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Home / Urban / THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW / ~ 153 ~
~ 153 ~
Author: Gem Lynne
last update2025-08-13 22:49:28

In the middle of the night, the city slept under a blanket of silence, but Zach’s balcony was steeped in a different kind of stillness, one that pulsed with focus.

Barefoot on the cool marble floor, he sat cross-legged, the night air brushing over his skin. His eyes were closed, his breathing deep, rhythmic, each inhale drawn down to the pit of his stomach, each exhale slow enough to feel his pulse in the tips of his fingers.

His mind had long since learned the art of shutting out the world. Tonight, however, the meditation was more than calm, it was a hunt.

Zach had trained himself to channel his mental strength, to cut through the fog of his memory loss like a blade. It wasn’t easy; every attempt before had left him drained, sometimes even dizzy. But tonight, the pull inside him felt sharper, hungrier.

His inner strength wrapped around his thoughts like a steady current, guiding him deeper, farther back.

Find her.

The words formed inside his head without sound, like a command from s
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  • ~ 157 ~

    The room was a cave of shadows. The single bulb above dangled loosely, flickering as though reluctant to keep breathing. Every blink of its weak light threw quick shadows across the cracked walls, then surrendered them back to the dark. The other glow came from a laptop, its pale blue screen stretched across Rabiu’s sharp features, carving his face into an alternating mask of brilliance and shadow. His fingers moved over the keyboard like a pianist playing an endless, haunting symphony. Each tap, each pause, spoke of discipline.For an outcast, Rabiu carried himself with the air of a man who still believed the world had not seen the best of him. Dominion’s Shadows had cast him out, stripped him of insignias and rank, but he wore the invisible crown of his skill. They could discard him, yes, but they could never erase what he was—the informant who once pulled truths from silence, who knew how to bend the unseen currents of power in his favor. His reputation lived, even if only in whisp

  • ~ 156 ~

    Yvonne’s shadow stretched long under the dim hallway light. Her hair was loose, brushing against the silk of her robe as she stood facing her father. Her eyes, still sharp despite the hour, narrowed in faint suspicion.“Father. What are you doing here?”Dawson’s throat bobbed. For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze flicking to the closed door behind him before meeting hers again.“I… I was just—”Her brows lifted slightly, waiting.“I heard something,” he finished, voice low.Yvonne stepped closer, her gaze trailing past him toward the ornate wooden door at the end of the hallway. “Did you go to Grandpa’s room?”His shoulders stiffened. “No,” he said quickly, his lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I just… heard a slight noise, so I came out to check.”“To check?” She tilted her head, eyes narrowing further. “I saw you leaving Grandfather’s room.”Dawson blinked, the smile faltering for half a second before reappearing. “You must’ve been mistaken. I did

  • ~ 155 ~

    Dawson’s breath caught. The stale, cold air in the underground chamber seemed to thicken, curling heavy in his lungs. The dim oil lamp flickered, stretching Lex’s shadow long across the stone wall, sharp, angular, like a predator looming over prey.The hand gripping Dawson’s collar was unshakable, the fingers digging into the tender skin at his throat. His father’s gaze burned into him, dark irises swirling with something unnatural.Dawson had grown up knowing Lex could kill without blinking. The man’s history was written in blood and whispered threats. But tonight… tonight the promise in those eyes was more than a threat, it was a deadly vow. And worse, Dawson knew if Lex willed it, he could crush him here and then go after Yvonne without anyone in Yorktown daring to intervene.His voice trembled. “F–Father… please, give me more time. I can fix this.”Lex’s jaw tightened. “More time? You’ve had years, Dawson. YEARS. You couldn’t find the boy when he was barely ten years old, wanderin

  • ~154~

    The house lay wrapped in the stillness of midnight, and shadows pooled deep along the walls. Dawson eased his bedroom door open, the faint creak swallowed by the thick silence. He lingered, his eyes drawn down the hallway toward Yvonne’s room. The door stayed shut. No light leaked from underneath.He waited, counting slow, steady breaths, five… ten… fifteen, until he was certain she wasn't awake. Then he stepped out, shutting his own door with a careful, muted click.To his right, the hallway stretched toward the west wing, an archway yawning open into another corridor. Dawson’s gaze swept the corners, instinctively checking for movement, before he slipped toward it.The west wing was colder, the air heavy with the smell of age, dry wood, old paint, and faint mildew. At the very end stood a door with a rusted keyhole. From his pocket, Dawson produced a single, tarnished key. It slid in with a quiet scrape, turning smoothly despite its years.The hinges gave a faint groan as the door o

  • ~ 153 ~

    In the middle of the night, the city slept under a blanket of silence, but Zach’s balcony was steeped in a different kind of stillness, one that pulsed with focus.Barefoot on the cool marble floor, he sat cross-legged, the night air brushing over his skin. His eyes were closed, his breathing deep, rhythmic, each inhale drawn down to the pit of his stomach, each exhale slow enough to feel his pulse in the tips of his fingers.His mind had long since learned the art of shutting out the world. Tonight, however, the meditation was more than calm, it was a hunt.Zach had trained himself to channel his mental strength, to cut through the fog of his memory loss like a blade. It wasn’t easy; every attempt before had left him drained, sometimes even dizzy. But tonight, the pull inside him felt sharper, hungrier.His inner strength wrapped around his thoughts like a steady current, guiding him deeper, farther back.Find her.The words formed inside his head without sound, like a command from s

  • ~152~

    The villa was quiet when Zach returned, its soft lighting spilling across polished marble floors. He unbuttoned his shirt, crossed the living room, and disappeared into his bedroom quietly after confirming that his sister, Mary, was already asleep. The day’s noise faded as he sank into the leather chair beside his desk and picked up his phone.He scrolled briefly, then tapped Daniella’s contact.The call connected on the third ring. “Hello, Zach,” her warm voice greeted.“Hi, Daniella,” he said, leaning back. “I would like to entrust you with something.”There was a short pause. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”“I want to build an orphanage,” he said plainly. “In Bellwood Estate.”Her intake of breath was audible. “Wait, you mean the Bellwood Estate? Zach, that’s prime land. How…why…” She broke off, a mix of disbelief and curiosity tumbling into her tone. “How could you possibly acquire something like that for an orphanage?”He smiled faintly, as if amused by her reaction. “I already acqu

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