The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1924

Two little munchkins barreled into Hertha, wrapping their arms around her legs, tilting their heads back, their cherubic faces beaming up at her with smiles.

Hertha was just about to say no, that Alaric hadn't arrived, and was mentally preparing to shoo them away gently. But seeing the innocence in the kids' faces, the pure hope in their young eyes for their daddy, she just couldn't bear to let them down.

She had grown up in a loving home, basking in both her mother's and father's love, in a family where her parents adored each other. Her childhood was steeped in happiness.

On the other hand, Thalassa had lost her father's love early on, and even as she grew, she often felt uneasy, introverted, and lonely. The pain of becoming withdrawn due to the absence of a certain kind of love was all too familiar, and it hurt Hertha to think about it.

That day, she had visited an orphanage and seen so many children abandoned, lacking the love of a father or a mother. They should have been enjoying a sunny, joyful childhood, but instead, the selfishness of adults had turned them into introverted souls. So young, yet they had lost their innate joy, becoming insecure, fragile, afraid of people, and sometimes mute.

If these were Hertha's children, she couldn't imagine how much her heart would ache. She couldn't stand the thought of her children feeling any bit of timidity or insecurity. Her children should always be healthy, radiant, and happy.

In just a few seconds, Hertha went through a profound internal struggle. Soon, a warm smile spread across her face, and she said to Julian and Helena, "Yes, your daddy has come to have dinner with us. Are you happy?"

She spoke softly, gently caressing their soft little cheeks.

"Yeah, happy!" Helena's bright, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with excitement.