The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 85

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE CLAIRE’S POV

I stood in front of the mirror longer than I needed to.

The dress I had chosen was simple, yet elegant in a way that didn’t try too hard. It fit well, sat right against my frame, and didn’t demand attention-but it didn’t hide either. 1

I adjusted the fabric at my waist, then let my hands fall naturally to my side.

For a moment, I just looked at myself- composed, put together and ready.

At least, that was the idea.

My gaze lingered on my reflection, searching for something I couldn’t quite name. Then, without thinking, my attention shifted to the small tray beside me.

The perfume bottle sat exactly where I had placed it earlier.

I reached for it, then I paused.

And just like that, the memory surfaced.

Lucian.

Our first date.

I could still hear his voice, low and certain, like he had never doubted anything he said.

“You don’t have to try so hard. You’re already… distracting.”

A faint smile touched my lips before I could stop it.

His flirting had been effortless then. Easy in a way I hadn’t questioned.

I lowered my hand, leaving the perfume untouched.

“That was a different life,” I murmured quietly to myself.

The woman in the mirror wasn’t that girl anymore.

And this- this wouldn’t be effortless.

I exhaled once, steadying myself, then reached for my bag.

Admittedly, I was nervous. I hadn’t been on a first date in a long time.

Lucian had been my last.

But now… now, he wouldn’t be my last.

I straightened slightly, then looked in the mirror one more time before leaving my apartment.

Nathaniel was already there when I arrived.

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HAITENDO HIV FIVE CLAIRES POV

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Of course he was. Even in law school, punctuality was one of the many reasons he stood out.

Nathaniel looked composed as ever, standing near the entrance, with his hands relaxed at his sides.

His presence steady in a way that immediately grounded the space around him, and ultimately, me.

His gaze lifted the moment he saw me.

“You’re early,” he said, holding my gaze, a smile completely taking over his face.

“I didn’t want to be late,” I replied.

A small pause followed.

“You’re nervous.” He said.

I blinked once, almost taking it as an accusation. “I’m not.”

He tilted his head slightly, studying me.

“You almost walked past me.”

I glanced toward the entrance, then back at him. “…I was thinking.”

“About leaving?” he asked, almost too casually.

I exhaled softly. “About not overthinking it.”

Nathaniel grinned. “Good plan,” he said.

“I try.”

He gestured toward the table. “Come on.”

Dinner started easily- much easier than I expected.

Conversation came naturally, without effort or pressure.

With Nathaniel, there was no need to fill silence or force direction-conversation moved on its own.

“You analyze everything, don’t you?” Nathaniel said at some point, watching me over the rim of his glass.

“Only things worth analyzing.” I replied cheekily.

His brow lifted slightly. “So I should be concerned?”

I met his gaze evenly. “You should be prepared.”

Nathaniel chuckled lightly. “You’re very composed,” he said after a moment. “Even when you’re not.”

I frowned slightly. “That’s contradictory.”

“Not really,” he replied. “It just means you don’t let things show unless you decide they should.”

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PAAT

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I held his gaze for a second longer, absorbing his words.

“You think before you speak,” he added. “Most people don’t.”

“That doesn’t always make it better.” I said with a sigh.

“No,” he agreed. “But it makes it deliberate.”

That’s when I realized that he meant it all as a compliment.

It was nearly impossible to stop myself from smiling, so I didn’t even try.

Then I felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere, even before I saw him.

My hand stilled slightly against the table.

I didn’t turn to look immediately. I didn’t need to.

I already knew.

Lucian.

When I finally lifted my gaze, he was already looking at me.

No casually- directly.

Like nothing else in the room held his attention. Like nothing else mattered.

I didn’t change my posture. I tried to keep my breathing steady. But I felt something tighten in my chest.

I looked away first.

Back to Nathaniel.

Back to the conversation.

“And after this?” he was asking.

“After what?” I asked, confused. Apparently, I had missed whatever it is he was saying.

“The case.” Nathaniel stated. “Everything.”

I exhaled lightly. “I haven’t decided yet.”

“That’s new.” I said. “Terrifying, actually.”

His gaze softened slightly. “You’re not tied to anything anymore.”

I understood the implication behind that- I wasn’t tied to Lucian anymore.

“I know.” I whispered.

“That means you get to choose whatever you want.” Nathaniel added.

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CLARES PV

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I held his gaze.

And for a moment, I believed it completely.

But my awareness of Lucian didn’t disappear.

Instead, it lingered at the edge of everything.

Every time I shifted slightly.

Every time I reached for my glass.

Every time I let my gaze move-even for a second- Lucian was looking at me.

Not openly enough to draw attention.

But enough for me to notice. Enough for me to squirm in my seat.

Always enough.

Nathaniel noticed something.

I saw it in the way his gaze sharpened just slightly, the way he leaned back to observe rather than

interrupt.

But he didn’t ask. He didn’t push.

He just… understood that something had shifted.

“You’re distracted,” he said quietly at one point.

“Am I?” I asked, immediately grabbing my glass for a sip, trying to play it off.

“Yes.”

I held his gaze for a moment longer, then exhaled softly. There was no point in denying the obvious. “It’ll pass.” I said.

Nathaniel didn’t challenge it or even show any signs of disagreement.

He just nodded once.

“Alright.”

That was it.

No pressure. No insistence.

And somehow- that mattered more.

The conversation deepened again after that.

“Do you feel lighter?” Nathaniel asked.

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I considered the question for a moment. “Not lighter,” I said. “Just clearer.”

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He nodded slightly, like that made sense, even though I wasn’t completely sure he would understand it.

At some point, he leaned towards me slightly- not inappropriately close, but not distant enough to be neutral either.

“When you’re ready,” he said quietly, “don’t overthink it.”

I didn’t respond immediately. I just stared into his soft eyes with appreciation and something that felt like admiration.

The moment lingered.

And when I looked up-

Lucian was already watching.

Again.

Dinner ended without complications or a fuss.

But not without weight.