The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1915

She couldn't count the number of times she'd kicked herself for being so superficial, falling for Alaric, the ultimate player. Her past obsession with him was a source of never-ending frustration.

Seeing that Hertha was seriously fed up, Alaric raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. Happy now?"

Hertha rolled her eyes at him and headed for the kitchen. Alaric noticed the grocery bag she was carrying and followed her, asking casually, "Do you even know how to cook?"

"That mouth of yours isn't just for offending people, you know," Hertha shot back without turning around.

"Did I say something wrong?" Alaric followed her, only to have the glass door slammed shut in his face, nearly squashing his nose.

Alaric couldn't help but laugh. "Hertha, I'm a patient here!"

Hertha looked at him disdainfully through the glass. "If you weren't sick, I wouldn't bother coming!"

"Can't you be a little nicer? Do you treat the kids at home like this too?" Alaric said.

"The kids are a thousand times cuter than you. Just one look from them can melt my heart. If I were a block of ice, I'd turn into a warm puddle around them, unlike you!" Hertha rolled her eyes at him again.

"And what's so bad about me?" Alaric persisted.

"You're just annoying!" Hertha said bluntly.

"Hey, you..." Alaric felt wounded by her glaring disdain, ready to argue.

But then he saw Hertha had turned her back on him and was already getting started with the food. Alaric decided to swallow his words.

"Hey, why do these greens smell like medicine? Is this even edible?" Alaric sniffed his hands, which had a strange aroma, reminiscent of the bitter medicine he'd been forced to drink.

"Cress is one of the finest ingredients out there. What, you're worried I'm trying to poison you?" Hertha retorted.

"I'm a patient, remember? Should I even be eating this?" Alaric was doubtful.

"Stop playing the patient card as if you're on your deathbed," Hertha said sharply.

"Hertha, you're cursing me now," Alaric protested, not pleased.

"What's the matter, upset that I'm sending you away?" Hertha scoffed.