The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR CLAIRE’S POV

The house was quiet the next morning.

Not the fragile quiet that followed an argument, nor the tense quiet that lingered after a scandal.

This silence felt practiced – as though the walls themselves had agreed to forget what had happened the previous night.

But the truth was, no one could forget. Not with every news outlet and paper, reporting details of our failed marriage and legal battle, over and over again.

Sunlight spilled across the breakfast terrace, warm and gentle against the marble floor. Somewhere in the garden, water moved softly through the fountain.

It almost felt peaceful.

Almost.

Lucian had already left for work. I knew without even asking. I could always feel his absence.

Then I realized something strange.

I no longer moved through this mansion as its mistress.

I moved through it carefully, like a guest.

I had just reached for my coffee when I sensed someone behind me.

“I was wondering when you would come down.” Eva called out to me.

Her voice was calm, almost warm.

I turned slowly to look at her.

She stood near the entrance to the terrace, dressed impeccably despite the early hour.

Surprisingly, there was no hostility in her expression. No visible irritation.

If anything, she looked… pleased.

She walked closer and poured herself a cup of tea before sitting across from me, as though this were an ordinary morning between family.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

“I heard about the court filing,” she finally said.

It sounded like an observation, not an accusation. It didn’t even sound like she was angry.

I held her gaze. “I assumed you would.”

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BOLDEN COUS CLAIRES POV

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“I’m impressed, Claire.” She remarked, smiling faintly. “You’ve learned quickly,” she continued. “Most people spend years understanding how power works.”

I raised my left brow as she spoke.

This was new. For the first time, Eva wasn’t attacking me-

She was studying me.

And that made me more uncomfortable than anything else could.

“You think challenging the prenup gives you freedom,” she said lightly, stirring her tea. “But all you’ve really done is tie yourself to this family longer.”

I didn’t reply.

She looked out toward the garden, so casually, as if we were discussing the weather.

“The longer court cases drag on, the more media attention grows. Every hearing becomes a spectacle.” Her gaze returned to mine. “You won’t be Claire Moreau again. You’ll forever be Lucian Dhark’s ex-wife fighting a messy divorce.”

Her tone held no cruelty. Only certainty.

“And when it ends,” she added softly, “that will still be the name people remember. Not Claire the lawyer,

Claire the ex-wife. Claire the scandal.”

I felt my chest tighten, but I refused to look away.

Eva set her teacup down carefully.

“The world is watching you now,” she continued. “Not with admiration, but with curiosity. They’re waiting to see how badly this breaks you.”

I let out a slow breath. “If you came here to intimidate me-”

“Oh no,” she interrupted gently. “If I wanted to intimidate you, Claire, you would already be afraid.”

The calmness of her voice unsettled me. The confidence in her tone, the certainty… I almost believed her.

She finally rose from her seat, smoothing invisible creases from her dress.

“The foundation is launching a new initiative next month,” she said casually. “A motherhood program. As you know, everything involving me includes global media coverage, interviews, and charity partnerships.”

My stomach tightened before I understood why.

“Lucian will be heavily involved,” she added.

The implication of it all slowly settled.

Public discussions about heirs and family legacy.

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40 JORNALAIRES POV

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Marriage expectations.

Courtrooms.

Questions being thrown at me.

Eva turned toward me again, her facial expression almost sympathetic.

“Court doesn’t punish men like Lucian, Claire,” she said quietly. “It punishes women who stayed too long.”

The words landed harder than shouting ever could.

She paused at the doorway, as if she had just remembered something insignificant.

Then she said the most cruel words I had heard in a long time. She spoke gently – almost kindly.

“Court will give you attention, Claire… but it won’t give you what this family actually wanted from you – a

child.”

She didn’t wait for my reaction.

She simply walked away.

Her footsteps faded down the corridor until the terrace fell silent again.

For a long time, I didn’t move.

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