Third person's POV
At the sound of the voice, Gloria's pupils dilated sharply, her face filled with terror and confusion. "Am I hallucinating? Why would I receive a call from heaven before I even get there?" Her body involuntarily shrank back, leaning against the bodyguard, her hands clutching his arm tightly.
"What heaven? Gloria, where are you? It's me. I'm not dead," Tabitha's voice carried a hint of urgency, her words spreading through the cold air with a tremor and ethereal quality.
Gloria looked at the bodyguard, her eyes wide. "Did you hear what she said?" Her eyes were filled with anticipation and unease, her lips trembling slightly.
The bodyguard, regardless of who was on the other end, noticed the drastic change in Gloria's expression and quickly played along, "She said she's not dead and asked where you are. What heaven?"
He raised his voice a bit so that those around could hear.
Gloria shot the bodyguard a fierce look, as if her
Third person's POV Gloria, still in her high heels, hurried towards Tabitha, arms wide open, and enveloped her in a tight embrace. "Tabitha, you scared the hell out of me. I really thought you..." Gloria's voice trembled, betraying a hint of fear she couldn't quite hide. "Sorry, it was an emergency," Tabitha responded, patting Gloria's back. Gloria held her close, scrutinizing her with a pained expression. "How thin you've become. Haven't you been eating properly? You're skin and bones." Tabitha reached out and pinched Gloria's cheek, smiling. "Don't talk about me. Look at you, busy with work, I bet?" Gloria's eyes flickered with a moment of discomfort. She turned her head, forcing an awkward expression. "Of course, I'm a corporate hotshot now." She tried to sound proud, but a touch of bitterness welled up inside her. "I always said you were the best," Tabitha looked at her, her eyes filled with encouragement. They stood there, hugging for a long time, catching up. Gloria the
Third person's POV Hearing Tabitha talking about him, Gloria was struck by the realization of how much time had passed since her last relationship. She paused for a moment, then feigned nonchalance, saying, "Why would I miss him? Wouldn't it be better to have money to support ten or eight muscular hunks? Why bother remembering his little love affairs? I'm a clear winner in life now. Women, we should focus on our careers, not fall into the trap of love." As she spoke, she exaggeratedly waved her arms, trying to make her words more convincing. Tabitha, hearing Gloria's words, couldn't help but smile, "Stop humiliating me, please." Upon reuniting with Tabitha, Gloria noticed a significant change in her. She had become much more cheerful and even joked with her from time to time. Gloria reached out and affectionately patted Tabitha's head. With a relieved smile on her face, she said, "My Tabitha has finally emerged from the shadows of that relationship. I'm so happy for you." "Yes
Third person's POVThey shared a laugh, and for a moment, it seemed as if time had reversed, bringing them back to the carefree and beautiful days of the past.However, deep down, they both knew that the past was gone and could never be returned to.Tabitha frowned, puzzled. "You always liked iced coffee, right? Why are you drinking hot tea now?"Gloria scratched her head, a bit embarrassed."Well, I was a bit too indulgent in my early years, always drinking iced coffee even in the dead of winter. The pain during my periods was unbearable. Now that I'm older, I've come to understand the importance of health. Look, I carry a thermos with me whenever I go out.""You should have done that long ago. I told you not to drink so much. As they say, people can't teach people. Experience teaches them in one go," Tabitha shook her head helplessly, speaking with a heavy heart.Gloria subconsciously touched her lower ab
Third person's POVTabitha closed the car door and through the rearview mirror, she saw Gloria standing quietly by the roadside, her gaze following the car with a complex array of emotions—reluctance, helplessness, and something else that Tabitha couldn't quite put her finger on.Seeing Gloria like that caused a pang of pain in Tabitha's heart.She suddenly understood the look of heartache and helplessness that Gloria had given her when she was going through her own emotional turmoil.'The world of adults is like that. When misfortune strikes, they often have to keep it hidden inside, unable to express their emotions as freely as children, who can cry or laugh at will.''As an onlooker, even if one's heart aches, there's nothing that can be done but to watch, which is both helpless and heart-wrenching.'It wasn't until the car had driven so far away that Gloria was out of sight that Tabitha withdrew her gaze.
Third person's POVDeep within her heart, she knew that if it weren't for Wilmot's relentless efforts to gather the funds and ransom her from that terrifying predicament, she would have been ruined, cast into an endless abyss of darkness from which she would never emerge."I failed to protect you, Ms. Hartley," Derek's voice was deep and hoarse, tinged with self-reproach.He had been standing there for some time, a thick layer of snow accumulating on his shoulders and hair, making him appear somewhat weary and forlorn.Tabitha walked slowly towards him, each step light and deliberate.Derek watched her approaching figure with an inexplicable sense of unease.His heart was in turmoil, wrestling with uncertainty over whether Tabitha had guessed his true identity and how she might react if she knew everything.Would she be angry and accusatory, or would she leave resolutely, or do something else he c
Third person's POVTabitha returned to her room and saw that Ayla had already fallen asleep. She picked up a warm towel and gently wiped Ayla's face and hands, her eyes filled with affection and tenderness.As she turned to leave, she glanced out the window and saw a figure standing under the streetlight—it was Wilmot.He stood there motionless, like a statue, gazing directly in her direction with a look of desolation and deep affection in his eyes.Tabitha's heart stirred slightly, and she thought to herself, why was he putting himself through this?Lovesickness had always been the most tormenting, the relentless pursuit of something unattainable only leading to heartache and exhaustion.Tabitha only took a quiet look before closing the curtains.She reminded herself that since she couldn't respond to him, she shouldn't leave any hope, not allowing him to fall deeper into this unrequited affection.
Third person's POV"Yes, Aiden is Aiden Greenwood, and I'm Noah Greenwood. Tabitha, don't you think it sounds great?"Noah's eyes sparkled with anticipation. He seemed to care deeply about Tabitha's opinion on the names.A ripple stirred in Tabitha's heart. She nodded and said, "Yes, it sounds nice. How have you been these years?""Great. Alpha Derek knew I liked to draw, so he specially hired a famous teacher to guide me and arranged this school for me. Now I've caught up with the normal students' progress and even got a guaranteed admission spot with a full scholarship."Noah's face was beaming with pride and gratitude, his eyes filled with dreams for the future.Tabitha raised her hand, intending to pat the teenager's hair as she used to, but found she needed to lift her hand a bit to reach. She smiled and said, "I always knew you were amazing. How about Aiden? How is he?""He never had an interest in wr
Third person's POV"Alpha Derek has put in a lot of effort. Now, the people on the island can continue their traditional way of life, fishing if they wish. If not, Alpha Derek has also provided a variety of job opportunities, and everyone feels life has become much better than before," Noah said as he walked with Tabitha, introducing the changes on the island.As soon as Tabitha set foot on the island, several women warmly surrounded her, asking about her well-being and offering Ayla candies, expressing their gratitude to Tabitha.They said that without her, they wouldn't have been able to enjoy the good life they had now.The small bungalow where Tabitha used to live, which was originally the largest building on the island, had been renovated to look like a charming guesthouse.An infinity pool had even been built on the rooftop, offering a breathtaking view of the ocean that was captivating."Aiden and I always
Third person's POVTabitha closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to calm her emotions. After a while, she opened her eyes again and asked, "Were you also involved that night on the boat?""Yes," Derek replied without hesitation."Is Wilmot your man?" Tabitha's voice carried a hint of doubt.Derek paused for a moment, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, before slowly answering, "Yes, I was just too worried about you, so I had him go to protect you.""Then do you know what we..." Tabitha's words were cut short as Derek suddenly slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a stop on the side of the road.He turned to look at Tabitha, his eyes filled with sincerity and urgency, and said, "Tabitha, I am very clear about what happened that night. He was there to help you."Tabitha did not believe Derek's words. Her eyes were filled with anger and disappointment as she shouted, "Wilmot disappeared as soon as he came back. Forrest told me last night that he was dying. Was that y
Third person's POVDerek never expected that as soon as Tabitha returned, he would receive a call from Gloria.On the other end of the line, Gloria's voice came through, "Tabitha wants to see you."Hearing this, Derek's heart sank, and he sighed, thinking to himself, 'I knew it. I couldn't hide it from her.'On an evening with snowflakes drifting down, the sky was shrouded in gloom, and the snow fell gently, covering the entire world in a silver-white veil.Tabitha wrapped her coat tightly and saw Derek again.Since her staged death, Tabitha had only seen Derek through news reports.Now, as she approached him, she was surprised to find that he had become much thinner, his figure appearing particularly frail.Derek was dressed in a black coat, leaning quietly against the car. In just a minute, snowflakes began to fall on his head, accumulating a thin layer of white snow.Tabitha took a deep breath, calming her emotions, and then walked towards Derek.Looking at Derek, her eyes carried
Third person's POVGloria held Helios on her lap, skillfully peeling a grape and feeding it to him, her experience with children evident."Feeling better now that it's out," she said, watching the child play quietly nearby.Tabitha casually inquired, "Why did you hold back on the day we met, only to tell me today?"Gloria had her excuse ready, responding, "You had just returned to the States, and I didn't know your situation. I was afraid it would cause you trouble."Tabitha peeled a few more grapes before setting them aside when Helios indicated he'd had enough.She then looked at Gloria and said slowly, "You weren't afraid of causing me trouble. You were afraid I would leave, weren't you?"Gloria was taken aback, about to argue, but Tabitha saw through her, "Every time you lie, you subconsciously avert your gaze, fearing I'll see through you."Gloria, in a fit of exasperation, covered her face with a blanket, "You two are tru
Third person's POVDerek's face contorted with pain as he continued, "After Tabitha faked her death, I suspected what had happened. I was torn at the time, wanting to bring her back, but I also understood that doing so would only repeat past mistakes. So, I protected her within my control and waited silently. Gloria, I swear, I won't hurt her again."A hint of pleading appeared on Derek's face as he went on, "I'm asking for your help not out of selfishness. Tabitha's illness isn't fully healed, her body hasn't recovered, and with two children in tow, she wouldn't be able to protect herself if danger arises."Gloria had never seen Derek so humble.She remembered how Derek had always approached her with a condescending attitude four years ago.Derek continued, "You are Tabitha's friend, and your starting point should be considering her safety, right? If I wanted to harm her, I could just bring her back directly, so why would I go through the trouble
Third person's POVThe two children were a blend of their parents. The girl resembled Derek, while the boy took after Tabitha, which was quite different from their brother, Kyrian.Derek thought to himself that if Kyrian knew he had two younger siblings, he would be thrilled.But when he considered his relationship with Tabitha, he sighed deeply, filled with regret for his past actions.At that moment, Alvin approached swiftly and reported, "Just received news from the island. Noah is taking Ayla away, and Lucian's direction also leads to the island. He plans to take Tabitha away."Derek, with his hands behind his back and a furrowed brow, spoke with a melancholic expression, "Lucian intends to take more than just Ayla—Tabitha as well. She has always sought opportunities to leave me, and this presents her with an excellent chance.""What should we do? Should we stop him now? Otherwise, with his capabilities, if he truly takes Tabitha a
Third person's POVPlans... Tabitha's original goal had been to find her two children and Jasper.The children were found, but Jasper was without a trace.However, she couldn't search aimlessly without a target.Thinking of Derek's anxious appearance last night, it was clear he still had feelings for her.Gloria's text warning Tabitha to be careful of Derek came to Tabitha's mind again.Tabitha felt she had overlooked some subtle details. What exactly had she missed?It seemed a key point was missing, and once found, it would connect all the events."I don't know. I just wanted to find the children, but I didn't expect to court death. And Derek's attitude towards me is ambiguous. Outside this cabin, I don't know what awaits me," Tabitha said, her face full of entanglement.Seeing her struggle, Lucian took a big gulp of mineral water and mustered the courage to say, "Have you severed ties with him?"Tabitha nodded,
Third person's POVDerek had painstakingly built up Tabitha's trust by posing as Wilmot.He knew that if she ever discovered his true identity, her anger would be immense, and the trust he had spent half a year constructing would crumble entirely.Derek continued, "Send someone to discreetly protect her without revealing themselves. Ayla is still on the island. Tabitha will go to see her."Rolf nodded in agreement, "Understood."Derek added with caution, "Remember, Lucian has a strong ability to detect surveillance, so do not get too close."Rolf responded, "Yes, Alpha Derek. We will handle it immediately."Turning to Alvin, Derek instructed, "Investigate the identities of those deceased men thoroughly."Derek pondered whether Tabitha's survival had been leaked, perhaps when she was seen on the boat.The assailants had been ruthless, and if not for Lucian's timely arrival, Tabitha could have been in grave danger. He had
Third person's POVForrest's voice was laced with worry, "Ms. Hartley, where are you now?"Tabitha had already settled her wages with Forrest before sending the children to the island. She couldn't fathom why he would contact her at this juncture.She couldn't help but feel puzzled.Tabitha inquired, "What's wrong?"Forrest replied, "Wilmot's had an accident. You need to come see him."Tabitha was still trying to make sense of Derek's appearance at the bar when she heard about Wilmot's predicament, and her heart immediately filled with worry.She quickly asked, "What happened to him?"Forrest explained, "Wilmot was already ill recently, and he drank a lot tonight. He's suffered from alcohol poisoning and has been taken to the hospital. He keeps asking to see you, Ms. Hartley. Where are you? Can you come to see him?"Tabitha thought to herself that even if she knew her current location, she couldn't just tell anyone.
Third person's POVTwo more gunshots rang out, the shooter's aim dead on as two more men fell to the ground.Tabitha saw a tall figure standing deep in the alley, shrouded in a cloak, making it impossible to discern who it was.Tabitha's mind raced with questions. Was he a friend or foe?The man removed his hat, revealing the distinctive totem mask beneath.Tabitha stared in disbelief and uttered, "Lucian, why are you here?""Long story. Come with me," Lucian said, grabbing Tabitha's hand and leading her away.They didn't get far before Tabitha glanced back to see Derek and Leopold rushing out of a bar together.Surprise washed over Tabitha. How could Derek be here?Her blood seemed to freeze. 'When did he return?'Lucian pulled Tabitha into a dilapidated black car that passed right in front of Derek.Leaning against the car window, Tabitha gazed at Derek, lost in thought.'If Leopold had arranged to