The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 105

The plane landed in Brighton City at one in the afternoon. The announcement reported a ground temperature of twenty-three degrees Fahrenheit with light snow.

Even in the jet bridge, Clara could feel the biting cold of Brighton City piercing her sleeves. Everyone around her was bundled up in thick down jackets, hurrying along, while she wore only a thin hoodie with a trench coat draped over it. She stood at the exit of the arrivals hall, staring at the grey sky and drifting snowflakes through the glass doors. The tropical heat of Sunbay City felt like a distant memory from a lifetime ago.

A few people glanced at her, likely thinking she was underdressed for the weather, but she didn’t care. She dragged her small suitcase toward the taxi queue.

"Oakridge Avenue, please. The old neighborhood," she told the driver.

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror at the shivering woman huddled in the back seat. Without a word, he cranked the heater up to the maximum.

"Just back from the South? You can't dress like that in this weather, you'll catch your death."

"Yeah, just got back," Clara replied softly.

"I saw on the news that Sunbay City is packed right now. Flight prices are insane. Were you there for tourism or visiting family?" the driver asked.

"Tourism, sort of," Clara paused. "Didn't really enjoy it, so I came back early."

"Ah, well, that's how traveling goes. Can't always be perfect. Good to be home, though. Nothing beats a warm house in this weather."

Clara managed a weak smile.

The car drove north, leaving the airport highway and entering the city. As they passed Riverside Court, Clara turned her head away, unable to look. That had been the home she meticulously curated. But now, in her mind, that place was just a blur of grey fog. All she had left there was Rhys, and the version of Clara who was always trying to please him.

Forty minutes later, the taxi stopped downstairs at the Bridges family home.

Clara hauled her suitcase up the stairs and stood before the door. She raised her hand but hesitated to knock. What would she say if her parents asked? That Rhys left her in the middle of the ocean for another woman?

Before she could formulate a lie, the door opened from the inside.

Her mother was standing there, two bags of trash in hand, ready to head out. Upon seeing the pale figure at the door, she jumped, dropping the trash bags with a loud *thud*.

"Clara?"

Her mother froze, looking her daughter up and down. "Why are you back? Weren't you in Sunbay? Why are you wearing so little in this freezing cold..."

Hearing the commotion, her father hurried out from the living room.

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