The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Chapter 42

That evening, Lila didn’t bother preparing dinner.

She knew Damon wouldn’t be home.

Not tonight.

Not after what Maddy had seen at his office.

10 vouchers

Lila had no illusions-Maddy would make sure Damon spent the night with her. It was a certainty.

The thought made her chest tighten as if a hand had clenched her heart. Anger, jealousy, disgust-they all swirled together in a cold, sharp knot.

Bear a child for Maddy?

No. Never.

Not now. Not ever.

Lila moved quietly through the dim mansion, her silk nightgown whispering against the floor. In the solitude of the guest room, she pulled a small vial from the drawer she kept hidden in her bedside cabinet.

Pills. Her secret assurance. A way to protect herself from the consequences she could not yet control.

She swallowed them with a measured calm, each one a small act of rebellion against Damon, against Maddy, against the contract that had been written for her body and future.

Once the act was done, she let herself sink into the chair at her desk. The glow of her laptop and scattered papers illuminated her face. Books, research, projections, notes-it was a fortress. A world she could control.

She buried herself in her work, losing herself in numbers, case studies, and market analyses. Each calculation, each word typed, each page turned was a reminder that she had choices-even if they were hard, even if they were dangerous.

Outside, the city lights shimmered against the darkness.

Inside, Lila’s mind was sharp, her resolve unbroken, and her heart steeled.

She would not lose herself to Maddy. She would not lose herself to Damon.

Not now.

Not ever.

Tonight, the world outside could wait.

For now, Lila had only her research-and the plans she was quietly, meticulously building.

Chapter 42

Lila’s phone buzzed beside her, the soft vibration cutting through the quiet of the guest room.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Finally… Maddy.

She reached for it eagerly, expecting a message filled with snide remarks or subtle provocations.

But it wasn’t Maddy.

It was Damon.

10 vouchers

“I’ll be out of the city. Emergency meeting for the Blackthorne expansion overseas. Don’t wait up.”

Lila blinked at the screen, a mix of irritation and curiosity twisting in her chest. She had expected Damon to be busy, but this abruptness-this sudden intrusion into her night with just a note-was… unusual.

She placed the phone back down and resumed her research, assuming the next notification would finally be from Maddy.

Minutes later, the phone buzzed again.

Damon.

“Behave while I’m gone.”

The words were short. Direct. Slightly amused.

Lila smirked despite herself.

Behave, he said. As if she were a child.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, resisting the urge to reply with something sharp, flirty, or just provocatively mischievous.

Instead, she let the message settle in her mind. Damon was gone. Maddy was not yet here. The house was quiet.

And for the first time in weeks, Lila felt the sweet, dangerous taste of freedom.

A freedom that came with a clear warning: Damon Blackthorne’s eyes, his reach, his expectations-they were always present, even when he was physically absent.

Lila smiled softly, a plan already forming in her mind.

Then let him see how I behave… she thought, on my terms.

The night stretched ahead of her, empty but full of possibilities, and Lila returned to her research, determination flashing behind her composed exterior.

No one-not Damon, not Maddy-would dictate her next move.

Chapter 42

Not tonight.

Not ever.

Lila didn’t waste a moment.

By morning, she had already purchased a ticket.

Her destination: her younger brother Mark.

6 (86)

10 vouchers

She had promised herself she would help him-fully, without distraction, without Damon, without Maddy. Tonight had proven how unpredictable her life had become, and this trip was her chance to reclaim control, even briefly.

The flight passed in a blur of muted lights and the faint hum of engines. By the time she landed, she moved swiftly, her steps purposeful, her mind already planning her next actions.

She arrived at Mark’s apartment, a sleek, modest space that smelled faintly of coffee and printer ink.

“Mark?” she called softly.

No response.

She frowned, checking her phone. No new messages.

With a sigh, she hailed a cab and instructed the driver to take her to the studio where Mark worked.

The cab maneuvered through the bustling streets, weaving past traffic as Lila stared out the window, mentally running through the pitch notes she would review, the financial strategies she would suggest, the investors she could help him reach.

The studio came into view-bright windows, a small sign that marked it as a creative workspace. She entered, finding Mark hunched over his computer monitor, eyes flicking rapidly between screens filled with charts, coding windows, and email threads.

“Lila?” he said, turning in his chair. His voice carried a mix of shock and delight. “What… when did you get here?”

“I’m here now,” Lila said simply, her lips curving into a small smile. “And we have work to do.”

Mark’s shock melted into a grin. He shut down his monitor and grabbed his jacket.

“Okay, but first…” he said, glancing at the clock. “Let’s eat. You must be starving after your trip.”

Together, they walked through the streets until they found a small restaurant tucked into a quiet corner.

It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t loud. But it was perfect.

Inside, the warm light and faint scent of spices welcomed them.

As they sat across from each other, Lila allowed herself a rare moment of ease.

Chapter 42

No contracts. No Damon. No Maddy.

Just family, food, and plans waiting to take shape.

And for Lila, that was exactly what she needed.

The next few days passed in a blur of deadlines, meetings, and late nights.

10 vouchers

Lila was juggling two worlds at once: refining an effective pitch for potential investors with Mark and keeping up with her master’s research. She had promised her professor that, even while away, she would stay on top of her homework. And she intended to keep that promise-discipline was in her nature.

Between drafting financial projections, rehearsing her pitch, and analyzing Mark’s startup model, Lila barely slept. But finally, after several requests and careful vetting, she secured a meeting with an investor willing to listen.

Before she even stepped into the meeting, Lila ran a background check on him. Jasper Smith.

The screen lit up with his profile: high society connections, a reputation for ruthlessness in business, and a string of luxury acquisitions that left competitors wary. His charm and good looks were notorious-women vied for his attention, hoping to capture him. Many failed. Most kept silent about it.

Lila smirked. Playing the role of Mrs. Blackthorne, even in another city, wasn’t going to waste. With a few keystrokes, the information she needed was right at her fingertips: history, habits, business tactics, and personal tendencies.

Interesting, she thought, leaning back in her chair. He’s dangerous. Smart. Arrogant. And probably thinks he’s untouchable.

That night, Lila slipped into the private meeting room arranged for the discussion. Candles and soft lighting created a subtle, refined atmosphere. Everything was under control.

Moments later, Jasper arrived.

He was exactly as the records suggested: confident, self-assured, and strikingly handsome. Lila observed him carefully, noting posture, tone, and gestures-the details that revealed more than words ever could.

From her research, she knew Jasper was a high-society playboy. Women flocked to him, hoping to trap him or attach themselves to his wealth and influence. Yet none had succeeded—or at least, none had dared to challenge him openly.

Lila couldn’t help but smile. Silence can be telling, she mused. Maybe they failed… or maybe they simply knew better than to try.

She straightened her posture, smoothed her dress, and allowed her presence to command attention. Tonight, she wasn’t just Lila-she was Mrs. Blackthorne, calculating and precise, ready to turn the power of appearances into leverage.

The game had changed again.

And Lila was ready to play.

Chapter 42

Lila rose gracefully as Jasper approached, extending her hand.

10 vouchers

“I’m Lila Everith” she said, her voice smooth and confident. “And this is my younger brother. Mark Everth

Jasper’s eyes lit with recognition as he took her hand in a firm, deliberate shake.

“You look familiar.” he said, a small smile playing at his lips. “Have we met before?”

“Yes, Mr. Jasper,” Lila replied, returning the smile effortlessly. “We met at the charity gala some time ago.”

“Ah, yes. I remember now.” Jasper said, letting go of her hand. His eyes lingered a moment too long. “Such beauty is hard to forget.”

Lila’s lips curved into a polite, measured smile. Flattery noted. Useful for context.

Jasper leaned back slightly, gesturing toward the chairs Since you’re looking for investors, should I assume you resigned from Blackthorne Industries?”

“Yes, Mr. Jasper.” Lila answered evenly. “A change in carrer. I suppose *

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. The unspoken curiosity hung in the air.

Once seated, Lila opened her laptop and began her pitch.

“Our software is designed to help businesses of all sizes-from small startups to large corporations-manage their accounting data and warehouse logs efficiently she explained, her tone professional yet engaging.

Mark chimed in. leaning over the table to point at the diagrams on the screen. “The system uses a real-time data sync that ensures inventory, sales, and accounting are updated simultaneously. It’s cloud-based but fully secure, with customizable reporting tools for each chent.”

Lila nodded, adding. “The goal is to reduce human error, streamline processes, and provide actionable insights so businesses can make smarter, faster decisions without hiring large teams.”

Jasper leaned forward, interest piqued. “Impressive. And this is all developed in-house?”

“Yes,” Lila replied, her tone confident. “Mark handled the coding and system architecture. I’ve been helping with strategy, market positioning, and investor relations.”

Mark adjusted his glasses, adding a few technical details about security protocols and scalability, while Lila complemented him with clear, accessible explanations for the business side.

Jasper’s gaze shifted between them, analytical yet approving.

They are prepared, he thought. And the sister… she’s more than just a pretty face.

Lila noticed the subtle shift in his expression and allowed herself a small, knowing smirk.

Tonight, the real work had begun. And she intended to make every word, every gesture, every glance count