chapter351

The warmth of the brief contact lingered as Alaric looked down at her hand. His gaze was mesmerizing, a blend of aristocratic detachment and sudden curiosity.

“I value clear boundaries, Hertha,” he said, his voice low. “Can we discuss this without the physical reinforcement?”

Hertha quickly withdrew her hand, her face warming. She realized that in her urgency to protect Thalassa’s secret, her own actions were being misinterpreted as something far more personal.

“My request is simple,” she clarified, stepping back to restore a professional distance. “It involves neither ethics nor laws—just a matter of helping a friend in a difficult situation.”

“Go on,” Alaric replied, clearly wanting to resolve his debt and move on.

“Follow me.”

She led him toward the suite number Thalassa had provided. As they approached the corner, Hertha caught sight of two imposing security guards stationed outside the door. Instinctively, she moved back, nearly colliding with Alaric in the narrow hallway.

The proximity was jarring—she could sense the steady, calm strength he radiated. For a second, the mission was eclipsed by the sheer magnetism of the man standing before her.

“Is this part of the favor?” Alaric asked, his voice a quiet murmur near her ear. “Or are you trying to test my patience again?”

Hertha quickly placed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. She felt a brief flash of resentment at his tone; he seemed to view her every move through a lens of skepticism. But she pushed the feeling aside.

“Those two guards at the door,” she whispered, pointing toward the corner. “I need them distracted. If you can draw them away for five minutes, we’re even.”

Alaric didn't move. “I don’t intervene in private matters without knowing the context. Who is behind that door, and why is security involved?”

“A friend,” Hertha explained quickly. “She’s trying to exit a relationship with a man who refuses to acknowledge her autonomy. He’s using his resources to keep her confined here until she agrees to his terms. It’s not just a breakup; it’s a matter of her freedom.”

Alaric’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. “A friend... like Thalassa?”