The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

However, as she drew closer, she distinctly felt that piercing, icy gaze shift away from her, the oppressive force retreating, growing more distant by the second. She bit her tongue, resisting the urge to look back.

It was only after the pressure had completely vanished and she had put a significant distance between them that she finally allowed herself to glance back, just in time to see Lysander pushing a wheelchair int the hospital-a fleeting glimpse before he disappeared inside, out of sight.

The moment Lysander vanished, Thalassa's tightly wound emotions collapsed. She had been fiercely holding back, trying not to let the heartache overwhelm her, but now, the intense pain burst forth from the depths of her heart like a flood, engulfing her whole being. Tears welled up, and a wave of pain washed over her, leaving her legs weak. She stumbled to a nearby bench and sat down, gasping for air, struggling to breathe. By the time she caught her breath, tears were streaming down her face.

She felt the crushing pain and despair of being abandoned by the world. Joshua had said that since Rosalind had been coddled from a young age, her ability to cope was weaker, so he chose to fulfill Rosalind's wishes. And because Thalassa was stronger, able to face whatever setbacks came her way, he asked her to step aside, to make way for Rosalind.

never considered that she, too, was human-that she could feel pain, that she could suffer, that she might reach her breaking point. Was being strong meant to be so cruelly hurt, so easily forsaken? If so, perhaps strength was a mistake. She could forgive anyone who hurt her,

seemed to press on her heart, a deep, throbbing pain that made

bright can you avoid being hurt. Only

hurt after hurt, in becoming clear-headed, independent, and invincible

jewelry design competition proceeded smoothly. Thalassa made it through the

ecstatic. She immediately picked up her phone to share the good news with