Sheila laughed at herself, her voice trembling with mixed emotions. "If you think of me as a friend, why did you hurt Jayden? Why did you kidnap me? What's the point of it all?" Dustin was momentarily speechless. He had mentioned his involvement in the fight with Jayden earlier. Still, Sheila didn't believe him. She had already decided, and it seemed pointless to explain. Trust faded once suspicion took hold, which he had come to accept. "Why are you so quiet? Are you admitting you did it?" Sheila's voice quivered with disappointment. "It seems my dad was right about you. Your past actions were just an act to gain our favor." She continued, "I thought you were different and special. You're not like those who care only about power. But now I see I was mistaken. "You're like those who pretended to be close to me but were better at hiding your true intentions. You fooled me, made me doubt myself, and almost caused problems in my family." "Dustin! I hate you!" Sheila shouted an
"Mr. Murray! Mr. Murray, wake up!"The loud shout suddenly interrupted Sheila's thoughts. She turned quickly to see Jayden, who was unconscious. "Jayden!" Sheila rushed to check on him. Dustin had punched Jayden hard in the stomach. It left him barely breathing and on the brink of death."That Dustin went way too far, injuring Jayden like this," Vivian fumed."I wish that guy hadn't run off so quickly. Or I'd have beaten him to death," Evan grumbled.Though they couldn't beat him in a fight, they were seething in anger."Quick, let's get him to the hospital!"Sheila called for help, and they quickly got Jayden into a car, racing to East Swinton Hospital.Soon, the doctors began to treat Jayden's injury. It wasn't until late at night that Jayden was finally out of danger. Luckily, Dustin had held back to avoid causing fatal harm. In the ICU, Jayden lay unconscious. He looked as pale as a ghost. Caden and the others stood vigil at his side.The past few days had been tumu
Edgar nodded and said, "I'll leave this to you. Find some skilled experts to deal with Dustin for me." He knew money could solve his problem without him having to get his hands dirty."No problem," Caden replied. A thought ran in his mind, "This is Edgar's order, so any blame would fall on him if things went wrong."The next morning, there was a lot of activity in front of the Murray residence. Guests were coming and going to celebrate Christopher's birthday. He had retired from the public eye but was still highly respected.Christopher had always kept to himself. He invited only a small group of friends and relatives to his birthday party. However, some unexpected guests had shown up.At this moment, a black sedan pulled up in front of the mansion. The door opened, and Dustin stepped out, holding a gift. He was accompanied by Cornelius. "Sir Rhys, you attacked Jayden last night, and now you're here for General Murray's birthday. Aren't you afraid the Murray family will tur
"I've come to congratulate General Murray on his birthday. I don't want trouble, so please step aside," Dustin said despite the shouts and threats."Congratulate him? Hmph! Do you even deserve it?" Vivian sneered. She continued, "Who do you think you are? What makes you qualified to congratulate General Murray? If it weren't for Sheila, you think you'd be allowed in?"To Vivian, Sheila's intervention was the only reason Dustin got inside."That's right! Take a good look around. Everyone who is here to congratulate General Murray is from high society. You're just an insurance agent. What gives you the right to be here with us?" Evan scoffed.Despite his fighting skills, they viewed Dustin as a mere brute and didn't think he could cause a scene.Sheila remained silent, watching Dustin with a somewhat uncertain expression. Their relationship had already soured due to the incident the previous night. She harbored resentment toward him, especially since Jayden was still in the hosp
Sheila was surprised by Dustin's irrational behavior. She never imagined he would become violent over a minor disagreement. At first, she believed he was a good person, but his actions have left her bitter and skeptical. "Ms. Murray, I'm joking. You have nothing to worry about. I'll not use violence unless provoked," he said calmly.Vivian retorted, "Hmph! You're saying you're only joking? If Sheila hadn't intervened, things could have turned violent!"Evan added, "Dustin, knowing martial arts doesn't justify reckless behavior. The Murray residence is no place for such conduct!""If someone doesn't annoy me, I don't resort to violence. But if they do, I might. That's my advice, and I'll give you a break now," Dustin said coldly."Sheila, this guy is out of control. You should consider kicking him out before he disrupts the celebration!" Vivian suggested, hoping Sheila would agree."Vivian is right, Sheila. One troublemaker can ruin the celebration. Today, we're celebrating Gen
"Sheila! They're lying!" Vivian was concerned about the situation. She continued, "All this talk about saving you and repaying their kindness is nonsense. From the moment Dustin approached you, it was all part of his master plan to win your favor. Don't be fooled by him!"Evan interjected, "She's right, Sheila! He's a sly guy with hidden motives. You have to be careful!"As she listened to them, Sheila's momentary guilt vanished. She realized that Dustin's actions were not out of genuine kindness. Instead, he had ulterior motives. She saw his true nature yesterday. And now, she no longer felt any obligation or kindness toward him.Sheila took a deep breath and glanced at Dustin. "Dustin! I don't want to see you anymore. Please leave.""You—"Just as Cornelius was about to say something, Dustin interrupted him.Dustin looked disappointed. "Miss Murray, it seems you don't like me. Then, I'll leave now. Goodbye." With that, he turned and walked to the door.He noticed her deter
"Is this punk looking for trouble?" Caden narrowed his eyes, his expression hostile.Diego, who was sitting with the other guests, couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Well, this is getting interesting."After what had happened last night, he had expected Dustin to run away and hide. But Dustin's bold appearance at the Murray residence had caught him off guard."The kid's in trouble now! General Murray has his eye on him. He won't get away today!" Evan chuckled maliciously. "He brought it upon himself! He could've left earlier and avoided the whole mess. But no, he chose to stay and become a pain in the ass. He really wants to be in trouble!" Vivian sneered, her face filled with gloating satisfaction.They believed Christopher had learned what had happened to Jayden and wanted revenge."General Murray, please accept my well wishes. I've some other matters to take care of, so I'll take my leave," Dustin said. He bowed courteously and walked away."Stop!"Evan suddenly lunged
"Ouch!"Evan and Vivian winced at the unexpected slap that caught them off guard. They held their burning cheeks, confused by the sudden turn of events. They couldn't understand Christopher's actions, especially since Dustin was the troublemaker. The Murray family and their guests were also baffled. No one had expected Christopher to slap someone out of anger on his special day."General … General Murray." Evan tried to argue. "Did you confuse us with someone else? This punk is causing trouble and should be dealt with."Vivian added, "Yes, General Murray, he even assaulted Mr. Murray last night. He committed a crime and should be punished." She believed that Christopher might not know the truth."Quiet!" Christopher glowered at them. His authoritative voice filled the room. He continued, "Dustin saved my granddaughter's life. He's the savior of the Murray family and my most esteemed guest. Any more of this nonsense, and I'll have you removed!"Anxiety set in as Evan and V
That night, two young men sat playing chess inside a secluded mansion in the Inner City. On the left was Anders, who had visited the Ballard estate earlier. Across from him sat Matthias, a broad-shouldered man dressed in richly adorned robes.The game was intense, with fast moves followed by moments of deep thought. About ten minutes later, Anders finally conceded defeat."Anders, you've really improved since we last played. You almost had me there," Matthias said, stroking his beard in mild surprise."You flatter me, Your Highness. My chess skills are nothing compared to yours. If you hadn't gone easy on me, I wouldn't have lasted half as long," Anders replied with a modest smile."You're as smooth with words as ever." Matthias let out a hearty laugh with a look of smug satisfaction. Winning was in his nature—whether in war or on the chessboard, defeat was not an option."Well, we've eaten, and we've played. Let's get to business." With a wave of his hand, he signaled his men t
"Honestly, we shouldn't waste time debating who's better suited to be king. We just need to figure out who's most likely to take the throne," Jensen said matter-of-factly.As a businessman, he only cared about maximizing profit. To him, it didn't matter who sat on the throne but who had the best odds. He felt that backing that person would be the wisest choice."Who's most likely depends on who has the strongest backing," Jonathan said thoughtfully."Oh, right! I forgot to ask—who are the Moseys supporting?" Jovian asked, smacking his forehead. They'd been discussing this for so long but still hadn't figured out where the Moseys stood."My guess is Prince Nathaniel." Jensen narrowed his eyes as he analyzed the situation. "He's close to Anders. With his immense potential and the king's favor, the Moseys might see him as their best bet.""Anders' personal ties can't speak for the entire Mosey family," Jovian countered, shaking his head. "Family interests outweigh personal relationsh
Even without the king's involvement, the ambitious individuals would tear the Ballard family apart and leave nothing behind.If Simon chose the right side and it prevailed, his family could enjoy a century of stability and prosperity. But if he backed the wrong prince, everything could fall apart in a single night.At that moment, he didn't know what to choose. This was a critical decision—one mistake and the entire family could be ruined."Regarding this matter, I need to think it over carefully. I can't give you an answer just yet," Simon said. He knew the stakes were too high. A single misstep could lead to disaster, so he had to be cautious."I understand," Anders replied with a faint smile. "This isn't an easy decision. Still, I hope Your Lordship can decide soon.""Your Lordship, the forces seeking a marriage alliance with the Mosey family aren't limited to your family alone," Zack added coolly. "Don't think you can afford to wait for the highest bidder. Time is running out,
"In response to Your Lordship's question, this marriage alliance between our two families isn't my decision alone—it's also my godfather's and the entire Mosey family's," Anders said with a smile."According to the established rules, marriages between royal bloodlines are forbidden. Have you forgotten?" Simon replied coolly. "Sticking to outdated rules only holds us back," Anders said, shaking his head with a smile.He continued, "Right now, Dragonmarsh is going through a turbulent time—internally and externally. I've also heard the king's health is deteriorating. There are rumors he plans to name a successor and step down soon."With that, Oakvale will likely be in turmoil. When that happens, all the powerful families—the four ancient houses, the eight great families, and other factions—will be dragged into the chaos."That's why I'm hoping our families can form a marriage alliance to navigate the coming crisis together."Simon remained calm and said, "It's natural for the king
"Dad, what do you think?" Jonathan asked, turning to Simon."A guest has arrived, so we can't be rude. Invite them to the living room so we can discuss things properly," Simon replied calmly.Anders represented the Mosey family, and regardless of his intentions, Simon couldn't simply turn him away. As for the proposed marriage alliance, it was a matter that required thorough consideration."Understood," the butler replied promptly before leaving."Go on with your meal. I'm going to meet with Anders," Simon said, excusing himself from the table.Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian exchanged glances and, without hesitation, followed their father. They were curious to see what the Mosey family had in mind."Alright, let them handle it. Let's focus on our meal," Gemma Letcher, Natasha's grandmother, said with a smile and signaled everyone to continue eating.…Three minutes later, in the Ballard family's living room, Simon sat at the head of the table near the entrance. Jonathan and his b
After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out. Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale's city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third-ranked official in the government. The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets. Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third-ranked general.Simon's youngest daughter, Jessica—Natasha's mother—was highly favored with
While Dustin was away, Natasha couldn't help but worry about him. She would always keep an eye out for any news about him. But no matter how much she missed him, she wouldn't call him. She didn't want to distract or cause him to lose focus on the important matters concerning the nation's affairs. Understanding how busy he was, she kept her feelings in check and buried herself in work to keep her mind occupied.But when Natasha finally saw Dustin again, all the emotions she had bottled up came rushing out. Months of longing turned into overwhelming affection, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.Her assistant, Tanya, watched in shock. She had no idea Natasha—typically the poised, decisive, and commanding chairwoman—was in a relationship. What surprised her even more was how different Natasha seemed around Dustin. The usually unshakable "queen" now appeared soft and tender in his presence.Tanya couldn't help but watch Dustin more closely. His looks and charisma were u
Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs. From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable. He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods' plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining. According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power. Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher c
The chaos of the night quickly settled.By morning, as the first light of dawn broke across the horizon, Sacred Wrym Summit had regained its usual tranquility. Yet, the bloodstains across the ground and the wreckage of buildings stood as grim reminders of the previous night's violence.The military forces summoned by Grace had already taken the Hall of Gods' prisoners into custody.Rumors spread like wildfire, fueling gossip throughout the martial world as all the major guilds watched with keen interest. After all, very few in history had ever dared to challenge Sacred Wrym Summit, and a bold invasion aimed at destroying it was nothing short of unprecedented.The outcome was clear to all who bore witness. After many years, the world had come to recognize the true terror of Arion. He was no mere mortal—he was almost a godlike figure.…Inside the Hall of Gods' headquarters in Streuqua, the core members were gathered, seated in two rows on either side of the grand hall.On the thr