The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 234

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR_CLAIRE’S POV

The restaurant Nathaniel chose was a quiet one, tucked away from the city center.

No reporters, no flashing cameras, and most importantly, no curious strangers trying to overhear conversations.

Just soft music, polished wooden tables, and the comforting smell of food.

I only realized how hungry I actually was, the moment we sat down.

“I don’t think you’ve eaten properly in days,” Nathaniel observed as he looked over the menu.

I nodded. “I’ve been busy.”

“You’ve been surviving.” He corrected. “There’s a difference.”

I smiled sheepishly. “I suppose there is.”

Nathaniel ordered food for both of us before I could protest.

“You still remember what I like?” I asked, biting back a smile.

He almost looked offended. “I dated you for several months, Claire.”

A laugh escaped me. “I just didn’t expect you to remember.”

The waiter disappeared soon enough, leaving us alone with an awkward silence that somehow wasn’t uncomfortable anymore.

Nathaniel leaned back in his chair. “So,” he simply said.

“So?”

“You’ve been wanting to apologize since we left the station.”

I sighed. “I really am that easy to read, aren’t I?”

“You always have been.”

I looked down at my hands. “I’m sorry, Nathaniel.”

He didn’t interrupt.

“I’ve wanted to say it for a very long time.” I swallowed. “I never meant to hurt you.”

He remained silent, giving me the chance to continue.

“I know how everything ended between us. It was not very fair to you.” I paused, then looked up at him. “You deserved better than that.”

Nathaniel slowly folded his hands together. “I wasn’t exactly perfect either.” He said.

“I ended things while your life was falling apart. I could’ve done better than walking away when I did.”

“I understand why you had to walk away.” I said.

Nathaniel smiled sadly in response.

Our food arrived before either of us spoke again. But we didn’t touch it immediately.

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Finally, Nathaniel broke the silence. “I left because I felt like your second choice.”

His honesty hurt far more than anger would have.

After a moment, I said, “I never wanted you to feel that way.

“I know.”

“No.” I shook my head firmly. “I don’t think you do.”

He looked at me.

“You were never my second choice, Nathaniel.” I said, reaching across the table to hold his hand. “You were the man who helped rebuild me.”

His expression softened.

“When everyone believed the worst about me… only you didn’t.

“When I doubted myself… you reminded me who I was.

“When I had nobody, you were there-” My voice caught unexpectedly. “You were my safe place.”

Nathaniel looked down at the table.

“My feelings for you were real- they always were.” I stated. “I loved you.”

The words came easily… because they were true.

“And even now, I still love you- I always will.” His eyes lifted to mine. “But…”

I smiled sadly. “I know now that you deserved more than I could give you.”

For several seconds, we stared at each other in silence. Silence tainted with regret, acceptance and emotions I couldn’t explain.

“I was trying to give you pieces of a heart that already belonged somewhere else.”

Nathaniel didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he reached for his coffee.

“I think I knew.” His voice was calm even as he said it. “I just kept hoping one day I’d stop coming second.”

I felt hot tears prick my eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

Nathaniel smiled gently. “And I forgive you.”

The weight I’d been carrying for months seemed to lessen.

Not disappear.

Just… become lighter.

Nathaniel pointed his fork toward me. “You know something?”

“What?”

“You’re an incredible woman.”

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I laughed softly. “I believe I’ve made enough mistakes to prove otherwise.’

“So have I.” He shrugged. “Doesn’t change my opinion.”

His expression grew serious. “I got to watch you rebuild yourself from nothing. Watched you become stronger every single time someone tried to knock you down.”

Then he smiled again- widely this time. “I’m grateful I got to be part of that.”

I felt a lump form in my throat. “You’ll always be an important part of my life.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

For a few moments we simply ate.

And it felt strangely… normal.

Nathaniel eventually looked at me over the rim of his coffee cup.

“I’ve been meaning to visit Lucian.” He said.

I smiled. “I think he’d actually appreciate that.”

“My workload’s been impossible, I’ve barely left the office.” He added b”How is he?”

The smile on my face appeared before I could stop it.

“Better. A lot better.”

Nathaniel noticed immediately.

“So…”

He leaned back.

“What’s happening there?”

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

“Oh, don’t look so pleased with yourself.”

“I knew that blush meant something.”

I laughed despite myself.

“We…”

I hesitated.

“We kissed.”

Nathaniel’s smile became genuine.

“I thought you might.”

I shook my head.

“I still don’t know what we’re doing.”

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NORED AND THAT OUR CLARES POV

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“We’ve already been married.”

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“We’ve already divorced.”

“Our history is…”

I searched for the right word.

“Complicated.”

“That’s putting it mildly.”

I laughed again.

“It is.”

I stirred my coffee absentmindedly.

“But…”

I looked out the window before quietly admitting the truth.

“He still feels like my person.”

Nathaniel was silent for several seconds.

Then he smiled.

Not forced.

Not bitter.

Simply…

Happy.

“I’m glad.”

“You are?”

“Of course.”

He shook his head.

“I wanted you to be happy long before I wanted you to choose me.

The sincerity in his voice made my eyes sting again.

“You deserve that happiness.”

“So does he.”

I reached across the table and squeezed his hand.

“Thank you.”

“For everything.”

He covered my hand with his free one.

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40 THIRTY-OCS, CLAINE STOV

“I’ve been thinking about something too.”

“What?”

A small, almost shy smile crossed his face.

“I think…”

“I might have found my person.”

My eyebrows shot upward. “You have?” I squealed.

He chuckled. “It’s still very early, so don’t interrogate me.”

“Ugh, you know I want details.”

“I know. You aren’t getting any.”

I laughed.

“I can’t believe you’re keeping secrets from me.”

“I’m a lawyer. It’s practically in the job description.”

We both laughed.

The conversation drifted to lighter topics after that.

Work, colleagues, books.

Everything except courtrooms and shootings.

For nearly an hour with Nathaniel, life felt wonderfully ordinary.

As we stepped out of the restaurant, my phone vibrated in my hand.

I glanced at the screen-

Lucian was calling.

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Nathaniel noticed it immediately.

“I’ll give you a minute.” He said, giving me a knowing look then quietly stepping a few paces away.

I answered the call. “Hey.”

Lucian’s voice sounded stronger than it had that morning, when he said “Hi.”

“What are you up to?” He asked carefully.

“I just finished lunch.”

“I’ve been wondering where my lawyer disappeared to.”

I smiled to myself. “I took a very brief break.”

“I suppose I’ll allow it.”

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I couldn’t hold back the laugh that followed. “I’ll be back at the hospital soon.”

There was a brief pause.

Then, softly-

“Good.” He said. “I miss you.”

The words caught me completely off guard.

My heart fluttered.

I looked toward the sky, towards the car, at my feet; unable to stop smiling.

After a second, I finally forced the words out. “I miss you too.”

Neither of us spoke for a second after that, but somehow, the silence said everything.

“I’ll see you soon.” I said, biting back a smile.

“I’ll be waiting.”

When I ended the call, Nathaniel walked back over.

He took one look at my face and smiled knowingly. “I take it he’s doing well.”

“He is.” I affirmed.

“I’m happy.”

I believed him. Completely.

As we walked back toward our cars, I realized something.

Not every love story ended with heartbreak.

Some simply changed shape.

And sometimes, the people who couldn’t stay forever still became some of the most important chapters of your

life.

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