The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 227

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN_LUCIAN’S POV

The room was quiet again.

Too quiet.

The steady rhythm of the heart monitor filled the silence as I stared at the ceiling, trying to convince myself I wasn’t dreaming.

I was alive, somehow.

That last encounter with Hart had been a close shave. Very close.

Now every breath pulled at my stitches.

Every heartbeat reminded me of the knife he had buried beneath my ribs.

I turned my head slowly.

Claire was gone because the detective had asked her to step outside while he took my statement.

She had looked reluctant to leave.

She’d glanced back twice before disappearing through the door.

I closed my eyes, allowing myself to see it again.

Her face.

Her tears.

Claire had cried because of me.

Not because it was expected.

She had actually broken down.

I had seen Claire angry. Cold. Disappointed. Heartbroken.

But seeing her break down in tears, completely shattered, was always the worst.

The detective produced a notebook and a recorder.

He offered me an apologetic smile.

“I’m sorry to bother you so soon, Mr. Dhark.”

My throat still burned from the breathing tube they’d removed earlier.

I swallowed painfully.

“Ask.”

He nodded, switched on the recorder and placed it beside my bed.

“For the record, state your name.”

“Lucian Dhark.”

“And do you understand you’re giving this statement voluntarily?”

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HAPIE WOHONGSH) AND TWENTY SEVEN, LOCIANS POV

+15 Berus

“I do.”

He looked down at his notes.

“Let’s begin with why you left the hospital.”

I almost smiled.

“Because I was reckless and spontaneous.”

The detective looked up. “I’ve already had that lecture from everyone else.”

A faint chuckle escaped him before he regained his composure.

“You believed Mr. Sullivan would come after you.”

“I knew he would.”

“So you used yourself as bait.”

“Yes.”

He scribbled something down.

“Walk me through everything.”

So I told him.

From the moment I’d arrived at the abandoned construction site.

The phone call to the journalist, the deliberate leak, waiting alone for hours, the pain growing worse as the afternoon turned into evening.

Then Hart’s arrival.

How he stepped from the shadows as though he owned the place.

The conversation.

The fight.

The knife.

I spoke slowly, stopping only when my lungs protested.

The detective never interrupted. All he did was write, and occasionally ask me brief questions to clarify something.

Eventually he asked quietly, “When did you realize he intended to kill you?”

“When he smiled.”

He frowned. “The knife?”

I shook my head.

“No.”

I could still see Hart’s face- calm, almost cheerful.

“He didn’t come there hoping I’d die.” I met the detective’s eyes. “He came expecting it.”

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HATTER TWO SONCRETE AND TWENTY LIVEN GRAN POV

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Silence filled the room.

He continued writing.

“What did he say that stood out to you?”

I thought for a moment.

There had been so many things.

The insults, the threats, the gloating.

Then one sentence came back with perfect clarity.

“‘Eva would’ve stopped me before.””

The detective looked up.

I continued.

“Then he smiled, and said ‘Now she finally understands what has to be done.””

The detective stopped writing completely. His pen hovered above the page.

“Can you repeat that?”

I did-word for word.

The detective remained silent for several long seconds, before he finally asked,

“Do you believe Ms. Sterling actually authorized the attack?”

I looked toward the window.

“No.”

His eyebrows rose.

“No?”

“I don’t believe she authorized the attack on me. But the attack on Margot Sinclair, Claire Moreau and even

Nathaniel Vale…”

The mere thought of the nightmare they had all lived because of Eva made my skin crawl.

“…that I believe she authorized.”

“I don’t think Hart was quoting Eva at the abandoned site.” I said. “I think he was convincing himself.”

The detective slowly lowered his pen. “Explain.”

I tried sitting up a bit straighter, but couldn’t.

“Hart doesn’t follow orders anymore.” I stated. “He follows whatever version of Eva exists inside his own head.”

“The woman he worships. The woman who can do no wrong. He calls her his beacon.” I said, letting out a brief, bitter chuckle.

“If reality doesn’t match that image…” I shrugged as much as my injuries allowed. “Then he changes reality.”

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HARTH TWO HUNDRED AND WENDY SEVIN FUCIAN’S POV

+15 Bens

The detective nodded thoughtfully.

“That aligns with what we’ve been seeing during his interrogation.”

I wasn’t surprised.

Hart Sullivan hadn’t simply become dangerous. He’d become untethered.

The detective closed his notebook. “There’s something else.” He said.

I waited. “Hart has refused legal counsel.”

That surprised me. “He has?”

“Completely.”

Great. He’s not just a criminal, but a deranged man.

“What does he want?” I enquired.

The detective’s expression darkened. “He keeps demanding one thing.”

“What?”

“To see Eva Sterling.”

“Don’t let them.” I spoke quickly, before the detective could even finish saying her name.

He stared at me. “You feel that strongly?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“If she sees him now, she’ll manipulate him.” I answered firmly, hoping he would understand how important it is to keep those two apart.

I paused.

“If he sees her…”

“…he’ll protect her.”

“Either way, the truth suffers.”

The detective stared at me for a moment before nodding.

“We’re already considering keeping them separated.”

“Good.”

He stood. “You’ve been extremely helpful, Mr. Dhark. I’ll let you rest.”

He switched off the recorder and quietly left the room.

The silence returned, but for a moment.

The door opened again, and this time it was Tessa who hurried inside.

The moment she saw me awake, her shoulders sagged with relief.

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WATER TWESMUNDSED AND TWENTY SEVEN LUCIANS POV

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“Oh, thank God.” She exclaimed.

Her eyes were red like she hadn’t slept in days.

She stopped beside the bed. “I’m so sorry.”

I frowned slightly. “For what?”

“I should’ve stopped you. You were barely out of surgery, I should’ve called security.” She went on and on. “I should’ve-”

“Tessa.”

Finally, she stopped talking. “You warned me.”

She stared at me.

“I ignored you, and that’s on me.” I stated.

I managed a tired smile.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“You scared me, Mr. Dhark.”

“I know.”

“I thought…” Her voice cracked. “I thought you’d die.”

I reached over slowly and squeezed her hand. “I almost did.” I said. “I’m afraid I’m not that easy to get rid of.”

She laughed weakly through her tears. “I hate when you’re honest.”

“So do I.”

She wiped her eyes before pulling herself together. “The board.”

I groaned. “What now?”

“They tried replacing you.”

Yes, Claire had mentioned it.

“What exactly happened?”

“They called an emergency meeting. They wanted an interim CEO.” Tessa narrated.

I sighed. “They moved fast. Admittedly faster than I thought they would.”

“They tried.” She added, a proud smile plastered on her face, “And they failed.”

“Margot and Claire.”

Tessa laughed. “You won’t believe it.”

Then she started narrating what had happened. “She convinced your board that you signed emergency succession documents after your mother’s death.”

Tessa continued. “Apparently nobody could replace you without months of legal review.”

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MAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN LUCIANS POV

Silence.

Then I burst into laughter..

I immediately regretted it as pain exploded through my ribs.

1 winced.

Tessa looked horrified. “I’m so sorry!”