Chapter 159: Hypnosis III

The room had gone completely silent except for the sound of blood dripping onto the floor.

"I became a monster because monsters are what the world actually respects. Because cruelty and violence are the languages that power speaks fluently. Because showing mercy to enemies just encourages more enemies to appear."

His smile was savage, completely empty of any humanity.

"Hehe...I wanted them to die horribly! I wanted every single Giant in that portal to experience suffering that made death seem like relief! And I accomplished that.

I made sure each and every single one of them felt the same pain and helplessness they inflicted on MY people. Made sure they died in the most brutal way possible. Made sure their last thoughts were regret for ever coming to that portal."

Luna stared at her brother with wide eyes, not due to fear but due to deep and profound sadness.

’Now I understand. The darkness I see in his emotions. The red and black that dominates everything... This is why. Trauma layered on trauma creating someone who processes the world through violence and power dynamics.

He’s not evil. He’s just... broken. Shaped by experiences that would destroy most people. And somehow still capable of love despite everything.’

Lyandra’s hands were shaking as she prepared the final questions.

"...What do you think of us? Your family here?"

Damian didn’t hesitate even a fraction of a second before answering.

"I didn’t have family in my past life. My brother died when I was too young to save him. Everyone else was just people I used or who used me. Relationships built on mutual benefit rather than genuine connection."

His voice softened slightly despite the hypnosis.

"Now I have a second chance. A real family and people who care about me not because of what I can do for them but because they actually love me. These are the bonds I never experienced in that life."

Tears flowed faster from his blank eyes.

"I’ll protect all of you from any harm! I will do whatever is necessary to keep you safe... In my past life, I created my own family through the Mafia. People loyal to me, fighting beside me. But in this life, I have a family I can truly call my own. People who matter more than power or control or any goal I might pursue."

His voice dropped to a whisper.

"I love all of you more than I thought possible. More than I admit. More than is probably healthy given how that love could be used against me. But I don’t care. You’re mine to protect, mine to cherish and mine to keep safe no matter the cost."

Tears were streaming down everyone’s faces now.

Lyandra sobbed openly with guilt crushing her for ever doubting her baby, for forcing this interrogation, for making her son bare his soul like this.

Alaric had turned away, unable to watch anymore, his shoulders shaking with suppressed emotion.

Lyandra forced out one final question through her tears.

"Who are you now? Our Damy? Or... Alessio D’Rossi?"

Damian was silent for a long time.

His blank expression shifted to something helpless, confused and lost in ways that made him look younger than his physical age.

Then a sad and broken smile appeared on his face.

"...I don’t know."

The honest admission hung in the air.

"I don’t know who I am anymore with these two lifetimes of memories. Two different people with different experiences and values and understanding of the world. They’re both real... Both me and both shaping how I think and feel and react."

His voice was barely audible as he kept on talking.

"Am I Damian who gained memories? Or Alessio reborn with a new life? I genuinely don’t know. Maybe I’m both. Maybe I’m neither. Maybe I’m something new created from the fusion. But I can’t give you a clear answer because I don’t have one myself."

Lyandra couldn’t take anymore.

"Release."

The hypnosis shattered with Damian’s consciousness snapping back to full control of his body.

He blinked rapidly, his awareness returning and his blank expression shifting to confusion as he processed being released.

Then... he saw his family’s faces.

All three of them were crying. Looking at him with expressions mixing love and pain and guilt and acceptance.

"I-I’m sorry."

Lyandra’s voice broke completely.

"I’m so sorry, Damy! For doubting you, for forcing you to relive all that and for making you bare your soul when you deserved trust and love instead."

She moved forward and pulled him into a fierce embrace, her body shaking with sobs.

"You’re my son. You’re our Damy. I don’t care what memories you have or what life you lived before. You’re ours and we love you unconditionally. I’m so sorry for making you prove that."

Damian sat frozen for a moment, processing everything he was forced to say in the tranced state.

Then... his arms came up slowly and wrapped around his mother, returning the hug with careful gentleness.

"It’s okay... I understand why you needed to know. I’m not angry."

His voice was quiet and tired, carrying none of the coldness from before.

Alaric stepped forward and wrapped his arms around both of them, his stern face wet with tears, his voice thick with emotion.

"Y-You’re always our son! Whatever you were before, whatever you become in the future, you’re our son! We’ll stand beside you, support you and love you... Always."

Luna joined the group hug, pressing against Damian’s side, her tears soaking into his shirt.

"I knew. I always knew it was you. I could see it in your emotions. The love you have for us is real. Everything else doesn’t matter."

They stayed like that for several long minutes, a family putting itself back together after nearly fracturing, bonds reinforced through painful honesty and unconditional acceptance.

When they finally pulled apart, Lyandra cupped Damian’s face gently.

"I will never doubt you or question your decisions... You’re ours and that’s all that matters."

Damian nodded, unable to speak around the emotion in his throat.

His family knew now. Knew what he’d been, what he’d done and what shaped the darkness inside him.

And they loved him anyway.

For the first time since awakening those memories, Damian felt like maybe he could actually integrate both lives into something whole.

Maybe he didn’t need to choose between Damian and Alessio.

Maybe he could just be himself, whoever that turned out to be.

With family who would accept him regardless.