The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN_ Claire’s POV

Eva and I stood there for several seconds, staring each other down with pure resentment.

That’s when Lucian entered the room. As expected, he immediately took a stand beside Eva.

“What’s going on here?” He inquired.

“She involved a lawyer.” Eva said, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

Lucian sighed. “Claire,” he called calmly, even though there was a warning in his tone. “Don’t turn this into something unnecessary.”

I turned to face him slowly. “That’s exactly what I was trying to avoid.”

Eva recovered then, regaining her composure, slowly and carefully.

“You involved Margot Sinclair.” She said quietly.

It wasn’t a question. It was an accusation.

Like I had crossed a forbidden line. One that no one else had dared cross.

“Yes.” I replied.

Eva’s eyes darkened. “That was a mistake.” Her voice turned hoarse, like she was about to do something dangerous.

Lucian frowned. “Eva-”

“No!” She cut in quickly, never taking her eyes off me. “She should understand the consequences of bringing outsiders into family matters.”

I almost laughed. Family. As if she hadn’t dismantled mine piece by piece. As if she was even a part of this family.

“I was being evicted.” I said evenly. “I sought legal advice.”

Eva flashed one of those smiles, that never reached her eyes. “Margot has always enjoyed playing savior.”

Something flickered across her face then. Something bitter and old.

Lucian stepped in again, attempting to assert dominance. But I could tell that he knew power was slipping from his palms.

“This changes nothing,” he said. “The deadline still stands.”

“Legally,” I retorted. “It doesn’t.”

Lucian’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t argue. He didn’t deny it.

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“You may have bought yourself time” Eva said, exhaling slowly. “But don’t confuse that with protection. Margot won’t shield you forever.”

“She doesn’t have to.” I retorted, holding Eva’s gaze.

For the first time since Eva walked through the threshold of the mansion, I felt a rush of power. A thrill of

confidence.

That was when Eva decided the conversation was over.

“Camilla,” She called without turning around. “Dinner still needs to be prepared.”

Camilla hesitated for a second, then nodded. “Yes, miss.”

“Claire will help.” Eva instructed, still holding my gaze.

It was her way of letting me know that she was still the queen of the mansion. That she was superior to

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And I understood the message clearly.

Nothing had changed.

Except everything had.

And no intimidation tactics could change that.

Eva knew it too.

The kitchen smelled of garlic, spices and broth. It was now a familiar scent for me. Almost comforting

too.

But tonight, something about it felt different.

I wasn’t cooking because I had nothing else to do. As a matter of fact, I had to prepare my clothes and documents for my first day of work on Monday.

But here I was, toiling in the kitchen because Eva wanted to remind me of my place.

In the early days of our marriage, Lucian loved spending time with me in the kitchen. He would praise my cooking, saying it reminded him of the meals his mother used to make when he was a child.

But over the years, as our marriage dwindled, so did his visits to the kitchen and the praises he had previously showered me with.

And ever since Eva moves into the house, Lucian stopped coming into the kitchen completely. Even when the meal was served, he barely said a word to me.

Eva ate delicately, with one hand resting over her stomach, while the other held her fork like she was on

a commercial.

I watched her carefully.

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CIMEN Claire’s POV

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She was quieter than usual, almost like she was in deep thought.

Like a woman planning her next moves carefully. Dangerously.

Later that night, as I retreated to my room, I heard Eva’s voice, low and controlled.

I froze in a spot, listening.

“I didn’t expect her to oppose me again.” Eva said, then paused. “Not after all these years.”

I felt my heart thud in my chest.

Then Eva laughed. “Of course I remember how this ends.”

I strained to hear more, but Eva’s voice dropped even lower and I couldn’t risk stepping closer and being

discovered.

“Margot Sinclair has always had a weakness for playing guardian to lost causes,” Eva said. “This time, I

won’t lose.”

Her footsteps faded and a door closed softly.

I retreated to my room, with goosebumps crawling up my skin.

So they did have history.

And whatever it was, it wasn’t finished.

The next morning, I woke to a feeling of tension in the mansion.

I heard the voices before I even went down to the living room.

Lucian’s assistant rushed past me as I stepped into the living room. Her phone pressed to her ear as she spoke in hurried tones.

“Yes, he’s getting ready now.” She said. “The statement is finalized.”

My stomach dropped.

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