After leaving Dash Corporation, Dustin and Natasha headed to the mall, where they picked out gifts for every member of the Ballard family. From the eldest to the youngest toddlers, no one was left out.
Later, they stopped by an antique shop and chose a beautiful calligraphy painting as a special gift for Simon.
By evening, Dustin had everything ready for his first visit to the Ballard estate, located in the heart of Oakvale’s city center. The estate was a sprawling courtyard mansion built on a large plot of land.
Simon, the Duke of Lachshire, had three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, Jonathan Ballard, was a third- ranked official in the government.
The second son, Jensen Ballard, was a successful entrepreneur in the pharmaceutical industry in Oakvale, with billions in assets.
Meanwhile, the youngest son, Jovian Ballard, had made a name for himself in the military and was now a third- ranked general.
Simon’s youngest daughter, Jessica- Natasha’s mother-was highly favored within the family.
As a result, Natasha was the family’s golden child. She was treated like a precious gem that everyone wanted to protect. Her success with Dash Corporation wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her grandfather and uncles.
So, when the Ballard family heard Natasha was bringing her fiancé home, they made sure to prepare well in advance. Simon rushed home, and her three uncles cleared their schedules to meet her fiancé.
When Dustin stepped into the living room, he was surprised by the sight.
The room was packed with people- four generations of the Ballard family. It seemed like everyone who could make it was there.
The intense stares made him feel a little uncomfortable. This was supposed to be a simple family dinner, yet it felt more like a grand event.
Dustin looked at Natasha, who winked mischievously at him and gave him an innocent look.
Everyone eyed him closely as they whispered among themselves.
“Is this Natasha’s fiancé? He certainly looks like a fine young man.”
“He looks good, but I wonder about his abilities. I hope he’s not just a little boy toy.”
“Don’t worry. Natasha’s got great taste. She’s the type who wouldn’t be impressed by someone like Anders, the Chosen One.”
Simon cleared his throat, and the chatter died down. It was impolite to gossip when the guest was right there.
“Dustin, this is my grandfather, my grandmother, my uncles-Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian-and their wives, plus my cousins.” Natasha smiled as she introduced her family.
Dustin politely greeted them all.
Turning to Simon, she said, ”
Grandfather, this is Dustin Rhys. I told you about him before. You met him once in Balerno.”
“Ah, yes. He’s a fine young man.”
Simon nodded in approval.
He had already had someone investigate Dustin’s background. He turned out to be a rare talent- intelligent and capable-a match that barely met Simon’s high standards for his granddaughter.
As for Dustin’s true identity, however, there was a bit of mystery around him. Even with Simon’s connections, he hadn’t been able to uncover much in such a short time. But the more elusive Dustin seemed, the more it confirmed that he was no ordinary man.
“Grandfather, since this is Dustin’s first visit, he brought gifts for everyone. “Natasha waved her hand, and a group of housekeepers quickly entered, carrying large bags.
She and Dustin began handing out the gifts, starting with the oldest family members. Luckily, they had prepared enough for everyone. 1
After distributing dozens of gifts, there were still a few left. Instead of keeping them, they gave the extra ones to the younger kids.
“Hey! You didn’t have to bring all these gifts-you’re too generous!”
“Yeah, Dustin. We’re going to be a family soon. No need for all the formalities.”
“Come on, don’t just stand there. Sit down.”
Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian were brimming with enthusiasm. After pulling Dustin into a seat, they immediately bombarded him with questions. They asked about his age, his occupation, and where his parents were from.
Each of them took a turn asking questions, and their curiosity got the best of them. Dustin smiled and answered each one politely.
Watching her uncles grill Dustin, Natasha couldn’t help but feel exasperated. They had only just met him and were already digging into his life like they were conducting a census.
Wasn’t that a bit rude?
Seeing that Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian wouldn’t stop, she gave Simon a pleading look for help.
“Okay, that’s enough from all of you. It’s almost time to eat. Let’s continue the conversation over dinner,” Simon said, and his three sons finally stopped talking.
Everyone made their way to the dining hall. Such gatherings usually only happened during holidays or special events, but that day was an exception.
Inside the dining hall, two large round tables were packed. As the guest of honor, Dustin sat beside Simon at the head of the table.
As everyone was about to dig in, the Ballard family’s butler hurried in and whispered to Simon, “My Lord, Anders from the Mosey family has arrived.”
“Anders Mosey? What’s he doing here? “Jonathan frowned.
“Last time, the Moseys talked about marriage alliance. Do you think he’s here to propose?” Jensen asked suspiciously.
“Hmph! A playboy like him wants to marry into our family? Dream on!” Jovian said coldly.
It was clear that none of the three had a favorable opinion of Anders.
Sure, Anders was one of Oakvale’s four princes-successful in every way and the kind of man many women dreamed of. But his character left much to be desired.
