**Chapter 10**
The operating room light stubbornly glowed at the end of the hallway. Damien’s knuckles pressed against the cold wall, listening to his own erratic heartbeat.
He didn’t know where this anxiety came from, as if something important was slipping through his fingers.
The cigarette pack in his pocket was repeatedly caressed, its metal casing wrinkling, until the third cigarette was shaken out, and he realized his fingertips were trembling.
The Instant the flame flared, the sharp sting of nicotine flooding his lungs made him frown.
9:28 AM
<
Suddenly, an image crashed into his mind without warning–a distinctly jointed hand holding a half–smoked cigarette, pausing under a young girl’s angry gaze.
She wore a white dress, the ends of her hair stained with a bit of cream, as if she’d just come from a dessert shop.
“Brother, you’re smoking again!”
The girl frowned, her voice filled with dissatisfaction and concern.
His hand, gripping a fountain pen, tightened slightly, the nib leaving a smudge of ink on the paper.
“You can’t even do such a simple problem?”
He heard his own cold voice, yet couldn’t control his gaze from falling on her slightly pouting lips.
“Just teach me, please.”
She tugged on his sleeve, her eyes sparkling like stars.
He abruptly stood up, his chair scraping loudly across the floor.
“Look at the answer yourself.”
He practically fled, fearing that staying one more second would expose the surging desire in his eyes.
The scene abruptly changed.
“Damien! You’re smoking again!”
Twenty–year–old Elara burst into the study, snatching the cigarette from his fingers and stubbing it out in the ashtray.
Her cheeks were flushed with anger, her eyelashes still beaded with raindrops.
“What does it matter to you?”
He heard his own icy retort, yet couldn’t stop staring at her moist lips.
“Of course, it matters!”
She reached out to touch his forehead.
“You had a fever of 102 last night, and you dare to smoke now?”
His breathing suddenly quickened. He roughly seized her wrist and pressed it against a bookshelf.
“Elara.”
His voice was terrifyingly hoarse.
“Don’t casually touch men.”
She stared at him blankly, completely bewildered as to why her brother had suddenly become so strange.
9:28 AM
<
The memories twisted again.
“The DNA report is out. Brooke is our biological daughter.”
Mr. Sterling’s voice echoed in the living room.
C
I stood there, my face ashen, still holding a freshly cut fruit platter.
“I… I’ll go pack my luggage.”
My voice trembled as I turned and ran upstairs.
On a stormy night, he kicked open my bedroom door and saw my small suitcase already packed.
“Trying to run?”
He grabbed my wrist, pressing me against the wall.
“You think changing your identity will get rid of me?”
“Brother… you’re hurting me…”
My tears fell on his hand, burning his heart.
“We’re not siblings anymore.”
He leaned down, forcing his lips closer to mine, his voice hoarse.
“From today, call me by my name.”
The most shameful memories came flooding in.
“Damien! Are you insane? We’re siblings!”
Elara cried, pushing away the diamond ring he offered. The ring rolled onto the carpet, making a dull thud.
“Not for long.”
He scooped her up and threw her onto the bed, letting her cry and hit his shoulders.
“We’ll go to the marriage registry next week.”
“I don’t want to! Let me go!”
Her struggles ignited a deeper rage in him.
He gripped her chin, forcing her to look up.
“How have I treated you all these years? Don’t you know? Why do you keep trying to run?”
“Because it’s wrong!”
She cried, trembling all over.
D
<
“You’re my brother…”
“Shut up!”
He fiercely kissed her lips, swallowing all her resistance.
“Brother, this bitch stole Seraphina’s necklace!”
Brooke’s sharp voice dragged him into the next nightmare.
Elara was pinned to the ground, her fingers bloody and mangled.
And he, after losing his memory, stood coldly in the shadows.
“Do whatever you want with her.”
As he turned to leave, he heard Elara’s faint voice.
“Damien…”
That voice carried the complete trust and dependence he was once most familiar with, but he closed the door without a backward glance.
The last scene was fixed at the wedding.
“I don’t.”
He saw himself abandon Seraphina in front of everyone, rushing out like a madman.
But when he arrived at the airport, he only saw a plane soaring across the sky.
He turned around, appearing on a beach, Elara walking barefoot in the waves.
Liam Parker bent down to tie the string of her sun protection shirt, his movements as gentle as if tending to a precious
treasure.
“Elara!”
He screamed her name desperately, but no sound came out.
The sea breeze carried their conversation.
“What do you want for dinner tonight?”
“Your pasta, and also, my little dessert!”
“Patient’s heart rate is erratic!”
“Quick! Prepare for defibrillation!”
Damien convulsed violently on the hospital bed, tears mixing with cold sweat soaking his pillow.
9:28 AM J
<
“Patient is emotionally unstable!”
“Increase the sedative dosage!”
The medication finally took effect, and Damien’s struggles gradually weakened.
In the final moments before darkness consumed him, he heard the doctor’s hushed voice.
“Brain scans show abnormal hippocampal activity, looks like his memory is recovering…”
“It truly is a miracle…”
