The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 66

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

The silence in the private room stretched thin.

Damon took a slow sip of wine before speaking again.

:

77

10 vouchers

“I heard Lila was rushed to the hospital due to overwork,” he said coolly, eyes sliding toward Mark. “Then why are you letting your sister sit here instead of resting?”

The tone wasn’t casual.

It was sharp.

Possessive.

Almost accusatory.

Like a father demanding an explanation.

Mark’s expression hardened. “It was minor exhaustion.”

Damon’s gaze didn’t soften. “Exhaustion happens when people are pushed too far.”

“It was my decision to be here, Mr. Blackthorne.”

Lila’s voice cut cleanly through the tension.

Calm. Firm.

Damon’s eyes shifted back to her.

She stood slowly. “Excuse me.”

She walked out of the private room without waiting for a response.

A few seconds later, Damon followed.

The corridor outside was quiet.

Lila turned to him immediately.

“Don’t cause trouble,” she said in a low voice. “This meeting is important to Integer Technology.”

The emphasis on the company name was deliberate.

Professional.

Damon watched her for a long moment.

Mon

Chapter 66

Then he smiled.

Slowly.

He nodded as if agreeing.

And then, without warning, he stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Lila gasped softly, her hands instinctively pressing against his chest.

“Let’s go to the restroom,” Damon whispered near her ear, his tone dangerously intimate.

“Damon, you’re shameless,” she hissed.

She shoved him back before anyone could walk down the hall.

He didn’t resist.

He simply looked amused.

Infuriatingly amused.

Lila shot him one last warning look before turning and walking back into the private room.

Damon stood there for a moment, watching her go.

Then he followed.

The rest of the dinner proceeded smoothly.

Damon did not interrupt again.

He didn’t sabotage the negotiations.

He didn’t make another sharp remark.

He sat quietly, observing.

Watching Jasper lean in slightly when Lila spoke.

Watching Jasper offer her water.

Watching the ease between them.

Damon’s smile remained in place.

Polite.

Controlled.

77

10 vouchers

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

But beneath the surface-

His patience thinned.

He would not ruin her deal tonight.

He wouldn’t embarrass her company.

But as he watched Jasper walk beside her when the meeting ended—

Damon made a silent promise to himself.

One day,

He would deal with Jasper personally.

Jasper unlocked the car doors for her.

“I can drive you home,” he offered gently.

Lila hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Thank you.”

Across the street, Damon stood beside his car.

Watching.

His jaw tightened as Jasper opened the passenger door for her.

Lila didn’t look back.

She didn’t ask where Damon would go.

She didn’t need to.

Maddy was pregnant.

Of course he would return to her.

The drive was quiet.

Comfortable.

Jasper didn’t pry. Didn’t ask about Damon. Didn’t overstep.

When they arrived at her apartment building, he walked her to the entrance.

“Text me when you’re inside,” he said.

Lila gave him a small smile. “Goodnight, Jasper.”

77

10 vouchers

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

“Goodnight, Lila.”

She watched him leave before unlocking her door.

The apartment was dark.

Silent.

10 vouchers

She stepped inside and reached for the switch.

The lights flicked on.

And she froze.

Damon was sitting on her couch.

Legs spread casually.

Elbows resting on his thighs.

Head slightly lowered, fingers brushing the bridge of his perfect nose.

When he lifted his face, his sharp jawline caught the light.

Still unfairly handsome.

Still dangerously magnetic.

Lila exhaled slowly.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Damon’s gaze swept over her.

Measured.

Unapologetic.

“You let another man drive you home.”

It wasn’t a question.

Lila crossed her arms. “That’s none of your business.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw.

She refused to let herself react to the way he looked sitting there-powerful, composed, like he owned the

space.

She had spent nights with this man.

Chapter 66

Nights she didn’t regret.

Nights she didn’t force herself into.

That was one thing she would always be proud of.

Damon had always been the one who initiated.

Though she had been the first to cross the line-

The night Daven drugged her drink.

The memory flashed briefly.

Damon stepping in.

The blurred line between anger and desire.

A mistake that turned into three years.

Damon stood slowly.

“You’re avoiding me,” he said.

“I’m living my life.”

“You think that man can protect you?”

Lila almost laughed.

“Protect me from what? You?”

Silence stretched between them.

His eyes darkened.

“You’re still my wife.”

“On paper,” she shot back. “Only because you refuse to sign.”

Damon stepped closer.

Close enough that she could feel the warmth of him.

Close enough that her heart betrayed her and beat faster.

“You think I’ll let you go that easily?” he murmured.

“I’m not something you own.”

His hand lifted-almost touching her waist-

77

10 vouchers

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

But stopped.

For a brief second, something unreadable passed through his eyes.

Possessiveness.

Desire.

Frustration.

“You look thinner,” he said quietly.

“Overwork,” she replied coolly.

His gaze lingered on her face longer than necessary.

As if searching.

As if calculating.

As if confirming something only he knew.

Lila stepped back.

“You should leave.”

Damon didn’t move.

Instead, he gave a slow, dangerous smile.

“Not tonight.”

Damon rose slowly from the couch.

“Let me stay,” he said.

Not commanding.

Not threatening.

Just… steady.

Lila looked at him for a long second.

She was exhausted-physically, emotionally, mentally.

Too tired to fight.

Without answering, she walked past him toward her bedroom.

Damon followed.

77

10 vouchers

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

Of course he did.

:

Before she could even turn around to protest, he had already started unbuttoning his shirt.

“Damon-”

“I need a cold shower,” he said casually, slipping the fabric off his shoulders.

Lila frowned. “Then take one and leave.”

He paused, glancing at her over his shoulder.

“Or,” he added lightly, “you could help me calm down.”

The audacity.

Lila’s eyes flashed.

“You’re unbelievable.”

Damon smiled.

Not mockingly.

Not cruelly.

Almost… satisfied.

“At least you’re mad,” he said quietly.

She glared at him. “Get out of my bathroom.”

But he had already disappeared inside.

Moments later, the sound of running water filled the apartment.

Lila stood there, arms crossed tightly over her chest.

Why did he still affect her?

Why did his presence still shift the air in her own home?

She told herself she didn’t care.

That she was done.

That he was Maddy’s problem now.

And yet-

77

10 vouchers

When the bathroom door opened again, steam rolling into the room, and Damon stepped out with only a

12:47 Mon, May 4

Chapter 66

towel hanging low on his hips-

Her breath hitched.

Just for a second.

His hair was damp.

Water traced slowly down the hard lines of his chest.

He caught the reaction.

Of course he did.

Damon stepped closer.

Slowly.

“You should lock your doors,” he murmured.

“I didn’t expect a stray dog to walk in.”

He chuckled softly.

“Careful,” he said, voice dropping. “You used to like this dog”

Her jaw tightened.

“That was before.”

Damon stopped inches away.

Close enough to touch.

Close enough to test her resolve.

“Before what?” he asked quietly.

“Before I realized you never loved me.”

The words hung heavy between them.

For the first time that night-

Damon didn’t smile.

12:48 Mon, May 4