The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 196

ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX LUCIAN’S POV

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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX LUCIAN’S POV

I arrived at Dhark Holdings headquarters before sunrise.

The building rose against the dark skyline like it was built from steel and ambition. And indeed, it was.

Usually, seeing it grounded me.

But today, it felt like a countdown.

The lobby was already occupied despite the early hour.

Assistants whispered in corners. Executives walked too quickly. Employees glanced at me and looked away almost immediately.

They knew.

Everyone knew.

In the corporate world, rumors traveled even faster than official announcements.

By now, the entire company had heard about the emergency board vote.

And everyone understood what it meant.

If the board succeeded, Lucian Dhark would lose Dhark Holdings.

Perhaps permanently.

The thought settled heavily in my chest as I stepped into the elevator.

My great grandfather had built this company from nothing.

My grandfather had inherited it and passed it onto my father.

And I had spent the better part of twenty years expanding it, modernizing it, protecting it.

Now strangers who owned enough stock believed they had the right to take it away.

The elevator doors opened and I headed towards my office.

Tessa stood beside my office table, with a tablet in hand.

The PR Director sat reviewing media reports.

Legal Counsel was studying a folder.

The Operations Executive looked like he hadn’t slept at all.

Neither had I.

Nobody bothered with greetings.

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PRONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SOX LUCIANS POV

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We got straight to work- numbers, losses, stock performance.

The Eva scandal, the board’s concerns and media sentiment.

Every topic seemed to lead back to the same problem.

Money.

At one point, Legal Counsel finished outlining the board’s position and fell silent.

The room grew quiet until Tessa finally broke it.

“They’re not voting on whether you’re innocent.” She looked directly at me. “They’re voting on whether you’re expensive.”

She wasn’t wrong.

The board didn’t care whether Eva had lied. They didn’t care whether evidence was emerging. They didn’t care whether I’d been manipulated.

Dhark Holdings had lost billions.

That was all they saw.

And in their eyes, I had become a liability.

Three hours later, I was seated across from the board.

What many people didn’t know was that corporate warfare was far more terrifying than anything else.

Because nobody had to raise their voice.

Nobody ever showed anger.

Everyone spoke politely- even smiled occasionally- while sharpening their knives beneath the table.

The chairman adjusted his glasses before he began speaking. “We believe a temporary leadership transition may be beneficial.”

Translation: We want you gone.

Another board member nodded. “It would restore investor confidence.”

Translation: We want you gone.

“Our primary responsibility is protecting shareholder value.” A third added smoothly.

Translation: We want you gone.

I listened patiently. Calmly.

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NE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX FUCIANS POV

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I let them speak. And once it was my turn to speak, I started dismantling every argument they had made.

One by one.

Financial projections, market recovery patterns, corporate stability and risk assessment.

I gave them numbers. Facts. Not emotion- never emotion.

Because despite everything, I was still the CEO of Dhark Holdings.

Not the scandal, not the victim.

The CEO.

By the time I finished, several members looked considerably less confident.

I leaned forward slightly to ensure they heard the next words very clearly, and understood how serious

they were.

“The legal proceedings against Eva Sterling are moving forward.”

Silence settled across the room.

“Evidence continues emerging.” I added. “And when that evidence becomes public, market confidence will begin stabilizing.”

Several board members exchanged looks.

Good.

That meant they were listening.

I continued. “I’m sure you all understand that removing a CEO during an active crisis creates uncertainty.”

My eyes moved around the room. “And it’s not new that uncertainty damages stock prices.”

More silence.

More hesitation.

The chairman’s expression tightened almost imperceptibly.

I had him.

He wasn’t exactly defeated- not even close-but he was worried.

And that was enough.

The discussions continued for another hour, then finally-

The vote was postponed.

Not cancelled, but postponed.

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NEHUNDRED AND NINETY SIX TUBIANS INV

I sat motionless as the chairman announced the decision.

Two weeks.

It wasn’t victory- not even close.

But it was survival. Temporary. Nothing more.

The chairman folded his hands. “Mr. Dhark, the board expects measurable progress.”

I met his gaze confidently, even though I felt anything but. “You’ll have it.”

His expression remained neutral.

I continued anyway. “In two weeks, the truth will be public.”

The room fell silent.

I gave them my word.

“And when it is, this company will begin recovering.”

Nobody challenged me or argued.

Nobody believed me completely either.

But they gave me my two weeks.

And for now, that was enough.

By the time I returned to my office, exhaustion weighed heavily on me.

For a long moment, I simply stood in the middle of my office, thinking.

Two weeks.

I needed Sinclair & Co moving immediately. The lawsuit needed to be filed without further delay.

The evidence-complete or not-needed to become public.

Then the press conference would come next.

The truth.

Everything.

It all had to happen fast.

My phone rang.

I picked it up from the desk, assuming naturally, that it was Tessa.

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CAPTEN ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY SIX LUCIAN SPOV

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Instead, Claire’s name appeared on the screen.

Everything else seemed to disappear.

I answered immediately. “Claire.”

A brief silence followed.

Then came her voice- careful and professional.

“We’ve begun reviewing the final documentation.” She started.

She wanted to discuss work. Strategy. The lawsuit.

Nothing personal.

Yet somehow, I knew that wasn’t the only reason she’d called.

And judging by the pause that followed, she knew I knew.