Tabitha's POV
That comment instantly brought me to my senses.
Indeed, all the information I'd gathered since I came around pointed to one thing: Derek and I were totally in love.
Everything looked like a perfect gift box, flawless and incredibly beautiful on the outside.
Even though Derek explained to me that I lost my pups by accident, what about my right hand?
While showering, I noticed a bunch of cuts and scars on my body. They were not fatal injuries but rather seemed like scratches, grazes, or bruises.
Apart from that, there was an unhealed cut on my abdomen.
And it looked kinda dark around the edges.
My palms were covered in calluses, and my figure looked nice but not in a fragile way.
Most of those injuries seemed fresh, which didn't match up with Derek's claim that I was just a housewife. I must've been hitting the gym hard to get this body and all the injuries.
Suddenly, I remembered that there were only Derek and a couple of pack guards on my contact list.
Plus, my phone looked brand new. Maybe even my number got changed.
My past seemed to have been erased, with no trace left behind.
At the thought of this, I immediately became fully alert.
"It's so late now. What are you reading?" A hand suddenly reached out from behind me.
Startled, I quickly locked my screen and shoved the phone under my pillow.
Trying to calm myself down, I replied, "Nothing. Just reading some short stories. Did I wake you up?"
Derek leaned over, his hot chest pressing against my back. Yet, I only felt a chill down my spine.
It was like when I was about to finish reading a crime novel, I found the killer right behind me.
I tensed up all over, even holding my breath.
I thought Derek had sensed how stiff I'd gotten, but he just answered lightly, "No. It's just looking at your phone with the lights off is bad for your eyes. Let's go to sleep now."
With that, he casually pulled me into his arms. My limbs felt frozen, and I didn't know what to do.
All I could think about was that phrase—he must be after something.
I pondered to myself, 'But he's my mate. What could he want from me? As far as I know, I'm penniless.
'Did my dad leave me some huge inheritance before he passed away so Derek wants to kill me to get that money?
'Or maybe he can only get that money when I'm still alive, so he's been pretending to be nice to me.
'Perhaps he's got a side piece already. And he's just waiting for his chance to scam me out of cash. After it's done, he'll ditch me and flee with his lover.
'That must be it! That's how the plot in the short story goes!'
With thoughts of Derek scheming against me filling my mind, I started shaking uncontrollably.
Just then, he whispered in my ear, "Can't sleep?"
To me, it sounded like the last sweet words from a killer before sending their victim off into oblivion.
I murmured in reply, "I might've slept too long earlier."
After a pause, I asked cautiously, "Um... Did my dad leave me anything before he passed away?"
"Yep. I'll take you to get them another day."
Hearing this, I thought to myself, 'Gotcha! He's probably gonna get me killed the moment I sign those papers.'
"If you can't sleep, I can read you a story. Do you prefer Cinderella or Snow White?" he asked again.
I snorted, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old kid?"
His low chuckle vibrated through his chest against mine.
I cursed in my heart, 'Damn it. Why is he so sexy even when he's laughing?'
Then, he began to read me a bedtime story even though I asked him not to. Ten minutes later, I fell asleep in his arms.
Derek's POV
As I gently brushed my fingertips across Tabitha's face, I sighed resignedly in my heart, 'My silly girl, you still wear your heart on your sleeve just like before.'
After confirming that she had fallen asleep, I snagged her phone from under her pillow and scrolled through her browsing history until I found that post.
She used to like writing diaries. But I never thought she'd keep that habit alive and even post our personal matters online.
But since she didn't expose any personal information, it was fine. Then, I stared at the last comment, deep in thought.