A sense of doubt hung in the air, like a fog obscuring the true nature of things. As the others present processed, Clarice's startling revelation…
Damián approached with a slight smile on his face. "Please don't scare Oliver like that. We're not engaged. I came to visit Taylor; he mentioned you and I decided to drop by."
In his previous world, Damián had always had contact with acquaintances and strangers who woke up like Clarice. Violence had that effect on people. He knew he didn't need to be a screaming red flag for Taylor; he didn't want to be disconcerting.
Maintaining a significant and positive posture, he continued, "You've just woken up. It's normal to be confused or forget something. But believe me, it can be like the blink of an eye, and then you remember everything. For now, just rest."
While Clarice tried to absorb Damián's words, the others present watched with a mixture of relief and concern. Beatrice Phillips, though happy with Clarice's recovery, couldn't help but notice the confusion in her eyes. Sarah Campbell and Mallet Campbell exchanged apprehensive glances, while Robert Phillips maintained a serene but attentive expression.
Jared Phillips watched in silence, a shadow of worry crossing his face. Clarice's lack of some memories was a concern for everyone present, and Damián's presence only added more questions to be answered. The atmosphere was inflammatory…
Minutes later, Jared walked through the hospital corridors, his heart pounding in his chest. The memory of Clarice's confusion about Oliver's engagement made him anxious. He finally found Dr. Galagan, who greeted him with a reassuring smile.
"Dr. Galagan, I'm Jared Phillips, Clarice's father. How is her recovery progressing?" Jared asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Of course, Mr. Phillips. Regarding your daughter's health, should I say that she is recovering very well and is now stable!"
He continued; "My daughter just showed a significant lapse in her memory."
Jared: "I spoke with Clarice earlier and noticed something peculiar. She remembers me perfectly, the Campbell family, and everything that happened before the accident. However, she seems to have no memory of Damián, the young man who visited her recently."
Dr. Galagan: "Interesting. That's important very information."
Jared: "Yes, exactly. It's as if a specific part of her memory has been erased, while the rest remains intact."
Dr. Galagan: "It's possible that the trauma affected a specific area of Clarice's brain responsible for memories related to new people or events. This is a rare condition, but not impossible."
Dr. Galagan: "Clarice is stable for now, Mr. Phillips. She has made an excellent physical recovery since waking up. However, the partial memory loss she has shown may be an effect of the trauma she suffered, which is normal for the force trauma she experienced."
Jared nodded, his brow furrowed in concern. "But will she get it all back? I mean, her memory…"
Dr. Galagan: "It's possible," Dr. Galagan said, trying to reassure him. "In most cases, patients recover over time and their lives return to normal."
Jared sighed, a slight relief washing over him. "But will she need any special treatment?"
Dr. Galagan: "Yes," Dr. Galagan confirmed. "As an alpha, Clarice needs specific care. I will see her now and perform some tests to further the diagnosis and monitor her condition."
As Dr. Galagan headed towards Clarice's room, Jared couldn't help but feel apprehensive. He hoped the tests would reveal that his daughter's memory would return soon, but the uncertainty made him uneasy.
Callum watched Clarice gently as he held her hand. "I think it's time for me to retire," he said softly, giving her hand a little squeeze. "Will you be okay?"
Clarice looked at him tenderly. "Aren't you going to give me a goodbye kiss?" she asked with a gentle smile.
Callum, Lady Sarah, and Lord Mallet exchanged brief, meaningful glances. Although Callum was no longer with Clarice, the gentleness of the request and the innocence in her eyes made him feel concerned for her.
"Of course, my dear," he said, with a look of concern. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. "Take care, Clarice."
Lady Sarah watched the scene with a gentle expression, but her eyes reflected a deep sadness. She knew that this goodbye was important to Clarice, even if Clarice didn't fully remember that their relationship was over.
Lord Robert, on the other hand, remained silent, but his proud and affectionate gaze was directed at his granddaughter. He was there to support her, as he always had.
Beatrice Phillips, who was watching the scene discreetly, felt something inside her start to stir. The gears of the past, which had been frozen for so long, began to move again.
Meanwhile, in a private room at the Stonehenge Gallery, Mason was sitting lost in thought when Aster approached him, his face serious and determined.
"Mason," Aster called out, his voice low and tense. "We need to talk."
Mason looked up, surprised by the seriousness in Aster's voice. A chill ran down his spine as he braced himself for what was to come, feeling that his situation could get worse.
However, Aster looked at him seriously and continued his speech, as if giving orders on a mission.
"I know you understand the gravity of the facts, and I know where you came from and what you were doing, Mason. You know how it works: you've been with me, as my assistant, all afternoon, and if there's any problem, which I don't believe there is, still, I'll still let you know. For any circumstances; deny and deny, and keep denying until the end. Never change your versions."
Mason replied his voice firm: "Understood. I know how it works."
Damián left the hospital, still searching for answers. When the security guard opened the car door, he got into the back seat. The driver, a high-class man, looked at him through the rearview mirror and asked, "Where are we going, sir?"
Damián looked out the window for a moment before replying, "Let's take Miss Emeline home first, and then home."
As the car moved through the city, Damián felt a strange sense of familiarity as they approached the imposing Kadman Mansion. It was as if that place was his home, but something seemed out of place. Lady Elizabeth was not there to greet him.
As soon as he entered the mansion, a deep silence enveloped him. It was a disturbing feeling, he felt something real. This was his home, the Kadman family was great to him.
His thoughts were fragile. Was it his right to interfere in Adam's relationship with Taylor? His conscience acted out of relevance; it was his duty to make the Kadman family happy.
He never attracted happiness; he was a damned collector of losses.
Why didn't he go to a dimension like the old west; fierce, full of criminals and masked bandits, with heroic sacrifices, where he could test his courage daily? But he was in a soft world of romance.
Damián walked into the large living room, his eyes fixed on the piano dominating the room. The black and white keys seemed to call him, inviting him.
With a hesitant movement, Damián climbed the stairs to his room. Upon entering, he looked around, absorbing the comforting familiarity of the place. He decided to take a quick shower to freshen up and change clothes before visiting the mansion's painting studio.
Upon entering the studio, his gaze was immediately drawn to a blank canvas on the easel. He knew exactly what he wanted to paint.
Carefully, he began to sketch the outlines, letting his hand guide the graphite pencil on the canvas. The lines began to take shape, revealing the faces of his sister Janine and his two nephews.
Damián didn't want to forget them; he wanted to keep them alive in his memory and his heart.
Hours later, as he worked on the task he was focused on, Damián saw Adam, and his heart raced, his eyebrows arched. Adam looked like a romantic and attractive figure, and in shock, he realized that Adam would make a good cowboy.
No scented soap or perfume could compare to Adam's pheromones; he felt the involuntary tremor of his nostrils.
Then, a thought crossed his mind, in a loincloth, in the jungle. Adam would look great too, he admitted to himself.
Adam looked at the blank canvas with curiosity. "What are you painting, Damián? It looks quite intriguing."
Damián hesitated for a moment, a sudden thought crossing his mind before continuing, just a portrait. "I went to the hospital today… to visit Taylor. The doctors said she's recovering well. I also visited Clarice."
"Ah, that's great to hear," Adam replied, approaching slowly. "And about Clarice? How is she?"
There was a brief silence before Damián replied, "She didn't recognize me."
Adam frowned and shrugged. "Has she lost her memory?"
Damián pondered for a moment before replying, "She hasn't forgotten her family, nor the Campbells, just me. I believe it's her most recent memory, a trauma from the accident, I believe…"
Damián smiled slightly as he continued, "And rather comically, she mistook me for Oliver's fiancé."
Adam raised his eyebrows, surprised. "She loses her memory, and she's already providing ammunition for a war?"
Curious about the comment, Damián burst into explosive laughter. They were close, too close, it was like facing a tornado, and it was so natural to be close to Adam, and looking into his eyes, he said, "You flatter me, Adam".
Damián felt longing. Desire. And that feeling that he couldn't hope for anything near that feeling.
Adam's voice was mysterious, Damián's breath was slightly panting, there was desire and a sweet ardor — it wasn't detestable, but formidable! He didn't understand why, how he felt so good in that adventure.
He no longer fought, with Adam he always wished that the monster of pheromones could take control, and it was like fireworks popping around him.
Damián hugged Adam by the neck, while Adam's hands pulled him by the hips, Damián crossed his ankles behind him.
Damián felt like he was made to fit there; he felt the solid member between his legs and moaned with pleasure, shuddering with delight. The sensation burned his circuits and ignited them.
The kiss wasn't sweet; it was a trail of fire. It was pure possession… And together they reached paradise.
While the atmosphere heated up at Kadman Mansion, far away, at the grand Williams Ranch, a phone rang in Benjamin Williams' office, alerting him that some government officials, including an army general, had arrived.
The phone rang in Benjamin Williams' office, interrupting him in his tasks. With a sigh, he answered.
"Yes," he said, his deep voice echoing through the room.
On the other end of the line, the secretary's tense voice echoed, "Mr. Williams, a government group has just arrived at the ranch. One of the members is a government agent. They asked to speak with you in person."
Benjamin frowned. "Is something serious happening? Is it a political emergency?"
The secretary hesitated for a moment before replying, "They didn't give details, sir. They just said it's an urgent matter, and they need to speak with you immediately."
"Understood," said Benjamin, his expression serious. "Tell them I'm expecting them in my office."
Benjamin Williams, who had been the Prime Minister of country Y for many years, followed by re-elections and crucial support for other politicians, prepared to deny any return to the political scene. Williams Ranch had been in his family for over 200 years, and it was his turn to fulfill his role with his family.
His work as prime minister contributed to the development of the entire continent. He created a group of countries to promote economic cooperation and joint development. This group, made up of six countries, brought significant advancements and economic agreements.
Williams Ranch is a vast property that stretches for kilometers of fertile land and breathtaking landscapes. Located in a remote area, it is a true rural empire.
General Hunter Jackson, a man of firm posture and sharp gaze, watched Williams Ranch from atop a nearby hill. His eyes traversed the expanse of land, admiring the grandeur of the property.
In addition to housing thousands of head of cattle, the ranch has vast plantations, including fields of wheat, corn, and soybeans. Its lands are also rich in natural resources, including oil reserves, which contribute to the Williams family's great wealth.
In addition to agricultural and oil exploration activities, Williams Ranch also has complete infrastructure, including stables, silos, an oil refinery, and a series of other facilities that ensure the efficiency and proper functioning of all operations.
The property is a true fortress, with an impressive mansion in the center, surrounded by vast green fields and breathtaking scenery.
Benjamin Williams entered the meeting room with a serious and determined expression. His gaze met that of General Hunter Jackson, who stood alongside other government members, all of them looking tense.
"What's happened?" Benjamin asked directly, his voice filled with concern.
General Hunter Jackson looked at Benjamin with a grave expression before responding. "Benjamin, your son's disappearance case has been reopened after 18 years. Two witnesses from the case have been found and identified."
Benjamin felt a tightness in his chest. His son, La-Heri, had disappeared so long ago, and now, suddenly, the case was being reopened.
"A national alert has been issued, and the case is being handled confidentially due to its sensitivity," continued the General. "The circumstances of your son's disappearance are of utmost priority to us."
Benjamin was visibly disturbed. "Has he been found?" he asked, barely able to form the words.
General Hunter Jackson lowered his eyes for a moment before responding gravely, "I'm sorry, Benjamin. No."