The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

By the time Alaric left with the kids, Hertha was still glaring at him, fuming.

It was all his fault for not having the sense to make the kids wash their hands before dinner! Had he taken the initiative to clean their hands, she wouldn't have had to remind him, and they could have avoided this awkward situation altogether.

In Hertha's mind, the blame lay squarely on Alaric. She thought he was clueless and lacked common sense!

Everyone was seated around the dinner table, each person quietly eating their meal, enveloped in an awkward silence. Hertha was especially focused on her food, not daring to look up at Remington and Beatrice across the table.

She felt justified in her actions until that indirect jab she threw earlier made her feel utterly embarrassed in front of Remington and Beatrice. Just when the silence grew so profound that all you could hear was the sound of chewing, Beatrice set down her fork and, with a voice full of warmth, said, "Hertha, dear, don't feel bad. Remington and I are just here to see the kids. Seeing them so lively and well-mannered under your care reassures us. We won't interfere with you and Alaric's decisions."

family wanting to take the kids away. Being a woman herself,

of relief wash over her. She quickly looked up and said, "Thank you for your understanding and kindness. I

her. Previously, Hertha had been wary of Beatrice and Remington, thinking they were using her to have Alaric's children. Her attitude towards them had been less than cordial during

Beatrice say they wouldn't interfere or try to take the kids away lessened Hertha's prejudice

cooking is delicious, much better than what we have at home," Beatrice

was so pleased with the compliment she couldn't stop

was taken aback by Beatrice's overly polite words. The Falconer family's meals were prepared by a professional chef,- after all. Her mother had been making the same few dishes

make Kimberly happy. Hertha thought about setting the record straight but seeing her mother so joyous, she decided against it.