The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 298

But meeting the child's clear eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say any of those self-serving words. In the end, it all boiled down to a quiet, "Yeah."

"Mom doesn't like you, and I promised her I wouldn't write you any more cards."

Rhys lowered his eyes, his fingers digging into the seam of the sofa cushion.

"What kind of cards did you write?"

"I can't tell you."

"But," Felix changed the subject, taking a small step forward, "Daddy Noah just said that a real man repays his debts."

He pulled something from his pajama pocket and placed it in Rhys's hand. It was the same blueberry gummy candy from before, two of them.

"This is payment for saving Orange's life," Felix said with a serious little face. "And it's also hush money. You can't tell Mom I snuck down here tonight. She'll get mad, and she'll cry."

Rhys stared at the candy, his eyes stinging.

"Okay," he said, his voice a little hoarse. "I accept. Any other demands?"

Felix shook his head and turned to leave.

"Wait..." Rhys called out suddenly.

Felix stopped and looked back at him. The cat in his arms let out a soft meow.

The wall clock ticked past midnight with a soft click. November twentieth was over.

"I know it's a little late," Rhys clenched his fist, using all his strength to keep his voice from trembling, "but still... happy birthday."

He used no name. He didn't know Felix's name, and he couldn't possibly call him "son."

Felix paused, thinking for a moment. "My name is Felix Bridges."

Rhys's heart skipped a beat. He asked tentatively, "How do you spell that?"

Felix furrowed his little brow, stumped.

He had just turned four, after all. The letters were too many and too difficult; he only knew how it sounded, not how to write it.

The little guy suddenly got annoyed, thinking how uneducated this father of his was.

"It's just Felix. How can you be so dumb you can't even spell a name?"

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