Chapter 640

Thalassa and Hertha returned to Vibrant Oasis Residences.

Thalassa headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower, exchanging her party dress for comfy pajamas. She neatly folded her gown and put it in a shopping bag.

Hertha, puzzled by this, asked, “What are you doing? Your dress should be hung in the closet to avoid wrinkles.”

“I’m going to return it tomorrow. This dress cost me two thousand dollars. I don’t have much occasion to wear it,” Thalassa explained.

She had kept the receipt and the tags intact, all for the sake of returning it with ease.

“Why would you return it? You couldn’t afford to wear expensive clothes before, but now you can. You should take advantage of that,” Hertha argued.

The two were best friends, sharing everything with each other and always speaking their minds.

Whatever they said to each other, they never took it personally, knowing that only a true friend would tell each other the truth.

Thalassa replied, “I rarely attend fancy events and the dress would just gather dust in the closet. Over time, it would fade and lose its shape. It would be better to return it and let someone else who needs it have it. Besides, I’m still living paycheck to paycheck. I need to spend my money wisely. Luxuries like this dress aren’t necessary for me.”

“You’re a billionaire now, Thalassa. You can afford to splurge a little. Don’t be too hard on yourself. All women love to dress up,” Hertha insisted, taking the dress out of the bag and insisting she keep it.

“I gave the billion back to Lysander,” Thalassa confessed.

Even though Lysander had given her a credit card, she hadn’t used it. The card had disappeared from her bedside table, likely retrieved by Lysander.

With the billion returned, it felt like a chapter in her life had ended.

“What? You gave it back to him?” Hertha was as shocked as Evelyn had been.

She slapped her forehead and exclaimed, “Thalassa, you really don’t know how to hold onto wealth.

You’re too honest.”

If it had been anyone else, they would have taken the money and run without looking back. But not Thalassa. She returned the money to Lysander. And now, she was misunderstood by him and couldn’t even see her own children.

“You’ve lost your money and your children. You ended up with nothing.” Hertha lamented.

“It’s different. If I kept the billion, it would mean that I willingly gave up my right to see my children, just like Lysander said. It bought me out of my own family. Now, even though I can’t see my children for the time being, once the truth comes out, I can go see them without any guilt,” Thalassa stated.

She wouldn’t trade her children for money. What use was money if it cost her love and warmth?

A thousand dollars was plenty for basic needs. And a billion wouldn’t be enough if you had no contentment.

“All right, all right. You’re right. I’ll bag this dress up for you. If you want to return it, then return it,”

Hertha finally conceded.

Thalassa was her best friend because of her integrity. Hertha wouldn’t have it any other way.

With the dress packed away, Hertha asked, “So, what’s your plan now that Captain Payne isn’t an option?”

Thalassa shook her head and said, “I don’t know.”

“I think you should try to meet with Lysander and explain everything. That might be more productive than seeing Captain Payne,” Hertha suggested, patting Thalassa’s shoulder.

Hertha might seem careless at times, but she was sharp when it mattered.

Thalassa considered Hertha’s suggestion. She had thought about meeting Lysander privately, but he had blocked her number. So she had no way to contact him.