The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 141

Wrapped in a thick wool coat with her scarf pulled up to her nose, Margot stood by the car.

The window rolled down, and she called out softly, "Rhys."

Rhys Huntington didn't unlock the doors. He looked at her through the half-open window. "What are you doing here?"

"It was Owen..." Margot bit her lip. "He said you were in a bad mood. I was afraid something might happen to you, and I was worried no one was taking care of you, so I asked for your location and came over."

Rhys pressed his throbbing temples and cursed silently.

Those guys really couldn't keep their mouths shut—they dumped every mess straight in his lap.

"I'm fine. It's too cold out here, and your health can't take it. Go back."

"I'm not leaving."

Margot, usually docile and obedient, was being uncharacteristically stubborn.

"Rhys, do you blame me? Because I went to the hotel to find you that day, causing her to get upset and lose the baby, and delaying you getting to the hospital... If you blame me, just yell at me. Don't shut me out."

Daniel Reed's stinging words from earlier—"As a husband, you were busy caring for another woman who was in no life-threatening danger"—suddenly rang in his ears.

He fell silent for a moment. "No one blames you. It was Clara Bridges herself..."

His voice cut off abruptly.

It was Clara herself what?

Being dramatic? Making a scene? Or just being careless?

None of those words felt right to use now.

"Get in."

He ultimately couldn't bear to see her freezing in the wind. He unlocked the doors. "I'll call a driver service to take you back."

Margot's eyes lit up. She walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and got in.

Seeing her lean back against the newly purchased lumbar cushion, Rhys frowned.

"Sit in the back."

Margot shook her head.

She settled deeper into the seat and turned to look at him. "I'm not going home, Rhys. You've been in such a bad state lately. I want to stay with you. Just like when we were kids, okay?"

Tears welled as she pressed a hand to her chest, breathing quickening.

"Rhys, my chest hurts... and my legs, my legs hurt so much..."

At the mention of her legs, most of Rhys's anger drained out of him. His voice softened involuntarily. "Where does it hurt?"

"It's a deep ache—like it's down in the joint..."

Margot reached for his sleeve again. This time, Rhys didn't pull away.

She leaned her head against his shoulder. "Only when I'm by your side does the pain fade a little. You'll protect me, just like you always have since we were small, right?"

Rhys patted her back gently, then pushed her away slightly.

"Just hold on a moment, the driver is here."

He pointed to a figure outside arriving on a folding bike. His tone turned distant. "I'll have him take you back to Eric's place first. You need to take your medicine and sleep."

"What about you?"

"I'm going back to Riverside Court," Rhys said, looking out the window. "Clara isn't back yet. I have to wait for her."