening me. I couldn¡¯t take it anymore and paid a huge penalty to nullify the contract. But they still refuse to let me go!¡± She was close to tears at this point. The public only saw the attractive lifestyle of a star, not knowing that she had suffered a lot in this line of work. The queen of entertainment was nothing more than an empty title. The industry was moreplicated than most people imagined it to be. Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Had it not been for her seniors¡¯ protection, Adriana believed she would have fallen into the abyss. ¡°How dare these bastards force you into such filthy deals? That¡¯s shameless!¡± Zeke was indignant after hearing her ount. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Hmph! They¡¯re just an entertainment agency. How dare they do that to you? Do they think they are above thew?¡± Gordon fumed and promised, ¡°Adriana, do not worry. We will see this through. No matter who your boss is, we won¡¯t go easy on him!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! We will surely avenge you!¡± the others chimed in, looking as though they were ready for a battle. ¡°Thank you.¡± Tears of gratitude streamed down Adriana¡¯s face. ¡°By the way, Adriana, what¡¯s the name of your boss?¡± Natasha suddenly asked. ¡°I only know that Langford is hisst name. I don¡¯t know anything else,¡± Adriana answered. ¡°Langford?¡± The friends exchanged nces, and after connecting the dots, they appeared terrified. ¡°That can¡¯t be it! Is he from the Langford family of Glenstead?¡± The aristocrats of Stonia were at a different level than those from Balerno-the elites that established themselves in the royal city came from lineages that spanned centuries. Natasha and her friends believed they¡¯d be in great trouble if the boss of the entertainment agency were truly from the Langford family of Glenstead. ¡°Adriana, what¡¯s the name of your agency?¡± Natasha cautiously prodded. Adriana answered, ¡°It¡¯s called Langford Productions Everyone paled at the mention of the agency¡¯s name. Langford Productions was the entertainment agency under Langford Inc.! It was no surprise that the men from the agency woulde for Adriana in Balerno all the way from Stonia-the Langford family was the mastermind behind it all. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Adriana quickly sensed that something was off. She had no clue about the man behind Langford Productions, but she was aware of the agency¡¯s huge influence. ¡°Adriana, you might have run into trouble. The boss of Langford Productions isn¡¯t your average millionaire.¡± Natasha put on a grim expression. Only Zoey looked unbothered. ¡°Natasha, stop scaring her. We aren¡¯t afraid of the boss of a random entertainment agency when we have Zeke and Gordon backing us!¡± Zeke and Gordon exchanged looks, intimidated because they knew the Langford family was untouchable. ¡°Friends, shall we head to the next ce to have fun since we¡¯re done with dinner?¡± Zeke suddenly threw a suggestion out of fear that the Langfords mighte after them. Gordon agreed, ¡°Right! It¡¯s quite boring here. Let¡¯s go to the bar!¡± ¡°Sure. No one objected to that, and they started gathering their stuff before leaving. At that moment, they heard amotion at the door. Next, the middle-aged men who had left earlier barged into the ce with reinforcements. ¡°Leave? Where are you leaving?¡± ¡°How dare you go against our boss? None of you shall leave here!¡± ¡°Get every single one of them. Circle them now!¡± Under the orders, a group of bodyguards closed in on Natasha and her friends. Thedies were scared when they saw the threatening scowl on the bodyguards¡¯ faces. ¡°Sir, I am Zeke Perry. Please show us some mercy and call the guards off.¡± Zeke bit the bullet and handed the man a check. ¡°Here¡¯s a little token from me. Just think of it aspensation.¡± ¡°Call them off? How about no, you motherfucker?¡± The middle-aged man was boiling in anger as he pped Zeke across the face. Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Zeke almost toppled over from the p by the middle-aged man. ¡°You¡­¡± Zeke gritted his teeth, a scowl forming on his face after being humiliated in front of everyone. However, his hands were tied because the men outnumbered him and came with the backing of the Langfords. ¡°My friend, let¡¯s not burn bridges. What¡¯s the point ofing at us?¡± Gordon frowned and intervened ¡°Fuck you!¡± The man grabbed a beer bottle and smashed it on Gordon¡¯s head. The beer was everywhere in an instant, and Gordon was bleeding from the head. ¡°That¡¯s too much!¡± Zoey jumped out and protested, Do you know who you just hit? He¡¯s the son of the Flynn family-Gordon Flynn!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care wherever the fuck he¡¯s from. He¡¯s dead meat if he gets into trouble with the Langfords. ¡°The man was ferocious. Zoey choked on anger. ¡°Y-y-you¡¯d better not be a bully!¡± ¡°What if I am a bully? Whoever tries to step up today will stand in the firing line!¡± The man gestured, and his bodyguards drew their swords. Their threatening postures immediately shut her 1. ¡°Yo, dude! I thought you were a hero just now! Why are you quiet now?¡± The man pped Gordon on the face repeatedly in an attempt to humiliate him. ¡°Friend, if what you want is money, we have room for discussion,¡± Gordon bit the bullet and negotiated ¡°Room for a fucking discussion?¡± The man kicked Gordon aside and even spat on him with disdain while he was at it. ¡°Who do you think you are? You don¡¯t have the right to discuss anything with me. Do you believe that I couldn¡¯t make you vanish from the surface of the earth when I give the orders?¡± Gordon, looking mortified, finally fell silent. The man snickered. ¡°Two useless pieces of trash. Showing off in front of me? You¡¯d better know your limits.¡± Then, he turned his attention to Adriana and smiled at her. ¡°Ms. Lovett, it seems like no one can save you now. Come with us.¡± She bit her lips and cast a pleading nce at Gordon However, Gordon and Zeke hung their heads low, too timid to make a sound. ¡°Ms. Lovett, if you don¡¯t y nice, do not me us forying a finger on your friends!¡± The man - resorted to threats. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll leave with you!¡± She took a deep breath and chose to surrender, knowing what the men were capable of doing. If she fought back, she would unnecessarily hurt everyone at the : scene. But Natasha stood before her and coldly confronted the men, ¡°Wait a minute! How much do you want in exchange for Adriana¡¯s freedom?¡± ¡°Oh! Here¡¯s another prettydy!¡± The man scanned her from head to toe with a renewed interest in his eyes. Natasha was as good-looking as Adriana, and some might even argue that she had a sexier figure. The man believed Natasha would be their new money tree if she gained fame. ¡°I can let her go. But you will have to leave with us instead.¡± He cackled wickedly. ¡°If you entertain and please my boss, he is open to any discussion.¡± ¡°You¡¯d better not be greedy!¡± Her expression froze. The Langfords had a sprawling business empite, but they were not as invincible as to do whatever they wanted in Balerno. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re pretty feisty, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s exactly my type! It¡¯s rare toe across ady like you. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Since we are in luck today, we can¡¯t possibly miss the chance. Guys, take both of them.¡± The man did not want to engage further and gave his orders ¡°Hey. Time to stop it.¡± At that time, Dustin finally rose from his seat after filling himself with food and drinks. Sensing his imposing aura, the bodyguards dared not take a step forward. ¡°And where the fuck did youe from?¡± Chapter 326 Chapter 326 The middle-aged man¡¯s expression was unfriendly, I¡¯m warning you. Don¡¯t try to be a hero. Otherwise, I¡¯ll break both your legs!¡± ¡°You can hit anyone but her.¡± Dustin stood in front of Natasha, his gaze calm. ¡°And if I do?¡± he sneered. ¡°Then I¡¯ll cripple you,¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°You must be tired of living, bastard!¡± The middle-aged man finally erupted in anger. ¡°Get him! I want him beaten mercilessly! I¡¯ll take full responsibility if he dies!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± On hismand, the bodyguards stopped holding back, immediately brandishing their knives at Dustin. Dustin mmed one hand on the table, and the knives on the table bounced up. With a wave of his sleeves, sharp whistles were heard. Appearing like hidden weapons, the knives shot straight into the bodyguards¡¯ knees. In a blink of an eye, the previously arrogant and intimidating group of bodyguards were taken down. ¡°What?¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s expression shifted upon the sceneid out before him. He¡¯d been around long enough to realize he¡¯d encountered a skilled martial artist that day. ¡°Holy shit! This guy have skills?¡± Zoey was shocked She would have never thought that an ordinary doctor would have such impressive skills. Even Zeke and Gordon were taken aback. They looked at each other with a bewildered look on their faces. Dustin must have had immense strength to be able to pierce a knife through the bodyguards¡¯ knees. What was more astonishing was that he attacked with such uracy that each bodyguard had the exact same injury. ¡°Huh?¡± Adriana was surprised, and her gaze betrayed a spark of interest. ¡°Who the hell are you, punk? How dare you poke your nose into the Langford family¡¯s business?¡± The middle-aged man carried a dark expression. ¡°So what if you¡¯re from the Langford family? I¡¯m butting in since I can¡¯t stand you harassing a woman,¡± Dustin replied dismissively. ¡°Just you wait and see, punk!¡± The man gritted his teeth and was about to leave when Dustin grabbed him by the cor and pulled back forcefully. With a resounding bang, the man crashed into the wall, spitting out a mouthful of blood. ¡°Did I say you can leave?¡± Dustin was calm. ¡°You¡­ what do you want?¡± His body felt like it was about to fall apart as he clenched his jaw. ¡°You think you can act as if nothing happened and escape just like that? Think again. Get down on your knees and apologize to everyone here,¡± Dustin ordered coldly. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Never!¡± he refused immediately. ¡°Oh?¡± Dustin raised his eyebrows and gave him a resounding p. A few teeth fell out from the force. ¡°You dare hit me? I¡¯m from the Langford family!¡± He was resentful. ¡°That p is for the Langford family.¡± Without another word, Dustinnded two more ps, leaving the man dazed and unable to steady himself. Zeke¡¯s expression changed as he watched the scene unfold before him. ¡°Dustin, you¡¯re crazy! Stop this instant! Gordon added with a dark expression, ¡°The Langford family is very powerful. You¡¯re going to die for humiliating them in public. Even if you don¡¯t value your life, don¡¯t drag us down with you!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys getting overly worked up for a mere servant of the Langford family?¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°You-¡± Their expressions turned ugly as soon as Dustin said that. Chapter 327 Chapter 327 ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I started this. I¡¯ll make sure not to pull you both down into this mess. Of course, if you¡¯re scared, you could leave first. I didn¡¯t see a thing,¡± Dustin said casually. A few simple words had made them feel indignant, and their faces burned, especially from the looks the three women were giving them. It was humiliating to be looked down on by an ordinary doctor. ¡°You¡¯re dead meat, punk! All of you are dead meat!¡± The middle-aged man got up from the floor with a disheveled appearance. ¡°Say that again? Who¡¯s dead meat?¡± Dustin gave him another p. ¡°You¡± Before he could speak, another heavy pnded on his face. With a grunt, finally, he fainted from the attacks. Zoey and the rest of them watched in shock. They couldn¡¯t believe Dustin was merciless and dared attack with such force, even though he knew the other party was from the Langford family. He must really not value his life! ¡°Weakling.¡± Dustin dusted his hands, feeling unsatisfied. ¡°Dustin! Do you know what you¡¯ve just done? Not even the Gods can save you for offending the Langford family,¡± Gordon admonished him sternly but also gloated at his misfortune. Even though he was surprised by Dusin¡¯s martial skills, he knew his actions would only lead to his demise. ¡°Keep your judgment to yourselves. Just because you¡¯re afraid of the Langfords doesn¡¯t mean I am too.¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°Hmph! You must not be aware of how scary they could be!¡± Zeke shook his head as if he was looking at an idiot. The Langford family was Stonia¡¯s most powerful and wealthy aristocratic family. Other than the Tremendous Three, no one else dared confront the Langfords directly in the whole of Balerno. With Dustin¡¯s mere background as an ordinary doctor, he should have made sure he knew who he was This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. going up against before attacking a Langford family servant. ¡°That¡¯s enough. We shouldn¡¯t stay here any longer. Let¡¯s go.¡± Zoey¡¯s gaze betrayed her nerves. After what happened, she understood how terrifying the Langfords could be. Dustin suddenly said, ¡°Ms. Harmon, you should go first. I have a few things left to do.¡± Since he¡¯d already made an enemy out of the Langfords, he might as well deal with the issue cleanly. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Natasha stared nkly at him. Nothing much, just going to finish up some unfinished business,¡± Dustin smiled. ¡°Hey! Are you crazy? Their men will be here soon You¡¯ll be dead meat by then,¡± Zoey said with a frown. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Dustin wasn¡¯t bothered. ¡°Be careful Natasha gave him a long gaze before pulling Adriana out of the door. She knew that her presence would cause him more trouble. ¡°Forget it. Suit yourself.¡± Zoey shook her head and left. ¡°Hmph! You should know better. You¡¯ll find out soon enough how powerful the Langfords are.¡± ¡°Since you won¡¯t listen to our advice, there¡¯s no point in stopping you from being the dead meat you love to be.¡± Zeke and Gordon followed behind them after throwing out those words. All of them finally breathed a sigh of relief after leaving the restaurant. ¡°Guys, what should we do now?¡± Standing near the entrance, Zoey said with uncertainty, ¡°Adriana has been marked by the Langfords. If we don¡¯t think of something, this won¡¯t end well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! Adriana is not strong enough to fight against those brutal swine.¡± Zeke was slightly worried. ¡°They¡¯re not too unreasonable. Perhaps we could talk it out. I just so happen to be acquainted with Luis Langford. I¡¯m sure there won¡¯t be a problem as long as I can convince Mr. Langford.¡± ¡°Gordon, you know Mr. Langford? Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? I almost peed my pants just now.¡± Zeke was surprised. ¡°Thest time I went to Stonia, I attended a party of his and got to know him there.¡± Gordon smiled. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! I can¡¯t believe you know someone so powerful!¡± Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Zoey was ecstatic and chimed in, ¡°Adriana, there¡¯s hope! As long as Gordon convinces Mr. Langford, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be safe then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great. Thanks, Gordon!¡± As Adriana thanked him profusely, her cleavage came into full view. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just helping out a friend.¡± Gordon waved his hand like it was a minor issue. ¡°Alright, since we¡¯ve resolved the matter, let¡¯s go for a few more rounds of drinks,¡± Zeke said, calling up his driver and ushering them into his car Just as they were about to depart, more than ten ck SUVS screeched to a halt in front of the restaurant, surrounding it entirely. As the doors opened, a group of fighters with batons in hand got off and barged into the restaurant with a murderous look. ¡°Dang! Weren¡¯t those the Langfords¡¯ men?¡± Zeke¡¯s eye twitched, and he was inexplicably nervous. He thought they were lucky to have left in time. If they had been slower by even two minutes, they probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to escape then. ¡°Natasha, will your boyfriend be alright?¡± Adriana was worried. After all, Dustin had saved her earlier. She would feel bad if something happened to him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. He can handle it.¡± Natasha smiled faintly. She was aware of his abilities. Fighting a few ordinary fighters would be like a breeze to him. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. He only has two fists. Even if he had skills, how would he survive against so many of them?¡± Gordon shook his head but was happy about Dustin¡¯s predicament. ¡°That¡¯s right! The Langfords have plenty of highly skilled martial artists. How would he take all of them on?¡± Zeke pursed his lips. In their eyes, Dustin only liked seeking attention As soon as he encountered Langfords¡¯ skilled fighters, he¡¯d end up dead. Natasha didn¡¯t bother exining further since they didn¡¯t believe her. In the meantime, in the private room of the restaurant, Dustin was silently enjoying his food. He was eating with great enthusiasm when the door was kicked down. Arge number of fighters barged in, surrounding him in no time. The man who fainted earlier suddenly sprung up, his expression menacing. ¡°Hey, punk! My backup is here. You¡¯re dead meat this time!¡± It was evident that he had been ying dead. This is all of them? I thought you were bringing an army.¡± Dustin shook his head, seemingly regretful. ¡°You¡¯re still talking back in the face of death? Kill him!¡± the middle-aged man bellowed. Dozens of them brandished their weapons, prepared to attack, when suddenly, someone yelled at the door. ¡°Hold it! Following the voice, a figure appeared. It was Dahlia who rushed in, d in branded clothing Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Dustin¡¯s brows furrowed at the sight of the woman Why did he keep running into her? ¡°I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you.¡± She carried aplicated expression as she looked. at Dustin. ¡°So what if it¡¯s me? I¡¯ve told you not to appear before me again,¡± Dustin said coldly. Dahlta frowned at his words, but she turned to the middle-aged man instead. ¡°Mr. Atwood, what¡¯s going on here?¡± ¡°Mrs. Langford, this punk dared butt into our business. I¡¯m about to give him a lesson. With your dignified status, I ask that you step aside lest you ruin your clothes.¡± Mr. Atwood smiled apologetically. ¡°Mr. Atwood, this is a friend of mine. Can you let him go?¡± Dahlia responded. ¡°A friend?¡± he frowned slightly. Since he was pped earlier, he was quite unwilling. ¡°Hmm? Do my words not carry weight? Do I need to get Luis here to talk to you?¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°No, no. Please don¡¯t misunderstand, Mrs. Langford Since he¡¯s your friend, naturally, we won¡¯t dare touch him.¡± Mr. Atwood smiled awkwardly and gave the signal, leaving with all the men present. ¡°Mrs. Langford? How impressive.¡± Dustin sneered coldly,pletely ungrateful. Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Dahlia put on a calm front even though she felt hurt from the icy re Dustin was giving her. ¡± Dustin, I just didn¡¯t want you to get into trouble. I didn¡¯t do it so you can feel indebted to me,¡± she said nonchntly. ¡°I don¡¯t think what happens to me is any of your business.¡± ¡°I know you hate me. I know I¡¯ve wronged you too. Il try my best to make it up to you in the future. ¡°Make it up to me?¡± Dustin scoffed, ¡°Oh, Dahlia, you think too highly of yourself. Do you think I actually care?¡± ¡°Then what do you care about? Or perhaps, is there anything you need help on?¡± she asked tentatively. ¡°Sorry. I don¡¯t need anything. I just need you to get far away from me,¡± Dustin responded. ¡°Do you hate me that much?¡± Dahlia frowned. She felt an inexplicable stabbing pain in her chest. ¡°Yeah. You yed me like a dog. Am I supposed to put on a pitiful dog act to please you?¡± Dustin mocked. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Dahlia took in a deep breath, but, in the end, she could only lower her head. ¡°Forget it. Don¡¯t show me that pitiful expression of yours. It¡¯s repulsive.¡± Dustin¡¯s words were harsh. ¡°I¡­¡± She was unable to continue. There were many times she wanted to tell him the truth but couldn¡¯t. That was because she knew him well. Once he found out the truth, he would definitely make an enemy out of Luis. He would probably even try something foolish that might lead to his demise. All Dahlia wished was for Dustin to live peacefully Even if that meant carrying the burden of his hatred and being his enemy, she would dly ensure it was so. Out of the blue, she asked,¡± How are things with you and Natasha?¡± ¡°We¡¯re doing great. We¡¯ve been talking about getting married,¡± Dustin deliberately unnerved her ¡°Is that Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. so? Congrattions.¡± Dahlia forced a smile ¡°Natasha is a great woman. I can tell she likes you a lot. It¡¯s just that both of you have different social standings. You need to work harder to catch up to her.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that,¡± he responded coldly. ¡°You¡¯re right. Why am I butting into your rtionship? Anyways, I wish both of you the best.¡± Dustin had never seen a smile that tender on her face. ¡°What exactly are you trying to say?¡± His brows furrowed. Nothing. I suddenly feel like having a drink. Will you drink a few sses with me?¡± SH ¡°No,¡± Dustin refused right away. ¡°I told you. I have nothing to do with you any longer. From now on, we shall be strangers. Please don¡¯t bother me again in the future. I don¡¯t wish to be yed like a fool a second time!¡± He turned around to leave. ¡°Wait-¡± Dahlia reached out and grabbed his arm instinctively. ¡°Get lost!¡± Looking annoyed, Dustin shrugged her off. Dahlia stumbled and fell to the floor, her handnding on broken pieces of ss. Blood dripped down, as the ss crystals dug into her palms. She frowned but never uttered a word. The pain could never ¡°You ¡°Seeing that she was hurt, Dustin extended his hand, about to help her up, when he froze midway. After thinking about everything that had happened, he decided to be merciless and ignored her injury. ¡°Seems like you truly hate me. I guess it¡¯s better that way¡­¡± Dahlia smiled and got up slowly. She continued, ¡°I¡¯m getting engaged to Luis tomorrow. After that, I¡¯ll be leaving for Stonia and starting my life as Mrs. Langford. Today should be our final meeting. Thank you for taking care of me these past three years. I¡¯ll never forget it. Humans are such weird creatures. We never appreciate things when we have them, only regretting it when we lose them.¡± With that, she exited the room. Watching her departing figure, Dustin wanted to speak but didn¡¯t know what to say. Dahlia was about to exit the building when she suddenly stopped in her tracks. She had noticed a - familiar face. It was Natasha, pacing back and forth at the main entrance. ¡°You¡¯re here too¡­¡± Dahlia gave a faint smile, ¡°Congrattions, you won. Take care of Dustin for me. I wish both of you the best.¡± After she said that she brushed past Natasha. ¡°Huh?¡± Natasha frowned slightly in confusion. She wondered if Dahlia woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. ¡°Why did youe back?¡± Dustin walked out of the room. Natasha rolled her eyes. ¡°I was worried, of course. What if something happened to you?¡± ¡°They¡¯re just a few weaklings. They can¡¯t hurt me. He forced a smile. Natasha picked up on his unusual behavior. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± ¡°No. I just met Dahlia. She said she¡¯s getting engaged tomorrow.¡± Dustin put on a calm front. ¡°Engaged? To whom?¡± Natasha was taken aback. ¡°Luis Langford.¡± ¡°Luis?¡± She frowned. ¡°Is she crazy? Luis is famous for being a yboy, and his temper is erratic. Women involved with him don¡¯t exactly get a fairytale ending.¡± Dustin replied, ¡°Everyone chases after different dreams. Luis is rich and powerful. There¡¯s nothing wrong with her wanting to marry into a wealthy family.¡± ¡°There must be more to this. She doesn¡¯t seem like someone who chases after material wealth,¡± Natasha responded solemnly. Even though they were rivals in love, she didn¡¯t harbor any hate for her.. ¡°I thought so too, but¡­¡± Dustin put on a self-deprecating smile, ¡°People change. She has the right to chase after the things she wants.¡± Hearing him, Natasha nodded, not saying anything more. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll send you home.¡± He forced another smile. He was in a good mood earlier, but meeting Dahlia had ruined his day. He even felt a knot in his heart. After Dustin drove off with Natasha, Luis and a white-haired young man walked out slowly from the dark. ¡°Mr. Langford, it seems like there¡¯s something going on between your fianc¨¦e and that Dustin guy. ¡°The white-haired young manughed teasingly. ¡°Hmph! He¡¯s just an ant. He must have a death wish to have the guts to steal my woman.¡± Luis¡¯ expression was dark. ¡°Mr. Langford, leave this matter to me. I¡¯ll make sure he disappears from the face of the earth tonight!¡± The white-haired young man grinned. As Luis¡¯ right-hand man, he¡¯d long been skillful at murdering people. Chapter 330 Chapter 330 After sending Natasha home, Dustin returned to Peaceful Medical Center. At the same time, a ck vehicle came to a quiet stop at a corner not far away. As the doors opened, a few masked assassins d in ck outfits approached the building slowly, and they all had silenced guns in their hands. They were well-trained and worked well together as they surrounded the entire Peace Medical Center without saying a word, blocking all entrances. ¡°Forward-¡± The leader made a gesture, and the men to the left of him nodded. They were just about to break in when the doors opened with a creak. A warm, yellow light shone out from the inside. ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, there¡¯s no need to sneak around. Please,e in.¡± They heard a cold, impassive voice from the inside. The masked assassins¡¯ expressions shifted slightly Looking through the door slit, they saw Dustin Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. leisurely sipping his liquor while seated on a chair. They even noticed a simple meal set out on the table. He appeared calm. There were no signs that he was rmed by the impending disaster that awaited him. ¡°What? Do I need to invite you in personally?¡± Dustin spoke again. The group looked at each other. Leaving only one man behind, the rest of the assassins walked in with their guns raised, finally exposing their cover To prevent an ambush, a few of them even scouted the perimeter. It was only after they ensured it was safe that they let out a silent sigh of relief. ¡°How did you discover us?¡± Their leader was perplexed. After so many years in their line of work, it was the first time they¡¯d met someone who remained exceptionally calm, even with a gun in their face. ¡°You¡¯ve been following me for half an hour now. I might as well be blind if I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Dustin smiled faintly and poured himself another drink. He asked, ¡°So, who sent you? The Hummers or the Langfords?¡± ¡°Does it matter? You¡¯ll be dead anyway,¡± The leader responded coldly. Dustin¡¯s sharp gaze was making him ufortable. ¡°If I¡¯m dying, I should at least know who gave the orders, don¡¯t you think?¡± Dustin looked up slowly. ¡°You want to know the truth? Go ask the devil himself!¡± The leader was tired of the nonsense and aimed his gun at Dustin, pulling the trigger. Having a conversation was frowned upon in their line of work. Two muffled gunshots rang out. One bullet aimed straight for Dustin¡¯s head, while the other went for his chest. Even God wouldn¡¯t be able to save him from the two fatal shots. Just when he thought Dustin was as good as gone, a shocking scene yed out. Just an inch away from their final target, the two bullets came to a halt. They floated in mid-air, unable to move. ¡°What?¡± The assassin was shocked. Two more muffled shots sounded, but the results were the Hearing him, Natasha nodded, not saying anything more. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll send you home.¡± He forced another smile. He was in a good mood earlier, but meeting Dahlia had ruined his day. He even felt a knot in his heart. After Dustin drove off with Natasha, Luis and a white-haired young man walked out slowly from the dark. ¡°Mr. Langford, it seems like there¡¯s something going on between your fianc¨¦e and that Dustin guy. ¡°The white-haired young manughed teasingly. ¡°Hmph! He¡¯s just an ant. He must have a death wish to have the guts to steal my woman.¡± Luis¡¯ expression was dark. ¡°Mr. Langford, leave this matter to me. I¡¯ll make sure he disappears from the face of the earth tonight!¡± The white-haired young man grinned. As Luis¡¯ right-hand man, he¡¯d long been skillful at murdering people. Chapter 331 Chapter 331 ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! I¡¯ll talk!¡± The leader of the assassins was scared out of his wits. He divulged every detail, not daring to leave any stone unturned. He revealed the person who hired him and even their whereabouts. He spilled everything. Dustin nodded after he was done listening and dealt with the assassins, before leaving the building once again. While others often took their time seeking revenge, Dustin sought his revenge the very same day. Otherwise, he would lose sleep over it. In the meantime, in the bathtub of a luxurious hotel, the white-haired young man, Wilson White, was speaking to Luis on the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Langford, my men are skilled. They won¡¯t leave a trace. From tomorrow onwards, you will never see that punk again.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll be best. I don¡¯t wish for any surprises tomorrow.¡± ¡°Of course, I assure you everything will go smoothly, and you¡¯ll be bringing that beauty home without a hitch.¡± He grinned. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s all. That woman won¡¯t let me touch her. I need to get another woman to satisfy my desires.¡± Wilson chuckled. ¡°Then, I won¡¯t disturb your fun.¡± After a few more exchanges of words, he hung up. He then put on a robe and walked out of the bathroom. ¡°Hey, beautiful, I¡¯ming!¡± Wilson was smiling happily, prepared to make love to a beautiful model he met today. However, he froze as he entered the bedroom. The model was missing, there was only a man seated on the bed. That man was Dustin! ¡°H-how are you here?¡± Wilson¡¯s expression changed. Didn¡¯t he already send the assassins? Why was he still alive? ¡°Your men are dead. And it¡¯s your turn now. Anyst words?¡± He spokezily. Wilson¡¯s eye twitched, and he screamed at Dustin, putting up a front, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, punk! You better not try anything. I¡¯m with the Langford family!¡± ¡°I know. So what?¡± Dustin was stone-faced. ¡°If you dare touch me, not only you but all of your family and friends will be doomed!¡± Wilson - threatened. ¡°It¡¯s always the same script. Can¡¯t youe up with something new?¡± Dustin reached out and grabbed him in a chokehold, lifting him by his neck. ¡°Ugh¡­ Wilson couldn¡¯t breathe, and his face turned red. He shook in fear as he felt he was close to death¡¯s door. ¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t kill me¡­ I¡¯ll tell you a secret!¡± William panicked after seeing Dustin¡¯s murderous gaze and started begging for his life instead. ¡°Oh? What secret? Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Dustin raised his eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°I don¡¯t think you know the real reason Dahlia is marrying Luis. It isn¡¯t for material wealth. She was This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. forced!¡± Wilson released a bombshell. Dustin¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°Exin! What do you mean?¡± William pointed at Dustin¡¯s fingers. Dustin loosened his grip slightly, Out of breath, William finally spoke, ¡°To get Dahlia by his side, Luis set up a trap and painted James as a murderer. He not only threatened to send her brother to jail, but he also threatened to send you back to prison. She only gave in to the marriage because of you.¡± Dustin felt like he was struck by lightning with this revtion. He had misunderstood her. He¡¯d thought she married into a wealthy family for power and wealth. But it turned out, she was only sacrificing herself for his safety. At that moment, he felt a pang of regret. He regretted not getting the story straight, and he regretted pping her. ¡°Dahlia, oh, Dahlia ¡­ Why are you so foolish?¡± He clenched his jaw and left the ce immediately. Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Dustin kept dialing and making calls while he drove. However, no matter how many times he dialed, Dahlia never answered. For some reason, Dustin was anxious. It felt as if something important was slowly slipping out of his grasp. He stepped on the elerator and headed straight for Nicholson Vi. Ever since they got divorced, he¡¯d never set foot in that ce again. But at that moment, he couldn¡¯t care less. After he arrived, he rushed to the entrance, ringing the doorbell and pounding on the door persistently. ¡°How rude! Can¡¯t you knock gently?¡± Following the annoyed voice, the door opened. ¡°Dustin? What are you doing here?¡± Florence frowned, looking upset. Dustin went straight to the point. ¡°Where¡¯s Dahlia? I need to see her!¡± ¡°Hmph! What makes you think you can just barge in here to see her? Get lost!¡± Florence responded harshly. She was about to close the door as she spoke when the door was blocked by a foot. With a solemn expression, Dustin said, ¡°I know Dahlia is inside. I have something to tell her, please let her know.¡± ¡°There is no need to do so. She doesn¡¯t want to see you.¡± Florence gave him a contemptuous look and continued, ¡°Let me tell you. My daughter¡¯s engagement party with Mr. Langford is tomorrow. So, from tomorrow onward, she¡¯ll be known as Mrs. Langford. Someone like you will never match up to him. So, please stop disturbing my daughter!¡± ¡°Dahlia cannot marry Luis!¡± Dustin frowned. ¡°I know the truth. I know she was forced. She doesn¡¯t need to sacrifice herself. I can solve everything!¡± ¡°You can¡¯t solve shit!¡± Florence red at him. ¡°Rhys! I¡¯m warning you not to poke your nose where it doesn¡¯t belong! It¡¯s a blessing for my daughter to have the chance to marry the Langfords. I¡¯ll fight you to death if you get in the way!¡± ¡°Is wealth more important than Dahlia¡¯s happiness?¡± Dustin reasoned with her, ¡°Luis is a typical yboy with a vtile temper and violent tendencies. If Dahlia marries him, she¡¯ll be walking into her own misery!¡¯ ¡°Nonsense!¡± Florence erupted in anger. ¡°Rhys! You better not spout nonsense! Luis was brought up in a wealthy family with ss and manners. He¡¯s miles better than you will ever be!¡± To her, Dustin only said those words out of jealousy He was ndering Luis since he knew he wasn¡¯t Luis¡¯petition. She didn¡¯t realize he was such a malicious person! ¡°Dahlia, I know you¡¯re in there. Can you pleasee out and talk to me?¡± Seeing that Florence wouldn¡¯t budge, he raised his voice in hopes that Dahlia could hear him from inside. ¡°Shut up! I¡¯m warning you. My daughter is not at home. If you continue to cause trouble for us, I¡¯ll call the police!¡± Florence threatened him. Dustin ignored her and continued yelling, ¡°Dahlia, listen up! I don¡¯t need your sympathy. Don¡¯t make decisions on your own! Do you think a mere Luis can hurt me? You must be crazy! We¡¯re divorced. What makes you think you can use your life to save mine? Can you not think so highly of yourself?¡± His tirade echoed throughout the vi. ¡°Hey! You¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Florence grabbed a broom and was about to hit him in her fury when a clear voice rang out. ¡°Mom, let me talk to him¡­¡± Dahlia finally walked out. ¡°Dahlia, why did youe out? Just let me deal with this insolent brat.¡± Florence was clearly upset. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 333 Chapter 333 ¡°Some things are better discussed in person.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give you three minutes. Break it off cleanly.¡± Without another word, Florence went to stand by one side. After all, tomorrow, their family would move to Stonia and live the life of the wealthy. By then, a lowlife like Dustin would never have the chance to see her daughter again. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯d never have anything to do with each other? Why are you here?¡± Dahlia looked Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Dustin straight in the eye. Dustin responded seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve found out the truth. I know Luis forced you into this, but you don¡¯t need to get married to him. I can solve all your problems!¡± Dahlia was momentarily stumped before she put up a polite smile. ¡°I don¡¯t know where you heard that, but I¡¯m getting married to Luis on my own ord. I wasn¡¯t forced, but thank you for your concern.¡± So what if he knew? It wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Her marriage to Luis was a strategic union between the Langfords and the Nicholsons. Anyone who dared stand in the way of their marriage would be going up against two majorly influential families. How many people dared make enemies out of the two families in the whole of Balerno? That was why, even if Dustin now knew the truth, it didn¡¯t change anything. It would only cause him more trouble. ¡°That¡¯s not true!¡± Dustin¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°You don¡¯t even like him. Why are you getting married to him?¡± ¡°Does that matter? Luis can give me wealth and riches, as well as power and status, aren¡¯t those enough?¡± Dahlia smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re lying! I know you¡¯re not that kind of person Dustin wouldn¡¯t give up. ¡°Stop joking. Do you really know me?¡± She scoffed, ¡°Oh, Dustin. People should live life realistically, especially women. Instead of working so hard to make a name for myself, wouldn¡¯t it be better to marry a wealthy man? I can live an easy life. Why not seize the opportunity?¡± Dustin¡¯s gaze was intense. ¡°No! You don¡¯t mean that¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I think. It doesn¡¯t matter whether or not you believe me. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going to rest now. Please go back.¡± That was thest thing Dahlia said before turning inside. ¡°Did you hear that? She¡¯s tired. Now get lost!¡± Florence raised her broom aggressively. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson! Don¡¯t you dare think you actually helped me. I¡¯ll never be grateful for your actions!¡± Dustin stood by the door and continued with rightful indignation, ¡°Oh, and one more thing. I hate being indebted to someone. I will do everything I can to stop this marriage. I will never let you marry Luis! Do you hear me?¡± ¡°Bastard! If you try anything, I won¡¯t hesitate to beat you to death!¡± Florence was anxious and raised the broom in her hand, about tond a hit, when Dustin grabbed it and broke it easily, ¡°Dahlia Nicholson! I¡¯ll be at the engagement party tomorrow afternoon. All you need to do is nod, and I¡¯ll take you out of there. You don¡¯t need to think about the consequences. Just follow your heart. I will make sure there is nothing to worry about. I will also ensure your safety! Please just trust me. Have absolute faith in me this one time!¡± Dustin finally left after his speech. Since he had found out the truth, he would not allow her to walk into her own misery. It didn¡¯t matter if they were the Langfords or the Nicholsons. If they angered him, he would annihte them all! As Dahlia listened to Dustin¡¯s determined speech, she leaned against the door and sank to the floor. She ended up crouching on the ground as tears streamed down her face. Biting her lips, she wrapped herself in her arms and tried her best to muffle her cries. ¡°Oh, Dustin. Why are you so foolish? Couldn¡¯t you just let go? Why do you need to put yourself in danger like that?¡± Chapter 334 Chapter 334 The next morning, at Empire Hotel. A grand wedding was in full swing. The union of the two prominent families had caused a sensation throughout Swinton. Countless businessmen, wealthy individuals, and high-ranking officials arrived with great anticipation. Hundreds of luxury wedding cars were parked at the hotel square, upying almost every avable space. The entire street had also been cordoned off specially for today¡¯s wedding ceremony. Dressed in his groom¡¯s attire, Luis personally weed the guests at the entrance of the lobby. Of course, he only greeted those who held status and influence, while the ordinary guests were attended to by his men. ¡°Mr. Langford¡­¡± At that moment, Wilson walked up to him and said in a hushed voice, ¡°There¡¯s a turn of events. Dustin¡¯s not dead yet, and the assassins I sent out are all missing.¡± ¡°What did you say? What¡¯s the point of me hiring you if you can¡¯t handle a small matter like this?¡± Luis frowned. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I underestimated that punk.¡± Wilson lowered his head in shame. ¡°Forget about it. After today, I¡¯ll send someone personally to deal with him.¡± Luis didn¡¯t bother making a fuss out of it. ¡°Mr. Langford, there¡¯s something else¡­¡± Wilson hesitated to speak. Luis was slightly unhappy. ¡°What now?¡± In a whisper, Wilson continued, ¡°I heard that Dustin might disrupt the wedding today.¡± ¡°Disrupt the wedding?¡± Luis was taken aback for a moment before heughed out loud. ¡°Are you joking? My men are all here. Would he dare act rashly here?¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to consider all possibilities.¡± Wilson smiled apologetically. ¡°He can try if he wants. I¡¯m itching to see how he¡¯ll barge into my den!¡± Luis sneered coldly. An ordinary citizen, trying to go against him? He didn¡¯t mind shedding blood today at the party if it came to it. In the meantime, in one of the rooms of the hotel, Dahlia sat in front of the dressing table, in a daze. Ever since Dustin came looking for her yesterday, she has been on edge, worried he might attempt something foolish. For this reason, she¡¯d been sending him messages and making calls, but she never received a response. It worried her more as he ignored her. ¡°Dahlia, why are you sulking? You should be smiling. It¡¯s your big day.¡± Right then, Florence walked in with a grin and started picking out Dahlia¡¯s jewelry. Dahlia suddenly asked, ¡°Mom, do you think Dustin wille today?¡± This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why do you care?¡± Florence¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°I¡¯ve looked around the area. It¡¯s heavily guarded here, with security personnel inside and out. If Dustin dares break-in, he¡¯ll probably be beaten up badly.¡± Dahlia¡¯s concern deepened upon hearing her mother¡¯s words. ¡°Dahlia, stop thinking about it. That punk is all talk. He won¡¯t reallye. He¡¯s not stupid. Why would he seek his own demise?¡± Florence took advantage of the situation andforted her. It was clear to her that her daughter had unresolved feelings. Unfortunately, they could never be together. Besides, it was a lifelong dream of Florence to have her daughter marry into a wealthy family. How would she allow someone to ruin her dream that easily? ¡°I hope so¡­¡± Dahlia sighed, but her expression remained troubled. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s about time. Let¡¯s go.¡± Florence smiled, leading Dahlia out. At the venue, the seats were already filled with distinguished guests. Amidst the apuse, Luis walked up the stage slowly. He received the microphone from the officiant and said with a face full of smiles, ¡°Dear guests, family, and friends, thank you for attending my wedding. Today is the most important day of my life. ¡°Even though I¡¯ve only known Dahlia for a short time, from the moment Iid my eyes on her, I knew she was the only woman I would want to marry in this lifetime! I hope all of you present here today will bear witness to our grand wedding As soon as he spoke those words, the crowd erupted in thunderous apuse and cheers. Chapter 335 Chapter 335 ¡°Herees the bride!¡± The officiant announced. Amidst enthusiastic apuse, Dahlia walked in. She looked gorgeous in a beautiful white gown. and took her ce at the altar on stage. ¡°Oh, my God! The bride is so pretty. She looks like an angel!¡± ¡°They look so good together. They are truly a match made in heaven!¡± Following her appearance, the atmosphere grew increasingly lively as the crowd looked on in admiration. The ceremony officially began with Dahlia¡¯s parents, John and Florence, seated in the front row alongside Luis¡¯ fourth uncle. Seeing the both of thein standing at the altar together, Florence couldn¡¯t hide the smile on her face. All her hopes and prayers for her daughter to marry into a wealthy family were finally materializing. While John wore a smile, his eyes betrayed aplexity of emotions. Despite his prolonged absences, he had a basic understanding of what went on at home. As for Luis¡¯ uncle, he had an impassive This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. expression right from the start, not showing much of a reaction. ¡°Dahlia is so lucky to be able to marry Luis.¡± Not far away, Dakota watched the new couple in jealousy. If only she hadn¡¯t been engaged, she would have been the one up there instead. ¡°Hah¡­ It seems like she¡¯s lucky, but she¡¯s actually not. With Luis¡¯ personality, I¡¯m afraid Dahlia won¡¯t be having a good married life.¡± Jane shook her head. She knew of Luis¡¯ reputation. It was finally time to exchange vows as the officiant said, ¡°Dahlia, do you take Luis to be your wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?¡± While Luis was smiling widely, Dahlia looked troubled. After a short silence, he finally noticed that she didn¡¯t seem inclined to speak. Thinking the bride didn¡¯t hear him, the officiant repeated himself, ¡°Dahlia, do you take Luis to be your wedded husband¡­ H In the end, Dahlia remained silent. She truly did not wish to get married to Luis. She didn¡¯t even understand why. That was why she hesitated at thest moment. ¡°What¡¯s happening? Why isn¡¯t the bride saying anything?¡± ¡°Is she regretting it?¡± As a result of her actions, a wave of dissonant murmurs swiftly swept across the venue. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, Dahlia? Are you embarrassing me on purpose?¡± Luis narrowed his T eyes, his expression menacing. ¡°If you dare humiliate me today, our previous agreement will be thrown out the window! I can¡¯t guarantee what will happen then!¡± Dahlia clenched her fists at his words, finally giving in. ¡°I She was about to exchange her vows when a resounding crash reverberated through the hall. The doors had been kicked open, and at the same time, a tall figure strutted in proudly. ¡°Dustin! Why are you here?¡± Florence mmed her hand on the table and shot up to her feet, feeling shocked and furious. ¡°I¡¯m here to¡­ steal the bride!¡± Chapter 336 Chapter 336 ¡°I¡¯m here to¡­ steal the bride!¡± Dustin¡¯s every step resounded through the entire hall like a loud bell; his footsteps could be heard over the quiet hall. The crowd had their eyes wide open, and their expressions were filled with shock. Nobody could have imagined that someone dared object to the union between the Langford family and the Nicholson family. ¡°Oh my goodness! Who is this punk? He dares disrupt the wedding? Does he have a death wish?¡± ¡°You have to give him credit for being so brave. He actually dared to provoke the two powerful families!¡± ¡°Interesting. This is definitely interesting. Seems like a good show is about to start!¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. After a momentary silence, the crowd erupted in frenzied discussion, pointing and gossiping incessantly. ¡°Dustin?¡± Staring at the familiar face, Dahlia¡¯s expression revealed how happy she was. However, that happiness was quickly reced with worry. Although she was grateful and touched, she knew his actions would bring about a disaster. By disrupting the wedding, it meant that he was challenging both the Langfords and the Nicholsons. ¡°Is this punk insane? He¡¯s making a scene all by himself? Where did he get the courage?¡± Dakota was astonished and couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°What an idiot!¡± Jane pursed her lips. It was as if she was looking at a dead man. She knew Luis had already made preparations, and stationed numerous security personnel around the hotel. Dustin had sent himself into the lion¡¯s den by barging in here. ¡°Insolent bastard!¡± Luis¡¯ expression turned cold. He felt the urge to kill rising within him. He couldn¡¯t believe Dustin really came to meet his demise! ¡°Rhys! I¡¯m warning you to get your ass out of here! Otherwise, you¡¯ll bear the consequences!¡± Florence screamed in frustration. Her daughter was one step away from getting married into a wealthy family. She would make an enemy out of anyone who dared ruin her dreams. ¡°Dahlia, I¡¯m here.¡± Dustin ignored all the criticisms and threats surrounding him and walked up the stage with deliberate steps. His determined gaze was fixed on the person in front of him. ¡°What are you doing here? Go back immediately! Dahlia¡¯s brows were furrowed, and she looked ¨C anxious. She had noticed the number of bodyguards of the Langford family approaching the stage. Dustin¡¯s expression was solemn. ¡°I told you. I won¡¯t let you get married to Luis. I¡¯m definitely taking you away today!¡± ¡°Are you crazy? This is not the ce for you to act so recklessly! Just leave!¡± Dahlia made fervent gestures to urge him to leave. In a serious tone, Dustin told her, ¡°I know what you¡¯re worried about, but please believe me. I promise there won¡¯t be anything to worry about after this.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no use¡­ You don¡¯t know who you¡¯re up against!¡± Dahlia shook her head vehemently. She knew he could fight. She also knew he had the Harmon family backing him. But even the Harmon family was no match for the Langfords. Not to mention, the Langfords also had the Nicholsons behind them. Dustin suddenly asked, ¡°Dahlia, in all these years, with everything that has happened, have I ever lied to you?¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head firmly. ¡°Since I¡¯ve never lied to you, please believe me once more.¡± Dustin extended his hand as an invitation. Dahlia went silent; her heart was conflicted. She longed to leave with Dustin. Even if that meant eloping and wandering the entire world with him, she would do it dly. However, there were far too many factors to consider. ¡°Dahlia, you don¡¯t need to think about anything else. Leave everything to me. Just this once, let yourself be a little selfish,¡± Dustin said, full of sincerity. Dahlia bit her lips. It seemed like she hade to a decision. She took a deep breath. Alright! She would be selfish this one time! She stopped thinking about the consequences and extended her hand with resolve, holding tight to Dustin¡¯s hand. At that moment, Dustin formed a smile. So did she. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson! Do you know what you¡¯re doing? Seeing them holding hands, Luis¡¯ expression wasced with extreme fury. In front of such arge crowd, his fianc¨¦ regretted her decision and decided to elope with another man. Nothing was more humiliating than that! Chapter 337 Chapter 337 It was humiliating not only to him but to the entire Langford family! ¡°Dahlia Nicholson! If you dare elope with him, youll be the Nicholson family¡¯s enemy!¡± Jade and Dakota stood up in fury, screaming at the top of their lungs. ¡°Dahlia, please don¡¯t act recklessly! Once you leave with that trash, our family is done for!¡± Florence screamed in panic. Once they humiliated the Langfords, they weren¡¯t just losing out on wealth, their whole family. would be annihted! ¡°Mom, 1¡­¡± Dahlia wasn¡¯t able to continue. I ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m here.¡± Dustin tightened his grip on her hand and scanned his surroundings. He dered in a loud voice, ¡°Nobody is stopping me from taking the bride away today! Anyone who is dissatisfied cane for me!¡± The moment Dustin said that, the crowd erupted in an uproar. ¡°Oh, my God! This guy is so cool! He¡¯d fight the world for the woman he loves.¡± ¡°If only a guy loved me that much, I¡¯d be happy my whole life!¡± ¡°He¡¯s cool, all right. But too bad he¡¯ll be paying a heavy price.¡± ¡°He offended both the Langfords and the Nicholsons. I bet he won¡¯t live to see tomorrow.¡± The guests gossiped fervently as they looked at Dustin, who was still on stage. Voices of shock, praise, and even disdain could be heard. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Dahlia ¡± Without another word, he pulled her behind him, ready to leave. ¡°Stop them!¡± Following the angry roar, arge number of security personnel swarmed in from all sides, surrounding the both of them in no time. ¡°Trying to leave? Have I given my permission?¡± Luis¡¯ expression was livid as he approached them slowly. His gaze was intense. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson, I¡¯m giving you onest chance Say your vows now and be mywfully wedded wife, Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. and I will forget about what happened today Otherwise, don¡¯t me me for being merciless!¡± I¡¯m also giving you onest chance. Leave Swinton immediately. Otherwise, you will regret it.¡± Dustin responded coldly. ¡°You bastard! Break his limbs!¡± Luis erupted in fury and ordered. ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The security personnel swiftly drew out their batons and were about to attack when a figure descended from above, swinging their sword in rapid session The de shimmered and swirled in the air, emitting a series of sharp whistles Before the dozens of security guards could reach them, their arms were severed, scattering limbs on the floor. Blood sttered across the ground, and screams pierced through the air. ¡°What the hell? Who is that? They¡¯re so skilled!¡± The crowd looked on in shock and horror. It was a terrifying sight before them, a man with a single sword effortlessly took down dozens of men ¡°Stop right there!¡± With a wave of his hand, Maximus held his long sword to Luis¡¯ neck. A few of the Langford family¡¯s highly-skilled martial artists, who were about tounch an ambush, stopped in their tracks, afraid of advancing any further. ¡°The audacity!¡± ¡°How dare you!¡± ¡°Let Mr. Langford go!¡± Upon witnessing Luis being held hostage, the crowd erupted into chaos. Their eyes widened in a mix of shock and righteous indignation. Forget about stealing the bride, the audacity to threaten Mr. Langford was akin tomitting a grave crime! ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare to touch me, punk!¡± Luis narrowed his eyes, looking unperturbed. ¡°Really?¡± Maximus sneered and moved his sword slightly. The sharp de sliced through Luis¡¯ skin, drawing a thin line of blood. ¡°You¡± Luis froze, afraid of making another sudden movement. He was worried that the reckless man in front of him would really just kill him! Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Because of Maximus¡¯ appearance, the situation turned against the Langford family. While a few highly- skilled martial artists from the Langford family were eager to take action, they were cautious, afraid of hurting Luis. ¡°Both of you should leave first. Leave this ce to me, Dustin,¡± Maximus said confidently. After the battle at Mount Halgue, he¡¯d finally achieved divinity, and his skills improved tremendously. ¡°Leave?¡± Luis sneered. ¡°Where do you think you can hide? Even if you survive today, you will never escape our wrath!¡± Dustin was about to leave when he heard Luis and stopped in his tracks. Turning around, he asked coldly, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± ¡°So what if I am?¡± Luisughed diabolically. He had no qualms about confronting Dustin. ¡°I don¡¯t know how you met this friend of yours, but if you think he can go up against me single- handedly, then you¡¯re too naive for your own good. ¡°Do you really think you¡¯re that powerful?¡± Dustin questioned him. ¡°Against you? Absolutely!¡± Luis grinned. ¡°Not only you, but Dahlia and everyone around her will get a taste of our revenge! I¡¯m going to make your lives a living hell!¡± Dahlia found herself unsettled by his words. In the end, she couldn¡¯t avoid the very thing she dreaded most. When she made the decision to elope with Dustin, she put her entire family in danger. That burden was overwhelming for her to bear. ¡°How about it? Are you scared now?¡± Luis was pleased with Dustin¡¯s silence. ¡°Rhys! If you don¡¯t want to die like a chicken, get down on your knees immediately! Also, you¡¯re going to send your woman to my bedside personally. Perhaps, then, I will let you live!¡± He¡¯d just finished speaking when a resounding pnded on his cheek, and Dustin¡¯s bright red handprint was clearly imprinted on his face. ¡°Huh?¡± Luis cradled his burning face, dazed. Everyone else looked on in shock. Dustin must have truly gone insane to actually strike Luis in public. ¡°You dare hit me?¡± Luis¡¯ expression grew dark as he finally came back to his senses. ¡°So what if I did? That p was for your shameless boasting!¡± As he spoke, he raised his hand andnded another vicious p on Luis¡¯ face. That was for your arrogance!¡± ¡°p!¡± ¡°That was for threatening Dahlia!¡± ¡°p!¡± That was for being unrepentant! ¡°p!¡± ¡± Dustin pped him left and right, with every earsplitting pnding heavily on his face. The force turned his face bloody and swollen beyond recognition, and he lost a few teeth in between the ps. As the crowd took in Luis¡¯ battered state, they were shocked into silence. They knew blood would be shed today. Nobody would survive when the Langfords sought revenge. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Y-you ¡­ You¡¯re dead meat!¡± ¡°Everyone rted to you will pay as well!¡± The members of the Langford family screamed one after another, their anger reaching a tipping point. ¡°Dahlia, leave this ce with Maximus first. I¡¯ll handle the rest,¡± Dustin said as he turned to look behind him. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Dahlia¡¯s brows knitted. She couldn¡¯t exin the uneasiness she felt. At that moment, regret washed over her as she realized the gravity of her actions. Dustin wasn¡¯t only taking her away from Luis; he was also challenging death head-on! ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He smiled. ¡°Maximus, bring her away to somewhere safe.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Maximus nodded. ¡°Dahlia, please follow me. Dustin knows what he¡¯s doing. He won¡¯t be in any danger.¡± Chapter 339 Chapter 339 ¡°But-¡± Dahlia wanted to say more. ¡°Just go. I¡¯ll be distracted if you¡¯re here,¡± Dustin interrupted. Left with no choice, Dahlia bobbed her head in agreement helplessly in the end. Since things hade to this point, there was no turning back. As long as Dustin coulde back unscathed, she was willing to give up everything and roam all over the world with him. After making sure that Dahlia had left safely, Dustin¡¯s gaze scanned around the ce and then fixed on the Nicholson family. ¡°What are you waiting for? Hurry up and leave!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Dakota and Jane exchanged a nce. Then, they turned around and left on the spot. Dahlia¡¯s breach of promise had caused the Langfords to have a fallout with the Nicholsons. If thetter continued to stay there any longer, trouble mightnd upon them. ¡°What a jinx! Look at what you have gotten us into Florence stomped her feet in anger before fleeing away. Now that the wedding ceremony had been ruined, the Nicholsons¡¯ dream of living a wealthy and on, their days would no longer be peaceful. At that time, Luis¡¯ fourth uncle, Kingston Langford, suddenly stood up and said tly, ¡°You¡¯ve got a nerve of steel, young man. No one has ever dared to humiliate us in public. You¡¯re the first, and of course, you will also be thest! Frankly speaking, I¡¯m quite impressed with your courage. But today is the day you die!¡± As he spoke, he made a hand gesture. Right then, arge group of armed guards barged in from every direction and surrounded Dustin, leaving him no way to escape. ¡°This is bad. Mr. Kingston is doing it for real. That brat is going to be done for.¡± ¡°He snatched the bride away tantly and even got Mr. Luis red in the face. Even if he has ten lives, they are not even enough to pay back for what he has done.¡± ¡°Well, he only has himself to me.¡± The guests couldn¡¯t help but mutter among themselves as they watched Dustin get trapped in the middle. If you let go of Luis now, I will let you die in one piece.¡± Kingston had an indifferent expression as if he had control over everything.. Are you trying to scare me off since you have the strength in numbers?¡± Dustin nced around without feeling any ounce of fear. Yeah. You¡¯ve got that right.¡± ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s see who has more people, then!¡± Dustin took out his phone and dialed a number. Five minutester, the door of the banquet hall burst open. Mason rushed in aggressively withThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. hundreds of gangsters. ¡°Mason Zims from the Drey Group is here with the gang under Mr. Rhys¡¯ orders!¡± At the sight of this, everyone was stunned for a moment before they burst intoughter. ¡°Is this a joke? Are you trying to fight against us with this group of thugs?¡± ¡°Hmph! What an ignorant person! You¡¯re thinking too highly of yourself! ¡°I¡¯ll be so disappointed if this is your trump card.¡± The group of guards led by Kingston had disdainful looks on their faces. They couldn¡¯t believe that even some random thugs had the guts to provoke the Langford family. ¡°Hey, Rhys! Are you in your right mind? Do you actually think that you can outdo us with this bunch of small fry?¡± Luisughed uncontrobly. However, the smile on his face immediately dropped when the next group of people rushed into the hall This time, Hunter was in the lead. ¡°The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Hunter Anderson is here to listen to Mr. Rhys¡¯ orders! Secondster, another group of people showed up, and it went on for a few more rounds. ¡°The chief inspector of the investigation bureau, Aspen Cruiser, is here to assist Mr. Rhys!¡± ¡°Roderick Brooks from the Brooks Corporation is willing to do his best to help Mr. Rhys out!¡± ¡°The mayor of Swinton, Alex Granville, is willing to stay till the end with Mr. Rhys!¡± As the groups barged in one after another, the ridicule directed at Dustin gradually disappeared. It was reced with shock and fear. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 Looking at the groups of elites barging into the banquet hall one after another, all the guests at the scene were dumbfounded. None of them expected Dustin to have such great connections. All he did was make a call, and hundreds of people came over to assist him. Not only were there underground organizations and official armed forces, but there was also help from a business tycoon. On top of that, even the mayor of Swinton was here to back him up in person. In other words, as long as Dustin said the word, all the forces in Swinton could be under hismand. That was a terrifying connection he had. No wonder he dared to be insolent in front of the Langford family. He hade prepared. Now the Langfords were not fighting against Dustin alone, but the whole of Swinton. ¡°Who is he exactly? Howe he can have influence over so many forces?¡± The guests exchanged nces with one another, shocked at the turn of events. At that moment, the arrogant Langford family finally sensed that the current situation wasn¡¯t favoring them. Even though these forces wouldn¡¯t be able to weaken their foothold, the former could still bring trouble to thetter. After all, the Langfords¡¯ power was in Stonia. Requesting immediate help was simply impossible. ¡°It looks like I have underestimated you.¡± After being stunned for a moment, Kingston quickly regained hisposure and said, ¡°But if you think that you can win against us with their help, then you¡¯re wrong. The Langford family had been an influential family in Stonia for generations. Whether it was power or connections, they were way stronger than the ones in Swinton. ¡°Rhys! Indeed, you have more people with you. But what can you do about it?¡± Luis sneered, ¡°They are just a bunch of shrimp.¡± In his eyes, Swinton¡¯s powers were akin to ants. He could even easily get rid of them if he wanted. This was how strong an affluent family from Stonia was. ¡°If they can¡¯t, what about me?¡± Right then, a loud and clear voice pierced the air. A well-dressed, handsome man walked dauntlessly into the banquet hall with a few female officers. He carried such an overwhelming aura with him that everyone lowered their heads subconsciously the moment they saw him. ¡°Adam Spanner-the God of War?¡± Kingston¡¯s eyes widened in fear. It had never urred to him that the chiefmander of the West Army, who was in charge of 300 thousand soldiers, would appear here. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Uncle Kingston? Do you know him?¡± Luis quickly noticed that something wasn¡¯t right. That is Adam Spanner!¡± Kingston eximed Hearing that, Luis was stunned and could no longer maintain hisposure. ¡°What? He is¡­ Adam?¡± As the heir of the wealthiest family in Stonia, Adam was not only a wunderkind but also a living legend. His outstanding battle achievements at a young age had earned him the title of ¡°God of War ¡± and the In the whole of Stonia, there was barely anyone of his age who could be on par with him. Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°That¡¯s quite arrogant of you. How dare you bully my friend!¡± As Adam strode in, the crowd automatically stepped aside to make way for him. ¡°Friend? Could it be¡­ him?¡± Kingston¡¯s gaze shifted to Dustin in shock. ¡°How could someone from this insignificant ce know Adam?¡± Kingston thought. ¡°Mr. Kingston, you said that these people weren¡¯t able to drive the Langfords away. But what about with my help?¡± Adam stared piercingly at him, his eyes filled with provocation. ¡°M-Mr. Spanner, what brings you here?¡± Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Kingston forced out a smile. ¡°Stop acting like we are close friends!¡± Adam wasn¡¯t giving Kingston any respect. ¡°Weren¡¯t the Langfords full of themselves just minutes ago? Come on, show me how arrogant you can be!¡± When Kingston heard that, his expression darkened. If it had been someone else who humiliated him today, he would have flipped his lid long ago. However, he just couldn¡¯t afford to offend the man standing in front of him. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Weren¡¯t you all high and mighty just now? You even had the guts to This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. bully my friend!¡± Adam pointed at them and hauled them over the coals. Kingston and Luis dropped their heads, falling into silence. At the sight of that, the guests were stunned. Who would have expected that there would be a day when Kingston from the Langford family would be chewed out publicly and dared not talk back? It was indeed shocking. ¡°What are you waiting for? Kneel down and apologize to my friend now!¡± Adam shouted. ¡°This¡­¡± Kingston frowned, his expression gloomy As the direct descendants of the Langfords, how could they possibly get down on their knees for someone else? If outsiders knew about it, their reputation would be tarnished. ¡°Adam, you shouldn¡¯t go too far!¡± Luis was slightly bent out of shape. Raising his hand, Adam pped Luis in the face. ¡°Do you think you can stop me?¡± ¡°You¡± Luis parted his lips. However, before he could say anything, he received another p across his cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll break your legs if you don¡¯t apologize today!¡± Adam was extremely assertive. Luis¡¯ eyes zed murderously as he gritted his teeth. Although he was livid, deep down, he knew that he couldn¡¯t afford to mess with such a powerful man. ¡°Get on your knees and apologize!¡± Adam shouted again. Just as Luis was about to yield to them, a majestic voice floated across the air. ¡°Adam, don¡¯t you think you are going to the extremes by treating my Langfords like this?¡± At the same time, a bearded, burly middle-aged man with an imposing demeanor walked in. It was the head of the Langford family, Ethan Langford! ¡°Uncle Ethan!¡± ¡°Ethan!¡± When Kingston and Luis saw Ethan, their eyes lit up at once. It was as if they had found their savior. They couldn¡¯t afford to offend Adam because they had no real power in their hands. However, Ethan was different. Not only did he have an official position, but he also possessed great authority, just like Adam. When it came to seniority, even Adam had to show Ethan to show him a certain degree of respect. With Ethan around, it was hard for Adam to take advantage of the situation. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Ethan I didn¡¯t know you would be here too.¡± Adam was quite surprised. ¡°Today is my nephew¡¯s engagement ceremony. As his elder, it¡¯s natural for me to attend,¡± Ethan replied faintly. ¡°Luckily, I came here in time, or else the Langfords would end up at the mercy of others ¡± ¡°Mr Ethan, it was them who threw their weights around. I was just helping you teach them a lesson¡± Adam faked a smile. ¡°Hmph! Even if they made a mistake, an outsider like you is in no position to punish them!¡± Ethan¡¯s gaze was frosty. ¡°What if I insist on doing so?¡± Adam arched his brow. ¡°Well, then we¡¯ll have to see if you have the ability to walk your talk.¡± Ethan waved his hand. Right then, two white-haired men appeared behind Ethan. One of them was taller than the other. Just looking at their stance, one could tell they were unfathomably powerful. Upon seeing them, even Adam couldn¡¯t help but frown. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 It was said that the Langfords had two master-level martial artists working for them. They were an extremely powerful pair and wouldn¡¯t show up normally. It seemed that they hade over with Ethan today. Adam rubbed his chin, thinking about how to seek revenge. It wasn¡¯t easy to take the Langfords down with the pair around. ¡°Hmph, what¡¯s so great about the God of War? He still can¡¯t do anything to the Langfords when Uncle Ethan is here,¡± Luis muttered inwardly. There were traces of arrogance on his face. ¡°As expected of Ethan!¡± Kingston held his head up, having regained his previous confidence. Although the Spanner family was powerful, the Langfords weren¡¯t weak either. Now that Ethan was around, members of the Langford family would be unrelenting. Adam turned to look at Dustin and asked, ¡°Dustin it seems like they are not going to let me have my way. Shall we force our way through?¡± As long as Dustin agreed to it, Adam wouldunch his attacks straightaway. After all, someone else would deal with the aftermath. ¡°Since Mr. Ethan is here, forget it, then,¡± Dustin said tly. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the Langfords, but he didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for Adam ¡°Alright, whatever you say.¡± Adam shrugged. ¡°Discipline your nephew properly, Mr. Ethan. If this happens again, I won¡¯t let the matter slide easily,¡± Dustin threatened firmly before he turned around to leave. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you actually think you can just walk away like that after beating up my nephew and humiliating the Langfords? What do you take us as?¡± ¡°Exactly! You have to pay back for what you did!¡± Luis echoed from the side. He was determined to even the score with Dustin. ¡°Ethan, I¡¯m holding back out of respect for you. You shouldn¡¯t go overboard!¡± Adam¡¯s gaze wasced with hostility. ¡°Adam, this is concerning the reputation of the Langford family. I can¡¯t just gloss it over! I can spare his life for your sake, but he has to get down on his knees and apologize to my nephew!¡± Ethan refused to back down. Wealthy families cared about their reputations the most. If the Langfords let the matter go today, it would be equivalent to saying that anyone could walk all over them. ¡°Kneel down and apologize!¡± Luis looked down his nose at Dustin. ¡°So what if you have Adam backing you up? I can still trample you underfoot!¡± Luis mocked him in his heart.. ¡°Kneel before you? Are you worthy of it?¡± Dustin was indifferent to their demands. However, Ethan was different. Not only did he have an official position, but he also possessed great authority, just like Adam. When it came to seniority, even Adam had to show Ethan to show him a certain degree of respect. With Ethan around, it was hard for Adam to take advantage of the situation. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Mr. Ethan. I didn¡¯t know you would be here too.¡± Adam was quite surprised. ¡°Today is my nephew¡¯s engagement ceremony. As his elder, it¡¯s natural for me to attend,¡± Ethan replied faintly. ¡°Luckily, I came here in time, or else the Langfords would end up at the mercy of others.¡± ¡°Mr. Ethan, it was them who threw their weights around. I was just helping you teach them a lesson.¡± Adam faked a smile. ¡°Hmph! Even if they made a mistake, an outsider like you is in no position to punish them!¡± Ethan¡¯s gaze was frosty ¡°What if I insist on doing so?¡± Adam arched his brow. ¡°Well, then we¡¯ll have to see if you have the ability to walk your talk.¡± Ethan waved his hand. Right then, two white-haired men appeared behind Ethan. One of them was taller than the other. Just looking at their stance, one could tell they were unfathomably powerful. Upon seeing them, even Adam couldn¡¯t help but frown. It was said that the Langfords had two master-level martial artists working for them. They were. an extremely powerful pair and wouldn¡¯t show up normally. It seemed that they hade over with Ethan today. Adam rubbed his chin, thinking about how to seek revenge. It wasn¡¯t easy to take the Langfords down with the pair around. ¡°Hmph, what¡¯s so great about the God of War? He still can¡¯t do anything to the Langfords when Uncle Ethan is here,¡± Luis muttered inwardly. There were traces of arrogance on his face. ¡°As expected of Ethan!¡± Kingston held his head up having regained his previous confidence. Although the Spanner family was powerful, the Langfords weren¡¯t weak either. Now that Ethan was around, members of the Langford family would be unrelenting. Adam turned to look at Dustin and asked, ¡°Dustint seems like they are not going to let me have my way. Shall we force our way through?¡± As long as Dustin agreed to it, Adam wouldunch his attacks straightaway. After all, someone else would deal with the aftermath. ¡°Since Mr. Ethan is here, forget it, then,¡± Dustin said tly. He wasn¡¯t afraid of the Langfords, but he didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for Adam. ¡°Alright, whatever you say.¡± Adam shrugged. ¡°Discipline your nephew properly, Mr. Ethan. If this happens again, I won¡¯t let the matter slide easily,¡± Dustin threatened firmly before he turned around to leave. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Ethan¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Do you actually think you can just walk away like that after beating up my nephew and humiliating the Langfords? What do you take us as?¡± ¡°Exactly! You have to pay back for what you did!¡± Luis echoed from the side. He was determined to even the score with Dustin. ¡°Ethan, I¡¯m holding back out of respect for you. You shouldn¡¯t go overboard!¡± Adam¡¯s gaze wasced with hostility. ¡°Adam, this is concerning the reputation of the Langford family. I can¡¯t just gloss it over! I can spare his life for your sake, but he has to get down on his knees and apologize to my nephew!¡± Ethan refused to back down. Wealthy families cared about their reputations the most. If the Langfords let the matter go today, it would be equivalent to saying that anyone could walk all over them. ¡°Kneel down and apologize!¡± Luis looked down his nose at Dustin. ¡°So what if you have Adam backing you up? I can still trample you underfoot!¡± Luis mocked him in his heart. ¡°Kneel before you? Are you worthy of it?¡± Dustin was indifferent to their demands. ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t assume that you can behave insolently just because you have the Spanner family behind you The world isrger than you think,¡± Ethan warned coldly. With the Langford family¡¯s power, getting rid of a person was simply child¡¯s y to them ¡°Ethan, heed my warning. You can¡¯t afford to offend this friend of mine Don¡¯t get yourself in the soup If you are on the outs with him for real, it¡¯ll be toote for you to beg for mercy,¡± Adam wamed them ¡°What a joke!¡± Ethan snorted. ¡°Adam, since when have you learned to boast so shamelessly? In the whole of Stonia, nobody stands a chance against me!¡± Those he feared were all thousands of miles away ¡°Ethan, are you sure you want to do this?¡± Adam raised his brows ¡°Let me tell you frankly, I¡¯m so going to take this punk down today. You¡¯d better stay out of it!¡± With a snap of Ethan¡¯s fingers, the skilled fighters of the Langford family drew their swords and surrounded Dustin, ready to fight. ¡°Ethan is not giving any respect to Adam. It looks like the punk will be doomed today!¡± ¡°Even the Emperor won¡¯t be able to save him for disgracing the Langfords!¡± ¡°This is the price for offending someone powerful in Stonia¡± The guests couldn¡¯t help but sigh when they saw the scene. Dustin¡¯s forces were indeed impressive However, they were nothing in Ethan¡¯s presence. ¡°Rhys¡¯ Weren¡¯t you acting like you were great earlier? Why aren¡¯t you saying anything now? The Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. Langford family has a long-standing reputation Even if you have the Emperor backing you today, you will still have to show us respect! If Uncle Ethan orders you to die, you¡¯ll have to do it too!¡± Luis cackled with arrogance. In Ethan¡¯s presence, Luis was a cock who crowed upon his own dunghill. ¡°Oh? Who is asking my son to die?¡± Right then, a t voice came through. It wasn¡¯t loud, but everyone could hear the voice clearly When they looked over, what hove into their view was a thin, middle-aged man limping in His looks and clothes were ordinary, and so was his physique Other than being a little lump and having a little hump on his back, there was nothing special about him If he were to walk in a Crowd, no one would pay any attention to him However, it was such an ordinary person who drained the color from Ethan¡¯s face. His gaze was filled with not only shock but also fear ¡°H-how could it be? No, this is impossible! He stays in the military encampment all year round How can he be here?¡± Ethan was in a fit of panic The moment Ethan saw the hunchbacked man, it was as if he had bumped into a ghost His fingers couldn¡¯t help trembling as he broke into a cold sweat ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ethan? Do you know this person?¡± Kingston, who was standing at the side, quickly sensed that something was amiss ¡°H-he. He is Rufus Rhys!¡± Ethan¡¯s voice quavered. That was a bolt from the blue. When Kingston heard that, his face turned pale at once. ¡°What?! Rufus Rhys?¡± Rufus Rhys, the current head of the Rhys family, was someone who had made great contributions to the nation. He was the bravest in the army when he was young and took the lives of eight hundred thousand people during his time. He had watched over West Lucozia for 20 years and attacked countless barbarians. On top of that, his means of doing things were impartial, and he never infringed on the citizens¡¯ rights. His achievements were so great that he possessed the authority to go against anyone. When he was 30 years old, he was appointed Prince of Theswe and was the second most powerful person in the nation. His status was on par with that of the Emperor, and that made him a truly terrifying figure. Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Looking at the hunchbacked man, who appeared as if he had zero prestige, Ethan was scared out of his wits. He dared not say anything. This man in front of him was someone noble from Stonia. Even the crowned head would have to show him respect. Hence, it wasn¡¯t exaggerating to say that Rufus could easily take their lives at will. When Dustin saw him, his expression darkened. There was fury in his eyes. ¡°It looks like a good show ising up.¡± Curling up his lips, Adam gloated and immediately retreated to one side. Under the crowd¡¯s gaze, Rufus limped in, looking like someone of ordinary status. Nevertheless, the people in the hall unconsciously made room for him to walk past them. Finally, he stopped in front of Dustin. ¡°It¡¯s been a while. I didn¡¯t expect you to have grown this much.¡± Staring at Dustin, who was taller than him by half a head, Rufus couldn¡¯t help but part his lips and grin. His broken front teeth made him seem a littleical. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be still alive too,¡± Dustin said frostily with a sharp gaze. Hearing that, Ethan and Kingston were shocked. They wondered who Dustin was for him to speak. to Rufus in such a manner. Rufusughed. He didn¡¯t look like he was angry at all. ¡°Well, it¡¯s said that good people die early but not the bad ones. Someone like me, of course, has to live longer. ¡°Really? But you don¡¯t look like someone with a long lifespan,¡± Dustin replied coldly. ¡°Hey! How can you curse your dad like this?¡± ¡°Do I have anything to do with you? Don¡¯t think so highly of yourself.¡± ¡°No matter what you say, it¡¯s not going to change the fact that you¡¯re my son.¡± Rufus shrugged. ¡°Hmph! Ten years ago, I paid you back all that I needed to. We have nothing to do with each other anymore!¡± Dustin had held a grudge against him for a decade ¡°It has been ten years, and you¡¯re still a stubborn one.¡± Rufus shook his head helplessly. Deep down, he knew that what happened between them couldn¡¯t be solved in a day or two. Nevertheless, he would do his best to make it up to his son. ¡°Hey, old man!¡± At that moment, Luis was starting to get impatient. ¡°I have no time to see how affectionate you are with your son. If you don¡¯t want to die, buzz off quickly!¡± Ethan and Kingston were stunned as Luis spoke. They stood there in a daze, feeling at a loss as to what to do. No one in Stonia ever had the guts to be so presumptuous toward Rufus. They wondered if Luis was out of his mind. ¡°And who are you?¡± Rufus spared him a nce. ¡°I¡¯m Luis, a member of the Langford family.¡± With his head held high, he continued loudly, ¡°Your son has humiliated us publicly today, and he needs to pay for that! If he isn¡¯t willing to kneel down and make his apology, you¡¯ll have to do it on his behalf!¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking me to kneel?¡± Rufus let out a chuckle, appearing to be harmless. ¡°That¡¯s right! You¡¯re his father, after all!¡± ¡°Do you know who I am? I¡¯m afraid you can¡¯t afford to have me kneeling before you.¡± The corner of Rufus¡¯ lip curled up into a smirk. ¡°I don¡¯t care who you are! Even if the Emperor is hete today, he will have to get down on his knees and apologize! Otherwise, he¡¯ll have to die!¡± As soon as Luis finished saying that, Kingston fainted on the spot. Meanwhile, Ethan¡¯s face was as pale as death, and his legs were trembling uncontrobly. ¡°It¡¯s all over now. We¡¯re doomed. Why does the Langford family have such an idiotic fool?¡± he thought. ¡°Ethan, your family member is quite a character.¡± Rufus faked a smile. ¡°I¡± Ethan opened his mouth to exin. However, before he could say anything, Luis butted in, ¡°Hey! Who do you think you are to be calling my uncle without any honorifics?¡± ¡°How should I address him, then?¡± ¡°Call him Mr. Ethan!¡± Rufusughed and looked at Ethan. ¡°Mr. Ethan, is this the right way?¡± The moment Ethan heard that, he fell directly to his knees. ¡°I beg your mercy, Your Highness!¡± Upon seeing such a scene, everyone was astonished After all, that was Ethan, the head of the Langfords. They wondered who could make a big shot. like This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. him kneel on the floor. ¡°Uncle Ethan, what¡¯s wrong? What are you doing on the floor? Get up quickly!¡± Luis immediately stretched out his hand to help Ethan up. However, before Luis could touch him. Ethan smacked him hard in the face. ¡°Fuck! Don¡¯t touch me! I have nothing to do with you! From now on, you are no longer a part of the Langford family!¡± ¡°What?¡± Covering his reddened cheek, Luis was confused ¡°Uncle Ethan, what¡¯s going on? Why are you kicking me out of the family all of a sudden? I¡¯m your nephew!¡± ¡°Get lost! I don¡¯t have such a moronic nephew like you!¡± Ethan sent another p across Luis¡¯ face. Even if the person who offended Rufus was his biological father, he would have to cut ties with him there and then, let alone his nephew. Sacrificing one person was better than dragging the whole family down. ¡°What¡¯s going on exactly?¡± Luis was on the verge of lears This person standing here is none other than the Prince of Theswe. How dare you act so disrespectfully in front of him? Even the Emperor won¡¯t be able to save you!¡± Ethan reprimanded him fiercely. ¡°What?¡± Luis froze and stood there in a daze with disbelief on his face. It had never urred to him that this ordinary man in front of him would be the dignified Prince of Theswe. ¡°Wait¡­ If he is the Prince of Theswe, then isn¡¯t Dustin the renowned skilled martial artist, Kirin? Oh, God! What kind of person have I offended?¡± Luis muttered inwardly. At the thought of that, Luis¡¯ legs turned to jelly, and he slumped down to the floor. His gaze was filled with despair. Not only did he fight with Kirin over a woman, but he also called the Prince of Theswe an old man. Was there anyone in the world who would do anything much worse than him?! Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Meanwhile, Florence was frantically rummaging through the drawers and cabs in the Nicholson Vi to pack up their things. ¡°Dahlia, quick! Go and get all the jewelry we have in the house! We can¡¯t stay in Swinton anymore. Let¡¯s quickly pack up and flee abroad for the time being. I¡¯ve already bought the flight tickets. We still have several million dors of savings and some valuables at home. Those will be enough for us to survive for a while.¡± Florence was on tenterhooks. Dahlia¡¯s breach of promise had not only humiliated the Langfords but also offended the Glenstead Nicholsons. Even if they were in Stonia, Dahlia and the rest wouldn¡¯t be able to find a safe ce to stay, let alone in a small ce like Swinton. When Florence saw that Dahlia wasn¡¯t responding to her, she became even more anxious. ¡°Dahlia! What are you waiting for? Quickly pack your stuff!¡± ¡°Mom, the matter has yet to reach that extreme. We don¡¯t need to run away.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°s, don¡¯t you realize how serious the current situation is?¡± Florence pped her forehead in frustration. ¡°It¡¯s the Langfords, the cream of Stonia, that we have fallen out with! They are a terrifying existence. How can they possibly let us go when we Nave gotten them hot under the cor?¡± ¡°I understand what you¡¯re trying to say. But Dustin said that he has a way to solve the problem. I believe in him,¡± Dahlia replied firmly. ¡°Are you crazy? How can you put your trust in that loser?¡± Florence was breathing fire at that point. ¡°Who does he think he is to go against the Langfords? If it weren¡¯t for him, you wouldn¡¯t have run away from the wedding, and we wouldn¡¯t havee to this point. He¡¯s simply a jinx!¡± The Nicholsons could have led a silk-stocking life. However, Dustin ruined everything in the end. Florence just hated him to the core. Dahlia frowned. ¡°Mom! I breached the marriage promise on my own ord. It has nothing to do. with Dustin!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still defending him at times like this? Do you have to wait until our family is destroyed in his hands for you toe to your senses?¡± Florence asked bitterly. ¡°Enough. I won¡¯t go anywhere without Dustin.¡± Dahlia was firm. Bent out of shape, Florence reproached, ¡°Y-you¡­ You¡¯re hopeless!¡± ¡°How did I raise her up to be such a foolish daughter? She¡¯d rather be with someone penurious than marry into a rich family. What a stubborn child!¡± Florence muttered inwardly. At that moment, James staggered down the stairs with the tworge suitcases. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m done packing up our things. When are we leaving?¡± ¡°Hmph! Your sister is insisting on waiting for that loser!¡± Florence flumped onto the couch angrily. ¡°Sis, why are you waiting for him? Hasn¡¯t he made our lives miserable enough?¡± James frowned. ¡°You leave with Mom first. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Dahlia shook her head. ¡°Leave? Where do you think you are going?¡± Right then, Dakota burst through the door with several people following behind her. ¡°Are you trying to shrug off all the responsibilities after what you have done?¡± ¡°What are you implying?¡± Dahlia knitted her brows ¡°It¡¯s natural to be punished for making a mistake. I¡¯ll have to hand you over to the Langfords so that the conflict between the two families can be resolved!¡± Dakota dered in a stern voice. ¡°What?¡± When Florence heard that, her expression changed in an instant. She stood up and put on an apologetic smile. ¡°Dakota, you don¡¯t have to be this ruthless, do you? Aren¡¯t we family?¡± ¡°Ruthless?¡± Dakota snorted humorlessly. ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy to have the chance to be inws with the Langfords. However, not only did you not cherish this opportunity, but you also dragged the whole family down! Tell me, who is more ruthless?¡± ¡°Dakota, this has nothing to do with my daughter. It was all because of Dustin. If you need someone to Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. me, go and look for him!¡± Florence said in a hurry. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that. Dustin is with the Langfords. Perhaps he has already been skinned alive by now. But Dahlia has yet to make amends for what she did, so she has toe with us!¡± As Dakota spoke, she made a gesture. Secondster several burly bodyguards barged into the house. Chapter 345 Chapter 345 ¡°Take her away!¡± Dakota pointed her finger at Dahlia Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Let¡¯s see who has the guts to do that!¡± All of a sudden, a loud and stern voice came through the door. Then, Dustin strutted in with Maximus. ¡°Don¡¯t me me for being merciless if you dare challenge. me today!¡± ¡°Dustin?¡± Dahlia brightened up. At the sight of him, she finally felt relieved. He had promised her that he woulde back safely. Indeed, it wasn¡¯t a lie. ¡°You. You¡¯re still alive?¡± Dakota¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She clearly saw him surrounded by the Langfords before she left the banquet hall earlier. ¡°How could he escape from that?¡± Dakota thought. ¡°Do you want me to die so badly? No matter what, I am still your mom¡¯s life savior. Don¡¯t you have any sense of gratitude toward me?¡± Dustin replied tly. ¡°Hmph! Stop ying dumb! I don¡¯t care how you escaped! You have offended the Langford family, and now you¡¯re going to suffer because of that!¡± Dakota shot daggers at him. ¡°So what if I offended the Langfords? I have my ways of dealing with them.¡± ¡°You have your ways?¡± Dakota snorted. ¡°Like what? A mere doctor like you is simply courting death by going against the Langfords. ¡°Don¡¯t look down upon people. Not only can I resolve the current problem, but I can also get Luis to ¡°Apologize?¡± Hearing that, Dakota was stunned for a moment before she burst intoughter.¡± Dustin, are you in your right mind? Who do you think you are to ask Mr. Langford to apologize?¡± ¡°You¡¯re only good at bragging. I seriously don¡¯t understand why my daughter will take a fancy to you,¡± Florence said disdainfully. Luis was a wealthy aristocrat from Stonia. He could easily get Swinton squashed if he said so. It was already considered extremely lucky to have one¡¯s life spared after offending him. Asking a big shot like him to make an apology was simply wishful thinking. ¡°Well, what if I really do get Luis to apologize?¡± Dustin asked in a provoking manner. ¡°If you can do that, I will change myst name!¡± Dakota sneered. As soon as she finished speaking, countless luxury cars roared and pulled up outside the Nicholson Vi. Within seconds, the vi was surrounded from all sides. Luis and his men hurriedly got out of the car. When Dakota saw that, she couldn¡¯t help butugh and gloat. ¡°Rhys, you¡¯re dead meat! The Langford family is here to get you!¡± ¡°This is bad! Dustin, hurry up and leave!¡± Dahlia¡¯s expression also changed at the sight. The other party was nowhere near friendly. ¡°It¡¯s all over now. We should¡¯ve left just now, but you kept insisting on waiting for Dustin. Look, the Langfords have arrived. Now we can¡¯t leave even if we want to!¡± Florence¡¯s face fell. ¡°s! Why are we so unlucky?¡± James uttered mournfully. Just as everyone thought that a great misfortune was impending over them, Luis walked up to Dahlia and directly fell to his knees without hesitation. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, I was too ignorant. Everything was my fault. I¡¯m sorry. Please forgive me!¡± As Luis spoke, he repeatedly knocked his head to the floor as he bowed. That waspletely unexpected. Everyone at the scene was dumbfounded. They wondered why Luis, a powerful figure, would kneel down and apologize to Dahlia. Chapter 346 Chapter 346 ¡°We beg for your forgiveness, Ms. Nicholson!¡± The rest of the Langfords followed suit and kneeled down on the floor. At the sight of that, Dahlia was stunned, and so was Dakota. Even Florence, who had been whining until a moment ago, stood there in a trance. They thought the Langfords were here to seek revenge. However, it had never urred to the Nicholsons that the Langfords would behave so humbly all of a sudden. ¡°Ms. Nicholson, I¡¯m sorry. I thought too highly of myself. Please forgive me!¡± When Luis saw that Dahlia wasn¡¯t making any responses, he began to p his face like he was crazy, even though his cheeks were already red and swollen. Despite the pain, he dared not stop. Half an hour ago, after finding out Dustin¡¯s true identity at the banquet hall, Luis was frightened out of his wits. He thought he was doomed. Ethan even wanted to kick him out of the Langford family and cut ties with him. However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, Dustin was willing to let Luis off the hook on the premise that Luis had to ask for Dahlia¡¯s forgiveness. Luis was, of course, happy with what Dustin said. Hence, he immediately rushed over to the Nicholson Vi to apologize to Dahlia. As long as his life could be spared, he didn¡¯t mind swallowing his pride. ¡°What is going on?¡± Dahlia raised her brows, at a loss as to what to do. A while ago, Luis was still acting all high and mighty, having control over her life, and now he was kneeling before her. She found it hard toprehend such a drastic change in character. ¡°Am I seeing this wrongly?¡± Florence kept rubbing her eyes in disbelief, wondering if that was still the powerful aristocrat. When Dakota finally came to her senses, she immediately reached out her hands to help Luis up. What are you doing, Mr. Luis? Get up quickly! They aren¡¯t worthy of having you kneel down to them.¡± ¡°Out of my sight!¡± However, instead of letting her touch him, Luis pped Dakota in the face so hard that she almost fell. If Dakota hadn¡¯t asked him to marry Dahlia, then he wouldn¡¯t have offended Dustin. ¡°Mr. Luis, why did you hit me?¡± Dakota asked aggrievedly as she cupped her cheek. Shut up, or I¡¯ll rip out your tongue!¡± After shooting a fierce re at Dakota, Luis continued to apologize to Dahlia. It was aplete change of attitude. Dakota bit the bullet and asked, ¡°What happened exactly, Mr. Luis? Why don¡¯t you get up first?¡± I-it¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll continue kneeling. It¡¯s better this way.¡± He then said to Dahlia, ¡°Ms. Nicholson, I¡¯m extremely remorseful for what I have done. Please give me a chance. I promise I¡¯ll never show up in front of you again. If you¡¯re still angry, I can cut off my finger to prove my sincerity!¡± As he spoke, he took out a knife and cut his finger off directly. ¡°Huh?¡± Dahlia was startled. She did not expect Luis to cut his finger for real and be so cruel to himself. ¡°If it¡¯s not enough, I¡¯ll cut off another one!¡± Clenching his teeth, Luis endured the severe pain and cut another of his fingers. With beads of sweat forming on his forehead, he asked, ¡°Ms. Nicholson, has your anger dissipated? Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. If it hasn¡¯t, I can continue cutting them.¡± ¡°Enough¡­ It¡¯s enough.¡± Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Dahlia shook her head fervently with a bewildered expression. ¡°Mr. Langford, we¡¯d be more than thankful if you didn¡¯t find any faults with us. We would never dare me you for anything!¡± ¡°Exactly! Please get up, Mr. Langford. Look at you! You¡¯re bleeding so much! I¡¯ll go get you a Band- Aid!¡± Florence quickly went into the bedroom to get the first-aid kit. ¡°A Band-Aid?¡± Luis could not believe his ears. He¡¯d severed two of his fingers, for goodness sake! What use did he have for Band-Aids? Property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the hospital, Mr. Langford? Your bleeding doesn¡¯t seem to be stopping,¡± Dahlia suggested cautiously. ¡°Have you forgiven me, Ms. Nicholson?¡± Luis asked expectantly. ¡°I guess so. As long as you don¡¯te and bother me anymore, you¡¯re forgiven.¡± Dahlia nodded. ¡°No problem at all! I¡¯ll make myself scarce now and never bother you again!¡± Luis was ted. He nodded at both Dustin and Dahlia as a sign of apology before he made a run for it with his men in tow. ¡°Hey, Mr. Langford! Your Band-Aid!¡± Florence raised the bandage in her hand and waved it around, but Luis did not even turn back at all. If anything, he picked up his speed. ¡°Dahlia Nicholson, just you wait! I¡¯m not done with you yet!¡± Dakota saw that the situation wasn¡¯t favorable for her, so she escaped too. What happened today was nothing but peculiar. Why did the great Mr. Langford apologize to Dahlia? And he even got down on his knees! How unbelievable. How absurd! She had to thoroughly investigate what exactly was the reason behind all this. ¡°Say, Dahlia, what exactly came over Luis Langford? Has he gone cuckoo?¡± When everyone had left, Florence couldn¡¯t hold back her curiosity. From how she saw it, the only usible reasoning behind everything was that Luis had lost his mind Why else would he apologize to them? He even went to such lengths as to amputate himself! Which person in their sane mind would do something like that? ¡°I have no idea either.¡± Dahlia shook her head. Then, her gaze swiftly fell on Dustin. ¡°Did you do something?¡± ¡°Truth be told, I did nothing. It was Luis himself who offended a big shot, so he had to atone for his actions today.¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°Is that so?¡± Dahlia had her doubts. Dustin had told her before that if she faced any sort of difficulty, he would be able to straighten things out for her. And now he really did clear things out for her. She refused to believe that there wasn¡¯t anything fishy going on behind the scenes. ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll admit, I¡¯m acquainted with an influential person.¡± Seeing that he could not hide things any further, Dustin decided toe clean. ¡°Do you remember the man I had dinner with the other night? He¡¯s the scion of the prestigious Spanner family. Both his power and his status greatly exceed those of Luis Langford. He was the one who helped me out.¡± Mr. Spanner?¡± Dahlia immediately recalled Adam Spanner. ¡°How do you know such a prominent person?¡± She asked dubiously. ¡°I helped him before, so I guess he¡¯s just repaying me a favor.¡± Dustin chuckled. Adam had been a sickly kid who had constantly been bullied, so Dustin would stand up against those rich and arrogant youths of Stonia for him and often taught them a lesson for messing with Adam. Because of that, Dustin even earned himself the nickname ¡°vile demon¡±. ¡°I never would have guessed that you¡¯d be affiliated with such an important person. How did I not know this before?¡± Dahlia asked, curious. ¡°These are old-time stories. No point bringing them up.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Alright then. I will not probe too much into your past. But in the future, please do not act rashly,¡± Dahlia warned in all earnestness. ¡°It¡¯s not every day you get favors from people like him. If you bother him too often, Mr. Spanner won¡¯t want to help you all the time. You have to rely on yourself. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Dustin smiled. As they spoke, a hunched, middle-aged man with gray hair knocked on the door and made his way in. It was none other than Rufus Rhys, the King of Theswe! Chapter 348 Chapter 348 ¡°Wha-¡± Dustin¡¯s smile immediately dropped from his face the moment he saw who it was that came in through the door His smile was reced by hostility ¡°Who let you in? Get out!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken, I¡¯m just here to see my daughter-inw This has nothing to do with you¡± Rufus chuckled merrily as he hobbled in through the door ¡°Do you do you know each other?¡± Dahlia looked from one to the other, perplexed. ¡°You¡¯re Dahlia, aren¡¯t you? As expected, what a beauty! Rufus beamed brightly ¡°Oh, right, I haven¡¯t introduced myself. I¡¯m Dustin¡¯s father, your father-inw ¡°Dustin¡¯s father?¡± Dahlia was taken aback by the piece of information Though there wasn¡¯t exactly anything special about Dustin, he had exceptionally good looks He was a fine specimen of a man if anything However, this old man before her was the farthest thing from handsome The two were vastly different in the looks department ¡°What? We don¡¯t look alike?¡± Rufus chuckled nonchntly Thisd looks like his mom, so it makes sense that we look nothing like each other If he looked like me, I guess he¡¯d never find himself such a beautiful wife like you ¡± ¡®Don¡¯t say that, Mi Rhys You carry an air of prowess about you Dahlia felt a little awkward that he saw through her doubt so easily ¡°Rufus Rhys¡¯ You saw the person you were here to meet Now, would you please leave? You¡¯re not wee here¡± Dustin eximed out of nowhere ¡°Hey, watch it! That¡¯s rude¡± Dahlia shot Dustin a re. Then, she swiftly turned around and smiled apologetically at Rufus ¡®Mr Rhys, Dustin¡¯s just in a foul mood today Don¡¯t mind him. Please, have a seat I¡¯ll go make you a cup of tea ¡°Great Rufus grinned ¡°Hmph¡¯ Another freeloader¡± Florence looked Rufus up and down as she studied him haughtily. She could tell from his attire that he wasn¡¯t a wealthy person Sure enough, the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree The cker¡¯s father was a bum too ¡°This must be my inw Unfortunately, I haven¡¯t got much for you. As this is our first meeting, all I¡¯ve got for you is this little gift. Please don¡¯t mind it Rufus produced a box from his pocket and handed it to her Florence was awe-struck when she opened up the box to take a quick look inside. A sapphire the size of an egg wasid inside the box. It was so clear and exquisite. ¡°This thing. It isn¡¯t a fake -stone, is it?¡± Florence strongly doubted that it was a genuine gemstone. It was rare enough toe by a regr sapphire the size of one¡¯s fingernail. But this one was the size of an egg! It was shocking, to say the least. ¡°No way. This is a family heirloom¡± Rufusughed ¡°An heirloom? That¡¯s great!¡± Florence immediately broke out into a wide smile when she heard that. She reckoned that he was a fool to give her something so precious. A sapphire of that size ¡°How do you know such a prominent person?¡± She asked dubiously. ¡°I helped him before, so I guess he¡¯s just repaying me a favor.¡± Dustin chuckled Adam had been a sickly kid who had constantly been bullied, so Dustin would stand up against those rich and arrogant youths of Stonia for him and often taught them a lesson for messing with Adam. Because of that, Dustin even earned himself the nickname ¡°vile demon¡±. ¡°I never would have guessed that you¡¯d be affiliated with such an important person. How did I not know this before?¡± Dahlia asked, curious ¡°These are old-time stories No point bringing them up. ¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Alright then. I will not probe too much into your past. But in the future, please do not act rashly,¡± Dahlia warned in all earnestness. ¡°It¡¯s not every day you get favors from people like him. If you bother him too often, Mr. Spanner won¡¯t want to help you all the time. You have to rely on yourself. H ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Dustin smiled. As they spoke, a hunched, middle-aged man with gray hair knocked on the door and made his way in. It was none other than Rufus Rhys, the King of Theswe! ¡°Wha-¡± Dustin¡¯s smile immediately dropped from his face the moment he saw who it was that came in through the door. His smile was reced by hostility. ¡°Who let you in? Get out!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be mistaken, I¡¯m just here to see my daughter-inw. This has nothing to do with you.¡± Rufus chuckled merrily as he hobbled in through the door. ¡°Do you do you know each other?¡± Dahlia looked from one to the other, perplexed. ¡°You¡¯re Dahlia, aren¡¯t you? As expected, what a beauty!¡± Rufus beamed brightly. ¡°Oh, right, I haven¡¯t introduced myself. I¡¯m Dustin¡¯s father, your father-inw.¡± ¡°Dustin¡¯s father?¡± Dahlia was taken aback by the piece of information. Though there wasn¡¯t exactly anything special about Dustin, he had exceptionally good looks. He was a fine specimen of a man if anything. However, this old man before her was the farthest thing from handsome. The two were vastly different in the looks department. ¡°What? We don¡¯t look alike?¡± Rufus chuckled nonchntly. ¡°Thisd looks like his mom, so it makes sense that we look nothing like each other. If he looked like me, I guess he¡¯d never find himself such a beautiful wife like you.¡± Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t say that, Mr. Rhys. You carry an air of prowess about you.¡± Dahlia felt a little awkward that he saw through her doubt so easily. ¡°Rufus Rhys! You saw the person you were here to meet. Now, would you please leave? You¡¯re not wee here!¡± Dustin eximed out of nowhere. ¡°Hey, watch it! That¡¯s rude!¡± Dahlia shot Dustin a re. Then, she swiftly turned around and smiled apologetically at Rufus. ¡°Mr. Rhys, Dustin¡¯s just in a foul mood today. Don¡¯t mind him. Please, have a seat! I¡¯ll go make you a cup of tea.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Rufus grinned. ¡°Hmph! Another freeloader!¡± Florence looked Rufus up and down as she studied him haughtily. She could tell from his attire that he wasn¡¯t a wealthy person. Sure enough, the apple doesn¡¯t fall far from the tree. The cker¡¯s father was a bum top. ¡°This must be my inw! Unfortunately, I haven¡¯t got much for you. As this is our first meeting, all I¡¯ve got for you is this little gift. Please don¡¯t mind it ¡°Rufus produced a box from his pocket and handed it to her. Florence was awe-struck when she opened up the box to take a quick look inside. A sapphire the size of an egg wasid inside the box. It was so clear and exquisite. ¡°This thing¡­ It isn¡¯t a fake ¨Cstone, is it?¡± Florence strongly doubted that it was a genuine gemstone. It was rare enough toe by a regr sapphire the size of one¡¯s fingernail. But this one was the size of an egg! It was shocking, to say the least. ¡°No way. This is a family heirloom.¡± Rufusughed ¡°An heirloom? That¡¯s great!¡± Florence immediately broke out into a wide smile when she heard that. She reckoned that he was a fool to give her something.so precious. A sapphire of that size ¡°How do you know such a prominent person?¡± She asked dubiously. ¡°I helped him before, so I guess he¡¯s just repaying me a favor.¡± Dustin chuckled. Adam had been a sickly kid who had constantly been bullied, so Dustin would stand up against those rich and arrogant youths of Stonia for him and often taught them a lesson for messing with Adam. Because of that, Dustin even earned himself the nickname ¡°vile demon¡±. ¡°I never would have guessed that you¡¯d be affiliated with such an important person. How did I not know this before?¡± Dahlia asked, curious. ¡°These are old-time stories. No point bringing them up.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Alright then. I will not probe too much into your past. But in the future, please do not act rashly,¡± Dahlia warned in all earnestness. ¡°It¡¯s not every day you get favors from people like him. If you bother him too often, Mr. Spanner won¡¯t want to help you all the time. You have to rely on yourself. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Dustin smiled. As they spoke, a hunched, middle-aged man with gray hair knocked on the door and made his way in. It was none other than Rufus Rhys, the King of Theswe! Chapter 349 Chapter 349 ¡°Lunch is ready!¡± Florence had quickly whipped up avish meal, and every dish looked. sumptuous. Dustin had been prepared to make an excuse and slip away but was stopped by Dahlia. In the end, he had no choice but to stay for the meal with Rufus. It was the first time the father and son pair had had a meal together at the same table. As they ate, Rufus¡¯ eyes gradually welled up with tears. It felt like it¡¯d been a lifetime for him, but the day finally came when he could sit down and have a meal with his son. He had yet to receive his son¡¯s forgiveness, but what he had now was good enough. He was already very satisfied. Of course, many people out there would never believe that the ruthless and formidable Prince of Theswe would get teary-eyed over a meal. Once he had his fill, Rufus tactfully took his leave He knew that if he stayed on any longer, his son would most likely lose his temper. Rufus left the Nicholson Vi with a spring in his step. ¡°How did things go, Sir?¡± When he got into the car, Albert, who sat in the passenger seat, asked inquisitively. ¡°Hahaha! I had a meal with my son today!¡± Rufusughed heartily. Anyone could see that he was pleased The driver found it strange that he¡¯d be so d because of a meal. ¡°So you had a meal with your son, what¡¯s the big deal? Does it really warrant such joy from you? You¡¯re the Prince of Theswe! Where¡¯d your dignity go?¡± He thought to himself. ¡°Congrattions, Sir! That¡¯s one step closer to sess!¡± Albert smiled. He was the only one who knew how much it meant to Rufus to have a meal with his son. Even winning ten cities was nowhere near as important as that. ¡°We¡¯re indeed off to a good start, but knowing that rascal, it¡¯ll be difficult to make much progress.¡± At the thought of that, Rufus was once again troubled. ¡°Take it slow, Sir. I believe that one day, Mr. Logan will find it in him to forgive you,¡± Albert consoled him. ¡°I sure hope so¡­¡± Rufus sighed before he continued ¡°Oh before I forget, is my daughter-inw rted to the Nicholson family of Glenstead?¡± ¡°Yes, ording to my investigations, she is from the prestigious Nicholson family of Glenstead. -Albert nodded. ¡°Very well, give that fe-what¡¯s his name? Reggie?¡± ¡°Regulus Nicholson.¡± ¡°Ah, right, give Regulus a call. Have him take good care of my daughter-inw, but make sure that he isn¡¯t exposed. I wouldn¡¯t want to frighten her,¡± Rufus said after some consideration. Gaining his son¡¯s forgiveness would be a challenge, but he could get his daughter-inw on his side first. That would make things much easier for him. ¡°Rest assured, Sir. I know what to do.¡± Albert nodded. ¡°Great. Let¡¯s go visit the Drunken Maniac at Peaceful Medical Center. It¡¯s been a long time. You old buddies should catch up.¡± Back at the Nicholson Vi, Dustin watched emotionlessly as Rufus¡¯ car drove off. He knew perfectly well that what happened back then had nothing to do with Rufus, but he still could not forgive him. He was but a mere mortal. He wasn¡¯t above his emotions. All his life, he had known that kindness should be repaid with kindness and that revenge must be sought for any wrongs. He would willingly go against the world for his family and loved ones. It was different for Rufus, however. As a person of status, his priority was always what benefited him, and his gains and losses. Outsiders might think that Rufus did nothing wrong, but to Dustin, his one mistake was that he did absolutely nothing at all. ¡°Why are you spacing out?¡± Dahlia picked up a cup of hot tea and walked over to Dustin to pass it to Content provided by N?velDrama.Org. him. ¡°Nothing.¡± Dustin smiled and took a sip of tea. ¡°Didn¡¯t you tell me that both your parents had passed away? Who was this father of yours today?¡± Dahlia found things puzzling. ¡°He¡¯s as good as dead to me,¡± Dustin stated calmly. ¡°I guess there must be some sort of major conflict going on between you. Can I ask what it is about?¡± Dahlia tried to make sense of the situation Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Dahlia was genuinely curious about Dustin¡¯s past. After getting to know him better these days, she found that he was indeed a myster y. ¡°It¡¯s along story.¡± Dustin shook his head. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be here whenever you feel like talking about it.¡± Dahlia gave him a warm smile. ¡°Sure.¡± Dustin nodded. ¡°It¡¯s getting colder these days. Let¡¯s go to the mall to get some new clothes for winter,¡± Dahlia suggested. ¡°Sure, we can get some new clothes, but I¡¯ll have you know, I¡¯m broke!¡± Dustin shrugged. ¡°Ugh! What a miser!¡± Dahlia rolled her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll pay for everything today. Will that do?¡± ¡°Why, thank you, Ms. Nicholson!¡± Without another word, Dustin hurried off to bring the car over. It¡¯s been three years since they got married, but they rarely went out shopping together. The moment they left, Florence immediately took out the sapphire and had a good look at it. ¡°Oh, my pr ecious honeybunch of a sapphire! What luck I¡¯m in today!¡± The more she studied it, the more she loved it. ¡°Aunt Florence, what are you looking at?¡± Right then, Julie walked in. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Julie! You¡¯vee at just the right time! Come have a look at this!¡± Florence showed off the sapphire t o Julie and handed it to her. ¡°A sapphire?¡± When Julie had a good look at it, her voice raised a pitch and she sounded so excited. ¡°A unt Florence, where did you get such an enormous sapphire? It must be worth a fortune! ¡°Haha! You might not believe this, but it was Dustin¡¯s father who gave this to me.¡± Florence beamed pro udly. ¡°What? Dustin¡¯s father?¡± Julie was shocked and could not believe her ears. ¡°Aunt Florence, didn¡¯t you s ay that Dustin¡¯s as broke as can be? How can his father afford to give you something so precious?¡± ¡°I find it strange too.¡± Florence rubbed her chin. ¡°I was wondering if Dustin secretly came from a wealth y family. Maybe he¡¯s just kept a low profile all this while so we never noticed.¡± ¡°Him? The son of a wealthy family? Does he look like one?¡± Julie wondered out loud. ¡°If he isn¡¯t, then how can his father afford to give me such a huge sapphire just like that?¡± Florence cont inued to expound on the situation. ¡°Aunt Florence, let¡¯s put that aside for now. The matter of utmost importance now is whether you¡¯ve fou nd someone to verify if the sapphire¡¯s genuine?¡± Julie piped up. ¡°But it¡¯s so pretty! It can¡¯t be a fake gem, can it? Besides, Dustin¡¯s father said this is a family heirloom!¡± Florence refused to believe t hat the gem could be a fake. ¡°Aunt Florence, how can you believe everything he says? You¡¯re too gullible! For safety¡¯s sake, it¡¯s best if you get it appraised! You never know if it¡¯s a sham!¡± Julie instigated. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Florence nodded. ¡°But where should I get it appraised?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you worry, Aunt Florence. I know just the right person to get it appraised. Just let me have the sapphire for a while, and we¡¯ll soon have our answer,¡± Julie affirmed confidently. ¡°Alright, then. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Florence did not doubt Julie even for a moment, and passed the sapphire along with the box it came with to her. Half an hourter, in the gemologicalboratory. ¡°What? This is a genuine sapphire worth billions? You¨C you¡¯re not mistaken, are you?¡± Julie was dumbfounded when she heard the results. ¡°We¡¯ve run multiple tests on it. It can¡¯t be wrong. In fact, this is an extremely rare variety of sapphire. If it were to be auctioned, the starting bid would be one billion, at the very least,¡± the expert appraiser told her. ¡°Great! This is just great! We¡¯ve struck gold this time!¡± Julie burst out Just then, Julie¡¯s phone rang. She answered the call. It was Florence. ¡°Hello, Julie. How did the appraisal go? Is it a genuine sapphire?¡± ¡°O¨C of course it¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s a fake one!¡± An idea came to Julie. She feigned disappointment. ¡°Aunt Florence, yo u¡¯ve been deceived by Dustin and his father! I just had the sapphire appraised. They confirmed that it¡¯s just a synt hetic gemstone. It¡¯ll just cost you maybe 20 or 30 dors to get your hands on one. It¡¯s trash. I¡¯ve thrown it away!¡± ¡°What? It¡¯s synthetic? Those darned loafers! How dare they trick me! I¡¯ll make them pay!¡± She let out a curse and cut the call. Chapter 351 Chapter 351 That evening at Peaceful Medical Center, Natasha waltzed in through the doors happily with two bottles of wine in her hand. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m back! Look what I brought! These are ag ed wines, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll love them!¡± All of a sudden, the smile on her face froze as she noticed that not only was Dustin not inside, but there were also two strangers in there instead. Gregory, who was usually in a drunken stupor, now sat upright with a stern expression on his face. How peculiar. ¡°Mr. Jones, who are they?¡± Natasha¡¯s curiosity was piqued. ¡°You¡¯re back,ss? Here, let me introduce them. This one here is Dustin¡¯s father, and this one is an old pal of mine.¡± Gregory gestured to Rufus and Albert, respectively, as he introduced them to Natasha. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Dustin¡¯s father?¡± Natasha¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Oh, so my father¨Cin¨C ach a cup of tea. Then, she smiled sweetly and said to Rufus, ¡°Please have some tea, Father!¡± ¡°What?¡± Rufus took a while to adapt to such enthusiasm. ¡°Youngdy, may I know who you might be?¡± ¡°As this is our first time meeting, it¡¯s only expected that you do not know me, Father. My name is Natas ha Harmon, and I¡¯m Dustin¡¯s wife, so I¡¯m your daughter¨Cin¨C ¡°My daughter¨Cin¨C He broke out into a heartyugh. ¡°That¡¯s great, that¡¯s great! How lucky my son is to have such an enchanting wife like you! This is amazing!¡± As expected of a man from the Rhys family. Dustin managed to snag two charmingdies without anyone knowing. He sure had his way with women! Rufus was delighted. ¡°Oh, you tter me too much, Father. I¡¯m the lucky one to have Dustin. He¡¯s such an amazing man. I¡¯d say he¡¯s quite a catch!¡± Natasha chuckled. ¡°Oh, is thatd really such a fine man?¡± Rufus teased. ¡°Of course he is!¡± Natasha did not go easy on her praise. ¡°Not only is he capable intellectually, but he¡¯s also skilled in martial arts. Besides, his medical skills are top¨C notch. It seems like there isn¡¯t anything he can¡¯t do! And to top it off, he¡¯s such a gentle and caring man who shoulders his responsibilities well. You don¡¯te by men like him these days!¡± ¡°Hahaha! You sure know your man well!¡± Rufus chortled loudly when he heard his son being praised. H e beamed so brightly that his wrinkles showed, but pride was evident on his face. He was beyond hims elf with joy. What was more delightful than hearing one¡¯s own child being praised by others? ¡°Of course, it goes without saying that you must have taught him well for him to turn out into such an a mazing person, Father. Now that I think about it, ultimately, you¡¯re the one who has the wisdom to raise such a brilliant son!¡± Natasha took the opportunity to praise Rufus as well. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Rufus was truly over the moon. Heughed so much that his cheeks started to hurt. He had never been so happy in the past ten years. Albert, who sat beside him, smiled brightly too. He was happy for Rufus that he had yet another daught er¨Cinw. ¡°Oh, you do have your way with your words, youngdy! Since you called me ¡®father¡®, I must give you a present.¡± After Rufus calmed down from his joyfulughter, Rufus took out a dagger an d handed it to Natasha. ¡°This dagger has been by my side for many, many years. It shall be my gift to you to mark our first meeting.¡± ¡°This is too precious! I cannot have it!¡± Natasha waved her hands in protest. With her sharp eyes, she c ould tell at a nce that the dagger wasn¡¯t just any other dagger. Just the gemstones embedded on the hilt for decoration alone were worth an exorbitant amount, much less the de itself. ¡°Have it. It isn¡¯t worth much. It¡¯d be good to carry it around as protection,¡± Rufus chuckled. Seeing how understanding his daughter¨Cin¨C ¡°Just ept it,ss. This is your father¨Cin¨C es in the world. Even the Sword Whisperer, who was obsessed with swords, had requested to have the dagger multiple times before, but Rufus had never b een willing to part with it. ¡°Alright, then. Thank you, Father.¡± Natasha smiled sweetly at him and quickly stashed the dagger away safely. Then, they both had a good chat and quickly bonded with each other, so they decided to just address e ach other as father and daughter, respectively. For a moment, all was warm and cozy in the medical center. ¡°Natasha, when did youe?¡± Right then, Dustin, who was just done shopping, entered. There was a smile on his face when he saw Natasha, however, when he caught sight of Rufus, his smile died down. ¡°Oh, not too long ago. And what a coincidence that I met Father! Why did you not tell me that Father was she would have prepared some presents for him to win him over and gain her future father¨Cin¨C