In the evening, Mrs. Blue returned home. She prepared dinner, then knocked on Sarah's door, but there was no answer. She knocked again, still nothing. Opening the door, she found Sarah fast asleep on a sofa on the balcony. Mrs. Blue fetched a blanket and covered her. She noticed Sarah's face was a little flushed, so she touched her forehead and realized she had a fever. "You're burning," Mrs. Blue exclaimed.
She tried to wake her, but couldn't. She called out, "Sarah, wake up my dear..." but there was no response; her eyes wouldn't even open. Frantically, Mrs. Blue ran downstairs, grabbed her phone from the kitchen counter, and called Damien.
Damien was having dinner with his grandfather, but seeing Mrs. Blue's number, he answered immediately.
Damien: Mrs. Blue...
A frantic voice on the other line interrupted him: "Sarah has a fever, she's not waking up!"
Damien jumped from the table and ran outside, leaving his grandfather behind, worrying and wondering, "What happened?"
He pulled out his phone and dialled Vance.
Damien: Where are you?
Vance: Driving home.
Damien: I need you to turn back. She has a fever, I'll text you the address. Go there immediately.
Vance, who heard such worry and fear in Damien's voice, didn't ask further questions; he just said, "I'm on my way."
Damien sped through every red light, sick with worry about Sarah. When he arrived, he ran into her room to find Vance already there and Mrs. Blue standing over Sarah, placing a cool towel on her head. Damien approached the bed and, with a trembling hand, touched her forehead.
Vance looked at Damien with a worried expression. "Can we talk outside?"
Damien nodded. Once they were out, Damien immediately asked, "What's wrong with her?"
Vance exhaled, exhausted. "I told you to either marry her or completely let her go, Damien. Her mental state is affecting her physical health. Too much emotional pressure can cause her a lot of damage, especially now, when she has amnesia. I don't know what happened between you two lately, but I don't think this poor woman can take any more stress."
Damien lit a cigarette. "I love her, Vance. I love her with my entire being. When she's distant, angry, disappointed, or sad, my heart breaks. I've never loved anyone else the way I love her." His hands shook, barely holding the cigarette. He was consumed by worry and fear.
Vance simply observed his friend. "You should tell Don about Sarah... tell him how much she means to you. Maybe if he hears it from you, he won't keep pushing for the marriage with the Wellingtons."
Damien: He knows. He already met her. He went to Sterling Design to tell her about the engagement. He went there to pay her to leave me. Do you think he cares how I feel?
Vance nodded and placed a comforting hand on his friend's back. "I think you shouldn't throw away your happiness for the sake of the old man's debt and pride."
Damien: I can't gamble with a life, Vance.
Vance: But right now, you are gambling with her feelings, Damien.
His shoulders slumped, his face pale, his lips trembling. Vance had never seen Damien so broken before.
Vance: So what are you going to do about this relationship you have with Sarah?
Damien: I... I'm going to let her go...
He threw the cigarette on the ground and looked up at the sky. His mind was tormented. He didn't want to let Sarah go, but he felt he had no other choice. If she stayed with him, it would only hurt her more. Vance was right; he was trying not to gamble with the old man's life while gambling with her feelings.
The Long Night
Meanwhile, in Sarah's bedroom, Mrs. Blue was changing the towels and holding Sarah's hand. "My dear, you must get better soon. Damien is worried sick about you." Mrs. Blue, who had cared for Damien since Don brought him home, had never seen him so distraught with worry and fear. "He never cared about anyone else the way he cares about you, dear Sarah."
Sarah mumbled something, but her eyes remained closed.
Damien entered the room and told Mrs. Blue to get some rest; he would take care of Sarah through the night.
Sarah's fever had dropped slightly, but she was still asleep, still mumbling. He leaned closer to hear her better. "No, no... Mama? I don't want to go with you. Help Mama. She's bleeding..."
Damien placed his hand on her cheek, saying, "It's alright... It's alright, kitten, you're safe here."
She was crying; tears mixed with drops of sweat covered her face. She continued repeating, "No, please, help them..."
Damian didn't know what to do; he kept changing the cool towels, one after the other. When morning came, he noticed that her fever was finally gone. He got up, gave her a small peck on the lips, and walked out.
Mrs. Blue was in the kitchen preparing breakfast. He told her to take good care of Sarah today and headed toward his company, but then returned and said, "Mrs. Blue... I don't want you to tell Sarah that I was here. Tell her you took care of her throughout the night if she asks."
Mrs. Blue nodded.