Third person's POV
Tabitha replied lightly, "I guess she was really desperate. Who else would steal flowers from a hospital unless they had no other options?"
"I see too many oddballs these days, folks who've lost their moral compass. Ms. Hartley, you get some good rest now," the head nurse said as she closed the door behind her and stepped out.
Before long, Tabitha felt her eyelids growing heavy, and she thought she heard the door creak open once more.
She was swallowed by sleepiness and wasn't paying much attention. There were no footsteps, just the soft rustling around her, like the stealthy movements of little mice.
What was suddenly on her head? It was not a doctor, was it?
Tabitha opened her eyes and met a pair of round, shiny eyes.
The small, delicate face loomed closer, and when Tabitha woke up, the little one looked quite embarrassed.
"Mom, a flower wreath." Kyrian struggled to straighten the flower wreath, his small hands still stiff in place.
"It's you," Tabitha murmured, her eyes landing on the flower wreath in Kyrian's hand, a hint of bewilderment in her gaze.
Could it be that the flower thief that the head nurse just complained about was Derek and Kyrian?
Tabitha was a bit speechless. What on earth were these two up to?
Kyrian carefully hoisted himself onto the cot. Noticing that Tabitha's expression wasn't as stern as it had been, he leaped into her embrace and said, "Mom, I miss you."
Tabitha's heart felt as if it had been pierced, melting for a moment before the ache returned.
She was puzzled why the little one called her "mom", yet she was certain he wasn't her own child.
But there he was, so endearing that Tabitha's heart was melting.
The little one knelt on the bed, placing the flower wreath on her head with a solemn air. His lips curled into a bright smile and the dimples on his cheeks were really eye-catching.
"Mom, get well soon."
Tabitha couldn't stay mad at him anymore. Such an innocent smile, untainted by any impurities.
Tabitha nodded inexplicably, and the little one was thrilled. He planted a kiss on her cheek and then took off running.
Derek had said not to disturb Tabitha's rest, and the little one remembered his words.
Tabitha touched the flower wreath on her head and felt a familiar sensation welling up in her heart.
In the end, she didn't throw it away but placed it by her pillow, where she could see it as soon as she opened her eyes.
Kyrian was sent back home, and today he saw Tabitha, which made Kyrian very happy.
In the room, Reid was playing with a robot. When he saw Kyrian come back, he greeted Kyrian proactively, saying, "Kyrian, let's play together."
"This is for kids to play with, and I don't want it," Kyrian pouted, his lips turned up to the sky. "I want to learn how to shoot a gun so I can protect my mom when I grow up."
Chloe cleared her throat. "Kyrian, you must be hungry after getting back. Why don't you eat something first?"
All of a sudden, Daphne appeared at the door, her eyes locked on Kyrian.
"Kyrian, come here. I have something to tell you."
Chloe accompanied him into the room, and Daphne coldly ordered, "You go out and prepare dinner for Kyrian first."
Chloe felt a bit strange, but she didn't dare to go against Daphne's will.
"Yes."
The door closed, and Daphne waved at Kyrian, "Come here."
Kyrian instinctively felt wary of her. Daphne stared at the face that was almost identical to Derek's.
She found it increasingly strange in her heart. While Randall and Derek bore some resemblance, how could his child be such a spitting image of Derek?
Had she not witnessed her own child being born that day, she would have thought this was Tabitha's child.
After all, this child was not at all close to her.
Daphne smiled gently at Kyrian and said, "Good boy, call me Mom."
Since he was born, Kyrian had never called her Mom. At first, she thought Kyrian might have some speech impediment, but at the hospital, she distinctly heard him calling Tabitha Mom.
Daphne patiently guided him over and over again, but Kyrian just wouldn't comply.
Finally, she lost control and slapped Kyrian in the face. "You little beast. I'm the one who gave birth to you. You don't call me 'Mom, but you call that woman? I swear, I could just beat you to death."