The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 52

"I said, 'Clara is insecure. Buy her something expensive and she'll stop making a fuss.'"

Margot tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Rhys thought it made sense, so he bought it for you. So you see, he's treating you so well because he's listening to my advice."

Clara found it laughable. Did she think everyone was an idiot?

She didn't indulge her. "Your advice changes pretty quickly then. One second you're saying he abandoned his principles for me, and the next you're claiming you suggested it?"

"Can Rhys even keep up with how fast you flip-flop?"

The smile on Margot's face stiffened. "Auntie and the others are here. If they found out Rhys listens to me, you'd lose face, Clara."

Clara couldn't be bothered to waste her breath. "Fine. Whatever you say."

Seeing that she wouldn't take the bait, Margot stroked the tin box in her arms again.

"Also, Rhys just told me that it's not safe to keep this box in your room. He was afraid it would be rummaged through. So, he specifically asked me to take it away for safekeeping."

"After all, inside are our most precious memories from growing up. If an outsider damaged them, he'd be heartbroken."

Clara's eyes darkened.

So that's what they were whispering about earlier.

Just a few photos, yet he treasured them so much he was terrified she might see them.

Clara kept her expression blank, looking straight at Margot.

"Is that so? Then you'd better keep them safe. After all, that junk is just waste product to me. If you didn't take it, I would have had to go to the trouble of sorting it for recycling."

Margot froze.

In the past, Clara would have exploded by now. She would have gone to question Rhys or tried to snatch the box.

"Clara, how can you say that? Rhys would be angry if he heard you."

"Do I care if he's angry? He can go to hell."

Clara scoffed, walked right past her, and placed her hand on the bedroom door handle.

Before pushing the door open, she glanced back at Margot, who was still hugging the box.

"Actually, I don't want Rhys anymore either. If you really like picking up trash, take him away soon. Be quick about it, don't drag your feet."

Clara analyzed the sentence word by word and felt like she was being insulted too.

[Watch your mouth.]

For the next two days, Rhys really didn't show up much.

Not even a phone call. Only the occasional text at night asking "Asleep?" and then nothing else, like he was clocking in for a shift.

Clara didn't reply.

During the day, Mason and Liam went to the company, and Wendy had her own social circle of wealthy wives. Basically, only Old Mr. Huntington and Mia were at home.

Aside from Mia occasionally expressing concern, the servants were polite to her, treating her like a guest.

Early on the third day, Simon finished his location shoot, returned to Brighton City, and called her out for a meal.

Clara agreed, planning to stop by the hospital to get some medicine on the way.

She knew very well that stress-induced gastritis was, simply put, an emotional illness.

Heart sickness requires heart medicine, but unfortunately, she didn't have a specific cure.