The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

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Lila woke with a start, feeling an arm snugly wrapped around her waist. Her chest tightened with a mix of frustration and self-reproach. She was pissed off-mad at herself for letting things spiral again. Instinctively, she shoved Damon’s arm off her.

Before she could fully rise, his arm shot back around her waist, holding her firmly.

“Let’s stay like this,” he murmured, his voice low and teasing, “It’s still too early.”

Lila scowled and kicked at him reflexively.

Damon groaned, opening his eyes, dark with amusement. “Damn… not satisfied that you woke up mad, huh?” he said, sarcasm lacing his tone.

Lila just shot him a sharp glare, utterly unamused, and stormed toward the bathroom.

Before she could even close the door, Damon was already there, stepping in as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Damon! Get-” she started, but the protest died in her throat as he leaned in, blocking her path.

Neither of them spoke much after that. They didn’t need words. Every touch, every brush of hands, every shared glance was electric. They moved together as if newly married, caught in a whirlwind of desire and frustration, unable—or unwilling—to stop.

The villa was quiet around them, but in their own bubble, they were loud and consuming, reckless and desperate, tangled in a rhythm that felt both dangerous and inevitable.

Even as reason whispered at the edges of her mind, Lila couldn’t resist him. And Damon, just as fiercely, didn’t intend to let her go.

It was as if they had been newlyweds in a honeymoon, burning through the night, no thought for what came after, lost entirely in each other.

Over the next few weeks, Damon seemed unusually pleased-so much so that even Simon, his lawyer and best friend, could notice it in the office. Damon hummed softly, tapping his fingers on the desk in a way that made his satisfaction obvious.

“Am I not allowed to feel good?” Damon asked, catching Simon’s sharp, assessing stare. There was a teasing lilt to his voice, but Simon didn’t buy it. He just raised an eyebrow, silent, refusing to play along.

Suddenly, Maddy walked in, pausing as she took in the scene. She watched Damon’s easy smile and the subtle energy radiating from him.

“What did I miss?” she asked, curious and amused.

Simon just shook his head and muttered, “Nothing.”

But the room carried a tension that said otherwise, and Maddy’s eyes lingered a moment longer, sensing there was more going on than Simon-or Damon-was willing to admit.

11:30 Mon, May 4

Chapter 21

90

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Damon and his assistant left the office together with Maddy, the meeting having run longer than expected. Despite some issues that had arisen during the discussion, Damon remained in remarkably good spirits. He delegated tasks to his team efficiently, instructing them to resolve the problems as quickly as possible, and moved on without a hint of frustration. Maddy noticed the subtle ease in his mood, a stark contrast to the tension that usually lingered in his presence after such long sessions.

Meanwhile, at the university, Lila was buried in her masteral work while also juggling her lectures as an assistant instructor. Her schedule left little room for rest, but she embraced the organized chaos, finding a strange comfort in the structure.

That evening, she accepted an invitation from some of the younger professors and instructors for dinner. The group entered a cozy, well-lit restaurant, the low murmur of other diners creating a warm atmosphere. Lila found herself seated beside Ethan, a young professor and former classmate from her university days. He was attentive and charming, leaning close to share a joke or pass food onto her plate with a playful grin. Lila laughed freely at his jokes, the sound light and unguarded.

Maddy, who had coincidentally chosen the same restaurant for her own private work dinner, noticed the scene from across the room. She quietly raised her phone and snapped a photo of Lila with Ethan, capturing the easy laughter and intimate gestures between them. Once satisfied, she slipped back into a private corner, composing herself.

Later, when she returned to Damon, she approached him with the picture in hand. “I saw Lila with a man,” Maddy said casually, holding up the phone to show him the image. Damon glanced at it, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the scene, the faintest flicker of curiosity-or perhaps something else-passing through his expression.

Damon excused himself from Maddy and strode toward the corner of the restaurant, his long strides purposeful and silent. His eyes immediately found Lila and her group, laughter spilling across the table, and Ethan leaning a little too closely, attentive and carefree.

Without hesitation, Damon approached the counter and paid the bill for Lila and her colleagues, leaving the staff with strict instructions to not tell them who paid if anyone asked. With the transaction complete, he slipped into a dark corner near their table, arms crossed, observing every interaction. His expression was unreadable at first, then slowly darkened as he watched Ethan hand Lila food, lean in with a grin, and make her laugh.

A waiter soon appeared at Lila’s table, informing them that their bill had already been taken care of. “Thank’s the person who paid,” one of them called out before leaving, a polite smile on their face. Lila looked mildly surprised but waved a casual thanks.

Damon followed them subtly as they left the restaurant, keeping a careful distance while his sharp gaze stayed locked on Ethan. The way Ethan looked at Lila-attentive, almost familiar-didn’t sit well with him. Every gesture, every glance, made the darkness in Damon’s expression deepen.

By the time they reached the entrance, Damon had memorized the entire interaction, noting every detail, every laugh, every flicker of connection. He didn’t like it-he hadn’t expected to like it—and yet, despite himself, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.

Maddy, standing a few steps behind him, watched silently, sensing the storm brewing behind those dark eyes.

11:30 Mon, May 4