The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Hertha gritted her teeth, forcing out each word: "Alaric, you're threatening me, aren't you!"

"It's not a threat, I just desperately want your forgiveness," Alaric replied earnestly. "Hertha, I want to marry you. I've never felt so strongly about marrying someone before." The Alaric standing before her seemed like a different person, earnest and focused. Usually, he was carefree and charming, as if nothing in the world could bother him. His sudden seriousness and depth of emotion caught Hertha off guard.

His words softened her heart a bit. She relented, "Just go back, I'll think about it."

"Really?" Alaric's eyes lit up.

"Do you think I'm like you, not keeping my word?" Hertha glared at him.

Alaric's lips curled up, his serious expression instantly replaced with his usual rogue charm.

He put on his robe and walked out.

As he passed Hertha, he leaned in to steal a kiss.

Startled, Hertha dodged and slapped him on the back, "Trying to sneak one by me, huh? Get lost! And quick about it!"

laugh as carefree as a

Alaric had completely left did Hertha finally

physical closeness from last night to this morning made Hertha's heart race

Alaric remained unwavering; her body

confession about wanting to marry her had indeed shaken her

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overcoming her reservations and accepting him, giving up seemed even more heartbreaking, and the pain would

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from Hertha, "Come on, out with it. How