439: [Bonus chapter]Aphrodite's Tear

[Bonus chapter]Aphrodite's Tear

[My enemy's enemy is my friend. I've been after someone, but that motherfucker is elusive. However, he just keeps popping around you. So I thought, instead of chasing after him, why not chase the person he's after?]1

[Dominic Zhu, I don't care much about you and your business. However, someone is after your head. Coincidentally, this person who wants your head is someone I am passionate about getting my hands on.]

[What do you say? I'm not asking for any price. All I want is for you to surrender this person to me so I can skin him alive.]

[YES] or [NO]

Dominic sat on the swivel chair, staring at the black monitor screen. Before he could even decide, the chat box suddenly disappeared and his computer suddenly shut down. He didn't know what happened, but his computer simply restarted on its own. However, all traces of Joker vanished for some unknown reason. 

But everything Joker said repeated in Dominic's mind like a broken record.

"Someone… is after me?" he whispered, brows furrowed. "Which one?"

Dominic had so many adversaries that he couldn't think of who this person Joker was referring to. Even so, Joker's messages seemed legit. Although there were mere letters, Dominic could discern the blood thirst from this Joker when talking about this enemy. 

'It's tempting,' he told himself, picking up his phone on the table. 

Dominic was about to send an email to someone, but then his fingers simply hovered over the screen. He recalled Joker's remarks, and somehow, he felt that whatever message he would send, Joker would reach it. 

"What a dangerous fellow," he murmured, tossing the phone back on the desk to look at his computer. "Someone like him… I can't decide rashly."

Dominic checked his computer system in hopes of seeing if there was software or virus that was downloaded in it. Although he believed Joker's claims to be that talented, he wanted to make sure. After half an hour of checking, Dominic found nothing. 

'Was it deleted when it shut down on its own?' He wondered, tossing his back against the swivel chair that made him bounce lightly. 

His hand slightly trembled at the thought that someone like Joker could go through his means of communication. Dominic had always felt free, but today, he felt his hands were bound, restricting him from doing anything at the moment. 

'Why do all these people keep popping up one after another?' he thought, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I understand people might dislike the course of action I'm taking, but why…'

He peeked with his one eye, gazing at the monitor screen. 'Why these types of people?'

Dealing with greedy and manipulative businessmen and politicians was something Dominic had done in the past and current. Mingling with such people was inevitable for as long as they shared common interests. Even so, Dominic cleverly and respectfully maintained a business relationship with safety measures that wouldn't implicate the LYON Group or the Zhu family.

'This all started…' He straightened his back, leaning it comfortably against the chair. '... when I started the diamond venture.'

His face darkened as his frown deepened at the thought. Was this business truly this dangerous as he heard? But… they were aiming for a safe mining area. 

"Should I…" Dominic trailed off when he heard a faint knock from the door. 

Knock Knock

Dominic lifted his gaze over the computer, only to see the door slowly opening. As soon as it did, Heaven peeked her head in and smiled. 

"They left," she said, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "They said to tell you they were grateful for the generous lunch."

Heaven trudged straight to the desk, propping her bottom against the side of the desk. Smiling, she planted her hands on either side of her, eyes on him. 

"Is everything okay, my love?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. "You seemed to be deep in thought when I came in. Do you need to go to the office?"

Dominic offered a short smile. "Come here, darling." He sprawled his hand on her, which she willingly took and sat down on his lap. 

"It's not like that," he said, letting out a deep sigh as he stared at her beautiful face. "I'm just reconsidering my next course of action."

"Hmm?" Her brows rose, curious. "So there's a problem?"

"There's a problem, and it's inevitable," he corrected in a humorous tone. "It's just… I'm having second thoughts."

"Second thoughts?" Heaven tilted her head to the side. "Am I allowed to ask for further details?"

"Have I ever held back on any information you need?" 

Her smile stretched. "No."

"So?" Heaven rested her arms over his shoulders, brushing his hair with her fingertips. "Why are you having second thoughts? Is it the new business venture?"

"Mhm." Dominic smacked his lips as he thought about it for a moment. "Ever since starting the venture, many people had shown great displeasure about it. And somehow, I even attract some people whom I never thought existed."

"Oh…"

"I already know it can be a dangerous area to step foot in, but I never realized until now that I might've underestimated it," he admitted honestly, knowing he was safe with his wife. "The other day, I lectured Mr. Zhang, and he told me the situation overwhelmed him. But I guess we are in the same boat."

Dominic's eyes softened as he lowered his gaze. "That's why I'm having second thoughts. I'm thinking if I should pull out or whether it was too late."

Heaven pressed her lips into a thin line, staring at him and sensing the genuine worry from him. She couldn't deny that Dominic underestimated the business and its nature and how some dangerous and unwelcoming people were already in it.

"I took an interest in it because I want to get this gem…" he confessed, lifting his gaze to her. "They told me there was this rare gem, and I thought it fit you."

"Huh?" Heaven blinked. "You took an interest in it because of a gem? That suits me?"

"Mhm." Dominic rocked his head while Heaven blinked, still wrapping her head around it. "I want to give it to you."

"..." Heaven blinked and blinked, staring at him with equal surprise and puzzlement. "Darling, what is this gem are you talking about?"

"They said it's rare that there's only been a few in the world that were found. They call it Aphrodite's Tear."

"..." Heaven's face instantly died as soon as she heard the gem that lured Dominic into the business. 'He should've just asked me. I already have that in my vault.'

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