The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 391

The hospital room door swung open, and Rhys scanned the small, fan-shaped area outside. When he confirmed the irksome figure was nowhere in sight, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up before he quickly coughed to cover it up. "You were gone a while buying water," he remarked casually, as if it were nothing. In truth, it hadn't been that long—maybe fifteen minutes at most.

Clara placed a cake on the small table at the foot of the bed, her expression impassive. Neither of them was holding any water, but he didn't dare ask. Instead, his gaze fell on the cake box with a hint of grievance.

Felix, still downcast over Noah's departure, climbed onto the bed and morosely picked at the box. "Daddy Noah is leaving," the little boy mumbled out of the blue, a touch of sadness in his voice. Rhys, who had been leaning against his pillow, sat up straight and looked at Clara. "Leaving?" "He's going to Switzerland," Clara answered for her son. "Next month."

A few seconds of silence filled the room. The man who was perfect in every way—family background, personality, and career—was truly bowing out. He should have been happy. He'd won the bet, and the near-death sense of relief made his fingers tingle. But seeing the redness rimming Clara's eyes and her overly calm demeanor when the subject came up, he couldn't bring himself to be happy. What right did he have to feel happy? He felt an urge to slap himself.

"Clara," Rhys said softly, reaching for her hand. Clara dodged his touch. His hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment before he retracted it, lowering his gaze to the stripes on the bedsheets. "Have you thought about what you'll do after you're discharged?" The topic had come full circle. Rhys answered, "Not yet." "Then keep thinking," Clara said as she started to open the cake box for Felix. "When you've figured it out, you can come and talk to me about the future."

The next day, she brought her parents back to the apartment. She mentioned Noah's move to Switzerland over dinner. After hearing the news, her parents finished their meal in silence, neither of them asking any questions. Some things were just not meant to be. You can't force fate.

Simon, however, had returned to his place at Harbor Point. He claimed he was going to tidy up, but he actually met Noah for drinks. Late that night, reeking of alcohol, Simon knocked on the door of the Oakridge Avenue apartment and handed Clara a jewelry box. "His words, not mine: 'I already bought it, can't return it, and I'm sure as hell not giving it to anyone else. So just tell her to keep it.'"