“President Nicholson, don’t just sit there watching. The pork aorta is really fresh today—hurry and try some.”
Natasha finally seemed to notice Dahlia’s silence.
She greeted her enthusiastically, though her smile carried an unmistakable hint of triumphant flaunting.
“Thank you.”
Dahlia lifted her eyes and forced a faint smile. She picked up a slice of aorta, but her throat tightened; she could barely swallow.
She tried to find a topic—something to ease the suffocating awkwardness… and also an excuse to ask about Dustin.
“Dustin, I heard you were away for quite a long time recently. Were you dealing with something important?”
Before Dustin could speak, Natasha抢先 again, her tone filled with pride—as if declaring her complete grasp over Dustin’s whereabouts.
“That’s right! My Dustin is amazing. He went to take care of something very important, and he even ended up saving the royal family! Isn’t that so, hubby?”
As she spoke, she placed a beef ball into Dustin’s bowl.
Dahlia trembled inwardly.
Saving the royal family?
She had always known Dustin wasn’t ordinary… but she hadn’t expected he’d already reached a level that could influence the highest powers of the Dragon Kingdom.
Her gaze toward Dustin grew even more complicated.
Dustin only replied with a calm “Mm,” offering no further explanation.
As though events that would shake ordinary people to the core were nothing more than routine to him.
That understated indifference only made Dahlia feel an invisible distance widen between them.
The meal proceeded under this strange, stifling atmosphere.
Natasha took control of the conversation—sometimes interacting intimately with Dustin, sometimes asking Dahlia “concerned” questions that were actually thinly veiled provocations.
Dustin remained quiet most of the time. He responded occasionally to Natasha, but toward Dahlia he maintained polite, distant formality.
Around them, whispers continued nonstop.
“See that? The girl in red keeps serving food to that guy—so sweet!”
“The girl in white looks upset. She barely said a word.”
“That dude’s willpower is insane. Sitting between two goddesses and still eating calmly.”
“Bet it’s a love triangle. Look at that atmosphere!”
“If I could eat one meal with either of those girls, I’d give up ten years of my life!”
These murmurs became background commentary, adding even more dramatic flair.
Dahlia felt she was on the verge of breaking.
She had hoped that this dinner would give her a chance to talk to Dustin—maybe apologize, maybe untangle a few knots in their hearts.
But Natasha’s presence was like an airtight wall, blocking every opening Dahlia tried to reach through.
And Dustin’s calm indifference made it impossible for her to speak.
She watched as Natasha leaned close to Dustin again, whispering in his ear. Dustin tilted his head slightly to listen, a faint, subtle smile on his lips.
The sight was harmonious—and painfully dazzling.
Dahlia abruptly grabbed her plum juice, taking a large gulp.
The cold liquid slid down her throat, but it did nothing to extinguish the heat smoldering in her chest.
Finally, just when this dinner felt like a slow, elegant form of torture, she drew a deep breath and set down her chopsticks.
“I’m done eating.”
She picked up a napkin, wiped the corner of her mouth with poised grace, trying to hold on to the last shred of dignity.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
She needed to get away—breathe—reassemble her shattered composure.
As she walked away, a bit too quickly to hide her turmoil, Natasha’s lips curved into a sly smile, like a little fox who had successfully defended her territory.
She leaned close to Dustin, voice lowered, a little smug:
“So? How did I do? Did I get her riled up?”
Dustin gave her a helpless look and gently flicked her nose.
“You…”
But his tone held no blame—only fond indulgence.
Natasha grinned brightly, fully satisfied.
Inside the restroom, Dahlia splashed cold water on her face.
Staring at her reflection—a pale face, eyes clouded with embarrassment—her heart twisted with conflicting emotions.
She repeated to herself:
It’s over. All of it is over.
Dustin has a new life, a new partner.
They look… truly happy.
She shouldn’t.
She had no right to interfere anymore.
But then…
Why did it still hurt this much?
The image of Dustin saving her earlier—the gentle indulgence in his eyes when he looked at Natasha—played over and over in her mind.
She inhaled deeply, trying to calm down.
After fixing her makeup and restoring her cold, elegant façade, she finally stepped out.
When she returned, she saw Natasha holding her phone, leaning shoulder-to-shoulder with Dustin, the two of them smiling softly as they looked at the screen together.
That sight stabbed at her heart all over again. - Marinien
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