The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

The moment Hertha heard that Georgia was still using the kid card to reel Alaric in, she instantly bristled with irritation.

Before Alaric could utter a word, Hertha marched right up to him, positioning herself squarely in front of him, arms crossed over her chest, and smirked at Georgia. "How do you manage to lie through your teeth without blinking an eye?"

"What are you talking about? When have I ever lied?" Georgia feigned innocence, unaware that Hertha had already seen through her charade of hiring a child to play her son.

She stood her ground against Hertha, seemingly confident.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Is the kid even living with you? Is he sick, suffering from a fever, or some mental health issue? Do you even have a clue?" Hertha didn't directly expose Georgia's lies but watched her with a dismissive look, curious to see how far she would go.

"My child? Of course, I know what's wrong with him. He's just got a common cold and a fever, tossing and turning in his sleep, calling out for his dad in his dreams. He's so young and has never lived with his father; of course, he yearns for paternal love," Georgia retorted arrogantly, standing her ground.

"That's really something, isn't it? The kid is sick, and you, the mother, instead of staying home and taking care of him, choose to gallivant around town with your fair-weather friends. It seems to me you don't really care much about your child after all," Hertha chuckled.

Georgia's skin must be thick as a brick, still putting on an act.

could

Alaric, worried his opinion of her might be swayed by Hertha's words to think she didn't

then a friend called me out to look at a car. Besides, the child has several nannies looking after him; there's no way anything would be amiss. My presence at home doesn't really make a difference," she hastily tried to prove her maternal concern, not wanting to appear as

dreading he might think less of

equally unnecessary," Alaric said, his hand resting on Hertha's shoulder, gently moving her behind

last time he had a fever, lying on his deathbed, Georgia had the nerve to drag his mother to his place, causing a

eyes only for herself, had

set him up with Georgia, he was utterly

more he discovered about Georgia, the deeper his

Georgia looked at Alaric with tear-filled eyes, hoping her vulnerable side would sway

a soft heart; a little crying,

had always been too proud to play the damsel in distress before Alaric, thinking her family had offered him enough benefits. Were all those not enough to

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