The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 522

Being an ex-husband was better. If he died, she wouldn't have to mourn, collect his ashes, or wear black.

Tears blurred Clara's vision. She pushed him away.

She hit his shoulder. "You jerk!"

She hit his chest. "If you're so afraid, why did you come looking for me!"

She hit him repeatedly, finally gripping his collar, crying and cursing.

"Are you selfish, Rhys? Do you think this makes you a good guy?"

Rhys sat perfectly still, letting her hit and yell. When her voice grew hoarse and broke, turning into pleas, he pulled her back into his arms.

After a while, her sobs quieted.

Rhys kissed the top of her head and murmured.

"Yeah, I don't want to be a 'good guy' anymore."

Clara looked up.

"I changed my mind." Rhys looked at her. "I don't want to leave you a way out."

Not out of duty, not to be a good cop or father, but simply because he wanted to be with her. Selfishly, greedily, leaving no way out.

Clara nodded in a daze and whispered, "Okay."

Rhys smiled warmly. "Then tomorrow morning, come with me to the hospital."

Clara nodded again.

She knew what he was going to do. He was finally willing to take the path he had avoided.

Rhys said, "As long as I meet the criteria, even if the success rate is only fifty percent, even if I might not make it off the operating table, I'll take the gamble."

Clara finally broke into a smile through her tears. Her nose and eyes were red, but Rhys stared at her for a long time, branding the image into his memory.

Just in case.

Just in case the worst happened, he would at least have this memory to take with him.

-

Felix was staying at Oakridge Avenue, so they drove straight back to Riverside Court.

Rhys held Clara's hand the whole way.

It was small and square, fitting perfectly in the palm of his hand.

Clara's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the box.

Rhys paused, his gaze lingering on her.

The oversized shirt hung off her shoulder, revealing the marks he had left on her collarbone and her bare legs. He hadn't seen her like this in a long time since Felix had been around.

He swallowed hard, looked away, and placed the items on the entryway console.

"Weren't we going to the hospital? Why did you go out so early?" Clara asked, pretending not to notice the box, though her eyes kept darting toward it.

Rhys hung up his coat, walked over, and followed her gaze.

He leaned down and kissed her softly, his voice full of amusement.

"Just picking something up."

Rhys tapped the box but didn't open it, giving her a meaningful look.

"Just to ensure a certain stubborn lady doesn't have the chance to reject me when I ask her to remarry me."