The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Hertha shot Alaric a quick glance, her cheeks flaming at the memory of that dizzying kiss that had left her in a whirl. Hurriedly, she turned away, scooping up Julian and heading inside.

She felt a flush of embarrassment. Just moments before, she had been firmly rejecting Alaric's advances, and the next, she was lost in his passionate kiss.

To an outsider, it might look like she was playing hard to get with Alaric.

But heaven knows, she had no interest in playing any sort of love games with Alaric.

Deciding to give up on a man she deeply loved was hard enough. Having made that decision, she didn't want to backslide so easily.

Yet, Alaric's unexpected kiss had broken down her defenses, making it all the more difficult to keep him at arm's length.

Though Hertha quickly turned away, Alaric still caught the blush spreading across her cheeks, as striking as the glow of a sunset, stirring something deep inside him.

tighten. But with his adorable daughter in his arms, he couldn't just

soon as they entered, Kimberly pulled out chairs at the dining table, shooting Hertha a stern look before turning her gaze to Alaric with a huff, "You

need to have a talk," Hertha's nerves tensed, and she

also looking her way, even more nervous than she was. After all, Kimberly was Hertha's mother, his potential mother-in-law. Offending her could make marrying Hertha even more

cautious, not wanting to

hoping she could back

Alaric realized she was

Alaric that he didn't just need backing; he had to be the one to

With this realization, Alaric

his lips curving into a polite smile, ready

take Helena and Julian to the playroom to enjoy some toys,

her eyes at