The Officer's Runaway Wife & Secret Son novel Chapter 81

Wendy snubbed out her half-smoked cigarette and turned to look at Clara.

Clara wasn't wearing much. The wind was biting, yet she didn't seem to cringe away from it, staring blankly at the fireworks display.

Wendy pulled her fur shawl tighter around herself, a complicated mix of emotions bubbling in her chest.

She was a daughter of the Murray family, and her marriage to Liam had been a business transaction settled long ago between their two houses. Since childhood, she had been taught that the most important thing for a wife in their circle was to keep up appearances.

If her husband had affairs, she had to learn to turn a blind eye. If her in-laws made snide remarks, she had to learn to meet them with a smile.

But Clara was different.

Not everyone had the backbone to show their temper in this family, but Clara dared to.

Even though Liam treated Wendy reasonably well and her mother-in-law, Mia, was faultless, Wendy still envied Clara. And she felt exhausted for her.

"Aren't you cold? Why don't we go inside?" Wendy couldn't stand the chill anymore and tried to persuade her.

Clara replied softly, "I'll stay a bit longer. It's stuffy inside."

"Stuffy is better than freezing," Wendy sighed. "I know you're upset, but it's Christmas Eve. The old patriarch is still here; we have to maintain appearances."

Clara shrugged. "It's only out of respect for Grandfather that I'm still here. Otherwise, I'd be home asleep by now."

Just then, a tall young man emerged from the group of youngsters nearby.

He was wearing a short black down jacket and holding a bunch of sparklers. The firelight danced on his youthful, energetic face; he looked to be just over twenty.

Wendy watched from the side and didn't intervene.

The scene was actually quite pleasing to the eye. Clara, in her red hooded sweater, stood out vividly against the snow. Ezra was tall and handsome, and they were about the same age. Seeing them talking together looked far more natural than the couple over on the other side.

Ezra was young and spirited, used to Western directness. He didn't have complicated motives; he just saw his cousin's wife looked beautiful and pitiable standing there alone, so he came over to chat.

Clara looked down at the fading sparks in her hand and forced a faint smile. "He's busy being a dutiful grandson. I'm happy for the peace and quiet."

"That's no excuse to leave his wife hanging," Ezra said. He tossed the burnt-out wire into a nearby bin, then grinned and pulled an unopened hand warmer from his jacket pocket. "Here, take this. I won it playing games with the kids earlier. I don't use these things, but it's pink and cute—suits you."

It was a popular cartoon character, a pink rabbit that looked soft to the touch.

Clara didn't take it. "Keep it for yourself."