Chapter 1534


    Hertha''s mouth opened slightly. and under ric''s sharp, fox-like gaze, her heartbeat raced, tight and fast. She wanted to say yes, that she and


    Spencer were expecting a child, but deep inside, a heavy shackle held her back, rendering her speechless.


    Just as Hertha was about to speak, Thssa’s voice chimed in, "You must''ve seen the baby bottles and children’s dinnerware in the cupboard. I got


    those because I was feeling nostalgic about my four little ones. I bought those baby items tofort myself, and had them delivered to Hertha''s ce


    by mistake. Hertha signed for them, and she was supposed to give them to me, but I figured my kids are already seven years old; they''ve outgrown


    bottles and such. So, I told Hertha to keep them for her future babies. Hertha and Spencer aren''t nning on kids yet, right Spencer?”


    After finishing, Thssa turned to Spencer.


    Caught mid-bite, Spencer paused, then nodded.


    Grasping the lifeline Thssa had thrown her, Hertha quickly added, "Yeah, those were Thssa’s, a kind of pay-it-forward gesture. It''s been tough


    for her; her kids were only four when they left her. It''s been three years since shest saw her little ones. Who knows how tall they''ve grown or what


    habits they''ve picked up...”


    Hertha had been at a loss for how to exin the baby items to ric. Thssa''s exnation was logical and fitting. a testament to someone who''d


    once hidden her children with care and cunning.


    Indeed, the person Thssa had to deceive back then was the powerful, wise Lysander. Managing to keep her children hidden from Lysander for


    months, Thssa clearly had a sharp, clever mind.


    Keeping ric in the dark was, therefore, more than manageable.


    Seeing Hertha ept Thssa’s exnation, the tension in ric''s eyes eased significantly.


    It was as if a weight had been lifted.


    "I see, I thought you guys had a child seeing the baby items in your cupboard," ric exined.


    Hertha. inwardly sweating bullets, forced a rxed smile, "Oh, it’s just a misunderstanding. Let me get you a mug. Please, go have a seat for dinner.


    You''re our guest; it wouldn''t be right to have you fetching things.”


    Suddenly polite, ric, unustomed to such formalities from Hertha, obediently left the kitchen.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    Hertha poured coffee for ric, and they continued their dinner, conversation flowing awkwardly.


    Finally, the-meal ended, andto


    expedite’ “ric''s departure, allowiig


    Herthacto tidy up and think about


    fetching the kids, Thssa asked,


    "Mr Falconer, are you free. now?"


    "What''s up?" ric inquired


    Thssa replied, "I came here in Hertha''s car, and since she''s got dishes to do, could you give me a lift back?”


    Hearing Thssa’s unceremonious request— a sign of true friendship—ricughed, "Of course, let''s go."


    ric led the way out, with Thssa following.


    The moment the door closed behind


    them, Hertha copsed onto a dining


    chair, wiping the sweat from her”


    brow "Oh, thank goodness for


    Thssa. That was too close.”


    Spencer, while tidying up, asked calmly, “When I came in, I saw ric directing the movers. He’s moving into our neighborhood. What''s your n


    now?"


    He could help her once but not always.


    Hertha sighed


    ‘I don''t know what''s gotten into him.


    He had acfallout with his mother and


    got kickéd out of the Falconer >


    family-So, what, now he''s justa


    regr Joe?’ Hertha asked Spencer


    in-eonfusion.


    -


    "Does it matter whether he''s Mr. Falconer or not?" Spencer said, "No matter who he is, he''s the father of your children.”


    Spencer Just spouted truths she wasn''t ready to face