The air in the Wellington software design company was thick with an uneasy tension. Damien, punctual as always, found himself in an unexpected reunion. After signing the contract with Sam and answering all the questions from the reporters present, he headed back to his company. But as he stepped out of the elevator, he saw Sam Wellington's father, Thomas, a man usually known for his stern demeanour, laughing heartily with his daughter, Penelope.
"Ah, Damien! Just the man I wanted to see," Thomas boomed, his smile wide. "Congratulations on joining hands with our company in building a brighter future in AI."
Damien shook his hand. "Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of it. My newly founded company and I have a lot to learn from a veteran like you."
"Who else would I give this opportunity to if not you?" said Thomas, as if he were the man in charge of the project and not his son, Sam. It was clear that Thomas was the one who liked to brag and take other people's merit. "Besides, your grandfather created an empire, and you lifted it up by founding several companies in different sectors; you have my admiration," Thomas continued.
Damien: "I didn't know you've paid attention to what I've been doing over the years."
Thomas: "You left me no choice. I'll pay even more attention in the future. After all, our families' futures are intertwined now."
Thinking that Thomas was referring to the collaboration between their two companies, Damien simply smiled and nodded. But Thomas was transparently pushing his daughter Penelope onto Damien, his real goal being to secure an ally for a future power move against his son, Sam.
Thomas: "Penelope and I were just heading to lunch. You must join us. Let's celebrate this grand achievement," Thomas then added.
Sam appeared behind Damien and said, "That's such a wonderful idea, and since I have nothing better to do at the moment, I might as well join you." Thomas rolled his eyes at his son subtly, and Sam, clearly entertained by the situation, smugly led the way.
Damien wanted to decline, but Penelope, with a graceful but firm grip, took his arm and guided him toward a restaurant across the street. He had no choice but to comply.
During the meal, Penelope's smiles were constant, while Thomas's questions probed Damien's personal life, steering the conversation toward marriage. Sam felt awkward on Damien's behalf and picked at his food, having only come for the show and to observe his father's scheme.
"I want to retire and enjoy my grandchildren," Thomas said, looking pointedly at Penelope. "It would be wonderful to see our families joined, securing a prosperous future for generations."
"You shouldn't be in such a hurry, Father," Penelope interjected smoothly. "What's destined will come sooner or later. Isn't that right, Damien?" she then asked sweetly. Damien just nodded.
"Have you thought about marriage, Damien?" Thomas asked, his tone unwavering.
"No," Damien stated firmly. "I don't have such plans just yet."
The words had barely left his mouth when a voice from behind them said, "Of course, my grandson is thinking about marriage." It was Don, his grandfather, the once-feared patriarch of the industry, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "And your Penelope," he continued, "looks like a perfect candidate for his wife. These two kids look like a match made in heaven."
Penelope looked at Damien with a smug satisfaction, but Damien felt annoyed and taken aback. Sam pushed his chair back. "I apologize for leaving this wonderful reunion," he said sarcastically. "But I have other things pending." He then turned to Damien and ducked down to whisper, "It's true that I don't like you, but I wish you no harm. Good luck with the father-daughter duo."
Sam walked away. Damien realized Sam's warning was sincere. He looked at Thomas and Penelope, seeing the ambition hidden beneath their polished facades, and didn't like it one bit.
As Don and Thomas spoke about business and old times, Damien sat there, utterly exhausted, his mind drifting back to Sarah Walker. Just then, his phone rang. It was Marco.
"Sir, I've spent some time talking to Detective Martin this morning," Marco said urgently. "The police have some suspicious findings on the case."
"Suspicious findings?" Damien repeated. He immediately seized the opportunity to leave.
"I apologize, gentlemen, Penelope, but I've just received urgent news. My business demands my immediate attention."
He stood up and left the restaurant. From a distance, Don watched him go and subtly signalled his trusted butler, Lee, to follow Damien.
As he got into his car, Damien continued his conversation with Marco.
"The experts have discovered it wasn't an accident," Marco explained. "They found evidence that the car's brakes were tampered with. Miss Walker is lucky to have survived the crash. Somebody set out to kill either Ethan alone or both of them."
Damien let out a long, heavy sigh. The pieces were starting to fall into place. He instructed Marco to follow the case closely.
"I need you to work with your police contact and find out everything you can about Ethan and Sarah. I want full details on their lives, jobs, and recent activities. And ensure your contact offers any resources Detective Martin needs to move the investigation forward."
Marco understood the assessment.
"Any updates on Sarah Walker's condition?" Damien asked.
"I spoke with the hospital this morning," Marco replied. "Sarah woke up, fell asleep, woke up again, had a family over during the visitation hours, after they left she had a high fever, and now she's sleeping."
"She had a fever?" Damien echoed.
"Yes, her attending physician Dr. Miller told me all about it. He also mentioned she could remember in a few weeks, a few months, or never, depending on how severe the psychological injury to the brain was. He said if the pain is too great, her brain might choose to suppress it forever."
Damien went back home, his arm aching. He took a few pills just as Dr. Vance knocked on his door.
"Come in, it's not locked," Damien called out.
Vance entered. "You seem to be doing better today."
"I am," Damien said.
"Let's clean the wound and change the bandage."
Damien sat down on the sofa.
"Are you feeling better?" Vance asked.
Damien: "I'm fine."
Vance: "What you are is stubborn. Did you have a fever last night?"
Damien: "It wasn't that bad."
Vance: "I've brought you more painkillers." He then asked, "What makes a person want to forget their past?"
"Maybe the past isn't worth remembering," Vance replied. "I assume the blow to the head was serious. Maybe the pain she suffered in the past would be too great a burden in the present, so her brain chose to let it go to save her from the torture."
"Her..." Damien started.
"I assume we're talking about the girl from the accident," Vance said gently.
"Her name is Sarah Walker. And now she's suffering from amnesia."
"Yes, I heard from my colleague this morning that she took it hard. He's her attending physician. Brenda, the nurse, told me she had a family visit this morning, but from what she's noticed, they left her more confused and desperate."
Damien: "Her family?"
Vance: "Her mother and sister. I haven't seen them personally, but the nurses talk, and the gossip spreads fast. Apparently, they're too... 'fake.' That's just rumours going around, but you know what they say: where there's smoke, there's fire."
Damien: "Right."
Vance: "Oh, you know what else Brenda told me? Sarah Walker is one of our hospital's blood donors, she's been donating blood since the age of eighteen. Brenda and Erin told me Sarah's father was sick back then and someone donated blood to him, so after that she was extremely grateful and felt like she should do the same for others. Unfortunately her father died soon after, but she's there twice a year giving back. So this girl is pretty great!"
Damien didn't expect to hear that. She's been donating blood since she was eighteen, that's a selfless act. He was becoming more and more curious about her.
Back at the Sterling estate, Lee returned to the old mansion to find Don sitting by a large window.
"Sir," Lee began, his voice low. "I found out that the young master and Marco were involved in a car accident last night."
Don's book fell from his hands with a soft thud as he bolted from his chair. "An accident?" he demanded, his voice laced with fury.
"Yes, sir. I don't know much about it, only that it was the other person's fault. He injured his arm, but he seems to be fine. Doctor Vance was there earlier to check on him."
Don's face was a mask of cold rage. "Call Damien to the old house now."
When Damien arrived, Don was waiting.
Without a word, Don struck Damien's shoulder with his walking stick—a sharp, stinging blow that landed close to his injured arm. Don's face was a mask of cold fury, but a flash of raw, unfiltered fear betrayed him. "Are you trying to kill me? Why didn't you tell me about the accident?" Damien winced more from the violation of control than the pain. "I'm sorry, Grandpa," he said, holding his ground and keeping his voice quiet. "That's exactly why I didn't tell you. I didn't want you to worry."
As Damien explained what had happened, Don's expression softened. Damien purposely omitted the details about Sarah Walker and the strange connection they shared, simply telling Don it was an accident and that he and Marco had gotten out safely.