The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 361

Noah stood apart from the crowd, his fingers gripping the patient chart tightly.

"What are you doing here?"

He took a couple of steps closer, his gaze falling on her slightly pale face. "Are you not feeling well?"

"It's not me." Clara averted her eyes, fixing her stare on a button on his white coat. She spoke with difficulty, "It's Rhys."

Noah just looked at her.

Clara forced herself to continue. "He has a fever, a really high one. It just so happened... he was at my place, so I brought him here."

The words sounded so flimsy that even she didn't believe them.

Just happened to be there?

If they were just friends, maybe. If he were a stranger, it could be a coincidence.

But this was Rhys.

And if it was just a coincidence, why hadn't she said anything when Noah texted her earlier?

The phrase "it just so happened" couldn't hide the chain of events, nor could it conceal the softness in her heart.

Noah didn't press her, simply nodding. "Is it serious? Do you need me to put in a word with someone?"

"No, that's okay," Clara quickly refused. "He's already been settled in an observation room, and his aunt is with him. You don't need to go to the trouble."

Noah murmured his assent, his eyes dropping to the car keys clutched in her hand.

"So, are you..." he paused, "leaving now?"

The keys were in her hand. The patient's family was already here. From any logical standpoint, her part was done.

Should she leave?

Clara glanced toward the observation room, hesitating. That familiar tearing sensation washed over her again.

"I promised him I'd wait... listen to what he has to say before I go."

Even without looking into Noah's eyes, she could feel the warmth in his gaze slowly turning cold.

Noah was silent for a long moment before replying, "Okay."

But the sky wasn't falling.

Her promise was.

A crack formed in Clara's heart, filling her with a bitter ache.

"Noah, I'm sorry."

She kept her head down, her eyes growing hot. Besides "I'm sorry," she didn't know what else to say.

"It was my fault for not managing my work schedule properly."

Noah gently ruffled her hair. "Besides, if you were really cruel enough to leave him on the side of the road to fend for himself, you wouldn't be the Clara I know."

"Clara, go."

He looked her in the eye, his expression earnest. "You two need to clear the air sooner or later. Whether it's to say goodbye, or something else, I want you to have peace of mind, to have a clean slate."

Clara's throat tightened. All she could do was nod.

Noah pulled his hand back and took a step away. "Alright, it's cold in the lobby. You should go inside. I have to go, too. Text me when things have settled down here."