The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 379

Clara was spacing out on the balcony when her father's call came through.

A light snow had begun to fall in Brighton City, and the tip of her nose was red from the cold.

Seeing the caller ID, Clara's first thought was that something had happened at home.

"Dad?" she answered, her voice tense with a panic she couldn't hide.

"Ah, Clara."

Her father's familiar, unhurried tone came through the line, instantly steadying Clara's racing heart.

"Dad, why are you calling so late? Is everything okay at home?"

"Everything's fine, nothing ever happens here," her dad chuckled. "It's just that you've been gone for a few days, and your mom and I were talking about you. Have you eaten?"

Clara breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah, I've eaten."

They chatted idly about things back home, and Clara’s grip on her phone gradually tightened.

Listening to her father ramble on about the flowers blooming and how Orange had clawed the curtains, her guilt felt like the snow falling outside, piling up thicker and thicker.

She couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth.

She couldn't say that, out of a sense of compassion, she might have to betray her parents' hopes for her to finally settle down.

"Clara," her dad's tone suddenly shifted, growing more serious. "Simon told us everything."

Clara's mind went blank.

Before she could figure out how to explain, she heard her father ask, "I saw the weather forecast says it's going to snow again in Brighton City. Did you bring enough warm clothes? Are you cold?"

Clara's tears welled up instantly, hot drops falling onto the back of her hand.

"Dad, I…" she began, desperate to explain, to apologize. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hide it from you, I just…"

"Silly girl, what are you apologizing for?" her dad said. "You're our daughter. Your mom and I know what kind of person you are. You're just too soft-hearted. You can't stand to see anyone suffer."

"Dad, I might not… be able to come back for a while," she said, her voice choked with sobs.

Her dad laughed again. "If you can't come back, you can't come back. It's not a big deal. It's not like we're rooted to the spot. If you can't come back to us, we can go to you, can't we?"

"Don't cry," her dad said gently, hearing her sobs. "You're almost thirty, still acting like a child. Felix will laugh at you. Alright, you and Simon can handle the rest of the arrangements."

"…Okay." Clara nodded emphatically, even though he couldn't see. "Okay, I'll be waiting for you."

After hanging up, Clara stood outside for a long time.

Snowflakes melted on her face, mingling with her tears.

The snow in Brighton City always came suddenly, and soon the world was covered in a blanket of white.

Her skin began to ache from the cold. Clara tilted her head back, her breath forming a white cloud in the air.

Even if Rhys was really going to die, even if this path was destined to be filled with the pain of parting, she now had the strength to face whatever came next.

-

The next day at noon, Brighton City Airport.

Clara stood at the arrivals gate, wearing a long black down coat, a mask, and a hat.