Chapter 443

　　Derek's POV 　　I took the shaken Tabitha back home. 　　Standing in the living room, Tabitha paused for a moment before suddenly speaking up, "Derek, today I encountered..." 　　I was busy. My attention was diverted by the constant ringing of my phone, which had been persistent throughout the drive. Just as she began to explain, another call came through, cutting her off mid-sentence. 　　"Okay, I'll come over right away," I said after finishing the call and looked at Tabitha. "Tabitha, what did you want to tell me just now? What happened at the mall?" 　　Tabitha let out a deep sigh, her shoulders slumping as if the weight of the day had finally settled on them. "It's nothing important. Go ahead and handle your business. Just make sure to come back early." 　　"Okay," I replied, gently ruffling her hair before heading out. 　　Her hesitant demeanor left a knot of concern in my stomach, but I knew I had urgent matters that couldn't be delayed. 　　I sank into the back seat of the car, the overcast