Reborn as His Downfall

Chapter 5

"Miss, your boyfriend is incredibly handsome," the waitress murmured enviously before hurrying away from the table, looking as though she might never leave if she stayed a moment longer.

In reality, very few people knew Dominic’s true identity. The mainstream media didn't dare print a single word about him, so he wasn't someone who could be considered a recognizable public figure.

"Miss, you seem to be treating me quite differently compared to a few days ago." His deep, beautiful eyes were fixed entirely on her.

Clara laughed lightly and said, "I received a very generous thank-you token from Brooks today. It was highly sincere and showed a great deal of respect. Why should I harbor any old grievances against you?"

In truth, she simply refused to become Dominic Vance's next prey. It was a well-known fact that men like him possessed an insatiable desire to conquer; the more unattainable something appeared, the harder they fought to possess it. Dominic was the ultimate textbook definition of this trait. In her previous life, his predatory nature had been utterly ruthless—anything that caught his eye, he would go to extreme lengths to obtain, only to discard it at his whim.

She didn't need to try to stand out or be unique. All she needed to do was avoid crossing paths with him as much as humanly possible.

"Is that so? Then if I ensure you receive absolute respect and an even greater reward, would you be willing to be my woman?"

Sure enough, the hunter, having locked onto the scent of his prey, stood up and leaned over the table. His strikingly refined, sharp face filled Clara’s field of vision. He had actively suppressed his lethal aura, but the raw, suffocating pressure he exuded remained entirely undiminished.

His lashes were remarkably long, framing eyes that could make anyone's heart race with an involuntary surge of desire with just a single glance.

"I'm sorry, but I prefer men who look a bit more rugged and robust. Besides, I'm not cut out for high-stakes games. Mr. Vance, your status is far too prestigious; a regular person like me wouldn't fit into your world."

It was a perfectly polite rejection—delivered with a well-timed smile and a gentle tone—yet the unmistakable subtext was loud and clear: You are not welcome here. Please get out of my life.

Dominic pulled back and sank into his seat, crossing his long legs with a lazy, decadent grace.

A man like him was pure poison; once you succumbed to the temptation, you were completely doomed.

"If you’re willing to give it a chance, I can easily prove just how strong I am. Believe me, I definitely won't disappoint you."

Clara was throwing up every excuse in the book simply to draw a hard line between them. At first, he had suspected she was merely playing hard to get, but now he was absolutely certain. She genuinely wanted nothing to do with him.

And yet, he found himself liking her more because of it. She had an innocent, angelic look, an untamed personality, and a sharp, shrewd mind beneath it all. Having her as his keeping would undoubtedly be a very entertaining endeavor.

Clara had no idea what calculations were running through the mind of the man sitting opposite her, nor did she care to respond. She simply focused all her attention on finishing the food laid out in front of her.

This was the absolute first time Dominic Vance had been so completely frozen out by a woman, but he wasn't annoyed in the slightest. Instead, he turned his gaze to watch the bustling view outside the window.

The traffic below flowed like an endless, glittering river, and the city moved at a relentless, thundering pace.

The world was undeniably prosperous. But within that vast prosperity, some individuals were born to be ruled, while a select few ruled over the prosperity itself.

Dominic possessed the absolute power and resources to control everything around him, and right now, what he wanted to control was the indifferent woman sitting right across from him. It would certainly be an exquisite victory to watch her willingly throw herself into his arms.

"Sir, ma'am, here are your entrees," the waitress said politely, carefully setting down the dishes before quickly backing away.

"Mr. Vance, please enjoy your meal. I'm done, so I'll be taking my leave now." Clara stood up, her smile faint and entirely detached.

Dominic merely stared up at her, a dangerous glint reflecting in his piercing, narrow eyes that could make anyone's heart tremble.

It was the smile of an apex predator.