The Heir's Retribution

CHAPTER 28

Chapter 28: VITALIS ORGANOSÍ

My knees felt weak, and I instinctively reached out to steady myself. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me struggling to breathe. Malalaking hakbang ang ginawa ni Dominic papunta sa akin upang saluhin ako bago pa ako tuluyang bumagsak sa sahig.

He lifted me up and gently placed me on the couch, while Emerson quickly turned off the TV. 

Lumuhod si Dominic sa harapan ko. 

I could barely see him through the stream of tears blurring my vision. My chest tightened painfully, making it hard for me to breathe properly.

"Breathe, sugar. Breathe in, breath out. Just like that..." Dominic instructed, his hands firmly on my shoulders, trying to steady me.

He glanced over at Emerson.

"Get her some water, please."

Emerson nodded and quickly left to follow Dominic's order.

"I-It's my fault," I managed to say through sobs and shaky breaths. "Kung sinabi ko sa inyo agad na nag-reach out siya sa'kin, this might not have happened."

"No, it's not your fault." Dominic shook his head repeatedly, cupping my cheeks in an attempt to wipe away my tears, but new ones quickly replaced them. "Hindi mo alam na mangyayari 'to."

"She might still be alive, Dom," I cried, my voice trembling with regret.

"It's not your fault."

He pulled me into an embrace, and I immediately buried my face in his neck, clinging to him as if I couldn't bear the weight of it all without him there.
   
   
     

   
   
I quickly wiped away my tears when I heard the door open. As soon as Dominic's arms wrapped around my waist, I immediately closed my eyes and melted against his chest. 

"Are you ready?" Dominic asked softly.

Last night, I cried myself to sleep in Dominic's arms. He woke me up early this morning to tell me that we needed to leave as soon as the sun rose. Hinayaan lang muna nila akong kumalma at makapagpahinga.

He explained that it was no longer safe to stay here at the beach house. The people who are looking for us might have traced our location through Sasha's phone.

I nodded, unable to hold back the sob that escaped me. "I'm sorry, it's my fault. If I had told you sooner..."

"Shhh," he whispered, gently turning me to face him. His arms encircled me, pulling me into a tight embrace, as if he could shield me from the weight of my own guilt. "Sinabi ko na sa'yo, hindi mo kasalan ang nangyari."

"But what if something bad happens to us because of my choice of decision? I will never be able to forgive myself if anything happens to you." My voice broke, the words slipping out before I could stop them. 

Naramdaman kong humigpit ang yakap ni Dominic sa akin. With everything that's happened, I couldn't pretend anymore. I cared about him— deeply, in a way that terrified me.

"Hindi mo kailangan mag-alala para sa akin," he murmured, his voice firm yet tender. "I'm here to protect you. Nothing will happen to you, I promise."

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. Dominic's arms stayed wrapped around my waist even as we pulled back from the hug.

He glanced at the small bag I had packed to bring with me. It wasn't much— when we came here, I didn't even bring anything at all. Pinili ko na lang dalhin ang mga essentials tulad ng underwears, comfortable clothes, and toiletries.