The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1290

The oppressive aura in the room was palpable, making Thalassa's heart skip a beat. She shook her head resolutely, "No, it's not that."

Before Lysander could make a move, Thalassa subtly shifted closer to him, her hip just grazing his side. The brief contact was like a spark between two live wires, sending a jolt of electricity through them both.

Lysander's arm casually draped over her waist, his hand firmly but gently encircling the slender curve of her midsection. Even with his light touch, the raw strength in his grasp was undeniable, and Thalassa couldn't help but feel a twinge of nervousness.

She thought he would make a bold move right there on the train, in full view of the other passengers. But instead, his hand just began a gentle, circular motion over her belly, as if he were soothing a child within.

Surprised by his tender action, Thalassa realized that Lysander was trying to comfort the baby inside her. She had mistaken his intent, assuming the worst—that he was beyond caring about propriety or her feelings.

His warm hand continued its gentle caress, and the tension in Thalassa's body began to melt away. She could feel the steady, powerful beat of his heart through the thin fabric separating them, and it soothed her own frantic pulse gradually.

Lysander watched her with a softened gaze, a rare departure from his usual icy demeanor. It was as if the first rays of morning sunlight had thawed the surface of a frozen lake.

He was silent, simply gazing at her with an intensity that spoke volumes.

Evelyn was seated in an aisle seat behind them. With just a glance, she could see the intimate interactions unfolding between Thalassa and Lysander. The way he held her, and the gentle light in his eyes, made him look like a man enraptured by love.

Evelyn caught her breath. Could it be that Lysander was actually harboring feelings for Thalassa?

Otherwise, why would he look at her with such tenderness? But if that was the case, why hadn't he married her?

Her mind raced with possibilities until she landed on a painful hypothesis. it was because of her and Bruce that Lysander refused to marry Thalassa. The scandalous history between her and Bruce, mirroring the affair between Lysander's mother and Bruce, must have been too much for Lysander to bear.

Lysander hated Bruce and perhaps his mother too for the pain it caused his father. The tragic car accident that took his parents' lives was a direct result of his mother's attempt to elope with Bruce.

Lysander's disdain likely extended to any woman associated with Bruce, especially Evelyn. After all, Bruce had pursued Lysander's mother while still involved with Evelyn. If she were in Lysander's shoes, she would resent such a woman for not keeping her man in check, allowing him to wreak havoc on another's life.

It was all her fault, Evelyn realized with a pang of guilt. If not for her, Thalassa would have been married to Lysander happily, and they would have a complete family with four lovely children.