Chapter 1629


    Gazing at the amber hue of her whiskey, Thssa seemed lost in thought.


    "Of course, he poured his heart out to you, so what did you feel? How did you respond?" Hertha, anxious and eager for details, pressed Thssa for her reaction to Lysander''s confession. This was crucial; it could define the trajectory of their future rtionship.


    Thssa and Lysander had been entangled in aplicated dance for three years, a dance that had produced four beautiful children. If they could make it work, it would be nothing short of perfect. But the ball was in Thssa''s court now.


    Hertha made it clear that no matter Thssa''s decision, she had her unwavering support.


    Exhaling deeply, Thssa''s voice was tinged with mncholy, "I dodged the question. I didn''t answer him."


    She had evaded the question then, and even when Rosalind had teased her about her feelings for Lysander, she hadn''t confronted her true emotions head-on.


    "The million-dor question, then," Hertha leaned in, "Is he just the father of your kids to you, or is there something more? Do you have romantic feelings for him?"


    That was the question Lysander probably wanted the answer to as well. After all, beyond responsibility, love was the cornerstone of any rtionship. Without it, life seemed bleak and uninspiring.


    Clutching her ss tighter, Thssa felt her heart heavy, as if it were soaked in saltwater, both aching and burning. She struggled to breathe, her gaze lifting to meet Hertha''s, "K think...do love him. It pains me to see him hurt, and I get this sour feeling in my stomach seeing him with another woman, even angry. But then I remember his


    ruthlessness, the way he can be so cold, and it makes me want to push him away, unable to let go of his past actions."


    "That''s love, honey, no doubt about it," Hertha reassured her, refilling her ss. "The emotions that spring up without your control, that''s love. The feelings you rationalize, those are just the harsh realities of life talking."


    Taking a sip, Hertha shared her own truth, "Like me, if I followed my heart, I''d be inseparable from ric, maybe even keep him tied to my bed, catering to my every whim." Her confession was raw, a testament to the trust between them.


    Thssa''s cheeks zed with embarrassment, casting nervous nces around, "Keep it down, will you... We''re in public."


    Realizing her volume, HerthaN?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    lowered her voice, continuing, "But logic reigns in my desires. I can''t get past catching ric with Georgia and I worry about the kids finding out. So, I keep my distance. When he confessed, I turned him down,shing out instead."


    "And you, Thssa, it''s the same. Your jealousy over Lysander''s interactions with other women proves you have feelings for him. Your hesitation is due to your worries, the harsh realities of life weighing on you. I know you can''t move past your mother''s death, believing Lysander yed a part, nor can you forgive yourself for Leopold''s death. You think you''re responsible, that you don''t deserve love, especially not with Lysander, Leopold''s brother. So, you avoid dealing with Lysander''s feelings."


    Hertha''s words struck a chord, reaching deep into Thssa''s heart. Indeed, no one understood her better than Hertha.


    Such is the bond of true friendship.