The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Chapter 207

Maddy’s breath came in shallow, uneven gasps. A deep ache twisted through her abdomen, tightening without warning and stealing the air from her lungs. Sweat clung to her skin, cold and heavy, as her body trembled uncontrollably.

“Miss Maddy… are you okay?” Rose asked, her voice tight with worry.

She reached over and took Maddy’s hand.

Rose stiffened instantly.

“Your hand… it’s freezing,” she said, her eyes darting between the road and the rearview mirror.

Behind them-

The barking.

Still there.

Not far.

Rose cursed under her breath as beams of light sliced through the trees behind them, flickering like hunters closing in.

“They’re still following us…” she said.

“Hang in there, Miss Maddy. Just a little longer.”

But Maddy could barely hear her.

Another wave of pain struck-sudden, sharp, and deep.

She gasped, clutching her abdomen instinctively.

“Rose…” she whispered weakly.

Her vision blurred, darkness creeping at the edges. Her breathing turned ragged, uneven.

“It hurts…”

Rose glanced at her, alarm flashing across her face. “Where?”

“My stomach…” Maddy said, her voice trembling. “I-I don’t know what’s happening…”

Her fingers pressed harder against her abdomen as another cramp twisted through her. It wasn’t like anything she had felt before-stronger, deeper, frighteningly unfamiliar.

“I can’t… I can’t breathe…”

“Hey, hey-stay with me,” Rose said quickly, panic rising in her chest.

Without another word, she veered off the road, forcing the car through thick bushes. Branches scraped harshly against the sides before she killed the engine.

Silence fell-

Except for the barking.

Closer.

Too close.

“Stay with me,” Rose said urgently as she rushed to Maddy’s side and pulled the door open.

Cool air rushed in, but Maddy barely reacted.

“Come on, we need to move.”

Maddy tried to stand, but her legs gave out immediately.

“I… I can’t…” she gasped.

“Yes, you can,” Rose insisted, wrapping an arm around her supporting her weight. “Lean on me.”

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Chapter 207

Maddy’s body trembled violently as she tried again, barely managing to stay upright.

Another wave hit-stronger this time.

A soft cry escaped her lips as she doubled slightly, clutching her abdomen.

Rose froze for a split second, fear tightening her throat.

Something wasn’t right.

This wasn’t just exhaustion.

“Miss Maddy…” she said carefully, trying to keep her voice steady. “Has this ever happened before?”

Maddy shook her head weakly, her face pale. “N-no…”

Her breathing grew heavier, more strained.

“I don’t understand… what’s wrong with me?”

Rose didn’t answer immediately. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it-pain, weakness, the way Maddy could barely stand…

But there was no time.

The barking grew louder.

“They’re tracking us,” Rose muttered.

She tightened her grip and began moving, half carrying, half dragging Maddy into the forest.

Branches snapped underfoot. Leaves brushed against their skin. Every step felt too loud, too exposed.

“Just a little more…” Rose urged.

Maddy’s head leaned heavily against her shoulder, her strength fading fast.

“I feel… dizzy…” Maddy whispered.

“Stay awake,” Rose said firmly. “Talk to me.”

Another sharp cramp hit, forcing Maddy to gasp.

“Rose-!”

“I’ve got you,” Rose said quickly, though her voice trembled.

She scanned the darkness desperately-then saw it.

A hollow beneath a fallen tree, its thick roots rising from the ground, creating a pocket of shadow.

“There…”

With effort, she guided Maddy toward it and carefully lowered her to the ground.

“Stay with me… please…”

Maddy’s body shook as she lay there, her breathing uneven.

“I’m scared…” she whispered.

Rose knelt beside her, gripping her cold hand tightly.

“I know,” she said softly. “But I’m here. You’re not alone.”

Another wave of pain built-slow, rising, unstoppable.

Maddy clenched her jaw, trying to stay quiet, but a soft cry slipped through.

“I don’t know what’s happening…” she said, panic breaking through her voice.

Rose swallowed hard, fear creeping into her chest as realization began to form-but she pushed it aside.

Not now.

There was no time to think about what it meant.

Only survival.

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“Just breathe,” Rose whispered. “Slow… quiet… stay with me.”

The barking echoed again-

Louder.

Closer.

Lights flickered faintly through the trees, moving, searching.

Rose’s head snapped up.

“Don’t make a sound,” she whispered urgently.

Maddy nodded weakly, biting her lip as another wave of pain surged through her body.

Rose pulled her deeper into the shadows, shielding her as best as she could.

Her heart pounded violently as footsteps echoed faintly in the distance.

The dogs barked wildly.

Closer.

Closer.

The forest seemed to close in around them, every second stretched thin with fear.

Maddy clutched her abdomen, her breaths shallow, her body trembling with pain she didn’t understand-

A pain that was only just beginning.

And as the hunters closed in, neither of them yet realized-

This night was about to change everything.

The Cabin in the Woods

Hours passed like a blur of shadows and pain.

Maddy had long lost her sense of direction. The forest seemed endless-twisting, suffocating, alive with unseen dangers. Rose kept moving, step after step, half carrying Maddy as her strength faded with every passing minute.

“Stay with me… just a little more…” Rose whispered again and again, though her own legs trembled from exhaustion.

Then-

A flicker of light.

Rose froze.

Through the thick trees, barely visible in the distance, a soft glow pulsed against the darkness. Smoke curled upward into the night sky.

“A cabin…” she breathed.

Hope surged through her chest.

With the last of her strength, she dragged Maddy toward it.

The cabin stood quietly in a small clearing, warm light spilling from its windows. It looked almost too perfect -too clean, too still, like something untouched by the chaos surrounding them..

Rose didn’t hesitate.

She slipped around to the back and pushed the door open.

Unlocked.

They entered quickly.

Warmth wrapped around them instantly, a sharp contrast to the cold forest outside. The air smelled faintly of wood and herbs. Everything inside was neat-too neat.

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Rose guided Maddy to a chair.

“Sit… please…”

Maddy collapsed into it, her body trembling, beads of sweat rolling down her pale face. Her hands clutched

her abdomen, faint stains marking her skin.

Rose turned, scanning the room-

And froze.

A man stood at the doorway.

A gun pointed directly at them.

His eyes were sharp, cold, assessing.

“This is trespassing,” he said flatly.

Rose’s heart slammed against her chest, but she forced herself to speak.

“Sir-we’re not bad people. Please… let us stay. We’ll leave tomorrow immediately.”

Her hands shook as she reached into her pocket.

“Here… my ID…”

The man didn’t lower the gun.

But he stepped closer.

He took the ID and glanced at it, then back at her.

“You’re a nurse,” he said.

“Yes, sir,” Rose replied quickly. “And she’s my patient-Miss Maddy.”

The man’s gaze shifted.

To Maddy.

She sat slumped in the chair, breathing heavily, her face pale, sweat dripping from her forehead-

Her hands trembling.

Something was wrong.

The man’s expression hardened.

“What happened to her?” he asked.

Before Rose could answer-

A bark.

Loud.

Close.

Then the hum of an engine outside.

All three of them froze.

The man’s eyes snapped toward the window.

Then back to Rose.

“Who are they?”

Rose swallowed hard.

“They’re the men who want us dead.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

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Rose dropped to her knees.

“Sir, please… help us. I’ll explain everything. Just-please…”

Outside, the car came to a stop.

The dogs barked wildly.

Closer than ever.

The man stared at her for a long second-then turned and walked out the door.

Rose’s heart nearly stopped.

“No…” she whispered.

Outside-

“You’re on my property!” the man shouted.

The barking intensified.

Voices answered.

“We’re just asking-have you seen a women?”

“They’re dangerous,” another voice added, scanning the area. “Don’t keep them.”

A pause.

Then the man from the cabin spoke again, calm and almost amused.

“A women? Out here? In the middle of the forest at night?”

A faint chuckle.

“She must be a witch or maybe hunting a bear.”

“Have you seen her or not?” the voice snapped impatiently.

The man grinned faintly.

“I would love to have a women in my cabin, you see I’m a lonely man.”

Silence followed.

Tense.

Then-

Footsteps.

Retreating.

The engine started again.

The barking slowly faded into the distance.

Inside the cabin, Rose didn’t breathe.

Not until the door opened again.

The man stepped back inside.

His expression unreadable.

“Bring her here,” he said.

Relief nearly broke her.

“Yes-yes, sir.”

Rose rushed to Maddy’s side and carefully helped her up, guiding her into the next room.

The man stood silently, watching.

Rose worked quickly, changing Maddy’s clothes into a clean dress the man had provided.

“Wait outside,” she said firmly.

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To her surprise, he did.

But the moment she finished-

The door suddenly opened.

“What are you doing?” Rose snapped.

The man didn’t answer.

He moved straight to Maddy.

His fingers checked her pulse.

Then, without hesitation, he took a stethoscope from his drawer and listened carefully.

Rose froze.

He turned to a cabinet, pulling out medicine and supplies with practiced ease.

Her eyes widened.

“You’re…”

“A doctor,” he said simply.

He handed Rose a small vial.

“Help me.”

There was no hesitation now.

Rose stepped beside him, assisting as he worked-quick, precise, focused.

Time blurred.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours.

Finally-

“It’s done,” he said quietly.

Maddy’s breathing had steadied, though she remained unconscious, her face still pale but no longer as strained.

Rose exhaled shakily.

“Thank you…” she whispered.

She stepped out of the room, her legs weak, her body finally catching up with exhaustion.

In the small kitchen, she prepared tea with trembling hands.

Moments later, the man stepped out and slumped into a chair.

For the first time, he looked tired.

Human.

Rose handed him a cup.

“Thank you,” he said.

She nodded slightly.

“You must be a doctor,” she said.

A faint grin crossed his face.

“Something like that.”

He took a slow sip, then looked at her-sharp again.

“So,” he said.

“Tell me… who are they?”

Rose tightened her grip on the cup.

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Chapter 207

Her mind raced.

The truth sat heavy on her tongue.

And for the first time since the night began-

The real danger was no longer outside.

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