390: [Bonus chapter] I’ve avoided them long enough

[Bonus chapter] I’ve avoided them long enough

Heaven and Dominic exchanged questions, giving out honest answers in return. Fortunately, Dominic's questions after his first were quite too simple for her to answer. Questions like what she felt about Paula still existing, and what her favorite things to do, or position during their love-making session, were the line of questions he had in his mind.2

Meanwhile, Heaven was stuck in his remarks about death threats, getting bits and pieces of it until she was able to get the full understanding of it.

To summarize Dominic's life, his involvement in the company from a tender age already upset many people like his uncle, Leon Zhu. After surviving that kidnapping that could've led to a gruesome murder of a child, things hadn't been so easy for him. Especially when Dominic became the head of the family. 

Receiving death threats from time to time had almost become normal for him. Even before meeting Heaven Liu, Dominic had gone through a lot. He didn't talk about the after-party, but it was clear someone had intentionally drugged him that night as part of a scheme to harm him. 

"Mr. Zhang had been a huge part of my security and survival through the years," Dominic continued indifferently. "Grandma as well. She's still protecting me now. That is why I want to show her that she doesn't need to worry about me. After all, I'm losing her trust after what happened to you."

"Ahh…" Heaven rocked her head in understanding. "I'm so slow, am I?"

"Hmm?"

"I didn't know this information until now. All this time, I thought you had been safe."

"I am always safe." Dominic blinked. "I have guards around me, but recently, people are stepping up on their game. That is why I added more bodyguards."

"That's not what I mean." She sighed. "What I am saying is, I didn't think there were people who were bold enough to challenge the Zhu family." — she thought that level of foolishness only happened in the underworld. 

"People had been challenging the Zhu family even before I take over it," Dominic corrected. "Humans are insatiable, just like you and me."

'Why am I being included in this category? What did I do?'

"Some people see a huge wall and would climb it to go over the other side, but others think of different methods. Especially if they figured climbing this huge wall would take a lifetime. Thus, instead of using a lifetime of climbing it, they would rather break it down," he explained. "It's the same for the Zhu family. Some people just wanted us to fall, because that is the only way to reach us. This may sound arrogant, but the Zhu family's influence is concerning to a lot of people."

Heaven ran her tongue across her inner cheek. "Don't worry. I don't think you sound arrogant at all," she expressed with full honesty. 

After all, what Dominic said was true. 

The Zhu family was akin to a royal family at this point. Even before Dominic was born, Old Grandma Zhu entered the billionaire's list. Their wealth only increased when Lionel Zhu took over, and now, with Dominic's regime, not only their wealth but also their power expanded. 

It was already a path he was taking even before Heaven and Sebastian. Though, despite knowing this path could be dangerous for his wife and son, it was a path of no return. Turning back would only put them in more danger, since people often found joy in testing the waters. 

"How complicated," she mumbled as she sipped a glass of juice from the straw. "Don't tell me Basti is in danger?"

"No." Dominic smiled. "Princess might be protecting him close by, but there were more guards around him. Not to mention, Mom and Dad had their own set of guards. If we include Grandma's guards, he's more than well protected."

Heaven looked up for a moment but quickly gave up on counting how many guards those four people had combined. It was quite reassuring, though. 

"Won't you ask if you are in danger?" Dominic's query brought her back to the current lapse, making her look back at him.

"Why do I need to ask that?"

"Hmm?" he cocked his head to the side. "Aren't you concerned about your safety?"

"Why would I be…" Heaven trailed off as she bit her tongue. Of course, she should act as if she was worried, but before she could play pretend, deep lines appeared between her brows. 

"Darling, will you answer my question with full honesty?" she looked at him with determination in her eyes, making his brows elevate in curiosity. 

"What is it?"

"I didn't know you have guards around Basti aside from Princess," she remarked. "I'm curious. Did you plant guards around me aside from Bear?"

"..."

Heaven held her breath as her pupils dilated in horror. If Dominic did plant people in her shadows, then… he would've known all her activities in the past, right? She wasn't worried about the past six months, as she couldn't remember doing anything suspicious. But the months before that; that drag race and such… did he know about it?

Her heart thudded against her chest as she waited for his answer. 

"No."

Huh?

"I didn't," he answered monotonously. "I planned to without telling you, but Bear Cruel told me beforehand he disliked being followed. He said having people following him and you around might end up on a bad note since he might mistake them as spies. Moreover, he said it would be hard for him to detect anyone suspicious if there were already eyes on you."

"Oh." Heaven secretly sighed in relief, as if a thorn was plucked out of her throat. "But… why did you agree with him, though?"

His explanation for not giving him more guards sounded like something Bear would say. It also made sense to her as Hera. However, it was strange for Dominic to agree. 

"I had lunch with the General who recommended him," he summarized. "The General told me back in the field, Bear Cruel and his unit were surrounded by militants. It was a deserted place, and they were outnumbered. Not to mention, his soldiers were already injured. In other words, it is expected that Mr. Cruel and his unit would be massacred. But instead, he wiped all of their enemies out."

"That's why I reconsidered Mr. Cruel's request since the General still wanted the man back if there's a chance," he added. "Why? Is there something you did that you don't want me to know?"

"Hehe. No." Heaven chuckled, sliding her eyes to the corner briefly. "I just thought I will feel cheated if you put more guards around me without at least telling me."

Dominic let out a soft chuckle before the two of them continued their conversation, spending the entire morning just talking casually. Their topics jumped from one thing to another, talking about anything they could broach. 

"Anyway, before I forget, Grandma is hosting a family gathering by the end of the week," Dominic brought up in the middle of their chat. "She said we should go this time."

"Ah?" Heaven cocked her head to the side. "Why am I only hearing this now?"

"She called me while I was making breakfast, and she said she won't take no for an answer this time."

"Oh…" she rocked her head, emptying the glass of juice in one go. 'Well, I guess I've avoided them long enough and Grandma already lost her patience.' 

"Alright!" She smiled. "Let's go then."

Dominic smiled back. "I thought I needed to book a flight somewhere else just so we wouldn't get dragged there against our will. Very well, I'll call her in a bit. She'll be elated."

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