The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 54

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR LUCIAN’S POV

Somehow, I noticed when Claire left the house.

It wasn’t anything obvious;

She wasn’t dressed unusually. She didn’t sneak through the hallway or avoid the staff.

But after years of living with someone, you learned their patterns.

And Claire’s patterns had always been… quite predictable. At least to me.

Tonight, she was quiet. Too focused.

When she walked toward the front hall, I was standing near the staircase. The moment her eyes caught mine, her footsteps slowed significantly.

“Going somewhere?” I asked.

“Yes.”

She answered simply. Too simple. That was the first sign that something was off.

“With Margot?” I questioned further.

She hesitated briefly- so brief, most people wouldn’t have noticed it.

But I did, because I knew her too well.

“No,” she said finally.

That was all. Then she left.

I stood in the hallway long after the front door closed behind her.

One part of my mind-the rational part- told me to ignore it.

Claire was about to be my ex-wife. Where she went should no longer be my concern.

But another thought followed immediately.

‘She’s still your wife.’

And that principle alone, made it my concern.

It certainly wasn’t a matter of feelings.

I walked into my study and poured myself a drink.

I tried to focus on the documents waiting on my desk.

Emails, corporate reports, legal updates.

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CIANS POV

+25 Bonus

No matter how much I tried to work to keep myself occupied, my mind kept drifting back to the same

image.

Claire leaving the house.

Late. Alone.

And lying about Margot. That made it a lot more suspicious. 1

I set the glass down.

This was ridiculous!

Following her would be invasive. Petty. Stalking.

Something my father would have done.

I leaned back in my chair and exhaled slowly, with my eyes closed.

Then one part of my mind won and I rose from my seat.

The café Claire had gone to was small and quiet.

Not the kind of place people of my status usually visited. But perhaps it was the kind of scenery she would have fancied before I married her.

I parked across the street where the lights from the windows wouldn’t reach my car. I didn’t want to risk being recognized.

For a moment I simply watched the entrance.

And then I saw him.

Nathaniel Vale.

He was already seated inside near the window.

Claire arrived a few moments later.

The moment she stepped inside, he stood to greet her.

I watched them sit down together.

Talking. Close enough to appear comfortable.

That was too close for me.

I felt my jaw tighten.

Nathaniel had stepped down from the case less than twenty-four hours ago.

And now he was meeting my wife in private.

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Interesting. Or suspicious.

I stepped out of the car and crossed the street, keeping my distance from the windows.

I moved toward the side of the building, where the interior of the café was still partially visible through the glass.

Nathaniel was leaning slightly forward as he spoke.

Claire listened carefully. Intently. Focused.

The two of them looked… serious.

And for a moment, something unfamiliar settled in my chest.

Jealousy?

No, that was ridiculous.

Before I could give the idea of jealousy a second thought, another voice spoke beside me.

“Well, this is awkward.”

I turned.

Eva stood a few feet away, her arms folded loosely in front of her chest.

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Then realization dawned on me.

“You’re following her,” Eva said.

“And you’re here by coincidence?” I asked dryly.

Eva rolled her eyes. “Please.”

A brief silence followed before we both glanced back toward the window.

Claire and Nathaniel were still talking.

Then Eva let out a quiet laugh. “This is almost funny.”

“How so?” I asked, irritation growing.

“Here we are, both standing outside a café spying on your soon-to-be ex-wife.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“I like keeping an eye on my opponents.”

Eva smirked slightly, like she didn’t believe me. “Fair point.”

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16V TCIANS POV

+25 Bonus

Despite the situation, a faint amusement tugged at me.

The situation was absurd.

Eva tilted her head slightly as she watched Claire inside.

“You think she’s plotting something with him?”

I didn’t answer, but the possibility had already crossed my mind a few times.

Eva continued studying the scene through the window.

Then I watched something about her posture shift.

She moved her hand toward her stomach. It was brief, but noticeable. Protective.

Then she quickly dropped it when she noticed me watching.

A flicker of irritation crossed her face.

“I should go,” she said abruptly.

“Why?”

She glanced around the street.

“Because unlike you, I’d prefer not to be recognized lurking outside a café.”

Her tone was sharp, but something about it felt… rushed.

Before I could respond, she turned and walked away.

I watched her walk down the sidewalk, striding elegantly like she was on a runway. 1

Then I looked back at the window. 1

Claire and Nathaniel were still talking!

I stayed long enough to see Claire stand and leave.

But this time, I didn’t follow her. Instead, I simply returned to my car.

By the time I got back to the mansion, the house was already quiet.

Most of the staff had already retired for the evening.

But the dining room lights were still on.

As I walked past the doorway, I saw Camilla standing near the table, arranging something among the dishes left from dinner.

She looked up when she noticed me.

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AR

TO AN SPAN

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“Mr. Dhark.” She greeted.

“Camilla.” I acknowledged her with a nod.

For a moment neither of us spoke.

Then she set the dishcloth down and let out a tired sigh. “I assume you came to fire me.” She said.

The statement was so direct that I almost smiled.

“That’s quite an assumption.” I remarked.

Camilla clasped her hands together in front of her apron. “I testified against you in court.” She stated.

“You told the truth.” I said.

Her eyes searched my face briefly, as if trying to determine whether I meant that or not.

“I didn’t expect you to agree with it.”

“I don’t,” I affirmed.

Camilla nodded slowly. “Fair enough.”

There were so many more words to be said, but neither of us knew where to begin.

She seemed prepared to accept whatever came next.

“You’ve worked in this house a long time,” I stated factually.

“Yes.”

“You knew my mother.”

At the mention of Elena Dhark, Camilla’s expression softened slightly.

“I did.” She almost smiled.

“Do you remember what she was like?” I asked.

I rarely ever spoke about my mother or even asked about her.

But there were times when I would stare at her pictures for hours, times when fragments of memories of her came back to me, times when she occupied my dreams and my every waking moment.

Times when I yearned for her.

Camilla was one of the few people who really knew her.

She seemed surprised by the question.

“Kind,” she answered after a moment. “Gentle too.”

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SPPUR LUCIANS, POV

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Her eyes drifted slightly, as if she was remembering something distant.

“She had a quiet strength about her.” She said.

I leaned against the doorway, listening. Absorbing.

“Claire reminds you of her.” I stated.

It wasn’t a question.

Camilla looked back at me, then nodded. “Yes.”

The honesty didn’t surprise me.

“They have the same patience,” she continued. “The same way of enduring things without complaint.”

I felt the bile rise in my throat, so much I could almost taste the bitterness settling in my chest.

“My father didn’t deserve that patience.”

Camilla didn’t respond, but her silence said enough. 1

“He was cold,” I continued. “Unnecessarily so.”

I yearned for memories of my mother. I cherished them, in fact.

Memories of my father? Not so much. He was someone I wished I could forget.

“And yet,” Camilla said carefully, “you became very much like him.”

I looked at her sharply. But she didn’t look away.

Camilla was one of the very few people who held no fear for me.