“Keep an eye on her every move and report back to me immediately,” Dustin ordered one of the Hell Guards as they exited the alley. Although he had given Bianca three days, he was not going to wait around. Someone as arrogant as Bianca would only grow more insolent under direct threats. His ultimatum was a deliberate trap. It was paired with round-the-clock surveillance to ensure she led them straight to his father’s remains. After issuing his orders, Dustin returned to the West family villa. Recently, the West family had been rising to prominence with his support. Most members were now preoccupied with various affairs, and the villa was quieter during the day. “Master Fox…” Irene stood by a pillar and called out to him softly. She was still struggling to address him like that. The young man she had once recruited from a bar had now become “Master Fox” to the West family. Lucius wanted everyone in the family to show Dustin the utmost respect. This left Irene feeling awkwa
“Still acting tough? Refusing to admit defeat until you hit rock bottom, huh?” Phoebe sneered. “Don’t forget our little bet—if your so-called ‘perfect date’ doesn’t show up or fails to impress, you’ll have to get on the floor and squeal like a pig!” Irene’s face turned ashen. She regretted her impulsiveness and bitterly cursed herself for agreeing to such an absurd and humiliating wager. If Dustin did not come, she would be forced to crawl on the ground and oink in front of everyone... That would be utterly disgraceful. Her reputation would be ruined forever. “He will come!” Irene said firmly. “Alright then. Let’s wait until 7:30 p.m. Get ready to become a sow,” said Phoebe in disdain and smirked. Time ticked away at an agonizing pace. Irene’s heart was racing, and anxiety gnawed at her insides. Still, she maintained a facade of composure and refused to let her unease show. Phoebe and her friends, on the other hand, continued their relentless stream of taunts a
“Drape a stone in silk and jewels, and it still won’t become a gem,” Dustin said indifferently. As soon as he said that, Phoebe’s face darkened. Everyone could tell the remark was a jab at her. “Who do you think you are? How dare you show up here? This isn’t a place for the likes of you. Someone, get him out of here!” she ordered coldly. Her lackeys leaped into action and stormed toward Dustin in menace. Dustin remained unfazed but waved his hand abruptly. “Ah—!” Thud! Thud! Thud! The lackeys were thrown back like rag dolls and rolled across the ground in a heap. Their faces were bruised and battered. The spectacle stunned the students at the ball. “Looks like Irene’s date is quite something,” someone murmured. “A bunch of fools!” Phoebe spat angrily. Dustin turned to Irene. “Sorry for the delay. I had something urgent to take care of.” “It’s okay. You’re here now. That’s all that matters,” Irene said and shook her head. She turned to look at Pho
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