The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Alaric caught the lettuce she tossed his way and dunked it into the hotpot, all the while wearing a grin. "I didn't say anything; you're the one overthinking things." "See, you always shift the blame for your own actions and words onto others. Lucky for me, I cut my losses early," Hertha retorted, rolling her eyes at Alaric. Words spoken without intent, heard with all the more.

Hertha's comment made Alaric pause, his heart tightening a bit as his narrow, hawk-like eyes locked onto hers.

A shadow of sorrow and deep introspection lingered in his gaze.

Was it his fault Hertha wasn't with him?

Did her words imply her attraction started with his looks but ended with his personality?

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just stating facts! Go ask any of the women you've dated; they'd all think the same," Hertha said between bites, not sparing any feelings.

But Alaric, thick-skinned as ever, wasn't one to take offense.

him was

word, continuing

something to work on. As long as he knew the reason, he could try to adjust in a way she'd appreciate. It was a step up from being in the dark.

was speeding towards Starhaven Hospital, with Rosalind and Thalassa in the backseat. Rosalind sat a fair distance from Thalassa, irritated by the contrasting ways Lysander treated them Rosalind couldn't hide her discomfort, complaining, "Why did you bring Thalassa along? She's got work,

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PLAY YOUR

EPIOPLAY

he can see her one last time," Reginald explained, gripping the steering wheel firmly as

furrowed, her hands clenching

enabled her to meet Zephyr and take care of

visited her under various pretexts, treating her