The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 284

Chapter 284

Chapter 284

The rain began before dawn.

A cold, endless downpour wrapped the Blackthorne Estate in silence, as if the heavens themselves mourned the fall of the once untouchable family. The towering mansion that had once glowed with wealth and power now stood dim beneath the stormy skies. Curtains remained closed. Hallways echoed with emptiness. Even the servants walked softer these days, afraid that a single loud sound might shatter what little remained of the Blackthornes.

Inside the master bedroom, the faint scent of medicine lingered in the air.

Damon sat beside Lila’s bed, unmoving.

For weeks, he had barely left her side.

The doctors called it a miracle that she survived.

Others called it fate.

Damon called it punishment.

His exhausted eyes remained fixed on Lila, who sat silently near the window wrapped in a cream-colored blanket. Her once radiant beauty had faded into something fragile and ghostly. Dark circles rested beneath her eyes, and her pale fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the rain outside.

She had not spoken much since leaving the hospital.

The grief had hollowed her from within.

Margaret’s death destroyed the family.

But Ethan and Damian’s deaths shattered whatever was left.

The Blackthorne bloodline was collapsing one funeral at a time.

A soft knock interrupted the silence.

The family doctor entered quietly, carrying a folder beneath his arm. His face looked older than it had a month ago. Exhaustion weighed heavily upon him.

He checked Lila’s pulse carefully before adjusting the blanket around her shoulders.

“She’s physically recovering,” the doctor finally said softly. “But mentally…”

His voice trailed off.

Damon understood.

Some wounds never healed.

The doctor glanced at him seriously.

“Damon… it’s best you remain beside her from now on. She needs you at times like this.”

Then after a pause, he added quietly,

“And truthfully… both of you need each other.”

Damon lowered his eyes.

For the first time in years, he looked defeated.

Not angry.

Not dangerous.

Just broken.

“I know,” he answered hoarsely.

The doctor nodded before looking back toward Lila, who remained staring outside the window as if waiting for someone who would never return.

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Chapter 284

It had only been a month since Margaret Blackthorne passed away.

Yet the world had already turned cruel.

News of her death spread rapidly across the business world, causing Blackthorne Industries to spiral into chaos. Stocks crashed daily. Investors withdrew their support. Rumors spread endlessly through media outlets and corporate circles.

The mighty Blackthorne empire was dying.

People whispered that the family would soon disappear completely.

The only legitimate heir was already dead.

And Damon Blackthorne-

The man once feared by powerful businessmen and criminals alike-

seemed to be losing his mind.

The doctor gathered his things slowly before heading toward the door.

But before leaving, he stopped.

His expression darkened.

After hearing about Ethan and Damian’s deaths, something inside him changed.

All of them had carried extraordinary potential.

And now…

They were gone.

The old doctor stepped outside the room where the butler waited silently.

“They will surely come here to finish this,” the doctor said quietly.

The butler’s face remained calm, though sorrow lingered in his aged eyes.

“Please ensure the staff can leave the estate,” the doctor continued. “Find them new employers. Make sure they’ll be safe.”

The butler nodded respectfully.

“As you wish, Doctor.”

Moments later, the mansion’s servants gathered inside the grand living room. Nearly everyone looked anxious. Some of the younger maids were already crying quietly.

The butler stood before them with folded hands.

“Please… all of you should begin packing your belongings,” he announced gently. “Transportation has already been arranged. New employers are waiting to receive you.”

The room fell silent.

Some servants had worked for the Blackthorne family for over thirty years.

They had witnessed everything.

Births.

Celebrations.

Weddings.

Arguments.

Deaths.

They watched the Blackthorne children grow from reckless boys into powerful men.

This estate had become their home.

And now they were being forced to leave it behind.

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Chapter 284

One elderly maid broke into tears first.

Soon others followed.

That evening, the servants prepared one final dinner for the family.

The kitchen became alive once more.

Some cooked while crying.

Others laughed softly while reminiscing about old memories.

“How many times did young Master Damon destroy the dining room?” one chef asked with watery eyes.

“At least twenty,” another replied, causing weak laughter to spread through the room.

For a brief moment, the estate felt alive again.

After dinner, everyone cleaned together carefully, treating every plate and hallway as though preserving precious memories.

Then one by one, they lined up outside Lila’s room.

A young maid lowered her head respectfully toward the butler.

“We wish to bid farewell to Madam.”

The butler nodded before entering the room.

“Master,” he said softly. “The staff wishes to say goodbye.”

Damon remained seated beside Lila.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Then quietly-

“Let them in.”

The servants entered slowly.

Many immediately burst into tears upon seeing Lila’s condition.

The once elegant lady of the estate looked painfully fragile beneath the pale morning light.

Damon crouched beside her gently.

“Lila,” he whispered. “The staff is leaving the estate. They came to say goodbye.”

Lila slowly turned her head.

Tears immediately welled in her eyes.

One elderly housekeeper approached first.

“Madam…” her voice shook. “Please stay strong.”

Another servant stepped forward.

“We will visit you,” he promised. “And when the time comes for the Blackthornes to rise again… we will return to serve you.”

More tears fell from Lila’s eyes.

She could not speak.

Her voice had become buried beneath grief too deep for words.

One by one, the servants bowed respectfully before leaving the room.

Some kissed her hand.

Others thanked Damon for giving them purpose all these years.

When they finally departed, black vehicles waited outside the estate gates to transport them toward their new lives.

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Chapter 284

The doctor had personally arranged safe employment for every loyal servant.

He refused to let the innocent suffer alongside the Blackthornes.

Yet not everyone chose to leave.

Several staff members remained.

Especially those personally saved by Richard Blackthorne years ago.

Men and women who had once lived terrible lives.

Former criminals.

Runaways.

Victims sold through underground black markets.

Richard had rescued them all.

And in return, they devoted their lives to the family.

The doctor watched them gather silently in the courtyard.

“I assume all of you understand what’s coming,” he said heavily. Every one of them nodded.

One man stepped forward.

He was now known as the estate gardener.

Quiet.

Respectful.

Loyal.

But long ago…

He had been a mercenary.

A deadly hunter hired to assassinate Richard Blackthorne himself.

“I promised the old master,” the man said firmly, “that I would stand beside the Blackthornes until my final breath.”

The doctor remained silent.

The gardener continued quietly.

“Years ago, I came here to claim Richard Blackthorne’s head. I had already accepted the contract.”

His eyes darkened with old memories.

“But before I could complete my mission… I encountered Damon.”

He glanced toward the guest house in the distance.

“He saved my life from rival mercenaries. After that, I stayed close to observe him… and eventually learned the truth.”

His voice softened.

“Richard Blackthorne treat me better than my biological father.”

Several younger servants widened their eyes.

The gardener smiled bitterly.

“I should have hated him. I should have completed my mission.”

“But instead…”

He looked toward the massive gardens surrounding the estate. “They treated me like family, treated me as human.”

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Chapter 284

He swallowed hard.

“The old master discovered my passion for landscaping. He handed me blueprints for this estate and told me to redesign the gardens however I wanted.”

For the first time in years, someone had treated him like a human being instead of a weapon.

That kindness changed everything.

The doctor nodded slowly.

“That’s good to know.”

Silence followed.

Everyone understood the danger approaching.

The enemies circling Blackthorne Industries would not stop until the family was completely erased.

Money.

Power.

Revenge.

All of it pointed toward bloodshed.

And still-

these people chose to stay.

Days later, Damon and Lila were transferred into the guest house located deeper within the estate grounds.

The main mansion had become too large.

Too empty.

Too haunted by memories.

The guest house was smaller and warmer, surrounded by blooming white roses maintained by the gardener himself.

Every morning, Damon carried Lila outside beneath the sunlight.

Every night, he cradled her in his arms beside the fireplace.

And every night-

he whispered love into her ears.

Sometimes apologies.

Sometimes promises.

Sometimes desperate prayers.

“I’m still here,” he would whisper against her hair.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

Lila rarely responded.

But she listened.

That alone kept Damon alive.

Weeks passed quietly.

The outside world grew uglier.

News channels continued reporting Blackthorne Industries’ collapse. Shareholders abandoned the company. Rivals began devouring contracts once owned by the Blackthornes.

Everyone believed the empire was dying.

No one realized Damon no longer cared about the company.

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Chapter 284

Not anymore.

The only thing left in his world was Lila.

One evening, while rain fell gently against the windows, Lila finally spoke.

Her voice came out weak and trembling.

“Why are you still here?”

Damon froze.

It was the first full sentence she had spoken in days.

Slowly, he looked down at her.

“What do you mean?”

“You lost everything because of me.”

Pain filled her hollow eyes.

“Margaret died… Ethan and Damian died… the family is ruined…”

Her lips trembled violently.

“I should have died too.”

Damon’s expression darkened instantly.

He tightened his arms around her carefully.

“Don’t ever say that again.”

Tears streamed silently down her face.

“But it’s true.”

“No.”

His voice cracked.

“You’re the only reason I’m still breathing.”

Lila stared at him in shock.

Damon lowered his forehead against hers.

“I failed everyone,” he whispered painfully. “I couldn’t save my brothers. I couldn’t protect my mother.”

His breathing grew uneven.

“But if I lose you too…”

For the first time, fear appeared openly in Damon Blackthorne’s eyes.

“I won’t survive it.”

Lila broke completely after hearing those words.

She buried her face against his chest and sobbed uncontrollably.

Months of grief poured out all at once.

Damon held her tightly through every tremble.

Outside, thunder echoed across the dark skies.

But inside the guest house-

for the first time in a long while-

neither of them felt entirely alone.

Far beyond the estate walls, however, danger slowly approached.

Black vehicles moved silently through the city.

Old enemies gathered.

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Chapter 284

Powerful businessmen held secret meetings discussing the fall of the Blackthornes.

Some wanted the company.

Others wanted revenge.

And some simply wanted Damon dead.

Because a wounded lion remained dangerous.

Especially one who no longer feared death.

Late that night, the doctor returned once more to check on Lila.

After finishing the examination, he stepped outside where the gardener waited beneath the porch light.

“How is she?” the gardener asked.

“Still fragile,” the doctor answered honestly. “But she’s trying.”

The gardener nodded.

“That’s enough for now.”

The old doctor lit a cigarette slowly.

“You really intend to fight for them?”

The gardener looked toward the guest house windows glowing softly in the darkness.

“Yes.”

“You may die.”

“I know.”

The doctor exhaled smoke quietly before speaking again.

“You loved Richard that much?”

The gardener smiled faintly.

“No.”

His eyes shifted toward Damon’s silhouette visible through the curtains.

“But that boy once saved a monster like me without asking for anything in return.”

A pause followed.

“And no one ever did that before.”

Inside the guest house, Damon gently brushed Lila’s hair away from her face as she slept against his chest.

For the first time in weeks, her expression looked peaceful.

He stared at her silently.

Then kissed her forehead softly.

No matter what happened next-

whether the Blackthornes survived or not-

he would protect her until his final breath.

Even if the entire world came crashing down around them.

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