The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 363

A short while later, there was a knock on the door of the observation room, and Rhys's eyes shot open.

Clara pushed the door open, holding a few payment slips. Her expression wasn't great, but she didn't look like she was about to leave immediately.

Rhys stared at her, forgetting to breathe.

She hadn't left.

He was suddenly grateful for this timely fever. At least it could keep her here a little longer.

Mia, sensing the mood, stood up tactfully. "Well... Rhys hasn't eaten anything yet, and you must be hungry too, Clara. I'll go get you both something to eat. Could you please keep an eye on him for me? I'll be right back."

Without waiting for Clara's reply, Mia grabbed her bag and hurried out, pulling the door closed behind her.

The room fell silent.

Clara stood at the foot of the bed.

"I spoke with the doctor. It's best if you stay in the hospital for a couple of days for observation."

She placed the slips on the small table at the end of the bed. "An orderly will be here soon to take you to the respiratory ward. I've booked a VIP room for you and paid the deposit."

"Remember to transfer the money back to me later," Clara added. "I don't do charity."

"How much?"

"Sixty-five thousand in total. You'll get a refund if there's any left over, and you'll have to cover the difference if it's not enough."

Rhys was silent for two seconds. "I don't have any money."

Clara stared at him, almost laughing in disbelief. "Rhys, let's not even talk about the Huntington family. You're the deputy chief of the Brighton City Special Police Unit, and you're telling me you can't even come up with sixty-five thousand?"

Rhys turned his head away. "I really don't have any money."

"I transferred all my assets to Daniel to manage. All I have is my salary, and I spent it all on toys for Felix a couple of days ago."

"You—"

She thought back to the will Daniel had shown her in the study. At the time, she thought he was insane, never imagining he would actually leave himself penniless.

He wasn't dead, but he was broke.

He turned his head, his gaze refocusing on her, filled with a confusion she had never seen before.

"I really don't think I know how to love someone. My therapist said it's probably because... I never saw what normal love looked like growing up."

Clara's fingers curled on her knee.

"I was only thirteen when my father died, and Veronica West was already calculating the inheritance. When I went to live with the Huntington family, no one cared who I was or if I was grieving. They just gave me money, thinking that as long as they gave me enough, they had fulfilled their duty."

"So I always believed that money was the only real thing. Feelings change, people leave, but if I give you money, give you security, make your life comfortable... that's something that can't be taken away."

Clara listened, her expression unreadable.

She knew Rhys's childhood had been unhappy, but she had heard it from Mia and Daniel.

Hearing it from the man himself was a different experience entirely.

He grew up in an environment where everything was measured in money, so the only way he learned to measure love was with money.

"So?" Clara asked coolly. "You think that giving me eighty million afterward and writing up a will makes up for all those years? You think that was your love for me?"