The Officer's Runaway Wife and Secret Son novel Chapter 484

Back on the force, his rookies used to call him 'Stone Face' behind his back, saying they'd be thankful if he went two hours out of twenty-four without a frown.

He hadn't cared back then. The only faces he saw were criminals or cases. Who was there to smile for?

"Okay, don't run around. Listen to Mommy."

"I know!"

Hanging up, Clara put her phone away and tossed a box of red cherry tomatoes into the cart. After a moment's thought, she went back and grabbed a box of yellow ones too.

He'd said either was fine, so she bought both.

When she got to the housewares section, she remembered they were short on guest slippers and steered the cart toward the shoe aisle.

As she was picking out sizes, trying to guess what would fit her uncle and cousin, her phone vibrated again.

She took it out. Another video call from Rhys.

It had been less than ten minutes since the last one.

Clara answered, her tone laced with amusement. "Captain Huntington, what are your orders now? Craving strawberries or cherries this time?"

Rhys rubbed his nose, looking a bit guilty, but his voice was still serious. "I just remembered, Aunt Mia's family is coming on New Year's Day. I don't think we have enough slippers. And what about Nellie and Mateo? Shouldn't we get a couple of pairs of kids' slippers?"

Clara couldn't help but smile. She flipped the camera around to show him the several pairs of adult slippers already in her cart.

"Do you have a tracker on me or something? I just got to this aisle, and your call came in the very next second."

Clara turned the camera back to her face, a light smile in her eyes. "Nellie and Mateo don't need slippers yet. You just rest at home and stop worrying about these things. I've got it under control."

Rhys watched her expression.

In the first two years they were together, Clara's smile had been a hundred times more brilliant than this—it was a bold, radiant smile, the kind that wanted the whole world to know how happy she was.

Then, gradually, it had faded. Disappeared.

Now, she was smiling again.

It wasn't as fiery as it had been when she was twenty, but it warmed his heart more than ever.

"Maybe it's telepathy?" Rhys said, trying to sound casual. "The moment I think of something, you've already done it."

The words hung in the air, heavier than he'd intended.

She was always one step ahead of him.

Ten years ago, and now, too.

He was always the one who was slow on the uptake.

Felix leaned into the frame and made a face at the screen.

"Daddy, are you scared all by yourself at home? You're like a little puppy, calling Mommy all the time."

"..."

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