Tabitha's POV
When Daphne came in with her entourage, I wanted to look up and see her reaction.But the hand pressing on the back of my head was like an iron clamp, not allowing me to move even a bit. It was infuriated.I wondered, 'It must feel terrible to be lifted high and then dropped hard.'Just a moment ago, she was Mrs. Greenwood, the envy of everyone.'But then she became a pitiful laughingstock.'Soon, the words of Derek's affair at his son's birthday party would spread. That was exactly what I wanted—to ruin Derek and Daphne's reputation!'As I expected, there was already a chorus of laughter echoing around us."I really thought Derek spoiled her to the moon.""This is such a slap in the face. If my boyfriend dares to cheat, I'll go give him and his mistress a slap each.""Tsk, if your husband were Derek, would you do the same? To be Mrs. Greenwood is everyone's envy. I can imagine your regretful tears if he dumps youThe firewood in the stove crackled, illuminating Derek's momentarily pale face.He stared at the tips of his leather shoes, seeing only a blur of gray.The sensation of Tabitha's fingers grazing his collarbone that morning suddenly became vivid.How can a blind man compete with others? The thought stung his heart like a venomous needle. He clenched his pants leg fiercely, nails nearly piercing his thigh.A small hand suddenly covered his, Hedwig's thumb pressing gently into his taut tendons.Her palm, warm as a jade pendant, reminded him of nights when Tabitha would rest her feet on his stomach for warmth during her pregnancy.Derek took a deep breath and found a plump pea pod. As his nail pierced the pod, releasing its sweet juice onto his knuckle, Hedwig raced to the wooden bridge with her bamboo flute.The wooden planks resonated with her footsteps.Derek heard the rustle of her skirt as she sat and the soft inhalation befor
Jasper's voice carried across the room, "Alpha Derek, your words are quite ironic. If you truly loved her as you claim, how could you have hurt her? Isn't that contradictory?"Derek heard Jasper's footsteps approaching.When Jasper finally stopped, he leaned close, every word deliberate: "In my eyes, Alpha Derek, you're a hypocrite. What you had wasn't love. If I loved someone, I'd treat them like a treasure, never letting them get hurt. Alpha Derek, am I wrong?"Derek knew Jasper spoke of Tabitha. His past actions had given everyone ammunition to criticize him.Even if he had once doted on Tabitha, all people remembered were his wrongs.On this issue, whatever Derek said would backfire.Seeing Derek's silence, Jasper continued, "Don't think a few kind words can erase your past misdeeds. Life isn't that easy."Derek's fists clenched under the table.Knowing Jasper's identity and the weight of his words made them cut deeper.
After organizing his thoughts, Derek whispered a few words into Spike's ear. Spike looked reluctant and said with a pained expression, "Alpha Derek, this is too dangerous."Derek insisted, "Do as I say. You can't get the answer without risking the lamb."Spike was confused, completely unsure of who or what Derek was targeting.Derek stayed put in the room, making no sound.Meanwhile, Spike meticulously described the entire yard and its surroundings to Derek, even sketching a rough map on Derek's palm when detailing complex areas.Derek, with his sharp mind, quickly constructed a mental map.He then explored the room by touch, memorizing the positions and heights of the furniture."Alright, take me for a walk," Derek said.Spike led Derek slowly through the yard.From Spike's descriptions, Derek learned that Tabitha lived in the adjacent stilt house.Night had just fallen. Alma was pounding medicine in the yard, th
"Isn't it because I missed you? Tabitha, same as always tonight, okay?""Forget it. I've got a patient to tend to.""What patient could be more important than me?" His voice carried a whine.Derek ground his molars. "Same as always"—what on earth did that mean?He'd steeled himself countless times for the possibility that Tabitha had moved on, but now, confronted with reality, he knew heartache like never before.It mirrored the icy dread he'd felt when Tabitha had misunderstood him with Daphne years ago."God, I'm such an idiot," he cursed inwardly.The thought of Tabitha in another man's arms sent rage and grief surging through him.Hedwig's bell caught Jasper's attention. He'd been jogging toward them cheerfully but froze when he spotted the man beside her.Pointing at Derek, he asked Tabitha, "Is this the patient you mentioned?""Long story," Tabitha said.Judging by Tabitha's glance, Jasper dropp
Derek dared not move, savoring the tender moment.Soon, the child's hand retreated, and the sound of little footsteps headed toward Tabitha."Hungry?" Tabitha's voice was soft and gentle. "Alright, get the ingredients, and I'll make you candied hawthorn."The bells jingled merrily as Hedwig ran off.Suddenly, Derek sensed something near him—not human, but the sniff of an animal.His heart raced. Was it a wild beast?"Don't be afraid," Tabitha said. "It's just a fawn.""Are there deer here?""Of course. The mountain spring attracts many animals.""Any predators?"Tabitha's mind flickered with a memory. "There used to be, but not anymore."Ever since the leopard that had once protected her died, all the predators had fled into the deep mountains, never to return.Derek, unaware of this, simply marveled at the magic of the moment—animals seemed to sense Tabitha's aura. Even the timid fawn nu
"Close your eyes, I'm applying the medicine," she said.He propped his arm on the edge of the pool, and Tabitha knelt beside him, her long hair cascading down as she leaned forward.The faint scent of herbs grew stronger—Derek was certain she was the one who'd tended to him that night."This might feel a bit cold," Tabitha warned softly."Alright," he replied.Using a wooden stick, she spread the medicinal liquid evenly across his eyes and gently wrapped them with bandages. With his sight obscured, Derek's demeanor softened noticeably."I could see vague shapes before, but now I can't see a thing," he remarked."Once you recover, you can see anything you want," Tabitha assured him.Derek suddenly spoke, "Right now, the person I most want to see is you."Tabitha's heart skipped a beat. Derek added, "Without you this time, I'd probably be dead. You're my savior, and I'm truly grateful. I'll find a way to repay you on