The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1643

Finding a partner for the golden years, someone to chat with and keep company, seemed like a sensible goal to Kimberly. But she wasn't the type to bulldoze over others' wishes. Anyone who wanted to be with Hertha would have to accept her two children as part of the package. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Hertha offered a forced smile, placating her mother, "Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Knowing her mother's stance made things easier for Hertha. She'd just wait a few days and then tell her mom that Alaric couldn't wrap his head around the idea of stepchildren, leading to a natural split.

Perfect plan!

Three days later, Hertha and Thalassa were window-shopping at the mall when Hertha shared her scheme, including the part about breaking up with Alaric over her kids, as staged for her mother's benefit.

She could tell her mom was disappointed. She had hoped for a son-in-law only to find he couldn't accept Hertha's children. Back to square one in worrying about Hertha's future.

Thalassa chuckled, "You've really outdone yourself with this act."

"I had no choice. I couldn't give the game away. Oh, Thalassa, now I get how you felt back in the day. It's nerve-wracking," Hertha lamented, clinging to Thalassa's arm for comfort.

Suddenly, Hertha spotted some familiar-looking jewelry on display. "Thalassa, come check this out. These are our designs!"

The left side of the display was dedicated to pieces from the Crawley Group, designed by Hertha, while the right side showcased the Sinclair group's collection, Thalassa's handiwork.