Third person's POV
"Whatever issues you two have, they're none of my concern, but you shouldn't meddle in my affairs." Leopold stared coldly down at Derek from his height.
Seeing the tension between the two, Carson stopped watching the commotion and said, "Enough. Your reckless behavior won't help you see your true feelings. This isn't Derek's fault. If Gloria didn't want to leave, no one could take her. Instead of blaming your brother, think about why she's determined to leave you."
Leopold slumped in dejection and said, "Why? I gave her so much money. She loved money, yet she still left me."
"Are you really that dense? If a woman can be bought off with money, she doesn't truly love you. Her choice to leave despite not seeking money might mean she genuinely loves you. You've treated her as a plaything, making it hard for her to face such a relationship, so she left," said Carson.
In matters of the heart, bystanders often see more clearly than those involved.
Leopold was stunned and asked, "You mean she loves me? But we agreed not to involve emotions from the start."
Derek rolled his eyes and said, "If she were just a plaything, why do you care so much?"
"I..."
"Admit it. Playthings can be replaced, but a true love cannot. You've fallen for her; you just haven't realized it."
"I don't love her. I might have a slight preference for her."
"Then why haven't you eaten or slept properly these days? Are you prioritizing a woman over brotherhood?"
Derek's words struck a nerve, and Leopold's expression turned uneasy.
"Just admit it, you're in love with her. If you truly love her, don't hold her back. Or I'll be your cautionary tale. Don't end up like Tabitha and me, with no chance to mend things."
"I don't love her. I don't care where she goes."
With that, he ran off without looking back. Carson shrugged and said, "He's just stubborn in matters of the heart. He'll come around eventually."
"At least they haven't reached the point of no return. Once things go that far, it's too late for regrets. Let him realize his feelings sooner rather than later. This time, though, I was wrong. I didn't anticipate Lucian's identity."
"This isn't your fault. I heard you've been clashing with that person lately."
Derek snorted and said, "Since he dared to betray my life, I won't let him off easily! There will be a reckoning between us."
They had been rivals in secret, but the incident on the ship escalated their conflict.
He lost hundreds of billions and retaliated by exposing Derek's identity, nearly getting him killed.
Derek, having survived, sought revenge.
Now their rivalry was out in the open, and Derek even released Tabitha to eliminate obstacles, ensuring her safety.
Yet, he hadn't expected Lucian to be Randall's brother, making him the biggest wildcard.
Who was Lucian? Friend or foe?
"Alpha Derek, with all you've been handling lately—official business and corporate affairs—and now worrying about Tabitha, not to mention your injuries, you'll wear yourself out," Alvin warned.
Since Derek's identity was revealed, even the Greenwood Group faced significant impacts, and Carson also received news.
"If this continues, your losses will be substantial. What's your plan?"
"You know my nature. An eye for an eye. I'll return the favor tenfold."
Originally, everything was on track—sending Tabitha away so he could act without concern.
Now, the only wildcard was Lucian.
"Not finding Tabitha isn't necessarily bad. Let's assume Lucian is on our side. If he wanted harm, he had plenty of opportunities over the past two years with your children in his hands, yet he did nothing."
Derek sighed, "Let's hope so."
He only hoped everything went as planned, with no more surprises.
As if sensing his longing, Tabitha jolted awake from a nightmare, breathing heavily.
A person stood nearby, his cold mask gleaming in the moonlight.
Tabitha clutched her chest in fright and asked, "Is there something you need?"
Lucian, likely not expecting her to wake, remained unreadable in the dim light.
His gaze upon her seemed unusual.
"Nothing. I heard you talking in your sleep and came to check. Were you having a nightmare?"
"Yes," Tabitha wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
Startled, she couldn't fall back asleep.
"Shall we sit outside?"
There were many things she wanted to ask Lucian but never found the right moment. Now that things had finally settled, she took the chance.
This town was very impoverished, especially at night, with utter darkness unlike the bright lights of a big city.
"Cold?" Lucian asked.
Tabitha sat on the front steps, gazing at the starry sky, and shook her head. "No. Lucian, doesn't this remind you of our time on the island?"
"Yes, when Aidan and Noah were still with us."
"I saw Noah the other day. He got into a good school on a scholarship. He's a promising young man with a bright future. I heard Aidan has started undertaking missions independently. He's quite skilled."
Tabitha was lost in thought as she said, "Lucian, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time."