Third person's POV
Sunlight gently poured in from the window, casting a warm golden glow on Derek as he sat against the light. He was like a deity.
His rugged features appeared unusually tender in the halo of light. He sat quietly, surrounded by fine particles of dust dancing in the sunlight.
For a moment, time seemed to reverse, as if returning to the day they first met.
However, just a few years had passed. An insurmountable chasm now lay between them. The beauty of the past was gone.
Long silence replaced the greetings that should have followed their reunion. Derek was filled with anxiety and lacked confidence.
"Have you remembered everything?" he broke the silence first.
"Yes." Tabitha's gaze had changed, becoming rigid and indifferent. She said bluntly, "Derek, if you have a shred of conscience, just let me go."
A bitter and helpless smile played on Derek's lips.
As expected, the first thing she wanted to do after regaining her memory was to escape from him.
"Tabitha, I know you hate me. But your current condition is terrible. It's not that I don't want to let you go. I can't. I promise you, once you recover, I will give you your freedom. For now, I hope you can continue the treatment."
Tabitha sneered, "If I really recover, will you let me go?"
Her question echoed like a bell in a church, resonating in the silent space, striking the soul, and forcing Derek to confront it.
Her voice held immense power, threatening to shatter his self-deceptive fantasies.
Just as Derek understood her, she also knew Derek well.
If it weren't for her being on the brink of death, he wouldn't have restored her memory. Even if there were a day of recovery, he wouldn't easily let go.
"I will," Derek leaned forward, his gaze locked onto her eyes, and said emphatically, "As long as you can survive, I will let you leave."
He continued, "But not now. Your body is too weak. You need to rest here. Are you hungry? I'll have Jenny..."
Tabitha interrupted him without hesitation, "Derek, I ask for nothing but for you to let me go..."
Derek's steps faltered slightly, then he quickened his pace and left.
He gently closed the door behind him, leaving Tabitha alone in the bed.
The vast villa now felt like a giant cage, tightly binding her.
She didn't deny Derek's love for her. But that love was like a heavy chain, tightly binding her, making it hard to escape and nearly suffocating.
Although her memory had returned, her condition hadn't improved. Tabitha felt like a flower gradually withering.
Perhaps to avoid upsetting her, Derek disappeared again. Jenny entered with food, "Luna Tabitha, how are you feeling?"
"I want to see Dr. Romero."
"Alright, I'll call him right away."
Orson hurried over, "Are you feeling unwell again?"
Tabitha looked at him quietly, "Orson, long time no see."
Orson understood from her gaze, "Tabitha, have you remembered everything?"
"Yes. Orson, how much time do I have left?" Derek hadn't told her the truth to prevent her from worrying, but Tabitha already had a hunch that her days were numbered.
"Don't think too much, Tabitha."
"Orson, just tell me. I'm prepared."
"Half a month to a month," Orson sighed helplessly, "The chemotherapy this time was ineffective. The wolfsbane in your body is highly active, and it has already metastasized."
"Half a month, right?" A flicker of determination flashed in Tabitha's eyes. She didn't want to die now.
She hadn't found the murderer of her child. How could she just die like this?
"Tabitha, don't be stressed. Cancer mainly depends on your own resistance. Just like two years ago, didn't you get through it with your own resistance? Believe in yourself."
"Thank you, Orson." Tabitha remembered the medicine Jasper had given her, wondering if it was still on the island.
Even though the hope of survival was extremely slim, she had to hold on tightly.