2025-03-17 20:36:57
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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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 31 ~
Darius tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming as he examined Zach. Then a slow smirk pulled at his lips. “Now that I’m really looking at you…” he muttered, his fingers stroking his chin. “I think I’ve seen your face before.”Zach didn’t move, his sharp gaze locked onto Darius, his body wound tight like a coil. He had no patience for whatever nonsense was about to come out of this man’s mouth.“One of my informants told me my beloved Barbara was seen with you.”Zach scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “And what do you want me to do about that?” His voice was laced with mockery. “Last I checked, Barbara was a grown woman who could do whatever she damn well pleased. Or do you think you're worth every woman, Darius?”Darius let out an ugly chuckle, the kind that sent chills down spines. “Talking about worth… are you worth anything at all?” His voice dripped with disdain. “Barbara is classy and rich. If she’s been hanging around you, it’s probably because you had some way of deceiving her wi
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~ 50 ~
The hall buzzed with murmurs, the air thick with anticipation. Every spectator leaned forward, eager to witness a match they already assumed was decided.Julian Viking, an infamous member of one of the top 3 powerful family in Belmont, known for his ruthless dominance, against Zach—a man they considered foolish for stepping onto this stage. The fight had yet to begin, but the verdict was already cast in their eyes.They believed Julian will waste no time to finish off Zach.Julian smirked and reached into his pants pocket, retrieving a deadly weapon—brass knuckles. He slid them onto his fingers with an unsettling grace, the metallic sheen catching the light. He flexed his hand, cracking his knuckles before lifting his gaze to Zach."You're going to regret this, boy," Julian sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm going to make good use of these on you."A ripple of unease spread through the spectators. Barbara, seated at the edge of her chair, felt her stomach churn. This wasn’t
~ 49 ~
Barbara’s breath caught in her throat. Her heart pounded as she slowly turned, disbelief flooding her veins.Zach stepped forward, his expression unreadable, his posture calm but firm.The coordinator assessed Zach with a bemused expression, a chuckle escaping his lips. "You must be joking, young man," he said, shaking his head. "Challenging Julian Viking? Are you on something?"Zach's face remained impassive, his eyes locked onto Julian. "I'm dead serious," he replied firmly.Laughter erupted from the spectators, their mockery filling the hall."Is this guy for real?" one sneered."He must have a death wish," another jeered."Maybe he thinks this is some kind of joke," a third added."Didn't he see how Julian eliminated those two powerful men ?" someone else scoffed.Despite the ridicule, Zach's gaze never wavered from Julian.Julian's eyes narrowed, his pride wounded by the audacity of the challenge. He spat on the ground, his voice dripping with disdain. "Do you have a death wish,
~ 48 ~
Murmurs rippled through the grand hall, filled with a mix of awe and disbelief. Julian had defeated Kenji in mere moments, his strength and precision leaving the audience both stunned and terrified."Did you see that? He sent him flying like he was nothing!""Kenji is a renowned martial artist from Japan! How did he lose so quickly?""Julian Viking is truly undefeatable. Who could ever match up to him?"The astonishment was widespread, but for Zach, it was the opposite. He leaned back against his chair, arms crossed, eyes unwavering. He had seen through Julian’s flashy display. While the crowd might have been dazzled, Zach recognized the simple yet effective techniques Julian had used. It was nothing extraordinary—just brute force wrapped in an arrogant performance. He remained unimpressed.Julian, basking in the admiration, ran a hand through his slicked-back hair and scoffed. "That was barely a warm-up. If this is the best this reputable annual competition has to offer, I'm disappo
~ 47 ~
“You’re a waste of my time, boy," Julian scoffed, rolling his shoulders back before shooting one last glare at Zach. Then, with a smirk, he turned away. “This way, please,” Mac gestured forward, leading Julian to a private table at the front of the hall.Barbara, standing beside Zach, scoffed under her breath. “What a scumbag.”After Julian Viking had sat down, Mac stepped onto the platform, tapping the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, the competition will now begin, as our esteemed man of honor, Julian Viking, has arrived.”The room erupted in applause, an acknowledgment of Julian’s presence.Another man, the coordinator took the stage, his voice ringing with excitement. “This is the most anticipated competition in Belmont City every year. And this time, we have an incredible grand prize—the Heart of Solis, a rare antique of immense value.”Gasps and murmurs of admiration filled the room. The speaker continued, “This year, we have an extraordinary participant, making it nearly im
~ 46 ~
The city’s hall was packed. As Barbara stepped inside with Zach, whispers followed them.“Isn’t that Julian’s fiancée?”“Why is she with that ordinary-looking man?”“She’s so disappointing.”Barbara’s sharp eyes landed on the gossipers, and they immediately pretended to be engrossed in something else. Huffing, she walked further into the hall.Minutes later, a convoy of black jeeps pulled before the city hall—Lamborghini Urus, Rolls Royce Cullinan, and a Bentley Bentayga.All eyes snapped toward the entrance.Julian stepped out of the first jeep, dressed in an expensive tailored jacket and trousers, exuding dominance.Murmurs of praise erupted.“He’s here!”“The strongest man in Belmont.”“A true elite.”Flashes from cameras blinded the entrance as journalists rushed to get his picture.But Julian ignored them, walking with pride. His presence alone was suffocating. Inside the hall, even the richest men bowed slightly as he passed.One of the organizers rushed up. “Master Julian! Welc
~ 45 ~
The room was silent, save for the faint rustling of fabric as Zach adjusted his posture. He sat on the floor, knees bent, back straight, the locket hanging against his bare chest. The window he had left open allowed the silver glow of the moon to stream in, casting ethereal patterns on the wooden floor. He inhaled deeply, feeling the cool night air settle in his lungs before exhaling steadily.Closing his eyes, he focused on the locket. A warmth spread from the small object, pulsing against his skin like a second heartbeat. Suddenly, images flooded his mind—flashes of combat techniques, ancient movements perfected through generations, and a deep understanding of battle flowing through him like an untapped river.His muscles tensed, then relaxed. His fingers curled slightly before opening again as if guided by an unseen force. He could see himself in his mind’s eye, executing powerful strikes, evading attacks with precision, and channeling raw energy into his limbs. The sensation was o
~ 44 ~
Julian’s nostrils flared, his grip tightening around the edge of the door. His gaze burned into the men kneeling before him, their heads bowed in shame. His voice, laced with restrained fury, cut through the tense air. “How was that possible?”With his face bruised and bloodied, the man hesitated before answering, his voice barely above a whisper. “They were too strong, Master.” He kept his eyes low, as if daring to meet Julian’s gaze would seal his fate.Julian’s jaw clenched, his fury rising like an uncontrollable storm. His breaths grew ragged. Weak. Pathetic. He had trained these men to be his shields, not cowards.A soft touch at his back made him freeze.“Come back, Master,” a sultry voice cooed. Delicate hands wrapped around his tense frame.Julian roared, shoving her away with brute force. “Get out!”The woman gasped, stumbling back as fear widened her eyes. She vanished in a hurried retreat, knowing better than to stay when his anger boiled over.Julian scoffed, shaking his
~ 43 ~
Barbara was short of words, her throat tightening as she tried to swallow the bitter taste of her father’s words. She couldn't say anything else. Mac, standing tall and imperious, gave his final order."Look your best tomorrow for Julian, and see to it that your guard here stays well." His voice held no room for argument. Then, turning his piercing gaze to Zach, he smirked slightly, a glint of menace in his sharp eyes."I hope you've been protecting my daughter well and not taking advantage of your proximity at times?" he sneered.Barbara's shock tightened into something colder. How could he reduce a multi-billionaire who could erase poverty from Belmont with a mere signature to nothing more than a common bodyguard?However, Zach only smiled at the misconception, amusement dancing in his eyes. Mac frowned at the reaction."Father, with all due respect, he's not my bodyguard," Barbara said firmly. "He's my friend."Mac’s face twisted in disdain. "Friend? You keep friends with ordinary
~ 42 ~
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of a grand estate, its high iron gates parting silently to reveal a long driveway lined with cherry blossom trees. The estate itself was a fortress of elegance—tall, imposing, with a blend of modern and classic architecture that hinted at old money and power. Zach turned to Barbara, noticing her stiff posture, the way her fingers clenched into fists on her lap. The confident, sharp-tongued woman from earlier had faded into something else—someone hesitant, uncertain.He stepped out and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. “You okay?”She let out a short breath. “Physically, yes. Mentally?” She shook her head. “Not so much.”He studied her, concern flashing in his eyes. “Why?”She forced a smile. “You don’t have to worry about that.”Before he could push further, she turned and led him toward the entrance. As they approached, uniformed guards at the massive doors immediately straightened and bowed at her presence. Zach took it al
