CHAPTER 3 ~ BURIED TRUTHS

CASPIAN'S POV 

I haven’t stepped outside in two days... The penthouse was quiet, sleek, and as always, soulless. Floor-to-ceiling glass offered a sprawling view of Manhattan, but I hadn’t bothered to look out once. I kept the curtains drawn, the world outside felt intrusive, loud. Especially after her.

Lyra Logan.

She had stormed into my life with the fury of a past I didn’t remember and the conviction of a woman who had nothing left to lose but I wasn’t Mason Fabian, I am Caspian Clarence. That’s what the world knows me as, and more importantly, it’s who I know myself to be.

"Jesus, you look like hell," Charles said the second he stepped into my apartment uninvited, dressed like he has just stepped off a yacht.

I didn’t respond, I was still in yesterday’s shirt, nursing my third glass of bourbon before noon, seated on the couch like a statue among steel and stone.

"Two days, man," He said, letting himself into the kitchen. "You have been locked up in here, working remotely like some start-up intern in his mom’s basement."

"Some of us like the peace," I muttered.

"No," He said, cracking open a can of tonic. "You like control and right now, you have lost it."

I cut him a glare. "She’s not my past, Charles."

"Maybe but you didn’t see your own face, Caspian When she showed you that necklace? When you saw that proposal video? You even said she wasn't lying two days ago, you believed her after she showed you everything."

"She’s unhinged," I snapped. "Or delusional. I don’t know but the way she’s telling it, like I was this poor, lovesick builder in some rundown flat in Manchester, is insane." 

Charles leaned against the counter. "What if she's not insane? What if she’s telling the truth?"

"I am not disputing the fact that she right, I mean the picture and video is more than enough proof but there’s nothing wrong with my memory." I said tightly. "I remember my childhood, my work, my rise but I don't remember her and all her tales."

"So what are you saying?"

"What if I can't remember her and everything that happened in Manchester because it's not me. Maybe I am not the person in the pictures and videos."

"So you are insinuating that she photoshopped it?"

"No, I am thinking maybe I am a twin and Mason is different. She shared her life with Mason and not me." 

"That's actually a good angle but it still boils down to the fact that you are not sure if you are a twin or not and if you actually have a twin out there, wouldn't you want to find him?"

"I honestly don't know, all I know right now is that she has the wrong guy and I don't want to be dragged into any drama." It's already too complicated for my liking and it's already fucking with my head.

"You might be right about your theory but you still need to talk to her, she looked broken, Caspian."

"She’s not my problem," I said, voice sharper than I intended. "I have spent years building this life, every damn brick. I’m not about to tear it down for someone I don’t even remember, someone that is obviously mistaking me for someone else."

Charles stared at me for a long beat, then sighed. "Fine, don’t go to Manchester, don’t look into it, don't find out if you have a brother or not. Just don’t sit there and pretend she didn’t get to you."

"She didn’t," I lied, too fast.

He gave me that look, the one he always gave when he knew I was full of shit but didn’t feel like calling me out on it. "Suit yourself but you are going back to work tomorrow."

"I already planned to." I said, setting my glass down. "No more hiding, I have got a board to answer to and an empire to run. Lyra Logan can chase ghosts all she wants, I’m not her man, I am not Mason."

Charles pushed off the counter. “Alright, I will leave it alone."

"Thank you."

He paused at the door. "But maybe ask yourself something, Cas."

I raised an eyebrow wondering what he is talking about..

"If you are so sure she’s lying or that you are not Mason… why do you have the necklace and how does she know about your scar and your hate for mushrooms?"

He left without waiting for an answer and I hated him a little for that.

DR BRONSON'S POV

Please wake up boy, I don't want to have to pull the plug on you if you still have a chance of coming back to life... It's been over a year now and you are still laying in this damn hospital bed, wake the hell up boy.

"Dr Bronson, this is not healthy. It's been over a year and you are still trying to keep this guy alive even though we both know he won't make it." Dr Gabrielle showed up to the room again and I know she's here to try to convince me to pull the plug but it's not happening.

"You don't know that Gabrielle and he is just not a guy like you called him, his name is Mason Fabian and I won't pull the plug on him, this is my hospital and you can't tell me what to do. I put him in this condition and I will do everything in my power to keep him alive." I said challengingly because I am sick and tired of Gabrielle telling me what to do because she's a doctor too, she's under my payroll and she will do what I say.

"Look, it was an accident and you know it, you didn't run him over on purpose Bronson. You brought him here and you tried to save him but it's been over a year now and you have to understand that you can't help him." She pointed out and I am infuriated.

"I'm not pulling the plug and that's final, have you forgotten so soon how I lost my wife and kids in an auto crash, they died instantly and I couldn't save them but this time around, I am going to save Mason no matter how long it takes, I will keep him here hooked to these machines till he comes alive or till his family comes looking for him and makes the decision. Are we on the same page Gabrielle because this is my hospital and you have to support me, my duty as a doctor is to save lives and that's exactly what I am trying to do with Mason." I reasoned with her again because if she's going to be a problem, then I will let her go and I don't care wether or not she's my friend .

"It's fine, if that's what you want then I will support you to keep Mason alive even though I know that a year is too long and I don't even think he has a family, because it's over a year now and no one has responded to our advert and no one has come looking for him." Gabrielle reasons and I think she's right on that one.

Immediately after the accident, I brought him here and the only thing I found on him was just his wallet that has his ID card in it and I searched for his family, reported at the station, I even took his picture to the television house and I went to the radio station as well with the hopes that his family will come looking for him but I guess Mason Fabian has no family but it doesn't matter because I want him alive regardless.

"Yes maybe he has no family or friends looking for him but it doesn't matter to me because I will keep him alive regardless." I said as I took one last look at Mason on the bed before leaving the room with Dr Gabrielle.