The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet novel Chapter 1988

Hertha wasn't just at Spencer and Emmeline's wedding to celebrate; she was also unexpectedly thrust into the role of a bridesmaid. A last-minute bridesmaid, roped in by Spencer himself. Emmeline, it turned out, didn't have many female friends—only one close friend. But tradition demanded at least two bridesmaids. So, Hertha made the cut, barely.

"But I don't have a bridesmaid dress," Hertha protested to Spencer, her face a mix of confusion and concern as he dragged her into the dressing room.

Jokingly, she had always told Thalassa she'd love to be her bridesmaid, but Thalassa had yet to tie the knot. And now, at thirty, Hertha's first time as a bridesmaid wasn't for Thalassa but for Spencer's bride.

"I've got you covered. Here's your dress. Get changed quickly; the ceremony will start soon," Spencer hurried, thrusting a bag into her hands before he rushed off.

Hertha pulled out a light grey bridesmaid dress from the bag. What now? She had no clue how to be a bridesmaid, what to do, or what was expected. With no experience and no guidance, how could she possibly manage? Yet, Spencer had entrusted her with this responsibility. She couldn’t just back out, especially not after all the support Spencer had given her over the years, even when she hadn't exactly been the most thoughtful friend. She owed him, big time. Spencer was asking for a small favor, really. How could she let him down?

With a mix of determination and resignation, Hertha changed into the dress.

No sooner had Hertha stepped out of the changing room than a young woman entered the makeup room. She looked to be in her early twenties, with a slim figure, minimal makeup, and an aura of youthful energy. Wearing a similar light grey dress, she tiptoed in, spotted Hertha, and approached with a smile. "Hey, looks like you're a bridesmaid too?"

Hertha smiled back and nodded. "Yes, and you are? How do you know the bride?"

The girl seemed much younger than Emmeline, certainly not her best friend.

"Ha, I'm her cousin, Isla. My brother-in-law asked me to guide you through the bridesmaid duties," the girl explained cheerfully.

So Spencer had sent her. Hertha began to ask about what she needed to know, what to watch out for. They were just getting into the details when someone urged them to hurry. "The wedding's starting, bridesmaids, come out!"

Hertha and the girl quickly made their way to the hotel's grand hall. The ceremony was about to begin. The officiant was warming up the crowd with a flourish of words before introducing Spencer, who appeared in a sharp black suit, a red boutonniere pinned to his chest. Then, the officiant posed a question, a setup for a romantic anecdote: "How did the groom and bride meet? Was it a romantic encounter straight out of a TV show?"

Handing the mic to Spencer, he recounted, "We met at a noodle shop. She grabbed my order by mistake, ending up with my beef noodles instead of her plain soup. And then, she insisted I owed her a bowl of plain soup. I had to explain that mine was beef noodles."