Third person's POV
The intimate moments from last night flooded back into her mind, and Tabitha's face turned scarlet as she quickly withdrew her hands.
"Awake?" Derek asked with a smile, looking at Tabitha.
Now, Tabitha felt as if she had traveled back in time to when they had just married. Back then, she would wake up daily in Derek's arms, enjoying a wonderful time.
"Mm-hmm," Tabitha replied softly.
Neither of them mentioned a word about last night. Tabitha got out of bed to get dressed, constantly feeling Derek's gaze on her back.
"Um... I'll go prepare breakfast for you. I'll change the sheets when you get up," Tabitha said.
"Okay," Derek replied.
Ingredients were delivered on time every day, and there was a small kitchen in the ward where Tabitha cooked three meals a day for Derek. Since they had woken up late today, Tabitha quickly made two sandwiches, washed some fruit, and heated a cup of milk before bringing it over.
By this time, Derek had finished washing up. Tabitha waved him over and said, "Come eat breakfast."
She then took out fresh sheets from the cabinet and noticed a conspicuous stain on the bedsheet. Worried that the nurse would find it, she quickly threw the sheet into the washing machine, looking as if she were a thief.
Turning her head, Tabitha saw Derek biting into a sandwich, watching her with a teasing look in his eyes.
"What are you looking at? It's all because of you," Tabitha said irritably.
Derek laughed even harder, "Tabitha, I never realized you look so beautiful even when you're angry."
Tabitha's ears turned red instantly, "I'm not joking. I'm really mad."
"I'm also genuinely saying you look beautiful," Derek said earnestly.
"Freak," Tabitha muttered, grabbing a sandwich from the plate and sitting down with her back to Derek, eating like an angry little bulldog.
Derek was very gratified to be able to interact with Tabitha in this way.
Even though he knew that such moments were fleeting, he wanted to cherish every second he had with her.
He silently calculated in his mind that only eighty hours were left.
After breakfast, Tabitha began the daily medication change for Derek.
She cut open the bandages and had to admire Derek's physical fitness.
In just three days, the shallow wounds had almost completely healed and started to scab over, and the deeper wounds were healing quickly as well. At most, he would be able to leave the hospital in another week.
Tabitha applied the ointment to Derek's wounds, which felt cool.
Derek let out a soft hum the moment the ointment was applied.
This sound made Tabitha's face turn red again.
In the following two days, Derek always created opportunities for physical contact with Tabitha.
On the fifth day, Tabitha was in the small kitchen, wearing an apron and frying steak while the oven buzzed, roasting the vegetables she had just put in. Derek quietly approached from behind and suddenly hugged her. Tabitha was so startled that her hand trembled, almost throwing the frying pan out of her hand and hitting Derek in the face.
"What are you doing?" Tabitha quickly turned off the stove, transferred the steak to a plate, and the enticing aroma instantly filled the kitchen.
Derek had become increasingly clingy lately. He said with a touch of grievance, "Nothing, I just really wanted to hug you."
Tabitha's face was full of helplessness. She wondered if she had accidentally added some strange seasoning to the food; otherwise, why was the man acting so strangely lately.
Derek held her tightly from behind, like a little boy seeking comfort, "I really regret it, Tabitha. You're so good. Why didn't I cherish you before?"
Tabitha huffed indignantly, "You deserve it."
"Yeah, I do deserve it, and that's why I'm getting my comeuppance."
"Alright, go wash your hands and eat."
Tabitha knew that there were fewer left with each meal she cooked.
Derek, however, still held on to her, "Don't leave me. Let me hold you a little longer."
The room was extremely quiet, with only the white steam rising from the freshly plated steak.
Outside the window, snowflakes were falling heavily, and occasionally, a few would drift in through the window, landing on her hand and feeling cool.
The entire world seemed to become gentle.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened. Misha, carrying dinner, ran in excitedly, "Derek, look what I bought for you. It's..."
Her voice caught in her throat as she stared blankly at the scene before her.
The man she had loved for so long was now holding another woman, his face showing a tenderness she had never seen in her life.
So he did have this gentle side, just not towards her.
Derek frowned, clearly displeased, "How many times have I told you not to barge in without knocking?"
Misha, covered in snowflakes and with sweat, said, "Derek, I went to your favorite steakhouse and got this steak straight out of the oven. I..."