Clash of Shadows: The Astra Chronicles, 40.

The central table was a true masterpiece, made of noble wood and richly decorated. The white linen tablecloth was impeccably pressed and adorned with fine golden embroideries. The fine porcelain dishes were lined up impeccably, and the silver cutlery gleamed in the chandelier light.

The dinner began with a divinely prepared appetizer: fresh scallops served on a bed of spinach with butter and lemon sauce. The delicate flavor of the scallops perfectly complemented the citrusy touch of the sauce, creating a unique gastronomic experience.

Next, a main course worthy of a true feast was served. Tender filet Mignon medallions, carefully grilled and accompanied by a rich red wine reduction, ensured that each bite was an explosion of flavors. On the side, a selection of seasonal vegetables, cooked to perfection to maintain their original texture and taste. The Kadman family's sommelier, an expert in fine wines, paired each dish flawlessly.

Despite the apparent harmony among the four, Damian couldn't feel the genuine happiness one would expect in such a special moment. He merely followed the circumstances that surrounded him, as if being carried by an unknown current, aware that this dinner could trigger a series of events that would change the course of his life.

As they finished the dinner, Damian held his wine glass, lost in his own thoughts, when he spotted someone entering the hall. She walked majestically, as if heading toward the altar. And as he observed her, Damian felt a mixture of conflicting emotions.

On that woman's face, there was a different glow, a unique light that seemed to radiate confidence and determination. Her formal, refined, and elegant attire highlighted a beauty that was not delicate but rather strong and secure. Her light brown eyes reflected the depth of her feelings, conveying an aura of mystery.

As the figure approached, Damian felt as if a romantic suspense soundtrack would arise and intensify as she got closer. It was as if destiny was meticulously weaving the threads of this encounter, bringing forth the beginning of a romantic rivalry. The protagonist of the story was there, as was the antagonist.

But to Damian, this was the universe of romance novels, where it was common to find the clash between good and evil. And Damian realized that this first night would be the start of predestined events. No matter how much he tried to resist, the destined attraction was undeniable.

Lady Elizabeth: Good evening, my dear Taylor. I hope your meeting with Clarice went well. Please join us; we were just about to move to another room for coffee.

Taylor: (trying to hide her uneasiness) Good evening, Lady Elizabeth. Yes, the meeting was... interesting.

Lady Elizabeth gestures for Taylor to sit on one of the sofas, and Lord Malcolm enters the room, interacting politely.

Lord Malcolm: Good evening, Taylor. I hope you had a pleasant evening; is Clarice doing well? (extends his hand to greet her)

Taylor: Good evening, Lord Malcolm. Yes, it was a good visit; Clarice is doing great.

Adam approaches Taylor, noticing her slight tension, and takes the lead.

Adam: Taylor, let me introduce you to Damián. (indicating Damián beside him) Damián, this is Taylor, my assistant responsible for part of the assistant secretariat.

Damián: (with a gentle smile) It's a pleasure to meet you, Taylor.

Taylor: (trying to appear calm) The pleasure is mine, Damián.

Lady Elizabeth observes the interaction between Taylor and Damián with a hint of apprehension, aware of the complexity of the situation, decides not to intervene and clarify the events. She senses the atmosphere and decides it's time to dissipate any tension.

Lady Elizabeth: (with a discreet smile) Well then, Damián, now that you're here with us, I'll take this opportunity to explain why Taylor is staying with us for a few days and the terrible risk situation she's facing.

A few months ago, Taylor and Clarice began to be harassed by a mysterious hacker called Astra. He has been stalking Taylor with stories about another world, blue roses with sparkling petals, packages always in the same red and white color, and acronyms like FBI, CIA, Area 51, and NASA.

As Elizabeth narrated the facts about Astra, a giant warning signal lit up in Damián's mind. That damn hacker was looking for him and Aster.

Lord Malcolm interjected, mentioning that Astra created a world made only of betas, spies wanting to steal technologies. He was indeed a dangerous being who broke with reality. A few months ago, Astra invaded Taylor's apartment, and since then, Taylor has been under our protection.

Damián, with a sympathetic look, turned to the protagonist, who seemingly is being targeted in his place, and said, "What a madness, I'm sorry."

Looking at Adam, Damián asked, "Is he still at large?"

Adam replied, "Yes, he disappeared about two months ago, no more flowers or emails, and he hasn't attempted to approach again."

While Adam and Malcolm continued discussing Astra's harassment, Damián struggled to maintain a calm expression. He couldn't let his emotions betray him, but concern for his own safety overwhelmed him. If someone discovered his true origin, it could put him in danger and trigger a series of unwanted events.

Taken by the urgency to protect himself and unravel the mysteries surrounding him, Damián began to think of possible solutions to find the Hacker Astra. Perhaps he could trace the signals left by him, use his unique abilities to track the hacker down and stop him before he caused more harm.

"To change the subject's focus, Damián gently reached for Lady Elizabeth's hand and said, 'You are so kind and caring. I am impressed by your positive and caring attitude.'"

Looking at Taylor, he gave her a big smile and said, "Stay strong, everything will be alright."

Adam replied, "Yes, he disappeared about two months ago, no more flowers or emails, and he hasn't attempted to approach again."

The atmosphere in the room became filled with tension and apprehension. Damián realized the gravity of the situation and the importance of protecting Taylor and Clarice from any future threat. Fate had unexpectedly brought them together, and now it was time to face the adversities life imposed upon them.

[In the car]

The engine purred softly as Damián looked at the nighttime landscape through the car window, lost in his thoughts. The silence inside the vehicle was almost palpable, and Adam, at the wheel, couldn't help but notice the distant expression on Damián's face.

Adam: (breaking the silence) Are you okay, Damián? You seem thoughtful tonight. Was dinner good?

Damián averted his gaze from the window and looked at Adam with a faint smile, trying to hide his restlessness and growing anger—it was all because of that damn hacker!

Damián: Yes, dinner was wonderful, Adam. Your family is great.

Adam: I'm glad you enjoyed it. But something seems to be bothering you. Do you want to talk about it?

Damián hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether he should share anything positive from the recent discoveries with Adam.

Damián: (deciding to open up a bit) Well, it's just that Lady Elizabeth mentioned Taylor and Clarice being stalked by this Hacker Astra. It seems like a really dangerous situation.

Adam nodded, understanding Damián's concern and curiosity about the events.

Adam: Yes, it's a delicate situation. We'll do our best to protect Taylor, as Clarice is already under the care of her own family. The Phillips family has their resources.

Damián expressed his uncertainty, "I understand, but this whole story about Hacker Astra seems so strange. Another world? Can you even imagine such a thing? The idea of aliens living among us sounds like a tasteless joke. The FBI and NASA, It's truly a bizarre occurrence." What does FBI mean?

Adam: (worried) Did it scare you?

Damián: (still somewhat reserved) I'm not sure. It's hard to explain, but I found the entire story absolutely crazy.

Adam: (placing his hand on Damián's shoulder) Don't worry, Damián, I'll always be here to protect you.

Damián: Thanks, Adam. I'm not worried; I know you're a super Alpha Prime. Put on a costume or a tight-fitting outfit with some details, a cape, and voilà, a superhero is born.

Adam: (Smiling) That's a fantasy; we can give it a try!

"Sure, why not?" Damián said with a curious look and a mischievous smile dancing between the words. "I can picture you wearing a tight-fitting blue outfit with a big 'S' for Super on your chest, shiny boots, and a flowing red cape."

Adam let out a contagious laugh. "I don't know; I don't think I have the elegance to wear red boots," he joked.

Damián couldn't contain himself and laughed even more. "Oh, but you would look good in them!" he said. "Everyone would applaud and ask for autographs, I'm sure!"

Damián got out of Adam's car with a racing heart; his mind was still full of the laughter shared with Adam. However, as he entered the apartment, his demeanor changed drastically—damn that hacker, it was all his fault. He went looking for Aster, who should have been home by then, but the place was strangely silent. Worried, Damián didn't walk, he ran towards his friend's room, calling for him loudly.

"Aster! Aster, are you there?"

Adrenaline rushed through his veins, and he felt anxious to share what he had discovered about Astra and how he was trying to locate them. Upon opening the door to the room, Damián began speaking immediately: that damn Ha... but his words died in his throat when his eyes captured the scene before him.

His friend Aster was in bed, together with Callum, in an intimate position that left Damián completely embarrassed. His face turned red, and he felt a mixture of surprise. He thought that nothing else would surprise him that night, but he was indeed surprised.

The scene before his eyes was something he didn't expect and caught him completely off guard. His first instinct was to leave the room immediately, and that's exactly what he did.

The next day, Damián impatiently waited for Callum to leave. He needed to talk to his friend about what he had discovered the night before. It was difficult for him to process everything and have to wait to share the events.

When Callum finally said goodbye to Aster and left, Damián rushed into Aster's room.

"What happened?" asked Aster, concern evident in his expression. "Why are you like this?"

Damián: That damn criminal hacker, we need to find him!