The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1712

Thalassa's gaze was drawn to the source of the sound, and there, making his way through the crowd, was Joshua, impeccably dressed in a navy blue suit. The sides of his face bore the subtle marks of time, lending him a rugged charm. He leaned on a cane, moving with a slight limp, but the air of a business magnate clung to him, undeniable and imposing.

As Joshua entered, drawing many an eye, Thalassa felt a pang of surprise, her breath catching slightly. The moment Joshua walked in, Thalassa's heart skipped a beat, an involuntary response to his presence.

"Dad! What are you doing here?" Rosalind hurried forward to greet him, attempting to link her arm through his. Joshua gave her a brief nod, then smoothly sidestepped her attempt, making his way directly towards the stage.

Rosalind's enthusiasm met with disappointment, leaving her feeling deflated as she watched him move past her to the end of the platform. Climbing the stairs with effort, Joshua made his way towards Thalassa, his limp more pronounced.

Thalassa watched him approach, her heart softening at the sight of his struggle. She went to him, offering her arm for support. Joshua didn't refuse her help, his face breaking into a look of gratitude for her gesture.

With Thalassa's assistance, Joshua reached the front of the stage, where he stopped before Susan, his expression turning serious. "Thalassa isn't some country bumpkin fresh off the farm; she's my daughter, Joshua Whitman's daughter. Do you really think the Whitman family can't afford platinum jewelry? You're underestimating us," he declared with conviction.

Susan, taken aback by Joshua's interrogation, stepped back, intimidated by his commanding presence. Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been quick to criticize Thalassa moments before, fell silent, shocked by the revelation of her true identity. Human nature being what it is, they were quick to judge when they thought Thalassa was vulnerable, but the news that she was Joshua Whitman's daughter changed everything.

Previously, they were all too ready to verbally attack her, seeing her as alone and defenseless. Lysander's intervention had brought a brief reprieve, and his closeness with Rosalind led some to believe he was just a good Samaritan. But now, with Joshua Whitman himself declaring Thalassa his daughter, her status was transformed entirely.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, their envy palpable. A reporter broke through the noise with a question: "Mr. Whitman, it's well-known you have a son and a daughter, Reginald and Rosalind Whitman. There's never been mention of a second daughter, especially not one already grown. Could you shed some light on her background?"

Rosalind looked at Joshua, eager to hear his response. She had never accepted Thalassa as her sister and viewed her with nothing but resentment. Thalassa's appearance threatened not only her father's affection but her relationship with Lysander. Thalassa was an adversary in her eyes. Rosalind had taken some pleasure in Thalassa's difficulties, only to be taken aback by their father's public acknowledgment. The sight of her usually doting father supporting Thalassa filled Rosalind with a bitter jealousy.