The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Chapter 135

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Damon followed the trail back to Wago City, moving like a shadow through the narrow alleys. The path led him to the person who had orchestrated the attack on the Blackthorne family-or at least left clues for someone to finish the job.

It ended at a small, rundown apartment tucked away in a forgotten corner of the city. Damon’s eyes narrowed as he surveyed the building. The scent of neglect and fear hung heavy in the air.

Inside, the woman he once encountered-the escort-stood by the window. Her once-sophisticated appearance was gone. Her skin was pale, her body thin, and the glow of confidence she once carried was replaced by a haunted, nervous energy.

“Cindy,” Damon called, his voice low but commanding.

The woman froze, her eyes widening. “Mr. Blackthorne!” she exclaimed, shock and fear making her voice tremble.

Before she could react further, she slammed the door.

Damon was faster. He pushed it back open with one hand and stepped inside, his gaze locking onto her.

“Please… Mr. Blackthorne, they might get the wrong idea,” Cindy pleaded, her voice panicked. “You have to leave… now!”

Damon didn’t move immediately. He let the silence stretch for a moment, studying her carefully. Every tremor in her voice, every anxious glance around the apartment told him she knew more than she was letting

“You know why I’m here, Cindy,” Damon said quietly, his tone firm but measured. “I need the truth. Now.”

Cindy swallowed hard, backing against the wall, eyes darting to the door. “I… I can’t… I don’t know if I should say…”

Damon’s presence filled the small apartment, a reminder that escape wasn’t an option. “This isn’t about punishment,” he said, his voice calm but unyielding. “It’s about survival. For my family. For Lila. Tell me everything.”

Her hands trembled as she clasped them together. Damon’s gaze didn’t waver. Somewhere deep down, she knew he wouldn’t leave without answers.

Suddenly-

A loud gunshot echoed from outside.

Cindy flinched, panic instantly taking over. “They found me-!” she cried, trying to bolt toward the back exit.

But Damon was faster.

He grabbed her arm firmly and pulled her back. “You’re coming with me,” he said, his voice sharp and commanding.

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Chapter 135

Outside, chaos had erupted.

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Men were shouting. More gunfire rang through the streets. It wasn’t clear who started it–but it didn’t matter. A gang war had broken out, turning the entire area into a battlefield.

Damon didn’t hesitate. Shielding Cindy, he moved swiftly through the chaos, guiding her into the car.

The drive back to his base was silent.

Cindy curled into herself in the backseat, trembling, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees as if trying to disappear. She didn’t dare speak.

Damon said nothing either. His mind was already working-connecting pieces, predicting moves.

When they arrived, he didn’t slow down.

He dragged Cindy inside and led her underground, into a secured room. It wasn’t luxurious-but it was safe.

He handed her food, water, and a clean dress.

“Stay here,” he said shortly.

Then he left.

Upstairs, Damon rubbed his forehead, the tension finally catching up to him.

“You know my sister will come straight to you the moment she hears there’s a woman this close to you,” Mark said, leaning against the wall, his tone carrying a quiet warning.

Damon exhaled sharply. “Mark, come on. You know I don’t mess around like that here,” he said, frustration slipping through.

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Maybe. But she won’t see it that way.”

Damon dropped his hand, his expression hardening again.

“This isn’t about that,” he said. “Cindy knows something. And whatever it is… it’s big enough to start a war in the middle of the city.”

“Mm.” Mark nodded lazily, dropping into his chair.

He leaned back, eyes drifting toward the monitor where Cindy sat curled in the corner, quietly eating.

“Don’t let that woman’s scent cling to you,” Mark said casually, though the warning beneath his tone was clear.

Damon let out a breath. “Of course not-unless you want me to get into trouble,” he replied dryly.

Mark glanced at him, one brow slightly raised. “Did you and that girl-Cindy-mess around before?” he asked, almost too casually.

Damon straightened immediately. “No. Of course not. I’m loyal to your sister.”

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Chapter 135

Mark snorted. “The whole Belair City knows you as a casanova.”

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“Mark,” Damon said, raising his hand as if taking an oath, “I swear-I didn’t touch any woman after I married your sister.”

Mark didn’t respond right away. He simply watched him.

Damon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I know I was wrong… for not clearing things up before.”

His voice dropped slightly, more honest now.

“And Lila…” he continued, glancing away for a moment, “she never paid attention to me back then. I thought… if I created those rumors, she’d react. Get angry. Do something.”

Mark’s expression shifted, just a little.

Damon let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “So I had those women-escorts, socialites-send her messages. Messages I told them to send.”

He shook his head, regret flashing across his face.

“Stupid, right?”

Mark didn’t answer.

Damon’s gaze fell, his voice quieter now. “Instead of coming closer… it just made her step away from me.”

Silence filled the room for a moment, broken only by the faint sound of Cindy moving on the monitor.

Mark finally spoke. “You wanted her attention… and ended up pushing her out.”

Damon didn’t deny it.

Because that had always been the truth.

And now, with everything happening-

War closing in, enemies watching, secrets unraveling-

That mistake might cost him far more than just distance.

After making sure Cindy had settled, Damon returned to the underground room.

She was sitting on the edge of the bed now, clutching the blanket tightly around her, as if it were the only thing keeping her together.

Damon stepped closer. “Cindy,” he said gently, but firmly. “Tell me everything.”

At the sound of his voice, Cindy’s composure broke.

“When the media released those rumors… about me and you,” she began, her voice shaking, “they believed I

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Chapter 135

was important to you.”

Damon’s expression darkened.

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“They took me,” she continued, tears falling freely now. “They threw me into an underground auction… like I was nothing.”

Damon’s hands slowly clenched at his sides.

“They told me to call you,” Cindy said, her breathing uneven. “To lure you out. But I refused. I told them… I told them I wasn’t important to you. That I was nothing… just someone you knew.”

Her voice cracked completely.

“But they didn’t believe me,” she sobbed. “They said a man like you wouldn’t let someone like me go… not unless I mattered.”

She covered her face, shaking.

“My life turned into chaos… because of that lie…”

Damon’s gaze softened slightly, though the tension in his jaw remained.

“But who am I,” Cindy whispered, looking up at him with broken eyes, “that you would come and rescue me? I’m just… an escort.”

Silence filled the room.

Then Damon stepped forward.

He gently placed a hand on her back, steady, reassuring.

Cindy hesitated for only a second before breaking completely-moving into his arms like a frightened animal seeking warmth and safety.

Damon didn’t push her away.

He let her stay there, his expression unreadable-but his presence firm.

Then-

A voice crackled through his earpiece.

“Damon… don’t let my sister catch you like that,” Mark warned quietly.

Damon’s eyes immediately lifted.

His gaze shifted toward the camera mounted in the corner of the room.

His expression hardened.

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Chapter 135

That was something he couldn’t afford.

Damon tried calling Lila again.

And again.

Each time, the call barely rang before it was rejected.

His jaw tightened.

Frustration built with every failed attempt.

“Damn it…” he muttered under his breath.

Without another word, he grabbed his coat, clearly ready to leave.

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“I’m going back to Belair,” Damon said, his voice firm. “I need to explain this to Lila. She keeps rejecting my calls.”

From across the room, Mark didn’t move.

“No, you can’t leave,” he said casually, almost amused.

Damon stopped.

Slowly, he turned, his eyes sharp. “What?”

Mark leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying every second of Damon’s frustration.

“You see the reason that little war broke out earlier?” Mark said with a smirk. “It’s because someone’s been snooping around… trying to confirm if Damon Blackthorne really died in that very convenient crossfire.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Damon’s expression darkened. “So?”

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“So,” Mark continued, “if you suddenly show up in Belair… alive and well… what do you think happens next?”

Damon didn’t answer.

He already knew.

Everything he built-every lie, every sacrifice-would collapse in an instant.

And worse-

It would put Lila right back in danger.

15:10 Mon, May 4

Chapter 135

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Mark’s smirk softened just slightly, though the edge never left his tone. “You walking into Belair right now is basically announcing to everyone, ‘Hey, I’m alive. Come finish the job.””

Damon clenched his fists.

“I don’t care,” he said through gritted teeth: “She thinks I betrayed her.”

Mark shrugged. “Then let her think that-for now.”

That hit harder than anything else.

Damon’s eyes snapped to him. “You expect me to just sit here while she-”

“Yes,” Mark cut in calmly. “Because if you go to her now… you won’t just lose her trust.”

He paused.

“You might lose her completely.”

The words hung in the air.

Damon’s breathing slowed, but the tension in him didn’t fade.

Because for the first time-

He wasn’t just fighting enemies in the shadows.

He was fighting time… distance… and the one person he couldn’t afford to lose.

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