An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2565

Chapter 2565

“Torture may work,” Grace said, her expression shifting, “but it’s not always the smartest option.”

Her eyes darkened. “To be honest, there’s a restriction placed on my body. If I activate it with a single thought, it’ll release a massive burst of energy, wiping out everything within a 10-meter radius—including me. You won’t get anything, and you’ll be caught in the blast. I’m guessing that’s not the outcome you want. But if it is, I’m ready.”

Zeus’s smirk instantly vanished.

He thought he had the upper hand. He hadn’t expected her to have such a deadly failsafe.

In that moment, she seemed even more dangerous—and more valuable.

“Hera, what do you think?” Zeus turned to his partner. He was good at destruction, but also at negotiation.

If it were anything else, he wouldn’t waste time talking—he’d just kill.
But this was different. What Grace offered was a method to break through the realm. That was everything they’d been chasing for years.

Even if there was a chance she was lying, the temptation was too great.

They’d tried countless methods to advance—none had worked. Their cultivation had been stuck for decades. This might be the only shot they had left.

And if they missed it, there might not be another.

“Girl, I admire your guts and your brains,” Hera finally spoke, her voice light but firm. “With just a few words, you had us dancing in your palm. That takes more than cleverness—it takes nerve. Not many have that. Staying calm and bargaining when you’re one step from death? That’s impressive.”

She even clapped her hands, a spark of genuine admiration in her eyes.

Zeus frowned. “Hera, what are you doing?”

Were they negotiating—or praising her?

But Hera ignored him and kept her eyes on Grace. “Let me guess… you’re stalling for time, aren’t you?”

“You want us to leave Dragonmarsh, and in return, you’ll give us the breakthrough method in three days. Sounds reasonable on the surface. But I get the feeling something big’s supposed to happen in those three days. Still, you’ve managed to catch our interest—for now.”

Grace remained composed. “Yes, I’m asking you to spare Logan. That’s all I want.”

Hera shook her head slowly. “If that was your only goal, you wouldn’t have come at us like this. You had a whole night to figure out how to escape, but you didn’t. Even after your golden pagoda was destroyed, you stayed. You approached us, calmly negotiating face-to-face. That tells me you aren’t just brave—you’re trapped. You can’t leave this place, can you?”

Grace’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly, her heart skipped.

She hadn’t expected Hera to read her situation so clearly.

If she denied it now, it would only make things worse—and even harder to convince them later.

Zeus and Hera weren’t just powerful—they were sharp. You didn’t get to be gods without being able to see through lies.

“I admit it. We’re stuck here,” Grace finally said after a pause.

“Hahaha! I knew it!” Hera laughed triumphantly, then circled Grace slowly. “If you’d tried to lie just now, you’d already be dead.”

“Lady Hera, you’re sharp and perceptive. Nothing I do can escape your eyes,” Grace said with a faint sigh.

“Flattery won’t get you far,” Hera replied with a smirk. “Now, tell me what’s really going on. What’s keeping you here? If you’re honest, I might let you live.”

Grace’s shoulders sank slightly. Her tone turned heavy. “There’s no point hiding it anymore. Logan fought a fierce battle recently and was gravely wounded. He’s barely hanging on. Beneath this house, there’s a spiritual spring that’s keeping him alive. If he leaves this place… he dies.”

Hera smiled knowingly, like she had suspected it all along.

“So that’s what this is all about. No wonder you’ve been trying so hard to stall us,” she said, chuckling. “You’re just trying to buy time for your precious lover.”

She’d heard rumors that Logan had been injured. Now she had confirmation.

Zeus’s face darkened. Lightning sparked from his fingertips. “So you’ve been lying this whole time? That so-called method for breaking through—was that all just a bluff?”