The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 191

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-ONE EVA’S POV

Claire Moreau had become difficult to contain.

That was the thought running through my head as I stood before the windows of my penthouse, watching the city glitter beneath the afternoon sun.

For the first time in weeks, I had reason to feel relieved.

Nathaniel Vale had dropped Lucian Dhark as a client.

The news had spread quickly through every major legal and financial publication in the country.

KVEK was out.

That was what mattered.

Nathaniel had always been one of the most dangerous piece on the board.

Not because he was ruthless, but because he was competent.

Ethical men were irritatingly difficult to manipulate.

They followed rules, they trusted evidence.

And once they decided you were guilty, they pursued you with frightening determination.

Nathaniel Vale had decided that about me months ago.

Now he was gone.

I should have felt safer. Instead, all I could think about was Claire.

And of course, Margot Sinclair.

Two women who had simply refused to stay down.

I took a slow sip of sparkling water as another stylist adjusted the hem of my gown.

“No.” I said without even looking at her. “The slit is too high.”

The woman immediately stepped back.

“I’m sorry, Miss Sterling.”

Of course she was.

Everyone was always sorry. Sorry and incompetent.

I set the glass down and studied myself in the mirror.

Perfect makeup, perfect hair, an almost perfect dress.

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1/9

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The image staring back at me was flawless.

Yet somehow everything felt unstable.

The event I was attending tonight was important.

Politicians would be there. A lot of journalists too.

The people who mattered would be watching. I needed everything to go perfectly.

My phone vibrated on the vanity.

I glanced down to see the name “Hart Sullivan” on my screen.

I answered immediately.

“What?”

“You always answer the phone like it’s an inconvenience.”

I rolled my eyes. “You always call like you’re owed an explanation.” I stated. “And I seem to remember we agreed that you wouldn’t contact me unless it was absolutely necessary.”

“Good afternoon to you too, Eva.”

I leaned back in my chair. “What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

A pause.

“I figured you’d have seen the news by now.”

“The KVEK situation?”

“That.” His voice sounded amused- rarely so. “Looks like Nathaniel Vale finally got tired of playing hero.”

I smiled faintly. “Perhaps.”

Though even now I wasn’t celebrating.

Not yet.

Hart seemed to sense it.

“Claire and Lucian won’t be a problem much longer.” He stated, voice low.

My expression changed instantly. “What does that mean?”

“I spoke to her.”

The smile disappeared from my face.

2/9

1 called her

A sinking feeling formed in my stomach

warned her to understand

My grip tightened around the phone

“What exactly did you say?

His tone remared unconcamed

1 told her to stop looking for me”

“Hart’

“And I explained that if she didn’t things would become unclessant.”

I closed my eyes

God.

He was an idiot.

A dangerous idiot.

“You threatened Claire Moreau directly?”

“‘Yes.’

“Are you insane?”

That finally made him pause

When he spoke again, he sounded genuinely confused

1 was helping

“No.”

I stood abruptly

The stylist working on my gown nearly jumped

“No, Hart. You weren’t helping”

Silence.

Then:

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16 NU AND NINETY ONE IVASAN

“I don’t see the problem.”

Of course he didn’t.

Men like Hart never understood consequences until they arrived with handcuffs.

“You threatened Claire.”

“So?”

I laughed bitterly.

“So now Lucian Dhark is going to hunt you.”

That finally made him quiet.

For the first time during the entire call.

Because even Hart Sullivan understood what that meant.

I walked toward the windows overlooking the city.

“If Lucian was looking for you before, now he’ll never stop.”

Hart sighed.

“I can handle Lucian.”

“No.”

My voice hardened.

“You can’t.”

The silence that followed was uncomfortable.

Because we both knew I was right.

Eventually Hart changed the subject.

“What about Ramon?”

I frowned.

“What about him?”

“He should disappear.”

I turned sharply.

“No.”

“Why?”

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4A

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE EVAS POV

“Because the timing would be ridiculous.”

“He lost his license.”

“And?”

“He has nothing left.”

I laughed.

“Hart, Dr. Ramon isn’t you.”

“He could testify.”

“He’s weak.”

Hart’s voice darkened.

“Weak people become dangerous when they’re cornered.”

I shook my head.

“No.”

The answer came immediately.

Certain.

Confident.

“Ramon isn’t capable of it.”

“He could surprise you.”

I smiled.

Coldly.

“He won’t.”

Another pause.

Then Hart said quietly,

“You always think you’re the smartest person in the room.”

I smirked.

“Usually I am.”

A low laugh echoed through the phone.

“That’s what worried me.”

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FRONE HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE IVA SPOV

I frowned.

“Worried you?”

“It worried me back then too.”

The air seemed to shift slightly.

Just for a moment.

Neither of us spoke.

Neither acknowledged what he meant.

We didn’t need to.

The silence said enough.

Eventually I broke it.

“Lay low.”

“No.”

I froze.

Slowly.

“What?”

“I said no.”

The answer came without hesitation.

Without apology.

Without fear.

Something cold slid through me.

Almost nobody told me no.

Hart continued calmly.

“I’ll decide what I do.”

My jaw tightened.

“You work for me.”

“No.”

His voice remained maddeningly relaxed.

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SON HUNDRED AND NINETY ON! IVAS POV

“I work with you.”

There was a difference.

A very important one.

And suddenly I remembered exactly why our arrangement had always been dangerous.

Because Hart Sullivan belonged to nobody.

Not me.

Not anyone.

After another tense silence, he finally said:

“I’ll call when I need something.”

Then the line went dead.

He hung up first.

The irritation that followed was immediate.

Sharp.

Unpleasant.

I stared at the screen for several seconds before tossing the phone onto the couch.

Unbelievable.

Absolutely unbelievable.

I spent the next hour preparing for the gala.

Hair.

Makeup.

Wardrobe.