The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 607

"I'm not hiding," he sighed, his gaze drifting past Clara to lock onto Felix, who was still running wild on the beach. "I just couldn't handle your little menace anymore."

Clara followed his line of sight.

Felix was holding up a tiny crab he had dug out of the sand, chasing Mateo across the entire stretch of the beach.

"Did Felix give you a hard time?"

Noah shook his head. "Not really a hard time. Has he just been eating really well lately? He's grown so much. When he saw me yesterday, he launched himself straight onto my back and nearly crushed me."

He paused, adding, "And he's gotten so demanding. He kept following me around, asking if I brought him a present. I told him I hadn't unpacked my suitcase yet, but he practically attached himself to my leg."

Clara couldn't help the smile spreading across her face.

The marks some people left on a child's life couldn't simply be overwritten or replaced by someone else.

The affection and reliance Felix had for Noah was different from what he felt for Rhys, and it was never going to change.

"Sorry about that. He's been terribly spoiled lately. I'll have a talk with him when we get back."

Noah cut her off. "Don't. It's perfect just the way it is."

He raised his glass of cider, clinking it gently against Clara's with a soft chime.

"Congratulations, Clara. And congratulations to him, too." Noah looked at her, his eyes crinkling warmly. "The two of you look genuinely happy now."

Clara felt a prickle of heat behind her eyes.

She had worried that Noah might feel awkward, but it seemed he had moved on much further and steadier than she had anticipated.

"Thank you, Noah." Clara tipped her head back for a sip. "Actually, I meant to ask—why didn't that researcher from Zurich come back with you?"

Noah raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you start gossiping?"

"Simon is a terrible influence."

Noah let out a laugh, sidestepping the question completely.

The two of them stood shoulder to shoulder by the water, chatting about trivial, everyday things.

They talked about how Simon was ruthlessly overworking the staff at the company, and how the new interns in Zurich were constantly scrambling around in a panic.

After an indeterminate amount of time, a suit jacket was draped over Clara's shoulders.

Rhys walked up and exchanged a casual greeting with Noah.

"Simon just cracked open a great bottle of wine. Aren't you two going to try some?"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify