The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 117

CHAPTER OND HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN_NATHANIEL’S POV

The room was quiet in a way that felt tense.

Not just the sterile kind of quiet that came with sedation and machines-but something softer. Something more fragile.

I felt useless sitting beside Claire’s bed, with my elbows resting on my knees. My hands were loosely clasped in front of me- if someone entered the room, it must have looked as if I was holding myself together by sheer will.

All the chaos that had happened- from the crash, to Claire being sedated against her will it had all drained out of the air, leaving behind only the faint hum of hospital equipment and the slow rise and fall of her chest in her sleep.

I must’ve been sitting there for at least an hour. I didn’t trust myself to move.

I watched her face instead- paler than usual, with her lashes resting lightly against her skin, and strands of dark hair scattered across her forehead like they’d been placed there deliberately to torment me. A constant reminder that I had failed to protect her. Twice.

I felt my jaw tighten as the memory resurfaced-the call from the firm, the urgency, the choice I didn’t

even think twice about making:

Work. Responsibility; the one thing that had always come first.

And Claire-

Left alone. Sure she had encouraged me to go, but I should have known better.

I lifted my hand before I could stop myself, hesitating briefly just above her cheek before gently brushing a stray strand of hair away.

“I should’ve been here,” I murmured to myself, my voice low.

A beat passed, then-

Claire stirred.

“Claire?”

Her eyes open slowly, unfocused at first, then finding mine.

For a moment, neither of us speaks. Just recognition.

Relief.

Then she smiled.

“You’re still here?” she asks softly, her voice rough with sleep. “I assumed you must have left with Margot and Lucian.”

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HAPTER OND HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN NATHANIELS POV

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I felt the nerves in my face tighten at the mention of thag man’s name.

“I shouldn’t have left you in the first place.” I admitted, a sharp feeling of regret surging through me as I

said the words out loud.

“I got the call and I-” I stopped, then exhaled, shaking my head slightly. Get it together Nathaniel.

“That’s not an excuse. I should’ve stayed. I should’ve-”

“Hey.” Claire cuts in quietly, stopping me.

She sat up a bit straighter, wincing just a little before settling her gaze on his again.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” She said firmly.

Honestly, I wanted to believe that. But I couldn’t.

“I left you alone.” I stated.

“You came back,” Claire countered gently, then paused. “And you stayed.”

Her lips curved into another small smile.

“Longer than anyone else.”

I looked at her then, really looked this time. And for a moment, it felt like I was trying to measure the truth of her words against the weight of my own guilt.

“I’m serious,” she added, softer now. “You didn’t have to. But you did.”

Something in my chest tightens then- maybe even flutters. The same thing I had felt the first time I had kissed her. And the last.

“You make it sound like that’s… exceptional.” I replied, trying to be modest.

Claire shrugged a little. “Maybe it is.”

Silence stretches between us again-but it’s different now. It’s warmer.

“He was here.” I said, breaking the silence.

Claire’s gaze flickered for a second- just slightly, but I caught it.

Because I was watching her reaction intently. The last time I had enquired about her feelings for her ex husband… well, to be fair she hadn’t exactly gotten the chance to answer.

“Then he left.” I said. It wasn’t just an accusation- it was a fact.

Claire exhaled quietly then, her eyes drifting toward the ceiling for a brief moment before returning to

mine.

“He came as soon as he heard.” She stated.

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AND SEVENTEEN, NATHANVELS POV

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I didn’t sense any defensiveness in her tone, just… quiet fact.

But my jaw tightened anyways. “I’m sure he did.” I almost sneered.

Another pause.

It looked like Claire was studying me now, with something thoughtful in her expression.

“Lucian has his own way of showing up.” She said lightly-subtly and careful.

But it’s enough.

“Even now…”

The thought doesn’t reach my lips. I don’t let it.

But it sits there, heavy on my mind.

Even now… she still defends him. Still chooses him.

Then I resorted to taking a deep breath, pushing it down, burying it where it won’t show.

When I spoke again, my voice was steadier.

“If something like this happens again…”

I reached for her hand this time-deliberate and, certain-and gently takes it in mind.

“I won’t be late.”

Claire looked down at our hands, then back at me.

There’s something softer in her expression now.

“You weren’t too late.”

My thumb brushed lightly over her knuckles then, absent, but grounding.

“I will be there.”

It wasn’t a promise made lightly.

Not one I intend to break.

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