The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 79

Rhys's gaze lingered on Clara's face for only two seconds before being interrupted by the butler announcing dinner.

Clara didn't look at him again. She stood up, holding onto Mia's arm, and walked toward the dining room.

The Huntington family's dining hall was large; a round mahogany table could easily seat twenty people.

At a family banquet like this, the seating arrangement was strict.

Old Mr. Huntington sat at the head. To his left was the seat of Rhys's late father, which was left empty every year. Next were Veronica West and Rhys.

Clara was supposed to sit next to Rhys.

She walked to the chair, but before she could sit down, she saw Margot naturally pull out the chair on Rhys's other side.

That was originally Veronica West's seat. Since Veronica wasn't there, Margot sitting there was barely justifiable.

But she deliberately scooted her chair closer to Rhys, so close that their elbows could almost touch.

Clara lowered her eyes and pulled out her chair to sit.

Rhys glanced sideways at Margot and whispered, "Move over a bit. It's hard for them to serve dishes."

Margot pressed her lips together aggrievedly, inching her chair back half an inch. "I'm afraid of the cold; this side is near the draft."

Rhys said nothing more. He swapped her side plate for a new one simply because the original had a tiny water spot on the rim.

During the meal, the atmosphere seemed lively.

Everyone only gathered like this once a year. Old Mr. Huntington asked the younger generation about their work, but the topic inevitably turned to great-grandchildren.

"Rhys," Old Mr. Huntington put down his fork, his gaze heavy. "You're not getting any younger. No matter how busy work is, you need to pay attention to family matters. When your father was your age, you were already running around all over the place."

Clara focused on her soup, pretending not to hear.

She had heard this same speech so many times over the last two years that she had become completely numb to it.

In the past, she would look at Rhys shyly, waiting for him to bail her out or hoping for his response.

Now, she couldn't care less.

Rhys put down his wine glass, his expression calm. "Don't worry, Grandpa. It's already in the plans."

Alarm bells rang in Clara's mind.

She was all too familiar with Margot's routine.

Sure enough, a distant aunt sitting opposite spoke up: "That's true. With your constitution, you should be wintering in a warm place. Normal people can hardly stand this damp cold in Brighton City."

Margot smiled bitterly. "Yes, the doctor also suggested I go south for the winter. Unfortunately, my dad can't get away, and they're worried about me going alone. If something were to happen..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Clara felt the hand holding hers stiffen for a second.

She turned her head, her gaze piercing toward Rhys.

Just because of one sentence from that woman, he was hesitating about disrupting their couple's trip.

Rhys was indeed weighing it.

He heard the implication in Margot's words and saw her expectation.

The Huntington family had several villas in Sunbay City. The accommodation was spacious. As long as he brought an extra nurse or assistant, it wouldn't affect his time with Clara.