The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 257

Chapter 257

Chapter 257

No matter how much Maddy tried to convince herself otherwise… she couldn’t forget.

The image stayed.

Burned.

Etched into her mind like something cruel and permanent.

Damon’s arms wrapped around Rose.

Close.

Protective.

Intimate.

And Rose-

Wearing his shirt.

As if it belonged to her.

As if she belonged to him.

It didn’t matter how many times Maddy told herself it meant nothing. It didn’t matter how often she repeated Rose’s explanation in her head.

That single image refused to fade.

And with every passing hour-

It poisoned her.

Damon had gone outside again.

The house fell into a quiet stillness, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric as Rose folded the laundry at the

table.

Her movements were calm.

Careful.

Measured.

As if she were deliberately avoiding making any sound that might disturb the fragile tension hanging in the air.

She didn’t hear Maddy approach.

Not until she spoke.

“Rose.”

The tone alone made her freeze.

Slowly, Rose turned.

Maddy stood just behind her.

Her face was composed-but her eyes…

Cold.

Sharp.

Unforgiving.

“If you ever try to seduce and sleep with Damon again,” Maddy said quietly, each word deliberate, “I swear I will end you.”

The threat lingered.

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Chapter 257

Heavy..

Real.

Rose blinked once.

Then straightened.

“Miss Maddy,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tension rising in her chest, “I am not trying to seduce or sleep with Mr. Damon.”

“Yeah,” Maddy shot back immediately. “You just did.”

Rose exhaled slowly, forcing patience into her tone.

“That night, he was outside. I guided him back to the house,” she explained. “He said he was looking for you- but your room was locked. He kept calling you.”

Her eyes held Maddy’s.

-Trying.

Still trying.

To reason.

“And you used that opportunity to sleep with my husband,” Maddy cut in sharply.

The word husband came out like a claim.

A declaration.

A warning.

“You’re shameless.”

And then-

Another slap.

But this time-

Rose didn’t stay still.

Her hand shot up, catching Maddy’s wrist mid-air before it could land again.

Her patience snapped.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” Rose’s voice rose, sharp, no longer controlled. “I did not sleep with him!”

Her grip tightened slightly.

“And also-he is not your husband.”

The words hit harder than any slap.

“You two are not married,” Rose continued, her eyes blazing now. “You are just another woman trying to worm your way into his bed.”

Maddy’s breath caught.

“No wonder,” Rose added, her voice cutting, “no matter how much you try… he will never warm up to you.”

That was it.’

The last thread holding Maddy together snapped.

Rage took over.

Blinding.

Violent.

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Chapter 257

She shoved Rose hard, sending her stumbling back.

Then lunged.

Hands grabbing.

Pushing.

Struggling.

The room erupted into chaos.

And in the doorway-

Damon stood.

Watching.

Listening.

Waiting.

For a moment, he didn’t move.

His expression unreadable as the two women clashed in front of him.

Then-

He stepped forward.

Fast.

Decisive.

He grabbed Maddy, pulling her back with force while his other hand reached out to steady Rose, helping her regain her balance.

“Maddy, what the hell are you doing?” Damon demanded, his voice sharp.

His eyes flicked to Rose-checking her.

Making sure she was alright.

Maddy saw it.

Of course she did.

“She’s trying to seduce you!” Maddy cried, tears streaming down her face. “Can’t you see that?”

Damon’s gaze shifted back to her.

Cold.

Unyielding.

“No,” he said simply. “I don’t.”

The denial hit her like a blow.

“Rose is trying to help us,” he continued. “You misunderstood.”

Then, his voice dropped lower.

Sharper.

“Are you that small-minded?”

Maddy flinched.

“Damon-” she tried.

“Enough.”

The single word silenced her.

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And just like that-

He turned away.

Helping Rose as they walked out together.

Leaving Maddy behind.

The house felt emptier than ever.

Maddy sank to the floor.

Her tears came quietly this time.

Not loud.

Not dramatic.

Just… broken.

“Why…” she whispered.

Her chest ached.

Her mind raced.

Was she wrong?

Was she really misunderstanding everything?

Rose had helped her before.

Saved her.

Protected her.

Taken care of her.

Maybe…

Maybe she had gone too far.

Days passed.

Heavy.

Uneasy.

Maddy tried.

She swallowed her pride.

Forced herself to approach Rose.

“I’m sorry,” she said one morning, her voice low.

Rose looked at her for a long moment.

Then nodded.

“It’s alright, Miss Maddy.”

And just like that-

The conflict seemed to end.

But not really.

Because even though the words were spoken…

The feeling never left.

Maddy’s heart never calmed.

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Not completely.

Not even a little.

Because as the days went on-

Something changed.

Damon became closer to Rose.

It started small.

Subtle.

Easy to ignore.

But impossible to miss once it settled.

The way he spoke to her.

The way he looked at her.

The way his voice softened when he said her name.

It was different.

Warmer.

More natural.

More real.

Maddy told herself it was nothing.

That she was overthinking.

That Rose was simply doing her job.

But then-

Damon stayed in a different room.

Night after night.

Never coming to her.

Never touching her.

Never holding her.

And yet-

Every day-

He grew closer to Rose.

Then one morning-

Everything changed.

Maddy stared at the test in her trembling hands.

Positive.

Her breath caught.

Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m pregnant…” she whispered.

Joy flooded her chest.

Pure.

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Chapter 257 Overwhelming.

Finally.

Finally.

“I promise, Damon,” she said later, snuggling close to him, her hand resting gently over her stomach, “I’ll take care of our child.”

“Okay,” Damon replied.

Just that.

Okay.

No excitement.

No warmth.

No joy.

But that didn’t matter.

Not yet.

Because this-

This was everything she had wanted.

As the days passed, her belly began to grow.

Small at first.

Barely noticeable.

But real.

And Damon-

He acknowledged it.

He would sometimes place his hand gently over it.

Watch.

Observe.

And even-

Smile.

A real smile.

But it wasn’t for her.

Maddy saw it.

Felt it.

Knew it.

That warmth-

That happiness-

It wasn’t directed at her.

And Rose-

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She saw it too.

At first, she tried to ignore it.

Tried to push it away.

But she couldn’t.

Because this was the first time-

Anyone had ever looked at her the way Damon did.

The way his voice softened when he called her name.

The way he noticed the smallest things.

The way he took care of her.

Especially that day.

When she fell sick.

A fever that left her weak, trembling.

Unable to stand.

And Damon-

Stayed by her side.

Personally.

Carefully.

Gently.

He brought her water.

Food.

Medicine.

His hand resting briefly against her forehead to check her temperature.

His voice low.

Calm.

Comforting.

Rose’s heart didn’t stand a chance.

It betrayed her.

Completely.

Because she believed.

She believed that they did share a night that meant something.

That the closeness between them wasn’t just coincidence.

That maybe

Just maybe-

He felt it too.

But reality was cruel.

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Chapter 257 Painfully cruel.

Because every day-

She had to take care of Maddy.

The woman carrying his child.

The woman who had everything she didn’t.

Every day-

It became harder to breathe.

And the hardest part-

Was watching.

Watching Damon smile.

Genuinely.

Softly.

As he placed his hand over Maddy’s growing belly.

As if he were imagining something.

As if he were… happy.

As if he were excited to see the baby and held it into his arms.

Rose turned away every time.

Because she couldn’t bear it.

She wanted that.

That feeling.

That moment.

That connection.

She wanted to be the one carrying his child.

The one he looked at like that.

The one he chose.

But she wasn’t.

And she never would be.

Because life-

Was never that kind.

So she endured.

Silently.

Quietly.

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