Chapter 1444


    "Didn''t Hertha pick up your call?" Thssa inquired.


    ric had arranged for a ride-share to take Dr. Funke home not too long ago, and he was supposed


    to call Hertha to check in after Dr. Funke was safely inside.


    But if Hertha didn''t answer ric''s call, could it be that she was worried he''de looking for her


    late at night, potentially disturbing her while she put the kids to bed?


    With two little ones to tuck in, thest thing Hertha needed was ric, their biological father, finding


    out.


    Thssa figured Hertha must''ve worried that if she answered, ric might hear the children''s


    voices in the background, so she decided to just not pick up. As Hertha''s best friend, Thssa


    knew she had to cover for her and keep ric from suspecting anything.


    Before ric could respond, Thssa added, "She''s probably taking a shower. Don''t worry. She


    must be home by now."


    "Must be? Weren''t you with Hertha?" ric picked up on the uncertainty in Thssa''s voice.


    "I had promised to help Dr. Funke find an apprentice, remember? So I drove to Hollowbrook


    overnight, and Hertha drove herself home," Thssa exined.


    "Alright, just be safe on your way back," ric said before hanging up.


    After ending the call with ric, Thssa dialed Hertha''s number.


    ric''s questioning had made her a bit anxious either, and she wanted to check on Hertha herself.


    The phone rang for a while, but was not answered as well.


    Until an impersonal automated voice finally said, "I''m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently


    unavable."


    Thssa''s heart sank. Why wasn''t Hertha answering even her calls?


    Maybe she had her phone on silent and had fallen asleep with the kids?


    Worrying now was futile. She wasn''t in Starhaven now and couldn''t just pop over to Hertha''s ce.


    She returned home with Lydia and set off for Starhaven, taking Astrid along. The reason for bringing


    Astrid was that her aunt''s rheumatism red up again, and this trip to Starhaven was a chance to


    get some treatment at the Starhaven Hospital, too.


    By the time they reached Starhaven, it was past one in the morning.


    Thssa booked three rooms in the hotel closest to Dr. Funke''s house, insisting Lydia and Astrid


    get some rest.


    After a shower, she checked her phone again. Still no callback from Hertha.


    Something felt off, and worry gnawed at Thssa. She dialed Hertha''s number once more.


    This time, the phone was off.


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    Hertha had turned off her phone?


    What was going on?


    Thssa''s mind raced. She tried calling Hertha''s nanny, Bridget, but again no answer.


    Could they have simply fallen asleep, and Hertha''s phone died?


    Trying to suppress her growing anxiety, Thssay down in bed. She tossed and turned for ages


    before finally dozing off, only to be roused by the first light of day.


    She hadn''t slept deeply and woke up as soon as dawn broke. Quickly getting ready, she went to


    Lydia''s room.


    Lydia, ustomed to military discipline, always woke up early. By the time Thssa arrived, she


    was already washed up and dressed.