The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

"You're still making excuses!" the man bellowed, pointing a menacing finger at Thalassa.

"Ah!" Suddenly, as he pointed at Thalassa, Lysander lifted his cane and struck the man's hand, eliciting a cry of pain. The man quickly turned to Lysander, only to meet his icy glare. Swallowing his anger, the man bowed his head in a show of respect, unable to voice his fury.

Lysander's voice, deep and tinged with restrained anger, cut through the tension. "Whether or not she's behind the design, you weren't harmed. Why the rush to lay hands on her? What are you hiding? Who put you up to this?"

His words went straight to the heart of the matter.

The man who confronted Thalassa was a stranger to her, with no apparent reason to harbor such resentment over a mere design.

People are driven by their own interests. If someone threatens those, they become the enemy.

hadn't even reached the bidding stage yet, and this gentleman hadn't purchased anything from Thalassa. Did he really have

Lysander's sharp interrogation, the man stumbled over his words, his gaze darting around guiltily. "Look, Mr. Sinclair,

just leave," the man said, bowing hastily before turning to leave as if fearing he'd be unable to escape if he delayed any longer. Thalassa watched Lysander's retreating back with gratitude. He had shielded her

over; the mess

stepped forward,

the previously hostile crowd held their tongues, watching

beside Susan, her gaze icy as it swept over

for reasons she couldn't fathom, felt a shiver run down her spine. Thalassa seemed to carry a bit of Lysander's imposing aura. Was it possible that spending time with Lysander had

anklet in your

was Thalassa to order

unmistakable gaze laden with a pressure that no one else could muster.

by a cold mist, Susan had no

removed all her accessories and handed them over to