With a loud crash!
Derek hit the floor, his heavy frame shuddering as he groaned in pain...
Drawn by the noise, the surrounding crowd turned to stare.
Derek felt overwhelmingly humiliated.
Gritting his teeth, he took a moment to recover. Fighting through his dizziness, he looked up at the newcomer. "Shit..."
Dominic stepped closer.
Wearing a thin black overcoat, he exuded an extraordinary, commanding presence. But it was his dark eyes—like a dormant predator lying in wait—that sent a bone-deep chill down the spine of anyone he casually glanced at.
Derek instantly lost his voice. Seized by an inexplicable terror, a layer of cold sweat broke out across his back.
Not daring to cause any more trouble, he pushed himself up shakily and scurried away.
Dominic's face was dark and gloomy. He adjusted his collar and shot a look to the bodyguard behind him.
The bodyguard immediately tailed the man.
Clara watched the scene unfold, her chest heaving. Her mind went blank for several seconds before she finally registered what was happening.
Looking at the tall, distinguished man before her, she pressed her dry lips together and chose her words carefully.
"Mr. Jarrett... Thank you for just now..."
She hadn't expected to run into him in a place like this.
Dominic paused and turned to look at her. Seeing her fingers nervously twisting together by her side, his gaze darkened a fraction.
Burying his thoughts, he gave a reserved nod, stepping closer with feigned nonchalance.
"Did you get hurt anywhere?"
The rush of his clean, crisp scent made Clara's heart leap into her throat. At the same time, she found the fragrance inexplicably familiar.
The subtle fusion of those two feelings left Clara entirely out of her depth.
She instinctively took a step back, lowering her eyes, too intimidated to look at him as she murmured, "N-no..."
Dominic caught her evasive little movement. Stopping his advance with sheer willpower, his eyes brimmed with melancholy...
Once upon a time, she used to love clinging to him.
Now, just getting close to her felt like a pipe dream.
Dominic curled his fingers inward, his voice raspy. "Good."
Clara thanked him again, but then found herself at a loss for words. The silence stretched awkwardly.
They barely knew each other, and his overwhelming status only widened the chasm between them.
Sensing her unease, Dominic's thin lips tightened into a hard line.
Logic told him to walk away right now.
But his heart pleaded with him to stay.
Finally, he took a step forward.
He just missed her so damn much.


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The readers' comments on the novel: Three years of loving him, three days to erase myself from his world