The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 2081

Lysander dropped to one knee before Thalassa, holding a diamond ring, gently raised in front of her.

His sudden gesture not only stunned Joshua but left everyone in the room dumbfounded. Eyes widened in disbelief at Lysander's actions. Georgia's mouth formed a perfect "O" in shock. The high and mighty Lysander, who always stood at the pinnacle, regarded by all with awe, was now kneeling before someone, and that someone was a woman! This was monumental news!

Joshua and Lucas were equally frozen in shock. But the most surprised and bewildered of all was Thalassa herself, the woman before whom Lysander knelt. She could hardly believe that Lysander would kneel before her!

Her first instinct was to hastily help Lysander up: "Lysander, what are you doing? Please, get up."

Her voice trembled with panic as she reached out to help Lysander, but his larger hand grasped hers. Instead of rising, he looked deep into her eyes, his voice resonating with sincerity, "Thalassa, I need to tell you everything about me."

Thalassa paused, her hand still in his, and met his gaze, listening intently to what he was about to say.

"When I was eight, my parents were always fighting and eventually, a car accident took them from me. That's when I lost my parents. My grandparents, out of love for me, took on the responsibility of raising me. My grandfather entrusted me to Joshua, his most trusted friend, to groom me. Joshua's daughter, Harper, looked after me. Knowing how difficult I had become after losing my parents, she sought my friendship when everyone else kept their distance due to my foul temper."

Lysander recounted his life before meeting Thalassa. Indeed, his character had become unpredictable. Most of the time, he was a loner, exuding an aura that kept others at bay. No one dared to approach him, much less befriend him. Thus, he became the isolated one. Except for Harper, who didn't mind his temper. Regardless of how cold or indifferent he was, she was willing to communicate with him, eventually becoming his friend.

"As we grew older, we both entered the business world. She, like me, was hailed as a prodigy. People said we were a powerful duo, a match made in heaven. But only we knew that our relationship was beyond romance; we were the closest of friends who understood each other completely."

Lysander clarified his relationship with Harper. Outsiders thought they were childhood sweethearts, a perfect match. But what outsiders didn't know was that childhood friendships aren't always romantic; they can also be about kinship, about knowing each other too well. And because they understood each other so well, they could never be together romantically.

Listening to Lysander's story, Thalassa felt warmth spread through a corner of her heart, dissolving the fragile doubts that had been lingering. Since hearing from Rosalind at the graveyard that she was just a substitute for Harper in Lysander's eyes, Thalassa had been uneasy. The feeling of being unloved haunted her constantly, no matter how much she told herself not to think about it. She even hesitated to mention Harper's name in front of Lysander, let alone ask about their past. She feared the truth might be something she couldn't bear—that in Lysander's eyes, she was indeed just a stand-in for Harper. Fear kept her from asking.

"Today, in front of my best friend, I am proposing to the woman I love the most. Harper would be overjoyed to see me find true love. Thalassa, wear this ring, and you will be my wife, for life." Lysander looked up at her, his eyes brimming with love, his voice filled with the most romantic words imaginable.

Tears welled up in Thalassa's eyes, touched by his heartfelt declaration.