"You're alive! That's great!" Sobbing in joy, she threw herself into his
embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and refusing to let g
o, as though she feared he might vanish.
Dustin felt the softness in his arms and the familiar scent tingling his
nose. He broke into a smile. He could tell from her uncontrolled crying t
hat she cared greatly about him.
"Okay, now. Stop crying. Your tears are wetting this new shirt I bought t
wo days ago." After some hugging, Dustin finally opened his mouth.
"What's the big deal? I'll just pay for
the shirt." She let go of him and didn't forget to give him a pinch in th
e waist, sending him grimacing in pain. "And what was that just now? Why
didn't you escape sooner?" she confronted him.
"He's a ticking time bomb–
no pun intended. Of course, I had to subdue him before I left," he answer
ed matter–of–factly.
"I know you're great at fighting, but you have to care about your safety.
He had bombs strapped on his body. What if he got you killed in an explo
sion?" she protested.
He grinned and replied, "But I'm all well."
"It's all because of your dumb luck. You'd better not push your luck the
next time!" she warned him.
"Okay. I'll act like a loser and think of my safety
first." He nodded furiously.
"That's more like it!" She nodded with satisfaction. It was all great bei
ng a glorious hero, but that was also how
people got themselves killed in a slip–
up. She'd rather Dustin stay a loser.
"Dustin Rhys, do you have nine lives? Why weren't you dead from that huge
explosion?" James and Florence cautiously made their way up to the rubbl
e.
"I need to thank my lucky stars for surviving the bombing," Dustin droppe
d a casual remark.
"Oh my god! My villa!" Florence suddenly started howling at the sight of
the rubble when she realized the extent of the damage done. "Oh, Edwin Hu
mmer, you asshole! I'm fine with him wanting to die. How could he ruin my
villa while he was at it? This is unforgivable!"
"Mom, this all happened because of Dustin. I think you can ask him for co
mpensation." James was thinking fast and came up with an idea.
"That's right!" Florence nodded and grabbed Dustin by the sleeve. "Dustin
Rhys, it's all your fault! You need to pay up for ruining my villa!"
"Mom, a villa is nothing compared to a life. Dustin has saved us. Do you
think it's fair to ask him. for compensation?" Dahlia frowned at her moth
er.
"Why is that unfair? He got us into this trouble. Don't you ever think of
leaving if you don't pay up!" Florence started acting like a Karen.
"Alright, then. How much?" Dustin did not want to quarrel with her.
"Eight million… No! Ten!" Florence was thinking on her feet and inflated
the price at the very last
minute.
"Mom! We bought this villa for five million. Aren't you scamming Dustin b
y asking for ten million? "Dahlia grew increasingly annoyed.
Chapter 400
"That was in the past. Don't you know that housing prices are climbing li
ke crazy? I won't let this slide if I don't receive the ten million!" Flo
rence put her hands on her waist.
"You-
" Dahlia was about to go off, but Dustin pressed a hand against hers.
"Whatever. Ten million it is. I'll transfer it to your account tomorrow."
"Hmph! That's more like it!" She gleefully let go of him.
"Hey! Are you mad? Where are you going to get the money when you're runni
ng a tiny medical center?" Dahlia glared at him.
"You shouldn't underestimate
me. I provided the Harmon family with my prescription, and I will receive
50% of the sales of the pills they manufactured. Ten million is nothing.
" Dustin appeared unbothered. Be it the profits from Hillview Hotel or hi
s 50% ownership of the proceeds from Immortunol, he was
guaranteed a huge amount of bonus monthly, which could add up to
at least tens of millions per month.
"At the end of the day, you're still Natasha Harmon's kept man." Dahlia w
as dripping with jealousy.
"Look at the way you put it. I am only her business partner. How could yo
u call me a kept man?" Dustin objected.