The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 200

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED LUCIAN’S POV

The first reporter was selected almost immediately. He was a middle-aged man seated near the front

row.

“Mr. Dhark, Dhark Holdings has lost billions in market value since the allegations against you surfaced. Investors have blamed your handling of the situation. Why should shareholders continue to trust your leadership?”

It was a fair question. And an expected one.

“Because leadership isn’t measured when circumstances are easy.” I said calmly. “It is measured when

circumstances are difficult.”

I folded my hands together on the podium.

“For months, this company has endured a coordinated campaign built on deception. Despite that, Dhark Holdings remains operational, highly profitable, and financially stable.” That was far from the truth, but it was what I needed to say as CEO.

“We continue to employ thousands of people. We continue to fulfill our obligations.” I paused. “The truth is finally emerging. I believe shareholders should judge me based on facts, not allegations.”

Several reporters immediately scribbled notes.

Another stood immediately the middle-aged reporter sat.

“Several members of your board reportedly attempted to remove you as CEO. Is that true?”

That rumor had spread faster than I had expected.

“Corporate governance discussions are confidential.” I said flatly.

The reporter opened his mouth again.

“But-”

“However,” I interrupted smoothly, “I remain Chief Executive Officer of Dhark Holdings.”

That was the only answer that mattered.

A third journalist spoke.

“Was today’s lawsuit filed primarily to recover your reputation or to recover your company?”

A few people nodded. Now that was a good question.

And when I scanned the room, they were all waiting for my answer.

“Neither.” I said. “It was filed because the truth matters, even when it’s expensive.”

I paused, then continued.

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NOCHONORED LUCIANS POV

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“There is something else the public deserves to know.”

The room quieted immediately I said that. Every camera remained fixed on me. Every microphone waited.

“For months, many people believed this was a case of domestic violence. Two public figures having a public fall out.” I shook my head. “It is not nearly as simple as that.”

“Hart Sullivan.” I said the name very clearly. “The man currently being sought by law enforcement agencies across the country.”

Murmurs erupted immediately.

I ignored them. “Hart Sullivan is not an unrelated criminal. He is an associate of Eva Sterling.”

The room exploded. Once again, questions started flying from different directions. Voices overlapped.

I waited for the hall to quieter down again.

When it finally did, I continued. “Hart Sullivan infiltrated the Dhark estate during an event held in honor of my late mother, Elena Dhark.” My jaw tightened as I remembered that Eva and her dog had dared ruin such an important event.

“His objective was simple: to kill Claire Moreau and Margot Sinclair.”

The room went silent. Dead silent.

I didn’t miss the shock on the reporters’ faces. They were genuinely stunned.

“Hart Sullivan intentionally caused a structural failure during that event, and as a result of that, Claire Moreau was hospitalized.”

A woman near the front visibly paled.

I continued. “That was not his only attempt. Evidence gathered also indicates that Hart Sullivan

tampered with the brakes of Margot Sinclair’s vehicle.”

Murmurs erupted again.

I spoke louder this time, to ensure I had their attention. “His objective was once again attempted murder.”

Another wave of shock swept through the room.

“Why?” A reporter shouted.

I looked directly at him.

“Because Margot Sinclair was investigating Eva Sterling. Because she was gathering evidence.”

The room remained completely silent.

Then I delivered the final blow. “Hart Sullivan also recently attacked an innocent attorney.” I didn’t mention Nathaniel’s name. Legal had advised that the less people I mentioned, the better.

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SOUNDREDS TV IAN’S POV

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“He has repeatedly threatened Claire Moreau.” The rage I had been suppressing all afternoon surfaced

I briefly.

“Hart Sullivan is not a victim. He is not misunderstood.” My voice hardened. “He is a violent criminal.”

I paused, to ensure I had everyone’s undivided attention.

“He is Eva Sterling’s rabid dog.”

The room froze.

And I continued anyway. “If Hart Sullivan is watching this conference-and I suspect he is-I hope he’s listening carefully.”

Every camera zoomed in.

Because they knew this wasn’t for them anymore.

This was for Hart. “You can threaten people. You can hide like the coward that you are. You can run.”

My expression remained hard. Challenging. Because somehow, I was certain Hart would watch this.

“But eventually, someone will catch up to you. And when they do, nobody will care what excuses you

have.”

I looked directly into the nearest camera. “To anyone with information regarding Hart Sullivan’s location, I urge you to contact law enforcement immediately.”

“This man is a dangerous criminal. He is a threat to innocent people.” I stated, my voice carrying loudly through the room. “Help the police find him before he hurts anyone else.”

Then: “Before he gets put down like the rabid dog he is.”

The clicking of keyboards intensified immediately.

A journalist stood from her chair like she had been stung. “Mr. Dhark, attempted murder is an extraordinarily serious allegation.” She said sharply. “How certain are you that Eva Sterling was involved in these attacks?”

“There is evidence supporting every statement I’ve made today.”

The reporter pressed. “Evidence that links Ms. Sterling directly?”

Clearly, she was a fan of Eva.

“Yes.” I answered immediately. Unequivocally. “When that evidence is presented in court, the public will see exactly what we have seen.”

“I have every confidence that my legal team will prove these facts beyond reasonable doubt.” I added.

My expression hardened again. “Eva Sterling is not merely dishonest. She is a dangerous criminal.”

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TWO HUNDRED (UCIANS POV

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A young woman near the center aisle stood. “Mr. Dhark, are you saying publicly today that Eva Sterling fabricated her infertility diagnosis, faked being pregnant and lied about a miscarriage?”

“Yes.” I answered without hesitation.

She too, was a loyal fan of Eva, but my answer gave no room for further questions or misunderstandings.

The room erupted again.

Another reporter was already standing before the noise died down.

“Did you ever see the original medical report yourself?”

“No.” I answered honestly. “I saw the report presented to me.”

“And you believed it?”

“Yes.”

Because I had trusted the woman beside me.

Because I had been a fool.

The next question came quickly. “How long did Ms. Sterling maintain this deception?”

“Four months.”

Gasps. People murmured. Someone actually swore under their breath.

Then another journalist stood. “If Ms. Sterling lied about infertility, why do you believe she did it?”

There it was-

Motivation. Speculation. Exactly where I wasn’t going.

I shook my head. “Her motivations are for the court to determine.” I stated. My concern is what she did, not why she did it.”

The room quieted again.

Then came the question everyone had been waiting for.

The affair- the scandal. The reason half the country was watching.

A reporter from one of the largest networks stood.

“Do

you admit to having a romantic relationship with Eva Sterling while you were still married to Claire Moreau?”

The room became silent.

Every camera focused on me, waiting. Even though everyone in the room already knew the answer.

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getwa HUNDRED JUICIANS POV

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I could have avoided it. Redirected it. Given some polished corporate answer.

But this was my only chance to publicly do the right thing. To publicly show remorse. To publicly clear Claire’s image just like I had publicly tainted it.

“Yes.”

The single word landed like an explosion.

The reaction was immediate. Whispers rippled through the room.

Not because anyone was particularly shocked- it had been an open secret anyways.

But because nobody expected honesty anymore. Not from men like me.

Another reporter stood immediately. “Do you consider that relationship a mistake?”

I stared at her for a moment, then answered quietly.

“I consider hurting my wife a mistake.”

For a moment, no one wrote. No one spoke.

Even the cameras seemed still.

Then came another question. “Did your marriage end because of Eva Sterling?”

I shook my head. “No.” I said. “My marriage ended because of me. It was my duty to protect my wife, to take care of her, to be faithful to her.”

I paused. “I failed.”

God! That truth hurt more every time I said it, because it was still true.

Another hand shot up quickly.

A journalist near the front stood. “Mr. Dhark, just to be absolutely clear-” His voice sharpened. “Are you saying that the infertility diagnosis which circulated publicly almost a year ago belonged to Eva Sterling

and not Claire Moreau?”

The room collectively leaned forward.

Everyone wanted this answer.

Again, I answered without hesitation. “Yes. That report belonged to Eva Sterling.”

The silence afterward was deafening.

Somewhere in the room, I heard someone whisper “oh my God”

Then came another question- a question I knew was coming, yet dreaded desperately.

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۱۸ TAVO HUN RED LUCIANS POV

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“Did Claire Moreau know about the infertility deception before your divorce?”

My chest tightened. “No.” I answered. “She discovered the truth long after our marriage ended.”

For the first time all afternoon, I saw genuine sympathy on several faces.

Not for me, but for Claire.

Good. She deserved that much.

Then came the question that changed the room.

The journalist didn’t even realize it when she asked. “Mr. Dhark…” She started. “If Claire Moreau was never infertile, if she was deceived, and if she was publicly humiliated because of that deception…”

She paused. “…do you owe her an apology?”

I looked directly into one of the cameras.

Not at the reporters, not at the audience, but straight into the lens.

Into every living room and every phone screen. Into every television.

Then I answered honestly.

“I owe Claire Moreau far more than an apology.”

The words seemed to hang heavy in the air.

The next question nearly gave my PR director a heart attack.

A reporter near the back stood, his voice carrying easily through the room.

“Do you still love your ex-wife?”

The tension that followed that distinctly unprofessional question was instant.

I didn’t need to look at my team to know exactly what expressions they were making.

I could practically hear the PR director dying behind me.

The room waited- the entire country waited.

“That question isn’t relevant to today’s proceedings.” I said, keeping my expression neutral.

The reporter clearly wasn’t finished. “Is that a no?”

That was a dangerous question. And a cruel one.

Because everyone knew exactly what he was asking.

Perhaps I should have lied. I could have easily redirected.

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SACTER WOHUNDRED LUCIANS POV

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I should have done a thousand different things.

“No.” I said instead.

The room held its breath.

Then I added quietly: “It isn’t.”

The reaction was immediate. The hall erupted into chaos. Voices rose, cameras flashed, security moved closer.

Somehow, I knew this exchange would make the most headlines.

Somewhere behind me, I was certain my PR director had stopped breathing entirely. Perhaps he had even fainted.

But it was too late now; the damage was already done.

Or perhaps the truth was.

One final reporter managed to get a question through the noise before security began ending the conference.

“Mr. Dhark!” He called desperately.

I paused.

He raised his voice to ensure I could hear him through all the noise. “What would you say to Eva Sterling if she were watching this right now?”

Slowly, the room settled again. Waiting. Listening.

I looked directly ahead, my expression colder than it had been all afternoon.

Then I answered. “I’d tell her what I’ve already told the court: the truth has finally caught up.”

And with that, I away from the podium and walked off the stage, leaving behind absolute chaos and

hundreds of new headlines.

Claire Ree

Author

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