Chapter 353

She leaned in, her whisper tickling the shell of his ear, both teasing and enticing..

Alaric squirmed slightly, not quite used to the closeness, but he still listened to the end.

After they finished discussing, Hertha looked at him with a confident grin. “Well?”

Suddenly, Alaric curved his index finger and lightly flicked her forehead.

Caught off guard and flattered, Hertha instinctively raised her hand to cover her forehead. She looked at him with a blush and a racing heart, “What was that for?”

That gesture was both teasing and affectionate.

Wasn’t this a signature move shared between lovers?

Her heart, which had been down, was instantly thrown into chaos.

Alaric seemed oblivious to her turmoil, saying seriously, “What kind of scheme is this?”

Then he walked out into the hallway.

Startled, Hertha quickly peered out to watch him.

He walked straight towards the two bodyguards guarding the door. When he was about to reach them, he took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, drew one out, and put it in the corner of his mouth.

He rummaged in his pocket again, trying to find a lighter, but didn’t find one. He had already walked past the bodyguards.

Without a lighter, he turned back and asked one of the bodyguards, “Buddy, can I borrow a light?”

The bodyguard took out a lighter from his pocket and handed it over.

Alaric lit up and took a drag, but didn’t return the lighter. Instead, he took out a cigarette and offered it to the bodyguard, “Thanks, have one.”

The bodyguard didn’t take it, standing stiffly. It was a clear sign of not wanting to engage with him.

Alaric chuckled, not at all embarrassed, “I snuck out while my wife was on a team-building trip with her company. I’m meeting someone, and my phone is dead. Can you check the time for me?”

The bodyguard remained impassive, completely ignoring him.

Hertha chuckled at this. Alaric’s acting was terrible.

Alaric also realized that these two bodyguards were too indifferent. He needed to play the sympathy card.

He put on a pitiful face and said, “Guys, you also have families. You wouldn’t want me to go home late and have my wife suspect something, right?”

One of the bodyguards finally broke, “You can go home now!”

“But what about the girl waiting for me in the room? I can’t just leave, can I? We’re all men here, you can understand me, right.”

He tried his best to portray the dilemma of a man wanting to cheat but also wanting to take care of his family.

The other bodyguard, the one who hadn’t lent him the lighter, glared at him.

Although he found Alaric’s actions despicable, he also understood the predicament.

With a look of disdain, he took out his phone and showed Alaric the time.

“Oh, it’s 2 AM.” Alaric glanced at it and said.

The next second, he snatched the phone from the bodyguard’s hand and bolted.

“Stop!” The bodyguard whose phone was stolen instinctively gave chase.

The other bodyguard realized his lighter, worth tens of thousands, was still in Alaric’s hands, and he too gave chase.

Hertha watched this and her heart pounded with both fear and excitement and a bit of contempt.

Wasn’t Alaric the one who said her plan was ridiculous? Yet he still followed it, stealing the bodyguard’s phone and running.

This proved she was the clever one.

Seeing Alaric leading both bodyguards away, Hertha quickly ran to the door and furiously rang the doorbell.

Seconds later, the door opened to reveal Thalassa’s haggard and apprehensive face. Seeing Hertha, she exclaimed in relief, “Hertha, you really came!”

“Run right now! Quickly!” Hertha pulled Thalassa out of the room and ran towards the elevator.