Although the surrounding discussions were deliberately kept low, with Dustin’s hearing, he could still catch some of them. He remained indifferent, not paying them any mind.
Natasha, however, seemed to enjoy the attention. Especially when she sensed the admiring gazes from the female customers around them, she looked even more pleased, occasionally leaning over to affectionately pick food or pour drinks for Dustin.
Dahlia, on the other hand, maintained her usual cold composure. She acted as though she heard none of the chatter around her, merely lifting her eyes now and then to glance at the harmonious pair across from her. Each time, her gaze dimmed slightly.
Just then, a young waiter approached, carrying a pot of boiling hotpot broth.
Perhaps he had been stunned by the breathtaking beauty of Natasha and Dahlia, causing him to lose focus. His foot suddenly caught on something.
“Ah!”
The waiter exclaimed as he lost his balance. The scalding pot lurched in his hands, about to fly out of his grip, its contents spilling directly toward the two women seated on the outer side—Dahlia and Natasha.
Their faces instantly turned pale!
At that critical moment, the always-silent Dustin moved!
His reaction was swift. His body shot forward, his right hand accurately supporting the stumbling waiter, while his left hand firmly steadied the wildly wobbling pot.
A precise burst of force surged out—he not only stabilized the waiter but also secured the pot. Only a few drops of red oil splashed out, landing on the tablecloth without harming anyone.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye.
By the time everyone reacted, the crisis had already been resolved.
The waiter, terrified, apologized repeatedly.
Natasha finally exhaled in relief, patting her chest and glaring at the waiter.
Dahlia, meanwhile, stared at Dustin’s swift and steady movements.
Her heart trembled violently.
A thought she had been suppressing broke free and spread uncontrollably.
He was… closer to me just now.
He reacted so fast… does that mean he still cares, even a little?
Dahlia lowered her gaze, her long lashes trembling faintly. The lake of calm she had tried so hard to maintain was completely stirred into chaos by Dustin’s sudden act of heroism.
She began to convince herself—searching for the tiniest trace of the old warmth that had once belonged exclusively to her.
Maybe… maybe I still hold a little place in his heart?
After the manager replaced the waiter, the small interruption finally ended.
The hotpot began to boil in earnest, red oil bubbling and fragrant steam rising.
But the atmosphere at the table was far hotter—and far more complicated—than the broth.
Natasha picked up her chopsticks first. Naturally and without hesitation, she dipped a slice of the tenderest marbled beef, cooked it perfectly, dipped it in sauce, and held it up directly to Dustin’s lips.
“Here, hubby, try this. Their signature beef is super tender!” she said with a sweet, affectionate smile that could melt anyone.
The word hubby was especially loud and clear, as if she were afraid Dahlia wouldn’t hear it.
Dustin glanced at her deliberate display, a bit helpless, but in front of outsiders—especially Dahlia—he would not embarrass Natasha.
He opened his mouth slightly and accepted the beef, chewing a few times before nodding. “Mm, it’s really good.”
“Right?” Natasha beamed, delighted by his praise. She immediately added more cilantro and garlic to his dipping sauce. “I know you like this. Eat more.”
She focused completely on serving Dustin. She barely ate herself, constantly cooking tripe for him, scooping shrimp paste for him, and even lifting napkins now and then to wipe nonexistent oil from the corner of his mouth.
Every action was intimate—possessive, even.
Dustin let her fuss over him, occasionally picking vegetables for her in return, which made Natasha smile even more brightly, her eyes full of warmth and affection.
The bond between them was almost tangible.
All of this was seen clearly—painfully clearly—by Dahlia.
Her fingers tightened around her chopsticks, her knuckles turning white.
The premium beef rolled and bubbled in the red broth before her, yet she felt no appetite at all. Everything tasted like wax.
Once, she had been the one sitting beside Dustin. She had been the one receiving that gentleness.
Though their marriage had eventually ended—with her share of responsibility—
Seeing another woman so naturally, so comfortably occupying what once might have been hers…
The sourness, the loss, and even a faint sting of unwilling jealousy pricked her heart like countless needles.
She forced herself to look away, lowering her gaze to the dipping sauce in her bowl, trying to stay calm—but her heart simply refused to settle.
Dustin’s indulgence toward Natasha, his gentle patience…
It contrasted sharply with the cold, distant silence of their later years.
Had he truly found someone better for him after the divorce?
The realization made her heart twist even more painfully. - Marinien
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