Chapter 121

“Why are you here?” Dahlia was surprised to see Dustin. Seeing the attractive woman beside him, she frowned, her heart clenching with jealousy. Was Natasha not enough for him? Did he still want more women? she wondered. Men are all playboys, she concluded.

“Dustin, you guys know each other?” Ruth looked between them, feeling awkward.

“We do. She’s the president of the Quine Group, Miss Dahlia,” Dustin explained.

“So it’s her!” Ruth’s gaze instantly turned hostile. This woman was her sister’s biggest rival. She had to keep a close eye on her; she couldn’t let them rekindle their romance.

“Humph! How do we keep running into each other? How unlucky!” Florence’s face was full of contempt.

“Dustin! How impressive! Another girl so soon! You really are a gigolo!” James mocked, his voice laced with envy. Damn it! I’m far more incredible and still don’t have a girlfriend. This jerk changes girls every time I see him! First Natasha, now this! The world is so unfair! he thought.

“Oi! What’s all the commotion?!” Julie glared at Dustin and Ruth.

Ruth stepped forward. “Boss, this Lumianth Root is ours. Name your price.”

“Humph! Yours just because you say so? Who do you think you are?” Julie’s tone was unfriendly. “Let me tell you, I already paid five million dollars for this Lumianth Root!”

“We need this Lumianth Root urgently. Could you do us a favor?” Ruth asked politely.

“Who are you to ask me for a favor? Scram!” Julie was stubborn and ruthless.

“Hm? Boss, she offered five million, right? I’ll give you eight million!” Ruth declared boldly.

“Eight million dollars?!” Everyone was shocked, especially the shop owner, whose eyes sparkled with excitement. The other customers watched, amused.

“Hey! What are you doing? You’re picking a fight!” Julie’s face darkened.

“This treasure deserves a high price. Do you have a problem with that?” Ruth insisted.

“Bitch! You want to play this game? Fine! I’ll pay ten million dollars!” Julie yelled.

Florence’s face went pale. Five million was her limit; ten million would bankrupt her.

Without hesitation, Ruth replied, “I’ll pay twelve million dollars.”

“Fifteen million dollars! End this now! Boss, you know the first-come, first-served policy. This Lumianth Root is mine! If you sell it to someone else, I’ll destroy this shop!” Julie roared, snatching the wooden box.

“Alright, alright. The Lumianth Root is yours!” The shop owner reluctantly agreed, though he was secretly thrilled.

“Boss, why did you sell it to her? I can give you twelve million!” Ruth protested.

“It’s not about the money. Business is about credibility. This lady ordered it first, so it’s hers,” the shop owner lied.

“Did you hear that? So what if you have money? What’s mine is mine!” Julie gloated.

Florence, standing behind her, was devastated. Fifteen million dollars! She was ruined.

Changes Made:

• Grammar and Punctuation: Corrected numerous grammatical errors, improved sentence structure, and standardized punctuation.
• Word Choice: Replaced informal words and phrases (e.g., "pretty lady," "piece of trash") with more suitable alternatives.
• Dialogue: Improved dialogue flow and clarity.
• Italics: Used italics for internal monologue.
• Consistency: Ensured consistent spelling (e.g., Lumianth/Luminianth).
• Paragraphing: Improved paragraph breaks for better readability.
• Removed Redundancy: Eliminated unnecessary repetitions.

The revised passage is now more polished and professional.