*Phillips Estate...*
The faint light filtered through the heavy curtains of the office as Jared Phillips stared at the distraught face of his wife, Beatrice, who, after the episode at the Kadman mansion, was radiating with furious energy. The silence between them was like an impending battlefield, filled with years of unspoken resentment.
Beatrice, her face still pale, took a sip from the glass of water she held in trembling hands. She stood up slowly, her legs a bit unsteady, but her voice was sharp as a blade.
—Years, Jared. Years of being treated like a villain. As someone who, in your mind and your father's, could make a child disappear— she began, her voice gaining strength as repressed feelings surged. —You condemned me in silence. Despite no evidence, you treated me cautiously, as if I could be responsible for Frances' disappearance.
Jared watched her, confused and defensive, but there was an uneasiness in his eyes as if something deep was about to surface.
—Beatrice, what are you saying? I never… —Jared started but was interrupted by his wife.
—You never defended me, Jared! All these years, this doubt hanging over us. While I tried, with every fiber of my being, to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother, you always looked at me sideways, as if I were evil incarnate! —Her voice rose, echoing through the office.
Beatrice took a few steps toward the desk, her posture growing more confident like someone finally freeing herself from an unbearable weight.
—But do you know what's more interesting? Your son is alive. *Frances is alive, * —she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. —And who are you going to blame now? Me? No. Because the truth is, *you* were responsible for all of this.
Jared, shocked by her words, narrowed his eyes, trying to process what she was insinuating.
—What are you talking about, Beatrice? —he asked, struggling to maintain control.
Beatrice glared at him, her eyes blazing with a mix of pain and vengeance.
—The institution where you sent Frances… —she began, pausing, searching for the right words to inflict the most pain. —That school saw your weakness, Jared. They knew who you were —a rich, powerful man with a spotless public life and a hidden bastard child. Do you know what they did? They presented *false documents*, claiming that a person, someone posing as a relative of that deceased omega, was the legal guardian. Do you think that was a coincidence? —She let out a bitter laugh. —The staff wanted money, the chance for easy cash. And you know what else? Those people disappeared shortly after. But you… you never investigated properly. You accepted everything passively as if you were… relieved. Relieved that you didn't have to deal with what Frances represented to your precious image.
—That's ridiculous, Beatrice! —Jared shouted, rising from his chair. —You're trying to twist everything! I've been looking for Frances all these years, I've done everything to find him!
—Everything? —she echoed, laughing bitterly. —Or was it easier to leave it all in the hands of lawyers and investigators who didn't care about the truth? Because while you silently accused me, the child who disappeared was taken by a *band of kidnappers*, people who knew of your cowardice. And instead of one, they took *two children*. *Two! * And you never suspected a thing, never cared about anything except your reputation and career!
Jared's breathing grew heavy, and he finally began to grasp the implications. The puzzle pieces were falling into place brutally.
—You want to blame me for something I couldn't have predicted, Beatrice. How could I have known that… —He hesitated, feeling unable to continue. The confused memories of that time haunted him, and he had never truly faced the pain and failure.
Beatrice, however, didn't back down. On the contrary, her words came with more force, cutting through the air like sharp knives.
—Well, now you know, Jared. Your son is alive. Frances is alive, and *I hope he wants nothing to do with you*. And who could blame him? He was abandoned, first by you and then by the kidnappers themselves, growing up with no memory of who he was. All of this, because you didn't care enough to fight for him.
The silence that followed was even more oppressive. Jared sank into his chair, Beatrice's words hitting him like a hurricane.
She stepped closer, leaning slightly over the desk, staring into his eyes.
—I could have been your ally, Jared. I could have helped you and taken care of Frances. But you chose to keep me at a distance, as the woman suspected of having done something terrible. Now, look at what that has brought us. A bastard son who got involved with your daughter's ex-fiancé. My daughter is ill, and it's your fault. —Her voice rose a pitch, now laden with genuine anger. —You are a treacherous scoundrel, Jared! A man who destroyed his own family with his weaknesses and lies!
Beatrice turned her back, walking toward the door.
—This story ruined our family. It's a tragedy! And I'll make sure everyone knows who is truly responsible for this nightmare.
With that, she left, leaving Jared alone in the office, the weight of his actions and omissions hanging over him like a final sentence.
* Kadman Mansion*
The room was immersed in a heavy, dense silence. Adam watched Damián from across the room, feeling the weight of recent revelations. The discovery that Damián was actually La-Heri Williams, the lost son of Benjamin Williams, seemed to have changed everything around them. Yet, Adam couldn't take his eyes off Damián. He noticed the stiffness in his partner's shoulders, the constant averted gaze as if he were ashamed of who he was.
Adam took a few slow steps toward Damián, his steps muffled by the soft carpet. He knew Damián was wrestling with the weight of his past, but none of it changed how he felt about him. There was something deep between them, something that transcended the recent revelations.
—Damián… —Adam called; his voice gentle but firm. —You don't have to hide from me.
Damián was silent for a moment, his head lowered, as if Adam's words couldn't penetrate the barrier of shame and pain he had erected. *He didn't know what to feel. * In another world, he had been an assassin, someone engineered for destruction and survival. **He had never been protected or wanted by selfless love. *
—I lied to you, Adam —he finally said, his voice heavy with regret. —Everything you discovered… La-Heri, the kidnapping, the past. I'm not who you think I am. —He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. *In his mind, he thought, "I'm not even from this world." *
Adam stepped even closer, now beside Damián, placing a gentle yet firm hand on his shoulder. *The touch felt strange to Damián*, who had always lived in a world of fatality, not comfort or care. He seemed fragile, something unusual for him, but now inevitable in Adam's presence.
—That doesn't matter to me, Damián —Adam said with calm sincerity, his voice full of affection. —I don't care that you're a Williams. And you know what else? Now no one can say you're with me just for the money. —He smiled slightly, trying to ease the tension.
The unexpected joke made a small, albeit shy, smile appear on Damián's face, briefly lightening the weight he carried. Adam knew that smile, small as it was, meant a lot. He understood that Damián was still struggling with the scars of the past, with the truth about La-Heri Williams, which remained partially hidden. *The boy who had been kidnapped and never returned home was now facing the depths of his own resentment and hurt. *
But at that moment, the smile was a small victory—and Adam knew that, with time, he would help Damián carry that burden a little more lightly.
Adam leaned in a little, softening his tone even more. He wasn't there to judge, but to support. —I just want you to know that if you ever want to tell me everything, I'm here. Not because I need to hear it, but because I want to listen. I just want to understand what happened, if you're ready to share.
Damián looked up, surprised by Adam's words. His eyes, which had been filled with shame, now showed deep hurt —a hurt he had tried to conceal, but that came to the surface in the face of Adam's acceptance.
Damián lowered his head, his chest tightening. *Adam accepted him, despite everything, and supported him, and that made him feel even more vulnerable. * He didn't know how to deal with this romantic feeling. He had never been worthy of trust or love.
— I don't deserve this… — Damián whispered, his hands trembling slightly.
— Yes, you do — Adam replied, with the same firmness as before. — And I'm going to prove it to you. Every single day.
*Williams Estate. *
General Hunter stood at the door of Benjamin Williams' luxurious office, carrying both good and difficult news. He had finally found La-Heri, Benjamin's lost son, but he knew the situation wasn't just about a happy reunion. There were deep complications to be resolved.
— General Hunter, come in — Benjamin said, his voice firm but laced with an almost palpable anxiety. His eyes, which normally displayed the control and coldness of a powerful man, now revealed a mix of hope and apprehension.
Hunter entered, removing his hat with a respectful gesture, as he approached the chair in front of Benjamin. He knew the words he was about to say would significantly alter the course of the conversation.
— I found La-Heri, sir. Your son is alive — Hunter said, carefully choosing each word.
Benjamin stood up immediately. His expression was one of shock, and soon the relief he had longed for over the years took over his features.
— He's… alive? — Benjamin's voice faltered for a moment, as he tried to process what he had just heard. — Where is he? I need to see him. I need to bring him home.
Hunter hesitated, feeling the weight of what he needed to say next.
— He's well, sir, but... there's a misunderstanding. La-Heri believes he was abandoned. He thinks you left him behind and… because of that, he doesn't want to see you right now.
Benjamin's disbelief was immediate. He shook his head, refusing to accept the idea.
— No, that can't be right — Benjamin said, his voice gaining strength as reality sank in. — My son thinks I abandoned him? He's wrong. This is a misunderstanding. *He is my son, and I will bring him back. * — The determination in his voice was unmistakable, an unshakable force.
Benjamin sat down again, but his posture was far from defeated. On the contrary, he seemed more resolute than ever.
— I've spent all these years looking for him, and now that I've found him, I'm not giving up — Benjamin continued, with a conviction that made Hunter realize just how willing the man was to fight. — He needs to know that I never left him. He is my son, and I love him. I will bring him home, **no matter the cost**. — His eyes burned with a contained fury, but Hunter knew it was driven by a father's unconditional love.
Hunter nodded slowly, understanding Benjamin's unwavering commitment.
— Sir, I believe that with an honest conversation, La-Heri will see the truth — Hunter said, with a touch of hope.
Benjamin leaned forward; his eyes fixed on Hunter's.
— He will see me — Benjamin affirmed with conviction. — And nothing will stop me from bringing my son back.
Benjamin stood up, determined. His actions from now on would be swift and deliberate. He grabbed the phone on the desk and made a quick call to his head of security.
— Prepare my plane. We're leaving immediately — he ordered, in the voice of someone who accepts no resistance.
Before he could hurriedly leave the office, his housekeeper, Mrs. Harland, appeared at the door, concerned about the sudden activity.
— Harland, I want you to get everything ready immediately. I want the house in perfect order, no mistakes. And prepare La-Heri's room — he said, his voice filled with unshakable determination.
At the mention of his lost son's name, Benjamin hesitated for a second, as if questioning whether he had heard it correctly. Still, he maintained his composure.
— With urgency in his gestures, he reinforced the order. — Prepare La-Heri's room.
The housekeeper stood still, surprised by the instruction.
— Sir...? — she hesitated, seeking confirmation of what she had just heard.
Benjamin looked at her with an unwavering expression, his voice firm and direct.
— La-Heri's room, Harland. My son is coming home.
The housekeeper, understanding the seriousness of the order, quickly nodded and withdrew to prepare what had been requested.
Benjamin, now accompanied by his security team, had his aircraft ready and waiting. Armed men in discreet uniforms prepared efficiently, and escort vehicles were ready for ground transportation as soon as they landed.
Hunter, by his side, tried to ensure that the process would be organized and safe, but it was clear that Benjamin had no patience for delays.
— Sir, I suggest caution. Damián... La-Heri, may not be ready for this — Hunter said, maintaining his professional posture.
Without even glancing away, Benjamin responded with determination:
— He is my son, Hunter. I've searched for him for years. He needs me. I will bring him back, and I will show him that I never abandoned him.
The urgency and passion in Benjamin's words were enough to silence any doubt. *He was ready to do whatever it took to correct the misunderstanding, and nothing, not even time or distance, would prevent him from reclaiming the son he so dearly loved. *
— La-Heri will come home — he murmured to himself, like an irrefutable promise.