The Wife he threw Away (Claire and Lucian) novel Chapter 279

The gates opened slowly.

I watched them from the back seat, my fingers still intertwined with Lucian’s.

For a moment, I wondered if I should ask him to turn around.

It wasn’t too late— we could still go back to my apartment. I could make some excuse about needing to prepare for court or having work to finish.

But then the car rolled through the gates, and I realized I didn’t actually want to leave. I just didn’t know what it would feel like to come back.

The mansion came into view a few seconds later.

It looked exactly as I remembered:

The wide driveway, the perfectly trimmed hedges, the enormous windows reflecting the afternoon sunlight, the fountain in the middle of the courtyard.

Everything was familiar. And yet, somehow, it wasn’t.

The car came to a stop. Before I could reach for the door, Lucian’s hand squeezed mine.

“You okay?”

I nodded. “I think so.”

Lucian studied my face for a moment longer. “If you want to leave—”

“I don’t.” I answered quickly.

He smiled faintly. “That’s good to hear.”

Camilla was already outside by the time we stepped out of the car. She turned toward the mansion and called for one of the staff members to come help with Lucian’s things.

I barely had time to take a step before the first maid spotted me.

Her eyes widened. “Mrs. Dhark?”

I froze.

The title sounded strange. Not unpleasant, just… unfamiliar.

Then her face broke into the biggest smile. “Welcome home.”

Something inside my chest tightened at that.

Another maid appeared behind her, the another.

Within seconds, there were several people standing near the entrance, all of them smiling and greeting me.

One of them even hugged me before remembering herself and stepping back awkwardly.

“I’m sorry.”

I laughed softly.

“It’s okay.”

“You look so beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

There was no judgment.

No awkward silence.

No uncomfortable glances.

Nothing.

They were simply happy to see me.

I hadn’t realized how much I had feared the opposite.

I looked at Lucian.

He was watching me with a small smile.

“What?” I asked.

“Nothing.”

“You’re staring.”

“I like seeing you here.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t get sentimental.”

“I wasn’t.”

“You were.”

He smiled.

Camilla approached us.

“Come inside before you two start arguing at the front door.”

Lucian chuckled.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I laughed.

For the first time since we’d arrived, the tightness in my chest began to loosen.

Maybe this wasn’t the same place anymore.

Maybe it was still the same mansion.

But perhaps I wasn’t the same woman who had left it.

⸻

Lucian eventually disappeared upstairs with one of the staff members.

Camilla and I headed toward the kitchen.

We had barely made it halfway down the hallway when one of the workers hurried around the corner.

I stepped aside to avoid her.

Unfortunately, she did the same thing.

We bumped into each other.

“I’m sorry,” she said immediately.

“It’s fine.”

I smiled.

But then a sharp tenderness shot through my chest.

I instinctively pressed a hand against it.

Camilla noticed.

“Claire?”

I straightened.

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I’m okay.”

She studied me.

I hesitated.

“My breasts have just been tender lately.”

Camilla’s eyebrows lifted.

“Your breasts?”

I laughed.

“Yes.”

“Have you taken a test?”

I knew exactly what kind of test she meant.

I shook my head.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Camilla.”

She smiled.

“All right.”

I knew that expression.

She didn’t believe me.

I sighed.

“It’s probably stress.”

“Perhaps.”

“And exhaustion.”

“Perhaps.”

“And hormones.”

She nodded.

“Perhaps.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re doing that on purpose.”

“Doing what?”

“Agreeing with me while clearly disagreeing with me.”

She laughed.

“I said nothing.”

“You didn’t have to.”

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