The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1848

Alaric felt a woman leaning against him, her perfume mingling with the scent of makeup, instantly filling his nostrils.

Once upon a time, he relished the allure of such encounters, always eager to wrap his arms around any beauty that came his way, engaging in playful banter.

But now, his tolerance for such closeness had vanished, replaced with an irritable fire burning within him. Yet, Ruby, holding a wine glass, edged it towards his lips, the liquid threatening to spill over.

Unable to bear it any longer, Alaric pushed the woman away forcefully, "Get lost, don't come near me!"

A shriek followed as the wine glass crashed to the floor, its shattering sound echoing through the room. The crimson wine spread across the floor, mingling with shards of glass, bubbling in a gruesome sight.

Ruby, shocked at first, quickly knelt down to retrieve a bracelet soaked in the spilled wine. It was her own bracelet that flew off when Alaric had pushed her away. The bracelet, adorned with a ruby, had lost its gem in the fall, its whereabouts unknown.

Seeing the platinum bracelet missing its precious stone, Ruby's face was etched with panic. "My bracelet, it's ruined! Where's the ruby? It was priceless."

As Ruby frantically searched the floor, Richard and Ethan exchanged glances, taken aback by Alaric's sudden outburst and the resulting chaos. Alaric had indeed changed from the man they once knew.

The women accompanying Richard and Ethan, noticing Ruby's distress, expressed their concern. Mila, standing by Richard, inquired, "Ruby, is that the ruby bracelet Reginald gave you just the other day?"