The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1685

Hertha gave a vague answer and turned to leave.

"Why are you so determined to hide them? Afraid I'll take the kids?" Alaric didn't follow her, instead standing his ground.

A chill ran down Hertha's spine, her heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly stopped.

She could run, she could deny it, but Alaric's question hit a nerve, like stepping on her tail.

Her instinct to flee was firmly suppressed, forcing her to face reality.

Her grip on the two children tightened, her breathing grew heavy. She gritted her teeth, turned around, and said with seriousness and caution, "I told you, they're not yours!"

"I just found one of Helena's hairs on you, do I need to get a DNA test?" Alaric lifted his left hand, pinching a fine hair between his finger and thumb.

At a glance, it wasn't clear, but upon closer inspection, it was indeed a hair. Hertha's own hair was still growing back, covered by a teal wig.

But the hair in Alaric's hand was black and long! It couldn't be anyone's but Helena's.

Hertha's last bit of resistance crumbled. Angrily she retorted, "Alaric, I will never let you take the children!"

Seeing her tense, Alaric understood her feelings. He calmly said, "Don't worry, I'm not here to take the kids. You've raised them; I know you can't be apart from them."

Alaric understood Hertha's fears. Hertha was Thalassa's best friend, and she had witnessed firsthand how devastated Thalassa was when the Sinclair family took her child.

Hertha was terrified of feeling the same loneliness and pain as Thalassa, so she hid the children from him.

Hertha didn't reply, her arms indeed sore.

"Relax, let's sit down and talk this out." Alaric took Helena into his arms.

The little one was soft, like a doughnut, and up close, she smelled faintly of milk, a scent so comforting it brought out a strong protective instinct in him.

This was Alaric's first time holding such a small child, his own child at that. He was overwhelmed with emotion, carefully holding her, afraid of hurting her.

Helena placed her tiny hand on Alaric's shoulder, her eyes bright with curiosity and joy as she stared at him.

Alaric's heart melted. He couldn't resist pinching her chubby little cheeks, "Don't be scared, I'm not the bad guy. I'm your dad."