Dustin had boarded the plane back to Oakvale. His trip to Sacred Wrym Summit had been full of ups and downs.
From the Combat Tournament to the invasion of the Hall of Gods, his journey had been perilous. Thankfully, the outcome was favorable.
He had won the championship at the tournament, acquired three Dracan essences, and ultimately foiled the Hall of Gods’ plan. In every way, the mission had been nearly flawless.
After bidding farewell to his newfound allies, Dustin joined Grace on the return flight. Four of the five Dracan essences had already been gathered, leaving only one remaining.
According to Grace, the last essence had been located, and the person holding it was in Oakvale. Though their identity was still unknown, she suspected it was most likely one of the three princes.
With the position of heir to the throne still uncertain, the three princes were all eager to secure their power.
Whoever obtained the Dracan essence would be blessed with fortune and have a higher chance of claiming the title of royal heir.
However, Dustin wasn’t particularly concerned about that. What mattered most to him was the rumor he had heard.
If he could gather all five Dracan essences, he would stand a good chance of breaking into the terrestrial immortal realm. For any martial artist, it was the ultimate goal in life. Of course, Dustin was no exception.
The plane landed that afternoon. After a brief farewell to Grace, Dustin got in a car and headed to Dash Corporation.
Natasha had established the company, and he had also invested in it.
Together, they made it a symbol of their love. 2
Since arriving in Oakvale, they had been apart and rarely had the chance to see each other. The truth was, there were too many problems weighing on him. From the moment he arrived in Oakvale to uncover the truth, it had been one complication after another.
He had endured Cinna’s betrayal, Seth’s sacrifice, the turmoil at the West Lucozian, and the hardships of searching for the Dracan essence. Deep down, his heart was already exhausted.
After leaving Sacred Wrym Summit, Dustin felt an overwhelming urge to return, and the person he longed to see most was Natasha. She was his sanctuary-the only person he could confide in and reveal his vulnerabilities to.
In the chairman’s office of Dash Corporation, Natasha was dressed in a sharp, professional suit. Her long hair was casually pinned up, accentuating her flawless and stunning features.
At that moment, she was quietly reading the document in her hands. Her focused and serious expression exuded a captivating beauty that felt almost otherworldly. Even her assistant, Tanya Lamb, standing nearby, couldn’t help but stare and was momentarily entranced.
Tanya had been carefully selected for her looks, figure, and abilities. In any other setting, she would undoubtedly be considered a goddess. But next to Natasha, she seemed to fade into the background.
In Tanya’s eyes, Natasha embodied perfection. She couldn’t imagine what kind of man could possibly be worthy of someone like her boss.
“This plan looks solid. Let’s proceed as outlined.” Natasha nodded approvingly after reviewing the documents.
She added, “Also, remind the team to take breaks when necessary. Work-life balance is important. While overtime bonuses are nice, pushing oneself to the point of burnout isn’t worth it.”
Tanya stared blankly at Natasha’s breathtaking beauty and was momentarily lost in a daze.
“Hmm? What’s wrong? Is there a problem?” Seeing Tanya didn’t respond, Natasha glanced up.
Tanya snapped out of her trance and swallowed nervously before shaking her head. Her cheeks flushed, and she replied, “No… no problem at all.”
It was hard not to be distracted, especially with Natasha’s stunning appearance. Initially, she had told herself it was merely admiration. But the more time she spent with Natasha, the more she questioned that assumption.
“Is something on your mind? If you need a break, I can give you a few days off,” Natasha said calmly.
“Sorry, Ms. Harmon. I just spaced out for a second,” Tanya replied, looking flustered.
“It’s okay. Go ahead and get back to work.” Natasha didn’t press the issue. After waving Tanya to leave, she returned to her paperwork.
Dash Corporation was thriving, with business pouring in nonstop. But the more successful things became, the more careful Natasha had to be-one wrong move could spell disaster, especially with Oakvale’s growing instability.
Managing a company in Oakvale as a woman wasn’t easy, especially in such a ruthless environment. While many treated her kindly out of respect for Andrew, Natasha wasn’t naive.
Moreover, the city was teetering on the edge of chaos. Once the new king ascended the throne, her grandfather’s influence would fade, and everything would change.
That was why she had to act quickly- expanding her influence and building connections to secure her place in a city on the verge of turmoil.
Just as Tanya turned to leave, she suddenly paused when she saw a tall and handsome man with a bouquet enter the room.
With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he exuded an exceptional charm. His muscular build was perfectly balanced without being too lean. He was the kind of person who left a lasting impression with just one glance.
He met Tanya’s gaze, put his finger to his lips, and gestured for silence. Then, with a mischievous smile, he quietly approached Natasha.
Still somewhat puzzled, Tanya watched quietly and forgot to speak or react.
“What now?”
As the figure approached, Natasha felt his presence and glanced up. Before she could process what was happening, a bouquet appeared in front of her. The overpowering fragrance made her frown, so she looked closely at the figure and froze.
Was she seeing things? She rubbed her eyes and looked up again. The person’s features were unmistakable, and he was the one she had thought about constantly.
“Dear, you’re finally home!” Tears welled in Natasha’s eyes as she stood up and immediately embraced Dustin. She hugged him tightly as if fearing he would disappear.
