Third person's POV
Derek's fingers dug tightly into the armrests of his chair. During the time Tabitha had been taken from him, he worried about what might have been done to her and the child.
Although he was aware of the rule that "merchandise" must be kept clean before delivery, he couldn't help but feel anxious.
When the host announced the first item for auction, his heart raced, and he breathed a sigh of relief when it had nothing to do with Tabitha.
It seemed as if he had imagined Matilda would save Tabitha for last.
His grip on the armrests tightened.
As time ticked by, the audience's enthusiasm for the early items was lackluster, their attention fixed on the finale. They had been promised something special, and they were waiting for it.
Forrest passed Derek water a few times, but he didn't take a sip.
When it came to the grand finale, Matilda made her personal appearance.
She wore a red, form-fitting dress and hig
Third person's POVDerek took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.Tabitha and Ayla, dressed in silver gowns, appeared grand, vintage, and exquisite.With silver chains as accessories, they had a unique beauty.Ayla's face was unobstructed.When her innocent and angelic face appeared on the large screen, many were captivated by her heavenly appearance.She wasn't drugged, her large eyes clear and bright.Adorned with crystal and feather headpieces, she looked like an exotic princess.Her innocent eyes didn't understand what was happening. She didn't cry but stared curiously at everything around her, like a curious fawn that had wandered into a den of wolves.Her tender pink lips were slightly parted, and Derek could read her lips from the screen."Mommy, Wilmot."Derek's fingers had already touched his weapon. At this moment, he wished he could draw it out and shoot Matilda on the spot.The r
Third person's POVMatilda was eagerly anticipating the sight of Derek's frustration and agony.The conditions she set were deliberately tricky. If Derek didn't pay, there would certainly be other men willing to bid.Thus, the initial unmasking fee was a must for Derek.The ten million was merely the starting price and, in reality, a clever way for Matilda to test the depth of Derek's wealth.She pondered to herself that if Derek could easily come up with the money, it would only buy a kiss, and the subsequent bidding for the right to use would undoubtedly require an astronomical sum. What would he use to continue competing then?On the other hand, if he saved the money for the later bidding, Tabitha would inevitably be kissed by other men.No matter how Derek chose, Matilda was determined to disgust him thoroughly and make him suffer in this cruel game.However, despite all her scheming, Matilda never expected that Derek had b
Third person's POVIn this social circle, it was well known that Baxter Rios was always keen on various entertainment activities and was notorious for his indulgence in them.The Rios family was wealthy and had a deep foundation that left many in awe. However, when it came to certain matters, Mr. Rios was known to be particularly stubborn.Derek was deeply concerned. He really didn't want to get entangled with the Rios family.He was well aware that once things got out of control, the elder of the Rios family, Spike Rios, would become an extremely troublesome problem.Standing in the corner, his brows furrowed and his eyes filled with worry, he occasionally looked warily towards the direction of the bidding.At this moment, Derek's hands unconsciously clenched and relaxed, his inner unease surging like tidal waves.At this time, only Mr. Rios was still continuously raising the bid, and just for the cost of unmasking, it had soared all
Third person's POVThe intense spotlight shone directly on Tabitha's face, highlighting her slender figure and accentuating the delicate depth of her features.Derek, who had always known of Tabitha's exceptional beauty, nearly lost his breath at the sight of her under the spotlight, his heart pounding with a mix of awe and admiration.Tabitha's eyes were adorned with silver contacts, a touch that transformed her entire aura, setting her apart from the woman he knew.The subtle shimmer of glitter on her exposed skin conjured images in Derek's mind of a mysterious mermaid stranded on the shore."Damn it, I should have kept bidding," Baxter muttered, his face a mix of annoyance and regret.The person beside him quickly offered consolation, "Mr. Rios, while the woman is indeed stunning, she's not an innocent young girl, as you can see from the age of her daughter. It's just a kiss; what does it matter? Once you have her in your grasp, you can d
Third person's POVHer words, laced with provocation and temptation, were like adding fuel to the fire, causing the flames of Derek's long-suppressed anger to burn even more fiercely.Matilda seemed to be walking further and further down a dangerous path from which there seemed to be no return.Forrest did his best to hold Derek back, preventing him from acting impulsively, while silently praying for Matilda.His demeanor was akin to lighting a stick of incense that foretold impending misfortune for her.He knew all too well that the higher she climbed, the harder her fall would be.Under Matilda's inflammatory rhetoric, the crowd began a new round of fierce bidding.This round was significantly more intense than before. The starting price was set at ten million dollars, but it doubled rapidly as if by magic, soaring to forty million dollars in the blink of an eye and continuing to rise like a rocket.The giant electronic scree
Third person's POVThe entire venue erupted into an uproar as if a bomb had been detonated, shockwaves rippling through the crowd.Minds raced with speculation—where had this ultra-wealthy individual come from, willing to spend a staggering three hundred million dollars on a woman?Was this person out of his mind?This was Derek's first time bidding, and Matilda, who had been eagerly anticipating a chance to mock him after the auction, was caught off guard by the swift turn of events.Three hundred million dollars—did he even comprehend the magnitude of such a sum?"Sir, we have very strict penalties on this ship for the act of bidding falsely," Matilda warned through gritted teeth, her tone laced with a hint of menace.Derek calmly lowered his head, quickly wrote out a check, and held it between his fingers with an air of composure. "Here's three hundred million dollars."There was a bank on the ship, operating aro
Third person's POVDespite the overwhelming sense of shame, Tabitha found herself with little choice in the urgency of the moment.Her only thought was to shield her face, unwilling to let anyone catch a glimpse.The long dress cascaded down like a waterfall, making her appear as a wounded mermaid, pitifully appealing.Derek strode forward with determined steps, swiftly leading her away from the venue.Forrest followed closely behind, carefully holding Ayla and matching their pace."Get the doctor over here right away," Derek commanded urgently."Yes, Alpha Derek," Forrest responded promptly.Derek's mind was a whirlwind of turmoil. His desire for Tabitha was undeniable, but not under the current humiliating and perilous circumstances.Moreover, he was uncertain about the exact nature of the drugs Matilda had administered to Tabitha and the potential harm they might inflict.As the doctor conducted a thorough exam
Third person's POVForrest's eyes widened in sudden realization, his voice tense as he spoke, "Alpha Derek, you don't mean the ship's owner is..."He cast a wary glance around, checking for any surveillance cameras.Derek nonchalantly extinguished his cigarette, his tone affirmative. "Relax, I disabled all the cameras around us as soon as we boarded. Yes, it's him. He's determined to see me dead."A salty sea breeze swept over them, raising goosebumps on Forrest's skin.He had only ever known to follow Derek's orders, completely unaware of the intricate web of schemes and calculations hidden beneath.What kind of difficult and perilous situation was Derek in?Besides the discord within his family, he also faced fierce competition and endless machinations in his professional life."Alpha Derek, how should we proceed now?" Forrest asked, his face etched with confusion.Derek's gaze was deep and dark, his voice as cold as i
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
Third person's POVLeopold carefully compared the photos. Although the person in the photos was dressed differently and had a different appearance, the body shape and the action of holding things with the left hand were identical.Derek became alert, thinking to himself, "People like us are more sensitive than ordinary people. Such photos wouldn't catch the attention of most, but I've noticed something.""Where's the negative?" Derek asked."I'll have it sent over right away," Leopold replied."And Tabitha?" Derek inquired again."Don't worry, she followed me to the bar. She's in the lobby outside. I have my bodyguards keeping an eye on her," Leopold said.Tabitha had been following Leopold for several days, and Derek, concerned about his own people being exposed, asked Leopold's men to watch her.She maintained a simple daily routine without any issues.However, the photos now revealed to Derek that someone was tracking
The next day, Tabitha began to investigate Leopold's movements meticulously.For several days, she did not dare to slack off. Gloria, who had recently suffered a miscarriage, had been recuperating in Leopold's home, not venturing out.A tight-lipped woman handled the daily tasks of shopping, cooking, and cleaning.Despite Tabitha's attempts to get close to her, she couldn't extract any information.As a week passed, it had been half a month since Gloria's miscarriage, and by her nature, she should soon be able to go out.On the sixth day of tracking Leopold, he called Derek out for drinks.He rubbed his temple, looking troubled, "Your mate, doesn't she think she's disguising herself well?"With that, Leopold threw out a stack of photos, all of which were taken while Tabitha was following him.Tabitha's curious little head appeared adorable in the photos."Or do you think I'm so idle that I play house with her every day?"
Third person's POVAlpha Leopold took out a sapphire necklace from his pocket and placed it around Gloria's neck, his face instantly returning to that tender expression."Look, it suits you so well. Don't worry, whoever harmed our child will never see the sun again. Be good, take care of yourself, and don't think about anything else," he said.Gloria's face was devoid of any color, her back already soaked with cold sweat, chilling her. Cold sweat also beaded on her forehead, trickling down her cheeks.Her body trembled, filled with fear and despair, unsure of how to face this mad and cruel man.As a mother who had experienced the pain of losing a child twice, Tabitha was heartbroken and worried when she learned about what had happened to Gloria.Given Gloria's character, if her relationship with Leopold was normal, she would have informed Tabitha even if she had lost the child.Her silence largely indicated that her relationship with