The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 225

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-FIVE_CLAIRE’S POV

The defense attorneys looked furious.

Eva looked worse.

And we were only getting started.

I turned another page in my file. “Your Honor, Sinclair & Co would also like to submit additional evidence demonstrating a pattern of coercion and manipulation carried out by Ms. Sterling.”

Eva’s attorney immediately stood. “Objection. We have not yet reviewed this material.”

“You will,” I said calmly.

The judge gestured for me to continue, so I did.

“We possess a recorded telephone conversation between the defendant, Ms. Sterling and the plaintiff, Mr. Dhark

That got everyone’s attention, including Eva.

I watched her carefully. I saw her shoulders tense. Saw her jaw tighten.

Good.

Because she knew exactly which call I was talking about.

“We intend to demonstrate that Ms. Sterling attempted to pressure Mr. Dhark into resuming their relationship by threatening to maintain public allegations against him.”

The room grew noticeably quieter.

Eva’s lead attorney immediately objected. “That is a gross mischaracterization, your honor.”

I didn’t even look at him. Instead, I looked directly at Eva.

“Is it?”

The silence stretched for several moments.

Then Eva finally stood- obviously against the advice of both her attorneys.

“I never blackmailed Lucian.” She said, her voice steady, easily carrying across the conference room.

Still an actress. Always an actress.

“I offered to help repair his reputation.”

I almost laughed.

Eva continued. “Out of my own compassion.”

There it was- the performance.

Eva the victim. Eva the misunderstood woman.

“I still cared about him.” She said, her eyes briefly flickering toward me. “I was vulnerable.”

I stood. “My client was vulnerable too.”

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HAS THE TWOCHENDED AND TWENTY FIVE CLANE SPOV

Eva’s expression hardened.

1 continued. “The difference is that your alleged vulnerability came with demands.”

The room became still.

“During that conversation, Ms. Sterling explicitly suggested that Mr. Dhark’s public image could be restored if he returned to her.”

One of the attorneys jumped in. “That’s not what she meant.”

“That is exactly what she meant.” I countered.

The attorney opened his mouth again, but I didn’t give him the opportunity to speak.

“Because her allegations were false.” I stated, my voice firm.

The room remained completely silent.

“And because the defendant believed destroying Lucian Dhark’s reputation, business, and personal life would force him back into a relationship with her. That was her intention.”

I glared at Eva. “But it didn’t work out that way, did it?”

Eva’s eyes flashed.

I continued. “We are prepared to prove that in court.”

The judge made a note.

One of the defense attorneys shook his head.

Then I delivered the next blow. “We also possess evidence linking Ms. Sterling to Mr. Hart Sullivan.”

That changed everything.

The atmosphere in the room shifted immediately.

Eva’s attorney looked alarmed.

Eva looked terrified.

Not worried or nervous. Terrified.

I opened another folder.

“Correspondence.” I stated, as I slid documents forward.

“Messages.”

More documents.

“Photographs.”

And another stack.

The judge examined them.

The defense attorneys too, leaned forward with interest.

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Eva herself stared at the table for the first time since arriving.

“We can establish a longstanding relationship between Ms. Sterling and Mr. Sullivan.”

Her lead attorney immediately objected. “My client knowing Mr. Sullivan does not make her responsible for his actions.” He said.

Eva seized the opening. “We dated briefly.”

The room turned toward her.

“In high school.” She disclosed. “Hart and I have stayed in contact occasionally over the years.”

She folded her hands in front of her.

“But we do not have a romantic relationship of any sort. And I never asked him to hurt anyone.”

I let the words settle before I stood again.

“Mr. Sullivan orchestrated the vehicle sabotage that nearly killed Margot Sinclair.”

Eva looked away.

“He shot Lucian Dhark.” I stated. “And as if that wasn’t enough, he stabbed Lucian Dhark.”

Eva’s sighed like even she was horrified.

“He attempted to kill me months ago

The silence afterward felt enormous. My voice echoed through the room.

“We are prepared to prove all of that in court.”

One of her attorneys objected again, but the judge overruled him.

Eva looked genuinely frightened now, because she knew how strong the argument was.

She knew how much evidence existed and how close we had gotten.

Then, unexpectedly, she rose to her feet.

Her attorneys immediately tried stopping her, but she ignored them.

Of course she did.

The actress finally took center stage.

“I am being painted as a monster.” She said.

No one interrupted her.

“Yes I have made mistakes.”

More silence.

The room listened, because despite everything, Eva Sterling was still charismatic. Still persuasive.

“But I am not responsible for every bad thing that has happened to these people.”

For a brief moment, I could almost feel the room considering her words.

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Almost believing them.

Almost.

Then I stood.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Looked directly at her.

And said:

“Then perhaps we should discuss only the things you are responsible for.”

Silence.

Absolute silence.

Eva stared at me.

For one second.

Two.

Three.

Then she sat down.

Because she had no answer.

None.

One of her attorneys attempted to recover.

“Perhaps both parties should consider discussing settlement options.”

I answered immediately.

“No.”

The attorney blinked.

I repeated it.

“No.”

The judge looked at me.

I held his gaze.

“This matter belongs in court.”

And that was the end of that discussion.

The hearing continued briefly.

Schedules were established.

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HAFTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE CLAIRES POV

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Discovery deadlines were discussed.

Future proceedings were arranged.

Then finally-

The hearing ended.

And the most important thing had happened.

The case survived.

Eva failed to stop it.

The machine kept moving.

Outside the building, chaos waited.

Reporters.

Cameras.

Questions.

Microphones.

Noise.

So much noise.

Eva emerged surrounded by her attorneys.

Trying to leave.

Trying to preserve what remained of her dignity.

Then a reporter shouted:

“Ms. Sterling!”

The crowd surged.

Another question followed immediately.

“Did you really orchestrate Lucian Dhark’s attempted murder?”

Eva froze.