The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)
Chapter 1650

Hertha had been anxiously pacing in front of Thalassa's house for over twenty minutes when Alaric finally arrived.

Seeing his familiar figure, Hertha felt a wave of relief wash over her. Up until that moment, she had been a mess, flustered and frantic, unsure of what to do next.

The moment Alaric appeared, it was as if she had found an anchor in the storm. She hurried over to him, "Alaric, what's the word? What did Lysander say?" "He's on his way over. He's got the keys to Thalassa's place," Alaric replied.

Seeing the worry and urgency in Hertha's eyes, Alaric felt a pang of sympathy. He reached out and gently touched the top of her head as one might soothe a small kitten, "Hey, don't worry. It's going to be okay."

Alaric was so close that when he lifted his hand, a faint scent of mint wafted towards Hertha, tickling her nose with that distinctly masculine aroma.

His touch was gentle, reminiscent of a caring older brother comforting his little sister, sparking something deep within Hertha. A lump formed in her throat, and unexpectedly, her heart fluttered, caught off guard by her feelings for Alaric.

It was odd, she thought. She could usually face tough situations on her own, biting down hard and never letting a tear fall. But the moment someone came along offering support, making her feel safe, she was moved, overwhelmed with emotion.

Especially when that someone was Alaric, the man she had secretly held dear for three long years.

Tears welled up in Hertha's eyes, her nose turning red, the urge to cry overwhelming her.

Alaric, noticing the tears glistening in her big, round eyes, panicked, "Hey, don't cry, okay? You don't need to worry about Thalassa. She's a grown woman, has faced her fair share of storms. She's tough, she'll get through this. She won't do anything rash."

He thought Hertha's tears were for Thalassa's struggles, not realizing she might also be reacting to their close moment.

Realizing she was showing too much emotion, Hertha quickly wiped away her tears, trying to cover up, "It's just...this time it's different. Thalassa always had the kids around, they were her strength. But now, with her children taken by the Sinclair family, she's all alone. It's dangerous when you're in pain and there's no love to surround you."

Despite her attempts to hold back, tears streamed down her face.

She and Thalassa shared a decade of friendship, closer than sisters.

The thought of Thalassa being so utterly alone, her loved ones gone, even the man she loved marrying someone else, left Hertha heartbroken and anxious.

Poor Thalassa, why did she have to suffer so?

It was the first time Alaric had seen Hertha truly cry. Her tears, bitter as the sea, stirred something in him, making him share in her sorrow and drawing out his empathy. He reached out, his thumb gently wiping away her tears, his touch warm and reassuring.

Hertha felt a surge of warmth at his touch, prompting her to step back quickly, wiping her face to hide her fluttering heart. She glanced away, trying to mask her turmoil.

Alaric felt the warmth of her tears on his fingertips, a tangible reminder of the moment shared, stirring emotions deep within him.

He comforted her, "You're Thalassa's best friend. Believe in her strength, her resilience."

"Mr. Falconer, Ms. Kensington, what brings you two here, standing at the doorstep?" A voice called from a distance, breaking the intense moment.

Hertha and Alaric turned to see Callum, with his gentlemanly charm and a smile in his eyes, approaching.

Hertha took a deep breath, pushing back her tears. Crying in front of Alaric was one thing, but she wouldn't let her guard down in front of others.

Alaric, however, greeted Callum with a frosty stare, "Mr. Gordon, seems like an odd time for you to show up."

"I had an appointment with Thalassa about some jewelry designs. I just wanted to check on her progress. What about you, Mr. Falconer, Ms. Kensington? Is your visit to Thalassa work-related?" Callum replied his smile unwavering, effortlessly deflecting Alaric's hostility.