The Officer's Runaway Wife and Secret Son novel Chapter 337

Clara couldn't lie to herself anymore.

As long as the answer to "why" remained a mystery, the wound in her heart would continue to fester.

Marrying Noah with that wound would be unfair to him and torture for herself.

There was no true safe harbor in the world. No matter how far she ran, as long as that knot remained in her heart, she would never be free of Rhys's shadow.

Running away would only leave her trapped right where she was.

She hated Rhys, but even more than that, she wanted to know the truth.

She wanted to know what had happened to turn the man who had stayed with her on that snowy night into the unrecognizable bastard he later became.

Clara returned to the inn.

When she checked out, the owner was a little surprised. "Leaving so soon, dear? Not staying a bit longer?"

"No." Clara handed over the key card with a faint smile. "I'm going to settle an old score with someone."

The owner chuckled. "Well, I wish you victory and a safe journey."

Clara dragged her suitcase out the door.

It was still over five hundred miles from Clear Creek to Brighton City.

She was going to find Margot.

If Rhys wouldn't talk, she would ask herself.

Clara drove slowly, stopping three times at service areas to take short naps.

During her last break, she splashed her face with cold water in the restroom, then bought a burger.

A young couple with a child was nearby, bickering over who should go get water. In the end, the husband gave in and walked off with the cup, while the wife leaned down to coo at the baby in the stroller.

It was an ordinary scene, and Clara watched them for a moment.

That used to be Rhys's job.

Whenever they went on road trips, Rhys was always the one in charge of checking the traffic, monitoring the gas, and buying her snacks at the service stops. All she had to do was sit in the passenger seat, eat her snacks, and sleep without a care in the world.

When she woke up, she would always find his jacket—the one he kept just for her—draped over her. A turn of her head, and she would see his profile.

This time when she woke up, she was alone in the car.

It was the next morning by the time she reached the Brighton City tollgate.

The city traffic was heavy. Clara hadn't told anyone she was coming back. She hadn't called Emily Lane, and she certainly hadn't contacted Noah.

"It's Clara."

Margot didn't sound particularly surprised. "Oh, it's you, Clara. I thought I'd never get a call from you in this lifetime."

Clara didn't bother with pleasantries. Her voice was cold. "I'm in Brighton City. Let's meet."

There was a pause on the other end, then a light chuckle. "Does Rhys know you're back? Did he allow you to come find me?"

"This is between you and me."

"Alright," Margot agreed readily. "Where? I can pick you up."

"No need. Right here at the Harborview Hotel, the second-floor coffee shop."

"The Harborview Hotel?" Margot was silent for a few seconds. "Clara, you really are… nostalgic."

"One hour."

Clara had no patience for her snide remarks and hung up immediately.

She tossed the phone onto the sofa and went to touch up her makeup. If she was going to dig up the past, she had to look her best.

Forty minutes later, Clara was seated at a window table in the second-floor coffee shop, an iced Americano in front of her.