The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 287

Clara spun around, staring at the small figure in disbelief.

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody told me. I can see it," Felix said. "I frown a lot, and so does he. When he thinks about things, he purses his lips, just like I do. I don't eat cilantro, and neither does he."

He pointed to the drawing on the floor. "Daddy Noah is great, but I don't look like Daddy Noah."

"Felix!" Clara snapped sharply. "Stop talking nonsense!"

The sudden outburst startled Felix, making him jump. His marker clattered to the floor.

"Clara!" Simon rushed forward, breaking into a sweat, and quickly covered Felix's mouth. "Clara, he's just watching too much TV and letting his imagination run wild. Don't take it to heart."

He pulled Felix behind him as he spoke. "Little buddy, what are you babbling about? There are tons of people in the world who look alike! Just look at all those celebrity doppelgangers!"

Clara stood frozen, her entire body running cold.

She thought she had hidden her secret flawlessly. If no one brought it up, it would just rot in the dark.

But bloodlines were stubborn. They hid deep in the bones, in the slant of an eyebrow, in a shared frown, in the exact same picky eating habits.

She could guard against outsiders.

But she couldn't guard against her own child's intuition.

"Clean up these things on the floor," Clara forced the words through her tight throat. "I don't ever want to hear such ridiculous ideas again."

"But Mommy..." Felix started.

"I said clean it up!" Clara interrupted. "Then go upstairs to bed immediately!"

With that, she turned and hurried up the stairs.

Watching her retreating back, Simon glanced at the crumpled card in the trash can, let out a long sigh, and removed his hand from Felix's mouth.

He crouched down and tapped the little guy's forehead. "You're usually such a smart kid. Why are you running right into the line of fire today? Don't you know your mom's temper?"

"...Some things aren't as simple as good or bad," Simon finally said, picking Felix up from the floor. "Just remember, you made your mom really upset today, so be on your best behavior for the next couple of days."

Resting his chin on Simon's shoulder, Felix looked at the trash can and nodded.

The bedroom light was off, and the door was left slightly ajar. Clara lay on her side, her back to the door, her eyes wide open as she stared blankly into the dark.

She could faintly hear Simon coaxing Felix, followed by the soft padding of slippers on the stairs, until everything faded into silence.

A short while later, there were two soft knocks on the door. Simon quietly walked to the bedside with a mug of warm milk and set it on the nightstand.

"Still awake?" Simon sat on the edge of the bed.

"I can't sleep," Clara murmured.

Simon sighed helplessly. "Clara, you overreacted."

She rolled over to face him. "Then what was I supposed to do? Let him send an invitation to Rhys?"