The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 31

The pain in her stomach reached its peak at that moment, draining the color from her face instantly.

Clara lowered her head, staring at the bracelet on her wrist.

So this was what he meant by "I thought it suited you."

Jason, sharp-eyed and engaging his mouth before his brain, pointed right at Clara's wrist and exclaimed, "Hey, Mrs. Huntington! Look at what you're wearing—isn't that the same one Margot posted?"

That one shout drew the attention of the entire table.

"Holy crap, it really is!"

"Captain Huntington is impressive! How much did that cost?"

One of the guys slapped his thigh, thinking he had figured it out. "Margot's must have been a gift from Rhys too, right? Our Captain is all about fairness! Treats everyone the same! Bought one for the wife, so he couldn't forget the little sister!"

"Exactly, exactly! Margot's health isn't great, so Captain Huntington is just doing his part to cheer her up. Mrs. Huntington, you're a lucky woman. If he treats his sister this well, he must treat you even better!"

Clara felt a bitter bile rise in her throat.

She was his wife, while Margot was just a step-sister brought into the family by his mom's remarriage. Yet, in these people's eyes, they could be placed on the same scale.

"Warms you from the inside?"

So, was her gift just a shield to cover up that gift for Margot?

Clara looked at the man beside her.

Rhys's brow was furrowed; he seemed surprised that Margot would post something like that on social media. Sensing Clara's gaze, he turned his head.

Seeing her pale face, Rhys paused, assuming the food was too spicy for her.

"Too hot?"

He got a glass of milk and pushed it toward her. "Drink this. It helps with the spice."

Clara stared at his hand.

He probably thought this wasn't an issue at all. Buying a gift for his sister and picking up one for his wife while he was at it—how normal. What was there to make a fuss about?

A buzz went through the table again. The men exchanged looks that clearly said, "Got it, got it."

Rhys thought of the pink medicine box he had seen in the trash earlier, and his expression darkened.

"Don't guess blindly. She's not."

Zachary looked confused. "Huh? Not pregnant? But why Mrs. Huntington..."

Rhys stood up. "You guys keep eating. I'll go check on her."

Although he knew it wasn't a pregnancy, Clara's distress hadn't looked like an act.

Rhys felt an inexplicable blockage in his chest.

The restroom was at the end of the corridor.

Clara gripped the edge of the communal sink, retching into the drain. Her stomach was empty; aside from the few bites of chicken she hadn't digested yet, nothing came out.