The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Chapter 163

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At the Blackthorne estate, Damon sat motionless in front of a chessboard, his eyes fixed on the unmoving pieces.

The room was quiet-too quiet.

The door opened softly, and Margaret stepped inside. She paused for a moment, observing him, before walking forward and taking the seat across from him.

Without a word, she began arranging the chess pieces.

The game started in silence.

À move.

Then another.

“You’re already too late,” Margaret said calmly, moving a piece without lifting her gaze. “They’ve already made their move.”

Damon looked up at her, his expression unreadable. “What do you mean?”

Margaret finally met his eyes.

“Lila’s father-Marcus Lawel-was one of your father’s closest friends,” she said.

Damon’s hand paused mid-air.

Margaret continued, her voice steady as she moved another piece. “Marcus was the one who went after the notorious head of an underground syndicate. He was relentless… and dangerous.”

The chess pieces clicked softly against the board.

“He succeeded in cornering them,” she went on, “but it cost him everything. He and his wife were killed.”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

“At that time, your father-Richard-was still young,” Margaret said. “He had no involvement, no knowledge of that world. Marcus kept him away from it intentionally.”

“Why?” Damon asked quietly.

“Because Marcus believed your father was too good,” Margaret replied. “Too innocent to stain his hands with that kind of darkness.”

Silence fell between them as Margaret advanced another piece.

“But Marcus wasn’t alone,” she added. “He had trusted comrades-people who continued his fight even after his death.”

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Chapter 163

Damon’s eyes darkened. “And my father?”

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Margaret’s expression softened, just slightly. “After Marcus and his wife died, your father made a promise. He swore he would hunt down the one responsible-the head of that syndicate.”

She paused.

“And he also promised… to take care of Marcus’s two children.”

Damon froze.

Lila.

“And that promise,” Margaret continued, “became an obsession.”

She moved her queen across the board, trapping one of Damon’s pieces.

“Your father forgot his responsibilities as the head of the Blackthorne family. He chased revenge instead of balance.”

Damon exhaled slowly. “And you?”

“He asked me to step in,” Margaret said. “To help guide you. To make sure the Blackthorne name didn’t collapse under his absence.”

The room grew heavier with every word.

“Your father couldn’t move on,” she added quietly. “Even near the end… he was still chasing that man.”

Damon’s voice lowered. “Did he ever find him?”

Margaret’s hand stilled over the board.

“Yes,” she said. “He did.”

A long pause followed.

“On his deathbed,” she continued, her voice softer now, “he made me promise something.”

Damon’s gaze sharpened. “What promise?”

Margaret looked directly at him.

“That you would not follow his path,” she said. “That you would stay away from the underground world… and let it end with him.”

Damon said nothing.

“He wanted you to be different,” she added. “A good father… a good leader…”

Her eyes held his.

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Chapter 163

“…and a good husband to Lila-Marcus’s daughter.”

The words settled heavily in the room.

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Damon stared at the chessboard, but he wasn’t seeing the pieces anymore.

Everything he thought he knew-

Every decision he had made-

Suddenly felt… incomplete.

Margaret made her final move.

“Check,” she said softly.

Damon didn’t respond.

Because for the first time-

He realized he had been playing a game

where he never knew the full rules.

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“Lila and her brother used their mother’s maiden name,” Margaret said softly, moving a chess piece.

Damon looked up from the board, his eyes narrowing.

“Your father wanted to adopt Lila and Mark after their parents died,” Margaret continued, “but there were too many eyes watching. So he chose to watch them from afar, keeping them safe without revealing himself.”

Damon exhaled deeply. “Why now?” he asked, his voice low and rough.

“Why are you telling me this now?” he added, his gaze fixed on his mother.

Margaret met his eyes slowly, deliberately. “Because I promised your father I would keep this secret until my grave,” she said.

Her tone shifted-cold, logical, and unwavering. “And whether I told you or not… you wouldn’t have stopped until you brought back your wife and your son. What’s the point of keeping it if you’re already on that path?”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

Margaret’s eyes flicked to the chessboard. “I assume that man will pretend to be Lila and Mark’s uncle to lure them out,” she said.

She pushed the king piece forward. “I lost.”

Damon stared at the board, the weight of her words pressing down on him.

“Now that you know the truth,” Margaret said, rising from her chair, “it’s your call to decide.”

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Chapter 163

She left the room, the door closing softly behind her.

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For a long moment, Damon didn’t move, his gaze fixed on the chessboard as if it contained all the answers.

Then the door burst open.

Simon rushed in, urgency written across his face. “Damon! Mark just sent a message-they’ve been lured out! The man demanded that both he and Lila come to him.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “Where are they?” he demanded.

Simon shook his head. “Mark hasn’t sent the location yet.”

Damon stood still for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

“Let’s go. We’ll take the shortcut,” he said, his voice low and steady as he started walking toward the door. Simon fell in step behind him without hesitation.

On the secluded island, Mark shifted nervously, his hands fidgeting with the edge of the couch.

“Lila… are you sure you want to face him?” he asked quietly, glancing at her. She sat silently, her posture calm, but her eyes were sharp, focused.

“That man told us that the Blackthorne family had something to do with our parents’ deaths,” Lila said, her voice steady but quiet, as if speaking the words made them heavier.

Mark leaned closer, concern etched into his face. “But… do you trust him?”

Lila shook her head slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “No. Of course not.”

Mark exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Then we have to be smart. One wrong move, and…”

Lila cut him off, her gaze unwavering. “We’re already on this path, Mark. We can’t turn back now.”

The air between them grew tense, the weight of what was coming pressing down. Outside, the wind rustled through the trees of the secluded island, a reminder that danger was never far away.

Mark nodded slowly, determination hardening his expression. “Alright… then we do this together. No mistakes.”

Lila’s lips curved into a faint, grim smile. “Together.”

The secluded island was quiet, almost too quiet. Waves lapped against the rocks, and the wind whispered through the trees like a warning.

Mark and Lila moved toward the edge of the clearing, eyes scanning every shadow.

“You ready?” Mark asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lila nodded, her hands resting lightly on her knees. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

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Chapter 163

Mark exhaled slowly. “Remember, we can’t trust him. He might know more than he’s letting on.”

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“I know,” Lila said. Her gaze hardened. “But if he’s the only lead we have, we have to take the risk.”

From the treeline, the sound of footsteps made them tense.

“He’s here,” Mark murmured.

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A tall figure stepped into the clearing, his posture relaxed, almost casual, but his eyes glittered with something dangerous.

“Ah, there you are,” the man said, his voice smooth, almost teasing. “I’ve been waiting.”

Lila didn’t move, her expression unreadable. Mark instinctively positioned himself slightly in front of her, protective.

“Come closer,” the man said, taking a step forward. “Let’s not waste time with formalities.”

Mark’s fists clenched. “We don’t come alone,” he said. “We’re not walking into anything blind.”

The man’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Oh, I never said you were. I said come closer. And then… we talk.”

Lila’s heart pounded, but her face stayed calm. She studied him carefully, memorizing every detail-the way he held himself, the faint tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes never left hers.

Mark whispered, “He’s trying to intimidate you. Don’t let him.”

“I won’t,” Lila replied softly.

The man’s smile widened, almost imperceptibly. “Good. I like you two. Sharp. Cautious. It makes the game more interesting.”

Mark’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t a game.”

“Oh, but it is,” the man said, tilting his head slightly. “And I promise… the stakes are higher than you realize.”

A silence fell over the clearing. The wind picked up, carrying the faint scent of salt and pine, as if the island itself was holding its breath.

Lila glanced at Mark, then back at the man. “Talk,” she said. “But we make the rules.”

The man’s eyes glittered in the fading light. “Ah… I was hoping you’d say that.”

And with that, the first move of the real game began.

The man stepped closer, but never too close-his every move deliberate, controlled.

“I suppose it’s time we clear the air,” he said, his voice calm but edged with something sharp. “I’m sure you have questions… plenty of them.”

Lila didn’t flinch. “Then start talking. Who are you really?”

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Chapter 163

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The man let out a soft chuckle, the sound echoing lightly over the island. “Really?” he asked, tilting his head. “You think I’m just some random figure? No. I am the one your father trusted most after your parents died.”

Mark tensed. “Your father? What are you talking about?”

The man’s smile widened. “I’m your uncle. On your mother’s side, Lila. And believe me, I’ve been watching you both for a long time.”

Lila’s eyes narrowed. “You’re lying. You could be anyone.”

“Am I?” he replied smoothly. “I know things no one else should know… things about your parents, about the Blackthorne family, about your father’s obsession. And I’m not here to hurt you-yet.”

Mark stepped protectively in front of Lila. “Then why lure us here? What’s your goal?”

The man’s eyes glittered with a mix of amusement and warning. “Because you’re the only ones who can bring this full circle. You need to see the truth, understand it, and decide… whether you fight, or walk away.”

Lila’s pulse quickened. “And the Blackthorne connection to our parents?”

The man’s gaze darkened slightly. “Yes… your father’s family-the Blackthornes-were involved in a web far darker than you realize. But not all of them are enemies. Some… are allies in disguise.”

Mark’s jaw tightened. “And you? Where do you stand?”

The man leaned back slightly, arms crossed. “I stand where I always have-protecting the bloodline, protecting the truth, waiting for the right moment for justice. And now… that moment is here.”

A tense silence fell. Waves crashed softly in the distance. Lila and Mark exchanged a glance–both understanding that every word, every move from this man had layers.

Finally, Lila spoke, her voice steady. “If what you say is true… then help us. But betray us, and we won’t forgive you.”

The man’s smile returned, small and knowing. “Oh, I don’t intend to betray you. But… be careful. The path you’ve chosen is treacherous, and there are forces already moving against you-some you know, some you don’t.”

Mark whispered under his breath, “This isn’t just a meeting… it’s a test.”

The man’s eyes caught his. “Exactly.”

And somewhere deep in the shadows of the island, a plan began to unfold-one that would force Lila, Mark, and even Damon into a game they might not survive.