Carmela sat motionless in the cold, sterile hospital waiting room, her fingers twisting the fabric of her bloodstained dress. The world around her had lost its color, reduced to dull shades of white and gray, as if reality itself had dimmed with Damion’s absence. The sounds of nurses moving in the distance, the beeping of machines, the faint murmur of conversations—it all felt distant.Like she wasn’t really there.Like none of this was real.The only thing grounding her was the ache in her chest, a deep, unbearable pain that made every breath feel like a punishment.Damion was gone.Dead.The words echoed in her mind, over and over, refusing to settle, refusing to make sense.Then, a rush of footsteps broke through the fog.Before she could react, arms wrapped around her. The familiar scent of vanilla and jasmine filled her nose as Lily clutched her tightly, her body trembling.“Carmela!” Lily’s voice cracked as she pulled back just enough to look at her face. “Oh my God—I came as fa
FLASHBACK - A Death That Was Never RealThe night before everything fell apart, before the gunshot, before Carmela’s world shattered, Damion sat in his private study, gripping his phone tightly. The dim glow of the desk lamp illuminated his sharp features, casting long shadows across the room. His expression was unreadable, but his mind was set.He pressed the call button.The phone rang twice before a voice answered.“Damion?”Lucas’s voice was steady, but Damion could hear the underlying concern.“We’re going through with it,” Damion said, his tone unwavering.Silence.Then, a slow exhale. “You’re sure about this?”Damion leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “I have no choice, Lucas. Adrian and Elena have been circling like vultures for too long. If I let my guard down now, they’ll tear everything apart—including Carmela.”Lucas hesitated. “And you think faking your death is the only way?”“It’s the best way,” Damion corrected. “Adrian is too careful. As long a
The soft hum of the machines filled the dimly lit room. The rhythmic beeping of the monitors echoed in the silence, the only sign that Damion Blackwood was still alive.Lucas sat in a chair beside the hospital bed, his fingers tapping impatiently against his knee. His eyes flickered to the man lying unconscious before him, the faint rise and fall of his chest barely noticeable beneath the thick bandages wrapped around his torso.He was alive.Barely.But that was the plan, wasn’t it?To the rest of the world, Damion Blackwood was dead.To Adrian, to Elena, to Carmela… he no longer existed.Lucas exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. You better wake up soon, man. You have a war to fight.His phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen.Leonard.His grip tightened around the device as he answered. “Tell me you didn’t screw this up.”Leonard’s voice was sharp. “We have a problem.”Lucas sat up straighter. “What kind of problem?”A pause.Then—“Carmela knows.”Silence.Lucas’s jaw cl
Carmela barely had time to react before a firm hand gripped her wrist.“Hey—!”Lucas pulled her back sharply, spinning her around and dragging her toward the entrance of Adrian’s estate.“Let go of me!” she snapped, struggling against his grip. “I’m not done talking to him!”Lucas didn’t slow down. His fingers tightened around her wrist as he pulled her down the steps and toward his car parked just outside the iron gates.“Lucas—stop!” she cried, trying to wrench herself free. “I need answers!”He ignored her.The moment they reached his car, he yanked the passenger door open and practically shoved her inside.“Get in.”“Like hell I will!” Carmela seethed. “Who do you think you are?”Lucas exhaled sharply, his patience clearly thinning.“Carmela,” he said, his voice dangerously low, “either you get in the car, or I throw you over my shoulder and force you in.”Her eyes widened.He wouldn’t.Would he?Before she could test him, Lucas stepped forward, his expression so dark, so serious,
The silence between them stretched as the weight of Lucas’s words settled deep in Carmela’s chest.“I made a promise to Damion. To protect you.”Carmela stared at him, her mind tangled in a storm of emotions.She wanted to believe him.She wanted to believe that he was on her side, that he truly meant to keep her safe.But after everything—after the lies, the deception, the secrets—how could she trust anyone?Lucas watched her carefully, his fingers lightly tapping against the table, a subtle sign of his own frustration.“You’re thinking too much,” he muttered.Carmela exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the table. “How am I supposed to not think? Everything I knew—everything I believed—it was all a lie.”Lucas rubbed a hand down his face. “I know.”She let out a bitter laugh. “Do you? Do you really?”His jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.The waitress came by with Lucas’s coffee, placing it gently on the table before giving Carmela a questioning look.“I’m fine,” Carmela sa
The dimly lit study smelled of old cigars and expensive whiskey. The curtains were drawn shut, allowing only the soft glow of the fireplace to cast shadows across the room.Adrian Blackwood sat behind a sleek black desk, his fingers lazily rolling a glass of bourbon between them. He had been expecting news, but what he had just been told made him pause.One of his most trusted men, Vincent, stood before him, shifting slightly under his cold, calculating gaze.Adrian took a slow sip of his drink, letting the silence stretch.Then, finally—“Say that again.”Vincent cleared his throat, his voice steady but cautious. “Damion’s body. It’s gone.”Adrian hummed, setting the glass down gently.“Gone,” he repeated, almost amused.“Yes, sir.”“And when were you planning to tell me this?” Adrian asked, his tone still calm, but the sharp edge behind it was unmistakable.Vincent tensed. “We only just confirmed it, sir. The moment I got word, I came straight here.”Adrian leaned back in his chair,
The grand office building of Blackwood Enterprises towered against the morning sky, its sleek glass exterior reflecting the city below. The very name once symbolized power and legacy, a dynasty built over decades—first by Adrian and Damion’s father, then by Damion himself.Now, it belonged to Adrian Blackwood.He had taken control, claimed the title of CEO, and sat at the head of the table where his brother once ruled.And today, Carmela was about to shake that throne.Inside the CompanyThe tension in the boardroom was thick, an unspoken pressure filling the air as the senior members of the company gathered for their morning briefing. Adrian had yet to arrive, but the discussion had already begun.At the center of it all—Carmela.She had walked into the room unannounced, her presence alone demanding attention. She hadn’t stepped foot in the company since her marriage to Damion. Back then, she had only come in support of her husband, never for business. But today was different.Today,
The call came in just as Adrian was leaving the company building. He had been controlling his temper for quite a while now and as Damion was out of site, Carmela was his next target. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and without breaking stride, he pulled it out and answered.“Speak.”“Sir.” A gruff voice filled the line. “We found her.”Adrian stopped mid-step, his fingers tightening around the phone. A relaxed smile swept over his face. “Where?”“The old facility just outside the city. The one Blackwood Enterprises used for research a few years back before shutting it down. She’s been hidden there under heavy security.”Adrian’s lips curved into a slow smirk.So this was where Damion had tucked her away all this time. That cunning bastard. So smart of him. Who could have thought?“Wait for me there,” Adrian ordered. “Don’t make a move until I arrive.”“Yes, sir.”The call ended.Adrian exhaled, sliding his phone back into his pocket. His blood thrummed with anticipation.For years,
The hospital halls were suffocating with tension. The air smelled of antiseptic and blood, the remnants of the battle they had just fought within these very walls. Nurses and doctors rushed past, their hurried whispers filling the corridor. The sterile white lights flickered slightly, casting a dim glow over the linoleum floor. Carmela stood frozen just outside the emergency room doors, her heart hammering in her chest. She hadn’t moved since they wheeled Lucas away, her fingers clenched so tightly together that her nails dug into her palms. The moment had come. The doors swung open with force, and a team of doctors and nurses emerged, their uniforms stained with traces of blood. Lucas was being wheeled out on a stretcher, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. A thick bandage covered his torso, evidence of the emergency surgery he had just undergone. “Get him to recovery now!” one of the doctors barked as they rushed him down the hallway. Carmela’s feet moved before she could th
The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, the cold breeze whispering through the trees as Adrian—Damion’s soul trapped within his brother’s body—moved through the dense forest with calculated steps. His men flanked him on either side, their expressions grim, their senses on high alert. The moon, hanging full and heavy above them, cast eerie silver streaks through the towering branches.They had been searching for hours.Every step forward felt like he was walking deeper into the unknown, further into the tangled fate that bound him and Adrian together. The weight of the curse pressed down on him, a reminder that time was slipping away. If they failed, if they couldn’t return the key to its rightful place before it was too late—both he and Adrian would cease to exist.A final death. A complete erasure.He clenched his jaw, forcing the thought from his mind. He refused to accept that as his fate.“This place feels cursed,” one of his men, Rowan, muttered as he swept
The flashing red and blue lights of the police cars flooded the hospital corridor as Elena screamed, her voice raw with rage and desperation. Two officers held her arms tightly as she thrashed against them, her face twisted in fury.“You traitor!” she spat at Lucas, her eyes burning with betrayal as they dragged her away. “You promised to protect me! You said we were in this together!”Lucas stood still, his breathing heavy, his body leaning slightly to the side as blood soaked his shirt. He coughed, his lips parting as if to respond, but no words came.“Take her away,” Carmela ordered, her voice cold, emotionless. The officers nodded, shoving Elena forward as she continued to struggle.“I won’t forget this, Lucas!” Elena’s shriek echoed down the hallway as they forced her out of sight.Lucas exhaled heavily, the pain in his side intensifying as his knees buckled.Then, everything erupted into chaos.“He’s losing too much blood!” one of the nurses cried out as she rushed forward.“Get
The air in the hospital was thick with tension. The rhythmic beeping of the machines in Damion’s room was the only sound before the sudden, heavy footsteps of approaching officers shattered the silence.Elena stood over the unconscious Damion, her fingers tightening around the syringe she was about to inject into his IV. Her expression was cold, eyes locked onto his unmoving face.“You’re not waking up again, Damion,” she whispered.Just as she was about to press the needle into his arm—Bang!The door burst open. A flood of officers stormed inside, their weapons drawn.“FREEZE!” one of them commanded, their voices a chorus of authority.Elena’s head snapped up, her face flashing from shock to rage.Then, stepping into the room, standing tall and unwavering, was Carmela. Behind her, more officers poured in, blocking any chance of escape.Elena’s hand trembled. How? How had Carmela gotten here so quickly?Then, Carmela’s sharp voice rang out.“Arrest her.”Elena’s eyes widened.“What?!
Elena’s eyes met his in the mirror, and for a long, charged moment, the two remained silent, each lost in their own inner turmoil. “So what do we do now?” she finally asked, her voice trembling with desperation and uncertainty. “Where do I find him?”Lucas’s response was measured, almost weary. “The hospital. Damion’s body is still in the ICU—if not fully alive, at least it’s there, and we might be able to coax some stability back into him. I have a contact who says there’s a weak but steady signal coming from the west wing.”Elena’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And if I go there… if I end him?”Lucas’s eyes darkened. “If you do that, Elena, you’ll not only lose him forever—you’ll be condemning our entire future. The curse is not something you can simply end with a bullet. It’s a twisted force that binds us all. If you take that step, there will be no coming back.”Her voice broke as she whispered, “I have to try, Lucas. I have to finish what I started.”Lucas shook his head, anger
Previously The conversation had ended in a heavy, charged silence as the storm had raged overhead, and Lucas had promised her that they would do everything possible to find Damion. But deep down, he had also cursed the day she decided that ending his life was the solution. He had known the risks, the unthinkable consequences—but he had also known that her ambition might drive her to acts of unimaginable cruelty.“Remember, Elena,” Lucas had whispered as they parted ways that night, “if you succeed in taking him out, you’re not just ending a life—you’re condemning their family to a fate worse than death. And if you fail… then the curse will claim you both.”“They’re all myths and legends and…”Elena had looked at him, her eyes dark with determination, and then had nodded, saying, “I know, Lucas. But sometimes, the only way to end a curse is to break it, even if it means sacrificing everything.”⸻Back to the PresentInside the car, the memory of that night still burned in Lucas’s eyes
The rain was coming down in a steady, relentless drizzle, blurring the neon lights of the city into streaks of color as dusk settled over the urban sprawl. In the darkness near a hospital parking lot, Elena Carter sprinted along the slick pavement, her breath ragged and heart pounding in her ears. Her eyes, wide with desperation and cold resolve, scanned the dimly lit street as she heard the distant wail of sirens drawing near. She didn’t dare slow down—not now. Every second mattered.Just as she rounded a corner, a black car screeched to a halt in front of her. The headlights illuminated her path, and without hesitation, Elena dove for the open door. The car’s door slammed shut behind her, and as the vehicle pulled away from the curb, she slumped into the back seat, trying to catch her breath.Inside the car, the familiar low rumble of the engine provided a brief, shaky comfort. Lucas, the driver and a man whose loyalty was as troubled as his secrets, glanced in the rearview mirror
Carmela’s lip trembled as she shook her head, tears falling freely. “Then why have you chose to hide away and leave me, Damion? Why do you let me see you as that man? I need you to be Damion—the man I loved, the man who was supposed to be my future. If you don’t come back to me, I’ll be left with nothing but the memory of a lie.”A deep pain flashed in his eyes, and for a moment, the two stood locked in a desperate, wordless embrace. The promise of reunion, of healing, hung between them like a fragile thread. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his voice raw with emotion. “I wish I could stay, but if I go and never return… then you must take care of Carmela for me. Promise me that you’ll protect yourself, that you’ll keep YOU safe, even if I’m not there.”Catherine, who had listened silently, stepped forward, her voice barely audible yet firm. “He speaks the truth, though his fate remains uncertain. The key is the only hope for our salvation—and for Damion to reclaim what was lost.”At that mo
Catherine’s eyes softened, and she pressed her hands together. “Then know this, my child: your actions will have consequences far beyond what you can imagine. If you do not succeed, if you fail to break this curse, then both you and Damion will be erased from existence. Our family’s legacy, all that we have built, will vanish like mist in the morning sun. I beg you—think of Carmela. Think of the love she has for you, and the hope she carries that one day you will come back whole.”For a long moment, silence reigned between them as the weight of her words sank deep into his heart. Adrian’s eyes shone with a mixture of determination and sorrow as he finally spoke, his voice low and resolute. “I promise you, Grandmother. I will retrieve the key, no matter the cost. And if, by some cruel twist of fate, I do not return… then please, take care of Carmela. Let her know that I fought until the end, that I loved her with all I had, and that my sacrifice was not in vain.”Catherine’s gaze soft