Derek's POV
Leaving Tabitha, I headed to the private lounge on the second floor.
I didn't know why, but recalling the expression on Tabitha's face before I left made me uneasy.
If it weren't for dealing with Daphne's mess, I definitely wouldn't leave Tabitha's side.
I felt like staying with her, protecting her.
Walking into the reception room, I saw Daphne causing havoc and tearing the place apart.
She stopped only when she saw me walk in.
"Derek, what did it mean? You held Tabitha in your arms in front of everyone?!" Daphne shouted at me, her eyes filled with doubt and anger.
I looked at her coldly. "Daphne, you planned all of this, and now you question me?" My voice was calm, but every word carried undeniable authority.
"I just wanted to expose her true nature!" Daphne defended, but her voice had already lost its edge.
"Expose her? You are only bringing shame on yourself," I replied with disdain in my tone. "Do you think you can achieve your goals with such despicable means?"
"I just want everyone to see what kind of person she is!" Her voice began to tremble, and her emotions escalated.
I approached her, my eyes determined and serious. "What you did will only make you more ridiculous."
"Are you still protecting her?" She almost screamed, completely out of control. "Are you two still involved?"
I sneered, "Daphne, you thought too highly of yourself. You had no right to question me."
"I... I just loved you too much. I couldn't bear you still care about her!" she was almost crying.
She looked at me and seemed to have a lot to say.
At that moment, Chloe, the omega responsible for taking care of Kyrian, ran in.
She looked at me in panic and said, "Alpha Derek, Kyrian is missing!"
Daphne slapped Chloe in the face. "I asked you to put him to sleep, and you can't even take care of a child! If anything happens to my son, I'll feed you to the fish!"
I gave her a cold glance and turned to Alvin, "Check the surveillance and find him."
Chloe was terrified. "I only went to get a cake, and Kyrian disappeared. Could he have fallen off the castle?"
"No," I denied firmly, "he's too small to climb up to a high windowsill unless someone helped him."
A thought struck me, and I wondered, 'Is it not an accident?
'Who would dare to lay a hand on my son in this castle? Unless...'
Tabitha's face flashed in my mind.
It's impossible. she liked Kyrian so much; she definitely wouldn't do anything to the child.
But then her words echoed in my mind.
"Derek, today is the anniversary of our baby's passing. Did he ever cross your mind, even for a moment?
"I thought he was just a pawn for you to retaliate against me."
I thought her target was Daphne, but I overlooked Kyrian.
I wondered, 'She chose today. Did she plan this to make Kyrian a sacrifice to mourn her child?
'This way, I could also get back at me and Daphne.'
Thinking of it, I turned around and left the reception room alone.
I was both anxious and angry. Tabitha was still the same, never letting go of her extreme ideas!
It was just a minute since Kyrian's missing, but my heart raced, and my palms were sweaty before I realized it.
I ran all the way to the top floor, and the fireworks had just finished, while the next round was being prepared.
The whole world seemed to be paused. I could only hear the sound of my footsteps racing up the stairs.
The terrace was empty.
I ran to the edge immediately.
Outside were lush trees and a verdant lawn.
No presence of anyone. Was I too late?
I felt like being plunged into an ice cave, chilled from head to toe.
At that moment, Chloe's excited and tearful voice suddenly rang out from downstairs, "Kyrian, how did you climb up here? You scared me! I found him, I found Kyrian!"
Upon hearing this sound, relief washed over me as if I had just escaped death.
Sweat poured out of my body as I ran, and when the wind blew, I felt a chill all over. I pressed my hand on my chest as my heart was almost jumping out.
I covered my face and laughed. For the first time, I tasted the ups and downs.
From hell to heaven, it is nothing more than this.
Tabitha's POV
I watched Derek behind the pillar on the terrace.
At the last moment, I gave up the plan I had made earlier. I knew it would make Derek suffer.
To be honest, I couldn't bear to take Kyrian's life.
He was innocent, too young to be punished for Derek and Daphne's sins.
I had turned my guilt into resolve: before my revenge, I had to uncover the truth of that year.
After Derek left, I dragged my exhausted body back to the room.
Ten minutes later, Derek appeared in my room.
He came for me, so he must have known that I had taken Kyrian away.
His footsteps approached, while my room remained silent.
I looked up and saw Derek. Unexpectedly, he sat at the table, eating the leftover cake.
He was never a cake lover.
It made me feel that he wasn't here to demand an explanation but cakes.
After finishing, he put down his fork, took a tissue, and wiped his lips. Then he stood up and walked towards me.
He stood in front of me, his dull voice coming from above, "One day, you will know that giving up today was the best choice you've made in your life."