Third person's POV
Derek kept talking, his voice low. "Daphne begged me to give her a family, saying she didn't want her child to grow up without a father. She asked if I could give her a home."
Hearing this, Tabitha felt a sourness welling up inside her. Her eyes reddened slightly as she asked, "So you gave her one?"
"She used Randall's life as leverage. I couldn't refuse. That's why I asked for a divorce. But later, I realized her ambitions went far beyond that. The hospital, the gown, 32 Seaside Avenue—everything I prepared for you, she tried to steal." Derek's voice hardened with anger and regret.
Memories of that agonizing time flooded back.
Tabitha bit her lip, fighting tears. "So you knew… when she pushed me into the sea?"
"From the beginning, I knew both of your personalities well. How could I not guess what she had done? When you both fell into the water, my instinct was to save you. But thinking of Randall's death and his last wishes, I hesitated. At that moment, Rolf and Alvin also jumped in, so I swam towards her," Derek's voice was filled with guilt.
Tabitha's eyes were moist, with tears welling up.
She held back the tears, her voice choking as she asked, "And the children? What about the children?"
"She had a C-section. You delivered naturally. One of her babies died during delivery. Kyrian, though premature, was healthy. You were in so much pain, screaming in that delivery room—do you think it didn't tear me apart? I waited outside, frantic. When you passed out from blood loss… I switched the babies."
Tears streamed down Tabitha's face.
"Why? Why would you take my child from me?"
If Derek hadn't been injured, she might've slapped him.
"Three reasons. First, Daphne was unstable—if anything happened to the children, she might've hurt herself. I owed Randall that much. Second, Alpha Elliott still held power. If he believed the child was mine, he'd support my leadership. Third…" Derek faltered. "I was… broken. Elena had lost her child, and I wanted you to feel that pain too. It was a monstrous decision."
He couldn't meet her eyes.
Tabitha's hand flew out, striking his cheek.
"You bastard! Do you know how long I mourned? I even—" Her voice cracked. "I had thoughts of harming the child!"
Now it made sense—why she'd felt drawn to Kyrian and why he had never called Daphne "Mom."
Sobs wracked Tabitha's body.
Grief and dizzying relief collided inside her.
Her children were alive! All three of them!
She cried until her ribs ached, imagining Kyrian's sweet face.
All those wasted years…
"Tabitha, I'm sorry. It's all my fault."
She punched his uninjured shoulder. "Damn right it is!"
Although she avoided the wound, it still tugged at it a bit, causing Derek to wince in pain.
For years, she had fantasized about how wonderful it would be if Kyrian were her child. Now, it turned out that it wasn't a dream—Kyrian really was her son.
[$]
The agony, the waiting—it hadn't been for nothing.
"I kept giving Daphne chances for Randall's sake, but she burned through every shred of goodwill. Ending the engagement was the last straw. All I owe her now is a safe life—nothing more."
Tabitha dabbed ointment on his wounds, her touch gentler now.
"Where's Kyrian now?"
"He's with me. After someone pushed him down those stairs, I sent him to a special training facility."
"You're forcing him into your world?"