The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 427

At the hospital, the three of them walked side by side toward the inpatient building.

Mia was still sitting on the bench in the same position as when he had left, looking utterly haggard.

Hearing the sound from the elevators, Mia looked up.

Her eyes focused briefly when she saw Rhys return, then shifted to Clara, who was standing beside him holding a child's hand.

Mia froze, momentarily forgetting to even wipe her tears, staring blankly as the family of three walked down the long corridor toward her.

Clara stopped in front of the bench, looked down at Felix, and gave her son's little hand a squeeze.

Felix looked up, his voice clear and sweet. "Ms. Mia, I came to see you."

Mia stood up and touched Felix's face, taking a long moment to respond. "Oh, sweet boy. Is it snowing outside? Was it cold on the way here?"

"It wasn't cold. Daddy held me the whole time. It was very warm," Felix answered obediently.

Mia's eyes welled up with tears again. She looked at Clara, her gaze filled with a complex mix of apology and gratitude.

Clara's expression was calm. She took an unopened pack of tissues from her purse and handed it over.

"Aunt Mia," she said softly. "We'll wait with you."

Mia took the tissues and nodded, unable to hold back her sobs.

Rhys watched as Clara led Felix to a waiting chair on the other side of the corridor. Mia's attention was largely diverted by the child, and her frayed emotions finally found a moment of respite.

He looked away and walked toward the on-call doctor's office.

The doctor's explanation was tactful, but the message was clear: the old man's time was up. It would be tonight or the next. The family needed to stay close and be prepared to make the final arrangements.

Clara watched the office door from a distance, a strange feeling in her heart.

She had hated the Huntington family, yet the thought of the old man soon being reduced to a handful of ashes stirred a flicker of compassion.

"Our last meeting was so rushed, I didn't have a chance to prepare a gift. I've been carrying this with me ever since, thinking that if I ever saw you again, I would have to put it on Felix myself."

Mia asked the child for his permission. "Can Ms. Mia put this on you?"

Felix looked back at Clara.

Clara watched from the side, her gaze lingering on the bracelet for a moment. Her lips moved, but in the end, she didn't stop it.

"What do you say when an elder gives you something?"

"Thank you, Ms. Mia." Felix obediently bowed his head, allowing Mia to tie the bracelet around his wrist.

Mia touched the bracelet and sighed.

"Our Felix... you must always be safe and sound."

The tender moment was short-lived. A sudden clamor of footsteps echoed from the elevators.