The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 242

CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-TWO_EVA’S POV

I had never entered police headquarters through the back entrance before.

The irony wasn’t lost on me.

Just a few weeks ago, officers had ushered me in through front doors with polite smiles, apologizing for the inconvenience whenever photographers crowded too close. They had treated me like someone worth/protecting. Like someone important.

Today, it felt like they were protecting everyone else from me.

The black SUV rolled to a stop beside a steel door, far away from the crowds gathered outside the building.

Even from inside the car, I could hear them.

I could hear the crowd, shouting and chanting.

I could hear the reporters calling out my name- not because they wanted an interview, but because they wanted answers.

Or blood.

One of the officers opened the car door. “This way, Ms. Sterling.”

Finally, someone with manners.

I stepped out without acknowledging the noise.

I knew that if I looked toward it-if I let myself react-they would know they had gotten to me.

And I refused to give the crowd of imbeciles that satisfaction.

Not today.

Most of them had loved me not too long ago. They had defended me in comment sections and even said hateful things about that bore, Claire.

So who were they to judge me? They were all as guilty as me after all.

The officer led me inside through a narrow service corridor that smelled faintly of disinfectant and old paper.

There were cameras or flashing lights here. Only fluorescent bulbs humming overhead.

Another officer met us at a security checkpoint.

“I’m going to need your phone.” He instructed, gruff as a mule.

He certainly looked the part…

I rolled my eyes, then handed it over.

“Your handbag.” He added, still irritatingly stiff.

I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I should address his attitude or not.

Eventually, I hose the later.

I placed my handbag on the metal counter.

“Your watch.”

This time, I scoffed.

The audacity these people had!

I slipped the designer watch from my wrist, suddenly feeling strangely exposed without it.

The officer inspected everything before placing my belongings into a clear evidence bag.

“You’ll get these back when your visit is over.”

I nodded stiffly.

He looked up at me. “I need to remind you that this meeting will be monitored.”

“I understand.”

“No physical contact.”

“I understand.”

“No discussing testimony.”

“Of course.”

“No attempting to influence the ongoing investigation.”

His eyes lingered on mine. “Everything you say will be heard.”

I offered him my most pleasant smile. “I have nothing to hide, officer.”

The mule didn’t smile back.

Apparently my charm had stopped working on police officers too.

Wonderful.

The detective escorted me down another corridor before stopping outside a metal door.

“Fifteen minutes.” He said, as he unlocked it.

I straightened my blazer, smoothening the imaginary wrinkles from the sleeves, then I lifted my chin and stepped inside.

Hart was already there.

For a moment…

I barely recognized him.

The last time I’d seen him was several months ago, when he had insisted on showing up to my set.

Although I was in a relationship with Lucian then- when he had been foolish enough to believe I was pregnant- Hart didn’t mind.

His clothes had been spotless, his posture confident.

His eyes burning with purpose like a madman.

Now…

Orange prison clothing hung loosely from his broad frame. Dark bruises decorated one side of his face, and a day’s worth of stubble shadowed his jaw.

His wrists rested on the table, linked together by handcuffs.

Hart looked exhausted, and smaller… somehow.

Human.

Something inside me tightened unexpectedly.

Not guilt-I hadn’t asked him to be obsessed with me or to stab Lucian after all.

What I felt was discomfort… and perhaps slight disgust.

Seeing him stripped of everything that made him seem powerful unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

When he looked up and saw me, his entire face changed.

He smiled- actually smiled. Today, even his crooked teeth bothered me more than usual.

“You came!” He exclaimed, his voice carrying so much relief that it almost made me uncomfortable.

I forced myself to smile back. “Of course I came.”

He leaned back slightly in his chair, looking almost… happy.

For a fleeting second I wondered whether anyone had visited him since his arrest.

Probably not.

Hart was an orphan. He had been raised by his elder brother, who also happened to be his only sibling.

Kicked off the force and miserable, Hart’s brother had been as addicted to drugs as he was to beating the crap of

Hart.

As years passed, Hart eventually became the bigger and stronger brother. One day he beat his brother so badly, crippled him and left home.

I had been the only person to ever loved Hart Sullivan- of course he was grateful.

“I’ve been worried about you,” I said gently as I took a seat opposite him.

It wasn’t entirely true.

Honestly, I’d been more worried about what he might say than about the man himself.

“I knew you’d come.”

His certainty irritated me a little.

He nodded immediately. “I will.”

“I’ve never doubted your judgment.”

“I know.”

“And…”

I glanced almost imperceptibly toward the mirrored glass before returning my attention to him. “I’ve always admired your loyalty.”

The faintest smile touched his lips.

“I know what you mean.”

Good. He understood.

The detectives would hear us, but they would understand nothing.

Meanwhile, Hart understood everything.

He leaned forward slightly, that crazed look visible in his eyes again. “Claire Moreau came to see me.”

Every muscle in my body stiffened.

I forced my expression to remain neutral. “Did she?”

“Two days ago.” He answered.

I kept my breathing even. “What did she want?”

He answered so casually that it almost frightened me.

“She offered me a deal.”

My fingers tightened together beneath the table.

Of course she did, the snake!

“What kind of deal?

“They want me to testify.”

The room seemed suddenly smaller.

I waited for him to finish.

“I said no.” Hart finally said, smiling like he was proud of himself.

Only then did I realize that I’d been holding my breath.

I released it slowly. “I knew you would.”

“I told them no one gets to decide anything except me.”

I smiled warmly.

“And I knew you’d make the right decision.”

Hart looked pleased, like a child receiving praise.

For a moment, everything felt under control again.

Then he said quietly- “But…”

My heartbeat stumbled.

But what now?

“But?” I repeated, urging him on.

Hart tilted his head. “They keep saying something.”

“What?”

His smile faded. “They keep telling me you’ll abandon me.”

The words hit me harder than I expected.

I laughed-too quickly. “That’s ridiculous.”

He didn’t laugh with me.