Chapter 826

　　Derek whispered into her ear, "Tabitha, why can you forgive everyone else but be so cruel to me?" 　　Tabitha stared into his eyes and said firmly, "Don't you know why?" 　　Derek sighed and rested his head on her neck. "The past can't be changed, and the hurt is already done. What more can I do to make it up to you? I only have this life to offer. If that's what you want, take it." 　　She had never doubted that Derek would go to extremes for her—even when he detested her, he had followed her off the ledge. 　　In moments of danger, he was always the one to shield her. 　　Yet this same man, who had shown her such unparalleled care, had also wounded her the deepest. 　　"I don't want your life. From now on, we're done," she declared. 　　Derek gave a bitter laugh. "Tabitha, you've already taken my life." 　　Years of longing had drained him. 　　With one sentence, two layers of meaning, he shattered the frigid silence between them. 　　His fingers delved beneath her loose top. 　　Tabitha bit her lip. "Y