“Whatareyoutwowhisperingabout?”Dahliawasconfusedbythewomaninfrontofher.Whywasshesighingandthengiggling?Wassheoutofhermind?


    “Nothing, nothing. Perhaps I’ve mistaken you for someone else. I’m sorry.”Natasha pursed her lips after she apologized.Well,Dahliahadlosthermemoriesafterall.Natashacouldn’tbesopettyastomakethingsdifficultforsomeonewho’dlosthermemories,couldshe?


    “You’re weird.” Dahlia frowned. Though she did not know Natasha, she had an unpleasant feeling about her.


    ShelookedpastNatashaandatDustin.“Hangon…Youlookquitefamiliar.HaveIseenyousomewhere?”


    “Hmm?”Natashawasimmediately onguard whensheheardthat.


    Didn’tDustinsaythatshe’dlosthermemories?Couldshehaverememberedhim?


    Wasshedeceivingthem?


    “Yourememberme?”Dustinwassurprised.


    “Oh,Iremembernow.Youweretheinsuranceagent.”Dahliaimmediatelyrecalledwhereshehad


    methimaftergivingitsomethought.


    Thismanhadgothehospitaltopromotehisinsurancepackages.ButFlorencehaddriven


    himawaybackthen.


    “Yes,insuranceagent.That’sright.”Dustinnodded.


    Itseemedlikeshe didn’trememberthepastanymore.Butthatwasgood.Theycouldnowlive


    theirownlives.


    “Hmph!AndIthoughthewassomeonepowerful!Turnsouthe’sjustaninsuranceagent!”


    “HowdareasocialundersslikehimpMs.Forrest!Hejustdughisowngrave!”


    “Ihaveworthinthebillions,yetIdarenotacthaughtyhere.Howdareaninsuranceagent


    behavesoarrogantly?Unbelievable!”


    AnuproarbrokeoutamongtheonlookerswhentheyheardaboutDustin’sstatus.


    Sean,Mrs.Lansky,Mrs.Prewitt,andtherestlookedathimincontempt.Theylookedathimasif


    hewasafool.


    Theywerewary before,thinkingthatDustinmay haveaninfluentialbackground.HowelsewouldhedaretopMs.Forrest?


    Butat the endoftheday,hewasjust pretendingtobeallthat.From N?velDrama.Org.


    “Ms.Dahlia,areyouonclosetermswiththisinsuranceagent?”Elenaasked.


    “I’veonlymethimonce.We’renotclose.”Dahliashookherhead.


    “That’sgoodtoknow.”Elenadiscreetlyletoutasighofrelief.


    ShelookedatDustinwithmalice.


    IfDahliahadsaidshe wasclosewithDustin,shemighthavetoholdback.Butsincetheyweren’t,shewouldgetbackatDustin.


    “IadviseyoutoapologizetoMs.Forrestimmediately.Youmightescapethis messifyoudo,”


    Dahliasaid.


    “Apologize?Shedoesnotdeserveanapology,”Dustinrespondedcalmly.


    “What?”Dahliafrowned.


    “Thatwasafriendlywarning.Ms.Forresthasasolidbackground.


    “Sheisn’tsomeoneyoucanaffordtooffend.There’snopointruiningyourlifeforthesakeofego.


    It’snot worthit.”


    TheelitecirclesinOakvalewereconsideredunreachable toordinarypeople.Theywouldonly


    meetaterribleendiftheyhappenedtooffendanyofthescionsofinfluentialfamilies.


    “Thanksforyouradvice,butIdon’tcareaboutthem.”Dustinshruggedindifferently.


    “HaveInotmademyselfclear?Yourlifeisindangernowthatyou’veoffendedMs.Forrest!”Dahlia


    saidfrostily.


    Whywasthismansotactless?