The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 312

"Eric and Logan were high school classmates," Daniel said, his voice devoid of sympathy. "Later, Eric went into politics, and Logan became a police officer."

"Rhys and his father both loved Veronica West, and both were betrayed. In his mind, intimacy probably equals betrayal, and love equals death."

Daniel pushed the file across the desk to Clara.

It was a copy of a psychological evaluation report, one he had previously forced Rhys to undergo using his authority as a lawyer.

"Clara, from a psychological standpoint, he has a severe emotional disorder. You could call it an emotional disability. His ability to perceive and express emotions is far below average. He can't understand normal intimate relationships, nor does he know how to maintain one. Expecting a man who's emotionally crippled to love you back... you were fighting a losing game from the very beginning."

Clara looked down at the report.

The conclusion was written in the summary section, but the words blurred as she read them.

Avoidant attachment. Alexithymia. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

Was this why he was always so distant, so hot and cold?

Clara closed her eyes, and she could almost picture it.

A small boy, curled up inside a closet.

It was truly tragic.

Anyone hearing this would feel heartbroken, would feel sympathy.

But.

Clara opened her eyes, the mist in them clearing as she pushed the file back across the desk.

"So what?"

Daniel paused, taken aback.

"Because he had an unhappy childhood, I deserved what I got?"

"I was supposed to just stand there and watch him say nothing while Veronica West humiliated me and hit me? I was supposed to be abandoned at my own wedding in front of hundreds of guests so he could run to Margot, forced to put on my own ring?"

Her voice trembled.

"Daniel, I was also raised as my parents' treasured daughter. I don't owe the Huntington family anything, and I certainly don't owe Rhys anything. I was with him for five years. Don't you think I knew he had issues? I sensed it, and I tried."

"I tried to understand him. I tried to be patient with him. And what did I get in return?"

Clara let out a cold laugh, her eyes hardening.

"You say he's sick, that he can't love, can't express it. Then why can he love Margot? Why is he at her beck and call the moment she phones? Why would he rather cling to his hatred for Veronica and Eric than spare me a single glance?"

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