Can’t Win Me Back

“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. I 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.

left an enduring wound in the Taylor family’s collective heart. Tears welled in Alyssa’s eyes as she reflected on

since his passing, especially in the presence of Mandy and Cyrus. Not

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

it would

goodbye transformed into an eternal

tightened, a heavy sadness settling upon him

wanted to offer solace, yet any words seemed feeble in

following

the portrait doesn’t only look like Damien; he is the spitting image of

around the paper. “But the authorities confirmed there were no survivors

“This is unbelievable.”

“Even if you didn’t see his

miraculously survived the crash, why didn’t he reach out to

it just be a

reddened eyes betraying his inner turmoil. “Could