Tabitha's POV
I didn't want Daphne to think Derek was the reason why I was here.
If I got kicked out of the company, my investigation would be ruined.
Given my current situation, I didn't know how long I had left. I had to seize every chance I got.
Thinking that, I quickly got up and wanted to leave through the side door. Too bad Daphne was already here and saw me.
"Excuse me. Miss?"
I walked faster as soon as I heard her phony voice.
However, Emma dragged me back in order to impress Daphne. What a dumbass!
"Why were you running? Didn't you hear the future Mrs. Greenwood was talking to you?"
I felt speechless for a second. Emma had no idea how awkward things would be if I was face-to-face with Daphne.
"Sorry. She has only joined us recently. She was in a hurry to the bathroom."
Emma was "kind" enough to explain for my sake.
Daphne said, "Raise your head."
I had no choice but to look up. Our eyes met, and immediately, Daphne took a deep breath. She was furious.
I didn't want others to know about our relationship, so I greeted her.
Emma whispered, "Do you know Tabitha?"
Only then did Daphne come to her senses. She said without hesitation, "No."
Then she kindly said, "Come on, everyone. Enjoy some cake."
"Look at that! Daphne, you're so thoughtful. It looks great."
"And the gifts you brought are so high-end and exquisite! Mrs. Greenwood, you and Mr. Greenwood are so perfect for each other. A great life is ahead of you."
Everyone kept complimenting Daphne, and she took a gift out of the basket and stuffed it into my hand.
"Tabitha, right? Here's your share. Can Derek and I have your blessing, too?"
Looking at the initials of their names on the gift, I felt bitter.
"Of course. Miss Sutton, I'm sure Mr. Greenwood and you will grow old together happily."
Daphne grabbed my hand. "Thanks. By the way, guys, if you're available, you're all welcome to join our engagement party."
"Really? We're invited?"
"Of course. The more the merrier. Derek loves being around people. Our engagement party is big."
"You're so lucky, Miss Sutton! Mr. Greenwood loves you so much."
People's voices flooded me, stabbing my heart hard as if they were knives.
I was never in a position to make a show of affection like Daphne.
Derek used to dote on me, but he offered Daphne a title.
While everyone else was surrounding her, I left quietly.
The afternoon sun was somewhat scorching, and it shone so brightly on the gift.
On the packaging of the gift box, two cartoon figures, a man and woman, one in a tuxedo and one in a wedding dress, were snuggling under a blooming cherry blossom tree kissing with their ten fingers clasped. It was so romantic.
In fact, I had also thought about my gifts for the others when Derek and I got married. I even designed several versions of them.
But when I cheerfully showed them to Derek, he lowered his head and didn't look exactly happy.
He stroked my head and said, "Sorry. A wedding isn't part of my plan. So, the gifts..."
"Why?" I asked cautiously.
"You know about my identities. Things might get tricky."
His few words shattered everything.
Indeed. He had more than one identity, and I never dared to ask.
So, I didn't get upset at all. I accepted right away, saying, "Alright then. Forget about the wedding. I'm marrying you, not the wedding anyway."
"Sorry. Give me a few years till I settle everything. Then I'll make sure that everyone in the world knows that you're my Luna, the Luna of the Black Thorn Pack."
Yet in the end, it was Daphne, not me.
I opened the gift box. Inside were neatly arranged imported chocolates, a bottle of branded perfume, and an everlasting flower.
Daphne was so generous.
Soon, the gifts she had given out for their engagement went viral online, and everyone was envious of her. They kept praising her for how generous she was.
I chuckled as I looked at the trending topics.
She couldn't wait to let everyone know her identity, could she?
And apparently, she had got Derek's permission to do so. On the contrary, back then, I even had to beg him for a long time just to take a wedding photo together with me.
I unwrapped a piece of chocolate and put it in my mouth. As I tasted the rich, silky chocolate, I felt bitter somehow.
Why was it so bitter when it should be sweet?
While I was lost in thought, someone tossed a stack of planning proposals in front of me.
Emma said, all high and mighty, "Ms. Mendoza asked you to send these proposals to Mr. Greenwood. Just a heads-up. Think before you talk. Don't throw our efforts down the drain."
I came back to my senses and got all defensive right away. "If I were you, I'd be nicer. Otherwise... Who knows what I'm gonna say to Derek? At worst, we'll go down together."
"You! Tabitha!"
I got up and grabbed the proposals. "By the way, when I come back, I want a Meteor Latte. Easy on the sugar, no ice. Thanks."
Emma made the same quest on my first day. I did as she asked, thinking that we were colleagues.
Yet now, given how nasty things had become between us, I didn't even bother to maintain the superficial friendliness. I left with the proposals.
Now that I had come here a few times, I was more or less familiar with the way. I politely knocked on the door.
Someone inside said, "Come in."
Then I slowly pushed the door open and entered. Derek was leaning back in the chair, his eyes tightly closed, looking exhausted.
He placed his hands on the desk. I keenly noticed that one of his palms was wrapped in gauze.
He was hurt?
I couldn't help but ask Crystal in my mind.
After a while of silence, Crystal said, "Leo refuses to respond to me."
I immediately became worried.
Crystal continued, "We refused to be marked and aren't part of his pack. It's hard for me to talk to Leo."
After saying that, she fell asleep again.