The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 184

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FOUR CLAIRE’S POV

The elevator doors closed softly behind me.

And for the first time since stepping into KVEK that morning, the noise finally disappeared.

Therr were whispers, no phones discreetly lifted, no lingering stares.

Just silence.

Cold, metallic silence.

I stood very still inside the elevator, wrapping my arms tightly around myself while the article replayed in my head like a punishment I couldn’t escape.

I couldn’t stop seeing those damning pictures either.

Lucian outside my apartment, giving me his coat.

Lucian looking at me like he thought we still belonged together.

God!

My throat burned with rage and sadness and everything in between.

Nathaniel had not yelled- that was the part destroying me most.

He had not raised his voice or even insulted me.

He had not demanded any explanations.

He had simply looked at me with quiet disappointment and let me go.

That was what hurt the most.

The elevator stopped halfway down and the doors slid open.

I cursed my luck as Victoria Merlyn stepped inside.

Just perfect.

I instinctively looked away immediately, bracing myself for the inevitable cruelty.

A smug remark, perhaps. Maybe a cutting observation.

Something about Lucian or Nathaniel or the article.

Instead, Victoria only glanced at me once before pressing the lobby button.

Silence settled between us.

I kept my eyes fixed forward, willing myself not to cry harder.

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KIONOMEDY AND TIGHTY FOUR STAIRE SPOV

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The elevator descended another floor before Victoria sighed softly beside me.

“I always thought Nathaniel would eventually marry you.”

My head turned toward her slightly in surprise.

Victoria’s expression remained neutral, almost tired.

“He looked happier around you than he’s looked around anyone in years.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I hated that.”

The words caught me completely off guard.

I stared at her.

“You hate me,” I said hoarsely before I could stop myself.

One corner of her mouth lifted into a small smile. “I don’t hate you, Claire.” She paused. “I just hated

losing to you.”

That almost made me laugh.

Victoria folded her arms loosely in front of her chest.

“For what it’s worth,” she added quietly, “I don’t think you meant to hurt him. And I do believe everything happens for a reason.”

The elevator doors opened as we reached the lobby.

Victoria stepped out first before pausing briefly to look at me.

Then she said something I never expected to hear from her.

“Sometimes loving someone twice is the cruelest thing in the world.”

Then she walked away, leaving me standing frozen inside the elevator long after the doors tried to close

again.

By the time I reached my car, I could barely breathe properly.

Rain hit the windshield in soft, consistent drops while I sat behind the steering wheel gripping it too tightly for my own good.

Every part of me was hurting.

Nathaniel.

Lucian.

The article.

The guilt clawing through my chest.

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NERED AND FRONTY TOUR CLAIRES POV

I tried to inhale slowly.

I knew I needed to calm down.

Instead, a broken sound escaped me.

Then another.

And suddenly I was crying so hard I had to bend forward over the steering wheel.

Ugly crying.

The kind that leaves your chest aching badly afterward.

Because I knew I had hurt Nathaniel.

God.

I never wanted to hurt him.

Nathaniel had loved me carefully.

Patiently.

Steadily.

He had healed a part of me I didn’t think could be salvaged.

And somehow I had still managed to bring chaos into his life too.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered shakily to no one.

My tears blurred the lights outside the windshield.

Because the truth was unbearable now.

I still loved Nathaniel.

But Lucian-

Lucian still existed somewhere inside me too.

And I hated myself for it.

My hands trembled against my mouth.

“I didn’t know how to stop loving someone who had once felt like home.”

The words shattered something inside me the moment I said them aloud.

And suddenly-

without warning-

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UNDRED AND FIGHTY LOVE CLAIRE POV

I remembered another night entirely.

–

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Years ago.

The Dhark mansion kitchen was dark except for the warm stove light glowing softly over marble

counters.

I stood near the kettle while rain tapped gently against the enormous windows outside.

It was nearly two in the morning.

Lucian hadn’t been able to sleep again.

Back then, I still didn’t fully understand how often nightmares plagued him. Or that they even plagued

him at all.

I only knew he wandered the mansion at night like someone being haunted by a ghost.

“You’re awake again,” I murmured softly while pouring tea.

Lucian leaned against the kitchen doorway silently, shirtless, dark hair slightly messy.

He looked exhausted.

As always, his expression softened immediately his eyes landed on me.

“Couldn’t sleep,” he admitted quietly.

I handed him the mug.

“You’ve said that every night this week.”

Lucian kept a straight face. “You can applaud my consistency.”

I rolled my eyes lightly. His dry humor was often amusing.

Without warning, he pulled me gently into his lap as he sat against one of the barstools.

Strong arms wrapped around my waist immediately.

Secure.

Possessive.

Needing.

I laughed softly in surprise.

“Lucian-”

“Stay.”

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Just one word-low and tired.

And I relaxed against him slowly.

His chin rested against my shoulder while rain continued outside.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke.

Then quietly-so quietly I almost missed it-

He spoke into my shoulder. “When you’re near me, the noise in my head goes quiet.”

My chest tightened painfully even now remembering it.

Because back then, I had truly believed we would survive anything.

The memory disappeared as violently as it had come.

And suddenly I was back inside my car again.