Third person's POV
Noticing his pause, Tabitha casually asked, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Derek replied, his touch becoming even more delicate, as if afraid to apply the slightest pressure.
Yet, strands of hair still fell away.
Derek's mind wandered back to two years prior when Tabitha had been poisoned with wolfsbane.
In the past, when she was at her weakest, he couldn't be by her side. This time, no matter what, Derek vowed to stay with her.
He gently flicked Tabitha's hair twice with his hand and draped a coat over her.
He lifted her and settled her into a wheelchair.
Before departing, he instructed someone to change the bedding.
Every girl loved beauty. He recalled how Tabitha had cherished her long hair when they were close.
Back then, she was adorned in an elegant dress, her hair tied up with a beautiful hairband.
He vividly remembered the proud look on her face when she claimed she could tie her hair up with a hairband using just one hand.
Tabitha used to be talkative, but now she was silent. She stared straight ahead, her thoughts inscrutable.
Derek pushed her into the shade of a tree, before which a lawn stretched where patients and their families lazily basked in the sun.
Birds on the branches chirped joyfully, against a backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, making the world seem beautiful.
Suddenly, a small yellow ball rolled to Tabitha's feet, featuring a cartoon animal with big eyes and a wide smile.
"Mom..." A crisp and clear child's voice rang out.
Tabitha looked up to see a little boy running toward her, dressed in a shirt, a bowtie, and overalls.
That day, they hastily said goodbye in the hall. The little boy's smiling face became even clearer under the sunlight.
"Is he Kyrian?" Tabitha asked.
"Yes. You were the one who chose this name," Derek responded.
Kyrian could now run freely, his short legs carrying him quickly, and soon he stood before Tabitha.
"Mom." The little one reached out, his hand small and soft in hers, like a marshmallow that could be crushed with the slightest pressure.
As a mother, the term "mom" was irresistible to Tabitha, and her heart instantly softened.
It was a maternal instinct. Even without memories, she felt a surge of tenderness at the sight of the little one.
But as soon as she recalled Zander's words, the tenderness on her face vanished. She withdrew her hand and said coldly, "I am not your mother."
Kyrian didn't understand what he had done wrong. He had finally gotten the chance to see his mother.
Why didn't Tabitha hug him anymore when she used to?
She didn't even smile at him, and she was still so fierce.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and his little mouth trembled as he said sadly, "Mom, you are my mom."
Tabitha turned to Derek, her gaze fierce. "Are you sick? It was bad enough that you conspired with your family to deceive me before, but now you won't even spare a child? He's so young, and you're encouraging him to lie and abandon his own biological mother just to please me. You truly amaze me."
"Tabitha, don't misunderstand. I didn't deceive you. He really is your son."
As he finished speaking, a child's voice, barely audible, echoed with a plea. "Daddy..."
Reid had arrived unnoticed, reaching out to tug at Derek's clothes, biting his lip with a pitiful expression.
Not far away, Daphne sat in a wheelchair, watching the scene unfold.
Tabitha's gaze fell on Reid's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Daphne.
So these were twins, one resembling Derek and the other their mother.
She forcefully propped herself up on the armrest and slapped Derek's face hard, saying, "Scumbag, get out of here!"