The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

Hertha kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, not daring to even glance at Alaric.

She feared that seeing Alaric's strikingly handsome face, with those fox-like, captivating eyes filled with profound sadness, would make her heart soften and compel her to retract the words she had just spoken to him.

After much internal struggle, Hertha had resolved to keep Alaric at arm's length, deciding their relationship should continue merely as that of casual friends.

It had taken some convincing, but Alaric had agreed. She couldn't let his pitiful appearance sway her now, not when she had finally steeled her heart against him.

With a heavy heart, Hertha marched on, her head held high, refusing to give in to the pain and pity gnawing at her.

Walking beside her, Alaric kept his head slightly bowed, not once looking at Hertha. His demeanor was one of subdued sorrow.

He feared Hertha seeing the redness in his eyes, the unshed tears. After all, he was a man, and men weren't supposed to cry easily.

He couldn't allow Hertha to see him weep. She had made her stance clear-they were to be just friends, with no further entanglements. That was her showing mercy, her being generous.

And he had accepted her terms.

tears now, where would that leave

man, and no matter how much pain he was in,

eternity, each step heavy with

moments ago, they had been desperately trying to explain themselves to each other, and now, they

familiarity between them was

silence, it was Hertha who finally spoke, attempting a small smile. "Aren't you

words were casual, the kind of question friends might ask each other-nothing

her attempt at a smile felt like a sting to his

to answer

for him, it was as painful as

life, Alaric had been

were disposable. Falling so deeply in love for the first time, only to have it end

punishment from fate.

felt her forced smile fade. The pain she had been trying to keep at bay

then, the elevator arrived. Hertha stepped in without