The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1429

"Let me. The pot is heavy." Spencer said with a note of concern, heading toward the kitchen.

It made sense. Spencer had the kind of steadiness and strength that made handling the heavy pot a safer bet.

She was a woman, and not just any woman, but one who had grown notably thinner and more delicate after the birth of her children. The fatigue of motherhood had sapped some of her strength, leaving her less equipped for such tasks.

Without a word, Hertha watched Spencer's tall frame disappear into the kitchen, her gaze slightly unfocused.

Over the past three years, Spencer had been extraordinarily kind and gentle with her. He took care of her in every possible way, attending to the smallest details of her life.

To an outsider, it might seem as though he was her husband. His kindness stirred a blend of guilt and helplessness in Hertha's heart.

She knew there would never be any romantic possibilities between them, no shared future. Yet Spencer continued to treat her with such tenderness that she couldn't help but wonder if he still harbored feelings for her.

"Hertha, what are you daydreaming about? Dinner's ready," Spencer called out in a cultured tone.

Snapping back to reality, Hertha managed an awkward smile and took her seat at the table, reverting to her usual warm and friendly self.

"Spencer, here's your fork. Try this sesame sauce I got the other day. I think it's absolutely divine." She began to mix the dressing for him, their interaction as easy as two best friends.

"I can handle it. Don't worry, I won't get the wrong idea," Spencer said, taking the bottle from her with a polite smile. He could see right through Hertha's careful charade. Her overly enthusiastic warmth and lack of boundaries were her way of signaling that she saw him as nothing more than a friend, urging him not to read too much into their interactions.

Her daydreaming earlier must have been about this very issue.