The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)
Chapter 1854

When Hertha heard Thalassa's interpretation, she instantly knew a misunderstanding had unfolded. Her voice had risen too high, drawing curious glances from colleagues around.

Feeling a wave of embarrassment, Hertha realized it was too late to cover Thalassa's mouth. She hurriedly leaned in, whispering, "Keep it down, you've got it all wrong."

Thalassa had never seen Hertha so flustered; it was as if she'd seen a ghost. Hertha, usually unshakable, was now dodging gazes and whispering for discretion.

Her unusual behavior tipped Thalassa off that something was up. She nodded, falling silent, and sensed the room's attention shifting away from them. Thalassa then straightened up, doodling absently on a piece of paper as the office returned to its usual quiet.

Lunchtime came around quickly.

Thalassa and Hertha headed out together, sitting across from each other at a cozy diner. Thalassa resumed their earlier conversation, genuinely concerned, "So, Hertha, what's going on with you and Alaric?" Hertha, poking at a plate of pork chops with her fork, sounded defeated, "I had to bail Alaric out of jail last night."

"What did he do this time?" Thalassa asked, intrigued.

With a weary look, Hertha relayed the events, detailing Alaric's latest escapade that ended with a woman hospitalized. Thalassa was stunned. "So, Alaric's been out partying hard again? And got someone hospitalized?"

Hertha nodded solemnly.

Shaking her head, Thalassa lamented, "That man never learns."

"I've decided I'm done with him. For good," Hertha declared through gritted teeth.

"And what about the kids wanting to see him?" Thalassa probed.

That question hit Hertha hard, leaving her both troubled and pained.

"That darn Alaric, why did he have to pop back into our lives, letting the kids know he's their dad?" Hertha med, clenching her fist as if she could crush Alaric like an antif he were there.

"If the kids didn't know about their dad, I could've kept spinning fairy tales. Now, I can't even do that," she lamented.

"Let's not

on it now. You need

to eat," Thalassa advised,

more to her plate. "Take it

at a time; worrying woone

II

"Ugh, men!" Hertha exclaimed, stabbing her fork into the pork chop as if it were Alaric, channeling her anger into appetite.

Seeing Hertha finally eating lifted Thalassa's spirits, and she couldn't help but smile.

As they were dining, a figure approached and took a seat beside them. "I've been to several places looking for you two."

Both Thalassa and Hertha turned to see a tired-looking Richard settling beside them. Hertha, putting her fork down, asked, "What do you want? nothing better to do?"

Go

Richard raised an eyebrow at Hertha, saying, "Someone asked me to find you."

Hertha's heart skipped a beat. Richard's words hinted at complications she hadn't anticipated.