The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 323

Felix was set down. Without another word, Clara led him to the back seat.

In the rearview mirror, she could see the profile of the man in the passenger seat.

Noah had said he was in poor health, but right now, he sat there silently, looking perfectly fine.

Clara averted her gaze, suppressing the nascent urge to ask about his condition.

She couldn't ask. To ask would be to lose.

And Rhys's specialty was offering a sliver of hope, waiting for you to foolishly reach for it, and then smashing it to pieces.

"Mommy, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Clara turned to see her little boy looking guilty, his voice soft and pleading.

She had a good idea of what he was sorry for, but she couldn't bring herself to be angry with him.

"What were you wrong about?" she asked.

Felix pursed his lips, his eyes darting toward the front passenger seat.

"I shouldn't have secretly talked to the police officer last night and asked him to scare the other kid."

The figure in the front seat shifted.

"I went on my own," Rhys explained. "My son was being bullied. It was only right for me to check on him."

Clara cut him off. "I'm talking to my son. I didn't ask you to speak."

Rhys fell silent.

Clara turned back to Felix. "Mommy's not mad. When someone bullies you, it's right to find a police officer."

Felix asked uncertainly, "Really?"

"Really." Clara squeezed his small hand. "As long as it's useful, there's nothing wrong with using him a little."

She put a sharp emphasis on the word "using."

Rhys's hand, resting on his knee, curled into a fist.

A few seconds later, a voice from the front added, "As long as it's useful."

"Did I say I wanted your opinion?" Clara shot back.

Rhys went completely quiet.

Noah held the steering wheel, staying out of the conversation the entire drive home.

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