The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 203

TWO UNINED AND THREE NATHANIELS POV

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CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND THREE NATHANIEL’S POV

I had spent the better part of the morning pretending to work.

Several case files sat open across my desk, but I couldn’t have told anyone what was written in them if my life depended on it. I couldn’t even remember looking at them.

My attention kept drifting toward the television mounted on the wall of my office.

Toward the press conference currently being broadcast across every major network in the country.

Toward Lucian Dhark.

I told myself I was watching because KVEK now represented Eva Sterling. That keeping track of the lawsuit was part of my job.

I told myself that any responsible partner would be doing the same.

The lie was convincing enough until Lucian said;

“I consider hurting my wife a mistake.”

I stopped reading.

My eyes lifted toward the television-and stayed there.

The room suddenly felt quieter.

Then another question.

Another answer.

“My marriage ended because of me.”

My jaw tightened.

Not because I disagreed.

Because I didn’t expect him to say it.

Not publicly.

Not like that.

For months, Lucian Dhark had been one of the easiest men in the world to dislike.

Arrogant.

Careless.

Self-destructive.

The kind of man who made mistakes and expected everyone else to clean them up.

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Yet there he was, standing before the entire country and taking responsibility for something that would have been very easy to avoid.

Then came the one that hit hardest.

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

I stared at the screen.

For years, Claire had never gotten an apology.

Never gotten an explanation.

Never gotten a fight.

He had simply let her go.

And now?

Now he was finally saying everything she deserved to hear.

The irony was almost cruel.

A knock sounded on my door, and before I could respond, Victoria opened the door and walked in.

Of course she did.

I didn’t bother looking away from the television.

“You’re watching it too.” She said, as she shut the door behind her.

“Everyone’s watching it.” I retorted.

Victoria shrugged. “Fair.”

She crossed the office and sat down opposite me.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

The conference continued; question after question, answer after answer.

Then the inevitable one arrived.

“Do you still love your ex-wife?”

Victoria groaned immediately. “God, no.”

I already knew what was coming- and apparently, so did she.

The entire country probably did.

Lucian answered calmly. “That question isn’t relevant to today’s proceedings.”

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NURES AND FOREL NATHANIE POV

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The reporter pushed again.

“Is that a no?”

A pause.

Then:

“No.” Another pause. “It isn’t.”

For a second, neither Victoria nor I spoke.

Then I let out a genuine laugh- the first one I’d managed in days.

Victoria blinked. “Well that’s new.”

I shook my head. “His PR director is having a medical emergency somewhere, I’m sure.”

Victoria snorted, which somehow made me laugh harder.

The moment passed quickly, but the office felt lighter afterward.

Less tense and miserable.

Victoria glanced toward me.

“How’s the shoulder?”

The question caught me off guard.

I looked at her. “How come you I remember that?”

“I have retentive memory.” She shot back.

I frowned.

“I’m fine.”

Victoria rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible at answering that question.”

“You asked, I answered. What’s the problem?”

“That’s not an answer.”

I leaned back in my chair.

“It literally is.”

Victoria shook her head, muttering something beneath her breath that sounded suspiciously like ” impossible.”

I watched her for a moment- really watched her.

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Something had changed about her recently.

Sure she still argued. Still irritated me. Still possessed the patience of an angry hornet.

But she was different now.

Softer. Not weak- never weak.

Just… kinder.

More thoughtful. More willing to let people see what existed underneath all the armor.

I remembered something she’d said recently.

“I’ve learned being hard isn’t the best way to show people you care about them.”

At the time, I hadn’t thought much about it.

Now I did.

Because I was beginning to realize how difficult that lesson must have been for her to learn.

I turned off the television.

Victoria immediately narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

“Drop the case.”

Silence.

She sighed.

There it was.

The conversation she’d known was coming.

“The Eva case?”

“No,” I deadpanned. “The parking dispute in accounting.”

Victoria looked unimpressed.

“The answer is still no.”

I folded my arms.

“You watched the conference.”

“I did.”

“Then you know he’s telling the truth.”

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Victoria didn’t answer immediately, which was interesting- very interesting.

Because the Victoria Merlyn I knew, usually had an opinion ready before the question was even finished.

But this time, she had hesitated.

“You’ve met her.” I said.

Victoria said nothing, so I continued. “You’ve spoken to her.”

Still nothing.

I leaned forward slightly. Tell me honestly, Victoria…” Our eyes met- green against green. “Do you trust her?”

Victoria bit her lip, but said nothing. In fact, she remained silent for longer than I thought was possible

for her.

Then finally, she looked away first.

And that was answer enough.

I exhaled slowly. “I watched what happened to Claire.”

Victoria’s expression softened slightly.

“I watched her believe she couldn’t have children. I watched her feel like she wasn’t good enough. I watched her grow cold whenever the topic of having a family was even mentioned.”

My jaw tightened. “Eva did that.”

Victoria remained silent.

For general seconds, none of us spoke.

Then finally, Victoria straightened. “Everyone deserves representation.”

I nodded once. It was true, but also a weak attempt to uphold her point.

“Representation isn’t the issue.” I stated.

Victoria’s gaze sharpened. “Then what is?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“Belief.”

The word landed between us, heavy and deliberate.

I held her gaze. “You don’t believe her.”

Victoria’s expression flickered- just for a second. But I saw it. She knew I was right.

For the first time since taking Eva as a client, doubt had finally found its way in.

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HUNCRE ANDY DYOFF NAIDANIE SPOV

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The silence stretched.

Neither of us willing to end it first.

Eventually, Victoria stood. The conversation had come to an end. Or perhaps it had simply been postponed.

I watched her walk toward the door and reach for the handle.

That’s when I said something I knew would either make her rethink her decision or push forward as Eva’s attorney.

“I know why this case matters to you.”

Victoria froze then, her hand remaining on the door.

I continued. “But Eva Sterling isn’t Raymond.”

Victoria still didn’t turn around. Didn’t move or even talk back.

Then finally, she opened the door and walked out.

A few moments after the door clicked shut behind her, I reached for the next file on my desk as if I would

understand anything in it.

Then my phone rang.

It was Margot Sinclair.

My pulse immediately spiked.

I answered before the second ring.

“What happened?”

“Relax.” Margot Sinclair’s voice came through the speaker, dry as ever. “I’m not dead.”

I exhaled.

“Good to know.”

“What’s even better is that Dr. Ramon’s phone is active again.”

Every thought in my head stopped instantly.

I sat upright. “What?”

“The GPS signal came back online.”

Whatever exhaustion I had been feeling vanished immediately, and was instantly replaced by adrenaline. By pure focus and purpose.

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AWO HUNDRED AND THREE NATHANIELS POV

“We have a location?”

“We do.”

I was already on my feet, reaching for my jacket.

Already moving.

Because after everything-we finally had a lead.

We finally had a lead.

Margot’s voice remained steady.

“The police is going after him.”

I grabbed my keys.

And for the first time in days, I felt something dangerously close to hope.

Because if Dr. Ramon was alive- he would have a lot to say about Eva Sterling.

Hopefully enough to convince Victoria to drop the case.

Claire Ree Author

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