The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 146

Rhys knew he was in the wrong, but he still insisted, "This is between Clara and me."

"He's right," Clara cut him off. "Rhys, do you know what I was thinking that day?"

"I was thinking, it would have been better if I had just died there."

Rhys felt a sharp pang in his chest. "Don't talk nonsense."

"It's not nonsense. If I had died, maybe you would have remembered me the way you remember Margot. Whether out of guilt or something else, at least I would have held a place in your heart."

Rhys fell silent for a long moment.

His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke. "Don't compare yourself to her. It's different."

"You're right. It is different. She cries, she faints, and Veronica West forces you to take responsibility. Me? I just endure. I just wait."

Clara offered a faint, bitter smile. "As long as Margot is around, you will never truly be my husband. You are just a dog raised by the Johnson family—at their beck and call."

"Clara!"

Daniel immediately stepped in front of Clara, shielding her. "Mr. Huntington, please control your temper."

Clara leaned back in her chair, her expression indifferent.

In the past, she had been terrified of his anger, afraid he would ignore her, so she always walked on eggshells, coaxing him. Now, she didn't care.

What did it matter if a man she no longer wanted was angry enough to explode?

Rhys rubbed at his temples, forcing his voice to soften. "Clara, come home with me. Aunt Mia is worried about you. From now on, at home..."

His cell phone ringing interrupted him.

He pulled it out, intending to hang up, but froze when he saw the name "Veronica West" on the screen.

Clara knew the routine all too well.

It didn't matter the occasion or how important their conversation was. The moment that phone rang, he would always hesitate, and he would always compromise.

"Answer it," Clara said, watching him with amusement. "If you don't, and something happens later, won't you just blame it on me again?"

Rhys gritted his teeth and answered the call. "Mom, I'm busy right now..."

"Where are you? Margot just had another episode! She keeps calling your name and won't take her medicine. Come back immediately!"

"Call an ambulance. I'm not a doctor; me being there won't help."

But Clara called out to him.

"You don't need to come back. And you don't need to sign this anymore."

Rhys felt a sudden wave of relief, his brow smoothing out. "Clara..."

"The moment you walk out that door, I'm filing the lawsuit. Prepare your defense, Mr. Huntington."

His phone rang again, loud and insistent. Rhys didn't fully process what Clara said. "Clara, I promise this is the last time. I'll make things clear to Margot. From now on, you will be my first priority."

The door clicked shut behind him.

Simon looked incredulous. "Holy shit. He actually left? Is that guy on a leash? One tug and he goes running?"

Daniel shook his head, closing the file in front of him. "As expected."

Clara stared at the empty doorway. She twirled the fountain pen in her hand once, then hurled it with all her strength.

The pen slammed against the door panel, ink splattering across the wood.

"Get out," Clara whispered softly. "Rhys, there is no 'from now on.'"