Third person's POV
Misha sat stubbornly on the couch across the room, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the two figures on the bed.
Her heart burned with resentment and jealousy. She wished Tabitha would just vanish from Derek's side.
But Tabitha paid no attention to Misha's glare. Her focus was entirely on Derek.
She stayed by his side, wide awake, watching over him.
She knew that with injuries like his, the biggest risk was infection and a high fever that wouldn't break. Every so often, she reached out to check his temperature, her eyes filled with worry and care.
The night was quiet. The hospital was surrounded by tall trees, their shadows bending under the weight of the snow and wind.
With no skyscrapers in sight, the area felt vast and empty.
In this peaceful atmosphere, Tabitha's mind began to settle, but her thoughts raced.
She started recalling the people who had tried to assassinate her in the past. They had always used underhanded, sneaky tactics—never anything as brazen as a public shootout.
This new approach didn't match the cautious, shadowy killers she was used to. It felt more like the work of ruthless, straightforward gangsters.
Tabitha's heart was filled with doubt. She didn't know if these attackers were after her or Derek.
But she had a sinking feeling that she'd stumbled into something much bigger.
The shadowy mastermind from before was still out there, and now a new enemy had appeared out of nowhere.
Their methods were completely different from anything she'd faced before.
Lying in bed, Tabitha tossed and turned, her mind restless. She began to question herself: was she destined to always hide under someone else's protection, like a coward?
The image of Joanna's tragic death and the memories of others getting hurt while protecting her played like a movie in her mind.
That brutal rainy night had become a permanent scar on her soul.
She knew that if she remained this weak, luck wouldn't always be on her side. She couldn't rely on chance to survive forever.
Tabitha's thoughts churned until dawn approached.
Only when she saw Derek's vital signs stabilize did her tense nerves finally relax. She closed her eyes, ready to rest for a while.
The room was eerily silent, as if time had stopped.
Misha sat quietly nearby, her eyes locked on Derek's face. This was a rare chance for her to observe him so closely.
During missions, Derek always wore a mask, shielding his true appearance from the world. Even Misha could only guess what he looked like.
Now, she couldn't help but envy Tabitha. Tabitha could be close to Derek, wake up next to him every morning, and greet him with a soft "good morning." How blissful that must be.
Just as Misha was lost in her thoughts, Derek's eyes slowly opened.
Misha's heart skipped a beat. She felt like a child caught doing something wrong, her gaze darting away in panic. An uneasy feeling washed over her.
But Derek didn't even notice her.
The first thing he saw was Tabitha.
His gaze was intense, almost greedy, as if he wanted to memorize every detail of her face. At that moment, nothing else existed for him.
His hand, numb from staying in one position for too long, twitched slightly. He shifted, then slowly reached out, as if to touch Tabitha's cheek.
But just before his fingers made contact, he hesitated and pulled his hand back, like a child afraid of being scolded.
It was only then that Derek noticed Misha in the room.
When his eyes shifted from Tabitha to her, his gaze turned icy, as if the warmth from moments ago had never existed.
Misha's heart raced as their eyes met.
Her lips trembled, and she instinctively opened her mouth to speak.
But Derek quickly raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet.
The gesture felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over her, snapping her back to reality.
Misha studied Derek's face, her heart sinking. She realized he wasn't nearly as excited to see her as she was to see him.
He even waved his hand, gesturing for her to leave.
He didn't want anyone disturbing him and Tabitha.
Misha understood, though it broke her heart. She didn't dare show her pain in front of Derek.
The more defiant she acted around Tabitha, the more obedient she became around him. Right now, she was as meek as a cat.
She turned and left quietly, her footsteps soft and the door closing with barely a sound.