The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

"Don't call out to me!" Hertha snapped back furiously, not even bothering to look back as she stormed off to her front door. She swung it open, stepped inside, and slammed it shut with such force that Alaric was momentarily stunned.

The already aching heart of Alaric tightened even more at Hertha's cold demeanor towards him.

Dragging his feet, Alaric made his way back home, feeling as if he had lost all his pillars of support, his body weak and limp.

That night, he lay in bed shivering uncontrollably, wrapping himself tightly in his blanket, but still couldn't shake off the cold.

It was a torturous night, and by the next day, he found himself unable to get out of bed.

Throughout the day, his phone by the bedside rang multiple times, but Alaric, wrapped up in his blanket like a burrito, had no energy to answer, shivering from the cold.

In the late afternoon, around five, the door to Alaric's place swung open, and Ethan stepped inside, calling out tentatively, "Alaric, Alaric..."

No response.

Thinking the house was empty, Ethan took out his phone to call again.

the bedroom and saw the phone buzzing on the nightstand, with

else could it

call and quickly walked over, bending down with concern. "Alaric, what's

didn't open his eyes

been calling all morning, the phone was working, the ringtone loud. Alaric had no reason

Yet, he wasn't answering!

check if

was about to feel for Alaric's breath, Alaric suddenly opened his eyes and said emotionlessly,

work, hot calling in sick. Your boss here personally calls you, and you don't

Ethan was joking around.

workers like this? Can't a

you're sick?" Ethan immediately dropped the humorous act, reaching out to

really got a