The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 555

The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor violently dragged Rhys's consciousness back from the suffocating darkness.

His vision was an obscure blur of harsh white light, taking several long seconds to finally snap into focus.

"He's awake! Look, he's awake!"

Rhys turned his head, his gaze colliding with Clara's bloodshot, tear-filled eyes.

It was already the next morning.

Clara hadn't slept a wink, keeping a relentless vigil by his bedside.

She wasn't the only one; Daniel and Alex were there too, and Simon had point-blank refused to leave, completely ignoring his agonizing shoulder injury.

In the waiting room, Clara's dad, Clara's mom, and Mia were all anxiously keeping watch.

Rhys tried to shift his weight and realized an oxygen mask was strapped over his face. He reached up to rip it off, but Clara caught his hand mid-air.

"Don't move. The doctor said your oxygen levels plummeted. You need to keep it on."

Behind the thick plastic, Rhys's breathing was painfully heavy.

He squeezed her hand, brushing his thumb reassuringly over her knuckles, his eyes asking the silent question.

"Do you have any idea how bad you scared us?" Simon finally exploded, stepping forward with an utterly exasperated expression. "You risked your life over a bunch of thugs? The doctor said you just pushed your body way past its absolute limit, and the adrenaline crash caused you to pass out. You're fine, you just need to rest and recover."

Daniel spoke up seamlessly. "As for those men, I'll be submitting additional legal filings on behalf of Star-Walker Media. Racketeering, aggravated assault, and property damage—they're looking at a minimum of five years behind bars. Don't worry about the outside world. Just focus on healing."

Hearing the commotion, the three elders hurried into the room, surrounding his bed and taking turns offering words of comfort.

They only shared the good news, carefully burying their darkest fears.

But Rhys knew his own body better than anyone.

He managed a faint, bittersweet smile, his voice muffled and thick through the oxygen mask.

"Where's Felix?"

"He doesn't know you're in the hospital." Clara leaned down, her lips brushing softly against his ear. "Emily took him to her place. She told him you were on a top-secret mission and wouldn't be back for a couple of days. He's been incredibly brave. You don't need to worry."

Knowing Felix was safe and happy, the last trace of anxiety finally melted from Rhys's eyes.

He closed his eyes and nodded softly.

Veronica was thoroughly accustomed to his icy demeanor, and she certainly hadn't come here to play the role of the devoted mother.

"I know you still blame me." Veronica softened her tone, pivoting seamlessly to her real agenda. "But Rhys, the family is in absolute ruin, and Margot is... Margot is fighting for her life. I'm completely out of options. I can't even afford her hospital bills anymore. No matter how much you hate me, I am still the woman who brought you into this world. Blood is thicker than water. You can't just watch your own mother end up homeless on the streets, can you?"

She paused, casting a dismissive glance at Clara, who remained deadly silent, before pressing on.

"I'm not asking for much. You have so many connections at the precinct, and you're close to Chief Sean. Just put in a good word with the investigation team, or... just give me enough cash to tide me over for now. Once Eric's case is cleared up, I promise I'll pay you back every single cent."

Clara felt a vicious stab of pain in her chest.

Her son had barely survived a devastating collapse, confined to a hospital bed with an oxygen mask strapped to his face, yet all she cared about was begging for money and favors for a criminal.

Clara was already operating on the razor's edge of a breakdown, but now, pure, unadulterated fury flooded her veins, leaving her extremities completely numb.

"Veronica! You get the hell—" Clara released Rhys's hand and shot to her feet, pointing furiously at the door.

But before the words 'out' could leave her lips, someone grabbed her wrist and pulled her firmly backward.

Clara stumbled slightly, spinning around to see her mom stepping resolutely into the fray.