The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

She couldn't count the number of times she'd kicked herself for being so superficial, falling for Alaric, the ultimate player. Her past obsession with him was a source of never-ending frustration. Seeing that Hertha was seriously fed up, Alaric raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. Happy now?"

Hertha rolled her eyes at him and headed for the kitchen. Alaric noticed the grocery bag she was carrying and followed her, asking casually, "Do you even know how to cook?"

"That mouth of yours isn't just for offending people, you know," Hertha shot back without turning around.

"Did I say something wrong?" Alaric followed her, only to have the glass door slammed shut in his face, nearly squashing his nose.

Alaric couldn't help but laugh. "Hertha, I'm a patient here!"

Hertha looked at him disdainfully through the glass. "If you weren't sick, I wouldn't bother coming!"

"Can't you be a little nicer? Do you treat the kids at home like this too?" Alaric said.

can melt my heart. If I were a block of ice, I'd turn into a warm puddle around them, unlike you!"

bad about me?" Alaric

annoying!" Hertha

Alaric felt wounded by her glaring

Hertha had turned her back on him and was already getting started with the food. Alaric decided to swallow his

the glass door, he stepped in,

offering to get his

compliment. "Of course, you've yet to discover all my hidden talents," Alaric-said, moving to the stove to take some vegetables from Bertha

attention for a moment and saw Alaric discarding the stems

the leaves we eat?"

colors as a spoiled brat. Who ever heard of eating cress leaves and not the stems?" Hertha was incredulous. Alaric

Just get out, before you waste what little