The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1672

Alaric cast a deep, lingering look at the child cradled in Kimberly's arms before glancing down at the little boy tugging at his jeans, pushing against him with his small hands.

Both children called Hertha "Mom," which meant... they were both Hertha's!

They looked so young, barely over a year old!

In the three years since Hertha had started seeing Spencer, how many other men had there been? Two kids already!

Deep down, Alaric had been holding onto a thread of hope for a reconciliation with Hertha. But seeing this, all his hopes shattered like ice on a lake blasted by a bomb. The jagged shards sliced through his heart, causing a raw, searing pain.

His gaze shifted back to Hertha, his eyes—red and narrow with disappointment, anger, and resentment. Hertha's heart skipped beats under his stare, guilt rendering her speechless as her lips quivered, unable to form words. All her fears laid bare in that moment, overwhelming her senses. Faced with Alaric's scornful look, her heart raced with unease, words failing her completely.

"Hertha, you've really outdone yourself! Just as you wanted!" Alaric spat out through clenched teeth, his eyes brimming with unshed tears as he turned and strode away.

"Hey, Alaric..." Kimberly called out from behind, hoping to stop him. But Alaric didn't look back, walking out and slamming the door behind him.

Once inside his own house, the world seemed to quiet down as he fought back tears. He knew it was time to let go of Hertha for good. Some things, once done, can't be undone. He had clung to a sliver of hope for reconciliation with Hertha, which was why he had resisted marrying Georgia and had even faced off with his mother, risking his place in the Falconer family. But now, that sliver of hope that had kept him going was brutally snuffed out.

Heartache clouded his vision with darkness, a moment of despair and helplessness washing over him. Leaning on the kitchen counter, head bowed, teeth clenched, and eyes reddened, Alaric took deep breaths, reminding himself it was time to let go.

Back at Hertha's place, Kimberly faced the closed door, confusion and melancholy written all over her face as she turned to Hertha, lamenting, "What a mess this has turned into."

Ashton, having witnessed everything, took Helena from Kimberly's arms, frustration evident in his voice, "Was that man someone you invited over?"

Hertha, equally puzzled, looked at her mother. Why on earth had she called Alaric over?

Kimberly, sensing the accusatory glances from her husband and daughter, felt wronged, her expression turning sour as she defended her actions, "I was only trying to help Hertha find some stability, someone to lean on in the future."

It was indeed Kimberly who had invited Alaric over, explaining her earlier fib about needing to buy soy sauce. This left Hertha unprepared to hide her children, leading to Alaric's discovery of them and the revelation that she had two kids.