The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1665

However, as she drew closer, she distinctly felt that piercing, icy gaze shift away from her, the oppressive force retreating, growing more distant by the second. She bit her tongue, resisting the urge to look back.

It was only after the pressure had completely vanished and she had put a significant distance between them that she finally allowed herself to glance back, just in time to see Lysander pushing a wheelchair into the hospital—a fleeting glimpse before he disappeared inside, out of sight.

The moment Lysander vanished, Thalassa’s tightly wound emotions collapsed. She had been fiercely holding back, trying not to let the heartache overwhelm her, but now, the intense pain burst forth from the depths of her heart like a flood, engulfing her whole being. Tears welled up, and a wave of pain washed over her, leaving her legs weak. She stumbled to a nearby bench and sat down, gasping for air, struggling to breathe. By the time she caught her breath, tears were streaming down her face.

She felt the crushing pain and despair of being abandoned by the world. Joshua had said that since Rosalind had been coddled from a young age, her ability to cope was weaker, so he chose to fulfill Rosalind's wishes. And because Thalassa was stronger, able to face whatever setbacks came her way, he asked her to step aside, to make way for Rosalind.

But he never considered that she, too, was human—that she could feel pain, that she could suffer, that she might reach her breaking point. Was being strong meant to be so cruelly hurt, so easily forsaken? If so, perhaps strength was a mistake. She could forgive anyone who hurt her, but Lysander's detachment, his indifference, made her crumble, shattering all her resilience.

Thalassa watched her tears fall to the cobblestone, blending into the cracks, until the stones before her were soaked. A heavy weight seemed to press on her heart, a deep, throbbing pain that made even breathing feel laborious. Her hand clenched on the stone as she mentally urged herself to calm down.

She had realized days ago that in this world, you can only rely on yourself. Only by shining bright can you avoid being hurt. Only by awakening can you remain unharmed, fearless. Piece by piece, Thalassa’s battered heart began to heal, steadying her once more.

A woman's strength is found in healing from hurt after hurt, in becoming clear-headed, independent, and invincible through self-recovery.

The jewelry design competition proceeded smoothly. Thalassa made it through the preliminary rounds with her Dogwood Blossom series, advancing to the semifinals.

The day she received the notification for the semifinals, Thalassa was ecstatic. She immediately picked up her phone to share the good news with Lysander. But as she held the phone, her heart suddenly sank. All the joy faded in an instant.

Over the past three years, as she took care of the comatose Lysander, she had grown accustomed to sharing every bit of happiness with him. It seemed she was still in the habit of sharing her joy with Lysander.

Suddenly, she realized that she and Lysander were now on separate paths; he hadn't reached out to her, and she hadn't tried to contact him either. The person she once couldn't wait to share her happiness with was no longer in her world. It still hurt, but she wasn’t going to dwell on it.

Thalassa quickly shook off the feeling and called Hertha instead.