The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 47

At Haven Mall, Rhys cut the engine and glanced at the woman in the passenger seat.

Clara was flipping down the visor, using the vanity mirror to touch up her lipstick.

The crimson color spread across her lips. She pressed them together—vibrant and striking.

Before, she only wore subtle, 'man-killer' pinks to appear gentle and submissive. But who was she being gentle for? Better to wear red.

"We're here," Rhys said, unbuckling his seatbelt.

"Mhm." Clara snapped the visor shut and tossed the lipstick into her bag. "Let's go, Captain Huntington. Let's make this quick."

She pushed the door open and stepped out. Rhys watched her retreating figure, his brow furrowing slightly.

Usually, when they went shopping, Clara would cling to him like an accessory. Today, she was walking faster than anyone.

There was a meter of distance between them, making them look like strangers who had carpooled together.

No, even strangers were better than this.

Strangers would at least offer a polite smile. She hadn't given him so much as a glance.

Rhys lengthened his stride, closing the gap in two steps, and reached for her hand.

Clara raised her hand at that exact moment to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, neatly dodging him.

Rhys grabbed empty air, and that familiar irritation surged in his chest again.

They entered the Céris VIP room one after the other.

"Mr. Huntington, Mrs. Huntington, good morning."

The store manager beamed as soon as she saw Rhys.

"Mr. Huntington, you were just here a couple of days ago, and now you're back with your wife. You two are so loving."

Talk about putting your foot in your mouth.

Rhys instinctively looked at Clara.

Although he had explained the bracelet incident, it was still a thorn in her side.

Clara acted as if she hadn't heard a thing. She walked straight to the lounge area, sat down, and tossed her bag aside.

"Bring out the most expensive diamond ring in the store."

The manager paused, then smiled widely. "Of course, Mrs. Huntington. Please wait a moment. Our new collection this season is perfect for you. The symbolism is also—"

If this were the past, Clara would have dismissed it as something a nouveau riche tycoon would buy—gaudy, prone to snagging on clothes, and inconvenient.

She would have chosen a modest, understated style to match Rhys's image as a public servant.

But now, staring at the stone on her finger, all she saw was "Three Million Dollars" waving at her.

"I'll take this one." Clara held up her hand, twisting it under the light. "Does it look good?"

Rhys looked at the massive diamond on her slender finger, his brow tightening.

It was too ostentatious.

It didn't fit her usual aesthetic at all, nor was it practical for daily wear.

"Clara, won't that be inconvenient?" Rhys tried to reason. "I thought you didn't like such flashy styles."

Clara rubbed the ring band, admiring it. "I like flashy now. The bigger it is, the more it shows how much my husband values me, right?"

She tilted her head and smiled at him. "Does it hurt your wallet?"

With the generations of wealth the Huntingtons had accumulated, this amount was a drop in the bucket for him. He cared about her attitude, not the price.

"That's not what I meant," Rhys said. "If you like it, then get it."