The two friends made a crucial decision: to face head-on the unfolding new life before them. In order to embark on this journey of discovery and adaptation, they k was essential to find their p that unknown world.

  The first step would be to adopt and assume their new identities: Aster O'or and Damián Bowes-Lyon.

  The sed step was to return home to that world, resuming their routine and rebuilding their lives.

  The third step was imperative: to avoid misuandings. They decided to return to work as soon as possible, showg their itment aermination.

  While making these decisions, Aster and Damiáaken aback by the sudden visit of Doctor Jack, who decided to pay them a visit to du informal review and show for Damián's well-being.

  As Jack began examining Damián's injuries, his fingers lingered for a moment lohan necessary. It was a subtle yet meaningful gesture, veying the and care that Doctor Jack harbored for him. Damián, however, didn't reize these gestures.

  After thhly examining the wounds and redoing the dressings, the pu st of aic substances filled the air, bringing with it a sense of liness and freshness.

  , Doctor Jack decred that Damián was rec satisfactorily. At this moment, you add olfactory details to vey the presenedications, such as the distinctive smell of aic or analgesic substances.

  With a serious expression, Aster looked at the young doctor, Emeline's brother, and cautiously asked, "Doctor Jack, is there any way for us to remove the marks of our bond?"

  Doctor Jack paused for a moment, carefully evaluating the situation. He uood the significe of this request for Aster and Damián, knowing that it meant liberation and autonomy in their lives. With a calm voice, he replied, "Initially, the plete removal of bonding marks be challenging, but with time, in a few months, positive results be achieved. There are procedures and treatments avaible that help mitigate aually pletely remove the marks."

  Jaarrowed his eyes, curious to uand why Aster and Damián were at Emeline's house and what trouble they might be involved in. He wao ask this question but decided to wait for the right moment.

  Sensing Jack's curiosity, Aster took the initiative and asked cautiously, "Jack, you give us a ride? We o go home."

  Jack smiled and cheerfully replied, "Of course, I'm here to help you. Emeliold me about your situation and asked me to take care of you. Don't worry, I'm at your service."

  As they got into the car and Jack took the wheel, Damián and Aster observed the city with curiosity. Through the window, they could see a unique ndscape unfolding before them. The buildings dispyed modified architecture with touches of creativity ay. The streets were lined with majestic trees, adding a touch of nature to the surroundings. It was a transformed world, more beautiful than they could have ever imagined.

  In addition to the enhanced aesthetics, they noticed signifit teological advas. The world around them was immersed in innovation and progress, leaving them ihe bination of architectural beauty and advaeology tivating sight.

  Despite the ges, they also sensed a powerful and timeless e betweewo worlds. It was as if there was an underlying—harmony, refleg on their previous experiehe excitement began to well up within them, fueled by the prospect of expl this new world.

  Damián and Aster reminisced about the dangerous and challenging situations they had faced: terrorists, assassins, drug dealers, bombs, gunshots, and even a pandemic. They had proven their ability to survive anything. Fear no longer resided in their hearts, only unwaveriermination.

  It was decided that they would do everything in their power to navigate the ups and downs of this new journey. Nothing and no one could shake their resolve.

  Jack parked the car in front of an imposing building and announced, "We've arrived." Damián and Aster stepped out of the vehicle, expressing their gratitude to Jack for the ride. Jack jokingly asked if there was an invitation—for him to e up, wanting to eheir well-being and ess.

  Damiáhe urge to scream in respo chose to smile and say, "Don't worry, Doctor Jack." However, Jack wasn't satisfied with the formal "Doctor" title before his name. He insisted on being called simply Jad asked if they were genuinely okay. Jaoticed that Damián and Aster were wearing some of the clothes that they kept at Emeline's house.

  Despite Jack's repeated inquiries, Emeline didn't appear to be fine. She maintained her position, assuring them that everything was okay and that they were just dealing with minor work issues. Emeline expihat the ret gallery unch demanded signifit effort from the team in terms anization, ercial release, and marketing.

  Jack stepped out of the car and approached Damián, looking directly into his eyes. He asked again, "Are you okay?" I mean, really, okay? Ag on autopilot, Damián took a few steps bad forced an artificial smile. He replied that he was fine and urged Jaot to worry.

  However, Jack could sense reje beh Damián's response.

  A few meters away from Damián and Aster's building, a silent security team silently observed. They doted the arrival of the Omega friends, transmittiime photos and videos. The team's watchful gaze also fell upon Dr. Jack himself, who was already under iigation.

  Park Hill is a remarkable property built many years ago. The building has been carefully restructed to suit the modern lifestyle of today.

  The address is perfectly situated—in one of Markarian's most iid culturally sophisticated neighborhoods.

  Markarian, one of the try's (Y) cities, is akin to New York, Tokyo, Dubai, and Beijing—exuding elegah a substantial flow of wealth and- a high number of millionaires and billionaires.

  Transf the city skylihe imposing tower presents a sculptural gss silhouette spanning 65 floors, s 777 feet (about 237 meters) into the sky.

  With its diverse architectural styles and the pure aesthetics-this area is sidered peaceful and secure.

  As they reached the 60th floor, they were greeted; by a charming apartment. A s with directed lighting on a mirror created a pleasant and captivating ambiance.

  The design of the friends' apartment was iing and distinct. An inner corridor surprised them with its unique decoration, resembling a wooden box.

  The entrance door, the bathroom door, and the corridor door, all made of solid natural wood, veyed a magical and mysterious sensation.

  The TV room, the dining room, and the gourmet space were ied, creating a fusion of enviros. The predominant colors were gray, graphite, blue, and e, with many woodeails.

  In the dining room, pendant lights of differes in blue added a touch of elegance.

  The front part of the apartment was adorned with rge floor-to-ceiling gss windows, providing a stunning view of the city.

  Aster's bedroom featured a predominant graphite color palette with purple details. A giant bed and an illuminated onyx stone dressing table added a touch of elegao the space. Additionally, there was a bathroom, a living room, and a separate bedroom.

  Damian's bedroom, oher hand, had a predominance of reddish tones with touches of blue. A wooden dressing table and mirrors with projected lighting created a retro effed a charming ambiance.

  The apartment bined modern and cssic elements with bck details.

  A well-designed office was decorated with various decorative items.

  Surprisingly, there were no ventional paintings in the apartment. Damian and Aster had painted directly on the walls in various rooms of the property.

  A rge frame with a world map, a magnifying gss over try M, an hss, and a pass stood out in the living room. These frameless artworks and the cept behind them added refi and sophistication to the space.

  The apartment's decoration was based oions and motivations. Frameless, symbolizing freedom, and sless, symbolizing iion.

  The art created by the friends was magnifit. They had a true talent for capturing and posing paintings, which tributed to the gallery's success.

  Upoering his room, Aster felt unfortable, a strange sensation in his neck bothered him. Images of the book's protagonist stantly emerged in his mind.

  It had been 10 years since he read that strange book. He could remember all the details, but they were supposed to stay in the hospital, there was no se of the antagonists esg. Had he ged the course of events? Worried and fearful for Josh's fate, he fled.

  Damn it, he wao be like his friend, who hadn't read the book. How could he expin, how could he talk about children, about Damiaing pregnant, about Josh jumping out the window?

  Could they go back to their world, or were they dead?

  An intense headache took over Aster. What would he do when he saw Callum? And even more plicated, Crice Phillips, Callum's ex-fiancée, was his half-sister.

  Aster interrupted his thoughts, took a shower, ged clothes, and started researg information. He could remember some things, but his thoughts were disanized.

  First, he searched for information about Jared Phillips, president of Phillips Enterprises, and various news pages appeared. Many news stories linked him to Oliver Phillips, CEO of Phillips Enterprises, and Crice Phillips.

  Crice Phillips, the princess of the Phillips family and Callum Campbell's fiancée.

  A flood of reports, news about the sensational couple in the ABO world.

  Maional and bombastic articles about the dream couple, eves of a secret wedding. Lots of specution!

  For a moment, Aster put himself in the inal protagonist's shoes. It must have been very difficult for him to see the family of the woman who tried to kill an 8-year-old child being happy, praised, and sidered.

  As he tinued his research, Aster stumbled upon information about Beatrice Phillips, his stepmother. She ortrayed as a and cordial dy in high society, but Aster khe truth behind her facade. She was a killer who had attempted to take the life of an 8-year-old child.

  Aster's mind was filled with flig emotions as he pted the idea of using his half-sister, Crice Phillips, to exact revenge against his stepmother. He felt disturbed by the thought that he had bee the antagonist of the inal story, the one who had plotted such a sinister pn.