The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 188

Recently, Clara's mom had been subtly asking Simon about Clara's condition.

Simon, worried the elderly couple would worry themselves sick, only shared a few minor, lighthearted updates. But Clara's mom knew in her heart that the reality was likely much worse.

With her daughter's personality, she wouldn't have done this unless she had been backed into a corner.

It all came down to one thing:

Rhys didn't love Clara. All he cared about was his stepsister.

"How did I not see it? I kept telling Clara to try harder!"

Clara's mom had slapped herself when she realized, and tried to do it again, only to be stopped by Clara's dad and Simon.

She had cried for half the night, remembering how every time Clara came home, she had praised Rhys and told her daughter to be more understanding.

She remembered the time Rhys called to say Clara wanted a divorce. As a mother, she had actually scolded Clara, forcing her daughter to lie and say it was just a joke to calm her down.

She had been blind, and she had helped cause Clara's pain.

Filled with remorse, Clara's mom wanted nothing more than to run downstairs and give Rhys a piece of her mind.

"Don't ruin your health over anger," Clara's dad consoled her. "He's just putting on a show for his own guilty conscience."

"Honey..." Clara's mom hesitated. "Do you think we should tell Clara?"

"Tell her what?"

Clara's dad refused instantly. "Tell her so she can worry more? She finally got away to find some peace. If she knows he's blocking the driveway every day, she'll worry about us getting bullied, and the stress will hurt the baby."

He pulled the blanket up, his tone firm.

"Let him wait. No one is here anyway. Let him guard the empty house as long as he wants. As long as he doesn't break in, we'll treat him like a stone garden gnome. Once the divorce is finalized after the 8th, he won't have any excuse to linger."

"Right, right. We can't let our daughter know."

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