The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 288

"Fighting it will only make it worse," Simon told her gently. "Kids have short memories. If you really just treated the guy like a driver, Felix would probably forget him in two months. But by reacting like this, you've just planted it firmly in his mind."

Clara wanted to argue, but she knew Simon was right.

"Alright, don't overthink it," Simon patted her head. "Felix has never really been scolded or spanked in his life. Consider this part of a complete childhood experience."

Clara's nose stung, and she buried her face in her pillow.

Simon didn't say anything more. He stood up, quietly leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

She felt exhausted.

Closing her eyes, her mind was filled with the image of that blue card tossed into the trash and the words Felix had spoken.

A little while later, the door creaked open again. A narrow sliver of light from the hallway sliced into the dark room before disappearing as the door shut softly.

A tiny figure climbed onto the bed in the pitch black, slipped under the covers, and pressed against her back.

Two little hands grabbed the hem of her shirt, tugging it gently.

"Mommy."

Clara's heart tightened. Her eyes pricked with unshed tears, but she clenched her jaw and didn't respond.

Seeing she wasn't reacting, the little bundle scooted closer, pressing his soft cheek against her.

"Mommy, I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't have made you angry. I won't write cards to him anymore, and I won't hide things in my backpack."

Clara's tears spilled over instantly, sliding down the bridge of her nose and soaking into the pillowcase.

"Daddy Simon said you can't blame someone who doesn't know better. But I knew you didn't like that man, and I still wrote to him. That makes it my fault."

He had asked his teacher what 'ex-wife' meant.

The teacher explained that it meant two people who used to live together, like a mom and dad. But then, for whatever reason, they weren't happy anymore. So they separated, lived their own lives, and weren't a family anymore.

And so, Felix understood.

His small hands gripped her shirt a little tighter, gathering his courage to say, "Mommy, I don't think he looks like me anymore. I don't want anyone else."

Like a little adult, Felix leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Don't cry, Mommy. It's fine that you threw it away. He wouldn't have gotten it anyway."

Clara looked at him.

The darkness blurred his features but made those bright eyes shine even clearer.

The more understanding he was, the more guilt suffocated her.

She had always thought she could build a perfect sanctuary for him in Heron Bay, giving him the most flawless home.

But in the end, she was relying on a four-year-old to accommodate her emotional baggage.

"Go to sleep, Mommy."

Felix snuggled back into her arms, patting her back with his small hand, just like she usually did to soothe him. "You'll feel better when you wake up. Daddy Simon said he's taking us sailing tomorrow, and he's going to buy me a Gundam model."

Clara tightened her embrace, closing her swollen, aching eyes.

"Okay," she replied hoarsely. "We'll go buy it tomorrow."