The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Thalassa spun around, and there was Spencer, sporting a crisp blue shirt and slate-gray slacks, striding toward her with a plump chicken in his grasp.

Relief washed over Thalassa as she greeted him, "Spencer, did you go grocery shopping?"

Spencer?

The name struck Alaric like a hammer to the heart, his steps faltered, and he turned, the carefree smirk wiped clean off his face.

Indeed, Spencer approached, a lively hen clutched in his hand.

Alaric's gaze fixed on the chicken's clucking beak, a shiver running down his spine, his skin crawling with goosebumps. Rooted to the spot, paralyzed with dread, he couldn't move an inch. Since childhood, Alaric had harbored an irrational fear of beaked creatures, chickens most of all!

And now, as fate would have it, Spencer was parading the very object of his phobia. Alaric felt trapped, his blood running cold with alarm.

for Hertha-help with her recovery," Spencer said,

off, he added, "Mr. Falconer, you missed out on the meal last time. Stay for

edged closer to Alaric, chicken in hand. Confronted with the chicken's beak, Alaric's deep-seated fear surfaced. He dodged behind Thalassa, panic-stricken, urging Spencer, "Keep that thing away from me.

had

C

FAVOURITE GAMES ON

thrust something into her hands, his voice quivering with urgency.

his car, revved the engine, and sped off, leaving a trail of exhaust

stood there, baffled.

graceful Alaric Falconer, always suave and a bit wicked, had bolted in sheer

comical, really, and Thalassa couldn't help but want to laugh, having never seen this side