章節 23: Boxes of Memories, 23
Inside the gallery, the atmosphere was electrifying and vibrant. The walls were adorned with artwork of various styles and techniques, each telling a unique story. Carefully planned lighting enhanced the colors and textures, creating an immersive visual experience.
Aster walked through the gallery corridors with an attentive and curious gaze. He examined each artwork with interest, appreciating the creativity and artistic expression of every artist represented.
Aster stopped in front of a modern sculpture, his hands gently caressing the abstract forms. His face reflected contemplation and fascination in the presence of the artwork. Emeline watched him with a proud smile, admiring his passion and artistic sensitivity.
Emeline joined him, and together they shared their interpretations and the emotions evoked by the artwork. It was as if art connected them on a deeper level, transcending words and conventional expressions.
As they explored the gallery, Aster and Emeline also interacted with visitors, exchanging smiles and warm greetings. They radiated a welcoming and enthusiastic energy, infecting those around them.
After engaging with the visitors, Emeline led Aster to her private office...
Emeline took a deep breath, trying to calm her own emotions before continuing, not wanting to put further pressure on her friend. She composed herself and looked directly into Aster's eyes as she began.
"Why did you leave my house so abruptly?" I was worried... I can't explain it, but some people were looking for you at the gallery," Emeline sighed, gesturing with her hands in an attempt to illustrate the urgency of her message.
"I remember the celebration that night when we were all gathered at Kadman Hotel's restaurant. We were celebrating an unprecedented success. The footfall and sales surpassed all expectations," Emeline started narrating, her voice filled with confused memories.
"We were all excited about toasting champagne. But suddenly, everything became chaotic. The next thing I remember is waking up amidst a commotion with people fainting around me," Emeline continued, visibly shaken by the fragmented recollection.
"I searched for you and Damián, but you weren't by my side. I informed the medical team about your disappearance, but I didn't receive any information. I checked nearby hospitals, but there was no sign of you," she recounted. The anguish in her words was evident.
"I returned to the hotel and was informed that you were not there. I decided to go to the Police Department to report your disappearance. The officer made the report, but when he tried to contact the hotel, his personal phone rang, and he claimed he couldn't help me," Emeline continued, her voice filled with frustration.
Emeline's words echoed in the room, and a heavy silence filled the space as Aster processed the information. It was evident that something terrible had happened, but the lack of memory about what transpired that night left Emeline feeling anguished.
With a mix of determination and concern on her face, Emeline addressed Aster directly: "No matter who these alphas are, they can't just mark an omega and absolve themselves of any responsibility. What happened to you? Were you attacked, mistreated, expelled, or subjected to violence?"
In a moment of pause, Emeline gathered the courage to voice her concerns. Her face was marked with a mixture of anxiety.
Emeline furrowed her brow, seeking clearer answers. She looked at Aster and asked more detailed questions. "Aster, please tell me what happened that night... What is going on?"
Aster, with a controlled and firm voice, responded to Emeline, "Emeline, I don't want him to be responsible for me. The marking was an accident, and both the alpha who marked me and the alpha who marked Damián are already involved with others. This whole situation was a disaster, a major accident, but we will resolve it, don't worry."
Emeline was shocked by the revelation and initially left speechless. She knew the two alphas were not ordinary people. After all, what kind of alpha could suppress and silence news? Emeline was one of the few people who knew Damián and Aster's omega identities.
Emeline immediately asked about the identities of the alphas. Aster knew it was information she would find out sooner or later, and he didn't want to hide it from her. So, he answered, "Callum Campbell and Adam Kadman."
Emeline was frightened and felt her legs weaken. Ironically, they were extremely powerful and dangerous individuals. She deeply regretted how this could have happened.
Aster decided to shorten the narrative of the story, saying that when they woke up, they were alone in the hospital. Emeline, confused, asked why they ended up in the hospital and why they fled.
Aster gave a wry smile and replied, "Damián and I took too many inhibitors. I believe our bodies weren't prepared for the marking."
He sighed and continued, admitting it was ridiculous, but they got scared and didn't know what to do, so they ended up running away and going to Emeline's house.
Regarding their decision to flee, Aster questioned, "Why to stay? What could we expect? More humiliation? It was already too much humiliation for just a few days..."
When he looked at Emeline, he noticed her trembling lips and tear-filled eyes. Quickly, he told her not to cry, that everything was okay, that he was fine, and didn't expect anything from that alpha.
With courage, Emeline responded, "That bastard marked you. We're going to report this case to the authorities."
Aster felt his eyes widen. His friend wanted justice for him, but he felt that Emeline also needed comfort. So, he said, "These people consider us trash, so we should forget about it. I don't want him, Emeline. You heard me, I don't want him."
For a moment, involuntary tears welled up in Aster's eyes as he felt emotionally and physically shaken. Emeline embraced him and said, "You don't have to be strong all the time. We weren't meant to be strong all the time."
Aster pondered the reason behind his tears—the intense emotions that overwhelmed him. Was it extreme mental exhaustion or an overwhelming duality within his body? He wondered as he sought an answer to this mixture of feelings.
Damián meticulously concluded all the financial and administrative checks of the gallery, ensuring that everything was in order and that the recommended improvements were not significant. The former Damián was an excellent administrator and had also made investments in the digital market, acquiring shares of major publicly traded companies.
Damián, however, came to the realization that he was essentially broke with a mixture of disappointment and shock. In his previous existence, he had begun from nothing and amassed substantial wealth; however, in this incarnation, or whatever it was, he only had a few million. He lifted his head and cast a glance around his workplace after experiencing pressure in his chest.
On the shelf in front of him were arranged books, small sculptures, and three untouched gift boxes. Curiously, Damián knew that those boxes had never been opened. They were of different sizes and colors, representing a muffled cry from the depths of Damián's past.
Determined to exorcise the inner demons that didn't belong to him, he stood up from his chair with resolve. He wanted to know what was stored inside those boxes. He would start with the golden box, the smallest one.
Upon opening it, Damián came face to face with a gold watch adorned with diamonds that shimmered intensely. Damián felt the smooth and cold touch of gold and diamonds as he took the watch out of the box. A card accompanied the gift, and Damián picked it up with a certain indifference. As he read it, he let out a disdainful sigh: "Happy birthday, my heart is yours!", signed by Lennart Persson.
Lennart Persson, Damián's true love, had married someone else two years ago but continued to torment him with gifts, reaffirming his presence in a cruel and provocative manner. Damián closed his eyes for a moment, trying to push away the memories.
Moving forward, Damián opened the second box, which was red and slightly larger than the previous one. Inside, he found a delicate necklace with a white gold chain and a large diamond pendant. He calculated that the stone had been chosen to impress. Alongside the necklace was another card with the message: "Wishing you a Happy New Year, with love. Lennart Persson."
Feeling a fluctuation between anger and disgust, Damián rolled his eyes...
Finally, the time came to open the third box, which was large and matte black. When he opened it, a wooden box was revealed, with a pattern reflecting the colors of Damián's eyes: brown, amber, and blue. It was a beautiful box, and when opened, it revealed cigars and a card.
The card read: "Happy Birthday! Forever yours, Lennart Persson. I count the years, the months, the weeks, the days, and the hours."
Damián rolled his eyes again, frustrated with his ex-boyfriend's persistent actions. However, his interest was now focused on the cigars. He had abandoned cigarettes and adopted the habit of smoking cigars due to the aging process, which provided a more pleasant flavor to his palate.
The box contained a pair of gentleman's white gloves, a leather pouch, and an elegant airtight box with sachets to maintain controlled humidity. Damián felt a sense of anticipation as he opened the plastic box. He searched for the torch, tested the combustion, and saw a bright blue flame. Then, he searched for the cutter inside the box and found a double guillotine type. He made a perfect cut and lit a cigar.
As he brought the lit cigar to his lips, Damián drew and savored the smoke, slowly releasing it. The cigar had a sweet note with woody nuances of almonds and walnuts. It was a therapeutic experience for him, a moment of tranquility amidst the chaos surrounding him.
However, Damián's serenity was interrupted when Emeline and Aster entered his office, their eyes red and filled with tears. Damián looked at Spencer, who now assumed the role of Aster, and saw the profound impact on his face. Emeline was visibly shaken as well, both of them seeming to have cried intensely.
A part of Damián ardently wished that life wasn't so cruel to him and those around him. But seeing the expression of surprise in Emeline's eyes, he knew that something was wrong.
"You opened the boxes?" Emeline asked, surprise evident on her face.
Damián, placing the cigar in a nearby ashtray, looked at Emeline with a concerned expression and replied, "Yes, I did. But now, more importantly, how are you? Are you both okay?"
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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