The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 300

"Yes, a real coincidence," Clara said, picking up another glass to polish. "Tell me, how did we just happen to run into him yesterday, of all days?"

Felix didn't understand the adults' riddles. He ran to Noah and tugged on his pants. "Daddy Noah, Orange just meowed. Does that mean it's time for his milk?"

"Okay, I'll go feed him." Noah bent down to pick up the cat and ruffled Felix's hair. "You go get his bottle."

Watching Noah go into the kitchen, Emily sidled up to Clara and whispered, "Isn't Noah mad?"

Clara glanced at his back in the kitchen. "Don't be ridiculous. He was the one who brought him back."

"I'm not being ridiculous," Emily pouted. "Your ex-husband was literally in your house. Any man would be furious."

"He wasn't 'in the house'," Clara corrected her. "It was first aid."

"Fine, fine, first aid." Emily didn't want to argue, lest she dig herself into a deeper hole. "So, was he badly hurt?"

"I don't know. Not enough to kill him, anyway."

Just as she finished speaking, Daniel's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and frowned slightly.

Clara and Emily were right next to him, and a quick glance down revealed the contact name.

Rhys.

Emily held her breath.

Daniel felt a chill on the back of his neck from the two women staring at him. He couldn't exactly decline the call, so he picked it up and, for good measure, put it on speaker.

"Hello, is this Daniel?" a strange woman's voice asked.

"This is he."

"This is the emergency department at St. Anne's Hospital in Heron Bay. Do you know the owner of this phone, Rhys?"

Everyone in the room froze.

"...Yes, I do. What's wrong?"

"Well, he just fainted in the infusion lounge. He's running a high fever, 103.3, and has an anaerobic infection. You're the only emergency contact in his phone. We need you to come down as soon as possible to complete some paperwork. We need a family member's signature to authorize his medication."

Clara's eyes were downcast.

Last night, he'd looked weak, but he was still conscious, still able to bargain with her to stay. He'd even left a note with perfectly steady handwriting this morning.

How could he have fainted in less than half a day?

Daniel, watching Clara's expression, asked the phone, "Where is he now?"

"On a gurney in the ER hallway. It's packed today, no beds available. Please hurry, his fever's so high he's delirious."

As he spoke, he started toward the entryway. "I'll go. I know the specifics of his injury, so it'll be easier for me to talk to the doctors. I can probably get him fast-tracked, too."

"No, don't."

Two voices spoke at once.

One was Daniel's, the other was Clara's.

The two of them exchanged a glance before Clara turned to Noah. "You're a pediatrician. This is a traumatic infection. It's not your specialty."

She was incredibly frustrated.

It was like she'd finally hauled a heavy bag of trash to the curb, only for it to split open and spill its filth all over the driveway.

How could he be so much trouble?

Noah's eyes darkened slightly, and he put down his car keys.

"Okay, whatever you say. I won't go. I'll stay here with you and Felix."

Daniel didn't say another word and hurried out, leaving Emily feeling like she was sitting on pins and needles.

To make matters worse, Clara was ignoring her, just polishing a glass that was already gleaming, which only made Emily more uncomfortable.