Quartet

Chapter 1415 

This name was always on the tip of Alaric’s tongue, and sometimes he would stare at the contact number on his phone, lost in thought, his finger hovering over the call button but never quite making the connection. 

Alistair figured the woman must mean a lot to Alaric. 

Now, the very same woman was calling Alaric directly, and if Alistair were to turn her away, Mr. Falconer would surely be angry. 

So, taking the initiative, Alistair replied, “Come on up to the 28th floor please, to the Vice President’s office.” 

“But the receptionist won’t let me through,” Hertha protested. 

“Just hand her the phone, I’ll talk to her.” 

Hertha did as told, and the receptionist’s demeanor shifted from frosty indifference to cordial compliance as she spoke into the phone. Returning the phone to Hertha, she showed a welcoming smile, “Right this way, Ms. Kensington. Please take the elevator up to the 28th floor.” 

Hertha noticed the change in the receptionist’s behavior but chose not to engage, taking her phone back and stepping into the elevator. Upon reaching the 28th floor, Hertha found herself a stranger in the Falconer Group’s labyrinth of power and prestige, unsure where the Vice President’s office was. She glanced around and decided to venture left. 

Suddenly, the sound of an argument spilled out from one of the rooms. 

Hertha paused, curiosity drawing her gaze toward the source of the commotion, only to see a plaque that read ‘Conference Room‘ rather than ‘Office‘. 

She was about to move on when a woman’s imperious voice cut through the air. 

“Alaric, give me a straight answer in front of all the shareholders! Will you marry me or not? If you won’t, Michael, Adrian, George–they won’t back you anymore! There would be no point in you playing Vice President then! Marry me, and they’ll recommend you as the rightful head of the Falconer Group tomorrow!” 

That voice was Georgia’s! She was pressuring Alaric into marriage in front of the company’s shareholders! 

Georgia’s words were a slap in the face to Alaric’s pride. She was pretty much saying that Alaric’s success hinged solely on marrying her, or else he’d plummet from grace. 

It sounded like she was calling Alaric a kept man. 

Did Georgia even like Alaric? 

Surely, she shouldn’t push him into a corner to get him to marry her even if she loved him. 

Hertha stopped in her tracks, her ears tuned to the drama unfolding within. 

“Georgia, this is the Falconer Group’s medical project meeting, not your Reed family circus. If you want to throw a tantrum, do it on your own turf!” Alaric’s voice was strained with suppressed anger as he attempted to reason with her. 

But Georgia was relentless. “Without the Reed family’s support, would you even be here discussing strategies with the top brass? You’d still be scraping by in some small–time firm! Alaric, just pick a wedding date today in front of all these shareholders, and they will petition the current CEO tomorrow to name you the head of the Falconer Group. Your cousin Jeremiah Falconer won’t stand a chance at this position then. Just say the word, and I’ll have mom and dad set it all up!” 

Georgia’s words were a mix of threat and enticement, desperate measures to make Alaric hers. 

Hertha felt disgusted. What a brainless, domineering woman, giving no one a moment’s respite. 

No wonder Alaric wouldn’t marry her. 

Yet, cornered by Georgia’s ultimatums, Alaric managed to keep his cool. It was impressive restraint. 

“Georgia, how many times have you caused a scene at the office? I may tolerate it once, twice, but don’t think my patience is endless! To hell with this Vice President title!” Alaric exploded, kicking the table before storming out. 

He wrenched open the conference room door, coming face–to–face with Hertha, who had inadvertently become an eavesdropper in his 

eyes. 

“Oops, just passing by. I didn’t hear a thing,” Hertha said with a nervous chuckle, meeting Alaric’s furious gaze. 

“Alaric, don’t you dare walk away from me! I’m your fiancée. Is it wrong for me ask you to marry me?” Georgia’s angry voice followed them out. 

Without a second thought, Alaric grabbed Hertha by the waist, pulling her close as a shield against Georgia, his voice laced with veno “My fiancée has changed. She’s got more charm in ten minutes than you’ve had your entire life!” 

With that, he pulled Hertha’s face to his and planted a fierce kiss on her lips. 

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Hertha’s eyes widened in shock, caught completely off guard by his action. 

Chapter 1416 

Alaric’s ragged breath fanned across Hertha’s face, his long lashes brushing her cheek, sending shivers down her spine like a current of electricity. His alluring face was inches away, his lips pressed fervently against hers. 

It was the tremble, the heart–racing, the thrill she had dreamed of countless times, where she and Alaric were locked in a passionate embrace, just like this. 

Hertha felt as if her toes were curling. 

For three years, she had daydreamed and nightdreamed about this man. 

Hertha was no innocent like Thalassa. When she missed a man, she entertained vivid dreams of rolling in the hay with him, kissing him endlessly, sleeping with him through countless imagined encounters. 

Now, her dreams were coming to life. She could feel Alaric’s potent masculine presence enveloping her, his kiss intense with an undercurrent of spite and anger. 

Yes, spite and anger. 

Hertha’s softened heart snapped back to reality abruptly. She placed her hands on Alaric’s face and pushed him away, her wide, watery eyes filled with indignation as she panted, “Alaric, I am not a pawn for you to use in your games with your fiancée!” 

She hated being used as a tool, just as Thalassa had been treated by Lysander, especially being used by Alaric as a strategy to get under Georgia’s skin! 

Alaric’s striking eyes held hers, and beneath the anger, there was an undeniable longing that had surged unbidden when he kissed her. It was the same desire that had roared within him three years ago, the night they had crossed the point of no return, his body clamoring for her. 

“I never saw you as a pawn.” Alaric’s voice was hoarse, tinged with raw emotion. 

He had suppressed his feelings for three long years. He had wanted to find Hertha, to explain to her that he didn’t want to be with Georgia. He just wanted to be with her. 

But the memory of that night in the hotel, when Hertha saw him with Georgia and stormed out, haunted him. He had chased after her, only to see her with Spencer, looking so happy and content, a stark contrast to how she was with him. 

Alaric knew women, and he knew they only showed their softest side to the man they truly cherished. Seeing Hertha’s affection for Spencer had made him step back. 

After that, Hertha had vanished from his life, no longer appearing before him and never reaching out. 

Meanwhile, his mother had pushed him into an engagement with Georgia, insisting that he was honor–bound to make it right since he had slept with her. 

Alaric thought, if he had made a mistake, he might as well live with it. 

His mother was right. If he had slipped up and gotten involved with Georgia, he owed it to her to take responsibility. 

After all, he was bound to marry someday, and of all the women he’d known, none but Hertha had truly stirred his heart. 

Marrying any of the others made no difference to him. 

Why not Georgia then? At the very least, his mother adored her. 

Chapter 

Chapter 1417 

For the past three years, Alaric often found his thoughts drifting back to Hertha. He often thought of her captivating spirit and unwavering loyalty to her friends–how she would go to the ends of the earth for them. 

Time and again, he’d hover over the buttons of his phone, itching to dial Hertha’s number. But the thought that she might have already. settled down with Spencer held him back. He didn’t want to intrude on her life. 

But his hesitation only seemed to embolden Georgia’s aggressive behavior. 

The role of Vice President at Falconer Group was something his mother had pushed him into, and the seat of President was another of her ambitions for him as well. 

None of it was what he truly wanted. 

“Alaric, get your hands off her!” Georgia snapped out of her shock when she saw Alaric kiss Hertha. Her eyes blazed with fury as she stormed forward, pushing Hertha away from Alaric with such force that tears welled up in her eyes. “What did you just say? She’s your fiancée now? I’m not even a tenth as feminine as she is, huh? Who is she anyway? Just a regular Jane from the working class. Can she support you in your career? She can’t even come up with two million without asking your mother for it!” 

Pointing accusingly at Hertha, then at Alaric, Georgia was gasping with indignation, her eyes swimming with tears. Before Alaric could respond, she continued in a piercing tone, “Alaric, I’ll assume you only said that to upset me! Apologize to me now, and I’ll forgive you. I’ll even get my parents to keep backing you in business!” 

Just the day before, Georgia had witnessed Alaric’s tender reunion with Hertha at the Starhaven International Hotel. In a moment of weakness, she’d had a row with Alaric and regretted it the moment she stormed out of the hotel. Then she went to her mother for advice. 

Her mother had told her to bide her time, to show the grace of a woman. 

Georgia had intended to do just that, but then, Alaric had called her mother to break off their engagement first thing in the morning. Georgia couldn’t hold back any longer, and that’s why she was in Falconer Group’s boardroom causing a scene now, demanding Alaric marry her in front of the company’s executives. She wasn’t going to let him call off the engagement. Not by a long shot. 

“Hertha, are you okay?” Alaric rushed to Hertha’s side, steadying her. 

Georgia had pushed her so hard that Hertha had stumbled backward. Alaric was both worried and guilt. 

Ignoring Georgia, he reached out to Hertha first. The moment his palm touched Hertha’s arm, she felt a jolt of electricity. 

She quickly stepped back, putting distance between them, and said with an aloof tone, “I’m fine. Deal with your own mess first.” 

“Alaric, you come here now! Don’t you dare touch her again!” Georgia shrieked, her eyes stinging at the sight of Alaric almost comforting Hertha. She’d been too slow to separate them when Alaric kissed Hertha. 

Frustrated, furious, and on the brink of a breakdown, she watched as Alaric reached out for that woman again. It was like pouring gasoline on the raging fire in her heart. 

Georgia couldn’t stand it. She marched forward, grabbed Alaric’s arm, and yanked him toward her. 

Three years ago, she’d followed a drunken Alaric, who was with an equally intoxicated Hertha, to a hotel. She had intended to take advantage of Alaric’s inebriated state to seduce him but was interrupted by a call from the front desk about an passport issue. 

By the time she’d dealt with it and returned to the room, she found Alaric and Hertha together! Now she felt the same mix of shock, resentment, and hysteria that had overwhelmed her that night three years ago.

Chapter 1418 

Alaric’s mere touch sparked a volatile memory in Georgia’s mind. It took her back three years to a wild night in the hotel room, a memory that now scorched her brain and assaulted her senses. 

It drove her mad. 

She could turn a blind eye to Alaric’s flings with other women, but not with Hertha! She had seen the feverish madness in Alaric’s eyes, which was why she felt such a strong sense of a heart–stabbing anger. 

With a fierce tug, Georgia yanked Alaric away from Hertha, her movements desperate and rough. 

Alaric could feel her almost pathological madness in the force of her grip. It was suffocating and revolting. 

Annoyed, he wrenched his arm free and told Georgia with a dark look, “Enough! I’ve made it crystal clear to your mother over the phone yesterday I’m calling off the engagement! And if the Reed family wants to pull their investment from my business, just do it!” 

“Georgia, let’s get this straight. The last thing I need is your forgiveness! If your parents want to withdraw their support, then go on, don’t drag it out and threaten me further!” 

Threaten? 

At the sound of that word, tears breached Georgia’s eyes, cascading down her cheeks. 

Shaking with fury and gasping for breath, she glared at Alaric, “Do you want to end up a commoner like her?” 

“What’s wrong with being a commoner? Earning a living with her own hands is far better than a woman who can only rely on her parents like you!” Alaric’s words cut sharp. 

He despised Georgia’s attitude towards hardworking folks like Hertha. Sure, Georgia was a high–society heiress, but she paled in comparison to any everyday worker. 

She had no skills, incapable of holding down a job. Without her parents‘ financial support, she’d probably starve! A do–nothing, living–off–her–parents woman looking down on someone who earns their keep? How ironic. 

“Living off her parents?” Was Alaric talking about her? Georgia thought in fury. 

Her heart felt like it had been stabbed, the pain acute. 

Alaric had a knack for targeting her vulnerabilities. 

“Alaric!” she screamed hysterically, her chest heaving, tears flowing unchecked. 

“You jerk, I’ll go back right now and have my parents pull their investment! And I’ll wait for you to come begging to me!” 

With clenched teeth, Georgia spat out her words, shot Hertha a venomous look and stormed off. 

Hertha blinked, momentarily stunned by Georgia’s hateful gaze. 

With a quiet chuckle, she thought to herself how ridiculous the whole scene was. Georgia had three years without her around to win Alaric over, and now she blamed Hertha? 

The company’s executives emerged from the meeting room. They were seasoned players in the corporate game who witnessed the dramatic scene unfold. Now they remained as calm as if nothing had happened. 

Such theatrics were nothing new to them. Georgia had caused scenes at the office before. To them, it was nothing out of the ordinary. 

“Mr. Falconer, your partnering with Dr. Funke to expand the Falconer Group’s pharmaceutical division seems like a solid plan,” Michael said to Alaric, bringing the focus back to business. 

Chapter 1419 

“I agree. Go ahead with your plan, George said, clapping Alaric on the shoulder with a reassuring thud. 

*The Reeds have really thrown you a lifeline in business. Try not to burn bridges with them,” Michael reminded Alaric before he left. After casting a meaningful glance at Hertha, he made his exit. 

One by one, the rest of the stakeholders filtered out of the room. 

At the conference room door, only Hertha and Alaric remained. 

The once bustling space quieted down, and the air seemed to thicken with an odd tension that made Hertha feel uneasy, her heartbeat picking up pace. 

“Um, I actually…” 

“Sorry you had to see that circus, Alaric cut in before she could continue, his normally carefree eyes clouded with a certain gravity. 

The roguish charm that usually danced in his eyes seemed to have dimmed, leaving him looking decidedly deflated. 

He was apologizing to Hertha for having to witness such an unbecoming scene. 

He was frustrated with himself, too. Anyone could’ve seen him in that state, but the last person he wanted to be seen like that by was Hertha. 

And yet, she had witnessed it. 

Alaric felt as if his pride had been dragged through the mud, and he couldn’t bear to face Hertha. 

After that apology, he turned to leave. 

Hertha stood stunned, her mouth agape, struggling to reconcile the image of the embarrassed, guilt–ridden man before her with the flamboyant, carefree Alaric she knew. 

The nonchalance that once defined him was now overshadowed by restraint. 

And that restraint was heart–wrenching to see. 

Snapping back to reality and noticing Alaric walking away, Hertha hastily called out, “Alaric, I need your help with something.” 

Alaric stopped in his tracks, his hands clenching at his sides, but he didn’t turn around. 

At that moment, Alistair hurried over. He noted Alaric’s troubled expression and Hertha standing behind him near the conference room 

door. 

Alistair sensed trouble brewing. Alaric had been in a meeting today, and it wouldn’t have been the first time Georgia had caused a scene 

in the boardroom. 

This time, Hertha may have stumbled upon it, and Hertha was the one person Alaric cared about the most. 

“Mr. Falconer, I apologize, I told the reception to let Ms. Kensington up. I intended for her to wait in your office. I didn’t expect her to be at the conference room door,” Alistair apologized, bowing slightly in acknowledgment of his mistake. He may have really messed up 

this time. 

Alaric lifted his hawk–like eyes and said sternly to Alistair, “Go attend to your business!” 

Alistair looked up in surprise, hardly able to believe that Mr. Falconer wasn’t holding him accountable for his blunder! The relief was so 

sudden that Alistair almost couldn’t believe it. 

“What, you want to forfeit all your holidays?” Alaric asked. 

“No, no, I’m on it right away. Have a good day, Mr. Falconer, I’ll vanish,” Alistair quickly responded, throwing a glance at Hertha before hurrying off. 

He had dodged a bullet with Mr. Falconer, and it was all thanks to Hertha. Had it been any other day, a single mistake could have cost him his vacation for half a year. 

Hertha stepped up to Alaric, tilting her head back to meet his strikingly handsome face. She crossed her arms and with a teasing smile, “Who would’ve thought that the free–spirited second son of the Falconer family, the lord of Sapphire Skyline, would find corporate life so stifling?” 

Seeing the amusement in her expression, Alaric’s already embarrassed demeanor grew colder, and with a voice tinged with discomfort. he said, “Did you come all the way to Falconer Group just to get a laugh at my expense?“

Chapter 1420 

“I just never expected that Alaric, who always looked down on me, could end up living such a pathetic life, Hertha said, her smile fading as she spoke. 

Her big, round eyes watched Alaric with a mix of amusement and pity. 

Georgia had the nerve to spout such ugly words in front of all the higher–ups at his company, clearly riding on the coattails of the Reed family’s influence. 

She hadn’t even married Alaric yet, and she was already suffocating him. If she did tie the knot, she’d definitely strut around, controlling every aspect of Alaric’s life. 

Alaric would be nothing but a puppet, danced around by the Reeds and Georgia at their whim. 

Alaric closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. The last thing he wanted was to be commented with pity, the way Hertha was looking at him now. But it seemed like his fears had a way of coming true. 

“The world of the elite is complicated–you wouldn’t understand,” Alaric tried to explain, but found himself at a loss for words. 

His current situation, wasn’t it all of his own making? No matter what he said, he couldn’t dissociate himself from it. What was the point of explaining to Hertha? 

With a light laugh, Hertha retorted icily, “Yeah, I wouldn’t understand the life of the elite. After all, I’m just an ordinary Jane, a commoner. Every penny I use, I earn with my own two hands. Unlike you guys, born with a silver spoon in your mouth and never had to worry about a day’s work or what’s for dinner.” 

Alaric’s previous offhand remark had struck a nerve. 

What did he mean she wouldn’t understand the life of the elite? In the end, he was just like his mother, Angelina, looking down on her! At least Angelina had the decency to offer her two million to walk away. Alaric, could crush her spirit completely with just a few words. 

“I didn’t mean it.” Alaric realized he had misspoken. 

He just meant to convey that the ties between his family and the Reeds were complicated, too tangled to explain in a few words. He hadn’t intended for Hertha to take it the wrong way. 

“Let’s just drop it, I don’t have time to figure out what you mean. I came to you today for a request,” Hertha interrupted him. “I won’t beat around the bush. Yesterday, when Thalassa and I went to see Dr. Funke, it was for Lysander. We were in such a hurry that we forgot to check Dr. Funke’s picture. It was just a strategy to draw him out.” 

Needing Alaric’s help, Hertha had no choice but to lay her cards on the table. 

Alaric chuckled, “That’s typical of you, Hertha, always full of surprises. What if Dr. Funke took you seriously? How would you have 

handled that?” 

He had misunderstood her. He thought she had actually fallen for Dr. Funke’s medical skills and character. 

Even if she was fickle, she wasn’t foolish. 

“Didn’t Thalassa say it herself? Many people admire Dr. Funke’s medical prowess, and she’s one of them. Dr. Funke is smart. How could he not see through our intentions?” Hertha rolled her eyes at him. 

With Thalassa by her side, she wasn’t worried about not being able to handle the situation. 

Hertha and Thalassa had always worked seamlessly together, never missing a beat. 

Besides, Thalassa would never just stand by and watch her fall into a dilemma. 

The unspoken trust between her and Thalassa was always there. 

Alaric finally understood. He had actually believed Hertha’s words to Dr. Funke yesterday, but his concern had clouded his judgment. 

After hearing Hertha’s explanation, Alaric felt a weight lift off his shoulders. At the very least, it proved that her past pursuit of him had been genuine, not just a facade. 

“So, you want me to persuade Dr. Funke to accept your admiration for his medical skills?” Alaric asked, looking at her with a relaxed air

Chapter 1421 

A playful smirk lifted the corners of Alaric’s mouth, his eyes–sharp and mischievous with hint of roguish charm–only relaxed In front of Hertha. 

“What are you on about?” Hertha rolled her eyes, dismissing the unnecessary banter. “Who needs him to accept, anyway? I just need you to convince him to meet us once. Thalassa said she’s willing to put up fifty million for Dr. Funke to come out of retirement and treat Lysander.” 

Dr. Funke was well versed in both traditional and modern medicine, and he might just be the miracle worker they needed for Lysander. 

Lysander was Alaric’s best mate, and after three years in a coma, his condition weighed heavily on Alaric’s mind as well. If Dr. Funke could cure Lysander, nothing could be better. 

“You don’t need to meet him,” Alaric said abruptly. 

“What do you mean? You won’t help us?” Hertha’s temper flared, and she was moments away from throwing a punch at Alaric. 

“No. I’ll convince Dr. Funke to treat Lysander myself,” Alaric quickly clarified. 

Hertha’s clenched fist relaxed, and she managed a smile at Alaric. “Try talking to him first, but if he’s not willing, we’ll still need you to introduce us.” 

She was grateful for her quick reflexes. Otherwise, Alaric might’ve taken a fist to the face. 

Alaric caught her smiling eyes, which seemed to sparkle even more with her deliberate grin, like phosphorescence dancing across a lake and into his heart. 

Caught off guard, Alaric felt a flutter and leaned in closer. “If it works out, what’s in it for me?” As he leaned in, the faint scent of mint and tobacco from his shirt enveloped her, sending her pulse racing. His devilishly handsome face was now just inches from hers, the allure almost too much to resist, making her breath uneven. 

Hertha took a step back, her eyes wide with surprise. “Alaric, you’re the vice president of the Falconer Group. Isn’t it beneath you to ask for favors from a commoner?” 

Seeing her nervous reaction, Alaric straightened up and teased, “Scared I might ask for money?” 

“What kind of favor are you talking about?” Hertha asked, trying to regain composure. 

“Let’s say you reward me with a ride to send you home,” Alaric suggested nonchalantly. 

A ride home? 

Alarm bells rang in Hertha’s head. The last thing she wanted was for Alaric to discover where she lived and stumble upon her secrets. 

21:02 

“No need, I’ll treat you to dinner sorne other time. It’s getting late, I should go,” Hertha quickly oxcused herself and hurried off. 

She had taken the day off work and drove straight home, her mind filled with thoughts of the two little cherubs waiting for her. Every fear and panic melted away at the prospect of seeing 

Ever since becoming a mother, Hertha understood Thalassa’s past decisions and feelings all the more. Her children were her world and her vulnerability. 

Hertha pulled up to the Gulfstream Community, got out of the car, and saw Bridget watching over the kids at the playground’s slide. 

She was about to join them when a familiar male voice sounded from behind. “Hertha, so this is where you live.” 

The voice was unmistakably Alaric’s, and it instantly tensed Hertha’s nerves. 

Panicked, she turned around to see Alaric standing there with that characteristic twinkle in his eyes as always, looking straight at her. 

Dread filled her. Her children were right there by the slide. If they saw her and called her ‘Mommy, Alaric would undoubtedly hear! 

Chapter 1422 

Hertha’s heart pounded like a drum solo as she whipped her head around. At the playground, there was a scene sweet enough to be painted on a postcard: a toddler was cautiously climbing the steps to the slide, with Bridget hovering anxiously like a protective hen, her head bowed, hands ready to catch the little one at the slightest wobble. 

Perched at the top of the slide was another little nugget of cuteness, Hertha’s son, Julian, prepped and primed for the thrill of the descent. His gaze was locked onto the spot where Hertha stood. Just one focused look and he’d spot her for sure. 

At that realization, Hertha gasped silently and averted her face, striding with purpose toward Alaric. 

Reaching his side, she grabbed his arm instinctively and steered him away from the scene. 

They sidled up beside a house, its walls serving as a shield from Julian and Helena’s sight. It was only when they were safely out of view that Hertha’s tense heart allowed itself a timid sigh of relief. 

Lifting her eyes to Alaric, she met his gaze, those narrow eyes twinkling with mischief and a hint of something more flirtatious. 

Their eyes met, and Hertha’s knees turned to jelly, her alarm morphing into something that fluttered like butterflies in her stomach. 

It was those very eyes, devilish and full of promise, that had made her fall head over heels for Alaric three years ago. And she hadn’t been able to shake him since. 

Now, with that same look, how in the world was she supposed to resist? 

“Why are you giving me that look?‘ Hertha’s cheeks blushed a shade of pink as she glared at Alaric, half–annoyed and half–flustered. 

Was he trying to charm her again? 

He was practically still engaged to Georgia, for heaven’s sake. He was off–limits, and no matter how much Hertha’s heart ached for him, she wouldn’t let herself go there. 

Besides, she constantly reminded herself to keep a distance from Alaric. She couldn’t risk ending up like Thalassa, who’d had her children snatched away from her arms. 

Her children were her Achilles‘ heel. She’d never let anyone, especially not Alaric, lay a finger 

on them. 

No sooner had Hertha finished her thought than Alaric’s gaze slid down to his arm with a roguish smirk. “You’re already touching me. Is it a crime if I return the favor with just a glance?” 

Hertha was about to retort–something about him being shameless–when she followed his eyes. Her hand was clutching his arm, her grip strong enough to push his sleeve up and 

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21:02 

Chapter 1422 

expose his arm’s sinewy, tan lines. 

Their skin touched, and the warmth from his arm mingling with hers, sending a shock wave of heat straight to her heart. It felt as though she’d grabbed a heated iron, and she jerked her hand away with a jolt. 

Avoiding his gaze, she stammered, “Touching? That wasn’t touching. I was just… pulling you out of the way.” 

“What’s got you so riled up that you need to pull me away? Is there something over by the kiddie park you don’t want me to see?” Alaric’s curiosity piqued as he made to peer around the house toward the playground. 

Hertha’s heart leapt into her throat, the fear of Alaric spotting her kids kicking in. She reached out and yanked on his collar, pulling him back toward her. 

Her movement was both swift and forceful, and it sent Alari

Chapter 1423 

Hertha barely came up to Alarie’s shoulder, and as he stumbled beside her, his entire frame seemed to press down upon her, casting a shadow that enveloped her in its dark embrace. His gaze, which had been looking downward, met Hertha’s face head–on. 

Flushed with worry and anxiety, her cheeks bore a touch of pink, and her round, doe–like eyes were wide with surprise as they locked with his. 

Alaric hadn’t expected to be this close to her se abruptly. He could feel her breath, quick and erratic, and the subtle scent of her body wash was unmistakable in the air. 

A warmth spread through his lower belly, his throat tightening in response. 

Impulsiveness was Alaric’s hallmark. He was never one to deny himself what he wanted. 

He lowered his head, his lips inching closer to Hertha’s. 

The sight of his handsome face looming larger before her, his breath warm upon her skin, sent Hertha’s heart racing, her thoughts a tangled mess. 

Every inch of her body screamed to kiss him, yet her rationality held her back. 

Just as Alaric’s lips were about to claim hers, Hertha put up her hand, blocking him, her eyes wide with refusal. “Alaric, this is too much,” she protested. “In the corridor outside the meeting room, you acted out to spite your fiancée, and now this? By what right do you think you can kiss me?” 

Alaric’s advance halted, his lips now touching only the coolness of Hertha’s fingers. The heat from his lips clashed with the chill of her fingertips, a fiery dance that sparked something wild within. 

Capturing her hand that had stopped his kiss, Alaric’s voice was husky as he spoke, “Isn’t this what you wanted?” 

As he spoke, his fingertips gently caressed Hertha’s arm, the rough touch against her smooth skin sending a tantalizing shiver through her. 

Hertha realized she was clutching his collar, pulling him down towards her, an action that was as ambiguous as it was suggestive. 

It looked like she was the one pulling him in for a kiss. 

Quickly, she let go of his collar, withdrawing her other hand from his grasp, and took a step back to put some distance between them. Her gaze darted around without focus, her voice losing its confidence as she said, “You’re overthinking it. I just didn’t want you to scare the kids in the neighborhood.” 

“Scare them? Do I look that terrifying?” Alaric arched an eyebrow, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly, trying to suppress the desire that had been stirred. 

She had been so persistent in her pursuit of him because of his looks, and now she was 

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dismissing him as if he were some kind of boogeyman. He had merely wanted to check out the local playground, and here she was, worried he’d frighten the local children with his 

uptown vibe. 

Whatever pleasure Alaric had felt moments before was now replaced by annoyance. 

“It’s not that you’re scary, it’s just you’ve got this aura about you, not like the folks from around here. The parents at the playground are mostly elderly. They’re not used to seeing someone like you. If they get intimidated, it’ll spoil their fun with the grandkids. I was concerned you’d be a disturbance, that’s why I pulled you aside 

Hertha, who had been at a loss for words to explain her earlier urgency, suddenly found herself with a plausible excuse. 

But she hadn’t anticipated Alaric’s follow–up question, which once again put her on the spot. 

“You don’t have kids, nor do you have elders to watch them for you. How would you know how these grandparents would react to me?” Alanic inquired, his eyebrows lifted inquisitively, his captivating eyes hinting at something more. 

Hearing this, Hertha’s heart skipped a beat. She had been proud of her quick wit, but now she felt like she had just shot herself in the foot 

Damn, how could she answer this question without raising Alaric’s suspicions? 

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Chapter 1424 

Hertha was wracking her brain, trying to come up with an answer. 

Alanc’s intense gaze was fixed on her, waiting for her response with stern anticipation. 

The seriousness of his stare left Hertha nowhere to hide. She felt a chill in her heart, her eyes darting around as she desperately searched for an excuse. 

But that’s the thing about people, the more anxious they are, the less likely they are to come up with a good idea. 

“Having trouble with the question?” Alaric asked, his eyebrow raised inquisitively as she remained silent. 

“Of course not,” Hertha quickly retorted, finally finding her voice. “I used to help Thalassa with her four kids, you know. I spent a lot of time with Thalassa’s mother, Evelyn Pendleton, taking care of those children. So, I understand the concerns of the elderly. They worry about strangers who look too stern, fearing they might be kidnappers, or they stress over offending someone from an affluent household, fretting about making life difficult for themselves and the kids. You wouldn’t understand the fears of the less fortunate.” 

As Alaric pressed her for an answer, Hertha finally had her eureka moment. She hurriedly explained to Alaric, speaking quickly and breathlessly from her nerves. 

The conversation circled back to the divide between the elite class and the commoners. 

She hadn’t meant to imply anything, but Alaric took it to heart. 

‘Do you care that much about social class?” he frowned slightly. 

Was it the reason why she took the two million offered by his mother and left? Did she believe deep down that she could never marry him because of their social class disparity? 

Hertha paused, a light chuckle escaping her as she grasped his implication. “Alaric, you slept with me, taking your mother’s two million was the least of what I deserved! It’s not about social differences. It’s about who’s truly a match. Do you get it?” 

“And you think I’m not a match?” he asked, seizing the opportunity to probe deeper. 

For three years, he’d been smothered by Georgia’s fiery temper, often missing Hertha’s straightforwardness and boldness. 

Out of all the women he’d been with, it was Hertha he missed the most, and he couldn’t fathom why. Perhaps it was because she was the only one he had feelings for. 

Hertha was stunned. Alaric was actually asking her such questions. He had a fiancée, and asking her such a question seemed quite out of place. 

There was no chance for her and him. 

1… 

‘Hertha, I haven’t stopped thinking about you in the past three years…” 

Alaric’s confession was abruptly interrupted by a sudden voice. 

Hertha, you’re back? 

The voice drew their attention 

Hertha and Alaric turned to see Spencer approaching. Tall and refined, with a scholarly air about him, he wore gold–rimmed glasses and carried two plastic bags filled with groceries–vegetables, meats, toilet paper, soy sauce, and even ingredients for a hearty 

ster 

He epitomized domesticity. 

Seeing Spencer Hertha felt like she had been thrown a lifeline. Her tension eased instantly, and she walked towards him with relief. ‘Spencer, did you hit the supermarket?” 

It wasn’t a question but a casual greeting, the kind of mundane exchange that could have passed between them a hundred times, as natural and succinct as any between long–term 

partners. 

Watching Hertha approach Spencer, Alaric noted the tone of ease and familiarity of their exchange, 

It was like the everyday talks between his own parents. 

It was clear–they had the comfortable, natural rapport of a married couple. 

And with that, Alaric’s desire to confess his love for Hertha sank like a stone.