The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 208

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT_ CLAIRE’S POV

The drive back to the city started quietly. Neither Lucian nor I seerned particularly eager to fill the silence.

The article about Eva losing KVEK was still on my phone.

I reread parts of it while Lucian drove us back to Sinclair&co.

Apparently, Eva was scrambling.

Which was surprising for a woman who had believed herself untouchable. She was finally starting to discover what consequences looked like.

Good.

It was about time.

Beside me, Lucian loosened his tie slightly, his attention still on the road.

“You look pleased.”

I glanced at him. “I’m not pleased.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“No?”

“No.”

A pause.

“I’m relieved.”

That was closer to the truth.

Lucian nodded once.

For a few moments neither of us spoke.

Then he said quietly:

“Eva always believed she was untouchable.”

Something about the statement irritated me immediately.

Maybe because it was true.

Maybe because it wasn’t the whole truth.

I turned toward him.

“Of course she did.”

Lucian glanced over briefly.

I continued.

“People spent years teaching her she was untouchable.”

His grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel

I knew he understood exactly where this was going

+15 Bonus

CHAP

“Claire-

“No.”

Months of frustration suddenly rose to the surface.

Sharp.

Hot.

Painful.

“You don’t get to talk about Eva like she became this person by herself.”

Silence.

The city lights reflected across the windshield.

I folded my arms.

“Men like you made her feel that way.”

Lucian didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t defend himself.

Which somehow made me angrier.

“You all treated her like she could do whatever she wanted.”

My voice shook.

Not from fear.

From anger.

“Everyone protected her.”

“Everyone excused her.”

“Everyone looked the other way.”

I stared out the window.

Then laughed bitterly.

“And look where that got us.”

The car remained silent.

Lucian let me speak.

Which was probably wise.

Because I wasn’t finished.

“Do you know what the worst part was?”

His jaw tightened.

“What?”

I looked at him.

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Directly.

“It wasn’t the affair.”

That got his attention.

Immediately.

His head turned slightly.

Surprised.

Confused.

Maybe even hopeful.

I crushed that hope instantly.

“It was standing in that house every day while everyone treated me like I was already gone.”

The words hurt.

Even now.

Especially now.

“It was watching her move through my life like she belonged there.”

I swallowed.

Hard.

“It was watching you let her.”

Lucian’s face went pale.

Good.

For once, I wanted him to feel even a fraction of what I had felt.

“You chose her.”

His voice came quietly.

“I know.”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“You don’t.”

My chest tightened.

“You chose her because she was easier than choosing me.”

The words hung between us.

Heavy.

Brutal.

Lucian flinched.

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qually flinched

ut I kept going.

cause years of pain had finally found a crack

nd now it was pouring out.

She was beautiful.”

lence.

Famous.”

ore silence.

Exciting.”

y laugh sounded hollow.

And I was just your wife.”

ne car felt impossibly small. Il

ician stared straight aheadad.

is knuckles whitened around the stentinging wheel.

hen:

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aughed.

sharp sound.d

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pumbucati mbuckled my seatbelt. Still angry, still frustrated.

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That Bere That lasted approximately three seconds.

Because another familiar car pulled into th

The to The 180ment he saw us, he stopped

Estoppeldid stopped too.

Them The universe clearly hated me.

Nathaniel looked from me to Lucian, then

An awkward silence followed. That kind of

Literally anywhere else.

Lucian recovered first- of course.

“Vale.”

Nathaniel’s expression remained unreada

Well, that was painful.

I rubbed my forehead. “Good afternoon to

Neither man looked particularly interester

Just wonderful.

Nathaniel finally shifted his attention tow

Grateful for the distraction, I immediately

“He agreed to cooperate.”

Nathaniel blinked. “Really?”

“He wants a plea deal though. “Latdosh

Nathaniel’s surprise was identical to nine

I nodded. “He already sent some evscence

Nathaniel let

“It is ”

For a briet mom

It almost felt norma

Almost

A lateral sat these

That lasted approximately three seconds.

Because another familiar car pulled into the parking area and Nathaniel stepped out.

The moment he saw us, he stopped.

I stopped too.

The universe clearly hated me.

Nathaniel looked from me to Lucian, then back to me.

An awkward silence followed. That kind of silence that made people wish they were somewhere else.

Literally anywhere else.

Lucian recovered first- of course.

“Vale.”

Nathaniel’s expression remained unreadable. “Dhark.”

Well, that was painful.

I rubbed my forehead. “Good afternoon to both of you.”

Neither man looked particularly interested in behaving.

Just wonderful.

Nathaniel finally shifted his attention toward me. “How did it go with Ramon? I understand he’s been apprehended.”

Grateful for the distraction, I immediately answered.

“He agreed to cooperate.”

Nathaniel blinked. “Really?”

“He wants a plea deal though.” I added.

Nathaniel’s surprise was identical to mine earlier. “He’ll testify against Eva?”

I nodded. “He already sent some evidence to Sinclair&co as an act of good faith.”

Nathaniel let out a slow breath. “That’s huge.”

“It is.”

For a brief moment, all three of us stood there discussing the case.

It almost felt normal.

Almost.

Then-

A loud crack split the air.

Nobody moved immediately.

Because the sound didn’t register at once.

It sounded… wrong.