The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 23

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Claire’s POV

I had imagined returning to Sinclair & Co under different circumstances.

Confident. Prepared. An employed woman.

I never imagined that I would be walking in, carrying the weight of the wreckage of a marriage that seemed to break further with each passing day.

The building still felt as professional and polished as it had, the first time I stepped foot in it.

No one stared openly or even obviously, but I could feel gazes linger a second too long.

News traveled fast in places like this.

The receptionist greeted me immediately and escorted me upstairs without questions. Margot must

have given instructions.

My heels sounded louder than usual against the marble floors as I walked towards Margot’s office.

Sinclair&co had a way of making me feel very aware of myself – of who I had become publicly. Not Claire the top graduate. Not Claire the promising lawyer.

Claire the scandal.

Margot Sinclair stood near the window. The sunlight streamed in, framing her like a portrait. She turned to me as I entered.

“You made it,” she said, taking a step away from the window.

“I almost didn’t,” I admitted. “They revoked my clearance this morning.”

“I know,” she replied calmly. “Take a seat”

I obeyed. “I read the prenup properly this time.” I said before she could begin.

Margot’s brow lifted slightly, an amused smirk forming on her face. “And?”

“It’s not a marriage agreement,” I said quietly. “It’s more like corporate governance.”

“Exactly.” Margot remarked before opening a prepared folder and sliding the documents toward me.

“The agreement limits independent income, completely restricts asset claims, and places employment under family oversight. If you divorce under its current terms…” she paused, letting the words settle, “… you leave with very little.”

“How little?” I asked, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear the answer.

“Enough to survive,” she replied. “Not enough to recover. Or thrive. And certainly nothing close to what you should be entitled to after being married to a multibillionaire like Lucian Dhark.”

The truth made my heart sink. For a moment, I couldn’t say a word.

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“So they planned this,” I murmured.

Margot nodded. “Marrying Lucian Dhark meant marrying a corporation.” She stated. “Eva Sterling accelerated matters.”

My head immediately snapped up. “What do you mean?”

Margot didn’t hesitate before speaking.

“Your application was sabotaged because one of your interviewers maintains financial ties to Eva’s network,” she stated. “Your rejection was decided before you walked out of the room.”

“I never stood a chance.”

“You stood too much of one,” Margot replied in a beat.

I swallowed.

“Why help me?” I asked.

It was the first time I was ever truly wondering why a woman as powerful, influential and wealthy as Margot Sinclair was investing her time in me.

Was it simply because I had graduated top of my class or… something deeper.

I watched Margot’s eyes grow cold.

“Because Eva has a pattern,” she said quietly. “And I’ve watched her remove obstacles before.”

There was something about the way Margot spoke.

There was history between her and Eva. Old, unresolved history.

“This time, I intend to interfere.” She spoke firmly, holding my gaze.

It felt like there was a shift in the air. Strategy.

Margot was planning something.

Before I could ask any questions, a knock interrupted us.

Margot’s assistant stepped in carefully. “Ms. Sinclair… Mr. Dhark is here.”

My stomach dropped.

But somehow, Margot didn’t seem surprised.

“Send him in.” She said.

Margot lightly touched my arm before I rose from my seat.

“Whatever happens next,” she spoke quietly, “remember that you are no longer fighting alone.”

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I nodded, although my pulse was already racing.

It took me a few moments to calm my nerves, but once I did, I rose from my seat, then walked out of the office and stepped into the corridor.

Then I stopped.

Lucian stood at the far end, speaking quietly to someone before dismissing them with a single nod.

He looked exactly as he always did – composed and untouchable.

But when his eyes lifted and found me, something shifted in his gaze.

Something that resembled relief.

But then it was gone almost as quickly as it had appeared.

He walked toward me, like he was measuring his own footsteps.

“Claire,” he said.

His tone was neither warm nor harsh. It was as though I had imagined the relief on his face earlier.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I came to get you,” he replied simply, stopping in front of me.

My brows furrowed together. “I didn’t ask you to.”

“No, you didn’t.” He agreed. “But we need to go home.”

The words carried weight – it wasn’t a request.

It was a necessity, almost an order.

I glanced back toward Margot’s office. The door was closed, but I knew she was watching the situation unfold exactly as she predicted.

Or intended.

Lucian’s jaw tightened slightly when he noticed my hesitation, but he said nothing.

After a moment, I nodded in agreement.

We walked side by side toward the elevator in silence. The distance between us felt unfamiliar now – uncomfortable, and charged.

The underground garage was cool and quiet. 1

Lucian’s driver opened the car door immediately he saw us approaching.

Lucian waited for me to enter first, then followed a second later. The door closed with a final sound that

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felt louder than it should have.

The car started moving and for a while, neither of us said a word.

I stared ahead, feeling the weight of Margot’s words, the prenup, the war Eva had started

sitting beside me, who was the cause of all the chaos.

Lucian finally broke the silence.

“I reinstated your access,” he announced, keeping his gaze forward. “Your security clearance and everything else.”

I turned slowly toward him.

“And?”

“The board will approve your employment at Sinclair & Co. if I recommend it.”

I let out a bitter, humorless laugh.

“If you recommend it.” I repeated.

His jaw tightened. “Claire… stop escalating things.”

“Escalating?” I asked sharply. “You mean defending myself?”

He didn’t answer, so I continued.

“You drafted a prenup that leaves me with almost nothing,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I could feel anger rising in my chest. “Clauses about silence and obedience! About protecting your reputation, yet you and Eva stood in front of cameras and destroyed mine without hesitation!”

I noticed the car slow at a red light.

Then Lucian finally looked at me.

“That press conference wasn’t-”

I didn’t let him finish. “It was cruel!” I snapped. “And deliberate.”

For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue. But instead, he exhaled slowly, like the fight had left him. Or he had nothing else to fight for.

Either way, he had resigned.

“I can’t undo what’s already happened.” He admitted.

“No,” I agreed quietly. “You can’t.”

The light turned green, and the car moved again.

After a long pause, Lucian spoke even more quietly.

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“You’ll start work with Margot tomorrow. Resume your position.” A beat passed. “But the papers need to be signed by the end of the week.”

There it was: the catch.

The condition beneath the compromise.

I kept my eyes on the road, trying to appear casual, while thinking about how strange it was that the end of a marriage could sound so professional.

“Fine,” I finally said. “We have an agreement.”

The words felt heavier than I expected. But that was because I knew I was making a very important decision_ one I should have discussed with Margot first.

By the end of the week, I still wouldn’t have received my first paycheck.

Silence returned between Lucian and I, but this time it was softer.

Almost unconsciously, I said, “Do you remember the first apartment we stayed in after the wedding?”

Lucian glanced at me, surprised.

“The one with the terrible kitchen,” he said after a moment. “You insisted on cooking anyway.”

“You said the smoke alarm hated me personally.” I reminisced.

I watched a faint smile appear on his face.

For a few seconds, the years folded back. I could almost see a different version of us- younger and less careful. Less damaged.

It only took a moment for Lucian’s expression to harden again, as if he had remembered something

unavoidable.

“I have to choose my family.” He said quietly.

I already knew what was coming, but hearing it still hurt.

“The child,” he continued. “The legacy. That has to come before… sentiments and emotions.” He stated firmly.

Whether I liked it or not, I had to accept it.

I nodded once. “I understand.”

And I did. That was the tragedy of it.

“I hope,” Lucian started softly, “that someday you find someone who loves you as purely and genuinely as you loved me.”

I swallowed hard, not trusting myself to respond.

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How could I tell him that I can’t love anyone else the way I loved him? How would I explain that he had meant the world to me? He would never understand…

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

When the gates of the mansion opened, an odd feeling of calmness settled over me. Not peace, just acceptance.

We stepped out together; not as husband and wife, but as partners who had reached an agreement.

The front doors opened before we reached them, and I immediately heard light, feminine laughter drifting into the air.

I turned to Lucian, wondering what was going on. But from the look on his face, he was just as confused

as I was.

Inside the living room, Eva sat surrounded by elegantly dressed actresses, who held porcelain teacups in their hands. It was a tea party.

Soft music played and cameras flashed from someone’s phone as laughter rippled through the room.

Eva looked up first.

Her smile disappeared instantly when she saw us standing together.

Conversation in the room faltered, and the lighthearted laughter I had heard from the porch, turned into uneasy silence as every gaze turned toward us.

I felt Lucian’s presence beside me; close but distant.

Eva recovered first, as usual. Her lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile. The kind of smile meant for an

audience.

“Oh,” she said lightly, setting down her teacup. “You’re back earlier than expected. We’ll need your help, Claire. I’m afraid no one knows the kitchen as well as you.”

Soft laughter rippled across the room.

That’s when something inside me broke free.

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