“Don’t worry,” Natasha said with a smile. ” I’ve been keeping a low profile lately, and hardly make any public appearances. I’ve already assigned people to handle company matters.” “Glad to hear that,” Dustin responded with a nod.
After Blanche left, his life returned to its usual calm. Natasha started visiting the villa even more often. She no longer carried the constant rush of business affairs as she used to. Instead, she deliberately made time to savor simple moments with Dustin.
It was the weekend, and she arrived early in the morning, carrying several bags.
“It’s such a beautiful day. Let’s go on a picnic,” she said with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “I had the chef prepare a lunchbox, along with some fruit and pastries.”
Dustin looked out at the bright sunshine filling the courtyard and nodded.
“Sounds good. Where to?” he asked.
“I know a place not far from here,” she replied. “There’s a meadow with a gorgeous lake view.”
They drove out of the city, winding up a mountain road for about half an hour until they reached a secluded hillside. The view stretched wide, overlooking a reservoir sparkling below, with the city skyline faintly visible through the morning haze.
Natasha unloaded the picnic basket from the car and spread a blue-and-white checkered blanket on the grass. She began laying out sandwiches, fruit salad, grilled chicken wings, cupcakes, and a thermos of iced tea with effortless ease.
“You really went all out,” Dustin said, helping her arrange the food.
“We don’t get to do this often,” she replied with a smile, handing him a sandwich. ” Try this one. I had the chef add that sauce you like.”
Dustin took a bite and nodded appreciatively. “It’s delicious.”
They sat side by side on the blanket, watching the distant scenery and chatting casually. The breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and wildflowers across the meadow.
After a while, Natasha broke the silence. ” Sometimes I wish things could be simpler. You know, if you could just be an ordinary person.”
Dustin turned to look at her. “Why do you say that?”
“Because then you’d always be with me,” she replied, leaning on his shoulder. “No more dealing with all that fighting or facing any danger. We could just live a normal life, go to work, come home, cook dinner, and enjoy picnics on the weekends.
He was quiet for a moment, then gently put his arm around her shoulders. “I’d like that too.”
“Really?” Natasha lifted her head, her eyes bright.
“Yes,” Dustin replied with a nod. “Even without my cultivation, I’ve actually enjoyed the quiet life. Making breakfast in the morning, reading, going for walks, waiting for you to come home from work.”
“Then, it’s settled,” she said, sitting up straight and holding out her pinky finger. ” Once everything is sorted, we’ll live like this. Promise.”
Seeing her so earnest, he felt genuinely moved. Then, he extended his pinky and hooked it with hers. “Okay. Promise.”
The afternoon sun was warm and gentle. The two spent the rest of the day lying on the grass, watching clouds drift lazily across the sky.
Conversation flowed in easy, casual bursts, with occasional pauses as they simply savored the rare quiet. They didn’t pack up until the sun began sinking toward the horizon.
On the drive back, Natasha’s phone rang. She glanced at the screen, frowned slightly, and hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Hello?” Dahlia’s calm, cool voice came through. “Natasha, it’s me.”
“I know. What do you want?” Natasha replied, her tone returning to its usual calm detachment. Dustin glanced at her, silently asking who it was. She mouthed a single word, “Dahlia.”
He looked surprised but said nothing, keeping his eyes on the road.
“The investigation’s done,” Dahlia said, getting straight to the point. “The attacks on Dash Corporation weren’t my doing, nor were they officially sanctioned by the Moseys.”
“Then, who?” Natasha asked.
“It’s Anders, my godbrother,” Dahlia replied. “You’ve probably heard of him.” Natasha’s eyes narrowed. “Sir Mosey’s adopted son? Why would he do this?”
“He went behind my godfather’s back, secretly using some of the Mosey family’s resources and forging orders.”
There was a trace of exhaustion in Dahlia’s voice.
“It took me days to get the truth out of one of his confidants. He covered his tracks well and almost fooled me.”
“What’s his motive?” Natasha asked, confused.
“He’s trying to bypass my godfather and make direct contact with a certain faction, “Dahlia replied. After a beat, she continued, “I’m still investigating the details, but this faction is not to be taken lightly. It might be connected to some of the ‘special figures’ who’ve shown up in Oakvale recently.
“Either way, you need to be careful. There are undercurrents running through the Moseys right now. I can’t even read the situation clearly anymore.”
Natasha stayed silent for a moment, then asked, “Why are you telling me all this? If something happened to me, wouldn’t that benefit you?”
The line went quiet for a few seconds. Then Dahlia’s voice came through, clearer and more resolute than before.
“I know Dustin cares about you. I owe him too much already. I don’t want to see him hurt.” She paused, then added, “Besides, I want fair competition, not underhanded tactics. I’m not so desperate that I’d stoop to winning that way.”
Natasha blinked, then couldn’t help smiling faintly. “Well, you’ve certainly earned my respect.”
