The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 541

Felix cried for a long time.

Only when his sobs faded into quiet hiccups did Clara use the wall for support and slowly stand up.

Rhys leaned against the headboard. Felix lay across his chest, the little boy's face stained with tears and his wet eyelashes clumped together. He had finally cried himself to sleep.

His tiny hands still gripped Rhys's collar tightly, guarding against anyone who might try to tear them apart.

Rhys lifted his gaze to Clara standing in the doorway.

He didn't say a word. Supporting Felix's small body, he silently walked back to the master bedroom.

Clara followed him in. She grabbed a warm washcloth and gently wiped the sweat and tear tracks from her son's face.

Felix crinkled his nose in his sleep.

"I didn't watch him closely enough," Clara said softly.

She had always prided herself on being a good mother. Whenever Felix had growing pains or was teething and couldn't sleep, Clara would hold him and pace the living room until dawn.

During those long nights, she never felt like she was failing.

Her son was smart and well-behaved, and she thought she was giving him a carefree life.

She never imagined this was a condition.

She had wanted to protect him so badly that it backfired, making him feel like he had to use the exact same methods to protect everyone around him.

Rhys stepped up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders.

"It's a good thing he managed to cry it out today. The doctor said this is just an early manifestation of a psychological defense mechanism. We caught it, and we talked it out. From now on, we just need to let him be a normal little kid."

He paused for a moment.

"We have plenty of time."

Clara reached up and squeezed his hand, her grip tighter than usual.

That night, Felix slept between them.

Perhaps it was the exhaustion from the theme park, or perhaps it was because he had finally poured out his deepest fears. Having cried so hard, the little guy slept incredibly soundly, even reining in his usually chaotic sleeping habits.

He didn't kick them horizontally, nor did he roll over and steal all the blankets.

The next morning, Clara woke up to a heavy weight on her chest.

She groggily opened her eyes, only to see Felix lying on top of her. He cupped her face in his hands and planted a huge, wet kiss on her cheek.

"Mom, wake up!"

Clara blinked in surprise and glanced at the clock.

It wasn't even seven yet.

"Alright, caramel toast it is, with as much ketchup as you want. But if you dare roll around on this bed, I'm rolling you up in the blankets and tossing you out the window."

"Mom, save me! Dad is throwing kids away!"

-

Time marched forward. The magnolias downstairs at Riverside Court bloomed, and the weather gradually warmed up.

Rhys left work on time every day, occasionally picking Felix up from school so the three of them could go grocery shopping together.

On weekends, their home was always bustling.

Mia and Wendy Murray frequently brought the twins over to visit Riverside Court.

Felix was always thrilled.

He no longer acted like the "little adult" who had to take care of everyone. Instead, he fully embraced the role of the undisputed leader of the kids.

Mia often remarked that the boy had changed, though she couldn't quite pinpoint how.

One late afternoon in early spring, Emily knocked on the door of Riverside Court looking like her soul had left her body.

"Clara, I'm going to lose my mind."

Emily collapsed onto the sofa the moment she walked in, shoving her phone in Clara's face. "Is Daniel a total psycho? Look at this!"