The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 604

Clara was dizzy from his chaotic bombardment. "A meeting is a meeting. Why do we need to go to a hotel? Can't we do it at the office?"

Simon waved her off. "We might have to fly out first thing tomorrow to scout locations. Staying near the airport is just more practical!"

Rhys chimed in from the side, "A business trip? Alright, stay safe. I'll take care of Felix and Annie, don't worry."

Clara frowned.

Usually, he'd video call her multiple times just when she went to the office. Now she was going on a trip, and all he had to say was 'Alright'?

But with a major project on the line, she couldn't afford to be careless. Star-Walker Media was in a crucial growth phase, and she couldn't drop the ball now.

That night, Simon locked her in the hotel suite, forcing her to sit through video conferences until the sun came up.

On the screen, a group of foreign executives threw endless corporate jargon at her, clicking through dozens of slides with completely absurd demands.

Clara forced herself to stay perfectly alert, not even pausing for a sip of water.

She barely made it to midnight before the excruciating meeting finally wrapped up.

At this hour, Annie would usually be finishing her late-night feed. Clara collapsed onto the couch and dialed Rhys on a video call.

It rang twice before he picked up.

On the screen, Rhys was wearing his usual slate-blue pajamas, and the background looked like the blank white wall of their guest room.

"Not asleep yet?" Rhys lowered his voice, looking at her through the lens.

Clara rubbed her aching neck and let out a heavy sigh. "The meeting just ended, and I'm practically falling apart. Is Annie asleep? Did Felix give you any trouble?"

"They're both asleep. They were perfect. Go shower and get some rest. Tomorrow... you're going to be busy tomorrow."

Clara's eyelids were drooping. She mumbled a vague agreement and hung up.

She was simply too exhausted to notice that right before the call ended, the supposedly solid white wall behind Rhys rippled softly in the wind.

-

Early the next morning, Clara was dragged out of bed and forced to get ready before she was even fully awake.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to glare at Simon. "Since when does our company have the budget to charter a private jet like this?"

Simon didn't miss a beat. "The luxury brand has the budget! Can you act like a real boss for once? Just get on the plane!"

Clara boarded the plane, utterly suspicious.

They flew smoothly above the clouds for four hours before landing on a nearby tropical island. When the cabin doors opened again, she was hit by a warm, salty ocean breeze.

The ocean was a brilliant blue, the sky completely clear.

Simon dragged her into a vintage convertible.

They drove down the coast for a bit before pulling up in front of The Cliffside Chapel.

She had already taken her coat off on the plane.

Now, with flawless makeup, wearing nothing but a strapless gown, sitting in a car like this, being brought to a place like this...

Clara suddenly got the distinct feeling that she wasn't here to scout a location.