The Officer's Runaway Wife and Secret Son novel Chapter 491

He wasn't afraid of dying himself. He was afraid that after he was gone, Clara and Felix would be targeted by the greedy members of the Huntington family.

Those shareholders, distant relatives, and opportunistic associates had already shown their true colors at the patriarch's funeral.

If they knew he was dead, leaving a young ex-wife and a child with such a massive fortune, they would swarm in and tear her apart.

He had to build a fortress for them.

While he was still alive, while he still had the strength to sign his name, while his name still carried weight in the Huntington family and the Police Department, he had to pave every road for them.

That way, even if he was truly gone one day, when those people saw that there was nothing left under his name, nothing to fight for, no reason to pounce...

When they saw that Clara was backed by Brighton City's top lawyer, saw the unwavering support of Mia's family, or even just saw Simon's venomous tongue and online influence, they would think twice and probably wouldn't dare to make a move.

The things he could do for her were, ultimately, becoming fewer and fewer.

So he would do what little he had left, and he would do it flawlessly.

Behind the slightly ajar door, Clara leaned against the wall. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she closed her eyes.

*Rhys.*

She silently repeated his name in her mind.

When would he ever learn to live for himself?

Clara worried her lower lip.

She felt the urge to storm out and slap him, but knowing Rhys's personality, even if she did, he would just tell her, "Don't worry."

The hallway was deathly silent.

Veronica's eyes widened, her mind buzzing.

*Everything. Transferred. To Clara's name.*

*Everything?*

"What did you say? You gave all the shares to Clara?!"

"Yes."

Rhys glanced at her.

Her attitude only fueled Veronica's agitation.

"Don't play innocent after getting what you want. What did you say to him? To make him give you everything?"

Clara sighed.

Looking at Veronica's face now felt like looking at a ghost from a past life.

She even felt a little sorry for her.

How could a mother turn family ties into a business transaction, to the point where her only son became a pawn for her to cling to power?

How could she spend twenty years weighing everything on the scales of self-interest, shifting the weights back and forth, without once asking, "Are you in pain?"

Did she even know what the scars on Rhys's back looked like?

Did she know that this man she called "son" had once coughed alone on a bathroom floor until he couldn't breathe, with nothing but a bath towel within reach?