The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 62

CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO LUCIAN’S POV

“You didn’t even try to be discreet.”

The words left my mouth before I could reconsider them.

Claire stopped just inside the living room, the door closing softly behind her.

For a moment, she didn’t move.

Then she finally turned.

Not slowly, or cautiously like she used to- directly.

There was no hesitation in her expression.

No guilt.

That, more than anything, irritated me.

She met my gaze evenly, and the response was immediate. “I went to an art gallery. Not a crime scene.”

She retorted.

I let out a quiet breath, studying her more carefully now.

I didn’t let her attitude phase me.

I studied her more carefully now; the dark hair cascading down her back, her almond shaped eyes which she always narrowed whenever she was annoyed, her hands folded firmly in front of her.

“You seemed comfortable being seen with him,” I finally said, trying to keep my voice even. “Publicly.” I added, taking another step closer to her. “After everything.”

Claire’s expression didn’t change. She didn’t respond either.

“Going out with my lawyer?” I added.m, probing for a response, a reaction… something!

Then reply came just as clean.

“Who is no longer your lawyer.”

The room fell quiet for a moment.

I tilted my head slightly, watching her.

“How long has that been happening?” I enquired.

Her brows drew together. “What?” She asked sharply.

“This,” I said, gesturing between us, though I meant him. “Connection.” 1

There it was- the shift in her attitude.

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I noticed it immediately.

It wasn’t hesitation. No it was the opposite. It was sharpness.

“You had a mistress in our home, Lucian.” She spat out.

For a moment, I said nothing. She wasn’t exactly wrong.

Claire didn’t stop. “Eva moved in. She basically took over this house. She’s carrying your child!”

Each word landed harshly, but as precisely as she intended.

“And you’re questioning me because someone drove me home?” She spoke like it was the most absurd thing ever- my boundaries regarding her and Nathaniel’s… acquaintance.

I refuse to admit it’s more than that. Even if from the look of it, what was going on between them was starting to thread on the line of a relationship. 1

Claire didn’t need to call me a hypocrite- her eyes said it all.

I didn’t respond_ at least not immediately.

Because there wasn’t a response that wouldn’t expose something I had no intention of naming.

“You’re getting close to him.” I stated quietly.

It wasn’t a question- it was a fact.

Claire didn’t deny it.

And that told me enough.

“I’m allowed to talk to someone who doesn’t try to destroy me.” Was all she said.

The words landed harder than they should have.

Because I knew they were true.

Because I had allowed it.

Something in my chest tightened-briefly, and sharply-before I pushed it aside.

I stepped closer to her.

Not abruptly or aggressively.

Deliberately. Slowly. Holding her gaze firmly as I did.

I stopped just within reach-close enough to see the shift in her breathing.

“Do you know what the worst part is?” I asked.

Claire didn’t answer. But she look away either.

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KIANS POV

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So I continued. “If I had met you now…” I paused, trying to stop myself before I said something I didn’t want to. Something I hated to admit.

But the words forced themselves through anyways.

“I still would have chosen you.”

For a second-just a second-something flickered in her eyes.

Then it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by something steadier. Something stronger.

“But you didn’t choose me when it mattered.” She spoke firmly, her chest rising and falling as she spoke.

Her voice didn’t rise. It didn’t break either.

And that made it worse.

“You had me,” she continued. “And you still chose something else.”

I felt a tightness in my throat the moment she said that.

There was nothing to argue with. Nothing to correct.

I exhaled slowly, forcing control back into place.

Because that was what mattered.

When Claire noticed I had nothing else to say, she turned and started walking away.

But I wasn’t done.

“You should tell Nathaniel to be careful.” I said, my voice carrying easily, across the room.

She turned slightly, the movement subtle-but it stopped when she heard the rest.

“This case isn’t the only thing at stake anymore.” She said.

That’s when realization dawned on her.

It wasn’t fear. Not quite. It was understanding… awareness.

Good.

Because this was no longer just about the courtroom and we both knew it.

By the time Claire walked into my office later that day, I was already expecting her.

She didn’t knock.

She simply stepped inside like she belonged there- just like she used to. 1

For a moment, I simply watched her.

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LUCIAN’S POW

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The way she carried herself. Composed. Unyielding. Different.

Even her walk had become more confident.

“I need access to the documents Margot requested,” she said.

No greeting, no hesitation.

Was it anyone else, I would have commented on how ill-mannered that was, and ordered them to get out.

But this was different. This was Claire.

So I leaned back slightly in my chair and watched her.

“You’re here for paperwork?” I asked, like I wasn’t already aware of her reason for coming.

“And to review the prenup motion,” she added. “Unless your team is planning to hide something else.”

A faint pause followed.

Then I rose from my seat slowly.

“I don’t hide anything,” I said evenly as I walked past her toward the door. “Not anymore.”

Claire followed me out.

Of course she did.

We moved through the hallway- I walked ahead, while Claire followed me, quickening her footsteps to keep up with my strides and remain close. 1

I noticed employees lowering their voices as we passed.

Watching.

And pretending not to.

“Camilla is being questioned by the board.” Claire said sharply, her voice cutting sharply through the quiet of the hallway.

I didn’t stop walking.

Then Claire moved even faster, stepping in front of me.

Forcing me to come to a halt.

“You’re going to fire her.”

It wasn’t a question. She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like I was… pure evil.

I looked at her then. Really studied her.

“I haven’t made that decision.” I stated.

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@NY TWO HXCIANS POV

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That was enough for her.

“You’re punishing her for telling the truth!” She said, her voice rising. She was triggered.

“Keep your voice down.” I said. “I’m managing a company, not a courtroom.”

Her expression hardened then. “You’re managing damage. Like you always do.”

Something in my chest tightened again. The feeling was more persistent this time.

“She worked for your family for decades,” Claire continued. “She protected your mother. She helped raise you!”

Claire cried, her voice rising with every word.

“And you want to discard her because she didn’t lie for you?” Claire asked, fixing me with a glare and taking another step closer.

“I didn’t ask her to lie.”

“No,” Claire said quietly. “You just created a situation where telling the truth costs her everything.”

The words landed hard.

Because they were accurate.

Because I understood exactly what she meant.

“You don’t care about the people around you,” Claire added.

That-

That was the one that stayed.

Of everything she had said, that was the one thing that got to me. Because it was so far from the truth.

And what was worse was the conviction in her voice when she said it. Like it was something she truly

believed.

My jaw tightened slightly.

“I cared about you for years.” I said, emotions I had spent my whole life burying, trying to surface.

The words came out sharper than I intended. More honest than I preferred.

“More than anyone else.” I added.

But surprisingly, Claire didn’t soften. She didn’t even waver.

“That didn’t stop you from hurting me.” She replied with a firm voice.

The silence that followed was heavy with untold truths and feelings I had never named.

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WIANS POW

+25 Bonus

And then-

A voice.

“I was wondering how long this conversation would last without me.”

Claire and I both turned to see Eva standing in the doorway, seemingly calm and composed.

But her eyes had already taken everything in.

How much had she heard?

From the look on her face… enough.