บททั้งหมดของ The Wife He Threw Away : บทที่ 261 - บทที่ 270

The courtroom emptied slowly. People didn’t rush out the way they usually did after a hearing. Everyone had something to say. Hart Sullivan’s name had changed the atmosphere completely. I remained seated at the counsel table, staring at the notes in front of me. I had pages of testimony, financial records, exhibits, and questions I still needed to prepare. But I couldn’t concentrate on any of them. All I could see were two words I’d written at the bottom of my page. Hart Sullivan. I stared at them until the ink seemed to blur. “Claire?” I looked up. Daniel was standing beside me. “You okay?” “Yes.” I realized too late that I had answered quicker than normal. He raised an eyebrow. I sighed. “No.” “Thought so.” I closed my file. “Where’s Margot?” “She’s speaking with Jonathan and the others.” I glanced toward the front of the courtroom. Margot was near the judge’s bench, speaking quietly a few attorneys from Sinclair&co. Her wheelchair was positi

I studied him. Hart Sullivan looked older than he had the last time I’d seen him. Perhaps prison did that to people. Or perhaps guilt did.Though I wasn’t sure Hart Sullivan possessed enough guilt to be burdened by it. “I came because of tomorrow.” His jaw tightened. “What about tomorrow?” “The trial.” “I know when the trial is.” “Then you know you’re expected to testify.” He looked away. “On Eva’s behalf.” His eyes returned to mine. He didn’t deny it. Instead, he said quietly: “Claire already came to see me.” “I know.” “She gave me her card.” “I know.” “She told me to call if I changed my mind.” I nodded. “And you didn’t.” “No.” “Why?” His expression hardened. “Because I don’t betray people I love.” I almost laughed. But I didn’t. Not because the statement wasn’t absurd. Because I suspected he genuinely believed it. “You’ve spent months hurting people on Eva’s behalf.” “I made my own choices.” “Yes.” That answer seemed to su

By the time I got home, I was too tired to think. Absentminded, I dropped my handbag on the sofa and stood in the middle of my apartment for a few seconds, simply enjoying the silence. Being in the courtroom had always been my dream job. But sometimes, I didn’t want to deal with lawyers. With reporters shouting questions. With a judge asking me to explain another piece of evidence. Right now, I needed the silence. I exhaled slowly. For the first time in what felt like months, I allowed myself to believe that this nightmare might actually have an ending. Maybe not an easy one— not after everything that had happened— but an ending regardless. I went straight to the bathroom. The hot water felt therapeutic against my skin. I stood beneath the shower for longer than I intended, letting the day’s exhaustion slowly drain out of me. My mind still wandered back to Hart Sullivan. To Margot who was probably currently interrogating him. She believed there was a chance

The messages weren’t even always dramatic. That was what disturbed me most. She could ask him to investigate someone in the same tone another person might use to ask their assistant to book a restaurant. And Hart would do it. No hesitation, no questions. One particular message caught my eye. “I need you to deal with this before it reaches Lucian. Hart’s response came minutes later. “So what if it reaches the douchebag?“ Then he added, “But consider it handled.” I stared at the words. “Margot…” “I know.” The corners of my mouth lifted. “This could win this whole case.” “It could.” Margot affirmed carefully. But something was still not adding up. “Why would he give you this?” Margot slowly locked the phone. “I think he was giving us something.” “Or Eva is giving us something.” I added. Margot raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” “I mean Hart might still be working for her.” I reasoned. Judging by all the information we had gathered, Hart was fana

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.