The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 24

Approaching Christmas, the mall was crowded, decorated everywhere with festive cheer.

Clara wandered aimlessly until her footsteps paused as she passed a baby store.

In the display window sat a pair of little knitted booties, exquisitely made and adorably clumsy-looking.

If it were before, she definitely would have excitedly bought them, hoarding them even if she wasn't pregnant yet.

Now, she only felt the stitched eyes on the shoes were staring at her terrifyingly.

"Clara?"

A tentative female voice came from behind.

Clara turned to see several girls looking her over.

The leader was Emily Lane. Her family was in the building materials business, and she had always loved to compete with Clara.

Just because the upperclassman Emily had a crush on had written a love letter to Clara—even though Clara hadn't accepted it—the grudge was set.

"Wow, it really is you!"

Emily walked over, sweeping her gaze up and down Clara.

"I thought it looked like you from the back. How come you're shopping alone? Your precious Rhys isn't with you?"

Clara nodded faintly. "He's busy."

"Right, he's a cop. Serving the people. Where would he find the time to accompany his wife?"

Emily covered her mouth and laughed. "But he's a little too busy. Helping people in the heavy snow two days ago... it's truly touching."

Clara frowned. "What do you mean?"

Emily exaggeratedly widened her eyes. "Huh? You haven't seen the news? Oh my god, Clara, is your internet down? It's been blowing up the local Brighton City trending topics for two days!"

As she spoke, she pulled out her phone, swiped a couple of times, and shoved it right in front of Clara.

"Look. 'Brighton City's Most Handsome Traffic Cop Saves Beauty in Snow.' That headline, tsk tsk, so romantic."

Clara lowered her eyes.

On the screen was a photo.

The background was a dim sky filled with swirling snow.

Rhys was wearing his uniform, snow settled on his shoulders, holding a woman horizontally in his arms as he strode toward a police cruiser parked on the roadside.

Although the woman's face wasn't clearly visible, the slender wrist exposed to the air wore a bracelet.

The girls around her chimed in, all waiting to see the drama unfold.

Everyone knew Clara had chased Rhys relentlessly back in the day, causing quite a stir, only to end up married to a block of ice that wouldn't melt.

Clara felt the blood in her body flowing backward, her hands and feet turning ice cold.

When he held her in bed this morning, vowing "there's nothing between her and me," had he just put that woman down from his arms?

"It is quite touching."

Clara smiled. "As his wife, I'm proud of him. After all, saving lives is a police officer's duty. Even if it were a pig collapsed on the roadside, he'd have to carry it into the car and drive it to the vet, right?"

Emily choked on her words, her expression awkward. "...You're really generous."

"What choice do I have but to be generous?"

Clara adjusted the collar of her coat, her eyes turning colder. "I can't exactly hold a grudge against a pig. You guys enjoy your shopping; I have something to do. Goodbye."

With that, she turned and left.

Emily called out to her again, but she ignored it.

It wasn't until she turned the corner and entered the deserted emergency stairwell that Clara leaned against the wall and slowly slid down to the floor.