The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 65

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE CLAIRE’S POV

The courthouse steps felt narrower than usual.

Or maybe it was the people.

Cameras, voices… Movement that didn’t quite touch me but pressed in anyway.

I kept my head level as I walked past them, with Margot at my side, her pace fast and unbroken.

No questions were shouted this time.

They didn’t need to be.

They already had all their answers.

Or at least so they thought.

Inside, the air had shifted. It was cooler. Quieter.

But not calmer.

“They moved fast,” Margot said under her breath as we approached the courtroom doors.

I didn’t ask who.

I already knew.

And I felt it immediately we stepped in.

Eyes followed us everywhere- significantly more eyes than usual.

Lingering, measuring me.

I didn’t look toward Lucian’s side first, neither did I look at Victoria.

Instead, I looked behind me.

Nathaniel sat in the second row.

Not at the front, where he used to belong. But behind me, supportive.

He met my gaze briefly.

He didn’t smile or offer any gesture of reassurance. But his presence was steady. Grounding.

I turned forward again.

Then the doors opened, and Lucian entered with Victoria.

He looked exactly as he always did in court:

Controlled, precise and untouchable.

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But his gaze flickered past me just once.

Nathaniel.

Then it returned to the front as if nothing had happened at all.

We took our seats.

Victoria stood before the judge had even fully settled.

“Your Honor, the defense requests immediate consideration of an emergency motion.”

Of course she did.

No preamble, no delay.

She moved like someone who didn’t expect to be stopped.

“This matter concerns the integrity of the proceedings,” she continued smoothly. “Specifically, the claimant’s conduct outside the courtroom and its implications on her credibility within it.”

My fingers stilled against the table.

Photos appeared.

Not physically. At least yet.

But I felt them before I saw them.

“The claimant has been publicly linked,” Victoria went on, “to a former member of the opposing legal

team.”

A slight pause followed. That was intentional. She was letting the words settle, letting people understand the implication.

“The implications of such an association are not merely personal-they are procedural.”

There it was.

Conflict.

Bias.

A new narrative.

Margot didn’t move from her seat or try to interrupt Victoria. At least not yet.

Victoria continued:

“Public perception matters, Your Honor. Particularly in a case already under scrutiny.”

Then the images came them.

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Printed copies were passed forward.

Screens lit briefly.

Nathaniel and I at the gallery. At the café.

Moments that had meant nothing beyond themselves-

now rearranged into something else.

“This is not speculation, your honor,” Victoria said. “This is documented proximity. Repeated, visible and most importantly; consistent.”

Her gaze shifted-briefly-to me.

“Such proximity raises reasonable concerns regarding influence.”

I felt it.

Not the accusation… the framing.

Victoria wasn’t trying to prove anything. But she was trying to suggest everything.

“Furthermore,” she added, “this association calls into question the objectivity of the claimant’s current legal position.”

That’s when Margot rose.

“Your Honor,” she said, voice calm, but sharp. “We object to the characterization of personal association as procedural misconduct.”

The judge didn’t stop her.

But he didn’t rush to agree either.

Margot continued:

“The case brought before this court was that of a divorce and a very restrictive prenuptial agreement.” Margot stated. “My client’s personal life is not on trial here.”

Victoria smiled faintly.

“It becomes relevant when it intersects with legal integrity.” She argued.

Margot didn’t look at her as she continued, still speaking very clearly and calmly.

“If public speculation is enough to discredit a woman, then no woman could ever seek justice.”

That was a strong line.

Heavy silence followed.

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Even the judge had to pause. But only for a moment.

“Proceed,” he said to Victoria, to my greatest surprise.

I saw Margot’s jaw tightened slightly.

Victoria inclined her head politely.

“Thank you, Your Honor.” She continued.

“This is not about restriction,” she said smoothly. “It is about ensuring that the court is not influenced by external emotional entanglements.”

Her tone didn’t rise, neither did it sharpen.

And somehow, that made it worse.

“Given the circumstances,” she concluded, “we request that certain claims and arguments presented by

the claimant be reviewed under the lens of potential bias.”

Bias.

Margot stepped forward again, but this time the judge raised a hand slightly, stopping her before she even had the opportunity to speak.

“I’ve heard enough for now.”

And just like that- he began to close it, ready to adjourn.

“To be continued in-”

“No.”

The word left my mouth before I could stop it.

Or maybe I didn’t even try to.

I rose from my seat.

“Your Honor.” I said, willing my voice to be steady.

Everything stopped.

Margot turned sharply to me, her voice was low and urgent, yet still very sharp.

“Claire-sit down.” She hissed.

I didn’t.

Victoria’s eyes sharpened too, as she watched me.

Nathaniel leaned forward slightly.

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And from the corner of my eyes, I could see Lucian- he went completely still.

“I would like to speak,” I said.

The judge frowned. “This is not-”

I didn’t let him finish. “I understand,” I said evenly. “But I believe it is necessary.”

A moment passed while the judge contemplated letting me speak or ordering me to sit.

I didn’t wait for permission.

Not fully at least.

Because I knew that if I did-

I wouldn’t get it.

“This case is being reframed,” I continued. “Not around facts. But around perception.”

No one interrupted me as I spoke.

“That perception,” I said, “is now being used to question whether I should be allowed to speak at all.”

My voice didn’t shake. That surprised even me.

I felt everything; from the tension in the courtroom, to the eyes on me.

But I didn’t let it show.

“Yes,” I added. “I know Nathaniel Vale.” I stated factually. “But my case did not begin with him.”

The silence in the courtroom was so thick, my voice sounded at least five times louder than it actually

was.

“My claims existed before any photograph. Before any assumptions. Before any narrative that is being