The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Chapter 1390
Thalassa felt the unwelcoming hint in Zephyr’s gaze, as piercing as a hawk’s, and her heart sank, her eyes casting downward.
She knew Zephyr had no affection for her, that his heart harbored a profound resentment towards her.
Her presence now would surely have him cursing her a thousand times over in his mind.
Yet, even at the risk of igniting Zephyr’s wrath, Thalassa had to come. She couldn’t abandon Lysander.
“Zephyr, let me introduce you,” Joshua began, oblivious to Zephyr’s darkening countenance. “This is my newly acknowledged
daughter, Thalassa. In time, I plan to give her my family name, make her a Whitman.”
Joshua’s timely intervention eased Thalassa’s discomfort. She quickly glanced at him, finding a gaze filled with the warmth of old
friendship towards Zephyr.
The genial expression seemed to plead for peace, to be too kind to shatter.
Especially by Zephyr. He had come out personally to greet Joshua.
The Sinclair and the Whitman families had been friends for generations, and it would be a travesty to let an old friendship be
spoiled over a mere woman.
Zephyr’s hawk-like focus shifted from Thalassa, and when he looked back at Joshua, his face wore a polite smile once again.
“Joshua,” he said in a tone that was both casual and pointed, “the world’s full of con artists these days. They don’t just steal
hearts, they steal identities, too. Watch you
Zephyr wasn’t the least bit surprised at Joshua’s introduction of Thalassa as his da Instead, he calmly warned Joshua to beware
of frauds.
He didn’t believe for a second that Thalassa was Joshua’s blood.
This woman was cunning, a master of deception who had ensnared both Leopold and Lysander in her web.
The Sinclair family had given her an ultimatum she was to have no contact with any of their kin anymore.
Yet here she was worming her way to Joshua now! She truly was a menace.

Zephyr’s sidelong glances towards Thalassa were filled with hostility and revulsion.
Hearing Zephyr’s comments, Thalassa’s hands clenched slightly. She could tell he was insinuating she was the fraud pretending
to be Joshua’s daughter.
Joshua chuckled lightly, addressing Zephyr, “You’re absolutely right, Zephyr. I did come across a con artist recently. A woman
claiming to be my daughter showed up with jade pearls. Luckily, I’m not so easily fooled by sweet talk.”
Thalassa looked at Joshua in surprise.
He had met Isabella?
The only person who would have approached him with jade pearl was Isabella, because it had been stolen by her.
She had thought Isabella might pull something clever, but it turned out Joshua had seen right through her charade.
“Joshua, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t implying you’re naive,” Zephyr started to explain.
“I know you weren’t calling me foolish, Zephyr. I didn’t take it the wrong way. Let’s head inside. I’ll explain everything to you in
detail,” Joshua said, stepping forward to guide Zephyr into the house.
After a couple of steps, Joshua didn’t forget to look back and instruct Thalassa, “Hurry along, I can’t be looking out for you the
whole time.”
Joshua’s unexpected concern caught Thalassa off guard, but she only paused for a second before quickly following up.
In that moment, she understood everything.