The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Mark’s gaze locked onto Lila.

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She stood just outside the café, bathed in the fading light of the afternoon. The soft glow of the sunset touched her face, making her look… peaceful.

Safe.

More than that-

She looked alive in a way he hadn’t seen in a long time.

For a moment, Mark forgot everything else.

His heart pounded hard against his chest, each beat louder than the last. Every instinct in him screamed to move-to cross the distance, to call her name, to make sure she was truly there.

To bring her back.

But he didn’t move.

He couldn’t.

His eyes shifted-sharp, calculating.

Across the street, a woman sat quietly, her attention seemingly casual… but too steady. Beside her, a man scrolled through his phone, his posture relaxed-but not unaware.

They didn’t look like much.

But Mark knew better.

If he made a move now-

If he walked straight to Lila-

anyone else watching… anyone else hunting her…

would make their move too.

And Lila-

His jaw tightened.

He wouldn’t allow that.

Not again.

Slowly, Mark leaned back in his seat, forcing himself to stay still. His hands curled slightly into fists before

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Chapter 154

relaxing again.

Seeing her like this-

safe-

that had to be enough.

For now.

Then his phone lit up.

A message.

From Damon.

Mark’s expression darkened as he read it.

Maddy was behind it.

She was the reason Lila ended up at the auction.

His grip tightened around the phone.

Eric commanded her.

He made her call Lila. Challenge her.

The words settled heavily in his chest, each line sharpening the picture even more.

This wasn’t random.

It never was.

Mark’s gaze lifted again, locking onto Lila from across the distance.

The quiet town.

The café.

The illusion of safety.

It was all temporary.

Because now he knew-

The people who put her there…

were still out there.

And sooner or later-

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15:26 Mon, May 4

Chapter 154

they would come looking again.

Mark waited.

Patiently.

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The café slowly emptied, the noise fading into the quiet rhythm of the evening. He reached for a napkin on the table, pulling a pen from his pocket.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Then he wrote.

Simple. Careful. Familiar.

He folded the napkin once… then again.

Mark stood, his movements casual as he stepped away from the table. His eyes scanned the surroundings, sharp and deliberate. The street had grown quieter now-fewer people, fewer distractions.

Still, he checked.

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Once.

Twice.

No lingering shadows. No suspicious movement.

Then-

A car pulled up in front of the shop.

Marlou stepped out first, moving naturally as he joined Lila. The two of them went inside, continuing their routine-cleaning, organizing, unaware of the moment unfolding just outside.

Mark used it.

He walked past the car without hesitation, his posture relaxed, his pace unremarkable.

In one smooth motion, he slipped the folded napkin under the windshield.

No pause.

No second glance.

Then he kept walking.

And disappeared into the quiet of the street.

Inside, time passed.

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Chapter 154

quite name.

Because now she knew-

She wasn’t just hiding.

She was being watched.

Lila stood still for a moment, the folded napkin still in her hand.

Then, almost instinctively, she reached for her bag.

Her phone.

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It had been turned off for so long-ever since that last call from Mark, when everything had started to fall apart.

Her fingers hesitated for just a second.

Then she switched it on.

The screen lit up.

Missed messages. Silence. Time lost.

She didn’t check any of it.

Instead, she scrolled quickly and pressed call.

The line rang.

Once.

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Twice.

Then-

“Hello.”

Mark’s voice.

Steady. Familiar.

Lila closed her eyes briefly, relief washing over her.

“How are you?” she asked softly. “I’m sorry… I didn’t call when things were messy.”

There was no accusation in his silence-only concern.

“Are you safe?” Mark asked.

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Chapter 154

“Yes,” Lila answered. “I’m safe.”

A quiet breath came from the other end.

“Then I’m glad.”

The words were simple.

But they carried weight.

There was a pause-longer this time.

Lila tightened her grip on the phone.

“And the others?” Mark asked.

Her voice trembled slightly as she answered.

“They’re safe too… Damian already started kindergarten.”

Her lips quivered, tears finally slipping free despite her effort to hold them back.

A small, fragile smile formed through it.

“Good… good,” Mark said softly.

Another pause.

Then, quieter-

“I’ll come to you once everything is solved, okay?”

Lila didn’t answer right away.

She wanted to say so many things.

To ask him to come now.

To tell him not to wait.

But she understood.

So instead-

“…Okay,” she whispered.

The line went silent.

Then the call ended.

Lila lowered the phone slowly, her gaze drifting toward the darkening street.

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Chapter 154

He was here.

Close enough to see her.

Close enough to reach her-

But still choosing distance.

Not because he didn’t want to come closer…

But because he had to protect her.

And somehow-

that hurt just as much as it comforted her.

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