Chapter 442


    She felt a cold sweat trickling down her spine.


    There was a nagging urge to spill the beans, to stand up for Thssa, to demand child support from


    Lysander, to use him of his years of neglect and his indifference to the needs of his own children.


    Just as she was about to voice her thoughts, Thssa’s worried face shed in her mind; she recalled


    Thssa’s fear of losing her children.


    Thssa had warned her that if Lysander were to find out about the children, he would definitely


    snatch them away and might not even allow her any visitation rights.


    Although Thssa had raised them, Lysander was so powerful and resourceful. If he wanted to snatch


    away the children, it would be a piece of cake.


    Her sympathy for Thssa eventually overcame her impulsive thoughts.


    Hertha managed to suppress the urge to spill the truth.


    With a forced smile, she exined, “Oh, you mean this dress? It’s my best friend’s. She came overst


    night to celebrate my daughter, Elowen, winning the Gourmet Cookingpetition. She nned to


    stay over, so she took a shower and changed her clothes. But she left her clothes behind so I washed


    them for her.”


    After finishing, she sneakily nced at Lysander, gauging his reaction.


    Hertha’s exnation matched what Thssa had told her over the phonest night.


    Lysander should believe her, right?


    Yet, Hertha still felt uneasy.


    Thssa had warned her that Lysander was cunning, and lying wouldn’t fool him.


    Hertha was filled with anxiety, wondering if she had passed the test.


    The reporter who had asked her about the dress chuckled, “So it’s your best friend’s dress. But I heard


    this kind of dress isn’t supposed to be machine washed, it should be dry cleaned. Otherwise, it loses a


    lot of its value. But I’m sure you guys are close enough not to worry about such details.”


    Hertha gasped.


    Right, this dress shouldn’t be machine washed. The value of the dress shrank a lot in the washing


    machine. Even though it was a gift from Lysander, she still felt a pang of regret for Thssa.


    Lysander’s eyes were cold and inscrutable, giving away nothing of his thoughts.


    He stood up and extended a card towards Hertha, “Elowen Kensington’s prize money. There’s no code


    to this card.”


    His voice was low and attractive, and his whole demeanor was regal and handsome


    His extended hand was slender, but the veins standing out on its back were a cue of his masculine


    strength.


    Hertha was a bit intimidated and hesitated to take the card.


    Seeing her careful, almost smitten gaze at Lysander, ric chuckled, “Take it. It’s what your daughter


    deserves.”


    He emphasized the word “daughter”.


    Even as a mother of four, she was acting like a smitten teenager. Thedy was a little too cheeky. He


    thought.


    Hertha was stunned for a moment before she extended her hands to take the card, carefully avoiding


    any skin contact.


    The man in front of her was Lysander and she was lucky to even be in close proximity to him. All


    thanks to Thssa, she thought.


    She wouldn’t dare to have any physical contact with him.


    “Elowen has such a knack for food tasting at such a young age. She’s a real prodigy. Today, as the


    major shareholder, Mr. Sinir came to present the prize money


    in person. Mr. Sinir is truly apassionate, responsible, and understanding CEO, praised the


    reporters as they captured the moment.


    They promoted Lysander’s image as a Samaritan.


    Upon hearing the reporters, Hertha snorted inwardly. Responsible my ass! She thought. He didn’t even


    like his own children, let alone beingpassionate. What joke!


    Lysander’s expression turned cold upon hearing their praise, a hint of displeasure visible in his icy gaze


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    as he swept over the reporters, “You may leave now.”