The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 326

The judge allowed the defense attorney to continue, but the atmosphere in the courtroom had changed.

The easy confidence he had displayed earlier was gone. He spoke more carefully now, choosing his words as though every sentence might be used against him.

“Your Honor, the defense maintains that it is unfair for the allegations against Ms. Sterling to be treated as established facts before the court has had the opportunity to examine all the relevant evidence,” he stated. “My client disputes the claim that she fabricated her pregnancy, and she denies the allegation that she deliberately misrepresented the circumstances of her miscarriage.”

He paused, glancing briefly at Eva before facing the judge again.

“This is a good woman—who has lost her entire career because of this scandal. She has made bad decisions, but she is vulnerable! She is upright!” He said, gesturing towards Eva.

Everyone was listening very closely.

“She simply maintains that Mr. Dhark behaved aggressively toward her. And all I ask is that the court to allow these matters to be examined fairly rather than permitting the plaintiff to define my client’s character before her defense has been heard.”

I wrote down his final sentence, although I hardly needed the reminder.

That was exactly what he intended to do: turn the case into a question of character, make Eva appear to be a vulnerable woman being persecuted by a powerful billionaire and the wife whose marriage she had disrupted.

It was a familiar strategy. And, under different circumstances, it might have worked.

But we had more than Lucian’s word against Eva’s.

We had Dr. Ramon’s word too. We had proof of payment. We had the messages recovered from Hart’s phone, along with a sequence of events that became increasingly difficult to explain away the closer one examined it.

The judge folded his hands on the bench. “Mr. Moore, no one is preventing your client from presenting her defense. However, the court will not accept repeated allegations as proof of their own validity. When the relevant evidence is presented, you will have the opportunity to challenge it. Until then, I expect both parties to exercise restraint.”

“Understood, Your Honor.”

“Ms. Moreau?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Your client’s claims must be established through admissible evidence. I will not permit either side to use this proceeding to launch personal attacks against the other.”

“Understood.”

I sat down.

Beside me, Jonathan leaned closer. “You nearly got yourself reprimanded,” he whispered.

“I noticed.”

“You also nearly made him lose his temper.”

I glanced toward Eva’s attorney, and my mouth twitched.

“He’ll recover.”

Jonathan suppressed a smile. “I’m sure he will.”

I returned my attention to the bench. The judge was reviewing his notes, and Eva had leaned toward her attorney to whisper something. He listened without looking at her, then murmured a response that made her sit back in her chair.

Whatever he had said, she did not like it.

For the next several minutes, the court discussed the schedule for presenting the remaining evidence. The judge confirmed that the next hearing would address the disputed pregnancy, the alleged miscarriage, and the accusations of physical abuse in greater detail.

Both sides would have the opportunity to present supporting evidence, challenge its reliability, and question the witnesses relevant to those claims.

The defense would be allowed to contest our interpretation of the medical records, and we would be allowed to demonstrate why those records could not be trusted.

And when the issue of the alleged assault would be debated in court, Eva would have to support her accusations with more than a carefully rehearsed account.

I couldn’t wait.

Not because I wanted to humiliate her—I had long since stopped believing that humiliating Eva would accomplish anything meaningful.

I didn’t even know if it was possible. She had spent years turning other people’s pain into entertainment, and I suspected she would survive almost any public disgrace as long as she could convince herself she was still the main character.

No, I wanted something more lasting. Justice.

I wanted the truth established in a way she couldn’t simply talk her way out of it.

I wanted Lucian’s name cleared. I wanted the damage to his reputation, his business, and his life acknowledged for what it was.

I wanted the same for everyone else she had managed to take something away from, including Elise Sinclair.

And I wanted Eva to understand that she could no longer destroy people and expect them to remain silent.

“Court is adjourned until the next scheduled hearing.”

The judge’s announcement pulled me from my thoughts.

Chairs scraped against the floor as people began gathering their belongings. Reporters hurried toward the doors, already preparing their next round of headlines.

I closed my file and slid the documents into my briefcase. That’s when I noticed a text from Nathaniel—he had left earlier due to a work emergency.

Across the aisle, Eva stood with her attorney. For a moment, our eyes met.

She looked exhausted now. The polished composure, the immaculate posture, the little smile she had worn when she entered the courtroom had all begun to fade.

But there was still something defiant in her gaze. She wanted me to know that she wasn’t finished.

I gave her a small, deliberate smile.

Because I wasn’t finished either. L

“Claire.”

I turned to find Jonathan waiting beside me.

“Are you all right?” He asked.

I nodded. “I’m fine.”

He studied my face. “You know you don’t have to fight this court battle personally.”

I sighed. “I know.”

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