The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 154

Her mother untied her apron and asked, "What's wrong? Did the agreement fall through? Did he not divide the property fairly?"

"No, everything went smoothly." Clara sniffled and forced a smile. "The property division was reasonable. In another month, I'll be a wealthy little woman."

"Well, that settles it then." Her mother said. "Hurry up and eat. Look at you—you've gotten so thin it scares me."

On the table sat the steamed sea bass and a bowl of creamy tomato soup—dishes Clara had loved since childhood.

The Bridges family had a wonderful atmosphere.

Mr. Bridges was a retired middle school teacher, and Mrs. Bridges worked for the neighborhood committee. They had bickered all their lives, but their affection for each other was undeniable.

Clara looked at the food in her plate and the hollow feeling caused by the divorce began to fill, bit by bit.

"Have some more fish. It's good for you."

Her mother placed a chunk of fish into Clara's plate. "Next time you look for a partner, keep your eyes open. Trust your head as much as your heart."

The white fish meat looked tender and fresh.

Clara picked up her fork, about to put it in her mouth.

All at once, the smell turned sour and overwhelming, and nausea surged up. Clara's expression changed instantly. She dropped her fork, covered her mouth, and rushed into the bathroom.

"What's the matter?" Her mother was startled and quickly followed her.

The sound of heaving echoed from the bathroom.

Clara bent over the sink, bringing up nothing but acidic bile.

Her mother patted her back while handing her water. "Did you catch a cold? Or is your stomach upset? I told you to go to the hospital ages ago..."

As she spoke, her mother's hand froze.

She had been through this before. Some reactions couldn't be hidden.

Clara rinsed her mouth and looked at her shocked mother in the mirror, knowing she couldn't hide it anymore.

Her mother's gaze fell to Clara's abdomen, asking hesitantly, "You are...?"

Clara didn't dare make a sound. She lowered her head, tacitly admitting it.

"You plan to keep it?"

"I thought about it before. I thought if this was how things were, it would be better not to have it. But..."

Clara touched her lower belly, tears falling again. "But that day, the doctor said the baby was fighting hard to stay, and I couldn't bear to let it go..."

"So you plan to raise it alone?" Her mother said. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a single mother? You're so young. How will you manage your life?"

"I can do it."

"You can do nothing of the sort!" Her mother started crying as she scolded. "Do you think raising a child is like raising a cat or a dog? Just giving it food is enough?"

Her father didn't speak. He turned and walked away.

Panic seized Clara. She thought her father was so angry he was washing his hands of her, so she quickly chased after him.

She found the old man rummaging through drawers until he found the family's vital records book. He tossed it onto the coffee table.

"Have the baby. We're keeping it. The child goes under our family name. I will raise the baby myself!"