Third person's POV
Such a tall and strong man, yet at this moment, he behaved like a petulant puppy, causing Tabitha's body to tremble slightly.
She was well aware of the vast difference in strength between them.
In this situation, it was crucial not to provoke him excessively. Otherwise, should Wilmot be enraged, his intense possessiveness could erupt, and the situation would be truly irretrievable.
Tabitha took a deep breath and, seizing the moment while he still retained a shred of rationality, began to reason with him patiently, "Wilmot, I am willing to help you with other matters, but I truly cannot do this."
"Cannot? Is it because you still think of him?"
Derek was on the brink of losing his sanity, enduring the surging desires within, seeking to probe the deepest thoughts of Tabitha's heart through this opportunity.
Her reluctance to let others approach—did it mean she still harbored love for him?
Tabitha frowned tightly and hurriedly explained, "No, I have divorced him. I have the right to choose my own life, and it has nothing to do with him."
A flicker of disappointment flashed through Derek's eyes as he said, "If that's the case, why can't it be me? Ms. Hartley, I can be responsible for you, care for your children as if they were my own, and I promise never to betray you in this life."
He paused, then continued, "If you are not willing to accept such a relationship, I can also respect you as before, not interfere in your life. Tonight can be seen as a fleeting indulgence between adults, nothing more."
"I'm sorry, I have no interest in this kind of thing, Wilmot. It's not that I don't accept you, but I was hurt too deeply by past feelings. I don't want to get entangled with any man emotionally for the rest of my life. I don't mean to target you. If you let me go now, we can still get along as before, and I will act as if nothing happened today."
Derek's fingers, however, were inadvertently kneading her delicate skin, and he leaned closer, whispering, "Ms. Hartley, after all this time, don't you have any physiological needs?"
His voice was filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, which was even more evocative in such a situation.
Tabitha's face turned red instantly. Under the not-so-bright light outside, she saw Derek's sensually rolling Adam's apple and half of his collarbone exposed under his slightly open collar.
Pressed tightly together, she could truly feel Derek's attractive physique, which undoubtedly had a fatal allure to women.
"No," she turned her face away and said, "Let me go."
Derek did not make any further advances, only tightening his arms and holding her tightly in his embrace.
Tabitha was unsure of his intentions, her heart racing, and she dared not move rashly for fear of angering him.
It wasn't until Derek seemed to compromise and said, "Don't move, I just want to hold you," that Tabitha, surprised by his request, remained still as before.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment.
Derek kept his word and did not make any other inappropriate actions, simply holding her.
Once able to embrace without reservations, now he could only hold her through another identity and the influence of drugs.
In the quiet night, all Tabitha could hear was Derek's chaotic heartbeat, which gradually made her own heart beat become disordered as well.
His chin rested on her shoulder, and Tabitha could clearly feel his heavy breathing.
After about three or four minutes, Tabitha cautiously asked, "Are you feeling better?"
He sighed helplessly, "How could I be better?"
But he still kept his promise, stood up, and released Tabitha.
In front of the bed, he bowed deeply to her and said, "I apologize for tonight's abruptness."
Tabitha, disheveled, didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Return to your room and lock the door. The drug's effects are strong, and I fear I won't be able to control myself..."