The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 434

She looked at Veronica West without a hint of anger.

"Fine." She nodded. "I'll take this slap. Consider it payback for the one you gave Clara."

Veronica West's hand froze in mid-air.

The slap she had given Clara had been for being disrespectful, for speaking rudely to Eric in front of her.

At the time, Rhys was still protective of Margot, so she had delivered the slap without hesitation, feeling completely justified.

Now, hearing Margot say "payback for the one you gave Clara," Veronica West lowered her hand, saying nothing more.

Meeting Margot's eyes, an inexplicable chill ran down her spine.

-

The red light above the emergency room door went out.

The low conversations in the hallway ceased one by one as people gathered toward the door. Eric stood at the edge of the crowd, his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the same spot.

Several doctors emerged, removing their masks, followed by a hospital bed laden with tubes and machines.

Mia stood up, but her legs gave out, and she stumbled forward.

Rhys, with lightning reflexes, caught her arm, watching as his aunt Mia clung to the bed's guardrail, tears splashing onto the sheets.

"Dad," Mia sobbed.

The department head stood by the bed, looked at Mia slumped over, then at the silently standing Rhys, and let out a long sigh.

"Ms. Huntington, his body is no longer accepting the IV fluids. Keeping him on the machines is just prolonging things, and the old man is suffering. It's time to let him go. Let him pass peacefully."

Mia's body sagged further.

Rhys tightened his grip, propping her up, the veins standing out on the back of his hand. A sharp pain shot through his chest, and he couldn't tell if it was his heart or his lungs aching.

A nurse approached with several consent forms and documents. Seeing Mia's state, she stood by, pen in hand, afraid to speak.

Rhys patted Mia's back and urged her gently, "Aunt Mia, you need to sign."

Mia closed her eyes and took several deep, shuddering breaths. With a trembling hand, she took the pen and managed to sign her name on the forms.

After signing, she said, "Rhys, get my phone. Call your uncle and your brother. Tell them to come back to the hospital immediately. To say… their final goodbyes."

Rhys nodded, took out Mia's phone, and dialed Mason's number.

In the few seconds it took for the call to connect, he glanced down at his own phone, which had just lit up in his pocket.

"Will Dad really be home for dinner tonight?" Felix asked.

Clara wasn't entirely sure herself.

Given the situation, the old man could pass away at any moment. Even if Rhys came back, he'd likely have to leave again immediately. With the snow, it was more trouble than it was worth to go back and forth.

But…

He said he would come back.

"Yes," Clara said. "He promised."

In the past, nine out of ten of Rhys's promises were broken due to some unforeseen circumstance.

But this time, Clara had no doubt.

She just believed that no matter how late it was, he would walk through their door.

Felix swung his legs happily.

"Then when we get home, I'll find his slippers and put them by the door. So he can put them on as soon as he comes in."