The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The next few days passed in controlled routine.

Lectures.

Study sessions.

Quiet dinners at the estate.

And updates.

Maddy did not fail-not even once-to update her.

Every evening, like clockwork, Lila’s phone would light up.

A photo of an expensive gift.

A dimly lit restaurant with crystal chandeliers.

Two wine glasses clinking.

A man’s sleeve visible beside Maddy’s manicured hand.

The captions were always suggestive.

“Some men really know how to treat a woman.”

“Private dinner. Just the two of us.”

“Spoiled tonight.”

Lila stared at the screen longer than she should have.

The first night, something twisted sharply inside her chest.

The second night, it dulled.

By the third-

She found herself strangely calm.

She locked her phone and leaned back against the headboard.

In the scale of one to ten… how hurt am I?

She closed her eyes and examined herself honestly.

The intense, suffocating ache she once felt wasn’t there.

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Chapter 34

And sometimes, it hired someone to pretend to be a wife.

She took another slow bite, chewing thoughtfully.

Thirty million per month.

The number echoed in her mind with sharp clarity.

Thirty million just to play Mrs. Blackthorne.

To smile at the right moments.

To sit at the right table.

To share a bed with a man who might or might not be acting.

A smirk tugged at her lips.

Playing wasn’t hard.

She was intelligent. Composed. Adaptable.

If this was a performance, she could perform just as well.

A win is a win, she told herself coolly.

Thirty million a month.

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10 vouchers

For that price, she could endure cold air conditioners, smug smiles, and even the occasional protective embrace.

Lila lifted her glass and took a slow sip.

Mrs. Blackthorne.

The title still felt unfamiliar.

But for thirty million?

She could learn to wear it beautifully.

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Chapter 34

Her fingers tightened slightly over her bag.

No.

She would not read into it.

Whether real or staged, it changed nothing.

:..

Lila inhaled slowly, steadying her heart as the estate gates came into view.

She would remain clear-headed.

She would not be fooled.

And she would certainly not be the one to fall for an act.

The estate gates opened smoothly as the car rolled in.

By the time Lila stepped inside the grand foyer, a housekeeper was already waiting.

“Good evening, Ma’am. Your dinner has been reheated.”

Of course it has.

Everything here moved with quiet precision.

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She made her way to the dining room. The long table was set elegantly despite the late hour-fine china, polished silverware, crystal glass. The dishes before her still carried the aroma of a five-star restaurant, carefully plated as if served fresh.

Lila sat down and began eating quietly.

The steak was perfectly tender. The sauce balanced. The dessert delicate and artful.

She couldn’t help but admire it.

How fascinating, she thought.

Filthy rich people could eat five-star restaurant food every single day as if it were nothing more than home cooking. No reservations. No waiting lists. Just a phone call and it appeared.

Money didn’t just buy comfort.

It bought convenience.

It bought illusion.

It bought people.

Her lips curved faintly.

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Chapter 35

No trembling fingers.

No burning eyes.

No restless pacing.

Maybe a three?

A faint discomfort. A bruise instead of a wound.

She let out a quiet breath.

Interesting.

Either she was growing stronger-

Or she was growing used to it.

Her phone buzzed again.

Another photo.

Lila looked at the notification for a long moment.

:

Then, without opening it, she turned the phone off completely.

Silence.

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That was better.

Later that afternoon, she found herself strolling through the estate gardens beside Margaret. The older woman walked at a relaxed pace, occasionally commenting on the roses or the progress of the landscaping.

Lila listened politely, hands clasped behind her back.

The sun filtered gently through the trees. The air was calm. Peaceful.

Margaret glanced at her. “You seem lighter these days.”

Lila smiled faintly. “Do I?”

“Yes,” Margaret said knowingly. “You carry yourself differently.”

Lila didn’t respond immediately.

Lighter.

Was she?

Or had she simply decided not to compete in a game she never agreed to play?

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Chapter 35

Her phone remained off in her bag.

0:

If Damon was dining under chandeliers with another woman, that was his choice.

She was here for a contract. For stability. For thirty million a month.

Feelings were not part of the agreement.

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As Margaret continued speaking about an upcoming charity event, Lila lifted her face slightly toward the sun.

On a scale of one to ten?

She reconsidered.

Maybe it was a two.

And she intended to keep it that way.

Lila stood beside Margaret during the charity event, the hum of activity surrounding them. The event had been organized by Margaret to support schools in need of funding, provide free legal advice, and even offer court representation for those who couldn’t afford lawyer fees or other legal expenses.

The venue was a public elementary school far from the city, its walls faded and fans turning lazily overhead, but the atmosphere was purposeful and alive. Children ran across the dusty courtyard while parents waited patiently, and volunteers moved efficiently between the tables.

Soon, Lila took her seat beside one of the lawyers at a simple wooden desk, straightening the stack of forms in front of her and offering a calm, professional smile.

A young woman approached hesitantly and sat across from her, clutching a worn handbag, fingers twisting nervously. Fatigue shadowed her face, and dark circles marked her eyes.

“Good afternoon,” Lila greeted gently. “How can I help you today?”

The woman hesitated before speaking. “My husband… he has many women. He rarely comes home. And when he does, he doesn’t give enough money-enough to raise our child, or even for basic needs.”

Lila nodded, keeping her tone steady and professional. “How old is your child?”

“Five,” the woman replied quietly. “He just started kindergarten here.”

“And does your husband provide any financial support?” Lila asked carefully.

“No,” the woman whispered. “Everything is under his name-house, business. I don’t even know how much he earns, and I have no access.”

“You have the right to seek child support,” Lila said firmly. “If there is financial neglect or infidelity, you may also have grounds for legal separation, depending on the circumstances. Here, you won’t have to worry about lawyer fees. The program covers consultation and representation for qualified applicants.”

The woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you,” she murmured.

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Chapter 35

:

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Lila handed her the form and calmly explained the next steps. Around them, the modest classroom buzzed with activity, but a quiet weight settled over Lila’s chest. A husband with many women, a wife struggling for basic needs, a child caught in between-it was a stark reminder that money could protect from hardship, but it could never shield someone from humiliation or neglect.

She straightened in her seat as the next client approached, determined to remain professional, composed, and untouchable. At least, that was the persona she intended to maintain.

Lila was exhausted. The charity event had been a success-schools received funding, families gained legal assistance, and volunteers were already packing up. Margaret had left early, as usual, leaving Lila to oversee the last of the consultations.

Even so, Lila couldn’t stop her thoughts from wandering back to the young woman who had come asking for legal help about her cheating husband. The helplessness in her voice, the strain of raising a child without support-it lingered in Lila’s mind.

At least my dog has a lot of money and doesn’t starve me, she thought with a faint smirk.

A soft voice broke through her thoughts. Jade, one of the lawyers, had been tidying nearby and now leaned slightly toward her.

“Ms. Lila,” she began cautiously, “can I ask you something?”

Lila raised an eyebrow, gesturing for her to continue.

Jade hesitated for a moment before asking bluntly, “What if… you learned that Mr. Blackthorne had a woman, just like those women who came to us today? What would you do?”

Lila was caught off guard. She blinked, then let a small, controlled smile curve her lips.

“Divorce is the best course of action,” she replied evenly, her voice calm but firm.

Jade’s eyes widened slightly, a surprised smile tugging at her lips. “Really? You know, a lot of women married to billionaires would never consider divorce. You’re the first I’ve met who would answer that you’d divorce immediately.”

Lila shrugged lightly, still smiling. “Money isn’t loyalty. And I prefer to be respected rather than tolerated. That’s all.”

Jade chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Practical as ever, Ms. Lila.”

Lila leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes briefly. Practicality was her shield. Logic, her armor. Emotions could be messy-and she had no intention of letting herself be caught off guard. Not by Damon. Not by

anyone.

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