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Home / Urban / THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW / ~182~
~182~
Author: Gem Lynne
last update2025-08-31 21:56:57

The ballroom had fallen into a quiet lull for Lex. Guests still laughed and chattered around him, but their voices were distant, muffled under the pounding of his heartbeat. His gaze flicked repeatedly to the grand staircase, where Dawson and Zach had disappeared minutes ago into one of the private rooms upstairs. Every tick of the ornate clock mounted on the wall stretched like eternity.

Then, finally, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

Lex fished it out hastily. On the screen, a message from Dawson glowed faintly:

“It’s done.”

Lex’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smirk. Without wasting a second, he made his way upstairs. Each step was silent yet deliberate, his polished shoes grazing the velvet carpet as he approached the corridor leading to the rooms.

When he entered, his gaze immediately fell on the sight before him.

Zach lay sprawled across the bed, motionless, his chest unnaturally still. A shattered vase littered the marble floor, water seeping slowly into the rug, and a fai
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  • ~184~

    Months passed, and Barbara’s birthday arrived. That evening, Zach threw a grand surprise party on the wide green lawns of his Villa, fairy lights twinkling like stars strung across the earth.Barbara gasped when she stepped into the lawn, her hand flying to her lips as dozens of voices shouted, “Surprise!” She turned sharply toward Athena, narrowing her eyes playfully.“You knew about this, didn’t you?” she accused.Athena only laughed and pulled her into a hug. “I didn’t want to ruin the surprise by dropping hints earlier!”Barbara chuckled softly, still overwhelmed. “Thanks, Aunt… this is a lot,” she said warmly before her gaze found Zach.Walking up to him, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “You did all this?”“For you,” he whispered, his lips grazing her ear.Later into the night, Zach led Barbara to the center of the lawn, where the lights dimmed, and soft music began to play. He took her hands, his thumb brushing her knuckles tenderly.“The last six months,” he began, his vo

  • ~183~

    Zach’s entire world seemed to still.“My… what?” he choked, his voice almost inaudible.Athena’s tears spilled as she nodded, trembling as she cupped his face gently. “My son… my beautiful boy.”For the first time since he could remember, Zach smiled, broken, tentative, but real. He fell into her arms, wrapping her tightly as she sobbed against his shoulder.Nearby, Dawson stood frozen, guilt etched deep in his features. He stepped forward finally, his voice unsteady. “Athena… I… I’m so sorry. I should have protected you. I should have protected Logan too. I failed you both by not standing up against my father because I was a coward.”Athena looked up at him through tears, her voice soft but steady. “No. Lex was… a monster, Dawson. But you…” She paused, her voice trembling as she reached for his hand. “You weren’t. You were just… trapped.”Dawson lowered his head, overwhelmed by her forgiveness.The air outside was lighter now, as though the weight that had smothered them all for year

  • ~182~

    The ballroom had fallen into a quiet lull for Lex. Guests still laughed and chattered around him, but their voices were distant, muffled under the pounding of his heartbeat. His gaze flicked repeatedly to the grand staircase, where Dawson and Zach had disappeared minutes ago into one of the private rooms upstairs. Every tick of the ornate clock mounted on the wall stretched like eternity.Then, finally, his phone vibrated in his pocket.Lex fished it out hastily. On the screen, a message from Dawson glowed faintly:“It’s done.”Lex’s lips curved into a slow, satisfied smirk. Without wasting a second, he made his way upstairs. Each step was silent yet deliberate, his polished shoes grazing the velvet carpet as he approached the corridor leading to the rooms.When he entered, his gaze immediately fell on the sight before him.Zach lay sprawled across the bed, motionless, his chest unnaturally still. A shattered vase littered the marble floor, water seeping slowly into the rug, and a fai

  • ~181~

    Lex stumbled backward, his usually composed demeanor cracking like shattered glass. His breath hitched, and his sharp eyes darted around the crowded hall, scanning faces that blurred under the golden chandelier lights. Murmurs spread through the guests like ripples on disturbed water, confused whispers tangled with hushed gasps as everyone tried to make sense of his sudden reaction.Dawson’s brows knitted together, his gaze fixed on his father’s pale, frozen face. “Father?” he called softly, but Lex didn’t answer. Without a word, Lex turned and stormed out of the ballroom, his long strides cutting through the chaos as if the walls themselves might collapse if he stayed a second longer.Dawson hesitated for a heartbeat before following. Something in Lex’s expression, a raw, unfamiliar fear, had his stomach tightening.Upstairs, in the dimly lit expanse of his room, Lex paced back and forth like a caged beast. His breaths came harsh and uneven, and his hands shook slightly, clenching a

  • ~ 180 ~

    By dawn the following morning, Zach stood at the center of the dimly lit chamber, his gaze fixed on the unconscious figure lying on the bed, Grand Master Tom, his grandfather. Shadows danced across the stone walls as candle flames flickered, their golden glow glinting off the seven rare items carefully arranged before him on a small marble altar.The Nightshade Pearl, with its faint purple luminescence, lay beside the delicate Veilroot Herb, its translucent leaves veined with silvery streaks. The Heart of Solis pulsed faintly as though it carried life itself, while the Ashen Myrrh gave off a smoky scent that clung to the air. The Celestial Fang, a small shard rumored to be from a beast that hunted under starlight, rested beside the Obsidian Tear, which shimmered like trapped night. And finally, the Imperial Stone, ancient and engraved with runes, anchored the sacred set.Dr. Kieran, a man whose silver-streaked hair and weathered face spoke of decades of study in the mystical arts, bro

  • ~ 179 ~

    Rabiu attempted to escape through the side entrance, shoving past startled guests, but before he could make it far, Zach caught him by the collar and yanked him back with force.“You think you can mess with me and walk away?” Zach’s voice was low, dangerous.Rabiu stammered, “I-I know…”A sharp punch landed on his jaw, sending him stumbling against a parked car. Gasps erupted from the crowd.“Pathetic,” Zach spat, wiping his knuckles before stepping back.The tension was palpable, the heavy silence hanging between Zach, Rabiu, and Dafne like a sharp blade waiting to slice through the air. The ruined warehouse smelled of damp wood and metal, the faint crackle of fire from a broken lantern in the corner adding an eerie undertone. Shadows stretched across the floor, their shapes twisting under the dim light.Rabiu wiped the trickle of blood from the side of his mouth, his chest heaving as he spat on the ground. “I won’t succumb to you, Zach,” he said, his voice hoarse but laced with defi

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