The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 42

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO_ CLAIRE’S POV

The courthouse steps were already crowded when my car pulled up.

Cameras flashed before I even opened the door.

For a moment I sat still, my fingers curled tightly around the strap of my bag as I watched the reporters through the tinted glass. They all held microphones, phones and cameras, pointed toward the entrance like weapons waiting to fire.

I couldn’t bring myself to leave the car.

Five years ago, I had walked into rooms like this on Lucian’s arm.

Back then the cameras had adored us.

Now the same cameras were waiting to watch me fall. 1

Margot glanced over from the seat beside me. “Ready?”

Not even close.

But I didn’t say that.

Instead, I exhaled slowly and pushed the car door open.

The noise hit me instantly.

“Mrs. Dhark!”

“Claire, is it true you’re asking for half of Dhark Holdings?”

“Did your husband’s wealth influence the marriage?”

“Are the allegations financially motivated?”

The questions came from every direction I looked, loud and relentless.

I kept walking.

Margot’s hand rested lightly at my back, guiding me up the steps and through the courthouse doors before the reporters could close in.

The noise faded as the heavy doors shut tight behind us.

Inside, the lobby felt unnaturally quiet. But the whispers followed us as we walked anyway.

I didn’t need to hear the words to understand the tone:

Curiosity, speculation and a ton of judgement.

Lucian Dhark had been one of the most untouchable men in the country for years.

1/8

TAIME POL

+25 Bonus

Now his wife was accusing him of something serious enough to land us both in court. Of course people

were watching.

Margot leaned slightly closer to me as we approached the courtroom doors.

“Remember,” she repeated quietly, “whatever they say today, you don’t react.”

I nodded.

But a familiar unease had already settled in my chest.

Because this wasn’t just a courtroom.

It was Lucian’s kind of battlefield.

And I had watched him win on battlefields like this before.

Just never against me.

Margot pushed the doors open and we entered with two other lawyers.

The courtroom was already half full.

My gaze found him almost immediately.

Lucian sat at the defense table, surrounded by an army of attorneys.

His posture was relaxed and composed as always, with his left arm resting lightly on the chair beside him as he spoke quietly with Nathaniel.

Even from across the room, he looked perfectly composed.

Untouched by the tension filling the space.

Nathaniel turned a page in the file in front of him, murmuring something to Lucian that made him nod slightly.

Then Lucian looked up.

That’s when our eyes met, just long enough to acknowledge my presence.

The contact lasted no more than a second, but it was enough to send bolts of current coursing through my body.

And I couldn’t tell why.

Then he returned his attention to the document in front of him.

Like I was simply another matter on the day’s schedule.

Margot guided me toward our table.

2/8

TWO CLAIRES POV

+25 Bonus

“Sit,” she murmured.

I took my seat, smoothing my shaking hands against the table, willing them to be still.

A few minutes later, the courtroom doors closed.

The bailiff’s voice rang out through the room.

“All rise!”

The judge entered, taking his place behind the bench as everyone stood.

Once the room settled again, the proceedings began.

Nathaniel rose first.

His suit was immaculate, his posture was perfect and his tone calm as he addressed the court.

“Your Honor, we appreciate the opportunity to clarify several matters raised by the plaintiff.”

I watched him carefully.

Nathaniel had always been composed, but today there was a sharper edge to his focus.

He wasn’t here as Lucian’s friend. He was here as Lucian’s lawyer.

And that meant defending him by any means the law allowed.

Nathaniel clasped his hands in front of him, then began speaking.

“My client does not deny that the marriage experienced difficulties,” he said evenly. “But the timeline of the plaintiff’s claims raises important questions.”

He paused- just long enough for the courtroom to settle into silence. Long enough for people to give

him their undivided attention.

“Mrs. Dhark remained in this marriage for five years.”

Several heads turned in my direction.

“During those five years, she enjoyed the full privileges of Mr. Dhark’s wealth, social position, and corporate influence.”

Nathaniel’s voice never rose. If anything, it grew calmer.

“Yet we are now asked to believe that the marriage was intolerable.”

Another small pause followed.

“If that were the case, Your Honor… why did Mrs. Dhark remain in it for so long?”

Nathaniel didn’t need to say the word.

3/8

Gold digger.

It was well and truly implied.

+25 Bonus

I kept my expression neutral, listening to Margot’s pen tapping against her notebook before she rose.

“Your Honor, my client’s reasons for remaining in the marriage are both personal and complex. Reducing them to financial implication is inappropriate, misleading and offensive.”

The judge nodded slightly.

“Noted.”

Nathaniel inclined his head politely before continuing.

“Of course, Your Honor. Which is why we would like to establish certain facts.” He said, already stepping

closer to the witness stand.

“Mrs. Dhark.” He called, gesturing towards the stand.

I stood and slowly moved to the stand. I could hear my own footsteps in the quietness of the courtroom, and worse, I could feel the eyes and cameras on me as I walked.

Finally, I got to the stand, sat, and folded my hands together.

Nathaniel approached. “Mrs. Dhark, during the marriage, did you reside in the Dhark mansion?”

“Yes.” I answered.

“That residence is valued at approximately twenty million dollars. Is that correct?”

Margot rose immediately.

“Objection! Relevance.”

Nathaniel didn’t even look at her.

“It speaks directly to the financial environment of the marriage, Your Honor.” He said, maintaining eye contact with the judge and the judge alone.

The judge considered for a moment.

“Overruled. Answer the question.” He stated.

My voice remained steady.

“Yes.” I answered.

Nathaniel nodded. “And during the marriage, did you maintain independent employment?”

“No.”

4/8

TWO AIRES POV

+25 Bonus

“So your lifestyle during that time was financially supported by Mr. Dhark?”

I paused.

Whispers spread across the courtroom before I answered.

“Yes.” I finally said.

Nathaniel made a small note, and so did the judge.

Then Nathaniel shifted direction.

“Mrs. Dhark, records indicate that you sought psychological counseling during the marriage.”

I felt the shift immediately.

“Yes.” I said through gritted teeth.

“Was this before or after you began discussing divorce with friends?”

Margot stood again.

“Objection!”

The judge raised a hand, dismissing her.

“I’ll allow limited questioning.” He said.

Nathaniel’s tone remained perfectly even. He had gained momentum.

“Mrs. Dhark, would you please describe your emotional state during that period as stable?”

My fingers tightened slightly together. “I was under stress.” I answered honestly.

Nathaniel nodded thoughtfully.

“Of course.”

Then he asked the question.

“Is it possible that what you now describe as emotional distress was actually dissatisfaction with the limitations of your marriage?”

I frowned faintly, refusing to answer that question.

Nathaniel continued anyways. “Or perhaps dissatisfaction with the financial structure of the

relationship?”

There it was.

The accusation without the word.

That I hadn’t left because I was unhappy, but because I wanted more.

5/8

LAINTS POV

+25 Bonus

For a moment anger surged through me so suddenly, it almost startled me.

Then I heard Margot’s earlier warning echoing in my mind.

“Don’t react.”

The courtroom was completely silent.

Nathaniel watched me calmly, waiting.

I forced myself to breathe once before answering.

“No.” I answered.

The single word landed softly, but the tension in the room rose significantly.

Nathaniel studied me for a moment, then stepped back.

Across the room, Lucian hadn’t moved. He sat exactly as he had at the beginning of the hearing, one hand resting against the table, watching me with quiet focus.

Not angry, not concerned, simply observing.

Measuring the case, measuring me.

Nathaniel returned to the defense table briefly before rising again.

“Your Honor, with the court’s permission, I would like to submit an additional document into the record.”

Margot immediately straightened.

“On what grounds?” She asked.

An attempt to combat whatever Nathaniel and Lucian were about to throw at us.

Nathaniel’s voice remained calm as he spoke. “This document relates directly to the plaintiff’s claims regarding financial restriction within the marriage.” 1

The clerk carried the document to the judge, then copies of it started being distributed to everyone else.

One landed in front of Margot.

Another in front of me.

I glanced down at it, and my stomach tightened instantly.

It was a financial summary, consisting of itemized transfers.