The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 283

“She suspects.”

The words settled over the room.

I stared at Hart.

For the first time since we’d walked into the interrogation room, I forgot about the plea bargain.

I forgot about the evidence and the victory we’d been waiting months for.

All I could think about was Eva.

‘She suspected.’

“How?” I asked.

Hart’s eyes remained on mine.

“Eva isn’t stupid.”

“I know.”

“She knows I haven’t been defending her the way I used to.” His jaw tightened. “She knows Sinclair came to see me.“

My stomach twisted.

“And she knows you called me?”

He shrugged. “She may not know exactly what I’ve decided yet, but I’m sure she suspects.”

I glanced at Margot, who was watching Hart carefully.

“How much does she know?”

“Enough.”

That answer did nothing to calm me.

I folded my arms in front of my chest. “You’ve known her for almost ten years.”

Hart nodded.

“You know her better than most people do.”

“I suppose.”

I studied his expression. “What do you think she’ll do?”

Hart didn’t answer immediately.

So I waited. We were in no rush— after all, we had two weeks before another court hearing.

“Hart.” I called when I started growing impatient.

His eyes dropped to the table. For several seconds, he remained silent.

Then he looked up at me again. “Something desperate.” He said.

A chill ran down my spine.

Margot leaned forward, interested. “Why?”

Hart’s expression hardened. “Because she doesn’t have many options left, and she knows it.”

He paused. “And the Eva I know doesn’t accept losing.”

I swallowed. “What does that mean?”

Hart stared directly at me.

“A last act.”

I didn’t even realize when my fingers tightened around the edge of my chair.

“A last act to ruin you.” He added.

The room suddenly felt colder.

“Why me?”

Hart didn’t hesitate. “Because she has always seen you as a pest.” He revealed.

I blinked. “A pest?”

“An obstacle.” His voice was flat. “The woman who got in her way.”

I felt something twist painfully inside my chest.

Hart continued. “She believes you stole her dreams.”

I almost laughed. “Her dreams?”

God, Eva was delusional. If anyone was a thief here, it was her.

“Lucian.” Hart answered immediately. “She thinks he should have been hers.”

My jaw tightened. “Even after everything?”

“Especially after everything.” He leaned back, staring at me with curious eyes. “For years, Eva convinced herself that you were the reason she didn’t get the life she wanted.”

I looked away.

I’d heard many versions of this before. But hearing it from someone who had spent a decade beside her felt different.

“She never thought you were worthy of him,” Hart continued.

My eyes returned to his. “She thought you were a cheap replacement.”

My stomach dropped.

The word replacement’ carried too many memories.

‘A low-grade replacement.’

That was exactly what Eva had called me because she believed I didn’t measure up to her beauty, fame and success.

“Even if Eva comes after you?”

He gave a humorless smile.

“If she comes after me, she’ll fail.” He stated. “But she already knows that.”

That answer silenced me.

Margot closed her folder. “Then we’ll proceed.”

Hart nodded.

The officers appeared at the door a moment later.

As I stood, I took one last look at Hart.

I had expected to feel relief. After all, we finally had him: a witness who could tell the jury exactly how Eva operated. Someone who had been beside her for years. Someone who could connect pieces we hadn’t been able to connect ourselves.

But instead, all I felt was dread.

Because Hart hadn’t just agreed to testify. He had given me a warning— one I couldn’t stop thinking about.

“Something desperate.” He had said.

“A last act to ruin you.”

Margot and I walked out of the room side by side. For several seconds, ‘either of us spoke.

Then Margot touched my shoulder. “Don’t let him frighten you.”

I looked at her. “I’m not frightened.”

She raised an eyebrow.

I sighed in defeat. “Okay, maybe I am a little bit terrified.”

She smiled faintly. “Good.”

I frowned. “Good?”

“Fear keeps you alert.”

She began wheeling herself toward the exit. “Just don’t let it control you.”

I nodded, then followed her.

But as we stepped into the hallway, I glanced back at the closed interrogation-room door.

For the first time, I understood something I had been trying to ignore:

The trial might finally be turning in our favor, but Eva Sterling still had one thing left.

Time.

And after everything she’d already done with it…

I wasn’t sure what she would do with the little she had left.