The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 318

I arrived at the café twenty minutes late—deliberately, of course.

There was something satisfying about making people wait for me, particularly when they needed something I could provide.

I was wearing enormous sunglasses, a silk scarf wrapped around my hair, and a boring outfit that concealed enough of my appearance to discourage anyone from recognizing me immediately.

I had selected the café carefully. It was far enough from the courthouse to avoid the reporters who had been following the trial, but it was public enough that meeting there wouldn’t attract suspicion.

Besides, if anyone recognized me, I could always pretend I was simply having coffee.

I spotted Caroline almost immediately.

She was seated near the window, her short blonde hair falling over her shoulders. A handbag was resting on the chair beside her.

I paused to observe her.

She looked exactly as I remembered from the photographs:

Unremarkable. A little bit tacky. The sort of woman who probably spent too much time comparing herself to people she secretly envied.

I almost smiled.

And Claire once considered this her best friend. How embarrassing.

Well it wasn’t exactly surprising; they’re both insecure women. And birds of the same feather do flock together.

I approached the table carefully.

“Caroline?”

She looked up, and recognition flickered across her face immediately.

“Miss Sterling,” she grinned, rising to her feet immediately.

“Please.” I removed my sunglasses. “Call me Eva.”

I extended my hand.

She shook it with the eagerness of a caffeinated squirrel.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” I said warmly. “Traffic was dreadful.”

“It’s fine,” she nodded.

“Thank you for waiting.”

I sat opposite her and placed my sunglasses on the table.

Caroline looked nervous—that was understandable.

A few weeks ago, meeting me might have been exciting. Now, with the trial dominating the news, associating with me was becoming a questionable decision.

I intended to make sure she understood that it could also be a profitable one. And she didn’t exactly seem too difficult to manipulate.

“You look lovely,” I told her.

She glanced down at her blouse. “Thank you.”

“Have you ordered anything?”

“Just water.”

“Then let’s get something. The bill’s on me.”

I called the waiter and ordered coffee for myself and a drink of Caroline’s choice.

When he left, I leaned back in my chair and smiled at her. “So, how have you been?”

She seemed surprised by the question. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear.” AgainI smiled. “It’s been a difficult few weeks for me, as you can imagine.”

Caroline hesitated. “Yes, I can imagine.”

“It’s astonishing how quickly people turn against you. One day, they love you. The next, they behave as though you’ve personally offended every human being on the planet.”

I laughed softly. “Of course, I know the allegations are serious—I’m not pretending otherwise. But the amount of hatred I’ve received is extraordinary.”

Caroline looked at me carefully. “To be honest, I was actually surprised by all of it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You were?”

“Yes. I mean, I know what the news has been saying, and lying about a pregnancy and a miscarriage is awful, but how do they know you’re actually guilty? People are being vicious.”

A people pleaser—lovely.

I lowered my eyes briefly. “Thank you. It’s nice to hear someone say that.”

Caroline’s expression softened. “I never expected things to get this bad.”

Neither had I. But I wasn’t about to admit that.

Instead, I let out a quiet sigh. “Anyway, I didn’t invite you here so you can sit and listen to me complain about my own problems.”

“Then why did you want to see me?”

I smiled. “I’ve been curious about something, Caroline.”

I had learnt long ago that calling people by their first name evoked a sense of familiarity and safety.

And from the way Caroline smiled, it was working.

“What?”

“You and Claire were very close at university, weren’t you?”

Caroline’s expression changed.

“Yes, we were roommates.”

“At university and law school, if I remember correctly.”

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