The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 50

This was his own home. Why lock the door? Was she guarding against thieves or against him?

He knocked, putting some force behind it. "Open the door."

No answer.

Rhys knocked again, patience wearing thin, his voice deepening. "Clara, stop messing around. I know you're in there. Open up."

Still no movement.

Remembering her frequent stomach pains, Rhys's heart sank, and his expression shifted. Had she passed out in there?

He raised his voice. "Clara! Speak! If you're sick, make a sound!"

Finally, a voice came from behind the panel. "I'm not dead. I want to sleep. Don't annoy me."

Hearing her voice, half of Rhys's anxiety vanished.

"Why lock the door to sleep? This is my room." Rhys suppressed his anger. "Open the door. I have something to say to you."

Inside, Clara sat on the bed, her eyes red. What was there to say? It would just be the same recycled lines: "Don't overthink it," "Stop making a scene," "Be more mature."

"I don't want to hear it," Clara said flatly. "Captain Huntington, if you have energy to burn, go downstairs and play chess with your sweetheart. Don't waste time here."

"Clara!"

Rhys was truly angry. He had endured Grandfather's displeasure to defend her, and this was how she repaid him—hiding upstairs and giving him attitude.

"Open the door. I'm counting to three, or I'm kicking it down."

If he really kicked the door down, the noise would alert the entire Huntington household.

Clara reluctantly opened the door. "What are you doing, hunting down a fugitive? If I took a second longer, were you gonna slap me with an obstruction of justice charge?"

Rhys looked her up and down carefully. After confirming she wasn't ill, he stepped into the room and kicked the door shut behind him. He grabbed Clara's wrist and pinned her against the wall behind the door.

"You hit me, you scolded me. Why are you still not over it?"

"I can't get over it," Clara said. "Looking at you makes me angry."

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