chapter385

“It’s settled,” Thalassa declared, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. “I’ll take two of the children in my car, and Hertha, you can take my mother and the other two. We’ll meet at the house.”

Hertha paused, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. She hadn't realized Thalassa had secured a personal vehicle, but Evelyn remained silent—she knew the car was an executive benefit from the Sinclair Group, a detail Thalassa had managed with professional discretion.

By the time the children were settled and asleep, the clock had passed 10:30 PM. As Thalassa and Hertha stepped into the living room, they found Evelyn waiting, her expression a complex mixture of maternal anxiety and frustration.

“The house is quiet now,” Evelyn began, her voice dropping to a serious tone. “Thalassa, I need the truth about your situation at the Sinclair Group. The recent events at the hotel... they don't align with a standard corporate role.”

Thalassa took a seat at the dining table, realizing that the time for vague explanations had passed. Hertha sat beside her, her gaze supportive but expectant.

“Mom,” Thalassa started, choosing her words with care. “Mr. Sinclair’s interest in my professional presence is... complicated. It has evolved into a situation where my personal and professional boundaries are being tested by his influence.”

“If he isn't offering a future based on mutual respect, then staying in his orbit is an unnecessary risk,” Evelyn retorted, her voice rising. “I won't have you exploited by someone simply because they hold power.”

“It’s not that simple,” Thalassa replied. “There was an incident—a significant loss involving several high-value artifacts during a confrontation. The financial liability is nearly a hundred million dollars. If I were to sever ties abruptly or involve the authorities, he could legally pursue a compensation claim that we could never meet. It could lead to severe legal consequences.”

The astronomical figure hung in the air like a physical weight. Evelyn sank back into her chair, the magnitude of the debt momentarily robbing her of words. Hertha, too, looked at Thalassa with newfound realization. The stakes weren't just about a job; they were about survival.

Thalassa remained silent, allowing her mother to process the gravity of the situation. Her primary concern remained the children. If the legal system were involved, the secret of their parentage would inevitably be exposed, and she knew Lysander’s rigid principles regarding family would lead him to claim them—denying her the life she had built.

“Mom, please,” Thalassa said softly. “I need you to let me navigate this. Mr. Sinclair’s attitude is shifting, and I’m finding ways to resolve the liability without escalating the conflict. If you intervene now, the risk to our family’s stability becomes too great.”

Evelyn looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with a heartbreaking mix of grief and concern. “A hundred million... even a lifetime of work wouldn't settle that. Fine. I will step back, but only because I trust your judgment more than I trust his mercy.”

She stood and headed toward her room, the weight of the revelation evident in her stride.