Third person's POV
It was a beauty that commanded awe, with Tabitha wearing no makeup to enhance her skin, no contouring to sculpt her features, and no lipstick or eyebrow pencil to embellish.
Her skin was as pure and delicate as snow, and her soft lips seemed to possess an innately delicate hue, naturally red without any color.
Her eyebrows were thick and natural, as dark as ink, without any need for grooming.
Her nose was high and straight, and her facial features, under the meticulous carving of nature, presented a profound and three-dimensional beauty, as if she were God's most prideful masterpiece.
Even as Tabitha stared at her with cold hostility, Matilda, being a woman herself, couldn't help but be struck by Tabitha's beauty.
She inwardly marveled at how outrageously beautiful she was.
Matilda considered herself to have seen countless beauties. In her perception, she couldn't think of anyone who could compare to Tabitha in a bare-faced state.
It suddenly dawned on her why all her previous attempts to seduce that man had been met with disdain.
After all, once a man has tasted such a rare and exquisite beauty, how could he have any interest in ordinary ones?
Matilda slowly extended her hand and gently caressed Tabitha's cheek, a hint of intoxication in her eyes as she murmured, "What a beautiful face."
Tabitha, looking at the woman before her, was filled with confusion.
She didn't seem intent on taking her life, which was completely different from the people who tried to kill her in the past.
Taking a deep breath, Tabitha tried to calm herself and asked, "Who are you exactly? What is your purpose? If it's about money, release the child, and name your price."
In her mind, Tabitha calculated that when she divorced Derek, she had received a billion in assets.
Plus the annual company dividends and the money Derek had given her intermittently, her account had accumulated an enormous fortune, an astronomical figure.
Previously, she didn't dare to use this money for fear Derek would notice, but now, at this critical moment, she was willing to risk exposure for Ayla's safety.
"Wow, quite the confident tone. How much money can you offer?" Matilda raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
Tabitha was no fool. She keenly sensed that Matilda didn't seem to know her true identity.
She didn't want to reveal it easily, so she quickly thought over a number in her mind that wouldn't be too low as to seem insincere but also left room for negotiation. "Ten million."
In her view, for most kidnappers, this figure was quite substantial.
Matilda's hand still lingered on Tabitha's cheek, stroking as she said, "It is tempting, but I'm not really interested in money. Don't blame me. Blame your man for provoking me."
Hearing this, Tabitha was thoroughly puzzled.
She thought to herself that Derek was far away in Africa, and they hadn't been in contact for ages. Could it be him?
"Have you mistaken me for someone else? My ex-husband is in Africa, and we haven't been in contact for ages."
"Tsk, you may have such an innocent face, but you play quite the game. I'm talking about the one on the ship," Matilda said scornfully.
"Wilmot?" Tabitha was taken aback, and the events of that night flashed through her mind. Combined with this woman's attire and behavior, she could guess what had happened.
Her brow immediately furrowed, and she asked, "Did you drug him?"
"It was me. That unresponsive man actually endured the effects and left me. So he's been hiding you, such a beauty. No wonder he wouldn't touch me and treated me like that!" The more Matilda spoke, the angrier she became, her eyes flickering with sparks of fury.
Tabitha knew this wasn't the time for gossip. Ayla's safety was paramount.
However, she couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "What did he do?"
"He... pah, why should I tell you?" Matilda suddenly realized she almost slipped.
"Look, if you have any grievances, take them out on me. Let my daughter go. She's innocent," Tabitha tried to reason with her and negotiate terms. "I don't know what happened between you, but if you release my daughter, money, cars, whatever you want, it's all on the table. If Wilmot upset you, I apologize on his behalf. I..."
"What am I? An apology? What use is your apology, you wretched woman?"
Matilda suddenly lost control of her emotions, raised her hand, and, without warning, slapped Tabitha hard across the face.
The slap was so forceful that Tabitha's head buzzed, leaving her dazed.
"Do I lack money? What I lack is a man, a top-tier man like him. No one has ever been able to refuse me," Matilda said, arms crossed, her face full of anger and resentment.
Tabitha endured the searing pain on her face, her eyes revealing a cold hatred as she bit out, "Pervert!"
"Ha, I'll see if he can still be so arrogant with you and your daughter in my grasp. I want him to kneel at my feet, licking my toes in repentance!" Matilda said viciously, her eyes filled with madness and distortion.