The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 178

The rider on the motorcycle wore full gear and a helmet, completely obscuring his face.

But Noah recognized the silhouette.

Rhys had been scheduling himself for a lot of field duty lately, and his patrol routes invariably drifted toward the area around Ashton University.

Even he couldn't say exactly why.

Maybe it was just because he was familiar with the area—familiar enough to navigate every corner with his eyes closed.

Or maybe, it was because this was where Clara had spent four years of her life.

The motorcycle hit a red light at the intersection and slowed to a halt.

Noah withdrew his gaze from the bike and looked at Clara.

She still had her head down, staring intently at a petal near her shoe, completely unaware of what was happening on the road.

"The wind is picking up."

He stood up, positioning himself so that his body completely blocked her view of the West Gate intersection.

"It's getting chilly. Let's go down. I'll take you home."

"Okay." Clara nodded. She finished her lemon tea and tossed the empty cup into a nearby trash bin.

They walked down the steps, one after the other.

While waiting for the light to turn green, Rhys subconsciously glanced toward the stadium.

The stands were empty. There was no one there.

A hollow feeling echoed in his chest.

The light turned green. He twisted the throttle and sped away from the intersection.

...

Back in the car, Clara remained very quiet.

Revisiting the old haunts hadn't been as unbearable as she had imagined.

The lingering regrets that had kept her tossing and turning through countless nights seemed, in retrospect, not so momentous after all.

She just felt a little heartache for the girl who used to sit on the stone steps, heart full of hope, waiting for someone.

[Unknown, I got yelled at by my boss today. I cried for so long. I'm so tired. I miss my mom. I just want to go home.]

[I bought a bubble tea and dropped it before I even took a sip. The whole world is against me.]

Clara read them one by one. Suddenly, she felt that the pain she had experienced wasn't so unique after all.

Everyone was navigating their own trials in their own lives.

She was no different.

Just then, her screen lit up with a notification.

It was a message from Daniel Reed.

[Miss Bridges, the cooling-off period expires in ten days. According to regulations, both parties must appear at City Hall within thirty days after expiration to apply for the divorce decree. I suggest handling it on the very day it expires. Should I schedule a time for you and Mr. Huntington?]

Only ten days left.

Finally, the end was in sight.

Clara typed back: [Yes. As soon as possible. You notify him.]