Third person's POV
Gunshots rang out from outside, but Tabitha's mind was no longer receptive. All she could see was the bloodied Derek.Her body was immobilized, and she could only watch helplessly as Derek's blood dripped onto her face, then slid down her chin and into her neck."I, I'm fine," he managed to say, forcing a weak smile and reaching out to gently touch Tabitha's face.His knuckles, already marred by glass shards, were ignored as he wiped the blood from her face.
"If, if I die, would you shed a tear for me?"Tabitha was in a state of rigidity, unable to associate the battered man before her with Derek.He had always been a god-like figure. How could he be like this?Her lips trembled, wanting to do something, but she couldn't do anything.Just like with Joanna, they had shielded her with their bodies, and she could only watch helplessly as it all unfolded.Tears streamed down her cheeks, "No, you won't die."SoonThird person's POVTabitha clutched Derek's hand tightly, incessantly repeating, "You promised me. You have to survive." It wasn't until Derek was wheeled into the operating room that Tabitha's hand was forcibly released by the medical staff, who said, "Family members wait outside."Before the operating room door closed, Tabitha heard Derek's voice come through, "Tabitha, wait for me."With a "bang," the door shut.Rolf followed by Tabitha's side, trying to comfort her, "Don't worry. The top doctors are all here. Several times before, they pulled Alpha Derek back from the brink of death."In fact, upon learning of Derek's accident, all the department heads had rushed to the operating room in advance, and even the blood he needed had been prepared from the blood bank ahead of time.Although Rolf was trying to comfort Tabitha, he himself couldn't hide his worries.He muttered quietly, "Alpha Derek has lost so much blood, and his blood type is already
Third person's POVWhen she went in, she was full of energy and vigor.But now, as she came out, she was so weak that even her lips were pale, and her body was on the verge of collapsing, barely able to stand with the support of others.Both Rolf and Tabitha could see that Misha must have had a blood draw far exceeding the normal amount, which was why she was so weak and feeble.Misha was in such a hurry when she arrived that she didn't even notice Tabitha's presence.It was only now, when Tabitha looked at her with a worried and anxious gaze, that Misha subconsciously shifted her eyes towards Tabitha.With just one glance, Misha recognized the woman in front of her as Tabitha—the person Derek always held dear.Through the tense and busy surgery just now, Misha had roughly understood the course of events.Knowing Derek as she did, with his abilities, he could quickly find cover to protect himself in any dangerous situation.Even if
Third person's POVTabitha raised her head, ignoring the indifferent gaze around her, straightened her spine and said, "No. I'll wait here."After speaking, she touched her swollen face and silently vowed in her heart that she would definitely return this slap.Tonight's events were too sudden, and Alvin hurriedly dealt with the follow-up matters.In this way, Tabitha was left with only Rolf.Earlier in the car, Tabitha took off her thick jacket, and now she was only wearing a thin sweater.The hospital corridor had no heating, and the piercing cold wind blew in, making people feel chilly.Tabitha stood there, and her thoughts involuntarily drifted back to that night a few years ago. She was also like this at that time, standing alone in the cold wind, anxiously waiting for Derek.Rolf looked at Tabitha's back and felt an inexplicable sense of pity in his heart.Although he was not particularly delicate, seeing Tabitha standing there alon
Third person's POVThese hours felt like an eternity to Derek, as if he were trapped in a living hell.Every second was a fierce battle against the searing pain, yet he gritted his teeth and remained conscious despite it all. His mind was filled with the hope of seeing Tabitha the moment the surgery ended.The operating room door slowly creaked open, and Misha rushed forward like a gust of wind, anxiously shouting, "Derek, are you okay?"At this moment, Derek's chin weakly rested on his crossed hands, as if all his strength had been drained in the struggle against the pain.He was drenched in cold sweat from the agony and was on the verge of collapse.But the moment the door opened, he still mustered up his spirit, and his eyes eagerly looked towards the door.The first person he saw was not the concerned Misha but the Tabitha he had always been thinking about.Derek ignored Misha's greeting and said in a weak but affectionate voice, "Tabitha.
Third person's POVTabitha bent down, removing her shoes and socks. She planned to take a rest.This scene didn't escape Misha's notice. Her face turned pale with rage, her features twisting in anger.Inside Misha's chest, a fire of jealousy and resentment burned fiercely.She couldn't stand the sight of Tabitha sharing a bed with Derek."What do you think you're doing, you shameless b*tch?" Misha shouted, her voice sharp.Tabitha blinked slowly, her face a picture of innocence.She tilted her head and replied, "As you can see, I'm tired. I'm going to rest.""How can you sleep in the same bed as Derek?" Misha stomped her feet, fists clenched, as if she were about to yank Tabitha off the bed at any moment.Her eyes burned with hatred and frustration. In her mind, Tabitha had no right to be so close to Derek.Tabitha sighed, her expression growing even more helpless. She spread her hands and said, "It's not like I want to, but he won't let me go."As she spoke, Tabitha carefully lay dow
Third person's POVMisha sat stubbornly on the couch across the room, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the two figures on the bed.Her heart burned with resentment and jealousy. She wished Tabitha would just vanish from Derek's side.But Tabitha paid no attention to Misha's glare. Her focus was entirely on Derek.She stayed by his side, wide awake, watching over him.She knew that with injuries like his, the biggest risk was infection and a high fever that wouldn't break. Every so often, she reached out to check his temperature, her eyes filled with worry and care.The night was quiet. The hospital was surrounded by tall trees, their shadows bending under the weight of the snow and wind.With no skyscrapers in sight, the area felt vast and empty.In this peaceful atmosphere, Tabitha's mind began to settle, but her thoughts raced.She started recalling the people who had tried to assassinate her in the past. They had always
Third person's POVFinally, the room was just the two of them.Even though the wound on his back burned like fire, Derek's heart was filled with joy.He gazed at Tabitha, thinking to himself, "My Tabitha. No matter how many times looking at her, it was never enough."It was true that Tabitha had saved his life all those years ago, but he couldn't deny that her beauty had also deeply attracted him.Even as a young girl, her features had been strikingly delicate, as if she'd stepped out of a comic book.Now, he had the rare chance to stare at her without restraint.As if sensing Derek's intense gaze, Tabitha slowly woke from her light sleep.The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with a pair of affectionate eyes that seemed to drown her in their depth."You're awake," Derek said, his voice soft and filled with concern. "Are you hurt anywhere?"Tabitha's dry lips moved slightly as she instinctively explained, "N
Third person's POVTabitha wasn't longing to rekindle the intimacy she once shared with Derek. She just couldn't help feeling that her past self had been foolish.She had loved him so deeply, given up everything for him, and stayed by his side. He knew everything about her, yet she knew almost nothing about him."Tabitha, some things are better left unknown. I'm doing this for your own good," Derek said, his voice tinged with helplessness and concern.But his words only made Tabitha's expression darken.Her eyes widened, filled with anger and disappointment, as she stared at him."How long are you going to keep hiding behind the excuse of doing what's 'best for me' while being utterly selfish?" Tabitha couldn't hold back her frustration any longer. All the emotions she'd bottled up came pouring out."I loved you so much back then. I gave up everything for you. Your work was always so mysterious, and I never asked questions. Wherever y
It wasn't until the bamboo flute's melody faded completely that Misha collapsed to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.She felt as though she'd lost half her life force, every ounce of strength drained from her body.Initially planning to leave the next day, Misha fell ill that very night.Delirious and raving, she was swallowed by confusion.Back at their quarters, Rolf returned with a face flushed with excitement, eager to recount yesterday's events to Alvin in vivid detail.Gesturing wildly, he said, "You should've seen it—spectacular! Those snakes came pouring in from every direction, like something out of a horror movie. It gave me the creeps just watching."Alvin listened, his brow furrowing with each passing word.Recalling Alma's parting words— "See that you behave" —a nagging sense of unease settled in his stomach. Misha's illness felt anything but coincidental."What're you thinking?" Rolf asked, noti
Rolf was so focused on escaping that he barely had time to marvel at the spectacle unfolding before him."If this isn't a nightmare, I don't know what is", he thought, sprinting for his life.He knew if he fell, he'd be bitten to death by the venomous snakes.Never in his life had Rolf run so fast. He sprinted in the direction of the sound, desperation lending him strength.Up ahead, perched in a peach tree like a guardian angel, sat Hedwig.Her tiny fingers danced over a bamboo flute, its melody ringing in the charged air.To Rolf and Misha, however, the "ding-dong" notes felt like a death knell tolling ever closer.Snakes swarmed from all directions like a rising tide. Rolf knew if this kept up, they'd both end up as snake fodder.Panic clawed at his throat. Without a word to Misha, he unceremoniously dumped her onto the ground.Misha was still disoriented when she was roughly thrown to the ground. Before she could rea
"Agreed," Alvin replied. The memory of Hedwig's earlier glare at Misha sent a shiver down his spine.He had a foreboding that Misha might already be in Hedwig's crosshairs.Given that this was Hedwig's home turf, Alvin worried their group might not stand a chance in a confrontation.This added a layer of anxiety to an already tense situation.Meanwhile, Tabitha remained fast asleep, a serene smile playing on her lips.After a short play with the fawn, a pigeon flew in from outside the cave and landed on Hedwig's shoulder, cooing softly. Hedwig paused at the sound, glancing at Tabitha still lost in slumber.With a moment of hesitation, she quietly rose and tiptoed away, not wanting to disturb Tabitha's rest.Misha, who had always sailed through life with ease, had encountered her greatest challenge in the form of unrequited love.Ever since Derek had rescued her, she had vowed to marry him when she grew up.Throughout her
Hedwig nodded understandingly, her face lighting up with innocent joy.She carefully lowered herself onto the lawn and gently pressed a sweet kiss to Tabitha's cheek, her movements as delicate as a butterfly's wings.Her movements were incredibly gentle, for fear of disturbing Tabitha.Then, she sat quietly by the pool, watching butterflies dance around them—a scene so serene it could have been plucked from a masterpiece painting.Tabitha's exhaustion overwhelmed her, her eyelids growing heavier by the second until she drifted into a deep sleep by the pool's edge.Her long, silk-like hair cascaded down, and without her mask, her porcelain skin glowed.Compared to before, she seemed even more beautiful now, like a sleeping fairy, radiating an enchanting charm.Hedwig stayed by her side without disturbing Tabitha, quietly gathering herbs nearby with focused and skillful movements.The forest creatures adored her—a faw
Misha watched Tabitha and Alma walk away, her anger flaring up again.She glared at the back of Tabitha's head and instinctively touched her red cheek.Growing up, she had never been treated like this. The humiliation filled her heart with resentment."Once Derek's poison is neutralized, I'll make them pay", she vowed silently.Alban, seeing the hatred in Misha's eyes, felt a chill.He knew Misha's background—her family's influence was no secret. He'd brought her here out of concern for Derek's blood type.Having watched Misha and Derek grow up, he was well aware of their temperaments.Given Misha's current state, he feared she would cause more trouble.So, he tried to persuade her again, "Look, things are under control here. It's not proper for a young lady like you to stay. I'll have someone escort you out.""I'm not leaving, Dr. Weaver. I'm staying to take care of Derek!" Misha said stubbornly, turning her head
Misha's eyes welled up the moment she saw Derek awake. She lunged toward him, crying, "I've been so worried!"Derek sidestepped her embrace instinctively and said coolly, "I'm fine. I've delayed you long enough. I need to stay for treatment; you should head back."Misha's jaw dropped in shock.Misha had traveled so far and gone through so much, only to hear Derek tell her to leave as soon as he woke up."I need to care for you—your eyesight's impaired. I've already taken leave," she pleaded."You'll be fine. Rolf and Alvin are here. It's not convenient for you, a young woman, to stay," Derek insisted.Misha stamped her foot in frustration. "What's inconvenient about it? You're not married, and neither am I. Remember when we were on missions together? We took care of each other then, didn't we?"Alma happened to pass by and overhear the conversation, finally realizing that Misha had been the one making advances all along.
Derek jolted awake after an hour of sleep.In a daze, sensing someone beside him, he instinctively pulled them into his arms, exclaiming, "Tabitha, you came for me."Alvin sighed, "Alpha Derek, it's me."Derek fumbled blindly in the air, urgency lacing his voice, "Where's Tabitha? Where did she go?""You were dreaming again," Alvin explained patiently."A dream?" Derek frowned, confusion washing over him.But why did the dream feel so real? So real that he could almost feel the give of Tabitha's skin, recall the touch of her body, and even remember the warmth of her flesh. Her voice still seemed to linger in his ears."Tabitha's probably miles away. She couldn't be here," Alvin added.Derek's heart sank, the joy from moments ago replaced by emptiness. It felt as though he'd found his most precious treasure, only to realize it was just a dream.He bowed his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Right, how could I rea
At Derek's words, Tabitha was suddenly reminded of his words from years ago, when he had said the person in his dreams was her.She couldn't help but wonder what exactly this scoundrel had done to her in his dreams."Tabitha, hold me," Derek pleaded like a petulant child.Tabitha recalled the early days of their marriage. Back then, Derek was reticent and self-absorbed in bed, rarely showing any emotion or expressing his feelings.She often doubted whether he even liked her, if not for the fact that his actions left her bedridden the next day.Derek had locked all his emotions in an airtight box, allowing no one to peek inside.But over the years, their dynamics had done a complete turnaround.Now, Tabitha buried her feelings deep within, becoming cold and distant, while Derek had transformed into someone unrecognizably vulnerable and open.At this moment, Derek was like an overly affectionate, enthusiastic dog, intimately fami
Tabitha was deeply focused on listening to Derek's heartbeat. Irritated by his question, she simply hushed him with a "Shh" and said, "Don't talk." Her attention was entirely on his heart rate. She had no intention of being distracted by others.After finishing with his heartbeat, Tabitha gently pried open Derek's eyelids for a closer look.His pupils were dull and lifeless, making it impossible to assess the internal damage with the naked eye.It seemed that only after administering the antidote and conducting a professional examination outside could they determine the extent of the eye damage.Tabitha silently resolved that if they could just detoxify him, there would be hope for the gradual recovery of his other organs.At Tabitha's "Shh," Derek obediently fell silent.Despite feeling as though he were in a dream, he cherished this fleeting moment, thinking that even an extra minute with Tabitha would give him more memories to hold onto i