The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 137

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SEVEN_ NATHANIEL’S POV

I didn’t go to Sinclair & Co for the case.

Well… not entirely.

The hearing was over. The outcome-for now-was clear.

Claire had done more than hold ground. In fact, she had shifted it.

But that wasn’t why I was there.

I stepped out of the elevator and moved down the corridor with ease, acknowledging a few familiar faces without slowing down.

The energy in Sinclair&co had changed. It always did in a law firm after a strong showing in court.

The atmosphere was sharper, but somehow lighter. Charged with determination.

Claire’s office door was slightly ajar.

I paused for half a second before pushing it fully open.

Claire was exactly where I expected her to be-behind her desk, with her sleeves rolled, and files spread out in precise order. No celebration, no pause.

Just work.

Of course.

I leaned lightly against the doorframe.

“You’re not celebrating.” I said.

She didn’t look up immediately or express surprise at my sudden arrival.

“There’s nothing to celebrate yet,” she said, marking something on the document in front of her.

I stepped further in, closing the door quietly behind me.

“You dismantled Victoria Merlyn in open court today.”

That got her attention.

She looked up, seemingly calm, almost unaffected.

“I held ground.” She restated.

I studied her for a moment, wondering if she was trying to be modest or if she genuinely didn’t realize how big of a difference she had made in the case.

Then I realized she wasn’t deflecting.

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AND TORTY NEAIN NATHANTSTOV

+25 Bonus

She genuinely believed that.

Getting to know Claire Moreau was interesting.

She didn’t linger in victories.

She prepared for what came next.

That should have made this easier.

But somehow, it didn’t.

I moved closer, stopping at the edge of her desk.

“You never answered me.”

The words settled between us.

Claire stilled, going completely silent.

“I know,” she said.

Silence again.

Not particularly awkward, but not simple either.

I didn’t rush to fill it.

“I’m not asking for something complicated,” I said finally, my tone even. “I just want to know if this-“I gestured lightly between us, “-is real for you.”

She held my gaze.

Didn’t look away.

“It is.”

The answer came without hesitation.

But then-

“But everything else is… complicated.”

Of course it was.

Lucian.

The name didn’t need to be said. It was already there.

I exhaled quietly.

“He’s always going to be complicated,” I said. “That doesn’t mean he still gets to matter.”

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NE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN NATHANIELS POV

Claire didn’t respond immediately.

There was a shift.

Small.

Subtle.

+25 Bonus

But I saw it.

There it is.

I pushed-just enough.

“I’m not asking you to forget your past,” I added, my voice lower now. “I’m asking if you’re ready to stop living in it.”

For a second-

just a second-

she softened.

Not outwardly.

But I felt it.

Saw it in the way her focus shifted. The way her shoulders eased.

She looked at me like she was actually considering it.

Like she might step forward instead of back.

I closed the distance slightly.

Not enough to crowd her.

Just enough to make the moment real.

She didn’t move away.

And for a brief, precise second-

this worked.

Then her phone buzzed.

She ignored it.

I did too.

Another notification followed.

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CHHATTISONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN NATHANIELS POV

Louder.

Persistent.

Claire’s gaze flickered down, almost absently at first.

Then she reached for it.

I watched the shift happen in real time.

The moment she saw the screen-

everything changed.

Her expression stilled.

Not composed.

Frozen.

“…What?”

It came out low. Barely audible.

She tapped the screen again.

Watched.

Replayed.

I didn’t need to see it yet.

I was watching her.

The way her focus disappeared from the room.

From me.

“This doesn’t make sense,” she said, more to herself than to me.

I stepped slightly to the side, catching a glimpse of the screen.

Eva.

Bruised.

Fragile.

Headlines running beneath her face.

Lucian.

Of course.

+25 Bonus

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EN ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN NATHANIELS POV

+25 Bonus

I looked back at Claire.

She wasn’t reacting emotionally.

Not like that.

She was analyzing.

Processing.

But she was gone.

Not physically.

Mentally.

I had just asked her if this was real.

And she had answered me.