Third person's POV
"Simple doctor-patient relationship," Tabitha said coldly, dismissing their history with a wave of her hand.
"As for tonight, I apologize for my brother's behavior. Since you're unharmed, consider it even—a life for a life."
"Does Jasper mean more to you than I do?" Derek blurted out.
Tabitha regarded him sharply. "You knew it was Jasper?"
If he'd guessed earlier, he would have known who she was. Why pretend not to recognize her?
Perhaps Jasper had set a trap, and Derek had seen through it.
Tabitha sensed this and quickly denied it, "No, he called you 'madam.' Lucian wouldn't use that term. You're recovering well, so your illness must be gone. Most importantly, only that guy could pull this off."
But Tabitha wasn't convinced. Suspicion gnawed at her.
"You orchestrated this, didn't you? You knew who I was from the start. That's why you let Alvin and the others leave."
Derek was inwardly horrified, but he managed to keep his composure, careful not to reveal a hint of his true emotions.
He was grateful his blindfold hid his startled expression.
"Tabitha, you give me too much credit. I'm not omniscient, and I couldn't possibly manipulate Jasper like that. The snake pit's no place for such gambles."
Tabitha studied him for a long moment. He was right.
Even with Hedwig's necklace—a gift that repelled venomous creatures—Derek's leap into the snake pit would have been fatal.
No amount of scheming could explain such recklessness.
Tabitha's defenses finally dropped.
She seemed to have forgotten that Derek was inherently reckless.
Tabitha cleaned Derek again and soaked him in the medicinal spring. Afterward, the bleeding from his wounds ceased.
She took out the iodine and gently applied it to disinfect his injuries.
Derek's skin was as smooth as jade, yet it was covered in scars of varying lengths—hardly an inch of him was unmarred.
He remained silent, fearing any words might anger her and drive her away.
If Tabitha knew from the start that it was all his scheme, she'd leave in the dead of night, fuming.
Derek had risked everything to uncover the truth. When Tabitha ran to him, heedless of danger, he knew his gamble had paid off—she still loved him.
Their shared past clung to them like a fishbone in the throat, a chasm as deep as the Mariana Trench. Yet he was determined to bridge it and stand before her anew.
This would take time. Patience was key.
As Tabitha treated his wounds, residual fear lingered in her heart.
She recalled how he'd rushed off at the sound of the recording. Without Hedwig's necklace, he'd surely be dead.
Avoiding the past, she warned, "I told you not to wander off. North is cliffs, south is snake pits. East and west are miasma and toxins. Only the village is safe."
Derek bowed his head, meekly replying, "Knowing you're alive, I'll stay put."
Tabitha remembered Alvin's words—Derek's injury stemmed from sparing a woman who resembled her.
The same mistake, repeated.
"Derek," she said softly.
"Yes, Tabitha?"
"In these years, I've learned to protect myself. I've lived under an alias, unknown to the world. You don't need to worry about me anymore. I won't always be there to save you."
Derek understood the unspoken truth. If his weakness was known, others would exploit it.
Despite their strained relationship, they both wished each other well.
"Understood," he said.
Silence fell between them, punctuated only by Tabitha's careful administrations.
Each nursed their own secrets——Tabitha guarded against questions about Hedwig, Derek against her fleeing once his identity was known.
They were cautious, calculating, and distrustful.
After finishing with the medicine, Tabitha removed her suffocating mask.
With her identity already exposed, hiding further was pointless.
"You can rest here tonight. Tomorrow's detox continues, and it's convenient for you to stay," she said.
Derek clutched her skirt anxiously. "And you? Are you leaving?"
Tabitha sighed inwardly. "I'm not leaving."
Exhausted from the ordeal, she welcomed the chance to rest. Having stayed up nights brewing medicine, she craved sleep.
"Will you sleep beside me? I feel unsafe alone," Derek asked, his tone uncharacteristically vulnerable.
"You're demanding," Tabitha remarked.
"Please, for the sake of my recovery," Derek pleaded.
"Fine. Sleep. I'll watch over you," Tabitha relented.