The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 501

Dinner was completely free of the stifling etiquette usually expected in elite billionaire circles.

Rhys sat beside Clara. Across the table, little Nellie suddenly tossed her spoon onto the floor.

Wendy sighed, preparing to bend down, but Rhys was already on his feet. He scooped up the silverware and took it to the kitchen to rinse off.

When he returned, he easily caught Mateo, who was trying to wriggle out of his high chair, and hoisted the toddler into his arms.

The little boy wasn't shy in the slightest, grabbing Rhys's collar with chubby hands.

Rhys's lips curved into a smile.

He couldn't help but wonder what Felix had been like at this age.

He didn't know.

It's okay, he told himself. I'll be here for every day from now on.

He was just about to tease Mateo when a sudden, uncontrollable tickle flared deep in his throat.

His expression tightened. He swallowed the cough down hard, the veins in his neck bulging from the sheer effort of holding it back.

He refused to ruin the holiday dinner for everyone, and he especially refused to worry Clara.

Setting Mateo back in the chair beside Wendy, Rhys pressed a fist to his mouth and hurried toward the bathroom.

The subtle exit went completely unnoticed by the chatting guests, but nothing escaped Clara's eyes.

Watching Rhys vanish around the corner, Clara set down her fork.

Her heartbeat thudded loudly in her ears.

"I'm going to grab some baby wipes for the kids," she announced.

The others were too engrossed in conversation to pay her any mind.

Clara paused outside the bathroom door. The faucet was running on full blast.

She rested her hand on the knob and hesitated.

It wasn't locked. He had either been in too much of a rush, or the sudden coughing fit had left him no time to secure it.

She pushed the door open.

Rhys was hunched over the sink, still coughing in harsh, ragged fits.

The rushing water washed down the drain, but it wasn't clear. A swirl of pale pink was being flushed away.

At the slight sound behind him, Rhys stiffened. The coughing stopped instantly.

Physical asphyxiation could be managed with medication, but if he hadn't released that emotional suffocation, his mind would have shattered long before his lungs.

Clara stepped up to him, grabbed a washcloth, and ran it under the warm water.

"If you bit your tongue, you need to be more careful next time."

As she spoke, she gently wiped away the faint red smudge lingering on his lips.

She went right along with his terrible excuse, playing her part flawlessly.

Rhys froze the moment she raised her hand, watching her fingers brush against his skin through the cloth.

She didn't ask. She didn't pry. She didn't cry, and she didn't panic.

She just cleaned him up and tossed the pale-stained cloth into the trash can.

"I'll be careful from now on," Rhys agreed softly.

Clara nodded. Once she was sure he looked perfectly normal and his breathing had steadied, she finally said, "Let's go. They're waiting for us."

They headed back to the dining room.

Clara walked up to Wendy, handing over the baby wipes she had grabbed, and even laughed playfully with Mateo, who was finally willing to eat his food.