Chapter 1422


    Hertha''s heart pounded like a drum solo as she whipped her head around. At the yground, there was a scene sweet enough


    to be painted on a postcard: a toddler was cautiously climbing the steps to the slide, with Bridget hovering anxiously like a


    protective hen, her head bowed, hands ready to catch the little one at the slightest wobble.


    Perched at the top of the slide was another little nugget of cuteness, Hertha''s son, Julian, prepped and primed for the thrill of the


    descent. His gaze was locked onto the spot where Hertha stood. Just one focused look and he''d spot her for sure.


    At that realization, Hertha gasped silently and averted her face, striding with purpose toward ric.


    Reaching his side, she grabbed his arm instinctively and steered him away from the scene.


    They sidled up beside a house, its walls serving as a shield from Julian and Helena’s sight. It was only when they were safely out


    of view that Hertha''s tense heart allowed itself a timid sigh of relief.


    Lifting her eyes to ric, she met his gaze, those narrow eyes twinkling with mischief and a hint of something more flirtatious.


    Their eyes met, and Hertha''s knees turned to jelly, her rm morphing into something that fluttered like butterflies in her


    stomach.


    It was those very eyes, devilish and full of promise, that had made her fall head over heels for ric three years ago. And she


    hadn''t been able to shake him since.


    Now, with that same look, how in the world was she supposed to resist?


    "Why are you giving me that look?" Hertha''s cheeks blushed a shade of pink as she red at ric, half-annoyed and half-


    flustered.


    Was he trying to charm her again?


    He was practically still engaged to Georgia, for heaven''s sake. He was off-limits, and no matter how much Hertha''s heart ached


    for him, she wouldn''t let herself go there.


    Besides, she constantly reminded herself to keep a distance from ric. She couldn''t risk ending up like Thssa, who''d had


    her children snatched away from her arms.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.


    Her children were her Achilles'' heel. She''d never let anyone, especially not ric,y a finger on them.


    No sooner had Hertha finished her thought than ric''s gaze slid down to his arm with a roguish smirk. "You''re already touching


    me. Is it a crime if | return the favor with just a nce?"


    Hertha was about to


    retort—something about him bei


    shameless— wae en, sheristiowet his


    eyas. Bei hand was clutching his


    arm, her grip strong enough to push


    his sleeve up and expose his arm''s


    sinewy, tan lines. Please read the


    original content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Their skin touched, and the warmth


    from his arm mingling with hers,


    sending a sho wayedtheat &°


    sfrnigattoiner eart. It felt as though


    she''d grabbed a heated iron, and she


    jerked her hand away with a jolt.


    Please read the original content at


    NovelDrama.Org.


    Avoiding his gaze, she stammered, "Touching? That wasn''t touching. | was just... pulling you out of the way."


    "What''s got you so riled up that you


    need to pull me away? Is there


    something ov py thektddiepatk


    ypy\dan''t want me to see?" ric''s


    curiosity piqued as he made to peer


    around the house toward the


    yground. Please read the original


    content at NovelDrama.Org.


    Hertha''s heart leapt into her throat, the fear of ric spotting her kids kicking in. She reached out and yanked on his cor,


    pulling him back toward her.


    Her movement was both swift and forceful, and it sent ric stumbling a step closer into her personal space.