The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 97

CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN CLAIRE’S POV

Margot didn’t need to ask me to sit.

She rarely did.

Her office carried the same quiet authority she did. Everything was in place, nothing was unnecessary. Files were arranged practically, with light filtering in through the glass behind her desk.

It wasn’t meant to be comfortable. It was meant to be efficient.

“You’ve adjusted quickly,” she said, not looking up immediately as she finished reviewing the document

in front of her.

I didn’t respond.

When she finally set the file aside, her attention settled on me fully.

“You’re no longer assisting on this case,” she continued. “You’re leading this part of it.”

I smiled. “I’m aware and very grateful.”

She nodded slightly.

“You’ve moved past proving yourself,” she stated. “Now you’re expected to deliver.”

While it made me proud, I knew it wasn’t exactly praise. It was expectation.

I preferred it that way.

She leaned back slightly, folding her hands. “Walk me through where you are.”

I did.

Clear and direct, without hesitation.

The inconsistencies, the patterns, the way the documents aligned just enough to look independent until you stepped back and saw where they all led.

Margot didn’t respond immediately I finished.

She studied me instead.

“Good.” She concluded. “There are no assumptions anymore, so Sinclair&co is ready to handle this legally.”

“Of course.” I nodded.

Margot remained silent after that. But I could tell she wasn’t silent because she was thinking about the

case.

No, this silence was more… observant.

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UNNE NINETY SEVEN CLAIRES POV

+25 Bonus

Her gaze narrowed slightly at me. “That’s not what’s on your mind.”

I didn’t react right away.

I could have deflected, or kept it professional.

But something about the way she said it-precise and certain-made that pointless.

Because Margot wasn’t just my boss. She had proven time and time again to be more than that.

“It isn’t,” I admitted.

She waited for me to continue.

She didn’t push. In fact, she never did. And somehow, that made it harder not to open up to her.

“Nathaniel asked me out again,” I said.

Her expression didn’t change.

“And?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. It’s not everyday one discussed their love life with their boss.

Except Nathaniel isn’t even part of my love life- at least not yet.

But that was beside the point.

“I’m considering it.” I answered.

For another second, Margot still said nothing. She placed her hand on her chin, studying me with her sharp grey eyes.

Then-

“That’s not the issue.”

Of course it wasn’t.

I exhaled quietly, my gaze shifting to the window briefly before returning to her.

“I ran into Lucian the last time I went out with Nathaniel.” I said.

A flicker of understanding flashed across her eyes.

“And?” she asked again.

I held her gaze.

“And I realized…” I paused, the words almost eluding me. “I’m not as unaffected as I thought.”

There it was.

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WAUNTY SEVEN CLAIRES POV

+25 Bonus

I said it: simple and unavoidable.

Margot’s expression didn’t soften. She didn’t agree with me or offer comfort.

All she did was lean back slightly in her chair, and study me with the same clarity she applied to everything else.

A few moments passed before she spoke again. “You’re divorced,” she stated. Not gently- just fact.

“You don’t owe him anything.”

I said nothing.

“He made his choices,” she continued. “While you were still married to him.”

The words cut deeper than I expected. But that’s because they were true.

“He lived his life exactly how he wanted to,” she added. “You’re allowed to do the same.”

Silence lingered between us.

“From what I’ve seen,” Margot said after a moment, her tone changing into something sharper, more personal, “you became smaller around him.”

I didn’t flinch.

But I felt it like a slap. A much needed slap.

Again, that was true. I knew it better than anyone, and Margot knew it too.

“You adjusted,” she continued. “You held back, you made space!”

A pause.

“And you’re not small.”

The words settled deeper than anything else she’d said.

Then she continued. “Nathaniel doesn’t compete with you. He meets you.” She paused. “And from what I can tell, he pushes you forward.”

It was true. Nathaniel’s effect on my life wasn’t emotional. It was practical. Professional.

He pushed me in every way that mattered.

“Life is meant to be lived, Claire. It isn’t something you pause because the past hasn’t resolved itself,” Margot said finally. “You move. Or you stay exactly where you were.” 1

Her gaze held mine firmly. “Decide which one you’re doing.”

Dinner with Nathaniel was… easy that evening.

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ON NINETY SEVEN CLAIRE SPOV

That was the first thing I noticed.

Not effortless, not careless, just easy.

Conversation didn’t stall. It didn’t feel measured or cautious. It moved naturally-from the case to unrelated observations.

From quiet humor to sharper exchanges that made me think before I answered.

“Ugh, you analyze everything,” he said lightly at one point, feigning displeasure.

“It’s efficient,” I replied cheekily, while stifling my laughter.

“It’s intimidating.”

I laughed then, clear and carefree. “That wasn’t the goal.”

“It rarely is,” he said.

When dinner ended, I didn’t hesitate when he suggested we continue elsewhere.

Although that, in itself, was new, it felt natural.

His home was exactly what I expected-and not at the same time.

Clean lines, intentional design, but nothing excessive.

Everything seemed chosen.

“You look like you’re assessing it,” he said lightly as he closed the door behind us.

“I am.” I admitted.

Nathaniel rolled his eyes playfully. “That’s reassuring.”

“Is it?” I chimed.

He shrugged slightly. “I’d like to pass your… rating.”

I glanced around once more before meeting his gaze. “You’ve done well.”

He smiled at that.

“I might not be operating on your ex-husband’s level,” he said, tone light, “but I’ve done alright.”

There was no insecurity in it. Just fact.

“And I plan to do better,” he added. “And I’d like to see you do the same.”

That landed.

Not as pressure, but as something else. Something that made my heart flutter.

+25 Bonus

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ANTYVIN GARES POV

+25 Bonus

I studied him for a moment. “You assume I need help getting there.” Honestly, it was more of a question

than a statement.

“I assume you won’t turn it down if it’s useful,” he corrected.

Fair.

Silence settled briefly between us. But it didn’t feel awkward. It felt comfortable.

“I like you,” he said.

It was sudden. No buildup, no hesitation.

I didn’t respond immediately.

Not because I didn’t understand- but because I did.

“Not casually,” he added quickly, his gaze unwavering.

I exhaled quietly, as my fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the counter behind me.

“I know,” I said.

He stepped closer.