The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Hertha was determined to be the one in charge at home, vowing never to let Alaric dominate her. However, in her current state, she feared she would soon be completely under his control.

Panicking, Hertha awkwardly cupped Alaric's face and pushed him away, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "You're not just talk, you're all action. I get it. I-I need to go home," she stammered, her eyes darting around nervously before she bolted out of Alaric's house.

Alaric, still lost in the afterglow of their passionate kiss, watched Hertha's hurried retreat with a mix of longing and amusement, especially noting how tightly she clutched the three credit cards he had given her. Her hasty escape, with those cards firmly in hand, made her even more endearing to him. No matter how she ran now, she couldn't escape the reality that she was legally his wife.

Back at her place, the living room was empty. Hertha sank into the couch, her heart pounding and her cheeks burning as if she'd been out in the sun. She placed one hand over her racing heart and touched her flushed face with the other, trying to calm herself down.

Just then, the door to the room opened, and Kimberly walked out. She saw Hertha sitting on the couch with a lovestruck expression. "What's up with you? Had a bit too much to drink?" Kimberly asked, moving closer.

Startled, Hertha looked up to see her mother and broke into a shy, blissful smile. "No, Mom. Where are the kids?"

first thought was

was amiss. She sat down beside her and probed further, "So,

of credit cards in her grasp and

her mother. "Stop it, what kind of

was astonished, snatching the cards to inspect them closely, confirming

me in charge of our

she reached out, not for the cards, but with a stern

asked, "What

marriage certificate!"

Hertha dug out the certificate from her pocket and handed