The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

Susan's laughter froze as she noticed the shadows at the door. Lifting her gaze, she saw Lysander and Thalassa standing there, her maternal instincts kicking in as she quickly shielded the child behind her back, her voice laced with tension. "What are you doing here?"

Thalassa's expression was icy as she retorted, "That's my line! Why are you here, and whose child is that?"

Susan's grip on the child's hand tightened, her entire body tensed up as she snapped, "That's none of your business!"

Perhaps sensing Susan's tension or the tight grip, the child hidden behind her started wailing loudly.

Thalassa instinctively stepped forward, her mother's heart unable to ignore the sound of a child in distress, even if the child wasn't hers.

clutching the child closer, and backed away to the corner of the room, her voice fierce as she warned, "Don't come any closer, or I swear, I'll do something to

even going so far as to grasp the child's neck,

her concern

fear and helplessness. His round face had a hint

to de-escalate the situation. "Okay,

Lysander, laying her hands on his

glance at Lysander's penetrating gaze sent shivers down her spine. Her body tensed up again, her hand still on the child's neck. "Take Lysander and leave! Just go!" Susan's voice

Lysander out of the room. As they hesitated outside, uncertain of their next move, Lysander simply said,

Thalassa, understanding his