The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen) novel Chapter 1996

The host had just thrown a curveball at Spencer, asking if his decision to marry Emmeline was truly a matter of the heart.

There was a momentary pause, a beat too long, as Spencer's gaze swept over the crowd before settling back on the host to deliver his answer.

Prompted by a remark from a lady in the crowd, Spencer had locked eyes with Hertha as he spoke, and that was the moment Emmeline's heart sank with realization. It dawned on her that Spencer's affections were truly for Hertha; he had never let her go.

This realization pierced Emmeline like a thorn, refusing to leave her in peace. All she wanted now was clarity: Did Spencer truly love her, or was it Hertha all along?

Hertha, for her part, seemed even more anxious than Spencer, her eyes darting nervously towards him, fearing he might slip up and give the wrong answer again. Hertha understood the gravity of the situation for Emmeline. She knew that just one wrong move, one slip, could lead Emmeline to turn her back and walk away with her father. After all, a woman's intuition in matters of the heart is often sharper and more profound than a man's.

If Spencer revealed anything, even a small detail that hinted at his true feelings, Emmeline would have her answer.

"I love you. It's you I want to marry," Spencer finally said, his voice breaking through Hertha's nervous anticipation.

He then placed her hand over his heart. Emmeline felt the warmth of his chest unexpectedly, causing her hand to flinch, but Spencer insisted, pressing her hand firmly against him. Through her palm, she could feel the steady beat of his heart, its warmth radiating into her, syncing with her accelerating heartbeat.

In that moment, looking into Spencer's eyes, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat, Emmeline's breath caught in her throat as she realized her profound love for this man. Walking away now would leave her with a lifetime of regret, even if his love wasn't as strong as hers.

"Do you feel it? This heart beats for you," Spencer whispered, his voice tinged with an unmatched tenderness. He wanted nothing more than for Emmeline to understand that his love was real, that it was her he truly wished to marry.