The contrast between the two pairs on the dance floor could not be more striking. On Phoebe’s side, their dance was lively and graceful, and each movement showed elegance and versatility, which earned enthusiastic applause from the surrounding students. In stark comparison, Dustin and Irene’s performance was stiff and riddled with mistakes. Irene nearly twisted her ankle several times. “Is there even a comparison? This is just pathetic!” said Phoebe with a scoff. Her confidence soared as she saw victory within reach. Irene’s frustration grew with every misstep, and her anxiety was evident in her increasingly unsteady movements. “Let me lead,” Dustin suddenly said in a calm yet firm voice. Before Irene could respond, he had taken the lead. He tightened his grip ever so slightly and took control of their movements. In that instant, everything changed. Their dance transformed, like a machine that had just been oiled. It was seamless, breathtaking, and utterly mesmeri
The dance battle ended without any debate. The difference between the two sides was clearly visible to all. As Dustin and Irene finished their stunning performance, many in the crowd turned their attention toward Phoebe. Irene had won, so it was her turn to fulfill the bet. She had to get on the floor and oink like a big. “Phoebe is the daughter of the most prestigious family in Lannopolis. For her to kneel on the ground and squeal like a pig? It’ll be the headline in the local paper tomorrow, and the Chandler family’s reputation will be in ruins!” someone muttered. “The heiress of the Chandler family forced to squeal like a pig after losing in a dance-off? By noon, Lannopolis Elite College will be abuzz with gossip. How will Phoebe ever show her face here again?” Amid the murmurs, Phoebe’s face soured, as if she had just swallowed a fly. How could she possibly stoop so low? “You’ve won. What happens next is up to you,” Dustin said to Irene. Irene looked at Phoe
She only began resenting Irene after that incident and targeted her relentlessly ever since.Little did she expect that, at the graduation ball, Aaron would propose to Irene in front of everyone with the Verdigris Emerald ring. This was madness!Irene’s face reflected discomfort as she was surrounded by chanting students. “Aaron, I’m sorry, but I can’t say yes,” she said helplessly. “Why not? Irene, I’ve liked you for four years! Isn’t that enough to prove my sincerity? I’m willing to sacrifice so much for you. Why won’t you say yes?” Aaron lifted his head, and his voice grew agitated. So many people were watching them. He had spent a fortune on the Verdigris Emerald from the Central Harbor Auction House. Irene’s rejection felt like a public humiliation to him. “Aaron, stop fixating on this. I simply don’t like you!” Irene had no choice but to be honest. Irene’s words struck Aaron like lightning. “Why? What’s wrong with me? Did you fall for someone else?” he asked an
“You are the one who should be leaving.” Dustin’s gaze locked onto Aaron as he spoke calmly. The ballroom buzzed with murmurs of disbelief. The Burke family was one of the elite families of Lannopolis. Even in the elite circles of Lannopolis Elite College, where wealth and influence were abundant, few would dare cross someone like Aaron. But Irene’s date was a completely unknown person who did not seem to belong to any notable family. How could he be so bold? Phoebe sneered mockingly. She knew Aaron’s temper all too well. There was no way he would let such an insult slide. Irene’s “perfect date” was bound to suffer. Aaron’s face darkened. He slowly got up while still holding the engagement ring in one hand. “You’re the first person to speak to me like that…” he said in an icy voice full of menace. A twisted smile spread across his face. “And you’ll be the last!” “Aaron, what are you trying to do? Think before you act!” Irene quickly stepped in front of Dustin
Irene felt a little uneasy. She thought that Dustin had gone a bit too far with his words. How could anything compare to the 30 million dollars Verdigris Emerald ring? “It’s just Verdigris Emerald. Why do you act like you’ve never seen anything like this before?” Dustin asked with a soft smile. “Coincidentally, one of my men recently unearthed a piece of these from the North Pole and sent it to me. I find the color too overwhelming, so I’ll just give it to her.” He nonchalantly reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. He handed it over to Irene. “Nothing too special. You can do whatever you want with it.” Irene hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take the pouch. She did not open it right away as she was worried that whatever was inside might not be worth much. “Why are you hesitating, Irene? Afraid to embarrass yourself?” Phoebe sneered. “Go on, open it. Don’t just stare at it,” Dustin said flatly. With a deep breath, Irene finally ope
Aaron skulked off to a corner in defeat and dejection. If he kept pushing, he would only humiliate himself further. With nothing else to do, he slumped into a chair and sullenly sipped a drink. Before long, Phoebe sidled up to him. “What do you want? Here to rub it in? Beat it!” Aaron snapped coldly. Phoebe’s face darkened. She was clearly unimpressed by his sulking. “Oh, don’t take it out on me just because you’re a loser!” she said with a sneer. “Honestly, you’ve spent four years chasing after Irene like a lovesick fool, and has she even once spared you a glance? You’ve embarrassed yourself and everyone in our circle!” She crossed her arms. Her voice dripped with disdain. “Have you forgotten who you are? You’re the heir to the Burke family! What happened to your pride? Did you leave it at the bottom of your whiskey glass?” Phoebe’s rant only deepened Aaron’s scowl. “If I were you, Irene would’ve been mine ages ago,” she said with a mocking smile. “It’s just a
Irene felt relieved that Aaron seemed to have let things go and raised her glass to drink with him. After just two drinks, her head began to spin. Seated across from her, Dustin appeared to be losing his clarity too. He swayed slightly in his seat. Seeing this, Aaron and Phoebe dropped their facade entirely. “Irene, you idiot! Did you really think I wanted to make peace with you? As if you’re even worth it!” Phoebe sneered. “What… what are you saying?” Irene’s heart sank as unease crept in. “You walked right into this. No hesitation, no questions. Honestly, you’re pathetic. Serves you right to lose your virginity tonight!” Phoebe taunted viciously as her eyes brimmed with malice. “Aaron, what are you waiting for? Haven’t you wanted her for years? Here’s your chance to finally get what you want!” she spat with venom. Aaron stood and yanked his shirt off. His gaze was fixated coldly on Irene’s beautifully vulnerable figure. “Four years, Irene. Four years of cha
“What? How is this possible?!” Both Phoebe and Aaron froze in shock. Their eyes darted toward the couch. Dustin was sitting there and was wide awake. His piercing gaze locked onto them, which sent a chill down their spines. They were in panic and disbelief. “You drank two glasses… How can you still be fine?” Phoebe stammered as she pointed at Dustin. Her voice trembled. The drug she had slipped into his drink was so strong that it was nearly impossible to obtain. She had spiked his drink with her own hand and watched him down it. How could he possibly be unaffected? “You didn’t drink the wine?!” Aaron said as his face twisted in frustration. “I did,” Dustin said nonchalantly. “But the drug’s too weak. It couldn’t even give me the slightest buzz.” Their faces paled. Their disbelief turned to shock. That drug was infamous for its potency. It was anything but weak. Little did they know that Dustin’s body had long become immune to toxins. Seeing him unh
“You should know where all the nerve centers are in the body, right?” Dustin asked. “I… I do…” “Good,” said Dustin and told her to step forward. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is he really going to let an intern physician treat Germaine? This is Germaine Vance of the Vance family!” Everyone was taken aback. They could not believe their eyes. “This is preposterous!” The other physicians felt skeptical. If Dustin wanted to pick someone to help, he should have picked a more experienced physician! Rowan’s expression was chilly, and he clenched his fists tightly. He was at the limit of his patience when it came to Dustin. Dustin ignored all these comments directed at what he was doing. He talked to the nervous intern physician for a bit and told her to clean Germaine’s mouth and nose. Then, he had her massage Germaine’s head at a few key nerve centers. The amount of pressure applied and the time needed in each area was different. After all that was done, Dustin h
Dustin moved to stand before Germaine and regarded him with his head lowered for a while. Then, he walked to the desk nearby and sat on a chair. “So? What’s the condition?” Rowan asked. “You won’t understand even if I told you. It’s a very rare condition. There’s something wrong with the old man’s cranial nerves,” Dustin said flatly. Dustin could tell that Germaine was skilled at fighting. Such people tended to put a lot of stress on their nerves all the time. In that way, they were very different from ordinary people. In rare cases, a light hit would result in a pinched nerve and might even cause paralysis. Germaine’s nerves were pinched so badly that his cranial nerves had been affected. Thus, he was paralyzed in several places, and it was affecting his whole body. As such, he had lost consciousness and fallen into a coma. Moreover, he was spitting out blood constantly. If he stayed in that condition for another fifteen minutes, Germaine’s life would be in dan
“What did you say?!” Rowan’s eyes widened as he was enraged. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please spare me.” Clarence quickly fell to his knees and bowed. The might of the Vance family and Rowan’s fierce reputation terrified him. ‘We’re done for…’ Simone thought. That was what the entire staff of the hospital thought. “You’re a quack!” Rowan yelled. “What kind of trash hospital is this that you can’t even deal with such a small problem? I’ll destroy this hospital!” Rowan’s tantrum made everyone go quiet. “What’s all this noise? Shut up!” said a sudden voice. Everyone froze as they looked toward the source of the voice. It was Dustin! He had actually dared to shout at Rowan! The hospital staff were surprised. Dustin really had a death wish. “Dustin, have you gone mad?” Simone was flabbergasted. She quickly tried to pull Dustin aside. Rowan was not someone they could afford to offend! “What did you say, punk?” Rowan’s eyes narrowed as anger exuded from him in
At the outpatient section of the neurology department, there was a group of suited men in sunglasses surrounding an unconscious old man. By the old man’s bedside, his family members looked anxious and worried. Rowan Vance was pacing the ward. His eyebrows were knitted tightly. That day, the Vance family was on a day out. When they passed through Hattan, Germaine Vance had suddenly collapsed and started coughing up blood. It scared the entire group. Panicked, they rushed him to the nearest hospital. But the neurologist at the hospital had already done some checks but was unable to find out what the problem was. He then said that he would get an expert to examine the patient. “If you can’t save him, we’ll use all the power of the Vance family to destroy this hospital!” Rowan said viciously. The nurses in the neurology department were so terrified that they all went pale. After a while, as the members of the Vance family stood around impatiently, Dustin and the others ar
Clarence and the others felt insulted. “Punk, don’t regret your choice later! Even if you beg us, we won’t come back!” “That’s not likely to happen,” said Dustin and chuckled. Clarence and the others were even more livid. They all packed up their things in a huff and got ready to go. Simone was anxious. She wanted to make them stay, but everyone ignored her.“Dr. Boudin! Dr. Boudin!” As Clarence and the others were packing up, another physician suddenly rushed into the room in a panic. “A new patient was just transferred from Goodwill Hospital. He’s in a coma, but he’s coughing up blood. The files say it’s a brain condition, but tests aren’t showing where the problem is. Please hurry and take a look! “The patient’s family seems important. If we can’t save the patient, they’ll ruin the hospital!” “Oh?” Clarence raised an eyebrow. He was just thinking about how he could make things worse for Dustin when an opportunity presented itself immediately. “Please hurry and
“I’m so damn angry!” Clarence had never been so insulted before in his life. He was so mad that his face turned a shade of purple. He thought that Dustin and Simone would walk on eggshells around him and cater to his every whim to keep the hospital afloat. After all, he was the last resource the hospital had. Yet, he had never imagined that Dustin would not care at all. “You punk! Do you know what will happen if you fire me? Hmph! The hospital will go under immediately! There’s no chance of saving it!” Clarence said with a scoff. Dustin was terrifyingly calm. “On the contrary, I think that the hospital will do better without an old fart like you,” he said indifferently. “So, you should get lost. Don’t make me say it again!” “You… You…” Clarence’s mouth opened wide, but he could not say anything further. He had miscalculated. He definitely did not want to lose out on the significant benefits that being the assistant director of the hospital gave him. He did not u
“Who are you? Do you think you can boss us around? What are you shouting about? Do you have any manners at all?” someone yelled. “I am the new hospital director, Simone Langley!” Simone said angrily. No one seemed to care about that. It was clear that they knew Simone would show up, but it still did not matter. “So, you’re the new hospital director. Well, you’re certainly accomplished for your age. A hospital director so young…” Clarence said mockingly. “You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you playing cards during work hours? This is unacceptable.” Simone was furious. Clarence frowned. “Hey, miss, you’d better speak with some manners,” he said harshly as he glared at Simone. “Don’t think you can boss everyone around just because you’re the hospital director now.” Simone’s face reddened at Clarence’s tone of voice. Clarence smirked. He had gotten instructions early on from the main branch of the Langley family to create trouble for Simone. Besides, th
“Mr. Fox, the Langley family’s hospital is named Goodwill Hospital. They have their own pharmaceutical business and because they brought in a top grade physician a few years ago, they have a better reputation than the most prominent public hospital in Hattan.” Skyler was making a report to Dustin in the villa. “For the past two years, the Langley family has basically taken up the entire market share for the private hospital business in the area. Only a couple of small hospitals are still surviving.” Dustin chuckled softly when he heard that. “Buy the hospital closest to Goodwill Hospital,” he said calmly. “I will use what they look down upon the most to ruin their hospital.” … At the Langley family villa, they got the news about the purchase. “What? They’ve bought Peace Hospital?” Josiah had arranged for someone to keep an eye on what David and his family were doing. Once they found out about the purchase of Peace Hospital, the members of the main branch of the Langle
The person Killian addressed as Mr. Little took a few steps closer to him. He looked condescendingly at Killian. “It’s very simple. It’s because you offended someone you shouldn’t have,” the man said. “W-What does that mean?” Killian was in a daze. Dustin approached him with a smile. “You’re really bold to set me up on my own turf,” Dustin said sarcastically. “Your turf?” Killian looked at him in disbelief. “Everyone at the Antiquities Trading Hall obeys me. And yet, you dare to challenge me?” Dustin asked. Killian was instantly struck dumb. Luna was also taken aback. Her body shook violently. What? How could he call the shots here? Besides, they had never heard that the Antiquities Trading Hall had a secret boss. Killian and Luna were both stricken and nearly lost their reasoning. That was especially true for Killian. He knew that the Antiquities Trading Hall was a very powerful one. Even his father was polite to the people here. The owner was Dustin?! Ho