The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 263

I studied him.

Hart Sullivan looked older than he had the last time I’d seen him.

Perhaps prison did that to people. Or perhaps guilt did.

Though I wasn’t sure Hart Sullivan possessed enough guilt to be burdened by it.

“I came because of tomorrow.”

His jaw tightened. “What about tomorrow?”

“The trial.”

“I know when the trial is.”

“Then you know you’re expected to testify.”

He looked away.

“On Eva’s behalf.”

His eyes returned to mine.

He didn’t deny it.

Instead, he said quietly:

“Claire already came to see me.”

“I know.”

“She gave me her card.”

“I know.”

“She told me to call if I changed my mind.”

I nodded.

“And you didn’t.”

“No.”

“Why?”

His expression hardened.

“Because I don’t betray people I love.”

I almost laughed. But I didn’t.

Not because the statement wasn’t absurd.

Because I suspected he genuinely believed it.

“You’ve spent months hurting people on Eva’s behalf.”

“I made my own choices.”

“Yes.”

That answer seemed to surprise him.

I leaned back slightly.

“You did.”

He watched me carefully.

“I’ve never claimed otherwise.”

“Good.”

“Because I’m not going to sit here and pretend Eva forced me to do anything.”

I nodded. “That’s the first honest thing you’ve said since I walked in.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I’ve been honest.”

“No.”

I kept my voice calm.

“You’ve been defensive.”

He looked away.

I continued.

“There is a difference.”

Silence settled between us.

Then Hart said:

“Eva never asked me to hurt anyone.”

I stared at him.

“Are you sure?”

His eyes snapped back to mine.

“Yes.”

“She never asked you to attack Lucian?”

“No.”

“She never asked you to mess with my car brakes?”

His jaw clenched.

“No.”

“Claire?”

“No.”

“Nathaniel?”

A pause.

“Not directly.”

There it was.

I didn’t react.

“Not directly?”

After a few seconds, I said: “Her lawyers are already arguing that you acted independently.”

His eyes returned to mine. “What?”

“Well, they haven’t said it explicitly yet.” I paused. “But it’s just a matter of time until they do.”

Hart’s face slowly changed.

“They’ll say you’re unstable.” I continued. “Violent, obsessed, acting out of your own emotions like a fanatic.”

He stared at me.

“They’ll make you the monster.”

His fingers tightened around the cuffs. “And Eva?”

I answered quietly. “She’ll be the woman who was unfortunate enough to know you.”

The silence that followed was deafening.

Hart looked toward the glass, then back at me.

“She wouldn’t do that.”

I smirked before I could stop myself. “Why not?”

“Because she knows what I’ve done for her.”

I didn’t say anything.

Hart swallowed. “She knows what I know.”

I caught the significance immediately.

“What exactly do you know?”

His eyes hardened again. “Nothing you can use, attorney.” He spat.

“Then why are you afraid?”

“I’m not afraid.”

“You’re protecting yourself.”

He laughed bitterly. “Everyone on this bloody earth protects themselves.”

“Exactly.”

I let the silence stretch. “So why are you protecting Eva instead of yourself?”

Hart stared at me.

For the first time since I’d entered the room, I saw something beneath his anger.

Fear.

Small. Buried. But unmistakable.

I knew then that Claire had been right.

Hart wasn’t simply considering whether to testify.

He was deciding whether Eva was still worth protecting.

And I intended to make sure he asked himself that question one more time.