Daphne's POV
I also attended John's funeral.
Sitting in a wheelchair, I watched from a distance as Derek held an umbrella for Tabitha. The scene of them standing together while snow fell all around them looked so dreamlike as if they were the prince and princess in some fairy tale.
In the past few days, I asked Derek many times about John's whereabouts, but he never spilled a word.
It wasn't until this morning that I heard the news of John, yet, it was about his death.
I couldn't even get to say goodbye to him before he died, and he never knew that I was his biological daughter.
Derek was ruthless indeed.
It was the punishment for my sin, he said.
But what did I do wrong?
I'd been kept in the dark for so many years. And now, both of my parents tragically died because of me, and I was tormented by guilt every single day.
At first, I felt like the luckiest person on earth.
I had a venerable father, a loving mother, and a caring fiancé-to-be, who always stood up for me.
But in just one year, my world was turned upside down.
The Amber's Eye Pack fell apart; Derek and I broke off our engagement; my parents passed away; and I'd been confined to a wheelchair.
Snapping back to reality, I gave a bitter smile and had someone push me to Tabitha's side.
Looking at her delicate face, I thought, 'This bitch looks even more attractive now.'
"Are you happy now?" I snapped.
Hearing my voice, Tabitha, who seemed immersed in sorrow, turned her head.
The minute she met my gaze, the sadness in her eyes disappeared.
She spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Happy? What am I supposed to be happy about? That you knew your blood could save Holly, but you chose to keep it a secret and even fed her poison that sped up her death? Or that you triggered Dad's relapse when he was getting better? You're the one who made my life hell. What do you want me to be happy about?"
I knew I messed up everything. But hearing Tabitha's accusation just made me furious instead of ashamed.
I yelled at her, "You must've said something to Derek to keep me away from Dad. You're so cruel, not even allowing me to see him before he died! I'm his biological daughter!"
She just gave me a cold sneer in response, not bothering to explain herself.
Wiping away the last tear from the corner of her eye, Tabitha stood up and walked toward me slowly. Then, she placed her hands on both sides of my wheelchair, her gaze icy as she said, "So what? I am his daughter, not you. If anyone gets to say goodbye to him before he died, it should be me. You don't deserve to do that."
Overwhelmed by fury, I swung my hand toward her face.
Just a year ago, I could've easily humiliated her however I wanted. But now, she seemed like a completely different person.
Before my hand could land on her cheek, she grabbed my wrist.
Feeling the pain, I grimaced.
In desperation, I turned to Derek for help. "Derek, look at her..."
But hearing my pitiful voice, Derek, who used to side with me every time, furrowed his brows and looked at me with indifference.
"Daphne, I've warned you. My patience for you is limited."
"Derek, how can you treat me like this?" I murmured in disbelief.
"Why can't I? Don't forget, you're not the one I'm indebted to." With that, he gave me a cold glare before leaving with Tabitha.
In a fit of rage, I lunged toward them but ended up crashing into the snow instead.
The freezing snowflakes slapped against my face wildly as if mocking me.
I crawled forward like a stray dog, shouting nonstop, "Derek, I fell! Please come and help me up!"
My wolf roared in my heart, "Why did everything end up like this? No! This isn't fair!"