The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 322

Rhys's eyes narrowed, his tone cold. "Apologize."

It wasn't a negotiation.

Ivan's mother choked on her words, then gritted her teeth and smacked her son on the back. "Hurry up and apologize! How many times have I told you to keep your hands to yourself!"

Startled by the slap, Ivan looked at Felix, sobbing. "I-I'm sorry..."

Felix turned his head away, neither responding nor saying, "It's okay."

His mother had taught him that not all apologies deserve to be forgiven, especially not ones that were forced.

Nearby, a car pulled over.

Clara Bridges had just unbuckled her seatbelt when she saw the crowd at the school gate. They had parted to form a path, and something felt wrong.

She pushed the door open. "Noah Carter, I think something's happened."

Felix had just been in a fight yesterday, and she was worried that the same family was bullying him again.

Noah frowned, and the two of them hurried over.

Through the crowd, Clara's eyes immediately locked onto the tall figure in a black police uniform. He was bending down to scoop Felix off the ground, holding him securely in his arms.

Felix's small hands were wrapped around the man's neck, and he was perched on his shoulder, making a big, goofy face at the chubby, tear-streaked boy.

He looked so unabashed, so proud.

It was a side of Felix that Clara had never seen before.

The kind of swagger that only comes from knowing someone has your back.

"Ah! Mommy's here!"

From his high vantage point, Felix spotted Clara standing frozen at the edge of the crowd and quickly patted the man's shoulder.

Rhys instinctively turned around.

He stood in the light, his uniform immaculate, radiating honor.

Their eyes met.

He looked at Clara, the tenderness in his eyes not yet faded, now tinged with the panic of being caught doing something wrong.

Just half an hour ago, she had been at home, urging Simon Walker to pick up the child.

Noah stood silently half a step behind her.

Rhys didn't dare to move or speak, anxiously wondering if he should put the child down. But Clara just stood there, staring at him with an expression too complex for him to decipher.

"...Mommy!"

Felix called out, a hint of unease in his voice.

Clara took a deep breath, swallowing the accusation that was on the tip of her tongue.

"Since you've got him, let's go home."

With that, she turned and walked back toward the car.

Rhys stood frozen for several seconds before it registered.

She hadn't told him to leave.

An inexplicable wave of relief washed over him, so strong he could hardly believe it.

He hugged the little boy in his arms tighter and whispered, "Okay. We listen to Mommy. Let's go home."