Third person's POV
Despite the overwhelming sense of shame, Tabitha found herself with little choice in the urgency of the moment.
Her only thought was to shield her face, unwilling to let anyone catch a glimpse.
The long dress cascaded down like a waterfall, making her appear as a wounded mermaid, pitifully appealing.
Derek strode forward with determined steps, swiftly leading her away from the venue.
Forrest followed closely behind, carefully holding Ayla and matching their pace.
"Get the doctor over here right away," Derek commanded urgently.
"Yes, Alpha Derek," Forrest responded promptly.
Derek's mind was a whirlwind of turmoil. His desire for Tabitha was undeniable, but not under the current humiliating and perilous circumstances.
Moreover, he was uncertain about the exact nature of the drugs Matilda had administered to Tabitha and the potential harm they might inflict.
As the doctor conducted a thorough examination of Tabitha, Derek, with a grave expression, stepped out of the room and lit a cigarette in the hallway.
The once pitch-black sea now had an unexpected number of helicopters hovering above it.
Forrest, noticing this, couldn't help but ask with a slightly changed expression, "Alpha Derek, is this your private mercenary group?"
He had anticipated that Derek, leveraging his special status, would seek assistance from official military forces.
Instead, Derek had called upon a private force, making it difficult for official entities to hold him accountable for any subsequent issues.
Forrest lowered his voice deliberately, "But our people are all at..."
Derek quickly gestured for silence. Such matters were not to be discussed lightly.
To avoid detection from higher authorities, Derek had secretly established his own military base on a remote island, reachable only after a five-hour helicopter ride.
So, whose swift-arriving mercenaries could these be?
"I borrowed them. The situation was too dire," Derek explained.
Borrowed? Forrest was left wondering who could possess the strength to lend such a force.
Even he, who was close to Derek, couldn't claim to fully understand him.
He sensed that Derek was secretly plotting and preparing for a vast and dangerous storm.
"Alpha Derek, what are your true intentions?" Forrest inquired curiously.
Derek exhaled a plume of white smoke and replied calmly, "A few years ago, I began to suspect that someone within our ranks was the protector behind the Night Ship. I was ordered to board this vessel for a detailed inspection."
"Did you find out who it was?" Forrest pressed.
"No. The culprit seemed to have been tipped off and cleaned up all traces and clues, but that operation did narrow down my suspicions," Derek recalled, frowning.
Forrest was taken aback before asking, "So, what is your plan this time?"
"Aside from ensuring Tabitha's safe return, I am also here to further confirm my suspicions. Just recently, I have essentially identified who the mastermind is," Derek's eyes revealed a glint of determination and resolve.
Forrest was surprised that Derek, despite his anger, maintained such calmness and rationality.
No wonder all the personnel he brought were elites. Protecting Tabitha was only part of the mission. Delving into the true nature behind the Night Ship was the real objective.
"Matilda has a personal vendetta against me, but her reckless abduction and sale of guests on the ship severely violate the rules," Derek snorted, then continued, "If you were the mastermind, what would you do?"
"I would never allow such a thing to happen. For a businessman, once credibility is lost, who would dare board the ship in the future?" Forrest answered without hesitation.
"Exactly. Yet the mastermind did not intervene but chose to acquiesce. When I tried to contact him, he deliberately pretended to be unreachable. What does that tell you?" Derek continued to guide Forrest's thoughts.
Forrest scratched his head, puzzled, "Alpha Derek, you've got me there. What does it imply?"
"It implies that once Tabitha removed her mask, he had already guessed our identities. By allowing these events to unfold, he is actually fueling the fire from behind. He's making a bold gamble, betting that I would go berserk over Tabitha and act against my identity and principles. In doing so, he stands to gain the most," Derek explained patiently.