2025-03-31 17:15:43
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THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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,
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 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
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 51 ~
The realization struck the crowd like thunder.“Julian is down!”"Julian Viking just lost!"Barbara exhaled shakily, gripping her dress as a whirlwind of emotions overtook her. Disbelief. Shock. Relief.Zach stood over Julian, his gaze steady, unreadable. He wasn’t out of breath. He wasn’t sweating. He hadn’t even broken a real fight stance.He tilted his head slightly and muttered, “Want to go another round?”Julian didn’t move.For a moment, there was silence. Then—“Zach! Zach! Zach!”The hall erupted. Cheers, whistles, and shouts of triumph shook the walls. People clapped, some even stomping their feet in excitement.“That was insane!”“Julian Viking got wrecked!”“Did you see that punch? I swear, I saw his soul leave his body!”The announcer’s voice rang through the microphone. “And the winner of this match and this year's great competition… Zach!”The crowd surged in noise again as the coordinator approached, carrying a glass case. Inside was the Heart of Solis, an ancient relic
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 52 ~
There was no room for argument. The woman’s fingers loosened their grip on the boy’s wrist as if she had been burned.The child stumbled back, rubbing his wrist, eyes darting between Zach and the woman.Then, a man dressed in ragged clothes rushed out of the restaurant, his face pale with desperation.“You again?” the woman spat at him, her voice laced with disgust. “You don’t train your son, and now he thinks he can steal from me!”The man fell to his knees, hands pressed together in a plea. “Madam, I swear, my son is not a thief. We have not eaten in two days. He was only looking.”“Looking?!” she scoffed. “That’s what thieves do before they take something!” Her furious gaze shifted to Zach. “Stay out of this! This man works as a cleaner for me, and they’re homeless. That boy still steals from me!”Zach’s expression darkened. “And if he was? If he was truly a thief, what then?” He stepped forward, his voice steady. “Would you still treat him like this if he were your son?”The woman
Latest Chapter
~ 71 ~
Laura raised an eyebrow. “Is your memory coming back?”Zach closed his eyes briefly. “No. I just… followed a pull.”“You’ll remember soon,” she said softly. “Please, sit.”Zach took the seat and looked up. “What’s going on?”Bull stepped out, giving them privacy.Laura brought up her iPad. “We’re facing a security breach in our satellite division. Someone’s intercepting classified logistics. We don’t know who — not even how. We’ve locked down comms, but if we don’t figure this out soon…”She hesitated. “You always used to fix things in minutes. I don’t know if you can now — but I’ll try to come up with something soon. I just thought you should know.”Zach sat still for a beat, his eyes scanning the glowing data screens like they were speaking a forgotten language. The lines of code, the flickers of red alerts, the satellite activity — it was all vaguely familiar, yet unfamiliar. He tilted his head slightly, frowning.Laura watched him, her brows pulled together with a blend of concern
~ 70 ~
Daniella stood motionless for a beat, then without warning, rushed into Zach’s arms and hugged him tightly. Her emotions overwhelmed her — relief, joy, gratitude — all colliding in that singular moment.“You are Godsent into our lives, Zach,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for this moment.”Zach blinked, stunned, but slowly wrapped his arms around her. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he embraced her back, holding her like someone who just found home in a stranger’s gratitude. He didn’t say anything right away, but the warmth in his eyes said enough.Lou, still seated, nodded with tears in her eyes. “She’s right, young man. You’re a blessing — a living one. May your days be long and filled with goodness.”Zach was about to respond when a strange chill prickled his skin. Something shifted in the air.He pulled back gently from Daniella and turned towards the door, his eyes narrowing. Through the glass, he caught a brief shadow
~ 69 ~
At Daniella's small dinner the sun filtered gently through the blinds. It was a quiet noon, the lull between breakfast and lunch rush, and Daniella was wiping down the counter with a cloth when the bell above the door jingled.She turned, expecting a regular customer.Instead, she froze.Zach stood there, tall and composed, but beside him was a man Daniella instantly recognized from old news interviews and health columns.“Zach?” she said, surprised and clearly not expecting him. Her gaze flicked to the stranger. “Is that—?”Zach gave a warm smile. “Doctor Kieran Voss,” he said, gesturing toward the man. “I thought your mother might need him.”Her mouth dropped slightly as she gasped. “You brought the city’s best doctor to see my mother?” she asked in disbelief. “No way…”Doctor Kieran smiled gently, nodding. “I got to know a while back about you and your mother.”Daniella’s chest tightened with emotion. She looked back at Zach, eyes misting. “You got the best doctor… how possible?”“
~ 68 ~
The next night, Maya stepped into another room in the bar Darius frequented with calculated grace, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble. It was dimly lit, draped in a blend of red and amber lights. Private. Discreet. Dangerous. It smelled of expensive cigars and something stronger beneath—the kind of space where secrets were shared, and sins were sealed with a drink.Darius was already seated, his long fingers drumming lazily on the surface of his glass. He looked up as she entered, his smirk carved like a blade.“You're right on time,” he said.“I always am when it's about my enemy,” Maya replied coolly, sliding into the leather seat across from him.He leaned forward, eyes glinting. “So, what plan do you have cooked up, darling?”Without a word, Maya reached into her purse and drew out a folded photograph. She slid it across the table, her manicured fingers trailing the edge. Darius picked it up, raising a brow.It was a candid photo of Zach and Barbara—Barbara’s h
~ 67 ~
Doctor Kieran’s eyes widened slightly at Zach’s sudden question. For a moment, silence hung in the room like thick mist, broken only by the faint ticking of the antique clock on the wall. Then, the doctor slowly nodded.“Yes,” he said, voice low but certain. “Yes, it’s possible. Depending on the cause, there are ways we can restore vision. Some cases take time and care, but… yes, Zach. I can.”Zach exhaled, his shoulders relaxing just a little. That answer triggered something inside him—something warm, soft, and nostalgic. A memory stirred—Daniella’s mother. The woman had reminded him so much of his late adoptive mother, whose gentle smiles and soothing voice had anchored his soul for years.He had only spoken to Daniella’s mother for a few minutes that night he came to their aid, but her kind spirit, despite her blindness, tugged at something in him. She deserves to see the world. She deserves to see her daughter’s smile.Zach looked up at the doctor, his tone thoughtful but direct. “
~ 66 ~
Darius loosened his grip slightly, though his fingers still lingered around her throat. His eyes, sharp and menacing, bore into hers with unspoken suspicion and a flicker of curiosity. His mind spun, calculating, weighing every possibility. She coughed lightly, catching her breath.“You’re Zach’s wife,” he finally said, his voice low and accusing. “How the hell can you help me when you share a bed with the very bastard I want dead?”Maya’s lips curled in bitter amusement. “Ex-wife,” she corrected with cold precision. “I have divorced that good-for-nothing. You think you know everything about him, but you don’t, Darius. Zach isn’t half the man he pretends to be. He didn’t just ruin me—he jinxed me. Sabotaged my chances, twisted everything I worked for. And now,” she took a step closer, voice dropping to a venomous whisper, “I want to see him burn just as much as you do.”Darius stepped back slowly, his face unreadable until a scoff escaped him. He rubbed his jaw, the metal fingers of h
~ 65 ~
Zach cleared his throat, his voice steady but laced with discomfort. “I... I didn’t mean to—” His gaze shifted, unable to land on Barbara for more than a second. The moment was thick, awkward, charged with heat neither of them had prepared for.Barbara’s expression softened as her eyes welled with relief. She didn’t wait for a full explanation—she surged forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly, her body still warm and damp from her bath. The towel that clung precariously to her hips had dropped onto the floor during her quick movement, forgotten.“I thought you left,” she murmured against his chest, her voice quivering. “I thought you were gone... that you’d left without me because of what happened.”Zach stiffened, his arms raised in uncertainty, hovering mid-air like he was deciding whether to touch her or not. Her bare skin was cold against his shirt, and every inch of his body was aware of it. His heart pounded like a drum against his ribs, his throat dry.Barbara pulled ba
~ 64 ~
Later in the evening air was cool against Zach's skin as he stood on the balcony of the guest room. The city of Belmont sprawled beneath him, its twinkling lights reflecting the fading warmth of the sunset. He held the Heart of Solis gently in his hands, the weight of it familiar, like an old companion. The ancient antique glowed faintly in his grip, a soft light that seemed to pulse with its own rhythm. Zach closed his eyes, the rhythmic beat of his pulse syncing with the gentle hum from it. He let the stillness wash over him, his mind clear as he focused on drawing strength which laid in-depth in the antique. The memory of Julian's men, the violence of the day, still lingered in his muscles, but the antique soothed the weariness. It renewed him, restoring the energy he had expended in the brutal fight. As he meditated, he felt the power flow through him, like a current of energy he could command at will.A soft knock on the door interrupted his concentration. Zach's eyes fluttered
~ 63 ~
Zach gently helped Barbara into the backseat of the car, his gaze never straying far from her pale face. Her breathing was steady, but the ordeal she'd just survived left traces of exhaustion on her features. He couldn't ignore the way her lips trembled ever so slightly, nor the way her eyes fluttered in her sleep, haunted by things he couldn’t yet understand.He gave a small nod to Mac, who had been standing nearby, still in shock from the day's events. Zach didn’t speak, but his actions said enough. He would protect Barbara, no matter what. He wouldn’t let her suffer any more.As the car started, Mac looked over at Zach, his voice filled with concern. “I can’t believe all of this… after what happened to Barbara… is she going to be okay?” His brow furrowed as he thought of his daughter.Zach glanced at him, his eyes hard but steady. “You shouldn't worry about that.”Mac seemed to relax, but the worry still lingered in his eyes. “I’m still scared, though,” he confessed softly. “This c
