The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 15

A crisp slap echoed through the room.

Clara's head was knocked to the side, loose strands of hair falling to cover her eyes.

The left side of her face burned, the pain spreading rapidly as her ears rang.

She turned her head back, staring unblinkingly at Veronica.

The look made Veronica panic inexplicably.

Eric kept a stern face. "Clara, apologize to Veronica, and we'll let this go."

Clara scoffed.

She gets slapped, and she has to apologize?

The glass door to the patio slid open, and Rhys appeared.

Having just finished his call, he froze when he saw the standoff in the dining room and the red handprint on Clara's face.

His gaze shot straight to his mother.

Veronica glanced at him coolly.

"Rhys, you really picked a winner. No manners at all."

Rhys remained silent, striding over to Clara. Just as he reached out to touch her face...

"Rhys..."

Margot clutched her chest, her face pale. She swayed, looking like she was about to collapse.

"I... I don't feel well..."

Before she finished speaking, she went limp and fell backward.

Eric shouted, but he was too far away to catch her.

Reflexively, Rhys turned and caught the falling Margot firmly in his embrace.

Clara stood less than a step away from him.

The second after she was slapped, he didn't hesitate to choose the other woman.

In that instant, something in her chest seemed to snap.

Well, well. This was it.

She said nothing, silently turned around, and picked up her coat and bag from the chair.

She had patted her chest and promised to make them plump and healthy, propagating them like crazy.

Now, she had indeed raised them well; each one was full and cute.

Clara found some small boxes and moved the succulents in one by one, leaving not a single odd-shaped pot she had scavenged from various places behind.

The house was his, but these little things she raised by hand were hers.

Everything packed: two large suitcases, four heavy cardboard boxes.

She took one last look around the home she had once decorated with such care, dragged her entire life's belongings, and left with resolve.

Simon got the call and sped over in a borrowed car. Before he even stood still, he was already cursing.

Clara had only wanted him to help deliver the things she stored at his place so she could stay at a hotel.

But the moment Simon saw the handprint on her face, his eyes went red. Without a word, he stuffed her luggage into the trunk and dragged her into the car.

When they arrived at the apartment, Alex opened the door.

Simon's boyfriend was startled by the bruise on Clara's face. After listening to Simon recount the events in a rage, he immediately offered to go back to his dorm so Clara could stay here.

Simon pressed Clara onto the sofa, trying to comfort his boyfriend while venting all his anger on Rhys.