Third person's POV
Bright red blood splashed before Tabitha's eyes, like a red rose in full bloom.
The scene instantly brought back memories of the day Joanna passed away. The parallels were chilling, and for a moment, she felt as if she were reliving that horrific day.
She stood there, dazed, her eyes widened.
Just this morning, Tucker had been nestled in her arms. But now, he lay lifelessly at her feet, dark blood flowing from his mouth and nose.
Tabitha, in a daze, squatted down as if on autopilot. 'This had to be a dream, it had to be.'
"Tucker, wake up. You're freaking me out," her voice trembled, pitch altering. She reached out to pick up Tucker, but Derek pulled her into his arms.
"Tabitha, don't touch him! Tucker has been poisoned." The blood was not the bright red of a healthy animal but a dark, tar-like black that spoke of a sinister toxin.
Tabitha had lost her composure. She lunged toward Tucker, yelling, "Tucker, wake up, open your eyes and look at me!"
"Tabitha!" Derek's arms tightly encircled her, preventing her from touching Tucker's body.
Jenny reacted quickly, ordering someone to remove Tucker's body right away.
However, Tabitha, like a woman possessed, charged at Daphne, grabbing her collar, roaring, "You did this, didn't you? If you hate me, just come at me. Why did you harm an innocent dog!"
"It wasn't me. It really wasn't."
Before she could finish, Tabitha slapped her. "Still lying, huh? Why was Tucker in your yard? Daphne, you're the venomous scorpion hiding in the dark. You're so malicious! You killed my parents and don't even regret it!"
Tabitha lashed out, not listening to Daphne's explanations.
Reid ran over from a distance, tugging at Tabitha's pants. "Bad woman, don't hit my mom."
Derek pulled her away, comforting, "Tabitha, calm down first."
'Calm down?'
Tabitha watched as Tucker's body was taken away. The remaining blood on the ground was a stark reminder.
Tucker was the companion of her entire youth. After John's departure, it was her last family member. And now it was gone.
The thought choked her, her eyes welling up with tears, a boulder blocking her heart.
Overwhelmed with grief, she spat out a mouthful of blood, her eyes rolled back. She then fainted.
Tabitha never expected that this incident would become the catalyst for her escape, with the price being Tucker's life.
She was rushed to the hospital again.
The series of events infuriated Orson, "How can you be a husband like this? Not long ago, you stimulated her into a coma again!"
Derek was filled with regret, wishing he could slap himself.
He kept Daphne at the Greenwood family's villa to control her better. He wanted to prevent further trouble.
But he never anticipated that Tabitha would seek out Daphne or that Tucker would meet such a fate.
He didn't see it coming, and neither did Tabitha.
"I'm sorry. Please help her."
"You're such a terrible husband."
When Tabitha woke up, Orson was by her side.
"You succeeded."
"No, Tucker was murdered!" Tabitha's eyes were bloodshot. Even though she wanted to escape, she never wanted it at the cost of Tucker's life.
Tucker's death was no accident. Someone did this.
Whether the intention was to shock her with Tucker's death or to poison her and the dog got it instead, the target was her.
Tucker died in her place. It could have lived for several more years.
Tabitha's fingers clenched the bedsheet, her nails digging into her palms as tears streamed down her face. 'I would not let Tucker's sacrifice be in vain!'