The Billionaire's Secret Quartet

Chapter 1405
Hertha was more feminine than before.
Three years had passed, yet they hadn’t left a single mark on her. Instead, they seemed to have sculpted a richer, more
voluptuous aura around her.
The color of deep ocean blue of her hair, cascaded down her shoulders, was as breathtaking as a mermaid’s.
Her big, round eyes darted about nervously, her long lashes veiling her lids in a panicked flutter, like a rabbit caught in a snare.
Alaric thought back to that night three years ago, how fiery she had seemed. But in truth, she was as fierce as a paper tiger–
crumbling into vulnerability at the first true test.
Up close, her faint scent of lavender teased Alaric’s senses, bringing back the memory of that night.
Clumsy, yet tender.
His voice tightened in his throat, coming out low and husky. “Hertha, answer me!”
Alaric’s gravelly tone was like electricity to Hertha’s ears. Despite her outward resistance to him, her body melted at his words.
Panic–stricken, she gazed into his handsome, serious eyes–those eyes that now bore into her with a mix of desire and severity,
a captivating blend that was impossible to ignore.
As he stood close, his masculine presence enveloped her, and she could distinctly smell the light mint and tobacco on him.
Her heart raced uncontrollably.
Hertha felt her strength waning, her hands braced against the wall behind her for support, to keep herself upright.
Under Alaric’s intense gaze, she was about to explain that she had only come to confront Dr. Funke with Thalassa, hoping he
would treat Lysander. They hadn’t done their research on what Dr. Funke looked like, so her strategy was to force him to reveal
himself.
She hadn’t seduced any man in the past three years.
“I was just...” Hertha began.

But a sickeningly sweet voice cut her off.
“Alaric, here you are. You promised we’d leave together after the meeting. Why didn’t you wait for me...”
The voice was deliberately coquettish, sending shivers down Hertha’s spine.
Hertha stopped mid–sentence, peering through the gap in Alaric’s arms towards the source of the voice. A gaunt woman,
dripping in jewels, made her way towards them on high heels, her tiny waist swaying.
It was Georgia Reed!
Seeing Georgia brought back the memory of finding her in bed with Alaric three years ago.
It was like a needle to her brain, a surge of revulsion rising within Hertha. Pushing Alaric away, she sneered, “How many men I
see is none of your damn business! Go play house with your fiancée and stop poking your nose into my affairs!”
Alaric stumbled back from her shove, his irritation flaring. She was just as fierce as ever.
Before he could retort, Georgia stepped forward, clinging to his arm with a hostile glare. “You! It’s always you, isn’t it? You have
no shame, always luring other women’s men!”
Hertha bristled with anger at Georgia’s words. She didn’t need a lecture from her of all people.