Damien arrived at the hospital to see Sarah. He hadn't seen her in a week, and the distance had left an ache in his chest. He found her sleeping soundly, approached the bed, and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He then lay down on the sofa, reviewing some documents, and eventually fell asleep.
When Sarah opened her eyes, she found Damien sleeping. She got up, leaning heavily on her right leg, took a blanket from her bed, and carefully covered him with it. She sat on the sofa besides him, observing his tired, handsome face. She was about to place a hand on his cheek when he opened his eyes, grabbed her arm, and pulled her into his arms. She fell onto his body, nuzzled against his neck, and they lingered in the hug, a moment of shared vulnerability and unspoken comfort. He kissed her hair, and a soft smile spread across Sarah's face.
"Sarah, I..." Damien began, about to confess his love, but the words caught in his throat.
Sarah, sensing his hesitation, spoke first. "You fell asleep on my sofa, and now you feel guilty, don't you?" she said jokingly.
Damien laughed and pulled her closer. She lay on his chest, feeling the hard muscles through his white shirt, and her heart began to beat faster. She looked up at his lips, biting her own. He felt her soft body against his chest and her beating heart, a rhythm that now mirrored his own. The way she looked at him was a silent invitation he couldn't resist. He leaned in and kissed her passionately until they were both breathless.
"Ouch, my leg," she said, and he quickly released her.
"I'm sorry, I forgot about your injury for a moment," he said, his voice thick with concern.
"It's okay," she replied with a mischievous smile. She got up, and he lifted himself to a sitting position. She wrapped her hands around his neck and gave him a small peck on the lips.
A wave of surprise, then happiness, washed over him. "I've missed you so much over the past few days," he said, his voice filled with genuine emotion.
Sarah was slightly taken aback by his words. "Damien, I..." she began. The words I love you felt too big, too soon, so she simply said, "I've missed you too."
Then, Damien became serious and told her about Chloe and Caroline's arrest, about how Ethan's death wasn't an accident, and what had led to the collision. She listened intently, a tear rolling down her face. "Poor Matilda," she said, her voice trembling. "I can't imagine how painful this has all been for her. You see, in the end, it really is my fault... I killed him. He died because of me."
"Don't you ever say that," Damien insisted, stroking her hair. "If it's anyone's fault, it's the Walker mother-daughter duo. You're also a victim in all of this." He hugged her firmly, and in his arms, Sarah felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced since the accident. She didn't question their connection; she simply allowed herself to be present in the moment, to feel the warmth of his embrace and the strength of his support.
As they pulled away, Damien noticed a flicker of recognition in Sarah's eyes that hadn't been there before. "Sarah," he said softly, "is something wrong?"
Sarah frowned slightly, her brow furrowed in concentration. "I… I think I remember something," she whispered, her head throbbing, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Damien's heart skipped a beat. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah closed her eyes, trying to grasp the elusive memory. "It's… it's like a dream," she said, her voice hesitant. "I see… a house. A big house, with a beautiful garden. And… a woman. She's… she's calling me. Isabella… But I can't… I can't see her face… I'm hiding…"
Damien's grip on her hand tightened. "Try to focus, Sarah," he urged gently. "What else do you see?"
"I… I see a swing set, it's red," she said, her voice barely audible. "And… I don't know."
These were fragments, glimpses of a life Sarah couldn't fully recall, but they were a start. He had to help her. "Sarah," he said, his voice filled with newfound determination, "I believe we can find your memories. We can find out who you are, where you came from."
"Do you really think so?" she whispered, her eyes filled with a mixture of hope and fear.
"I do," Damien said, his voice firm and reassuring. "I promise you, Sarah, I won't rest until we uncover the truth." He knew it wouldn't be easy. The fire at the orphanage had destroyed any official records of Sarah's past. But Damien was determined. He had to. For Sarah, finding more about her past was important.
Penelope arrived at the hospital after hearing from her private investigator that Damien was there. She stood in front of the door, watching Damien and Sarah hugging. A wave of fury washed over her. She considered barging in to make a scene, but a cold calculation stopped her. That would only push Damien further away, and her family would blame her. She turned and stormed off. She then called Chloe, but the phone was switched off. Could it be that Chloe took the money and disappeared? Did she trick me? She wondered. She found Chloe's address and went to their house, only to hear from a neighbour that both Chloe and her mother had been arrested for murder. Whose murder? She thought. Isn't Sarah alive and well in Damien's arms?
That night, Damien didn't return to the manor. He stayed in Sarah's ward, unable to leave her alone; she looked frightened and confused by the memory. She needed him, and he wanted to be close to her. He kept thinking how important she had become to him, but he was also fearful as he remembered his conversation with Vance. What if Sarah finds out about his engagement to Penelope? Will she reject him completely?