The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

By that night, Ethan’s headline had been wiped out.

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The whispers that once followed his name across campus faded into nothing. No more murmurs. No more curious glances.

Only a formal letter delivered quietly to his residence-

He was being transferred to another university.

Administrative decision.

Immediate effect.

Lila had heard about it the next morning.

She didn’t ask questions. She didn’t comment.

But she was thankful.

The issue had died down faster than she expected. And deep down, she knew exactly whose hand had moved the pieces.

When her last class ended that afternoon, the lecture hall slowly emptied. Lila took her time packing her things, sliding her notebook into her bag, zipping it up lazily.

As she stepped into the hallway, a soft murmur floated through the air.

A cluster of girls stood near the exit, whispering and giggling under their breath.

“He’s so handsome…”

“Is he waiting for someone?”

“Do you think he’s a model?”

Lila adjusted the strap on her shoulder, uninterested at first.

But curiosity won.

She followed their line of sight.

And then she saw him.

Damon stood casually by his car, leaning against the hood as though he owned the space around him. One hand rested in his pocket while the other scrolled lazily through his phone.

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow across his sharp features. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his forearms, his posture relaxed yet effortlessly commanding.

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He didn’t look like he was waiting impatiently.

He looked like he was certain.

:

A few students dared to steal glances. None dared to approach.

Lila’s steps slowed.

Her heartbeat didn’t.

As if sensing her gaze, Damon lifted his head.

Their eyes met across the courtyard.

And just like that-

The noise around her disappeared.

A brave student finally stepped forward.

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She looked no older than nineteen-nervous but determined. She said something to Damon, her hands clasped in front of her, her cheeks slightly pink.

Lila couldn’t hear the words from where she stood.

But she saw Damon’s polite smile.

Saw the way he shook his head once.

Saw the subtle fall of the girl’s shoulders.

Disappointment.

The girl walked away trying to save face, whispering something to her friends who immediately crowded around her.

And still-more students lingered.

Watching.

Waiting.

Curious about which lucky girl had captured the attention of a man like that.

Damon glanced down at his phone.

Lila’s own phone vibrated in her hand.

Damon’s Number:

What, you’re just going to stand there and admire the view?

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Chapter 28

Lila’s face immediately turned sour.

The audacity.

The confidence.

She looked up at him again.

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There he was-leaning against his car like a magazine cover come to life. Effortless. Infuriatingly handsome. Filthy handsome.

And he knew it.

Her lips twitched despite herself.

Unbelievable.

She chuckled softly under her breath and shook her head before slipping her phone back into her bag.

Fine.

If he wanted a show.

She straightened her posture and began walking toward him-slow, composed, deliberate.

With every step she took, the murmurs grew louder.

The students’ eyes shifted.

From him.

To her.

Up and down.

Judging.

Jealous.

Curious.

Lila kept her expression neutral, though amusement flickered behind her gaze.

Sorry, girls.

She stopped right in front of him.

Close enough to catch the faint scent of his cologne.

Close enough to see the corner of his mouth lift.

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Chapter 28

:

Damon locked his phone and slipped it into his pocket.

“Took you long enough,” he said casually.

But his eyes-

His eyes had already chosen.

The city lights blurred past the windows as the car moved steadily through the evening traffic.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The silence wasn’t comfortable.

It was coiled.

“Why did you stay at Ina’s place last night?” Damon asked suddenly, his eyes fixed on the road.

Lila turned her head slowly to look at him.

“I personally asked Ina,” he added, voice calm-but edged.

Lila’s brows lifted.

“You asked Ina?”

“Yes.”

A bitter smile tugged at her lips. “Why? Am I not allowed to stay at my best friend’s place?”

Damon’s jaw tightened.

“Is your lover also staying there?” he asked, his tone sharper now.

The word hung heavily between them.

Lila stared at him, disbelief flashing across her face.

“What?”

Damon’s grip on the steering wheel hardened. “Answer me.”

Something in her snapped.

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“Damon, why can’t I have another man,” she shot back, her voice rising, “when you can have Maddy and all those girls?”

The car fell into a suffocating silence.

Her chest rose and fell quickly, anger finally spilling over.

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Chapter 28

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“You think I don’t see it?” she continued. “You walk around like you own everyone. Like no one else is allowed to even look at me.”

Damon’s expression darkened.

“That’s different.”

“How?” she demanded. “Tell me how it’s different.”

The traffic light turned red. The car came to a smooth stop.

He finally looked at her.

Really looked at her.

“You think I’m with Maddy?” he asked quietly.

Lila let out a short, humorless laugh. “You don’t exactly push her away.”

His eyes hardened.

“And you think I would let another man touch you?”

Her breath caught at the intensity in his voice.

“You don’t get to control that,” she said, though her voice wavered slightly. “You don’t get to decide who I see.”

The light turned green.

But Damon didn’t move immediately.

His gaze dropped briefly-to her lips, to her neck-where faint marks still hid beneath her collar.

His voice lowered.

“I didn’t touch you in that office so you could go and belong to someone else.”

The possessiveness in his tone was unmistakable.

Dangerous.

And Lila felt it-deep, unsettling, intoxicating.

She swallowed.

“You don’t own me, Damon.”

His jaw flexed.

“Of course you’re mine,” Damon said.

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His voice was low. Certain.

“You’re my wife.”

The words hit her harder than his anger had.

Lila went completely still.

:

For a second-just one second-she forgot how to breathe.

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“Damon…” she said carefully, forcing composure back into her tone. “We’re almost done with the contract.”

Her fingers curled slightly in her lap.

“My role as Damon Blackthorne’s wife is about to come to an end.”

The reminder lingered between them like a deadline neither of them wanted to read too closely.

Damon’s expression didn’t change.

“I suggest you review the contract before you spew nonsense,” he replied coldly.

Before she could respond, he parked the car in one smooth motion and stepped out.

The night air felt sharp.

He walked around the vehicle, opened her door himself, and offered his hand-not gently, not harshly. Simply expectant.

Lila hesitated for half a second before placing her hand in his.

He didn’t let go.

Together, they walked into the grand living room of the Blackthorne estate.

The chandeliers cast a warm golden glow over polished marble floors. The room was immaculate, refined—

untouchable.

Just like the Blackthorne name.

“Ah, you’re back.”

Margaret Blackthorne looked up from the sofa.

Damon’s mother wore a graceful smile that never quite revealed her full thoughts. Elegant. Observant. Always watching.

“My dear,” she said warmly, standing and reaching for Lila’s hands. “You look tired.”

Her grip was gentle but assessing.

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“Working too hard?” Margaret asked lightly, eyes flickering between the two of them.

Before Lila could answer, Margaret’s smile widened with casual curiosity.

“You two don’t have any plans to give me a grandchild soon?”

The question was delivered sweetly.

Softly.

But it landed like a stone dropped into still water.

Lila stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Damon, however, did not release her hand.

His thumb brushed faintly over her knuckles.

And for the first time that night-

He did not correct the assumption.

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11:42 Mon, May 4