The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 243

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE EVA’S POV

Hart didn’t laugh with me.

Instead, watched me- longer than normal.

Long enough to make me strangely uncomfortable.

“You wouldn’t,” he said quietly.

It wasn’t a statement.

In fact, it wasn’t even a question.

It sounded more like… hope.

I managed to smile, whilst keeping my voice gentle. “Of course I wouldn’t.”

He continued looking at me, like he was searching my face. Waiting.

When I didn’t say anything else, he spoke again. L

“You’d never leave me… would you?” He asked softly- a rare thing for Hart.

The question caught me completely off guard.

Not because it was difficult to answer- he had never been difficult to fool- but because it wasn’t a question I had expected to hear.

I leaned forward slightly. “You should know me better than that.”

I kept my answer deliberately vague. It was the safest one I could give.

That way, the detectives behind the glass couldn’t accuse me of anything.

Hart should have been satisfied, but for some reason, he kept looking at me.

For the first time since I’d known him, he wasn’t simply accepting everything I said.

It seemed like he was studying me- really studying me.

My eyes flickered briefly toward the mirrored window.

Hart’s gaze followed mine before returning to me.

“You keep looking over there.” He pointed out.

My heart skipped.

“I was just wondering how much longer they’ll give us.” I answered quickly. Probably too quickly.

“Mmm.”

He didn’t sound convinced.

Silence stretched between us for some time. To fill it, I asked, “How are they treating you?”

“They ask the same questions every day.”

“And?”

“I give them the same answers.”

Relief washed over me.

Good.

Very good.

“They’re wasting their time.” He continued. “They think eventually I’ll get tired.”

“They don’t understand loyalty.” Hart stated, smiling faintly. “I do.”

Those were dangerous words, considering that the detectives could hear us.

I mouthed an “I know.”

His expression softened again.

I checked the clock on the wall, almost unconsciously.

There wasn’t much time left anymore.

Tomorrow…

Tomorrow we would be back in court.

Claire would bring forth another witness.

Another chance for everything to fall apart.

“If things go badly…” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Hart frowned. “If things go badly?”

I immediately recovered.

“I mean…with the media. The public.” I corrected myself. “You know how they are.”

He continued staring at me. “And if they don’t?”

I blinked. “What?”

“If public opinion doesn’t change.” His voice remained calm. “What then?”

I forced another smile. “I’ll rebuild.” I said. “I always do.”

He nodded slowly.

“If they offered you freedom…” He started, lowering his voice as if that would stop the detectives from hearing us.

My stomach tightened.

“…in exchange for me…”

The room suddenly felt impossibly still.

“…would you take it?”

I stared at him.

For a moment, I genuinely didn’t know what to say.

Where had that come from?

Why would he even ask that?

I laughed softly.

“Hart… you know me.”

“I thought I did.” He spoke so quietly, I almost missed it.

I reached for the safest response. “You’ve always trusted me.

“I still do.” Another pause. “But…”

His eyes never left mine.

“…you trust yourself more than anyone.

I frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged, rubbing his cuffed hands together. “I’ve just been thinking.”

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