3

Phuket shimmered under the evening lights—alive, vibrant, and careless.

For most people, it was a place of escape. Laughter filled the streets, music echoed from every corner, and the scent of local food drifted through the warm air, wrapping the night in a strange kind of magic.

But for Dominic Vireth, it had only ever been business.

And tonight, that business was finished.

“Everything has been handled,” one of his men said from the front seat as the car moved smoothly through the crowded streets. “We can head back to the airport.”

Dominic sat in the back, his posture relaxed but his mind alert, as always. His gaze moved lazily over the passing streets—neon lights, tourists, chaos.

None of it interested him.

“Good,” he said simply.

It was over.

Another problem solved. Another threat eliminated.

Just another night in his world.

The car slowed slightly as they entered a busier street, one lined with small food stalls and crowded tables. The smell of grilled spices and sizzling dishes filled the air.

Dominic barely paid attention.

Until—

His gaze stopped.

For the first time that night, something caught his interest.

No.

Someone.

She sat at a small roadside stall, completely unaware of the world around her. A simple table, plastic chair, street lights above her—and yet, she stood out like she didn’t belong there.

Rosario.

Dominic didn’t know her name yet.

But something about her… made everything else fade.

She was laughing softly at something her friend said, her expression unguarded, real in a way he wasn’t used to seeing. There was no calculation in her, no fear, no hidden agenda.

Just… life.

Simple.

Untouched.

Different.

And that difference—it unsettled him.

“Sir?” his driver’s voice broke the moment. “Should we move?”

Dominic didn’t respond.

His eyes remained fixed on her.

There was something pulling at him. Something unfamiliar. Something he didn’t like… because he didn’t understand it.

He had seen countless faces in his life.

None had ever made him pause.

None had ever made him feel—

This.

A strange tension settled in his chest. Not discomfort. Not curiosity.

Something darker.

Something sharper.

Possession.

The thought came uninvited.

And instead of rejecting it…

He accepted it.

“Stop the car.”

The command was quiet—but absolute.

The car halted immediately.

His men exchanged brief, confused glances.

“Sir?” one of them asked carefully. “Is something wrong?”

Dominic didn’t answer. His gaze was still locked on her, as if looking away would break something he hadn’t even understood yet.

Then, without another word, he opened the door and stepped out.

“Sir, it’s not safe here,” another man said quickly, stepping out after him. “We should leave.”

Dominic ignored him.

Completely.

He adjusted his sleeve slightly, his movements calm, controlled—as if nothing about this was unusual.

But everything about this was unusual.

He walked straight toward the small food stall.

Toward her.

Each step steady. Intentional.

His men followed at a distance, tense, alert, clearly uncomfortable with the situation—but none of them dared to stop him.

Because Dominic Vireth didn’t make impulsive decisions.

Except… tonight, he just had.

Rosario was too busy enjoying the moment to notice anything unusual.

“This is actually so good!” she said, smiling as she tried another bite, her eyes lighting up.

“I told you!” her friend laughed.

For once, Rosario wasn’t thinking about anything else. Not her job. Not her responsibilities. Not the life waiting for her back home.

Just this moment.

This place.

This freedom.

She didn’t notice when someone stepped behind her.

Didn’t notice the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Didn’t notice the way the air itself seemed to grow heavier.

Dominic stopped just a few steps behind her.

Close enough to see her clearly.

Close enough to hear her laugh.

His gaze darkened slightly.

Up close… it was worse.

Stronger.

Whatever he had felt from a distance—it wasn’t gone.

It had intensified.

He pulled out a chair from the table behind hers and sat down, his presence commanding even in silence.

The vendor approached him quickly, slightly nervous. “What would you like, sir?”

Dominic didn’t take his eyes off Rosario as he spoke.

“Whatever she’s having.”

The vendor nodded immediately and rushed away.

Behind him, his men stood rigid, exchanging uneasy looks.

This wasn’t normal.

Nothing about this was normal.

But Dominic didn’t care.

For the first time in his life, something had caught his attention in a way he couldn’t ignore.

And he had no intention of walking away from it.

His gaze remained fixed on her, calm on the surface—but beneath it, something far more dangerous had already begun to take shape.

Something he didn’t question.

Something he didn’t resist.

Because Dominic Vireth had just found something he wanted.

And in his world—

What he wanted…

He took.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***