Running Away From Downfall

Chapter 42

Cassandra's POV

I was overjoyed the moment I saw my daughter's eyes open. She closed her eyes again, probably because she was adjusting her eyes to the brightness of the sunshine coming from her window.

"Hi, love," I caressed her arms instead of hugging her.

I am scared that I might hurt her, knowing what she has gone through. All of her wounds were healing, some had already faded.

"Mommy," she called me in a hoarse voice.

"Yes, love. I'm here. Mommy's here."

"What happened to him?" she said in almost a whisper tone.

I gave her some water and she drank some.

"He's... well, he's behind bars already, love."

She nodded slowly before closing her eyes.

"I want to sleep some more. I feel weak, mommy."

"Sleep, love."

She slept again. I couldn't help but cry. I held her hand and whispered how sorry I was, but the moment her thumb caressed a part of the back of my hand, I slowly calmed down.

"It is not, and never will be your fault, mom," pabulong ngunit may diin niyang sinabi kahit pa nakapikit siya. "I love you."

Three words, eight letters. It is one of the sweetest words I have heard of. But the impact on me was so great because it came from the mouth of my own daughter.

"I love you more, love."

I was in deep thoughts when I arrived at our dining room. I kissed everyone before sitting in between my husband and my dad.

"Cassandra." Zavie called me back to reality.

"I'm sorry, what is it?"

He looked at dad's direction. Tumingin ako doon, meeting my father's eyes.

"I was asking if you wanted to tell us something."

Nagtaka ako sandali, then I remembered Eli.

"Eli woke up for a moment earlier. She went back to sleep after saying she was still weak."

"That's great news, sweetheart."

Happiness is really evident in their eyes. Even Gio was smiling a lot. We looked at the big doors' direction when it opened.

"G-good afternoon." Eli's voice echoed around the room.

She was wearing a dark blue dress with crystals hugging her right shoulder and her left waist. She paired it with a pair of white flat shoes. Her hair was tied in a simple half updo, and a tiara with blue topaz and white crystals was perfectly placed on top of her head. The head piece she is wearing was named the Winter Diadem, the last person who wore that was Queen Louise, dad's mother.

Lumapit siya sa amin at unang hinalikan sa pisngi sina mom at dad.

"May I see your arms?" Dad held her arms and he shook his head when he saw some healing wounds. His hand went up to Eli's cheeks, and my heart warmed when he kissed her forehead lovingly. "Welcome home, love."

Mom immediately hugged Eli nang matapos nitong humalik sa pisngi niya.

"Grandma loves you."

Sky smiled at Eli and did the same thing as dad did. Yurissa also checked her wounds bago siya lumapit kay Gio na niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

"I'm glad you're okay."

After that, she went to our side next. She kissed my cheeks, then she moved to Zavie's side. Zavie gave her a tight hug and a tender kiss before he pulled her chair for her. Our lunch went on and it finished smoothly. I let Eli with Zavie who took her at the palace gardens, while I walked behind my parents.

Third Person's POV

"Are you okay, love?" Zavie asked his daughter while they looked at the colorful flowers.

"Yes, daddy. I love you," malambing na sabi ni Eli.

He gently planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Daddy loves you more."

Tumayo si Zavie mula sa pagkakaupo sa bench at naglakad palapit sa mga peach rose. He bent down and picked up a lost blue dandelion. Then, he walked back towards her and bent in front of her. She looked at him, confused.

"Love, if you want to wish something, what will it be?" Zavie asked and handed her the dandelion.

Eli picked it up delicately and stared at it.

"A rare blue dandelion," she said before looking at Zavie. Then, she stood up and gave her dad a hug.

Nagulat si Zavie sa inakto ng anak pero agad niya itong niyakap pabalik. Eli held the blue dandelion in front of her and closed her eyes. She whispered something that startled Zavie. After that, she blew the dandelion while Zavie picked her up as they watched the blue bracts of the dandelion fly away.

"Love, babe," a female voice called them. Pareho silang napalingon sa likod nila kung saan nakita nila si Cassandra. "Let's go inside. It looks like it will rain."

Tumango si Zavie bago naglakad papunta sa asawa. Cassandra intertwined her fingers with Zavie's free hand. The man then kissed her hand, before kissing their daughter's forehead.

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Zavie placed his sleeping daughter down on her bed. Then, he sat beside her bed. He was deep in thoughts while caressing Eli's hair. His eyes went down to her arms. The wound were already almost completely fading.

He carefully picked her right hand up while staring at her face. He kissed his daughter's hand, followed by her forehead.

"I'm sorry," Zavie whispered as he caressed her hair again. "I'm sorry." His tears start to fall. "I'm sorry."

It's the only words that he could say.

"I'm sorry for breaking my promise."

Flashback

"And until the end of time, I vow to love you, protect you, and be with you through everything. I will dedicate my whole life to you and Eli."

Zavie knelt down to the level of 2-year-old Eli who was holding her mother's hand. The child smiled brightly at him.

"Luxandra Elexse Amore, my love, I want to start my vow to you with, 'I love you'. Daddy promises to protect you with his own life. And I will love you and your mom with all of my heart, mind, and soul."

End of Flashback

He cried beside his sleeping daughter. It took him minutes to finally calm down. He wiped his tears while checking the time, it was already late. So, he stood up and kisses Eli's forehead once more.

"I love you, Eli love. I promise to keep you under my wings and protection until my last breath," he whispered before standing properly.

Zavie fixed Eli's comforter before turning his back and walking out of the room.

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"I wish daddy forgives himself, and promises me again, the promise he broke."