The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Ashton didn't utter a word, just nodded at Kimberly's command and headed to the room to grab their family records.

Alaric was over the moon, while Hertha's eyes widened in shock. Turning to her mother, she exclaimed, "Mom, are you serious?"

"Sweetie, when have I ever joked about something like this?" Kimberly chided, her tone playful yet firm.

In just a few moments, Ashton was back, handing over the documents to Hertha. "Go on, the sooner you leave, the sooner you're back. Your mom's pork rib stew is almost ready."

Hertha was taken aback, glancing at the documents and then at her father. Were her parents really that eager to see her married off?

"What are you waiting for? Take these and go! It's 1:40 now, the registry office opens at 2. If you hurry, you can be the first in line. Get it done and come back home for lunch," Kimberly urged, nudging Hertha's arm, signaling her to take the documents quickly.

Hertha was still dazed. She had been eagerly waiting for Alaric to come back with the documents, but as time passed, her anticipation turned to disappointment, doubting Alaric's feelings for her.

Once doubt creeps in, that intense anticipation just fades away.

to give up, Alaric returned, documents in hand, urgently

on to her anticipation or give in to her

Ashton, wrapped an arm around her shoulders with an intimacy that faced both Ashton and Kimberly, and said with a smile, "We'll get going now. We'll try to be back

arm in arm with Hertha, and

took a few steps after them, "Daddy,

wait for your daddy and mommy to

word,

was both confused and a

she really getting married to Alaric? It felt surreal, like

moment they were actually heading to the registry office didn't excite her as much as she had

his face beaming with a smile

pace until they reached the registry

ten