An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

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.

closely as they

this Natasha’s fiancé? He certainly

wonder about his abilities. I hope he’s not just

She’s the type who wouldn’t be

and the chatter died down. It was impolite to gossip when the

my grandfather, my grandmother, my uncles-Jonathan, Jensen, and Jovian-and their wives, plus my cousins.” Natasha smiled as she introduced her

greeted them

Simon, she said,

is Dustin Rhys. I told you about him before. You met him once in

He’s a

Simon nodded in approval.

background. He turned out to be a rare talent- intelligent and capable-a match that barely met Simon’s high standards

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

brought gifts for everyone. “Natasha waved her hand, and a group of housekeepers

and Dustin began handing out the gifts, starting with the

few left. Instead of keeping them, they gave the extra

You didn’t have to bring all

going to be a family

just

into a seat, they immediately bombarded him with questions. They asked about his age, his occupation, and where