The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 142

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-TWO_ CLAIRE’S POV

I didn’t notice when the office went quiet.

At some point, the noise had thinned out-voices faded, footsteps disappeared, and the building sounded like it was already settling into something softer.

By the time I looked up, it was already late. Too late.

But I didn’t stop working.

I couldn’t.

My desk was still covered with files spread open, marked notes, timelines laid out with the same precision I always worked with.

Everything was exactly where it should be. Everything made sense.

Except-

It didn’t.

I stared at the page in front of me, using my eyes to track the same line for what had to be the fourth

time.

Or the fifth.

The numbers before me were clear. The argument was solid.

And yet somehow, I wasn’t moving forward.

My pen hovered over the margin for several seconds before tapping lightly against the paper.

Then again. And again.

I exhaled slowly, shutting my eyes tight.

I just needed to focus, that was all.

I shifted slightly in my chair, straightening my back, forcing my attention back to the documents.

My fingers traced over a section I had already reviewed, cross-checking figures I had already confirmed.

I paused again, taking a closer look.

Unfortunately, my phone lit up then- once.

Then again, and again.

The vibration was so sharp and persistent against the desk, it was hard to resist grabbing the phone at

once.

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CHATTER ONCHUNDRED AND FORTY TWO CLAIRES POV

I didn’t look at it immediately.

I kept my eyes on the file, forcing myself to read the next line, then the one after that.

But the words started to blur.

My focus slipped, and the phone buzzed again.

This time, I reached for it before I could stop myself.

Notifications flooded the screen fast.

I opened one.

Then another.

And just like that-

I was getting drowned in it all.

The headlines about Lucian and Eva hadn’t slowed down.

If anything, they had gotten worse.

Hashtags surged higher, spreading faster.

#CancelDhark

#JusticeForEva

#BelieveHer

The narrative had already taken shape. And it was growing.

I scrolled.

I knew I shouldn’t have, but I did.

“When are they gonna arrest him?.”

“Eva needs to press charges. They can’t let him get away with this just because he’s a billionaire.”

“Claire escaped abuse.”

“This explains everything.”

My thumb stilled.

This explains everything.

I stared at the screen for a second longer than I should have, my jaw tightening slightly.

These people didn’t know anything, yet they were so convinced that they did.

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HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO CLAIRES POV

The internet was doing an incredible job, tearing Lucian apart.

Piece by piece, conclusion after conclusion.

None of them grounded in fact.

I forced myself to exit the app and lock my phone.

Silence returned, but it wasn’t the same.

Then the phone rang.

This time, I wouldn’t ignore it.

Nathaniel.

“Hello.”

There was a pause on the other end. It was brief, one might say measured.

Then he called my name.

“Claire.” His tone was different. Flat. Professional in a way it hadn’t been before.

“You’ve seen the public outrage,” he said.

It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyways.

“Yes.”

Another pause.

Then he said something that peaked my interest.

“I met with Lucian.”

I straightened slightly without realizing it.

“You took the case?” I blurted out.

“I said I’d review it.”

Of course he did.

The silence stretched between us for a second too long.

“Tomorrow’s hearing,” he added, shifting slightly, “you’ll be ready.”

That too, wasn’t exactly a question.

“I will be.”

A beat passed.

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HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO CLAIRES POV

I imagined he would hang up then.

He didn’t.

“Good luck, Claire.” He said.

It was so simple. So detached.

“Thank you.” I said, nodding as if he could see me.

He didn’t say anything else.

Neither did I.

I lowered the phone slowly after the call ended, setting it back on the desk.

And just like that-

I was alone again.

The room felt different- heavier. Kind of lonely.

Nathaniel’s words lingered.

And so did the distance in his voice.

But underneath all of it, something else pressed harder.

This wasn’t my problem anymore.

I knew that.

In fact, I had already decided that.

So why did it still feel like it was?

My gaze shifted back to the phone sitting on my desk.

I reached for it again, and unlocked it.

I opened my contacts almost automatically.

I didn’t scroll far- I didn’t need to.

Lucian.

My thumb hovered over his name, and for a second, everything else seemed to fall away.

The memories came first- not gently, not quietly.

The betrayal.

The courtroom.

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BERINE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO CLAIRES POV

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The humiliation.

The way everything had unraveled.