Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world novel Chapter 172

What had happened?

Dominic stared at her with an intense, almost obsessive focus.

After a long silence, he spoke. "I came to see... someone I've been worrying about for a long, long time."

He was actually there to collect his blood work and The DNA Discrepancy report. He could have picked them up yesterday, but an inexplicable dread had kept him away. He had dragged his feet until today... and then, thinking of her, he had wandered over here just hoping for a glimpse. He hadn't expected to actually run into her. Would the test results bring him the same kind of miracle?

Clara met those dark, bloodshot eyes, and her heart gave an unexpected, painful tug. It was a strange, undeniable ache.

She didn't know what to say.

Dominic didn't push her. He swallowed his heavy emotions and offered a gentle smile. "I'm fine. Go on, go see your sister."

Clara found her voice. "Alright."

She looked down, gripping her purse, and turned to leave. Just as she stepped away, someone rushed past and slammed into her shoulder.

She lost her balance, stumbling hard toward the wall. The bag of fruit ripped open, scattering across the floor.

She braced herself for the painful impact.

Instead, a pair of strong, warm hands caught her.

Dominic's arms wrapped firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against his chest to steady her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

Clara inhaled the crisp, clean scent of his cologne. Her cheeks flushed hot, and she quickly stepped back, slipping out of his hold. "I'm fine... thank you, Mr. Jarrett."

Dominic's eyes darkened. He slowly curled his empty hands into fists, missing her warmth. "It's nothing," he murmured roughly, before crouching down in his expensive suit to gather the fallen fruit.

Clara was mortified. Dominic was the CEO of Jarrett Global; he had no business kneeling on a hospital floor to pick up her mess.

Yet, staring at the broad line of his shoulders, a strange wave of familiarity washed over her.

It felt as if she had seen him do this before. As if she was used to him taking care of her like this.

The moment the thought crossed her mind, Clara's face burned even brighter. She felt like she was losing her mind.

In that moment, he wasn't the ruthless, unapproachable CEO of Jarrett Global. He was just a gentle, ordinary man.

Clara looked up at him in a daze. She should have felt warmed by the gesture, but instead, a sharp pang of sorrow pierced her chest.

Why did she feel so sad?

Julian Lowell arrived just in time to witness the entire exchange. The shared gazes, the lingering tension, the unmistakable chemistry.

His eyes turned lethal. He closed the distance with long strides, a cold, fake smile plastered on his face. "What a coincidence. Mr. Jarrett is here too."

Clara frowned, startled by his sudden appearance.

Dominic slowly turned to face him.

As their eyes met, the air in the corridor froze. A silent, violent clash of dominance radiated between them.

They were both powerful men; neither was blind to the territorial threat the other posed.