The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

His heart shattered in an instant. Alaric knew Hertha had made up her mind to keep their relationship strictly platonic, closing the door on any romantic entanglement between them. Compared to her previous declaration of wanting to never see him again, this seemed like a merciful reprieve. But why did it hurt even more than the thought of a lifetime apart?

When she spoke of never seeing each other again, at least there was emotion in it, a sign that she still cared enough to be angry. Anger meant there were still expectations. Now, her calmness, the lack of any ripple in her gaze, spoke volumes.

Her words were so measured, devoid of any trace of anger, signaling that she had moved on, indifferent to what they once had. She didn't care about him anymore.

Reading this in Hertha's tranquil eyes, Alaric felt as if a hand was clutching his heart, squeezing it painfully, making it hard for him to breathe. Looking at Hertha, his gaze lost its usual steadiness, becoming unsettled. He wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, only a trembling voice came out, his taste buds tinged with bitterness.

Taking a deep breath, he managed to suppress the discomfort slightly, striving for composure as he asked, "So, will you marry someone else?"

pain herself the moment she heard his shaky voice. Yet, she steadied her emotions, offering a smile as she casually and openly responded to his question, "Hard to say.

in his eyes. He looked away, blinking back the tears, and with a forced smile, he asked, "Then, how will I get

me before you come to see them, so I can make arrangements. Don't worry, your place as their dad won't be replaced," Hertha reassured him, speaking

spread far

about my place in your heart? Will that be replaced?" The words reached his throat but trembled so painfully he couldn't voice them. In the end,

saying, "It's getting late, I should head back to

smiled genuinely, "Let's walk together, you're staying on the same