The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

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That night, after dinner, Mark pulled out his laptop again.

“Sit,” he told her, excitement barely contained. “I’ll give you full access.”

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Lila curled up on the couch as he logged her into the system he built. The interface was clean. Minimal. Professional.

He walked her through it-expense tracking, automated ledger balancing, real-time reporting dashboards, inventory management integration. He showed her how a small company could generate monthly statements with one click instead of hiring an entire accounting team.

Lila navigated through the system herself, testing entries, switching tabs, exploring features.

Her eyes widened.

“Mark… this is incredible.”

He tried to act casual, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him. “It still needs refinement.”

“It’s better than refinement,” she corrected. “It’s practical.”

She looked at him, pride flooding her chest.

“You built this alone.”

Mark scratched the back of his neck, suddenly shy. “I’ll make you proud,” he said quietly.

Lila reached forward and flicked his forehead gently. “You already have.”

The next morning, Lila stood in front of Mark with a necktie in her hands.

“Hold still.”

Mark groaned. “I can do it myself.”

“Clearly not,” she replied, straightening his collar.

Her fingers moved skillfully, looping and tightening the tie with clean precision. She was unexpectedly thankful Damon had once taught her how to tie different knots-standard, Windsor, even bow ties for formal

events.

“Look at you,” she murmured once she was done. “Graduate.”

Mark looked at himself in the mirror and grinned.

At the university entrance, Lila quickly became a head-turner. Students and faculty alike glanced twice. Her

Chapter 32

elegance was effortless, refined without being loud.

Mark puffed up slightly beside her.

“That’s my sister,” he told anyone who asked.

He even introduced her-very proudly-to a few young, single

y-to a few young, single professors who stopped to congratulate him.

By the time the ceremony ended and his name was called, Lila’s hands hurt from clapping.

She had never felt so full.

That evening, they celebrated at a fine restaurant. Mark invited a few close friends-and to Lila’s mild surprise, two young professors joined as well.

When it was time for gifts, Lila handed Mark a sleek box.

Inside was an expensive wristwatch-elegant, timeless.

Mark’s eyes widened. “Lila…”

“You’re starting a new chapter,” she said softly. “Time matters.”

He stood and hugged her right there at the table.

After a while, one of the professors approached them with drinks.

“This is Justine,” Mark said cheerfully. “Young. Brilliant. And single.”

Lila nearly choked on her water.

Justine smiled politely, extending his hand. He had a calm demeanor-intelligent eyes, easy confidence.

Mark leaned closer to Lila and whispered, “Time to look for that jerk’s replacement.”

He winked.

Lila rolled her eyes, though a small laugh escaped her.

Across the table, Justine began asking her about her studies, genuinely interested.

For the first time in a long while-

No one called her Mrs. Blackthorne.

And strangely enough…

It felt freeing.

he days passed too quickly.

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Chapter 32

Before she knew it, it was time to leave.

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At the airport, Mark frowned as he pulled her suitcase from the trunk.

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“Why are you in such a hurry?” he asked. “You can stay here. You don’t need to go back to that jerk’s side.”

Lila smiled softly at him.

“I need to go back so I can sign the divorce papers, okay?” she said gently. “It won’t drag on forever.”

Mark studied her face, still unconvinced.

“But don’t worry,” she added, nudging his arm lightly. “I’ll visit again. And… I enrolled in my master’s degree.”

Mark’s eyes widened. “You did?”

She nodded proudly. “I’m not just someone’s wife.”

Mark grinned. “That’s my sister.”

They hugged once more before she boarded.

It was already past midnight when Lila arrived back in the city.

The air felt different.

Colder.

Familiar.

Instead of going to the forest villa, she went straight to Ina’s place. It felt safer. Neutral.

She rang the doorbell.

Ina opened it almost immediately-with a bright smile.

“You’re back!” she said warmly, stepping aside to let her in.

But something about Ina’s smile felt… too prepared.

Too polite.

Lila stepped inside slowly.

And then she saw him.

Damon.

Sitting on the couch.

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Chapter 32

His eyes locked onto hers the moment she entered.

He didn’t blink.

The room felt like it shrank.

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Damon rose to his feet in one smooth motion and walked toward her.

“Where were you?” he asked quietly-but the restraint in his voice was thin.

He reached for her wrist.

Lila stepped back.

His jaw tightened.

“So you want to stay here?” Damon asked, glancing around Ina’s apartment.

There was something dangerous in the way he said it.

“Fine,” he added suddenly.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a keycard-sleek, black and gold.

He handed it to Ina.

“Presidential suite. Tonight,” he said flatly. “Get lost.”

Ina blinked once.

Twice.

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Then, without protest-because she understood power when she saw it—she took the keycard and grabbed her purse.

“I’ll… see you tomorrow,” Ina muttered to Lila before disappearing out the door.

The apartment door shut.

Silence.

Just Damon and Lila.

He stepped closer again, slower this time.

“You disappear without a word,” he said, voice low. “You come back past midnight. You stay somewhere that isn’t your home.”

Lila lifted her chin.

“That villa is not my home.”

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His eyes darkened.

“Then what is?” he asked.

And for the first time since she walked in-

He looked less angry.

And more afraid of her answer.

Damon stepped closer until there was barely any space left between them.

“Did you spend your days with your lover?” he asked, his voice low, restrained-but sharp.

Lila refused to step back this time.

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“Whether I have a lover or not,” she replied evenly, meeting his eyes without flinching, “is none of your business.”

Her heart was beating far too fast.

“Our contract will be ending soon,” she added. “You know that.”

The word contract seemed to slice through the air.

Damon’s expression hardened.

Lila held her ground, though inside, everything was unsteady.

She missed him.

The realization hit her like a betrayal.

She missed his presence. His voice. The way he filled a room without trying. She hated herself for it—for feeling weak in front of him, for craving someone she was supposed to be detaching from.

When had it started?

When did the arrangement stop feeling like an arrangement?

When did his touch stop being part of a deal and start meaning something else?

She couldn’t pinpoint it.

And that scared her more than his anger.

“So that’s the reason,” Damon said slowly, eyes narrowing. “That’s why you’re so eager to sign the divorce.”

There was something unreadable in his tone now.

Not just suspicion.

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Chapter 32

Not just pride.

Something deeper.

Lila swallowed, but she didn’t look away.

“Yes,” she said. “It’s cleaner this way.”

Damon let out a short, humorless breath.

“Cleaner,” he repeated.

He stepped even closer, his shadow falling over her.

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“You think I don’t see it?” he asked quietly. “You start pulling away. You move your things out. You disappear without telling me.”

His gaze searched her face.

“And now you tell me it’s none of my business who you spend your time with.”

Lila’s voice softened, but it didn’t break.

“It isn’t.”

The silence between them felt like a wire stretched too tight.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

And beneath all the anger, beneath the pride and the sharp words-

There was something neither of them was ready to admit.

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