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THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 23 ~
Zach studied her, his expression unreadable.Barbara stood so close he could feel the warmth radiating off her skin, her scent—a mixture of vanilla and something tantalizingly feminine—wrapping around him. Her eyes glowed with mischief, the corners of her lips curling into a knowing smile.Then, slowly, he leaned in. "You really want to pay with a kiss?"She tilted her head, her lashes fluttering. "Hm. Maybe more."Zach’s throat went dry as his eyes, despite his best effort, flickered down to her bosom. She was too damn tempting. The way her shirt clung to her curves, the soft swell of her cleavage visible with every subtle movement—she was a walking trap, and any man would gladly fall into it.Barbara leaned even closer, her voice dropping into a sultry whisper. "Do you mind me showing appreciation with my body?"Zach's expression shifted from surprise to something unreadable, his brows furrowing. "What?" He hadn’t expected that. She was unpredictable—dangerously so. And looking at
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 24 ~
Luke’s gaze flickered over Maya for a fleeting moment before he turned away, rubbing his temples. "Not today, Maya. I don't have money."A scoff left her lips. She crossed her arms, tilting her head with an arched brow. "Oh, come on, Luke. We both know you’ve got hundreds of millions sitting in your bank account, not to mention the extra cash you laundered from your family’s company."His body stiffened. He slowly turned to face her, his jaw tightening. "You—"She leaned in, lowering her voice. "Don't force me to do something bad, Luke. Just transfer two hundred million dollars, and I'll be on my way."He sneered, trying to mask the unease creeping into his veins. "And if I refuse?"Her eyes darkened with silent warning. "I'll expose you."Luke let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head. "You’re bluffing."Maya pulled out her phone and tapped on the screen. A few swipes later, she turned it toward him. His smirk faded instantly. His face went pale as he stared at the images and docu
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~25~
Daniella wiped her hands on her apron and let out a sigh, watching another satisfied customer walk out of the diner. The dinner rush had been manageable tonight, but exhaustion still clung to her. She turned to the counter, where her mother, Lou, stood behind the register, looking lost. A pang of guilt settled in her chest."Mother, you should have stayed home. I would have managed the diner well, as always," she said, walking over.Lou lifted her head at the sound of Daniella’s voice and smiled softly. "Oh, dear, I know you're embarrassed over your blind mother. I'm sorry."Daniella’s brows furrowed, and she scowled. "How can you say that? You know that’s not the case."Lou chuckled. "I was just joking. I know you don’t mind. You just don’t want me to stress. But I’m okay. At least, staying here, behind the counters, customers will come in and tell me their orders. Before realizing I'm actually blind, you would return to tend to them." She laughed heartily, and despite herself, Danie
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 26~
The thugs snickered, eyeing Zach with disdain."Look at this fool. Thinks he's some kind of hero," one of them sneered, cracking his knuckles."You better keep walking, passerby," another jeered. "No food for you here tonight. Just get lost."Daniella, still catching her breath, darted her eyes between them and Zach. Her heart pounded."You... you know him, don't you?" The leader chuckled darkly, his lips curling in mock amusement. "Well, too bad. He ain’t your knight in shining armor. He won’t be saving you."Zach took a measured step forward, his expression unreadable, his voice low but firm. "Let her go. Walk out of here while you still can, or you'll leave with broken limbs."Laughter erupted from the gang, filling the ruined diner."This one’s got jokes!" one of them howled. "What do you think you are? A one-man army?""You gonna fight all of us?" another smirked. "Come on, let’s see you try."One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, lunged first, swinging a heavy p
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 27 ~
The air was thick with tension as Zach stared at the man kneeling before him. His hands gripped Zach’s tightly as if afraid to let go. His expression was one of deep emotion—raw and unfiltered—as if he had found something he had been searching for his entire life."Master, I know you," the man said, his voice trembling.Zach frowned, pulling his hands away. "Hey, get up." He reached out, gripping the man’s arm to help him stand, but the man remained rooted to the ground.Zach exhaled sharply, shifting his gaze to the growing number of onlookers. The murmurs around them made his skin prickle. "I don’t know you, sir," he added firmly.The man lifted his head, his eyes filled with something that made Zach uneasy—admiration, devotion, desperation."Huh?" The man’s lips trembled before he straightened his back and spoke again. "I’m McDonald Barton. And I genuinely know you, Master."Zach’s breath hitched slightly. McDonald Barton? The name wasn’t just familiar—it was legendary. A business
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~28~
Zach felt like the air had been punched out of his lungs. He stood frozen, staring at McDonald, the weight of the words sinking in like stones in his chest."Your father died 20 years ago."The words rang in his head, sharp and merciless. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. His father was dead.“He was brutally assassinated," McDonald added in a low voice.“Who killed him?” Zach demanded, his voice was low, edged with tension.McDonald lowered his gaze. “I don’t know.”Zach’s jaw tightened, the muscle ticking. “Was it his family?”A silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken truths. McDonald inhaled deeply. “I can’t say. But that led to you going missing. Your grandfather asked you to run.”Zach's head jerked up. A faint whisper echoed in his mind, distant but familiar."Run, Zach! Run and never look back!"His eyes shut tightly as a fragment of memory surfaced—a wrinkled hand gripping his shoulder, trembling yet firm. A voice, aged and desperate. T
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~29~
Zach’s voice was cold, commanding as he asked about his grandfather. "Where's my grandfather? I want to see him."McDonald nodded without hesitation. "Follow me, Master."Without another word, Zach strode behind McDonald, his steps measured, his presence unwavering. The two men walked out of the room and into the lit hallway. Outside, a black SUV awaited them. McDonald opened the door, and Zach slid into the leather seat, silent as the car roared to life.The drive was quiet. McDonald didn’t dare to speak unless spoken to, and Zach was lost in thought. His fingers drummed against his thigh as he stared at the passing lights.Fifteen minutes later, the SUV slowed, turning into an unmarked tunnel entrance. Zach’s sharp eyes scanned the darkness. Hidden passageways, restricted access—his family’s wealth and influence were evident in every detail.As the car emerged from the tunnel, a massive estate loomed ahead. The house was an architectural masterpiece, its walls of frosted glass and pr
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 30 ~
The SUV roared as Zach pressed harder on the accelerator, weaving through the near-empty road. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white with tension. The GPS flickered, showing he was only a few minutes away. He barely blinked as he followed the route, his mind focused on the objective. His heart, however, was a different story—beating steadily, yet filled with anticipation.As he neared the outskirts of the city, the landscape shifted. The towering buildings gave way to a vast, open space with a large body of water stretching into the horizon. It wasn’t the sea, but a massive lake with a stillness that almost seemed unnatural. The GPS beeped, signaling that he had arrived.Zach slowed the SUV to a stop, scanning the area. His phone’s screen confirmed the coordinates. He exhaled sharply and stepped out. The crisp, humid air carried the scent of water and damp earth. The ground beneath his boots was slightly wet, as if it had rained earlier.His gaze followed a narr
Latest Chapter
~ 90 ~
Outside the hospital, the sun cast a dull glow over the street where a line of exotic cars gleamed under the morning light. Security guards in dark suits paced near them, keeping watch. Inside the private hospital room on the top floor, the atmosphere was tense.Yvonne lay against the white pillows, her face pale but calm. Her father, Chairman Weather, stood by her bed like a storm contained in human form, his arms crossed, his brows furrowed with anger.The doctor, adjusting his glasses, bowed slightly and said with careful respect, “Sir, Miss Yvonne is stable now. She can be discharged today.”Chairman Weather gave a sharp nod, his face hardening further. His gaze then shifted to his daughter, seething.“How could you be so careless, Yvonne?” he scolded, his voice gruff. “How could you endanger yourself like this?”Without giving her a chance to answer, he spun toward Ricky, her personal guard, his glare sharpening.“And you! You are supposed to protect her with your life! Instead,
~ 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
