The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Maddy had no choice.

So she stayed quiet.

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The tension in the room lingered, thick and suffocating, but she forced herself to soften-to adjust.

“Babe…” her voice changed, losing its sharp edge, replaced with something fragile… something sweet. “You know I was locked in there… treated like I was crazy. I’m just… frustrated, okay?”

There was a pause.

Daven looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And just like that-his anger eased.

Not completely.

But enough.

His shoulders relaxed slightly, his expression softening as he studied her face. No matter how much she complained… no matter how difficult she became…

He couldn’t walk away.

Because to him-

Maddy was everything.

Still, a shadow crossed his mind.

Reality.

Stepping back into the elite circle… was no longer an option. Not after everything that had happened. Not after crossing paths with the Blackthorne name.

He had seen it.

Experienced it.

Their ruthlessness.

Their power.

Daven clenched his jaw slightly.

No.

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Chapter 183

He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

He would protect himself.

And more importantly-

He would protect her.

That was all that mattered now.

He had taken her back because he loved her.

Completely.

Even knowing the truth.

Even knowing about her past… about her relationship with his father, Mike.

The thought should have disgusted him.

Destroyed him.

But it didn’t.

Because in the end-

None of that mattered.

Not when Maddy looked at him the way she did now.

Not when she depended on him.

Only him.

And that-

That was enough.

Slowly, Daven reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle of medicine.

“Maddy…” his voice was gentle now, careful. “I saw your medical report.”

He stepped closer, holding the bottle in one hand and a glass of water in the other.

គ

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“You’ve been dealing with severe maladaptive behavior… anxiety,” he continued softly. “That’s why you’ve been acting like this.”

His eyes softened further, filled with something that looked like concern.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “I should’ve been more patient with you.”

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Chapter 183

He opened the bottle and handed her the pill.

“Here… take this. It’s the same medicine the doctor gave you, okay?”

Maddy hesitated for only a second.

Then she nodded.

Because she trusted him.

Because right now-

He was all she had.

She took the pill and swallowed it, following it with water.

Daven watched closely.

Carefully.

A slow smile formed on his lips.

“Good girl,” he murmured.

His voice was soft-but something about it lingered… something unsettling beneath the surface.

The medicine would calm her.

Quiet her thoughts.

Blur the edges of her resistance.

Just enough.

Just like before.

Just like what had once been done to someone else.

And soon-

She wouldn’t question him.

Wouldn’t fight him.

Wouldn’t even think of leaving.

Because she would only need him.

Only trust him.

Only depend on him.

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Chapter 183

Daven reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

“I promise,” he said, his tone almost tender. “I’ll keep you safe.”

His eyes locked onto hers.

“Until we can live like before… okay?”

Maddy looked at him-her expression soft, her thoughts already beginning to blur at the edges.

“Okay,” she whispered.

And just like that-

The line between protection…

And control-

Disappeared completely.

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Daven carefully calculated every step he would take from here onward.

Survival in their world was never accidental-it was strategic. And he had learned enough to understand one simple truth: if he wanted to remain alive, he had to bow before power greater than his own.

Damon Blackthorne.

To Daven, there was no pride left to defend. Only future to secure. He would serve Damon, swear loyalty first, and ensure he was no longer seen as an enemy or threat. It was not surrender-it was positioning.

Because while he would kneel in the present…

He intended to rise again in Wago City when the moment was right.

The months that followed reshaped everything.

In the outskirts of Wago City, life slowly shifted away from chaos. The noise of gangs, violence, and fear felt distant now, almost like a different world entirely.

Daven and Maddy lived quietly among the people there, blending into what was once an abandoned stretch of land. Their neighbors, at first distant and cautious, gradually became familiar faces-and eventually,

friends.

Daven, however, never remained just another resident.

He led.

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Chapter 183

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It started with small responsibilities-organizing supplies, resolving disputes, making decisions when no one else stepped forward. But his calm authority and decisive nature quickly became the foundation of something larger.

People began to rely on him.

And then to follow him.

He helped establish order where there had once been uncertainty. He encouraged structure instead of chaos. He made it clear that peace was not given-it was built.

Soon, others began arriving.

People who were tired of city violence. Former gang affiliates seeking escape. Families who had nothing left but hope for something better.

They came to the outskirts.

And they stayed.

Together, they built a community from nothing.

They farmed the land, raised livestock, and fished from the nearby lake. Slowly, what had once been a forgotten corner of Wago City transformed into a self-sufficient settlement.

A safe haven.

And in time, Daven became its recognized leader.

Not through fear alone-but through consistency. Through presence. Through the quiet assurance that he would not let the fragile peace they had built collapse.

The people respected him.

Trusted him.

Followed him.

Maddy adapted to this new life in her own way.

She didn’t lead or organize-but she stayed close to Daven, as if his presence alone anchored her in place. When the world felt overwhelming, she found comfort in his voice, his decisions, his certainty.

It didn’t matter that she didn’t fully understand everything happening around them.

What mattered was that he was there.

That he always knew what to do.

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Chapter 183

That nothing felt dangerous when she was beside him.

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One afternoon, as the settlement settled into its usual rhythm of work and quiet movement, Daven turned to her with an unexpected brightness in his expression.

“Maddy,” he said, taking her hands gently. “Let’s get a marriage license.”

His tone was almost cheerful-like it was the most natural next step in the world.

“We’ll do it soon,” he added with a smile. “Officially.”

Maddy looked at him for only a moment.

Then she nodded immediately.

“Okay,” she said softly.

No hesitation.

No doubt.

Because by now, Daven’s words had become something steady in her life-something she no longer questioned. His presence had become her grounding force, her certainty in a world that once felt chaotic and unsafe.

And Daven, watching her agree so easily, smiled with quiet satisfaction.

Not just at the promise of marriage…

But at the stability it represented.

She was with him.

Completely.

And in his mind, that meant everything was finally falling into place.

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