The Heir's Retribution

CHAPTER 39

TRIGGER WARNING:
Blood/ Gore, Death, Graphic Violence, Gun Violence

Chapter 39: REVENGE

Malakas ang tibok ng dibdib ko. Every inch of me ached to run to my father, to shield him with my body, to tear those ropes from his wrists. But I couldn't move.

Ipinatong ni Junjian ang braso niya sa balikat ko. Marahas niyang hinila ang kuwelyo ng suot kong damit, halos bumaon ang mga daliri niya sa balat ko. Tintutok niya ang ulo ng malamig na baril sa sintido ko. 

"Always knew you'd look better broken," Junjiang murmured against my ear. I held my breath when I smelled his nicotine breath. 

"Little princess, so untouchable back then, but not anymore."

Hinila niya ako lalo palapit sa kanya. His fingers trailed briefly across my ribcage. I flinched, even more disgusted.

"Don't fucking touch her, or I'll kill you myself," my father croaked.

Mas humigpit ang hawak sa akin ni Junjiang, ngunit ibinaba ang baril. Napasigaw ako ng biglang suntukin ni Stefan si Baba.

"You don't get to threaten anyone, old man. You're just meat on a hook now."

My father's head turned weakly. He squinted his swollen eyes, trying to focus on me. When he saw that Junjian didn't remove his hand from me, he began to thrash violently. The rope is digging more into his skin. 

"Mia—No! Let her go!" His voice broke into a wet, gurgling gasp. There's blood bubbling at his lips.

Napapikit ako ng mariin. Hindi ko kayang makita si Baba na ganito. 

"Another move from you," Junjiang said as he straightened his stance. His eyes shifted to Stefan, who drew a gun from behind and pointed it at me. "And Stefan pulls the trigger. I can kill her any moment now that you're here to watch."

My father froze instantly. Shaking. Helpless.

Marahang naglakad si Junjiang palapit sa kanya. He carelessly grabbed my father's face in a rough grip, yanking it toward him until his bloodied features stared directly into his.

"You know what I want, don't you?" he asked, low and bitter. "I want to hear you say it. Apologize. For everything. For ruining my life. For making my father live in your shadow. For stealing the future that should've been his."

My father groaned.

Junjian's jaw flexed, but his voice darkened. "I will finish what my father failed to do—kill you. And everything you love. Slowly. Until your last breath is nothing but regret."

"Baba... Don't hurt him, please..." Pagmamakaawa ako, ngunit lalo lang idiniin ni Stefan ang baril sa ulo ko.

"I'm sorry..." my father wheezed, eyes locked on me. "Please... don't hurt my daughter..."

Junjian turned toward me, his expression sharp and full of hate. Imbes na matuwa sa sinabi ng aking ama ay mas lalong kumalat ang pagkamuhi sa kanyang mukha.

"She's so fucking lucky..." he said, jaw clenching. "So damn lucky. She spent years inside the Vitalis Organosi's high and golden walls. She got traumatized to the point her brain protected her. Meanwhile..."

His voice turned hollow.

"...I remembered every-fucking-thing."

My lips parted when his eyes turned glassy. 

"You want to know what not forgetting feels like, Mia?" he asked, his voice tightening. "It feels like waking up empty every morning, like there's a hole in your chest that never heals. Just... emptiness. Your father took my family from me so early. I can't even remember any good memories of them. It's either my mom screaming or my father beating the shit out of me. That's all I've got left."