The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Hertha kept her gaze fixed firmly ahead, not daring to even glance at Alaric.

She feared that seeing Alaric's strikingly handsome face, with those fox-like, captivating eyes filled with profound sadness, would make her heart soften and compel her to retract the words she had just spoken to him.

After much internal struggle, Hertha had resolved to keep Alaric at arm's length, deciding their relationship should continue merely as that of casual friends.

It had taken some convincing, but Alaric had agreed. She couldn't let his pitiful appearance sway her now, not when she had finally steeled her heart against him.

With a heavy heart, Hertha marched on, her head held high, refusing to give in to the pain and pity gnawing at her.

Walking beside her, Alaric kept his head slightly bowed, not once looking at Hertha. His demeanor was one of subdued sorrow.

He feared Hertha seeing the redness in his eyes, the unshed tears. After all, he was a man, and men weren't supposed to cry easily.

He couldn't allow Hertha to see him weep. She had made her stance clear-they were to be just friends, with no further entanglements. That was her showing mercy, her being generous.

he had accepted

now,

pain he was in, he couldn't show his vulnerability, especially not in front of a

with unspoken words and suppressed

been desperately trying to explain themselves to each other, and

unfamiliar familiarity between them

you planning

casual, the kind of question friends might ask each other-nothing

to reality, stealing a quick glance at Hertha. Seeing her attempt at a smile felt like a sting to

really have the heart to answer her question, merely

Hertha, maintaining a friendship was simple, but for him, it was as painful

life, Alaric had been

deeply in love for the first time, only to have it end in despair, felt like

indifference, felt her forced smile fade. The pain she had been trying to keep at bay pricked her