The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 236

AND THIRTY SIX CLARE SPOV

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CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX_CLAIRE’S POV

The courtroom doors closed with a heavy thud.

The bailiff’s voice rang through the room almost immediately.

“All rise.”

Every conversation died. Chairs scraped backward. Every eye turned toward the bench as the judge entered.

The jury followed shortly afterward, filing into the jury box one by one.

I had spent days reviewing their backgrounds with Margot, Jonathan and Laurel, searching for anything that suggested bias.

Today, they were no longer names in files.

They were twelve ordinary people whose opinions would determine the outcome of the biggest case of my career

I watched them carefully as they settled into their seats.

Some of them looked curious. Others looked normal. But they all looked professional.

One older gentleman immediately began taking notes.

A young woman in the front row studied both legal teams with remarkable attentiveness.

Good.

I wanted them paying attention.

Because the truth that would soon be revealed deserved their full attention.

The judge adjusted his glasses before looking across the courtroom.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, this matter concerns serious allegations of fraud, defamation, conspiracy and intentional misconduct.”

His voice carried easily through the courtroom.

“You are instructed to consider only the evidence presented before you.” He stated. “No speculation, no outside influence.”

He continued. “You will decide this case based solely upon facts.”

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Every juror nodded.

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Then the judge himself turned toward both legal tables.

“Counsel. We will begin with opening statements.”

He looked toward Eva’s attorneys. “The defense may proceed.”

One of Eva’s lawyers rose confidently- her lead attorney.

He was experienced.

Older than me.

Measured.

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WOHNENTE AND FORTY THAMES POR

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The kind of attorney who rarely wasted words.

He walked before the jury with practiced ease. “Ladies and gentlemen…”

“My client is not here to convince you that she is perfect.” He paused. “In truth, she has made mistakes.”

Eva kept her gaze lowered, adopting a remorseful expression.

Her lead attorney continued, his voice carrying through the room with the ease of a man who had been in cour more times than one could count

“But making mistakes does not make someone a criminal.” He said. “Over the coming days, you will hear emotional testimony.”

“You will hear accusations.”

He paused, then turned towards our table. “You will hear stories of broken relationships.”

“But emotion is not evidence.”

Again, he gestured toward us.

“My learned friends would have you believe Ms. Sterling orchestrated a vast conspiracy touching nearly every unfortunate event in their clients’ lives.”

He gave a small, sympathetic smile. “The evidence simply does not support that conclusion.”

He began counting points on his fingers. “There is no direct evidence that Ms. Sterling instructed Hart Sullivan to commit acts of violence.”

One.

“No evidence that she ordered any attack.

Two.

“No evidence that she encouraged murder.”

Three.

He allowed those words to linger before continuing. “You will also hear about an affair.”

He glanced briefly toward Lucian’s empty chair in the public gallery. “An affair involving consenting adults. And a marriage that unfortunately failed.”

“Messy emotions and poor decisions.” He added. “But poor decisions do not automatically become legal liability.”

He looked back toward the jury. And perhaps most importantly…

“You will discover that this case is driven less by justice… and more by revenge.”

For the first time since he’d begun speaking, he looked directly at me.

“As everyone knows, my opposing counsel has every personal reason to hate my client.” He said, then turned back to the judge.

“And personal feelings have a dangerous way of disguising themselves as legal arguments.”

He displayed a polite smile. “We ask only that you keep an open mind.”

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TWO HUNDRED AND TORTY SIX CLASES POV

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Finally, he inclined his head then returned to his seat.

The courtroom remained silent.

I noticed two jurors exchange thoughtful glances.

Eva’s attorney had done exactly what I expected.

He had been reasonable, professional and careful. Very careful.

If I hadn’t known the truth, I might even have believed him.

The judge turned toward our table. “Ms. Moreau.”

I stood, smoothed my jacket once, then walked toward the jury.

No notes, no podium. Just twelve people.

For several seconds I said nothing.

Silence had a way of demanding attention.

When I was certain I had it, I spoke.

“This case is not about a celebrity who fell from grace.”

Every juror looked directly at me.

“It is about the ordinary people she pushed off the cliff to stay famous.”

The words settled over the courtroom intensely.

C

I began walking slowly. “This case is about choices, not accidents. Not misunderstandings or unfortunate coincidences.”

“Choices.” I said, then took a stand beside the evidence monitor.

“You will hear how a false medical report convinced a woman that she could never have children.”

“You will hear how fabricated domestic violence allegations nearly destroyed an innocent man’s reputation and business.”

“You will hear about financial deception and manipulation. Conspiracy and calculated reputational destruction carried out over years.”

I looked briefly toward Eva, who wasn’t looking at me.

She was staring at the table.

I turned my attention back to the jury. “The defense has suggested this case is driven by revenge.”

I nodded slowly. “I respectfully disagree.”

“This case is driven by accountability, because choices have consequences.”

I let my gaze move across every member of the jury.

“The truth should not become a lie

simply because someone famous tells it.”

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The courtroom felt impossibly still after I had spoken.

Even the reporters seated in the press gallery had stopped typing.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Eva finally looking up.

Her face had lost what little color it had- she knew.

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