Third person's POV
Chloe had been Daphne's side for years, yet she had never witnessed Daphne in such a state of humility and despair.
Daphne's tears flowed incessantly as she sobbed, "I'm parentless, homeless, and I'll never rise again in this life. All I have left are these two children. If Derek finds out, he'll never let me see them."
With a desperate grip on Chloe's pant leg, Daphne pleaded with a struggle that was palpable. Chloe could only muster a weak assurance, "This won't happen again."
With those words, she left, cradling Kyrian in her arms. As she used eggs to reduce Kyrian's swelling, she couldn't help but think how absurd it was. Where in the world could a mother be so ruthless with her own son?
"Does it hurt?"
Kyrian simply shook his head, his silence speaking volumes. The desolation in his eyes made Chloe feel sorry for him.
Chloe let out a sigh. It was all too much.
Tabitha's illness had thrown the Greenwood family into disarray.
Derek returned to the villa and found Alpha Elliott sitting under the apple tree, muttering something to himself.
"Did Grandpa's illness relapse?"
"Yeah, ever since Luna Erin passed away, Alpha Elliott's health has been unstable. It was improving for a while, but then Tabitha's troubles struck again," came the response, followed by a sigh.
The apples were not yet ripe, but Alpha Elliott stared at the tree intently.
"Grandpa, what were you looking at?"
"I was waiting for the dates to ripen."
Derek was puzzled and asked, "Truman, did Grandpa like to eat dates?"
"I rarely saw him like this when he was lucid, but during his seizures, he'd often sit under the apple tree. Speaking of which, he planted these few red apple trees a couple of years ago. He loved to daydream beneath it."
"Did Grandma like to eat them?"
"Luna Erin used to eat some now and then, but she wasn't particularly fond of them."
Derek approached Alpha Elliott, hearing him mutter, "You tree, hurry up and bear fruit. Once it does, I can give it to Shana."
Shana?
Derek's expression shifted. He sensed something amiss with Alpha Elliott.
"Who is Shana?" he asked quietly.
"Shana is Shana, you know. She was the most beautiful girl in the world," Alpha Elliott said, his face taking on the glow of a young man in love, even a hint of a blush appearing on his weathered cheeks.
"Do you like Shana?"
"Shana is so beautiful. Every man likes her. Sadly, she doesn't like me." A flicker of sorrow passed through Alpha Elliott's eyes.
Derek pulled out Tabitha's photo and asked, "Is she Shana?"
"Shana..." Alpha Elliott blushed, but quickly retorted, "She wasn't Shana."
Tabitha and Shana bore a 70% resemblance, especially from certain angles, yet Alpha Elliott recognized her instantly, indicating his deep affection for this woman.
If Derek wasn't mistaken, before meeting Erin, Shana must have been the woman Alpha Elliott loved.
The most unforgettable thing for a man was his first crush, just like when Derek caught a glimpse of Tabitha back then, and the rest of his life was all about Tabitha.
In his confused state, Alpha Elliott had forgotten the present. His memories instead fixated on his first crush from the past.
No wonder Alpha Elliott would deny knowing Shana. Who would discuss their first crush with their own descendants?
To glean more information from Alpha Elliott, Derek continued, "What is Shana's full name? Which wolf pack does she belong to?"
Alpha Elliott looked at him warily. "What? Do you like Shana too? I'm not telling you."
Words failed Derek.
He softened his tone and said, "Grandpa, if you know anything about Shana, please tell me. If we can find her family for Tabitha, she will have the motivation to keep going."