The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet

Hertha was on the verge of spilling the beans to the orphanage director when Thalassa quickly intervened, preempting her with a casual explanation, "Oh, it's nothing, really. We just happened to have seen this kid outside of the orphanage and got a bit curious, that's all. Just asking around, no big deal. If you've got things to do, please, don't let us keep you. We'll be on our way."

Stepping out of the orphanage, Hertha, puzzled, asked, "Why'd you stop me? It would've been perfect to expose Georgia and Angelina for what they really are."

Thalassa replied, "The director doesn't know a thing, just that someone sees potential in Potato from the orphanage, sees him as valuable. If you tell him about Georgia and Angelina's scheme to drive a wedge between you and Alaric, what's he going to think? Might he feel like he's been part of something terrible?"

Hertha got Thalassa's point. Their personal vendettas shouldn't drag innocent people into the fray.

But then again, wasn't Potato being dragged into this mess by Georgia and Angelina?

"Georgia and Angelina sure went to great lengths just to get at me!" Hertha fumed.

Before Thalassa could respond, another thought struck Hertha, "Do you think Alaric knows about all this?"

Snapping back to reality and meeting Hertha's anxious gaze, Thalassa immediately got serious.

As Hertha's best friend, she knew when to joke and when to be earnest.

Right now, Hertha was deeply concerned about how Alaric viewed the situation. Saying the wrong thing could hurt her deeply. Thalassa shook her head, "I don't know."

"I'm going to confront him about it! If he knew and still played me for a fool, he's dead meat!" Hertha declared, striding towards the car. Thalassa quickly followed, hopping into the car as Hertha sped off.

They soon arrived at Gulfstream Community.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Hertha parked and marched towards the building.

Thalassa called out from behind, "I'll grab a cab back. Have a good talk with Alaric, and try not to be too impulsive."

It was time for Hertha and Alaric to have a heart-to-heart, and Thalassa knew better than to intrude.

"Text me when you get home," Hertha said, walking briskly to the building, still caring for Thalassa.

Thalassa acknowledged and went to hail a cab.

Hertha, fueled by a mix of fury and

l

urgency made her way up the el and marched to Alarics

ready to confront him.

But as her hand hovered over the door, ready to knock, she hesitated.

What was the point of confronting Alaric like this?

vel.ne

If he had known that the child wasn't his and conspired with Georgia against her, wasn't that proof enough that he didn't want to be with her?

After all, you can't fake a paternity test.

The fact that Alaric insisted the child was his, despite the test, meant

one

with Georgia, playing her de

only

a fool!

Caught in this web of lies, she felt adrift, tormented by sleepless nights and gnawing doubts.

And there he was, presumably taking pleasure in her misery and pain.

To confront him would only give him more ammunition to mock her, to show her that she cared more than she should.

It would shatter the last remnants of her dignity in front of him.