chapter1590

Alaric caught the lettuce she tossed his way and dunked it into the hotpot, all the while wearing a grin. "I didn't say anything; you're the one overthinking things."

"See, you always shift the blame for your own actions and words onto others. Lucky for me, I cut my losses early," Hertha retorted, rolling her eyes at Alaric.

Words spoken without intent, heard with all the more.

Hertha's comment made Alaric pause, his heart tightening a bit as his narrow, hawk-like eyes locked onto hers.

A shadow of sorrow and deep introspection lingered in his gaze.

Was it his fault Hertha wasn't with him?

Did her words imply her attraction started with his looks but ended with his personality?

"Why are you looking at me like that? I'm just stating facts! Go ask any of the women you've dated; they'd all think the same," Hertha said between bites, not sparing any feelings.

But Alaric, thick-skinned as ever, wasn't one to take offense.

For Hertha, teasing him was the best pastime.

Alaric just smirked without a word, continuing to add more ingredients to the hotpot.

Realizing why Hertha had pulled away gave him something to work on. As long as he knew the reason, he could try to adjust in a way she'd appreciate. It was a step up from being in the dark.

Alaric thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Reginald was speeding towards Starhaven Hospital, with Rosalind and Thalassa in the backseat. Rosalind sat a fair distance from Thalassa, irritated by the contrasting ways Lysander treated them.

Rosalind couldn't hide her discomfort, complaining, "Why did you bring Thalassa along? She's got work, you know."

"You know she's your sister, and

Dad's always worried about her the most. If things go south, at least he can see her one last time," Reginald explained, gripping the steering wheel firmly as he drove. S

"Stop talking nonsense! Dad's going to be fine," Rosalind hastily countered, trying to ward off the ill omen Reginald had spoken.

Thalassa remained silent, her brows furrowed, her hands clenching unconsciously on her lap.

Although her relationship with

Joshua, her father, was distant, iet

was Joshua who had enabled her to meet Zephyr and take care of Lysander.

Deep down, Thalassa was grateful to Joshua.

Over the past three years, Joshua had often visited her under various pretexts, treating her with kindness and warmth.

She might not have deep feelings for Joshua, but she didn't harbor any resentment either.

Hearing Reginald hint at Joshua's possible demise made her heart clench with worry.

As they parked at the hospital and rushed towards the emergency room, they found Matilda anxiously waiting outside.

Beside her a man in a bespoke

black suit exuded a stern and

daunting presence from his

wheelchair, his noble and sovel

aura palpable.

He was positioned to overlook the emergency room, his profile sharp and strikingly handsome.

It was Lysander!

The moment Thalassa saw him, her breath hitched, and her already anxious heart skipped a beat.