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An Understated Dominance Chapter 1380
Ezra's scream pierced the air, only to be silenced abruptly by Dustin's unyielding steel grip. He squeezed Ezra's throat, forcing the scream back down. Ezra's face turned crimson as he flailed helplessly.The terror of imminent death filled Ezra, who managed to croak, "Let go ... please ..."Dustin dryly remarked, "Fighting with a knife because your fists aren't enough, huh? Aren't you ashamed?' His fingers tightened, making Ezra's eyes roll back."Stop hurting him!" Suddenly, a scream cut through the tension between them. It was followed by a loud crash as a bottle struck the back of Dustin's head. Glass fragments erupted into the air like fireworks, and the scent of spilled alcohol flooded the room.Dustin scowled, turning to face Eleanor. She stood there, still holding the shattered bottle. Fear and guilt painted on her face.After a moment, Eleanor realized what she had done. She tossed the remaining bottle fragment aside and tried to explain herself. "Dustin, I'm sorry!
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1381
"Dustin, don't you think you went overboard just now?" Eleanor said with concern etched across her face. "What if you'd actually hurt Ezra?"She winced as she inspected the red marks on Ezra's neck, then turned to Dustin, demanding an explanation."Overboard?" Dustin chuckled with a wry smile. "Ms. Welch, let's get the facts straight. Ezra was brandishing a knife at me, and I only defended myself. So, who crossed the line here?"Eleanor's expression froze as she tried to clarify, "Well, Ezra wasn't really planning to harm you. He was just trying to intimidate you, so why did you overreact?"Dustin's eyes remained cool and distant as he replied with a touch of sarcasm, "So, it's all my fault? I overstepped, played your bodyguard, instigated this brawl, and took a bottle to the head?""I-That's not what I mean!" With guilt written all over her face, she admitted, "I know smashing a bottle on your head was a mistake, but I freaked out! I was worried you might hurt Ezra, and I j
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1382
Ezra smirked as he watched Dustin leave the restaurant. "Did that sore loser really think he stood a chance with Eleanor? He thought too highly of himself!"He pondered, his thoughts flowing naturally. "No matter how hard he tried to get closer to Eleanor, it only took a bit of my sweet words to win her back. That's the difference between us."Eleanor gazed at Dustin's retreating figure, her expression a mix of confusion and disappointment. She'd always believed Dustin liked her, which is why he'd gone to such great lengths to help her. But his nonchalant exit without even a backward glance left her wondering. "Is he heartbroken or just playing hard to get?"She mused, "Dustin, I thought you were a good person, so I wanted to bring you into my world and help you achieve great things. I never expected you to be so oblivious to what you're missing." You've missed out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a beautiful life. It was your choice, and I gave you the chance, but you di
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1383
The next morning, Dustin sat cross-legged in a guest room at the Welch residence, deep in meditation. A brisk knock on the door abruptly shattered his peaceful moment."Who's there?" Dustin asked as he slowly opened his eyes."Dr. Rhys, it's me, Feiver. I've brought your breakfast," a familiar voice from the other side replied."Alright," Dustin replied, getting up to answer the door.Fifteen-year-old Feiver, a humble orphan and a housekeeper in the Welch family, stood outside with a finely crafted food container. He had been taking care of Dustin since his arrival the day before. He was always ready with a cup of tea and a friendly word."Thank you for your hard work," Dustin said, stepping aside to welcome Feiver inside."No trouble at all," Feiver responded with a respectful nod. He placed the food container on the table and unveiled the morning meal. "Dr. Rhys, today's breakfast is quite a feast," he explained as he revealed each dish."The first dish is a Spicy Shrimp C
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1384
Dustin smiled and encouraged, "Go on, don't be shy."Feiver hesitated, holding onto his plate and avoiding eye contact."You're still growing, and you're way too skinny, bud. You've got to eat more," Dustin said, adding food to Feiver's plate.Feiver mumbled a reluctant "thanks". His smile was strained, revealing his nervousness."'Not hungry? Maybe it's not to your liking? No worries, try the shrimp or the beef stew." Dustin added more food to his plate, playing the role of a doting father. "Okay, Dr. Rhys, you shouldn't worry about me. You should eat, too!" Feiver trembled with the plate in his hand as he tried to avoid eating. "I'm not hungry; you go ahead," Dustin smiled."I-I'm not hungry either," Feiver stammered, trembling occasionally. "That's fine; think of it as a tasting session. Go ahead, dig in." Dustin nodded. As Feiver refused to eat, Dustin suddenly joked, "Why? Do you think I've poisoned the food?" "Wha—?" Feiver paled, and he managed a forced smile, bea
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1385
With a swift, ruthless swing, Feiver's head parted from his body, thudding to the floor and rolling like a soccer ball. His saucer-wide eyes showed his disbelief. He never imagined that his life wouldn't be taken by Dustin but by his foster father.Joaquin, the Welch family butler, was actually Feiver's foster father. When Feiver had nowhere to go, Joaquin rescued him, bringing him into the Welch family and giving him a place to stay. He had always been grateful and dutiful.So, when Joaquin instructed Feiver to poison Dustin, he didn't hesitate. Feiver felt it was time to repay the kindness he had received. To gain Dustin's trust, he even risked his own life, completely willing to sacrifice it.But now, he was betrayed by the man he considered as family. It was the reality that he couldn't wrap his head around."What?"Dustin furrowed his brow upon seeing Feiver's lifeless body. He fixed his gaze squarely on Joaquin and asked calmly, "Mr. Yaxley, care to explain what's goin
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1386
Dustin asked politely, "Mr. Welch, I've heard that your father has awakened. Is that correct?" "Yes, my dad has indeed woken up, but he's still weak. His mind is somewhat clouded. I believe he needs some time to rest," Alistair replied. Dustin reassured him, "No worries, those are just some aftereffects. He'll be back on his feet in no time." Changing the topic, he continued, "Now, Mr. Welch, about our deal. You promised me the Emerald Corolla and the Iceheart Lotus. When can I get them?""Well …" Alistair exchanged a glance with those beside him and hesitated.Joanne quickly interjected, "Dr. Rhys, we have no intentions of going back on our word. However, it might take a while since we're swamped with other things, and your request isn't our top priority.""Mrs. Welch, it seems you had a different stance when we made the deal." Dustin shook his head. "Precious herbs are rare and can't be easily acquired. We'll notify you when we have any information. Your patience will be a
An Understated Dominance Chapter 1387
"What's this? You want to do this the hard way?" Dustin scanned the Welch family members and smirked. "I've saved your daughter, handed over the formula, and pulled Mr. Welch Senior from the brink of death, all for the Welch family. And yet, you're turning on me now. "If word gets out, what will that do to your family's reputation?"His words sent a shiver down Alistair's spine, and the others squirmed. Alistair had orchestrated the poisoning to protect his family's reputation as a backup plan in case things went south. But with Feiver dead, openly confronting Dustin posed a risk of leaving themselves vulnerable. The reputation of the Welch family would be tarnished if it became known that they had committed murder and repaid kindness with enmity. After careful consideration, Alistair ultimately chose to step back for the time being"Joanne, what's running through that mind of yours? Dr. Rhys has done us a great favor. How can you be ungrateful?" Alistair scolded his wife
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Chapter 2448
At the Ballard estate, Dustin was warmly welcomed to stay after dinner. This was the first time Natasha had brought her boyfriend home, so the Ballards made a big deal of it.Simon personally accompanied the young couple and invited them to the study to chat over tea. With his sharp eye, Simon could tell Dustin was no ordinary martial artist. His manners, speech, and broad knowledge set him apart from most people."Dustin, I fully support your relationship with Natasha. Your background or status doesn't matter. What matters most is that you two are happy together." Simon paused and said earnestly, "I want you to understand that she's been pampered all her life and hasn't faced much hardship. Now that she's with you, I hope you'll take good care of her.""Don't worry, Mr. Ballard. I would never let her down," Dustin replied sincerely.Though they had known each other for some time and hadn't yet taken their relationship to the next level, they had already made their feelings clear
Chapter 2447
After hearing Nathaniel's words, Tristan's expression darkened. His brow furrowed as he sank into deep thought.It seemed he had underestimated the situation. He had assumed it was just a simple rivalry between brothers; he hadn't anticipated Seamus seizing the chance to further his own agenda.Seamus already wielded considerable influence. Under the guise of supporting Matthias' ascension to the throne, he had been forming alliances and recruiting talents. His influence had grown to rival the royal family's.If Seamus really supported Matthias' ascension, he'd overshadow the king, and no one would be able to stop him. The worst-case scenario would be Seamus using Matthias as a puppet to overthrow the House of Linsor."Nathaniel, is everything you said true?" Tristan frowned."Absolutely. Every word," Nathaniel replied solemnly. "Of course, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate.""I believe you. But… taking down Seamus won't be easy. Do you have a plan?" Tr
Chapter 2446
An hour later, Nathaniel quietly entered a private mansion wearing a disguise.Inside the living room, Tristan had already prepared tea and refreshments. He looked as if he had been waiting for a long time."Sorry to have kept you waiting, Tristan." Nathaniel took off his coat and walked forward with a smile."No need to apologize. I'm happy that you made the effort to arrange this. A few extra minutes are nothing, especially since it's rare for us to meet." Tristan gestured for him to sit while he poured two cups of tea and handed one to his brother.Nathaniel accepted the cup and discreetly set it aside. Whenever he was out, he was always cautious about food and drink—this wariness had become second nature."You asked to meet me on short notice. Is this about official matters or something personal?" Tristan took a sip from his cup and got straight to the point."Both," Nathaniel replied, still smiling."Oh?" Tristan raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear it, then.""Given how things
Chapter 2445
In another luxurious mansion in the Inner City, a female spy dressed in black, cloaked in a hood, was reporting the results of her investigation to Nathaniel."Your Highness, the Moseys have been particularly active recently and are rallying allies. Many of the eight great families and other influential factions have already allied with them. If left unchecked, they'll pose a serious threat to us," she said, kneeling with her head lowered slightly."So the Moseys are backing Matthias, huh?" Nathaniel sat quietly, his expression unreadable."The Moseys have grand ambitions. While they claim to support Prince Matthias, they're merely setting him up as a puppet to rise to power and expand their own influence," she revealed.She had been infiltrating the Moseys' mansion for years and had gained a deep understanding of their operations, from the smallest details to the key players.Though Seamus appeared as a benevolent philanthropist, it was all a façade. Behind closed doors, he was r
Chapter 2444
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
Chapter 2443
"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
Chapter 2442
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,
Chapter 2441
"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
Chapter 2440
"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
