The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 269

I stayed with Lucian for another hour.

We talked about the most insignificant things—

The food he’d complained about, the doctor who said he believed Lucian was incapable of following instructions, and the ridiculous number of messages Tessa had sent him, subtly reminding him not to work.

Just months ago, I could have sworn I loathed Lucian.

Yet now, somehow, his company had become what I looked forward to the most.

His laughter always forced a smile out of me. His touch made my heart flutter, and presence brought me genuine comfort.

Lucian Dhark now felt like home.

But eventually, I had to leave.

I stood beside his bed, adjusting the blanket that didn’t actually need adjusting.

I was just stalling.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He looked up at me. “You’ll come earlier?”

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. “Maybe.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

He smiled.

I leaned down and kissed his forehead.

“Get some rest.”

He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

I rolled my eyes. “Good.”

I turned toward the door.

“Claire.” His voice stopped me.

I looked back.

His expression had changed.

There was something softer in his eyes as he spoke. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For coming.”

My chest tightened. “I’ll always come.”

His smile was small.

But it stayed on my mind all the way home.

⸻

By the time I returned to my apartment, the sun had already disappeared.

I changed out of my work clothes and spent several minutes staring at my phone.

Two weeks.

That was all the time we had.

Two weeks for Hart to decide. Two weeks for Eva to react. Two weeks for the defense to build whatever strategy they were already planning.

And somewhere in the middle of all of it was a phone filled with years of evidence.

I thought about what Lucian had said.

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