The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 66

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX CLAIRE’S POV

The courtroom didn’t erupt when the judge adjourned.

Instead, it shifted-quietly at first. Then rapidly.

Chairs scraped against the floors, papers were gathered, conversations resumed in low tones that carried more weight than raised voices ever could.

I remained seated for a moment longer than I should have. Not because I didn’t know what to do next, but because I understood, finally, what I had just done.

“Claire.”

Margot called, her hand closed lightly around my arm. Not harsh, not urgent, but firm enough to bring me

back to the moment.

I looked at her then.

“What you just did… changes everything.”

There was no praise in it. But there was no reprimand either. It was just… fact.

“I know,” I said.

Her eyes searched mine for a second longer, as if measuring whether I really did know the consequences of my actions.

Then she exhaled quietly and released me.

We stepped out into the corridor together.

The air felt different outside the courtroom. It felt heavier. And it wasn’t because of noise, but because of

attention.

People looked at us. Not openly, but long enough. Too long in fact.

They had seen it. Or heard about it already.

I walked without slowing down.

Margot walked beside me, flipping through her notes with quick, precise movements.

“You’ll be called tomorrow,” she announced.

“I figured.” 1

“That wasn’t rhetorical,” she added, glancing at me briefly. “You’ve just made yourself the center of this

case.”

I didn’t respond.

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+25 Bonus

I had always been the center of

Margot continued anyway. “Victoria Merlyn is going to tear into you.” Margot stated, her tone not rising, but not softening either. “She won’t just question your marriage. She’ll question you- your judgment, your motives and your credibility.”

I nodded once. “I know.”

Margot stopped walking then.

I took another step before realizing that she had stopped in her tracks. Then I turned back to face.

For a moment, she just looked at me. Really looked.

Then she said, quieter now, “You don’t get to hesitate on that stand.”

I held her gaze. “I won’t.”

She studied me for a second longer, then gave a short nod. “Good.” And just like that, she started moving

again.

The doors opened when we reached the exit. There was light, cameras, and movement.

But this time, no one shouted.

Because they didn’t need to.

I stepped past everyone without stopping.

And then I saw him.

Nathaniel stood a few feet away from the crowd. Not part of it, not avoiding it either.

Just… waiting. For me.

His gaze met mine, steady and focused.

Margot noticed it immediately. Of course she did.

Her expression shifted slightly. Not surprise, but definitely not approval either. No, the look on her eyes was something more measured. Almost like a warning.

“You’ve already complicated things,” she said coolly, directing the words at him.

Nathaniel didn’t react immediately.

“I didn’t start this.” He stated, his tone calm and even.

Margot’s lips pressed together into a straight line. She wasn’t pleased.

I stepped in before it could go further. “That’s enough.” I said.

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They both looked at me.

“Not here.”

For a moment, everyone was silent. But it looked like Margot would say something soon.

Then much to my surprise, she gave a small, dismissive nod. “I’ll call you tonight.” She said to me.

And then she was gone.

The space felt quieter without her.

Nathaniel stepped closer, but not too close.

“You shouldn’t have done that without preparation.” He reprimanded.

There was no judgment in his voice, but there was concern.

“If I waited,” I said, “they would have buried it.”

His gaze didn’t leave mine. “Perhaps. But what you’ve done now means they’ll come for you directly.”

“I know.”

A pause settled between us, not uncomfortable, just heavy with understanding.

“But at least they’ll have to come to me.” I said quietly.

His expression changed, meaning he finally understood.

“When you take that stand,” he said, lowering his voice slightly, “don’t let them rush you.'”

I nodded, urging him to continue.

“Victoria relies on pressure.” Nathaniel disclosed. “That’s how she controls the narrative,” he added.

Of course it is.

I exhaled slowly. “You’re still thinking like her opponent.”

A faint, almost invisible smile touched his lips. “Habit.” He said.

Another quiet moment passed between us as we just stood there, absorbing the comfort of each other’s

presence.

Then something changed.

I felt it before I saw it.

That’s the thing I couldn’t shake… how I always felt him before I saw him, even when he wasn’t very close. Even if he was across the room.

It was like a strange telepathic connection of some sort.

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NING CLAIRES POV

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I turned slightly to see Lucian, standing a few feet away.

Watching.

Not openly, and not aggressively.

But there was nothing neutral about it.

His gaze moved between us once, then settled on me.

“We need to talk.” He said, his voice was quiet and controlled.

To my surprise, Nathaniel didn’t move.

The space suddenly felt tight with all three of us in it, even though we weren’t standing very close to

each other.

For a second, it felt like something might snap if no one put an end to the immense tension.

I made the choice.

“Later.” I said, dismissing Lucian.

And Lucian Dhark was not used to being dismissed.

He didn’t react immediately, but I saw it-that slight shift. He hadn’t expected that.

Still, he didn’t argue. He didn’t push.

He just held my gaze for a second longer, then turned and walked away like it didn’t matter.

But it did. I could feel it.

Nathaniel didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to.

We both watched Lucian leave.

“I should go,” I said.

He nodded. “Get some rest.” He said, then paused. “You’ll need it.”

I almost smiled at him. “Goodnight, Nathaniel.”

“Goodnight, Claire.”

The drive back to the mansion felt longer than usual.

Not because of traffic, but because of everything that had happened in court, sitting just beneath the surface, replaying in my mind. 1

The courtroom. The words. The way the room had gone quiet when I was speaking..

The way it hadn’t been enough to stop anything, but enough to change something.

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SIN STAIRES POOV

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I stared out the window.

Tomorrow would be difficult.

I knew that without a doubt.