“President Nicholson, what a coincidence.”
Natasha’s tone was calm, faintly distant, carrying a subtle edge.
“But staring at my husband like that… doesn’t seem very appropriate, does it?”
“Husband?”
Dahlia returned to her senses, suppressing the ripple in her heart, her expression settling back into the cool composure she was famous for.
Her lips curved in a faint smile, tinged with a nearly imperceptible hint of skepticism.
“President Harmon, if I remember correctly… you’re not married yet, are you? So where did this ‘husband’ come from?”
Natasha had already predicted she would ask, and immediately tightened her hold on Dustin’s arm, leaning against him with intimate closeness.
Tilting her pretty face upward, she said crisply and openly,
“This is my husband! We’re going to get our marriage certificate tomorrow!”
Her words fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples across Dahlia’s heart.
Dahlia’s smile stiffened ever so slightly.
Her gaze shifted once again to Dustin, becoming even more complicated.
She stood silent for several seconds before she finally spoke, her voice unreadable.
“Then… congratulations.”
“Thank you, President Nicholson.”
Natasha’s smile brightened, radiant with the pride of a victor, and just a touch gleeful.
“When we hold our wedding, we’ll definitely send you an invitation. You must attend to give us your blessing, all right?”
The words were like another knife twisting in Dahlia’s chest.
Dahlia frowned slightly, feeling stifled yet unable to refute her.
For once, she found herself unexpectedly at a loss.
Meanwhile, the rich kid who had been ignored this whole time cautiously inched closer and whispered to Dahlia,
“Um… sister Dahlia, you… know these two?”
Dahlia gave him a cool glance.
“Two old acquaintances. Why?”
Hearing the words old acquaintances, and seeing the not-so-pleasant look on Dahlia’s face, the rich kid’s heart instantly dropped.
He might be a spoiled young master, but he wasn’t stupid.
Dahlia was now a core figure of the Montgomery clan in Stonia’s royal circle—someone even his father had to curry favor with.
Anyone she would call “old acquaintances,” and with such a subtle attitude…
These two were definitely not people he could afford to offend.
He suddenly felt grateful he hadn’t escalated things earlier.
He immediately forced a flattering smile and bowed toward Dustin and Natasha.
“Oh dear, what a misunderstanding! Totally my fault—I didn’t recognize you were all acquaintances! I was blind earlier. Please forgive me. I’ll leave now and stop bothering you!”
Natasha waved a hand impatiently.
“Go. You’re an eyesore.”
“Yes yes!”
The rich kid practically fled the scene like he’d been pardoned.
After he left, the atmosphere became subtly tense again.
Dahlia took a slow breath, her eyes landing on Dustin once more.
As if making a decision, she said,
“Dustin… do you have time? How about a meal together? There are some things I want to talk to you about.”
Dustin frowned slightly and was just about to refuse—
But Natasha beat him to it, smiling brilliantly as she replied,
“Of course! Since President Nicholson personally invited us, how could we decline?”
Dustin looked at Natasha in surprise.
He couldn’t understand why she agreed so quickly.
Her personality should have made her drag him away from Dahlia, not move closer.
Natasha felt his glance and lightly squeezed his arm, a sly gleam flashing in her eyes.
She had her reasons.
Rather than letting Dahlia scheme behind the scenes, she wanted to confront things head-on and stake her claim clearly.
And she wanted Dahlia to witness—
just how exceptional Dustin was now.
To let her see vividly how foolish, how blind, her decision had been back then.
This meal… would be the perfect opportunity.
…
Moments later, the three walked into a Haidilao hotpot restaurant inside the mall.
As soon as two stunning beauties—each breathtaking in her own distinct style—entered alongside a tall, handsome, refined man…
The entire restaurant’s attention snapped toward them.
Wherever they walked, they drew stares like magnets, as if illuminated by their own spotlight.
Once seated, whispers immediately spread around them:
“Holy crap! Look over there! Two god-tier beauties!”
“My god… one’s cold and elegant, the other’s a glamorous queen. And that guy… what kind of existence is he?”
“One beauty is already a dream. This guy gets two? This is unfair!”
“I’m crying with jealousy. He must’ve saved the Milky Way in his last life.”
“Look at his vibe—maybe he’s some hidden heir from a super-rich clan.”
“I don’t think so. He looks… pretty normal. Just handsome. And mature. Damn it, the more I say it the more bitter I feel.”
“Tsk, tsk… enjoying blessings most men couldn’t survive. Look at the air around them—there’s definitely something weird going on.” - Marinien
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