CHAPTER FOUR _ Claire’s POV

The gala dragged on for longer than any other event I had attended. I waited till it was officially over, all because Lucian’s assistant had sent me a message:

“Mr. Dhark will pick you up when the event is over.”

These days, my husband preferred to communicate with me through his assistant. Never directly.

All I could do was obey and wait.

Guests started leaving, laughing, hugging, exchanging business cards.

The violins stopped playing and the lights dimmed, yet I still waited.

I looked at my phone screen every few minutes.

11:00pm.

11:27pm.

11:49:pm.

The Lucian I married was ruthlessly punctual. But tonight, for some reason, he was late.

The women’s gossip rang in my head. “Eva left early. She said she had to meet someone very important.”

My stomach churned.

I moved towards the exit, searching for fresh air, when a familiar face caught my eye _ one I had seen several times in newspapers.

It was Margot Sinclair; top defense attorney. A respected name in every legal circle. A woman who dominated courtrooms. My inspiration. My idol.

She was speaking to another guest when suddenly, her sharp grey eyes flicked towards me.

“Mrs. Dhark.” She greeted, stepping towards me. “We’ve met briefly, many years ago. You’re Claire, right?”

She remembered my name?

“Yes,” I replied, startled. “It’s an honor to meet you properly.”

Margot smiled. “I remember you from the bar admission dinner many years ago. You were an exceptional student _ top of your class, if I recall!"

I managed a tight smile, knowing she wasn’t wrong.

"I heard you stepped away from law shortly after you married Lucian Dhark.” She tilted her head gently. "A shame. You would have made a remarkable attorney, Claire.”

The color drained from my face completely. Margot was polite and calm, but somehow, her words pierced my soul.

I forced a smile. "I… life took me in a different direction." I whispered.

Margot studied my face for several seconds. It felt like she could see straight through me. Perhaps she saw the old Claire _ the Claire who used to believe she could change the world.

Her eyes softened with compassion and pity.

“If you ever choose to come back,” She touched my arm. “The law will still be here. Always.”

She smiled gracefully and left me alone with my abandoned dreams.

I blinked rapidly to stop the tears from falling. I couldn't cry again, for the third time in one day.

When the ballroom finally closed, I was the last guest to leave. I stepped outside into the cold night, shivering in my dress.

Finally, I saw headlights. Lucian's car rolled to a stop in front of me.

He stepped out, wearing an unreadable expression and a loosened tie, as if it had been a long night.

"Claire," he said simply. There was no apology, no sense of urgency, not even a hint of concern _ Just my name.

I slid into the passenger seat in silence, relieved to escape the cold air. But almost immediately, something hit me before l even buckled my seatbelt: a scent.

It was sweet, it was expensive, it was Eva’s.

My chest burned.

It was the overwhelming scent that filled the air when she walked up to me at the gala _ the scent was impossible to forget.

Lucian joined me in the car and immediately noticed my stillness.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing," I replied with a trembling voice, despite my best efforts.

We drove home in heavy silence.

Lucian didn’t ask about the gala, didn’t ask how my night went, he didn’t even look at me. But I wasn’t surprised _ that’s what our marriage had become.

When we got home, Lucian tossed his coat onto the couch and loosened his cuffs. I stood in the doorway, watching him, realizing that he seemed distracted.

I reached for the coat without thinking, ready to help him put it away. A folded piece of paper slipped out from the pocket _ a receipt.

I picked it up with trembling hands.

I probably shouldn’t have opened it, but I did.

GLASS TOWER HOTEL

PENTHOUSE SUITE - 10:42 PM

CHARGED TO: L DHARK

My knees weakened so badly, I thought I would faint.

The gala was still on by 10:42 pm, after Eva left. While I waited for him like a fool.

He should have been on his way to pick me up. Instead… he was checking into a penthouse suite.

I sank onto the couch, holding the coat close and the receipt closer.

Denial set in. There has to be another explanation _ any explanation. He wouldn't, he couldn’t, there must be a mistake.

Lucian may not love me the way I wish he would, but he wouldn't humiliate me like this.

I heard footsteps approach, so I turned to see Lucian. He paused for a moment, staring at me with wide eyes.

“Why are you going through my things?” His voice was sharp.

I stood slowly. “Lucian... what is this?"

Lucian didn’t even bother to look at the receipt. “Claire, put that down."

"This receipt is dated tonight.” My throat burned. “Were you with Eva?"

His eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of her name. My suspicions were confirmed.

“You were with her.” I said slowly as realization dawned on me. “You didn’t even try to hide it.”

He took a step forward, his jaw tightening. “Don't start, Claire."

"Then explain it." I cried.

"There's nothing to explain." He retorted.

"I smelled her on you when I entered your car. Lucian, I sat in that car, drowning in her perfume.” I whispered, with a lump in my throat. "I can still smell her on your clothes.”

Lucian inhaled, irritated. “Maybe you’re obsessed with Eva _ the world’s favorite star _ just like everyone else. So obsessed, you know what her perfume smells like _ you’re going crazy.”

"You’re driving me crazy!” I screamed so loudly, even shocking myself.

The vase on the table rattled under my palm, but my fingers slipped and it crashed onto the floor, shattering loudly.

Lucian flinched.

"Look at yourself. Is this what you've become?" His voice was dangerously low.

My lips parted. “I—-“

“Enough, Claire.” He tried to silence me.

Suddenly, something inside me snapped.

"Enough?" I turned to face him fully. “You don’t get to tell me when it’s enough. I waited for you for almost two hours tonight! You said you were coming!"

"I was busy-"

"You were at a hotel!" I choked out. "You were in a penthouse suite! At the same time Eva left the gala!"

Lucian’s expression hardened. "You're being dramatic."

"No," I said. "I'm being replaced."

Lucian exhaled sharply, frustrated. "There is no relationship between Eva and me. Stop making up stories in your head. You’re acting crazy. You’re spiraling.”

I let out a short, dry, broken laugh. “Of course. Because I’m always the problem, right Lucian?”

Lucian sighed. “Don't do this."

"No!" I snapped. "You know what? Let's do this; let’s tell the truth for once!” The words rushed out of my mouth _ years of swallowed feelings, finally breaking free.

"I gave up my entire future and career for you, Lucian. Do you even remember that?" He looked away, but I continued. “I had offers from prestigious firms. I could have built something, I could have built myself! But I chose you!” My voice cracked on the last word.

I could barely hold back the tears.

"I chose you," I repeated softly. "And now I'm standing here, empty handed. I can't give you a child and I can't even make you stay with me for a single night."

Lucian's face darkened. "This isn't about your career, Claire.” He continued, voice low and cold.

“But since we’re telling the truth, you listen to me: the truth is you overthink everything. You cling, you doubt, you suffocate!”

I staggered back, shocked by his words. “Lucian…”

He stepped closer, glaring at me. “And maybe you should stop prying into matters you don't understand. I pay for your life, I pay for this house, I pay for the clothes on your back _ everything. So don't stand there and accuse me of—-“

“You’re unbelievable.” I said, not wanting to hear the rest of it.

We had never argued like this before. It felt like something in me had just shattered, just like the vase.

“We're done with this conversation." He declared, like he was speaking to board members.

"No, we are not—“

"I said we're done." He insisted, turning away from me with rigid shoulders.

I could not tell if he was angry at me or himself.

Lucian brushed past me to grab his phone from the table. Almost immediately, the phone vibrated.

I turned around, just as the screen lit up and a message preview appeared.

EVA: Same place tomorrow?

My heart stopped and Lucian's entire body went still.

He flipped the phone over immediately, but it was too late. I saw it. He knew that I saw it.

Everything inside me shattered and the world went silent.

All I could hear was the sound of my own heart, breaking.