The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1354

"The day I hooked up with Alaric, his mom handed me a cool two million to stay away from him," Hertha confessed to Thalassa, not skirting around the truth.

Thalassa's jaw dropped, "Did you take the money?"

"Of course! She gave it to me voluntarily. Why pass up free cash? Plus, it's not like Alaric got a free ride," Hertha said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

With wide eyes, Thalassa was a mix of shock and admiration. "Classic Hertha."

"You know it," Hertha replied, but her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Thalassa knew Hertha like the back of her hand. Her friend was usually fearless, the kind of woman who wouldn't flinch if the sky fell down. But now, Hertha seemed to be wrestling with something heavy.

This wasn't like the usual Hertha she knew.

Unless life had thrown her a curveball, Hertha's spirits wouldn't be this low.

Plus, Hertha hadn’t contacted her over the past month, which showed that she was tangled up in some serious troubles.

"What's up, Hertha? What's bigger news than your fling with Alaric?" Thalassa probed.

Hertha's eyes, round and solemn, met Thalassa's as she lamented, "Sometimes I'm just too greedy for my own good, and it never ends well. I thought Alaric cared about me. We were downing shots at the bar, totally plastered, and he took me to a hotel room – a double, mind you. And the next morning, I wake up to find him in bed with Georgia Reed, the two of them naked as jaybirds."

Thalassa gasped, her shock eclipsing the earlier revelation about Hertha and Alaric.

So, Georgia had slept with Alaric while Hertha was right there on the next bed? Good heavens, if she were in Hertha's shoes, she'd be devastated.

It took Thalassa a moment to collect herself before she could speak again.