The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 2048

It wasn't just because Rosalind had said she was nothing but a substitute in Lysander's eyes.

It was more because Thalassa remembered, three years ago, overhearing Lysander mention how much she resembled a woman named Harper, especially the eyes, almost identical to Harper's. And now, Rosalind was saying the same thing - she was just a stand-in for Harper in Lysander's heart. Hearing that alone wouldn't have hurt so much.

The sting in her heart came when she saw a photo of Harper, with her clear, vibrant spirit, her bright smile, and those unblemished eyes that looked so much like her own. Thalassa found herself frozen, staring at Harper's name engraved on the tombstone. Rosalind, seeing the impact of her words, let out a slight chuckle before continuing, “You probably don’t know that Lysander lost his parents when he was young. Grandpa Zephyr took him under his wing, handing him over to my dad to mentor in business. Harper and Lysander were about the same age, and she too had a knack for business. They grew up together, learning and sharing ideas. My dad was Lysander’s mentor, and Harper was his childhood companion. You can’t understand the bond Lysander had with my sister.”

How could she not understand? Childhood friends, confidants, and the companionship that comes with growing up together – it was a special kind of bond. Such a relationship seemed irreplaceable. Listening to Rosalind, a part of Thalassa’s heart felt hollow, as if a piece of it had been carved out. She had always believed her relationship with Lysander was pure love. Her heart was full of love, warm and fulfilling. But now, that love was labeled as a mere substitute, and the fervent affection she felt was scooped out, leaving a painful void. Breathing became difficult for Thalassa, weighed down by the heaviness in her heart.

Rosalind, noticing the deep sadness in Thalassa's eyes, knew her words had hit their mark. If she couldn't have Lysander, making Thalassa miserable was a small victory. “Originally, my sister and Lysander were to be married. But as fate would have it, Harper died in a boating accident while out at sea. Lysander was devastated for a long time. He had left the military to focus on business, but after Harper’s death, he reenlisted, taking on incredibly dangerous missions, one of which led him to be ambushed and fall into a village.”

Rosalind detailed not just the story of Harper's death and Lysander's response but also the reason Lysander had met Thalassa. Eight years ago, injured Lysander had fallen into their village of Hollowbrook. By sheer coincidence, he landed in the very barn where she was locked up. That was the beginning of her and Lysander's story. She was trapped by Isabella's schemes, and Lysander, grieving Harper's loss, sought distraction in high-risk missions until he was injured and met her.

Their four children were conceived from this series of coincidences. Their children, as Thalassa painfully realized, were born from Lysander's heartache over Harper's death. With this thought, Thalassa felt a sharp pain in her heart. She took several deep breaths, trying to steady herself, and then looked up at Rosalind, saying, “Everyone has a past.” With those words, she turned and walked away.

Rosalind called out from behind her, “The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of my sister’s death.” Thalassa stiffened but kept walking, not looking back.