The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 245

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE_CLAIRE’S POV

For several long seconds, no one spoke.

The silence inside the courtroom felt almost sacred, as though everyone was trying to process what they had just heard.

One hundred and seventy million dollars- one hundred and twenty million from Dhark Holdings.

Fifty million that Lucian had intended for me after our divorce.

I had known about the missing settlement for sometime. In fact, I had gotten a call when Lucian had tried sending me the money.

But hearing Theo admit it under oath… hearing him say it so matter-of-factly…

It still made my stomach twist.

Eva didn’t even look at me.

Instead, she stared straight ahead, her jaw clenched so tightly I thought she might crack a tooth.

Her attorneys, however, were already on their feet.

“Your Honor,” one of them said sharply. “We request permission to cross-examine the witness.”

The judge nodded. “You may proceed.”

I returned to counsel’s table, taking my seat beside Jonathan.

He leaned over just enough to murmur, “Beautiful setup.”

I nodded, but kept my eyes on Theo. “We’re not done yet.”

Eva’s lead attorney approached the witness stand with measured confidence.

He wasn’t trying to win Theo over, he was simply trying to destroy his credibility.

“Mr. Collins,” he began pleasantly, “you’ve admitted under oath that you stole one hundred and seventy million dollars.”

“Yes.”

“So you committed fraud.”

“Yes.”

“Forgery.”

“Yes.’

“Money laundering.”

“Yes.”

“You abused your position.”

“Yes.”

“You lied repeatedly to your employer.”

“Yes.” Theo answered, his expression nonchalant and uninterested.

The attorney turned toward the jury. “So, ladies and gentlemen, we have before us a confessed criminal.”

He looked back at Theo. “Why should anyone believe a single word you say today?”

Theo shrugged. “I don’t particularly care whether they believe me.”

The attorney blinked. “I’m sorry?”

“I said I don’t care.”

“You don’t care whether this jury believes your testimony?”

“No.”

A ripple of confusion spread through the courtroom.

Theo continued calmly. “The bank records don’t need anyone to believe them.”

He nodded toward the stack of exhibits. “The transfer logs exist. So do the authorizations and account numbers exist.”

“You can see the money moved. So no, it doesn’t matter whether anyone likes me. I did what those documents say I did.”

Eva’s attorney recovered quickly. “And you’re hoping your cooperation earns you leniency?”

“No.”

“You expect this testimony won’t benefit you?”

“It won’t.”

“So why testify?”

Theo looked almost bored.

“Because your opposing counsel subpoenaed me.” He answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

A few quiet chuckles echoed from the gallery-even the judge struggled to hide the corners of his smile.

Theo wasn’t trying to appear noble. And oddly enough, that made him more believable.

The attorney changed tactics.

“You’ve had financial problems before, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You enjoy expensive things?”

“Yes.”

“Luxury cars.

“Yes.”

“Watches.”

“Yes.”

“Gambling.’

“Occasionally.”

“So the truth is…”

“You stole because you wanted money.”

“Yes.”

Finally.

Something they agreed on.

The attorney smiled.

“So perhaps Ms. Sterling wasn’t involved at all.”

“Perhaps you simply stole everything yourself.”

Theo actually laughed.

Not loudly.

Just once.

Then he looked directly at the attorney.

“If I wanted one hundred and seventy million dollars for myself…

་ “…why would I send it to her accounts?”

The smile disappeared from the attorney’s face.

Theo continued.

“I stole because she paid me.”

“My cut was transferred separately.”

“I wasn’t doing charity work.”

Several jurors looked down to scribble notes.

Another shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

The attorney tried again.

“You have absolutely no proof Ms. Sterling instructed you.”

Theo looked at him for a long moment.

Then answered simply,

“I never said she instructed me.”

The attorney frowned.

Theo continued.

I sighed. “I don’t think ‘loved’ is the right word.”

“You know what I mean.”

I did.

They had believed Theo. Not because he was likeable. But because he certainly wasn’t.

Theo had admitted every ugly thing about himself without shame.

There was no performance, no apology that sounded rehearsed.

Just facts.

And facts were difficult to argue with.

I couldn’t help but glance toward Eva.

She remained seated- completely still I might add.

One of her attorneys was speaking rapidly beside her, but she didn’t appear to listen to him.

She was staring at the tabletop, with a lost look in her eyes.

For just a moment…

She looked almost frightened.

Then she sensed me watching, and lifted her head. Our eyes met.

Whatever fear was in her eyes disappeared instantly, replaced by the familiar glare I’d come to know so well.

Raw, unfiltered hatred.

I held her gaze.

A year ago, I would have felt intimidated.

But not now. Not today.

Today, I simply felt…

Done.

Done fearing her. Done letting her define my life. Done believing she was untouchable.

The bailiff announced that court would resume in five minutes.

Eventually, people started returning to their seats.

The judge hadn’t yet come back, and neither had the jury.

I began organizing my notes for the afternoon witnesses when I noticed something unusual.

Whispering started near the courtroom doors- and it spread very quickly.

One row, then another.

Journalists turned around almost simultaneously. Even the bailiff looked up.

A strange hush settled over the room.

I frowned.

What now?

Next, the heavy courtroom doors opened, and very head turned.

My heart skipped.

A tall figure stood in the doorway.

Paler than usual, his right hand resting lightly against a polished wooden cane.

His suit hung a little looser than it once had, but despite the fresh scars hidden beneath his shirt…

Despite everything he’d survived…

He stood.

Lucian.

For one tense heartbeat, the entire courtroom forgot to breathe.

Even Eva was staring at him as though she’d seen a ghost.

Watching him walk through those doors felt like the strongest piece of evidence we’d presented all day.