The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 175

Chapter 175

Chapter 175

2)

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Mark sat alone in the room, the faint glow of the computer screen reflecting in his eyes. Damian had already left, dragged away by Ina’s insistence that “real humans need real food.”

But Mark hadn’t followed.

Not yet.

His fingers tapped lightly against the arm of the chair as his thoughts drifted-uninvited, but impossible to ignore.

He had kept his promise.

From the very beginning, he told Damon he would protect Lila and Damian. And he had. Every step of the

way.

But things were different now.

Because the truth had changed everything.

Their marriage… wasn’t real.

It was nothing more than a contract.

A convenient arrangement.

A lie wrapped in legal words.

Mark’s jaw tightened slightly.

“Never,” he murmured under his breath, his voice low and steady. “You’ll have to come through me first before you can get your hands on Lila.”

He leaned back, crossing his arms.

“You don’t just get to walk back into her life,” he continued quietly, as if Damon were standing right in front of him. “Not after everything.”

A pause.

Then, softer-but firmer:

“You need to learn what it means to court a woman. To earn her… to make her say yes on her own.”

His gaze shifted toward the doorway, his expression unreadable.

“And to cherish her.”

“-What are you murmuring there, Markie?”

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Chapter 175

Mark nearly jumped out of his seat.

“Ina!” he snapped, pressing a hand to his chest. “Can you stop doing that?!”

Ina leaned casually against the doorframe, completely unbothered. “Doing what?”

“You just suddenly appear!”

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She raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been knocking, you know. You just didn’t answer. I thought you passed out from hunger or something.”

Mark scoffed, though the tension in his shoulders hadn’t fully disappeared.

“Come downstairs,” Ina added, already turning away. “Lunch is ready.”

Without waiting for a reply, she walked off.

A few seconds later, her voice echoed faintly from the hallway-

“This sibling is weird…”

Mark let out a quiet breath, shaking his head slightly.

But as he stood and glanced once more at the computer screen, his earlier resolve returned.

Firm.

Unshaken.

Because one thing was clear now-

If Damon wanted Lila back…

He wouldn’t just have to fight the world.

He’d have to go through Mark first.

And Mark had no intention of making it easy.

At Blackthorne Industries, everything was moving again.

Fast.

Decisive.

Unforgiving.

Damon had returned-and with him came order.

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Chapter 175

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Departments that had once been unstable were now under strict review. Positions left vacant after the internal cleanup were being filled one by one, each candidate carefully selected, each decision calculated.

There was no room for error anymore.

No room for weakness.

Meanwhile, on an entirely different floor, chaos of another kind was unfolding.

Simon stood at the HR department, arms crossed, expression firm as he faced the visibly stressed HR

manager.

“I’m telling you,” Simon said, his tone dangerously calm, “approve the one-month leave… or I walk.”

“Sir, we—we can’t just-” the manager stammered, clearly cornered.

“Then prepare the paperwork,” Simon cut in bluntly.

And just like that-

He signed his resignation.

A few minutes later, the HR manager stood nervously inside the CEO’s office.

“Mr. Blackthorne…” she began carefully, placing the document on Damon’s desk.

Damon didn’t respond immediately.

His eyes dropped to the paper.

Simon’s resignation.

For a moment, the room fell completely silent.

Then-

“You may leave,” Damon said calmly. “I’ll talk to him.”

Relief washed over the manager’s face. She nodded quickly before stepping out, guided by Bryan.

The moment the door closed, Damon picked up the document.

Without hesitation-

He fed it into the shredder.

The machine whirred softly as the paper disappeared piece by piece.

“Call Mrs. Lee,” Damon said, not even lifting his

gaze.

“Yes, sir,” Bryan replied.

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Chapter 175

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Then came the villa-one he had personally bought and prepared, with Margaret’s not-so-subtle pressure added into the mix.

Eventually… Jade gave in.

And the honeymoon-

She closed her eyes briefly at the memory.

Exhausting.

Overwhelming.

Simon had taken every opportunity, every excuse, to be close to her-to claim her affection in ways she hadn’t been prepared for.

And yet…

Despite everything-

He never stopped showing up.

Jade had once thought of divorce.

Believed Simon only married her because she was his first.

Because of obligation.

Because of impulse.

But the more time passed….

The less certain she became.

She took a slow sip of her coffee, grounding herself in the present.

Then finally looked at Damon.

“So,” she said calmly, “what do you want me to do?”

Damon leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable.

“Convince your husband,” he said plainly, “that he’s not getting a one-month leave.”

A beat.

“And remind him,” Damon added, his tone sharpening just a fraction, “that walking away right now isn’t an option.”

Jade raised an eyebrow slightly. “You want me to handle Simon?”

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Chapter 175

Damon met her gaze.

“You’re the only one who can.”

Silence settled between them for a moment.

Then, slowly-

Jade smiled.

Not hesitant this time.

But knowing.

“Alright,” she said, setting her cup down. “I’ll deal with him.”

Because if there was one thing she understood now-

It was Simon.

And if there was one person who could make him stay…

It was her.

Jade left Blackthorne Industries without looking back.

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The city buzzed around her as she drove across town, her thoughts quieter now, more focused. By the time she reached her own office, the tension from earlier had already settled into something familiar.

Predictable.

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Simon.

She pushed the door open-

-and there he was.

Casually sprawled across the sofa, one arm hanging off the side, eyes closed in deep, undisturbed sleep. As if he hadn’t just caused chaos an hour ago.

Jade sighed softly, walking over to him.

She gently shook his shoulder. “Simon…”

He stirred slightly, brows furrowing. “Let me sleep for a while,” he murmured, eyes still closed.

Jade’s expression softened despite herself.

“Go to the other room,” she said quietly. “There’s a small bed there. You can rest properly.”

Simon slowly opened his eyes, blinking up at her.

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Chapter 175

For a second, he just looked at her.

Then-

“Let’s go,” he said.

No argument. No teasing.

Just that.

Jade nodded and turned, leading the way.

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Inside her office was a smaller, private room-simple, quiet, meant for brief moments of rest between long hours of work.

As soon as they stepped in-

Simon closed the door.

Locked it.

Before Jade could say anything-

He pulled her close and kissed her.

There was nothing hesitant about it.

Nothing playful.

It was the kind of kiss that carried everything he hadn’t said out loud-frustration, exhaustion, tension… and something deeper he rarely put into words.

Jade didn’t resist.

Didn’t question.

She simply let herself respond, meeting him halfway, knowing full well she would deal with him later.

For now-

She let him have this.

Hours passed.

The world outside moved on, unaware.

Inside, everything slowed.

Three hours later, silence returned-but softer now.

Jade lay beside him, her head resting against his arm as their breathing gradually steadied.

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Chapter 175

“You okay now?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Simon replied, his voice low.

He pulled her closer, his hold firm but no longer restless.

All the frustration that had weighed on him earlier… gone.

Replaced by something calmer.

Grounded.

Jade glanced up at him, studying his face.

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“You know,” she said after a moment, “you need Damon to stay busy… if you want him not to notice your leave.”

Simon frowned slightly. “What?”

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Jade shifted just enough to look at him properly. “Don’t pretend you don’t know how to keep him occupied.”

Her tone was light-but pointed.

“With everything going on… the company, the cases, the restructuring…” she continued, “it won’t take much to keep his attention elsewhere.”

Simon didn’t respond.

Because he already knew where this was going.

Jade held his gaze.

“You know exactly what would keep him busy,” she added softly.

Silence stretched between them.

Simon’s expression slowly changed-not playful anymore.

Not teasing.

Just thoughtful.

Because there was only one answer.

One person.

Lila.

If she came back into Damon’s world-

If she stood in front of him again—

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Chapter 175

Nothing else would matter.

Not the company.

Not the workload.

Not even Simon’s absence.

:

Simon exhaled slowly, his grip on Jade tightening just a little.

“… You’re dangerous,” he muttered.

Jade smiled faintly.

“I’m practical.”

Simon let out a quiet chuckle, though his eyes remained distant.

Because whether he liked it or not-

She was right.

And if bringing Lila back was the only way to distract Damon…

Then things were about to get complicated.

Very complicated.

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