Semua Bab The Don’s Dangerous Addiction: Bab 71 - Bab 80

"Burn it."Dominic pressed his left hand firmly against his earpiece, his voice cold and definitive.A split second later, a deafening explosion shattered the night. The directional charges he had strategically planted around the gallery’s exterior transformers detonated precisely on cue. The ground groaned beneath the impact as a massive reverse voltage surge tore through the electrical grid, instantly frying the gallery’s central control hub.The heavy armor plating screeched under the sudden current overload. With a violent screech of fracturing bearings, the massive ballistic barriers collapsed back into their subterranean tracks.Blinding light flooded the space once more. Through the half-open gateway, a blast of freezing wind swept inside, bringing with it a fine mist of rain that cleared the stagnant, suffocating air of the exhibition hall.Victor didn't run. He didn't even bother to stand. Sitting elegantly on the velvet sofa, he idly swirled his lowball glass, the ice cubes

Dominic’s hand, which had been ruffling Dorothea’s hair, froze completely mid-air.The flawless, untouchable image of the sovereign of Obsidian City collapsed instantly under a six-year-old girl’s flawless, unprompted cross-examination. Avery watched the fleeting look of astonishment and sheer awkwardness wash over his normally arrogant features, and the lingering terror and tension she had carried all night finally dissolved.She lowered her head, letting out a faint, barely perceptible laugh. It was her only genuine smile of the night.The next second, a dangerous glare locked onto her from the sofa. Dominic’s grey eyes narrowed slightly, a silent, unyielding threat flickering within their depths.The bathroom door clicked shut behind her.The steam evaporated rapidly, but the heavy scent of cedar lingering in the master bedroom left Avery’s thoughts in a chaotic tangle. A single, dim wall lamp cast long, severe shadows across the space, pressing heavily against her chest. Wrapped t

In front of the grand hall of Blackwood Academy, a sea of luxury vehicles choked the marble driveway of the elite institution.Avery walked at Dominic’s side, her palms slick with a thin layer of sweat. She was still entirely shattered from the heritage files discovered the night before, but the exact second the car doors opened to a barrage of flashing cameras, she forced her features into a mask of professional detachment. Her jaw was set, and behind her dark sunglasses, her eyes remained sharply vigilant.Instinctively, she tried to take a half-step back, attempting to put some distance between herself and the tyrant beside her, seeking a pocket of air away from his overwhelming presence.Before she could even shift her weight, an intense, scalding heat pressed against her lower back. Seamlessly cutting through the thin fabric of her evening gown, Dominic’s left hand clamped around her waist, hauling her forward with absolute finality. His grip was an iron bracket, leaving no room

Inside the private wing, the exclusive reception prior to the primary auction was well underway.The brilliant light from the massive crystal chandeliers cascaded across the polished marble floor, and attendants carrying silver trays glided effortlessly through the jewel-encrusted crowd.The exact second Avery entered the space at Dominic’s side, the collective murmur of sophisticated conversations faltered for several agonizing beats.Word of young Master Bonner running out of the gallery in tears had clearly preceded them. Dozens of sharp, invading glances cut through the hall toward her like a rising tide, only to scatter in panic the moment Dominic’s freezing gray eyes swept across the room.Yet the atmosphere here was fundamentally different from the outer corridor.The oligarchs who truly held the structural lifelines of Obsidian City were far more adept at using the perfect mechanics of high-society etiquette. A flawless, synthetic smile was their default armor to mask any vola

Late at night, the Kessler Villa.Avery sat by the edge of the mattress, observing her daughter who was sleeping peacefully beneath the heavy duvet. The crushing wave of residual terror that had nearly suffocated her in the vehicle was now being forcefully suppressed deep within her chest.The heavy door turned on its hinges. Dominic stepped into the room, followed closely by the family physician who carried a sleek, silver medical case."Execute a standard physiological and neural baseline assessment," the man commanded from the shadows, his voice a low, gravelly vibration.Avery remained silent, retreating to the opposite side of the headboard. She watched as the physician retrieved a portable neuro-somnographic monitor from the casing."Dr. Clair," the physician spoke with quiet professionalism, "I will apply a non-invasive sensor array to Miss Dorothea’s arm to map her neurological recovery following tonight's acute stress."Avery offered a quiet nod, watching his practiced moveme