Whiskey on the rocks, Callum requested.
Callum deep voice caught Oliver's attention, and he smiled upon seeing the tall, strong man sitting across the mahogany table.
"In a moment, Callum, Oliver replied."
Impatiently, Callum waited for the drink.
The hacker Astra appeared suddenly, without explanation, and now threatens and demands a settlement.
"Oliver Phillips placed the drink, along with some accompaniments, in front of Callum."
As they began to talk, Oliver's reaction was anger and disbelief upon reading a photograph in the anonymous letter, which captured her distinctive, happy smile. The headline, in bold letters, announced that Clarice Phillips and Callum Campbell were getting married, followed by various threats to Clarice's integrity. That alone had been enough to disturb him.
A sinister inscription revealed itself, as if written by invisible hands in ink that seemed to writhe on the surface of the paper. The words were distressing, arranged in a dark calligraphy that echoed Astra's threatening presence:
"I am a shadow from the ABO world, an unknown presence watching your every step. I do not belong to this world; my existence is an imbalance, an unwanted interference. And the rules of this place do not apply to me.
I demand an immediate audience. I cannot tolerate any more time in this universe.
If you refuse my request, the consequences will be unimaginable. My despair knows no bounds, and I will not hesitate to destroy you.
Consider this letter an ultimatum. Time is running out, and so is my patience. The choice is yours: allow me to return to my world, or face the ruin that is about to fall upon you."
"A shadow from the ABO world..." he murmured to himself; the words heavy like a sinister omen. Astra's unknown presence cast a shadow over Callum's life, disturbing the peace he thought he had.
With a determined look, Callum turned to Oliver:
"We need to understand what we're dealing with here. I'll use every tool at my disposal to find out who Astra is and how we can neutralize this threat".
Oliver nodded, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. Callum was ready to dive into the investigation to face this challenge. Even though the link of a broken engagement no longer existed between him and Clarice, a new connection based on mutual concern and a shared past drove them to act together.
Meanwhile, in the Stonehenge gallery, Aster stopped in the middle of the hall and observed the fruits of his creative talent: the features of Cubist art possessed a three-dimensional presence; a strong inspiration from the Industrial Revolution and urban scenes; a search for multiple points of view; and the predominance of darker or muted colors.
Exhibition visitors exclaimed in admiration as Markarian's clear sunlight emerged from behind some clouds, further enhancing the brightness of the environment and transforming the paintings into a profusion of magnificent colors. Damian tilted his face toward the sun, which shone at that moment, his wavy reddish-blond hair cascading down his face.
"Damián"?
Damian opened his blue eyes with golden amber traces and turned toward the voice. Kindly, Emeline, an employee and friend, stood by his side, waiting for his attention.
Damián and Emeline felt like they were part of a magical kaleidoscope. Damian was pleased to realize that most people also had that impression.
"Aster, you don't belong on this planet! Emeline exclaimed".
"Maybe not, who knows? Aster replied with a smile".
Sometime later, an employee approached Emeline, saying that a man named Miles Hawkins wanted to talk to Aster.
"Miles Hawkins? I don't know anyone by that name".
Feedback...
Aster, in his self-preparation phase as a villain, guided by a deep desire for revenge, orchestrated an intricate plan from the beginning of the plot. In collusion with a Hotel Kadman employee, he bribed him to obtain detailed information about Adam. This information served as the basis for creating a series of seemingly casual but meticulously planned situations.
The first move on this chessboard was to make Adam casually cross paths with Damian. The encounter, which seemed fortuitous, was actually a careful manipulation to pique Adam's interest.
Aster and Damián devised various situations to ensure that Adam would approach, attracted by the magnetic presence of the dominant omega. All of this was orchestrated to introduce Damián to Adam but with a much more sinister intention behind it.
Aster's ultimate goal was clear: by using Damián's relationship as a dominant omega and Adam's as an alpha prime, he planned to insert himself into high social circles and take Callum away from his half-sister Clarice. This revenge went beyond romantic relationships, also involving Stepmother Beatrice Phillips and even Father Jarod Phillips, who, according to Aster, did not protect him as he should have.
Aster desired a slow revenge; he wanted to torment Clarice, his half-sister while stealing Callum.
Thus, the plot unfolds in a game of manipulations, betrayals, and revenge, revealing the complex layers of Aster's plan to rewrite family and romantic dynamics in his favor.
End of Feedback...
Miles, the blackmailer sent by the Hotel Kadman employee, entered Aster's room with bold confidence. His piercing gaze swept the room, absorbing every detail, while his determined steps echoed in the space.
Mile's cynical smile widened as he approached Aster, leaving a sense of intrigue in the air. His eyes, sparkling with the malice of someone who knew he held control, were intensely focused on Aster's, creating a tense atmosphere.
"It seems like your plan worked, doesn't it? Miles taunted, maintaining a confident tone — however, as they say, success has its price. I came to collect my share".
Surprised, Aster opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by a bold gesture from Miles. He put his finger to his lips, whispering:
"Stay quiet"!
Aster, containing any impulsive reaction, stared at Miles with an impassive expression. Miles, displaying his audacity, ignored the tension in the air and taunted again:
"You should know that it's not me who's in danger, and, by the way, is there champagne"?
Aster calmly replied:
"Champagne at this hour"?
" We can skip the champagne, said Aster, maintaining calmness in his voice and expression".
Damián entered the room calmly, already aware of the conversation happening behind the door. Without hesitation, he went straight to the crucial point of the situation:
"How much do you want? He inquired, demonstrating a firm stance".
Miles's smile widened, satisfied with the success he had achieved so easily. He revealed the desired amount boldly, and Damián, without hesitation, agreed to pay. Damián went to the safe in his room, withdrew the large sum of money, and returned, handing it to Miles, who received it with a satisfied smile.
Before leaving, Miles turned with a suggestive tone:
"I'll be back in a few days".
Damián, maintaining a calm smile, replied:
"Of course, we'll be waiting for you. But before..."
Surprisingly, Damián grabbed Miles, pressing him against the wall, and conducted a body search. The action, unexpected for Miles, turned out to be a precautionary measure. Upon releasing him, Damian smiled gently, pointing out a small camera he had found during the search.
"There must be trust between business partners, declared Damián.
Left alone for a moment, Aster broke the silence, his sinister gaze and cold voice foreshadowing a delicate conversation".
Extortion and blackmail? Shall we deal with it the old-fashioned way? He proposed, with an expression denoting a dark determination.
Damián, staring intensely, responded with a hint of irony:
"I thought you were the "good cop."
Aster replied, his voice icy, echoing in the room:
"The "good cop" didn't have Sarah Campbell as a mother-in-law. And do you really want to disappoint Lady Elizabeth Kadman"?
Aster's proposal, loaded with veiled threats, continued:
" In a few months, we can shoot the movie scenes and disappear, working with doubles. I won't accept being humiliated by a crime or misstep that I didn't commit".
Tension hung in the air as both faced the ramifications of the unfolding situation.
Damián hesitated before responding. The silence between them was not awkward. It had always been like this. Even now, with so much to say, they could stand quietly, side by side, without it bothering them.
Then Damián limited himself to saying: — Everything stays the same. The same life, "And the same nightmares," he added.
The night stretched across the room, where Lady Elizabeth played the piano keys, creating a melody that echoed through the elegant atmosphere. The scene took on a happier tone when Adam entered, accompanied by Taylor, whose cadaverous pallor did not go unnoticed by attentive observers, Damián, and Lady Elizabeth. The immediate concern was echoed in Lady Elizabeth's question:
"What happened, Taylor"?
Taylor enveloped in an aura of fragility, shared about the threats Clarice had faced, immediately piquing Damian's interest.
Despite hearing Taylor's concerns about Clarice, Damián, for a moment, pondered if he had ever received comfort in difficult moments of his life. However, his journey had always been marked by loneliness, surrounded by self-interested, lying individuals devoid of heart.
This reflection might have influenced how Damián approached the situation, seeking to minimize Taylor's pain with a certain coldness. Or perhaps it was because Taylor was the protagonist of that moment, a possibility Damián considered.
From an early age, Damián understood that the capacity for empathy developed more slowly than that for cruelty. In his memory, the anger he felt toward life for being saved from the accident that claimed his parents' lives, forcing him to live after losing the people he loved the most, remained engraved. These experiences shaped his unique approach to adversity and others' feelings.
Damián listened attentively to Taylor's account, absorbing information about the threats to Clarice. After a few minutes, Malcolm Kadman came out with Adam to contact Jarod Phillips. Lady Elizabeth, on the other hand, called herself Beatrice Phillips. Meanwhile, Taylor and Damián remained seated in the room, and the butler, Mr. Cecil, served a glass of water with a sedative for Taylor.
While events unfolded behind the scenes, Taylor and Damián remained in the room, Taylor facing the shadows of the past and the complexities of the present.
While the atmosphere in the room remained tense, a strange dialogue began to unfold.
" I'm sorry for you, Damián said, seeking to express genuine empathy".
"Did you really feel sorry? Taylor's question sounded harsh, reflecting Damian's defensive position. — It didn't seem like it. Don't pretend to care".
Taylor's voice carried bitterness, and a shadow of sadness seemed to cloud the sparkle in Damián's eyes.
"Taylor, believe me. If I could help you..."
"Help me? But you left everyone stunned! You were marked by Adam and then fled the hospital without saying anything! As for me, I think you have a lot to explain. You stole my place".
"Under these circumstances, what could I think? Damián replied with a calmness that contrasted with the tension.
"Well, you're right, said Damián, acknowledging the complexity of the situation".
"I can't complain. I feel very good here, Damián asserted, trying to lighten the mood".
"But, despite all this, you still haven't won, Damián". Taylor emphasized!
A wave of anger surged through Taylor, who wished she could hurt him at that moment. Damián, in turn, laughed and disarmed her.
"I'm sorry, I understand that you're upset. I don't think you should move, at least not until this Astra person is caught. You should stay a few more months here in the mansion, insisted Damián".
Damián suggestion to extend the stay in the Kadman mansion outraged Taylor.
"Even though you look like an angel, Damián, I am a hawk! She immediately responded, firm in her stance".
What an aggressive profile, Taylor! This "angel" is going to fly to your room.
Without hesitation, Taylor replied: "The best place to enjoy the only good thing omegas offer is pleasure! Because the rest was just fake smiles and selfishness.
Watching Damián leave, Taylor remained motionless. She couldn't help but confront her own shadows. Aware that, in a few months, after the bond diminished, he would be just another... Even if he was the first omega that Adam had marked.
Determined not to be shaken, she didn't want to leave the Kadman Mansion but would stake her chances on Beatrice Phillips.