chapter1009

Thalassa was shocked but flattered when Joshua initiated conversation with her. A bit flustered, she

hurriedly responded politely, “Thank you, Mr. Joshua. But there’s no trouble at all.”

Lysander hadn't offered her a seat, and she knew better than to just plop down beside him without

being asked.

“Mr. Joshua asked you to sit, so please, take a seat.” Lysander said.

Thalassa stood rooted to the spot, not immediately sitting, as if she was absent-minded.

Was Lysander truly inviting her to sit? Next to him, of all places?

“Thalassa, have a seat. Mr. Joshua is very easy going, so please help yourself.” Richard said, pulling

out a chair next to Lysander and gesturing for her to sit.

Thalassa looked up and saw Joshua's friendly smile beaming back at her.

If she didn't sit down now, she'd appear rude.

So, she seated herself beside Lysander, slightly nervous.

A waiter nearby began pouring wine into their glasses, even filling Thalassa's glass halfway with red

wine. Thalassa nodded and smiled at the waiter to show her appreciation.

Meanwhile, Lysander, Richard, and Joshua didn't give the waiter a second glance as their glasses were

filled.

Once their glasses were attended to, Joshua lifted his and looked at Lysander with a smile. “Aren't you

going to introduce us to the lovely lady by your side?”

Hearing Joshua prompt Lysander for an introduction, Thalassa's heart skipped a beat. She averted her

gaze and looked to Lysander's profile, feeling uneasy and unsure about how he would present her.

“My ex-secretary, Thalassa.” Lysander said with a brevity that lacked any warmth.

Just an ex-secretary, not a girlfriend, not a fiancée, and certainly not the mother of his children. Just

Thalassa, his ex-secretary!

His tone was as cold as ever, and Thalassa felt her heart plummet, as if pushed from a cliff's edge and

braced for a shattering impact.

Although she had always known she meant little to him, hearing it spelled out to someone else made

her heart wrench with pain, which even made breathing a struggle.

She retracted her gaze, her hands trembling slightly on her lap, and reached for the wine glass to

steady herself.

“So, you're Thalassa.” Joshua's eyes lit up with curiosity and delight. “I've heard your name before.

You're quite the legend. Do you drink? Shall we have a toast?”

Joshua had heard from Zephyr that Lysander had fathered quadruplets with a woman he had no

intention of marrying.

To say Thalassa was Lysander's ex-secretary was an understatement; really, it was better to say that

she was the mother of his children. This relationship was as intimate as it was distant – without

marriage, they were practically strangers.

Feeling her spirits dampen, Thalassa struggled to respond to Joshua's proposition. Her hand was

already on the glass; to say she didn't drink could seem like a snub.

Forcing a smile, she lifted her glass and toasted to Joshua. “It's an honor to share a drink with you, Mr.

Joshua.”

“Ha! For that comment alone, I must drink up. Here's to you.” Joshua laughed heartily, draining his

glass in one shot.

Seeing this, Thalassa felt obliged to follow suit out of respect for his kindness.

She took a deep breath, ready to down her drink in one gulp. But as she brought the glass to her lips,

Lysander's strong hand suddenly grasped hers and stopped her halfway.