The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 51

Rhys looked so indifferent that Clara wanted to tear him apart.

"It's nothing," Clara softened her voice. "Rhys and I were just messing around. We were playing Truth or Dare and I lost, so I was just talking nonsense."

"Joking about divorce for a game?" Maeve scolded her. "You're married now. You need to have some sense of propriety."

"Yes, yes, yes, my mistake. I'll reflect on it."

After enduring another five minutes of lecturing, Clara finally managed to soothe her mom, promising that they would both come home for dinner in a few days, before finally hanging up.

She tossed her phone onto the bed, utterly speechless.

"Captain Huntington, exactly how old are you? Did you graduate from kindergarten yet? Running to mommy to tattle... do you find that amusing?"

"As long as it works."

Rhys grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to sit on his lap. "I can't control you, so I had to let Mom do it."

Caught off guard, Clara rested a hand on his shoulder and glared at him. "Let go. Why aren't you at Riverside Court? Why come back here?"

He rarely stayed at the Huntington estate, and at this time of year, he usually practically lived at the station.

Rhys lowered his head and kissed the corner of her lips.

"You're here. If I don't come back, where should I go?"

Clara's heart raced again.

The hand on his shoulder moved to loosely embrace his neck. She didn't speak.

Even though she had decided to give up, hearing words like that made her heart race.

She knew it was just a manipulation tactic—a slap in the face followed by a kiss on the cheek—but she fell for it every time.

It was pathetic.

Rhys smiled and patted her lower back.

"There's a meeting at the station this afternoon, so I'll leave after lunch. Be good at home. Don't make Grandpa angry, and don't pick fights with Margot."

Her body, which had begun to soften, went stiff before relaxing again.

No wonder he was suddenly hugging, kissing, and whispering sweet nothings.

It wasn't that he missed her; it was that he was afraid she would bully his sweetheart while he was gone.

"If you're so worried I'll bully her, just send her back. It's not far from your station anyway."

"Clara."

Clara stood up from his lap. "Understood. As long as she doesn't provoke me, I promise to treat her she doesn't exist. Happy now?"

Rhys frowned slightly but didn't say anything more.

Rhys looked back at her, his gaze softening when it touched her quiet features.

"I'm going."

"Mm." Clara waved. "Be careful on the road. Stay safe."

The front door closed. Clara turned to go upstairs and saw Margot standing at the end of the hallway, clutching that tin biscuit box.

She had come out of their bedroom.

Clara stood still.

Margot saw her and put on a smile of perfect, practiced innocence.

"Clara, Rhys really loves you. That diamond ring is so expensive—millions of dollars—and he bought it for you without blinking an eye."

Clara replied coldly, "What else? Does he love you? It's only right that I spend his money."

Margot walked over, hugging the box. "Do you know why he agreed to buy you that ring?"

Clara didn't want to hear it and lifted her foot to leave.

"Because I taught him to."

Margot blocked her path. "After you two left, I texted Rhys. I told him that women just need a little coaxing."