The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 209

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINE CLAIRE’S POV

Lucian was standing one moment, then stumbling the next.

His hand pressed against his side, bright red spreading between his fingers.

‘I couldn’t breathe.

The world seemed to narrow into a single horrifying image.

Lucian.

Bleeding.

Because of me.

“Lucian!” My voice came out so hoarse, I barely even recognized it.

I was moving before I realized it- running toward Lucian.

I reached him just as his knees threatened to give out.

His eyes found mine immediately, still focused. Still alert and impossibly calm.

“Claire.” He called, although his voice was painfully strained.

But at least his was alive.

My hands shook as I grabbed his arm.

“Oh my God.”

Blood.

There was so much blood.

I pressed my hand over his, trying to stop the building.

Trying to do something- anything.

Around us, chaos erupted.

People scattered across the sidewalk. Someone was crying. Car alarms blared in the distance.

Security guards shouted into radios.

And through all of it, Lucian was staring up at me.

Only me.

“I’m alright.”

The lie almost made me angry.

I glared at him. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m aware.”

“Lucian-”

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1/5

HAUTS TWOD NOVE AND INNE CLAIRES POV

“I’m alright.”

Another lie.

His face had already gone pale.

I hated how easily I noticed it.

Hated that I knew exactly what he looked like when he was trying to hide pain.

I had spent too many years watching him do it.

A familiar voice cut through the panic.

“Move.”

Nathaniel.

I looked up.

He was already kneeling beside us.

His expression was grim.

Focused.

Controlled.

The way attorneys became during crises.

Efficient.

Dangerously efficient.

He pulled out his phone.

“Ambulance. Now.”

His gaze flicked toward security.

“You.” He pointed. “Lock down the area.”

Then he turned to the other guard. “Get the police.”

Finally, Nathaniel turned back to Lucian. “Stay awake.”

Lucían actually looked mildly offended. “I’m not dying.”

Nathaniel’s jaw tightened. “Good.” He said. “Because the paperwork would be unbearable.”

Under any other circumstances, I might have laughed.

Instead I felt tears burning through my eyes.

The realization hit me all over again.

The shooter hadn’t been aiming for Lucian. He had been aiming for me.

And Lucian had known. He had seen it before I did.

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2/5

HAPTER HW HUNDREDY AND NINE CLAIRES POV

He had seen the gun.

Seen the bullet coming.

And stepped in front of me anyway.

His mind and body had moved before mine even understood what was happening.

The knowledge of that was terrifying.

I couldn’t stop replaying it.

The movement.

The speed.

The certainty.

There hadn’t been any hesitation.

Not even a second.

Not even a thought.

Just instinct.

Protect Claire.

The same instinct that had thrown him in front of a bullet.

The same instinct that somehow refused to die no matter how badly we had destroyed each other.

Sirens sounded in the distance.

Growing louder.

Closer.

Lucian exhaled slowly.

His eyes fluttered.

Fear surged through me.

“Don’t.”

My voice cracked.

His gaze returned immediately.

Focused on me.

Always on me.

“I’m still here.”

I hated how relieved those words made me feel. 1

The ambulance screeched to a stop beside the curb.

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CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND NINE CLAIRES POV

Paramedics spilled out.

Everything became movement again.

Questions.

Equipment.

Voices.

Hands pulling me back.

They lifted Lucian onto a stretcher, and one paramedic immediately started examining the wound.

Another began asking questions.

Then one of them looked up.

“Family?”

The question hit me harder than it should have.

I froze.

For a moment, I considered nodding.

We had been family up until ten months ago. We had been family for five years.

But now?

Ex-wife.

Attorney.

Friend.

Something in between.

Something more complicated than all those words combined.

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Before I could answer, Lucian spoke.

“Claire.”

The paramedic nodded immediately- as if that explained everything.

And perhaps it did.

Because somehow, despite everything that had happened between us-

I was allowed to climb into the ambulance.

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