Chapter 385 Reunited

Russell wrapped Blair in his arms and held her like he would never let go.

“You got out of that nightmare alive. Surviving it is already a miracle. Don’t be afraid, baby. I’m here now, and no one will lay a hand on you again.”

His hand pressed gently against her back as his voice softened.

Only God knew the night he had endured.

His eyes had stayed open till morning, while his heart felt like it was being crushed in a fist of steel. Each breath had been a fight.

He could not even imagine a world without Blair. Just the thought ripped him apart inside.

With Russell guarding Blair, the rest of the family shifted their gaze toward Dominic.

He met each question with steady words, though his eyes flickered like he was testing his own resolve.

When Blair’s trembling quieted, Russell stepped up to Dominic’s bedside.

“Dominic, Blair told me everything. You were brave. You kept your mother safe. You made me proud.”

His voice carried pride as clear as sunlight.

“Dad, this is what a son is supposed to do. Even if I had to give my life, I would never let Mom be harmed.”

“But you’re alive and well. Both of you. Please do not speak of sacrifice again.”

“Dominic, please stop. You’re scaring me to pieces.”

Kyla collapsed into his arms and cried until her shoulders shook.

No one tried to calm her down. Their own eyes blurred with tears.

They were grateful. Blair and Dominic were alive.

After all they had been through, seeing them safe was the only blessing that mattered.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve been more careful.”

Dominic’s voice grew heavy.

“But I need to tell you the truth. Mom and I survived only because of Tilda.

“Without her, we’d still be hanging by a thread.”

Silence crashed into the room.

Everyone stared at him like the world had stopped.

Kyla lifted her tear-streaked face and whispered, “Dominic, what are you even saying? I don’t get it.”

“Dominic … don’t tell me…”

Wade, who knew Dominic’s true identity, realized what he must be saying before anyone else could.

“Before they dragged me away, I built a signal transmitter in my watch.

“The enemy had taken the whole network. Breaking in from the outside was impossible.

“The only way was through my transmitter. It opened a hidden path into the hotel’s system. Out of everyone I know, only Tilda could break it.

“I checked. It was her. She tore the code apart.

“That’s how Endralsia took control of the system, uncovered every detail, saved the hostages, and crushed the enemy in one strike.”

The more Dominic spoke, the heavier his heart became.

That transmitter had not even been his idea. Queen–his mentor, before he knew who she really was–had told him to build it.

Tilda had built one too. It was her way of preparing him for the dangers no one could predict. Death could fall without warning.

All those years of training had finally paid off.

Tilda had saved his life twice in one day.

And she had done far more. She had trained him, taught him, and shaped him.

Without her, there would be no Dominic at all.

But what had he given back?

He had cursed her. He had told her to drop down and die.

The memory struck like knives no one could see.

His chest felt like it was being split open.

His soul was tearing apart.

Bitterness filled his mouth.

“Dominic, are you sure it was Tilda?”

Howard’s throat went dry.

Once, he would have called Dominic insane.

He would have said it was impossible.

But he had seen Tilda’s strength with his own eyes.

She had beaten him, a WWC world champion, and crushed him under her heel.

She had taken the crown of the world championship in the art department as well.

At this point, no skill of hers surprised him anymore. It only made sense.

This was Tilda.

“Dominic’s right. She does have that kind of skill.”

Wade’s voice was low. He lowered his eyes to hide the storm inside them.

“I never thought she’d do it, though. She hates our guts. And yet she still saved Mom and Dominic.”

“It isn’t about us. She couldn’t care less about our survival. She only did what she believed was right.”

Dominic’s hands clenched without him noticing.

When Queen had trained him, she had given him one rule.

Her only demand was that her students love their country.

The first law was simple. They could never endanger national security.