The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 318

Felix didn't eat much at dinner and went to his room early.

Clara had no appetite either. She picked at her food before heading to her study to start her live stream.

She hadn't streamed in days, and her inbox was flooded with questions. To keep her mind off things, she planned to stream until bedtime.

Around ten o'clock, she heard the soft sound of a door opening downstairs. Assuming it was Eloise taking out the trash, she paid it no mind and continued reading messages from her followers.

Outside, a gray car was parked under a tree. Rhys leaned against the door.

He had spent two days in the hospital. The fever had broken, but the doctor wanted him to stay for observation. He had pulled out his own IV and left.

The car was a rental. He first went to the dealership to deal with his car, which had been crushed by a tree. He paid a hefty sum and got a new one. Then he went back to his hotel for a shower, cleaning himself up from head to toe, changing into fresh clothes, and washing the set Simon had lent him.

His first stop was the preschool.

He waited until they were about to lock the gates, but he never saw the little boy.

The security guard told him there had been an incident in the junior class—two kids had fought, and their parents had picked them up early.

Rhys's heart sank. He drove straight to Harbor Loop.

He didn't dare get too close, afraid Clara would see him and give him another cold shoulder, telling him to leave.

He just wanted one look. He planned to leave as soon as the third-floor light went out, but then the small kitchen door of the villa opened.

A tiny figure squeezed through the gap.

Felix was holding the cat, looking around furtively.

When he saw Rhys, his eyes lit up for a second before he quickly composed his face and put a finger to his lips. "Shhh."

Rhys's heart skipped a beat. He hurried over.

Through the iron fence, the streetlight illuminated the scrapes on Felix's arms and legs.

Rhys crouched down. "Who did this to you?" he asked urgently.

Felix didn't answer, his small hand gripping the bars. "I saw you from upstairs. You've been standing here for a long time. Are you feeling better?"

"I'm fine." Rhys wasn't concerned about himself. "Who bullied you?"

He could feel anger rising in him.

He himself barely dared to touch this little boy, yet someone had hurt him like this.

Felix tilted his head.

"A fat kid at preschool. He snatched my Rubik's cube and said mean things."

"What did he say?"

His hand trembled.

"Good," Rhys said, his voice hoarse. "As long as you won. If this ever happens again, don't be scared. If you can win the fight, fight. If you can't, run."

This time, it was Felix's turn to be stunned.

Mommy and Daddy Noah had both told him fighting was wrong. Why was this person different?

"But I think Mommy's a little mad," Felix said, his brow furrowed with worry. "Mommy said fighting is wrong."

"Mommy is right," Rhys said. "But when someone bullies you out there, fighting back is also right. If there's trouble…"

He paused. He wanted to say, 'Daddy will take care of it,' but the words tasted bitter. He changed it to, "I'll take care of it for you."

"What does 'take care of it' mean?"

Rhys thought for a moment. "It means if they want compensation, I'll pay. If they want to argue, I'll do it. If it comes to a fight, I'll be there. Just don't let yourself get hurt next time."

Felix stared at him with wide eyes.

After a moment, the little boy leaned closer, speaking conspiratorially through the fence.

"Then can you do me a favor?"

Rhys was taken aback. "Anything."