The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 47

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN LUCIAN’S POV

When Margot announced the witness, I immediately knew that something was wrong

“A member of the Dhark household staff.”

The words had barely left her mouth before I realized who she was talking about.

Camilla

For a moment, I thought I had misheard.

Camilla had worked for my family longer than most people in that courtroom had been alive.

She had been there when my father still ran the company. She had watched the mansion change hands watched generations pass through its halls.

And now she was walking toward the witness stand, seemingly to testify against me.

To defend a woman she had just met five years ago- Claire.

The courtroom murmured softly as Camilla slow approached the stand

Camilla moved carefully, as though each step required thought I noticed her hands tremble slightly when she placed them on the rail of the stand to take the oath.

I leaned back in my chair, studying her.

Not angry. At least not yet.

Mostly, I was honestly surprised.

Beside me, Nathaniel closed the file he had been reviewing and looked up.

That was the first sign he understood the risk.

Margot Sinclair approached the stand. Her voice was calm, but deliberate as she spoke

“Camilla, how long have you worked for the Dhark family?” She asked

“More than thirty years.” Camilla replied.

Thirty years. That was long enough for anyone to deem her testimony credible, I understood that expertly well

“And during that time,” Margot continued, you worked primarily inside the Dhark residence”

Yes.

“So you were present in the household throughout the five years of Mr. and Mrs. Dhark’s marriage?”

“Yes” Camilla answered.

+25 Bonus

I rested my hands together on the table, trying to loosen the tension building up in my body.

Margot was building the foundation exactly the way I expected. The best foundation to land her point.

Establishing presence, access, authority.

Nathaniel Vale who was seated beside me, said nothing but I could feel his attention sharpening like

knives.

Margot asked the next question carefully. “Camilla, how would you describe Mr. Dhark as an employer?”

That was unexpected.

Camilla blanched, then answered honestly. “Fair and good.”

Margot nodded. “Did he treat the staff well?”

“Yes.” Camilla’s answered without hesitation.

“And did Mr. Dhark ever assist your family personally?”

The courtroom shifted slightly. A few murmurs were heard across the room.

Camilla glanced down briefly before answering. “Yes, paid for my brother’s medical treatments.” She said. “He was very benevolent.”

The murmurs were louder this time.

I looked down at the table for a moment. I had almost forgotten that.

It was true. While I was not friendly or even familiar with staff, if something needed to be done, I made sure it was taken care of, especially when they couldn’t afford to do it themselves.

My mother had struggled with illness before her death, even though we could afford all the medical care she needed.

I would never let anyone lose a loved one because they couldn’t afford the medical bills. And Camilla wasn’t just anyone. While I hadn’t exactly been very close and chatty with her or anyone else for that matter, she had been close to my mother. And I could tell she cared about me.

Camilla had been a constant in my life, so of course I paid for everything without a second thought. 1

A quiet murmur spread through the gallery.

Margot allowed the silence to settle before asking the obvious question.

“Camilla, if Mr. Dhark has treated you and your family with kindness for so many years… why did you agree to testify today?”

“Because the truth is not betrayal.” Camilla spoke softly. “And the truth matters.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Nathaniel still beside me.

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NCERT WIN SEVIN ORIANS POV

+25 Bonus

Margot moved forward. “Camilla, during the years Mr. and Mrs. Dhark were married, you observed their daily lives in the house, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Did they spend much time together?”

“At the beginning, yes.” Camilla answered. “But they started spending less and less time together eventually.”

“How soon after the wedding?” Margot enquired.

Camilla thought for a moment. “A year.” She answered.

“Did they share meals regularly?”

“Not often.”

Margot nodded slowly. “And how would you describe Mrs. Dhark during those years?”

Camilla didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes drifted briefly toward Claire, then she inhaled.

“Lonely.” She said.

Lonely.

The word settled heavily in the room.

I managed to my expression neutral, even though I felt anything but.

Margot asked a few more questions about schedules, how we spent our evenings, the quiet distance

inside the house.

Then she asked the question she had been moving toward all along.

“In those five years of marriage, what did you observe most?”

“I saw her wait for him.” Camilla answered at once.

Margot nodded, urging Camilla to continue.

“She waited for him most nights.” Camilla paused, then added quietly, “But I never saw him wait for her.”

Margot stepped back. “No further questions.”

The judge nodded toward our table. “Cross-examination.”

Nathaniel stood slowly.

There was nothing aggression in his posture. If anything, he almost looked relaxed as he approached the stand.

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+25 Bonus

That was part of what made him so effective, what I had been told about him;

He didn’t dismantle witnesses loudly, he did it patiently.

“Camilla,” he began calmly, “you’ve worked for the Dhark family for many years.”

“Yes.”

“And during that time you’ve come to know Mrs. Dhark well.”

“Yes.”

“You care about her.”

Camilla hesitated slightly. “Yes.”

Nathaniel nodded. “That’s understandable.”

He walked a few steps closer to the stand, with his hands clasped loosely in front of him.

“You’ve observed many moments in the Dhark household over the years.”

“Yes.”

“But you were not present for private conversations between Mr. and Mrs. Dhark… correct?”

Camilla shifted slightly. “No.”

Nathaniel inclined his head almost casually. “So while you may have observed parts of their relationship …” he trailed, letting the words settle carefully. “…you cannot actually know what occurred between them in private.”

The courtroom grew quiet.

Camilla didn’t answer immediately. Her lips pursed into a line and for a small moment, it almost looked like she was glaring at Nathaniel.

Then she responded. “No.”

Nathaniel nodded once, satisfied, then closed the file in his hand.

For a moment I thought he was finished. But then he spoke again.

“One more question, Camilla.” She looked up at him. Hia voice remained calm, his tone measured.

“You’ve worked in the Dhark household for nearly thirty years.”

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