Third person's POV
Deep within her heart, she knew that if it weren't for Wilmot's relentless efforts to gather the funds and ransom her from that terrifying predicament, she would have been ruined, cast into an endless abyss of darkness from which she would never emerge.
"I failed to protect you, Ms. Hartley," Derek's voice was deep and hoarse, tinged with self-reproach.
He had been standing there for some time, a thick layer of snow accumulating on his shoulders and hair, making him appear somewhat weary and forlorn.
Tabitha walked slowly towards him, each step light and deliberate.
Derek watched her approaching figure with an inexplicable sense of unease.
His heart was in turmoil, wrestling with uncertainty over whether Tabitha had guessed his true identity and how she might react if she knew everything.
Would she be angry and accusatory, or would she leave resolutely, or do something else he couldn't fathom.
The silent night seemed to freeze the cold air, with no one passing by.
The harsh weather quickly iced over the roads, and with each step Tabitha took, the sound of crunching snow echoed clearly in the still night.
Derek's heart pounded frantically in rhythm with the breaking snow, his breathing quickened, and his eyes betrayed a hint of tension and anticipation.
Tabitha finally reached him, gently lifting her hand to brush away the snow from his shoulders with a tender and delicate touch.
Derek was taken aback, puzzled by her sudden action.
"I've scheduled an appointment at the bank for tomorrow," Tabitha said calmly.
"What are you planning to do?" Derek frowned, his eyes filled with concern.
"Send me your account number, and I'll settle the wages for the time you've worked for me," Tabitha's tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Derek's brow furrowed deeper, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes as he asked, "So, you no longer need me?"
"Any movement in the account will alert him. I'll have nowhere to hide, and he'll never let you go, Wilmot. You should leave, as far away as possible."
Tabitha's eyes revealed a sense of helplessness and determination.
She was acutely aware of her perilous situation and didn't want to involve him.
Derek then realized that he had left such a deep impression on Tabitha, like an inescapable shadow, a constant devilish presence that filled her with fear and unease.
"He's still in Africa, and you've been presumed dead for so long. It won't be easy for you to be discovered. You're not safe now. You need my protection. Trust me. I'll stay in the shadows, never intruding in your world."
Derek tried to persuade Tabitha to change her mind, his eyes filled with concern and resolve.
Seeing the look of pleading in his eyes, Tabitha sighed deeply, her breath laden with helplessness and exhaustion.
"I've made up my mind," she said firmly, not wanting to drag him into this complicated and dangerous situation.
She wished for him to stay away from it all and live a peaceful life.
"Ms. Hartley," Derek attempted one last struggle.
"Find a safe place to live your life. Marry a hardworking and kind woman. If there's a future for me, I look forward to meeting you again."
Tabitha forced a smile, trying to comfort him. "Wilmot, you're a good man. Let's part ways here. I'll walk the path alone from now on."
With that, she turned resolutely and left without hesitation or looking back.
"Ms. Hartley, have you ever been into me? Even just a little?"
Derek shouted after her, his voice echoing in the silent night sky, filled with reluctance and anticipation.
Tabitha's steps faltered. She lowered her head, staring at the footprints she had just made in the snow.
After a moment of silence, she spoke, "No, never. I'm sorry. I won't fall in love with anyone else in this life."
Derek stood still, watching her disappear into the vast snow.
It felt as if a thorn had pierced his heart, each beat bringing a pang of pain.
He knew clearly that Tabitha's repeated rejections had severed all possibilities between them, keeping him at a distance.
Tabitha walked away decisively, with only one belief in her heart—that Wilmot could completely forget her and start a new life of his own.
As for herself, she was also mentally prepared. Even if the road ahead was full of thorns, unknown dangers, and challenges, she could only move forward with determination and without regret, for she had no other choice.