The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 498

But if you looked closely, you could see that the old, deep-seated ache in his soul had been washed away with his tears.

The rest of the late-night vigil was even more relaxed and harmonious than before.

When Simon and Alex returned from the balcony, they acted as if nothing had happened, taking Felix downstairs to play with some small sparklers they had bought.

Clara's parents went to the kitchen to cook the holiday dumplings.

Clara and Rhys stood on the balcony, watching the scene below. Sparklers flashed against the dark, snow-covered ground.

A little red ball of energy—Felix—bounced around with a sparkler in his hand. Simon chased after him, yelling, “Don’t run! You’ll fall!” before promptly slipping on a patch of ice himself. Alex tried to help him up, and they both ended up on the ground.

It was noisy. It was chaotic.

It was wonderful.

“Feeling better?”

Clara asked without looking at him, her eyes still on the scene below.

Rhys nodded. “Yeah. I think I’ve used up my lifetime quota for embarrassment today.”

“No one’s going to laugh at you,” Clara said. “Rhys, Felix is a lot like you. He can be very stubborn. When he gives something away, he never takes it back.”

She spoke slowly and deliberately. “Since you’ve accepted his luck, you need to use it well from now on. No more pessimistic talk, and no more thinking you’re unworthy of being loved. Do you hear me?”

Rhys stared at her, that familiar ache of poignant emotion swelling in his chest once more.

-

Before long, the trio from downstairs returned.

“It’s started snowing again. Good thing we only played for a little while, or we’d have frozen into popsicles,” Simon said, rubbing his hands together while hurrying Alex to help Felix out of his snow-dusted jacket.

Clara's dad emerged from the kitchen with a platter of freshly boiled dumplings, calling out to everyone, “Come on, come on! I timed them perfectly. It’s past midnight—time for dumplings!”

The table was lively once again.

Felix clamored for the “lucky dumpling” with the coin inside, only for Rhys to bite into it himself.

A soft *clink* was heard.

The little boy’s eyes went wide.

“Daddy’s luck is here!”

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