The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 229

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-NINE_EVA’S POV

I wiped my face with trembling hands.

No.

Enough.

I couldn’t arrive looking like this.

I took several deep breaths before opening my compact mirror.

Mascara, lipstick, foundation.

Everything needed fixing.

Since I didn’t have any makeup artist with me, I did it myself.

By the time the car stopped outside Sinclair & Co…

Eva Sterling had returned.

Or at least the version of her the world expected to see.

The conference room was already full when I arrived.

Claire, Jonathan Fisher and Laurel Falcon were seated along with several other attorneys.

So was the judge and my own legal team.

Everyone was already seated.

Claire looked up as I entered.

For a moment I barely recognized her.

She looked exhausted- dark circles rested beneath her eyes.

She’d clearly been sleeping even less than even I had.

But there was nothing soft about her expression. Nothing uncertain or fragile.

Her eyes met mine only briefly, then returned to the documents before her.

I frowned.

Something had changed.

And convincing her to persuade Lucian to settle outside court might not be as easy as I had imagined.

The hearing began almost immediately.

My lead attorney stood first.

“Your Honor, before we proceed further, my client wishes to explore the possibility of resolving this matter privately.”

The judge gestured for him to continue.

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He spoke about unnecessary publicity. Lengthy litigation, the emotional strain on both parties and financial

expense.

He proposed confidential negotiations as we had already discussed.

A settlement. A chance for everyone to move forward without further complications.

Claire was already standing before he’d even finished.

“No.”

One word.

Calm.

Professional.

Absolute.

My attorney tried again. “My client is willing to negotiate in good faith.”

“No.”

“Perhaps your client would at least consider-”

“My client will not.” Claire retorted, like she was irritated by the mere suggestion.

Not even a second of hesitation.

My stomach tightened.

I’slowly rose from my chair.

My attorney whispered, “Eva…”

But I ignored him. “I’d like to speak.”

The judge nodded once.

I folded my hands in front of me. “I know what everyone thinks of me.”

I paused, letting the silence settle.

“This case has destroyed my career. My fans hate me.” I stated, my voice coming out cracked. “I receive threats every day. My reputation…”

My voice cracked again.

I swallowed, gathering my composure. “My reputation is gone.”

I swallowed hard, then continued. “I cry myself to sleep every night.”

That part wasn’t even difficult to say anymore. Because it was true.

“I know my life will never be the same.”

I looked directly at Claire. “But I’m willing to retract every statement I made against Lucian Dhark.”

Several heads lifted.

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“I’ll publicly admit I was wrong. I’ll accept responsibility.” I declared. “And I’ll settle for one hundred and fifty million dollars.”

The room remained completely silent.

“My career will be over, yes. I’ll be called a liar. A fraud.” I looked around the room. “I know I’ll lose everything I’ve ever worked for.”

I lowered my voice. “But if it means I can begin again…”

‘…I’m willing.”

For one hopeful moment…

Nobody spoke.

Then Claire stood.

“My client has already lived the life you’re describing.”

I frowned.

She continued calmly. “For months, he was publicly humiliated.”

“His reputation was destroyed. His business suffered immensely.” She stated.

“And every bit of it was built upon lies.”

She looked directly at me, her eyes burning with anger. Or hatred. Or both.

“So before you ask anyone to pity your suffering…”

“…remember whose suffering created it.”

I felt every eye in the room shift toward me.

But Claire still wasn’t finished. “I know exactly what public hatred feels like.”

Her voice remained steady.

“You released a fabricated infertility report, passing off your own diagnosis as mine.” She spoke through gritted teeth. “You encouraged the world to believe I was somehow less of a woman.”

“I became the target of relentless abuse and my private pain became public entertainment.”

She paused. “And I wasn’t your only victim.”

Then came the names.

Elise Sinclair, Dr. Ramon, and many others whose lives had been caught in the chaos I’d created.

One after another, until even I couldn’t ignore how long the list had become.

Finally Claire met my gaze again.

“You speak of starting over, but so did they.”

My throat tightened.

“My client doesn’t need your money, Ms. Sterling.” She spoke almost gently.

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“He certainly doesn’t need one hundred and fifty million dollars- a fraction of what you took from him.”

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