2025-03-03 08:09:35
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THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 12 ~
Zach’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His face remained unreadable, yet there was a flicker in his eyes—a silent storm beneath his composed exterior. Daniella watched him, feeling a pang of sadness. Maya’s words had been cruel, but what struck Daniella the most was the look in Zach’s eyes. Not anger. Not indignation. Just… something deeper, something unspoken.Then, he finally spoke, his voice steady. "I'm not a pauper."Maya let out a short, mocking laugh. "Oh, don’t flatter yourself, Zach. Just because Madame Laura stood up for you doesn’t mean you’ve suddenly become important. She did it to keep her reputation clean, nothing more." She smirked, tilting her head. "Face it, you’ll always be nothing. Bradford’s No.1 destitute."Daniella’s hands curled into fists at her sides, but before she could say anything, Maya’s sharp gaze turned on her. "Enjoy chasing after scraps, Daniella," she sneered, flipping her hair with exaggerated arrogance before striding off, her heels clicking
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 13 ~
A stunned silence filled the room immediately after that announcement.Daniella’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded. Did she hear that right?Maya’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as she stood. “That’s a mistake! It has to be!”She couldn’t believe it. Her breath came in sharp bursts as the realization hit—she was supposed to win! Her fingers clenched into fists, her face burning with fury.“This is ridiculous!” she shouted, her voice slicing through the murmurs in the hall. “I was supposed to win the investment! There’s no way—no way—that Daniella Jones of all people could have won fairly!”Barbara’s expression remained composed, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in her gaze. “Are you accusing First Star Bank of unfairness, Ms. Tower?”Maya scoffed. “Oh, don’t twist my words, Barbara. I’m saying that this—” she pointed a shaking finger at Daniella, “—this is a joke. A fraud! She must have played a dirty trick because she’s not worthy of winning.”Barbara let out a quiet
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 14 ~
Outside, Maya stormed toward her car, gripping her phone tightly. Her chest heaved as she punched in a call, her nails digging into her palm."Lena! Get another ride immediately. I'm not in the mood for your incompetence!" she barked.Lena, her assistant, took a cautious step back, narrowly avoiding a slap that never came. "Y-yes, ma’am. Right away."Maya let out an exasperated breath, yanking the car door open. She slid into the driver's seat and slammed her hands against the steering wheel. The sharp honk echoed in the night, but she didn’t care.Her fingers trembled as she dialed Luke’s number. No answer.Again. Still nothing.She clenched her jaw, hitting redial repeatedly until, finally, he picked up."What do you want, Maya…?" His voice was irritated, laced with exhaustion."Baby!" she wailed. "I lost the project investment. Can you believe the so-called top-tier client gave it to my undeserving ex-friend?"Luke sighed heavily. "Don't complain to me. I can’t do anything."Maya’s
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 15 ~
Bull’s voice was steady but laced with frustration. “We’ve tried tracing whoever was behind it, but they cover their tracks well. This isn’t the work of an ordinary person or group.”Zach nodded, his expression unreadable. His fingers tapped lightly against his wrist as he processed Bull’s words. Something inside him burned for answers, an ache deep in his chest—a void where memories should be. He exhaled, his voice firm.“I want to know everything. Right now.” His gaze shifted to Laura. “What was I like before? And what exactly is Dominion’s Shadow?”Laura straightened, her posture one of deep respect. “You established Dominion’s Shadow when you were just sixteen, Master. Even then, you had an unmatched mind and a natural dominance no one could defy. The organization became the most powerful and secretive force in the country, operating in the shadows, controlling what needed to be controlled.”Zach raised a brow. “Controlled how?”Laura’s lips curved slightly. “Intelligence. Securit
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 16 ~
The hall roared with excitement as the massive man slammed another opponent’s arm against the table with a sickening thud. The match had barely lasted five minutes.He stood, throwing his arms in the air, his thick veins bulging under his skin. The man was enormous—easily over six and a half feet tall, with shoulders so broad they could cast a shadow. His biceps were as thick as some men’s thighs, and despite the grueling battles he had just fought, he looked unfazed, like he had merely swatted away flies.The crowd erupted in wild cheers.A man in a sharp black suit stepped onto the platform, raising his hands to quiet the audience. He was the event’s coordinator, a seasoned host of these competitions.“Ladies and gentlemen!” he called out, beaming. “Yet again, the undefeated titan, the unbreakable force of Aqua City’s arm-wrestling world—Boris ‘The Mountain’ Vasiliev!”More cheers followed as Boris lifted his chin arrogantly.“For over a decade,” the coordinator continued, “Boris ha
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 17 ~
The bell rang sharply, its echo bouncing off the grand hall’s golden pillars. A hush fell over the audience as Zach settled onto his stool.Across from him, Boris, the brute of a man who had bulldozed through his previous opponents, grinned wickedly. His thick fingers curled as he extended his hand."Hope you’re ready to have your weak finger bones snapped, boy," Boris taunted, his voice rough like gravel.Zach said nothing. He met Boris’s gaze with an unshaken calm and clasped his hand firmly. The contact was brief, yet Boris felt something strange—the man's grip was steady, unmoving, as if an unseen force lay dormant beneath the surface. It made his chest tighten.The match began.Boris smirked, pushing forward with all his might, veins bulging from his forearm. He felt Zach's fingers tremble slightly, and his smirk widened. He’s weak."You should've stayed seated, little man," Boris sneered, feeling his confidence surge.Then, in a blink, it happened.Zach’s wrist barely twisted, b
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 18 ~
The air in the arena grew thick with tension as the coordinator stepped forward, his voice echoing through the vast space."For the final showdown, we present another takeoff between this surprising young man, Zach, and our honorable Damaris!"Before the cheers could rise, Damaris raised a hand, silencing the room. His eyes gleamed with something cruel. "Not so fast," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "A simple arm-wrestling match isn’t enough. If I am to engage in a battle, it must be worth my time. I propose three rounds—a true test of endurance, strength, and willpower."The murmurs in the crowd turned to excited whispers. Boris grinned from the sidelines, his injured arm cradled against his chest."First," Damaris continued, his lips curling into a smirk, "we will test the ability to endure pain. Burning coals will be spread before us. We will stand on them, barefoot, for a full minute or more. If one of us steps off, he loses the round."Gasps rippled through the crowd, but
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 19 ~
Gasps filled the air, followed by a stunned silence. It was as though the entire arena had forgotten to breathe.Damaris… had lost?Whispers spread like wildfire."No way… that was too fast.""Did Damaris really just—lose?""Impossible. He must have held back on purpose!"Zach tilted his head, his expression calm but sharp. “You were saying?”Damaris clenched his jaw, his pride shattering like glass. His feet throbbed painfully, a cruel reminder of his failure. The humiliation burned deeper than any wound. He had stood here, full of confidence, only to be bested in front of everyone.Boris, still clutching his injured arm, gawked at him in disbelief. “M-Master…?”Damaris shot him a withering glare. “Shut up.”Boris hesitated before rushing forward to help him to his feet. The moment Damaris was up, he shoved Boris aside, feigning composure.“Don’t touch me. I’m good.” His voice was tight, his pride barely holding him together.The coordinator, though momentarily stunned, cleared his t
Latest Chapter
~ 89 ~
Zach stood there, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, his heart oddly restless as he watched Barbara flee through the door like a startled bird.What just happened? he wondered, frowning, his mind scrambling to process the last minute.A soft shuffle from behind him made him turn his head slightly. Mary reached downstairs, studying him with a knowing look. She feigned a little cough, a deliberate attempt to draw his attention.Zach blinked. "Uh, Mary. You're awake.""Hmm. Good morning," she replied, her voice carrying a teasing undertone as she folded her arms."Yeah, good morning," Zach muttered, scratching his head, unable to resist glancing back at the front door, half-expecting Barbara to barge back in and take back her unintended confession."Well, Barbara is gone," Mary said, struggling to suppress the mischievous smile threatening her lips.Zach nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah... she’s gone," he murmured, still lost in thought. She said "yes". Did she really mean it? His chest tigh
~88~
The hours dragged by like slow-moving clouds as Zach cultivated, seated cross-legged on the floor, palms resting on his knees, his breathing controlled and deep. Even after the poison in his system had been washed away in mere minutes, he pressed on. His body ached for restoration; his energy reserves felt hollowed out by the night's turmoil. He could feel the faint rush of new energy coursing through his veins, splashing and crashing like a roaring tide against his inner walls.When at last he opened his eyes, the dark circles beneath them had faded slightly. He heaved a breath, steady and low, before dragging himself to the bathroom. Under the steaming water of the shower, he tilted his head back, letting the rivulets wash away the weariness clinging to him like a second skin.After drying off, he made his way barefoot toward the kitchen, gulped down a glass of cold water, then turned to leave. Passing by the first room in the hallway, he noticed the door ajar. Curiosity stirred. He
~ 87 ~
Zach's steps faltered slightly as he entered the villa, a wave of dizziness clouding his vision. He instinctively reached out to the wall but missed. His body leaned dangerously forward—then firm hands caught him."Hey, are you okay?" a concerned voice asked.He blinked away the haze and straightened, forcing a smile as he recognized Barbara’s face. "Yeah," he said, though the faint spinning in his head said otherwise. "Wasn’t expecting to see my finance manager at my house past 11 p.m."Barbara rolled her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Well, I wasn't planning on staying either. Should’ve been gone hours ago, but your sister wouldn’t let me."He frowned. "Mary wouldn’t let you?""Yeah. I just put her to sleep."He blinked in disbelief. "What?""I brought her back like I said I would. Wanted to leave, but she begged me to stay. Said she felt uncomfortable being alone in such a big house—especially not knowing you’d be back tonight.""I see," Zach murmured, stepping past her,
~86 ~
The doctor cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "Is that actually yours?" he asked stiffly.Zach raised an eyebrow. "You want to find out?"The nurse, still skeptical, grabbed the payment machine. "If it's counterfeit, security will be happy to deliver you to the police."The doctor leaned in, clearly expecting the worst. "Treatment bills will be approximately ten thousand dollars."Zach inserted the card with a bored expression. "Make it fifty. Get them the best."He input his pin. The transaction processed instantly.Approved.The machine chimed brightly.Silence fell.The nurses blinked at him like he'd grown wings. The doctor paled, sweat beading on his forehead."I...I apologize, sir," he stammered. "Please forgive our...mistake.""You!" he barked at the nurses. "Apologize at once!""Sorry, sir!" the nurses chorused, heads bowed.Zach barely spared them a glance."Move them to the special wards. Get them prepped now." the doctor barked, snapping his fingers at the stun
~ 85 ~
His scream snapped the others out of their daze.“Get him!” The leader yelled.Two of them lunged forward at once.Zach ducked beneath the first swing, then drove his elbow hard into the man’s ribs. The impact sent him spinning to the pavement, wheezing.The second came with a short blade.Zach seized his arm mid-strike, twisted, and with one violent jerk, flipped him over his back. As the man hit the ground, Zach snapped the joint with ruthless precision. The crunch echoed.Two more were already coming.Zach didn’t hesitate. He grabbed one by the neck mid-charge, slammed him headfirst into a nearby brick wall. The man’s body slumped as blood sprayed down the wall in a thick line.The last attacker barely had time to shout before Zach spun, gripped his throat with both hands, and squeezed.The man struggled, legs kicking, fingers clawing at Zach’s arms, but it was no use. His gasps turned to silence, and then—nothing.The leader, still on the ground, stared wide-eyed. His last man—a y
~ 84 ~
“No…” Yvonne breathed, panic crawling up her spine.She watched in frozen horror as he raised his hand to strike.“Fine!” she shouted, her voice cracking. “I’ll get it!”She rushed back to the car, her hands trembling as she reached beneath the front passenger seat — the only place she could think of hiding it earlier. Her fingers curled around the small, black flash drive. Reluctantly, she walked back toward them, raising it up.“Hand it over,” the man ordered, eyes greedy.“Not until you let him go,” she barked, refusing to be intimidated.The leader smirked, then flicked his fingers lazily. The two men shoved Ricky down and released him.Yvonne’s eyes stayed on Ricky, making sure he was breathing, before she slowly stretched the flash drive toward the leader. He snatched it and inserted it into a portable reader clipped to his belt.She crossed her arms. “You and whoever sent you — Pablo — you’re both going down. Soon.”He looked up from the device, laughter dancing in his eyes. “
~ 83 ~
Around 9:30 p.m., the night air hung thick with tension as a sleek black Aston Martin DBS Superleggera sped down a narrow, almost deserted street. Its glossy surface glinted under flickering street lights as it weaved expertly through sharp bends and broken asphalt.In the backseat, a striking young woman with waves of rich red hair sat upright, her green eyes flicking anxiously to the tinted back windscreen. Her name was Yvonne Weather, Dynasty Group’s heiress. But tonight, she wasn’t dressed in power or privilege. Tonight, she was a fugitive, holding onto something the world would kill to have.“They’re still on us,” she muttered to herself, her fingers tightening around the silver flash drive in her hand. Her other hand raked through her red hair in a restless sweep.“Hurry, Ricky!” she urged sharply.Behind the wheel, Ricky, her loyal bodyguard in a leather jacket and stone-cold stare, kept his eyes fixed on the road. “I should call for backup, Miss…”“No.” Her voice sliced throug
~ 82 ~
Zach gently pushed the hospital ward door open, careful not to disturb the quiet atmosphere Inside. As he stepped in, his eyes immediately found Daniella, propped up on a pillow, her hair a bit messy but her face glowing softly under the fluorescent light. Her mother was still seated beside her. Lou looked up and smiled faintly at him.Daniella turned as she heard the door creak. “Zach,” she called, her voice still a little weak. “Is your sister gone?”Zach nodded as he approached. “Yeah. Barbara took her home since it's getting late.” He gave her a warm smile and pulled a chair closer to her bedside.Lou looked at him with genuine gratitude. “Thank you again, Zach,” she said, voice filled with emotion. “You saved my baby… I can’t even count how many times I’ve said that, but really, thank you.”Zach chuckled softly. “That’s the umpteenth time, Mrs. Lou.”Lou wiped a small tear with the back of her hand and tried to lighten the mood. “If something had happened to Daniella… I don’t kno
~ 81 ~
Maya scrolled through her phone with wide, stunned eyes. Her freshly painted nails paused mid-air, her thumb frozen over the screen. She stared as the breaking news unfolded—an image of black smoke billowing into the evening sky, police sirens flashing, paramedics rushing with stretchers. And then the headline: “Explosion at Fitzroy’s Underground Safehouse, Zach and Daniella Survive, Darius Fitzroy in Critical Condition.”Her jaw clenched.“No… no, no, no,” she muttered.She threw the phone onto the passenger seat in front of her and let out a harsh grunt. The device bounced once and landed screen-down.“What a woefully failed plan,” she snapped, gripping the steering wheel tighter. Her perfectly shaped brows furrowed in frustration. “How could that bastard, Darius, execute the plan so stupidly? Burning the entire underground house just to kill Zach, when he could have finished it quietly and efficiently.”She groaned again and let her head fall back against the headrest. Her breath c
