The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 111

Clara froze at the turn of the stairs.

It was a face she hadn't expected to see.

She blinked, her mind going momentarily blank.

"Dr. Carter?"

Why was he here? And why was he holding a suitcase, looking as if he were moving in?

Noah Carter released his grip on a garbage bag, straightening his posture. He glanced at Clara’s outfit—clearly thrown on for a quick errand—but asked nothing.

"What a coincidence," he said.

Clara felt a twinge of awkwardness. "Yeah... Dr. Carter, are you..."

"Just got back from Sunbay City." Noah pointed upstairs. "I live here. Third floor."

Clara let out a couple of surprised "Ohs."

"This is an old apartment my grandmother left me," Noah explained without being asked. "The hospital isn't far from here. Sometimes when the night shifts get too exhausting, or I just want some peace and quiet, I come here to stay."

Peace and quiet.

Clara’s heart stirred slightly.

Rhys had his Riverside Court, and Dr. Carter had his sanctuary. She, on the other hand, was just a refugee seeking shelter in this building.

"That is a coincidence," Clara said politely. "Well, I won't keep you. I need to toss this trash."

With that, she clutched her garbage bag tighter and hurried downstairs.

Behind her, she heard the sound of a key turning in a lock, followed by the creak of a door opening. It wasn't until she heard the door click shut that she finally exhaled and slowed her pace.

Winter in Brighton City was truly biting.

Clara tossed the bag into the dumpster and stood under the streetlamp for a moment, lost in thought.

It really was a small world.

Just a few days ago, Rhys had warned her with a cold face back in Sunbay City: "Stay away from Dr. Carter. It’s the mild-mannered ones who hide the deepest schemes."

And now, here she was, living right above that very same scheming Dr. Carter.

If Rhys found out, he’d probably be furious again.

But the world was also vast.

As long as she was determined to hide, Rhys wouldn't be able to find her.

Her breath puffed out in a white cloud as she turned to head back.

Passing the third floor again, Clara paused briefly, but didn't stop. She quickened her steps up to the fourth floor.

Her stomach rumbled in protest. She scavenged around and found nothing but a dry, stale bread roll.

Before she could take a bite, there was a knock at the door.

Clara’s heart raced.

Simon had a key; he never knocked. Who would come in this heavy snow?

The first thought that flashed through her mind was that Rhys had found her.

She held her breath, tiptoed to the door, and looked through the peephole.

When she saw Noah standing outside, she felt an indescribable mix of emotions.

Relief, but also a strange sense of disappointment.

Clara swallowed a sigh, mentally slapped herself, and opened the door.

"Dr. Carter?"

Noah was wearing loungewear, holding a white porcelain bowl in his hands.

"Sorry to disturb you." He extended the bowl slightly. "The snow is heavy tonight, and I saw that food delivery services have stopped. I happened to make some cream of mushroom soup, and I made too much for one person. I figured you probably hadn't eaten yet."

The bowl was filled with piping hot soup, the rich aroma wafting through the air.