Chapter 53

Venessa's POV

After taking a quick shower, I paddled over to our walk-in closet, shivering slightly, wrapped in a fluffy white towel.

Choosing a simple sundress, I let the towel drop at the floor carelessly while I examined the dress closely, thinking about whether I should wear it or not when a sharp intake of breath made me freeze instantly and my heart hammer wildly.

As I turned my back hesitantly, there stood Vincent wearing his usual crisp suit leaning at the door in all his mighty glory.

Placing my hand over my chest, I tried to tame my heartbeat while letting out a shaky breath. ''You scared me," I whispered completely forgetting that I'm only in my undergarments.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't resist" he replied, so casually while shamelessly eyeing my almost naked body up and down.

My cheeks and ears heated up with embarrassment as I bent down picking up the towel on the floor as an excuse to shield my strawberry red face from his sight. It was not the first time he ever saw my body but I was still shy around him.

"Get out, Vince. I wanna get dressed," I mumbled softly, wrapping a towel around my body making him whine like a child while I look at him questioning.

"Why cover up? I was enjoying it," he rejoiced, smiling showing his small dimple on his left cheek melting my heart in the process since it's very rare to see him smile the way he's doing right now. I miss you and your smile, I said to myself trying my best not to cry.

"Ok, fine," he replied turning his back muttering 'what a good sight to start my day though' under his breath but I heard it anyway.

As we drove towards the cemetery, I couldn't help but fiddle with Vincent's hand that sat comfortably at my lap making Vincent glance at me with concern every now and then.

"We still can go back. You know that, right?" he said, making me shake my head no at him. No, I wanted to get over the heavy feeling in my chest, the feeling that kept me awake at night as I laid motionless at the bed and let the guilt consume me whole, the feeling that restricted me from moving forward. I wanted it to stop. I wanted to be able to breathe more freely.

"No, I don't wanna go back," I replied stubbornly, making him sigh.

"Fine, as you wish. But promise me first that you won't cry," he said. "It breaks my heart every time I see you crying, my love. So promise me," he added stopping the car at the corner of the road.

And at this moment I couldn't help but feel thankful to have him in my life. I was really glad that everything was slowly falling back to place.

I felt him tug me towards his lap making me gasp in surprise as I snapped out of my thoughts.

''What are you doing, Vincent? We're already late!'' I exclaimed, wiggling and thrashing around his strong arms trying to get away but his hold only tightened making me sigh in defeat. I swear, this guy is more clingy than me.

Wrapping his arms around my body, he held me tight as if I would disappear at any moment. We stayed in each other's arms silently, when he suddenly spoke.

"I miss you," he whispered, making my heart beat hard with excitement. I stayed silent not finding any words to say.

"I wish I could turn back the clock and change everything," he muttered, making me tilt my head up from his chest to look at him.

"I'm sorry," he apologized for the billionth time.

"Stop apologizing, Vince. Let's just put it in the past," I mumbled while caressing his sharp jawline.

After our sweet moment in the car, we continued our journey to the cemetery. As we neared the location, my hands started to shake and sweat savagely.

I'm so sorry Mario and Lynda. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I'm sorry. I keep repeating inside my head like a mantra when I heard a hiss.

I looked at my side and saw Vincent trying hard not to open his mouth and then I realized that I was digging my nails into his hand.

As the realization hit me, I immediately felt awful. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do it." I blabbered while caressing softly his now torn skin.

"It's fine, my love" he assured, pulling beside the gate of the cemetery.

"Are you ready?" he questioned, taking my cold hand into his and leading me out of the car.

The moment I got out, a soft wind blew my hair behind my back and made my knee-length sundress swish around.

Walking hand in hand, I let Vincent walk me to their grave trying to steady my jelly-like legs.

I won't cry, I won't. I'm stronger than this.

Vincent suddenly stopped walking and made me bump into his back.

"I'm sorry" I whispered when my eyes caught Mario and Lynda's name engraved at the tomb.

This was real. They were really dead. But why was it too hard to believe? Why was it too hard to accept?

My knees gave up on me, making me shrink down at the grass beneath me. Tears ran down my cheeks and no matter how much I tried to stop them I couldn't. My chest hurt so bad and there's something about the pain that I can't exactly explain. It was like my heart was breaking but not like the glass falling to the floor.

The pain was unbearable. I wondered how people go through this.

I wanted it to stop. I'm sorry, Vincent. I know I promised that I won't cry but I can't stop it. It hurts so bad.

I felt a hand wipe my tears away but it got replaced by new tears again. "Shhhh, calm down, my love. Please," he whispered in my ears.

I look up to his grey eyes that are shining down at me.

I sobbed hard clutching his suit right in my fist.

"Please h...help me to make it stop. It hurts. I can't breathe," I cried out while clutching my chest and feeling my chest tightening.

Vincent rubbed my back up and down trying to soothe me.

I sobbed hard clutching his suit right in my fist.

"Stop crying, Venessa. I promise I'll make it stop," he replied, taking my face into his hands.

"P...please do it. Please," I begged like a child begging his mother to buy him an ice cream.

"Why? Why does it have to happen to me?." I questioned feeling my head getting heavy and my eyes drooping.

I could hear Vincent's muffled voice and despite trying everything in my will to stay awake, my body seemed to not be listening.