The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 164

15:31 Mon, May 4

Chapter 164

Chapter 164

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The man’s gaze lingered on Lila and Mark, as if weighing their every reaction.

“Enough talk,” he said finally. “Time to see how well you can play in a real game.”

Before either of them could react, a faint hum echoed through the island-a sound of movement too precise to be natural. Shadows shifted among the trees.

“Mark, Lila-stay close,” the man warned. “This is just the beginning.”

Mark’s hand went to the small pistol he always carried. Lila’s eyes scanned the perimeter, noting every -shadow, every tree line, every possible approach.

Suddenly, figures emerged from the treeline-masked, armed, moving with coordinated precision.

Mark whispered, “It’s a trap. He led them here on purpose.”

The man stepped back, raising his hands slightly, as if to signal control. “Relax. They’re mine… for now. I just want to see your instincts. Your decisions. How you react under pressure.”

Lila’s heart pounded. “We don’t play games. Not with lives on the line.”

The man’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Ah, but this is life. And death. And everything in between. Consider it a lesson… from someone who knows what you’re truly capable of.”

Mark tightened his grip on his pistol. “We’re not afraid of you-or them. We fight if we have to.”

The man’s eyes glittered with approval. “Good. That’s exactly what I wanted to see.”

The masked figures advanced slowly, but not too aggressively. Their movements were deliberate, almost choreographed.

Lila and Mark moved in tandem, back-to-back, taking defensive positions. Every second stretched as their instincts kicked in.

“You’ve been trained well,” the man said, voice calm, almost admiring. “But training and reality… are never the same.”

From the treeline, a faint whistle echoed-imperceptible to most, but Mark caught it immediately. “They’re testing us… waiting for a mistake,” he muttered.

Lila nodded. “Then we don’t make one.”

The first figure lunged forward, and the test began.

Every movement, every choice, every reaction was now a part of a larger puzzle-one that could determine who would survive the night, and who would become a pawn in a much bigger game.

The first masked figure lunged forward, and Mark reacted instantly, sidestepping while delivering a precise

15.31 Mon, May 4

Chapter 164

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strike that sent the intruder stumbling into the sand. Lila rolled to the side, pulling a small knife from her belt, her movements fluid and controlled.

“They’re coordinated,” Mark muttered, ducking another attack. “Watch their formation!”

The masked figures moved with military precision, circling them like predators testing their prey. But Lila and Mark weren’t ordinary targets-they moved in perfect sync, each anticipating the other’s actions.

Lila parried an incoming strike, twisting her body and using the attacker’s momentum to throw him to the ground. Mark immediately followed, taking out another masked figure with a swift punch that left the man groaning.

From the shadows, the man-Lila and Mark’s “uncle”-watched silently, his posture calm, almost relaxed. His eyes flickered with amusement.

“Impressive,” he said softly. “Better than I expected. You truly are Marcus’s children.”

Mark glanced toward him, jaw tight. “Stop talking. This isn’t a game!”

The man’s smile didn’t waver. “No, it’s not. But consider this… a lesson. Every move counts. Every decision

matters.”

Another wave of masked attackers advanced from behind the trees, faster this time. Lila and Mark backpedaled together, fighting with lethal precision. Lila used her environment, kicking sand into an attacker’s eyes, while Mark exploited openings, incapacitating the intruders one by one.

“You’re holding back,” the man observed, his voice quiet but cutting through the chaos.

Lila froze for a moment, realizing what he meant. “We are not here to kill them-yet,” she said under her breath. “We survive. That’s the priority.”

Mark nodded. “Agreed. Stay focused. They want us distracted.”

The attackers regrouped, closing in with silent efficiency. But every move Lila and Mark made was calculated, anticipating the enemy’s tactics. The clash was intense, fast, and precise-every strike and counterstrike a test of their skills, their instincts, and their trust in each other.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last masked figure fell, collapsing to the ground. The clearing was silent except for the labored breathing of the siblings and the distant crash of waves.

The man stepped forward, clapping slowly. “Excellent,” he said. “You survived. You adapted. And you think you understand the danger… but this was only the beginning.”

Mark’s eyes narrowed. “Then tell us what’s next. No more games.”

The man’s gaze flicked between them, calculating. “Oh, the games are far from over. But now… it’s time for truths. Hard truths. About your parents, about your father, about the Blackthorne family-and about the man you both fear most.”

Lila and Mark exchanged a tense glance, knowing the real test-the one that would challenge everything they believed-was just beginning.

Mon, May

Chapter 164

Lila froze, her eyes narrowing as pieces fell into place.

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“Mark… these men…” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “They weren’t random. They… they were Damon’s men.”

Mark’s brow furrowed. “What? Are you sure?”

Lila’s jaw tightened. “Think about it-the way they moved, their precision… they know us, our tactics, our habits. This wasn’t just a test from him-it was a warning. He wanted us to see what we’re up against.”

Mark took a step back, scanning the treeline where the attackers had emerged. “So all this… this was Damon? He’s testing us… or sending a message?”

Lila’s eyes were cold now, calculating. “Both. He wants to see how far we’re willing to go. And he wants to make sure we understand the stakes before he steps in.”

The man-Lila and Mark’s so-called uncle-watched them silently, a faint smile on his lips. “Ah… so you’ve realized. Good. Awareness is the first step to survival.”

Mark clenched his fists. “Then he’s playing with us… using his own men against us?”

The man nodded slowly. “Damon is cautious. He knows the dangers that await. But sometimes, caution comes at a cost. And now… the real choices begin.”

Lila’s eyes darted to the approaching shadows, her mind racing. “We’re caught in the middle… and Damon doesn’t even know the full picture.”

Mark’s grip tightened on his weapon. “Then we make sure we’re ready. Whoever comes next… we’ll be waiting.”

Damon arrived late, his men barely holding on after the encounter.

“Boss… Lila and Mark-they were taken by that man,” one of his men reported, breathless.

Damon gritted his teeth and let out a low, bitter chuckle. As he surveyed the scene, something caught his eye -a piece of paper tucked into the jacket of one of his fallen men.

He picked it up and read aloud, his voice tight with disbelief: “The man’s name is Freddie Everith… he said he was our uncle.” The handwriting was unmistakably Mark’s.

Damon’s mind raced. He immediately contacted Simon, ordering him to dig deep into this Freddie Everith. Hours later, the truth came back: no such person existed. The man’s real name was Freddie Bjorn.

Damon stared at the revelation, his jaw tightening. “Why… why would the Bjorn want my wife?” he muttered, frustration and confusion warring in his tone. It was a question he could not yet answer-one that would drag him deeper into a web of secrets, danger, and betrayal.

15:31 Mon, May 4