The Officer's Runaway Wife and Secret Son novel Chapter 574

He opened the containers one by one. Everything inside was warm, easy to digest, and wouldn't irritate her stomach.

After a few bites, Clara decided that none of it tasted as good as Rhys's cooking.

-

When school let out, Clara stood next to Rhys and gave him a stern warning. "When Felix comes rushing over, do not try to catch him with full force."

"I know my limits." Rhys smiled, squeezing her hand.

The dismissal bell rang right on time.

Felix, carrying his little backpack, walked at the very edge of his class line with a serious look on his face. But the moment his eyes swept past the gates and landed on Clara and Rhys standing beside her, his face lit up.

"Dad! Mom!"

Rhys crouched down halfway, opening his arms to welcome his little incoming missile.

Felix sprinted halfway, slammed on the brakes just a few feet away, and gently wrapped his little arms around Rhys's neck. He buried his nose into the crook of Rhys's neck, sniffing like a puppy.

"Dad, is your secret mission over?"

Rhys blinked, suddenly remembering Clara had mentioned she and Emily had coordinated a story, telling Felix that his dad had gone to the Police Department for a highly classified, closed-off mission.

"Yeah," he nodded, playing along with his son. "The mission is over. Completely successful."

Felix pulled his head back, his dark eyes darting around for a second before he dropped his weight back against Rhys's chest.

"Okay then."

Rhys knew instantly that the kid didn't buy a single word of it.

The little arms wrapped around his neck squeezed much tighter than they used to.

Rhys cooked dinner that night.

He had insisted on doing it, and Clara, unable to talk him out of it, compromised.

She prepped the ingredients, he manned the stove, and Felix sat on a stool nearby, purely there for the entertainment.

After dinner, Clara brought over a plate of fruit and called out for Felix.

Felix gave a small "Oh" of acknowledgment, reached into the plate, and shoved a slice of apple into his mouth.

Watching his chipmunk cheeks, Clara suddenly recalled how Emily had rubbed her own belly during her last visit, teasing Felix.

Feigning nonchalance, Clara asked, "Felix, last time Emily asked if you wanted her baby to be a brother or a sister, you said either was fine. But if you absolutely had to choose one, which do you really prefer?"

Rhys stopped wiping down the counter and turned around, completely intrigued.

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