The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

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00:00:35

Lila was cozying up on Ina’s sofa bed, her legs tucked under a soft blanket as the TV played in the background. The comfort of the space, the casual warmth, was a welcome contrast to the polished rigidity of Forest Villa. Ina sat nearby, scrolling through her social media with casual intensity, thumbs moving almost subconsciously.

Then Ina froze, her eyes widening. “Wait… look at this,” she muttered, tilting her phone toward Lila.

On the screen was Maddy’s latest post: a private dinner with Damon, elegantly set, champagne flutes catching the soft light, and luxurious jewelry casually displayed. The caption was sweet, almost indulgent-provocative in a way that seemed designed to taunt.

Lila leaned over, eyes narrowing briefly, a smirk slowly forming. “Maybe she’s trying to make me jealous,” she said, voice calm but laced with amusement.

Ina raised an eyebrow. “And does it work?”

Lila shook her head, smirking wider. “No. Maddy’s wrong. She’s sending it to the wife-me. She should send this to Damon’s other private girl instead,” she said, letting a mischievous grin curl her lips.

Ina laughed softly, shaking her head. “You really don’t give a damn, do you?”

“Why should I?” Lila replied, leaning back into the sofa, letting the warmth of the blanket and the freedom of her space wash over her. “Two years, and I’ve endured everything. Mockery, whispers, messages, late nights, wild girls. If Maddy wants to provoke me, she’s picked the wrong target.”

The smirk lingered, faint but sharp. It wasn’t just amusement-it was a quiet triumph. For once, Lila felt untouchable, in control, and untethered from the rules Damon thought bound her.

The TV played on, Ina scrolled idly, and Lila let herself bask in the rare sensation of freedom-freedom from expectation, from obedience, from the polished prison of being Damon’s wife.

And in that moment, she realized that being untouchable didn’t require revenge. Sometimes, it was just about enjoying the view.

Lila stood up, stretching slightly, her gaze locking onto Ina. A slow, mischievous smile tugged at her lips.

“If Damon can have a wild night,” she said, waving the black card he had left for her with a flourish, “maybe we should too.”

Ina laughed, eyes sparkling with excitement. “Why not? Two years of watching him… you’ve earned it.”

Lila slipped into the red dress she had brought-the one that hugged her figure perfectly, turning heads even before she arrived. She smoothed it over her curves, adjusted her hair, and grabbed the black card. Together, they stepped out into the night, the city lights welcoming them with unspoken promise.

The private bar was dim, intimate, and perfectly decadent. Lila and Ina let themselves sink into the freedom of the evening. Drinks flowed, music pulsed through the space, and for the first time in years, Lila laughed without caution. They even indulged in the company of a few escorts, reveling in the audacity of it all—and when the night ended, the black card paid the bill effortlessly.

11:16 Mon, May 4

Chapter 8

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00:00:31

Far across the country, Damon’s phone began to buzz relentlessly. Bank notifications flashed across the screen -transactions he hadn’t authorized. His brows furrowed. The name on the statement caught his eye: Silvermoon Bar.

His mind snapped back. Silvermoon-James’ bar. Damon called immediately.

“James,” he barked. “Is my wife still there?”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by the faint sound of amusement in James’ voice. “You mean… your wife? She’s here, yes. And damn, man… your wife is totally a hottie.”

Damon froze, then scrolled through the pictures James sent. Lila sat there, red dress hugging her curves, laughing, a man sitting close to her.

The image hit him like a shockwave. Blood boiled through his veins in a way he hadn’t expected, his jaw tightening as the picture burned itself into his mind.

For the first time in years, Damon felt a surge he didn’t want to admit-anger, jealousy, and something sharper, rawer, and more consuming.

Lila, his obedient wife for so long, was no longer playing by the rules.

And Damon realized, with a dangerous clarity, that he hadn’t fully accounted for what that meant.

By evening, Damon returned to Forest Villa. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows across the villa’s polished floors. Lila was already seated at the dining table, a calm presence in contrast to the storm she knew had just arrived.

When she looked up, her eyes met Damon’s-and next to him, Maddy. Polished, polite, poised, exactly the image of composure one would expect.

“Maddy,” Lila said evenly, her voice neutral, almost cordial. “Good evening.”

“Good evening, Ms. Everith,” Maddy replied with a polite smile, bowing her head slightly. “It’s been… a while.”

Damon merely nodded, leaving the room shortly after, his footsteps echoing down the hall. Lila relaxed slightly, letting out a quiet breath.

When Damon excused himself, his footsteps fading down the corridor, the air between the two women shifted instantly.

Maddy leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper meant only for Lila.

“You should have seen last night,” she murmured, lips curling. “Private rooms. Candlelight. Damon bought every piece of jewelry that caught my eye-diamonds, emeralds, things you probably never even touched.”

Lila didn’t react. She continued eating calmly, as if she hadn’t heard a word.

Maddy’s smile sharpened. “You know everything he does, don’t you? The escorts. The nights out. And yet you’re still here.” Her eyes flicked over Lila deliberately. “How embarrassing. If I were you, I would’ve removed myself from his life a long time ago.”

11:17 Mon, May 4

Chapter 8

Still, Lila said nothing.

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00:00:27

Encouraged, Maddy leaned in further, her whisper turning cruel. “But then again… maybe you can’t. After all, you couldn’t even satisfy him.” She gave a soft, mocking laugh. “That’s why he needs escorts. That’s why he needs me.”

At last, Lila set her cutlery down.

She lifted her gaze slowly, meeting Maddy’s eyes-not angry, not hurt, but impossibly calm.

“How unfortunate,” Lila said quietly, “that you think a man’s excess proves a woman’s failure.”

Maddy stiffened.

“If Damon buys jewelry,” Lila continued, her voice gentle but razor-edged, “it’s because he buys silence, loyalty, and convenience. None of which last very long.”

She stood, smoothing her dress. “And as for removing myself from his life-don’t worry. I already know exactly when and how to do that.”

Lila walked away, leaving Maddy frozen at the table, her smug certainty cracking for the first time.

Because Lila hadn’t defended herself.

She hadn’t needed to.

When Damon returned to the dining room, Lila was gone.

Only Maddy remained.

She was standing by the table now, shoulders drawn inward. When she looked up at him, her eyes were red, lashes clumped with tears, her cheeks faintly swollen. Damon stopped short.

“Maddy?” His brows knit. “Where’s my wife?”

Maddy hesitated, then shook her head slowly, as if afraid to speak. “She… she left,” she said softly. “I think I upset her.”

Damon’s expression darkened. “What happened?”

“I didn’t mean to,” Maddy whispered. “I only mentioned that we had dinner together during the business trip. I thought she already knew.” Her voice broke. “She went very quiet after that.”

She lifted a hand to her cheek, fingers trembling.

“And then…” Maddy swallowed. “She slapped me.”

The words hung heavy in the air.

Damon’s jaw tightened instantly. “She did what?”

11:17 Mon, May 4

Chapter 8

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“I didn’t fight back,” Maddy said quickly, tears spilling over now. “I didn’t want to make things worse. I know she’s your wife. I understand why she’d be angry.” She shook her head, forcing a small, wounded smile. “I really never meant to hurt her.”

Damon said nothing, but something dangerous flickered behind his eyes-not rage alone, but confusion layered with disbelief.

“She didn’t say anything else?” he asked quietly.

Maddy shook her head. “She just smiled. Then she walked away.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “That smile scared me more than the slap.”

Silence settled between them.

Damon looked toward the hallway where Lila had disappeared, his chest tightening in a way he didn’t like. Lila wasn’t impulsive. She wasn’t cruel. And violence-especially public, uncontrolled violence—didn’t fit the woman he knew.

“Go home and rest,” he said finally, his tone unreadable.

Maddy nodded obediently and turned away. The moment his back was to her, the tears vanished. Her lips curved slightly as she walked down the corridor.

Alone in the dining room, Damon stood motionless, staring at the empty chair where Lila had been sitting.

For the first time, doubt crept in-not about Lila’s anger, but about Maddy’s story.

Because if Lila had truly slapped her…

Why did it feel like he was the one being struck?