NovelStart"I'm sure." Lauren nodded firmly.
In an unusual departure from his usual composure, Cyrus fixated on the portrait, his usually steady demeanor giving way to a tense stillness, his eyes tinged with red.
Concerned, Lauren approached him, noting the uncharacteristic reaction. "Cyrus, are you alright?" Cyrus responded hoarsely, "I'm sorry. | need to go to the restroom. Where is it?" Jasper raised his hand, indicating the direction. Cyrus immediately left with purposeful strides.
"Lyse, do you recognize him?" Jasper hugged Alyssa by the waist and asked with anxious urgency.
Alyssa took a deep breath, striving to quell her tumultuous emotions. "He bears a striking resemblance to my late brother, Damien, who perished in a plane crash." Jasper and Lauren widened their eyes in disbelief.
Damien's untimely demise had left an enduring wound in the Taylor family's collective heart. Tears welled in Alyssa's eyes as she reflected on the painful memory.
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"Our family refrained from discussing Damien ever since his passing, especially in the presence of Mandy and Cyrus. Not out of forgetfulness, but because his memory was too painful to confront." Alyssa closed her eyes, inundated by memories. The ache of loss resurfaced, threatening to overwhelm her. "I can still vividly recall the day of Damien's passing. Clad in his pilot uniform and a piece of luggage in hand, he stood in the sunlit courtyard, waving goodbye with such vitality.
"We never imagined it would be our final farewell.
A fleeting goodbye transformed into an eternal parting.
Jasper's grip on Alyssa tightened, a heavy sadness settling upon him like an oppressive weight, suffocating in its intensity.
He wanted to offer solace, yet any words seemed feeble in the shadow of such profound loss.
Lauren's sudden realization jolted her, her gaze following Cyrus' departure with concern etched on her features.
"The person in the portrait doesn't only look like Damien; he is the spitting image of him!" Alyssa's trembling fingertips tightened around the paper. "But the authorities confirmed there were no survivors from Damien's flight. It's inconceivable..." "This is unbelievable." Jasper gently caressed Alyssa's shoulder. His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, "Even if you didn't see his body, the chances of surviving such a plane crash are nearly zero.
"Plus, if Damien miraculously survived the crash, why didn't he reach out to the family?" "Could it just be a coincidence?" As Cyrus returned, his attempt to conceal his emotions faltered, his reddened eyes betraying his inner turmoil.
"Could this person be Damien's double? How else could they resemble each other so strikingly?" "It's a possibility," Jasper murmured.
"After the plane crash, Winston and Mandy never lost hope. They tirelessly searched for Damien, leveraging every connection they had.
"Mandy's refusal to accept his loss, fueled by the absence of definitive proof, kept her clinging to the belief that her son might still be out there.
"Damien's supposed death anniversary was never recognized by her; instead, she celebrated his birthedays, holding onto the hope that he'd return from what seemed like an extended journey." Alyssa felt a sharp pang in her chest. "I can't fathom how Mandy would react if she encountered this person.
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She'd be driven to find him, even if just to catch a glimpse."
Cyrus studied the man's face intently.
"He bears resemblance to Damien, yet his eyes lack Damien's warmth. Damien's gare was like a tranquil waterfall , but this man's eyes seemed devoid of emotion, like a cold blade." A heavy silence descended, thick with unspoken thoughts.
Jasper's jaw tightened as a realization dawned on him.
"Speak your mind, Jasper. It's alright," Alyssa urged, sensing his turmoil.
"Lyse, remember the woman who looked exactly like you? The one that Jameson kept by his side." "You mean Amber? | remember." "Jameson used her to deceive me, makingbelieve she was you. It was a trap."
Jasper's expression darkened with doubt. "This man's resemblance to Damien seems too convenient. It's intertwined with Landon and Lauren's situation. Could Jameson have a hand in Preston and Zoe's affairs?"
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