The Wife He Never Meant to Love (Lila and Damon) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

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When Mark heard that Lila was pregnant, he didn’t know what to feel. Relief, worry, and fear all collided inside him. But one thing was certain: Lila should not have a child that could connect her to the Blackthorne family. He would not allow it.

“Lila… are you sure you want to keep the child?” Mark asked cautiously, trying to steady his voice.

Lila smiled softly, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. “Yes,” she said. “This will be the only memory I have of my husband.”

Mark opened his mouth, wanting to say something, “But… when he was alive, you wanted-” He hesitated, stopping mid-sentence when he saw her calm, determined face.

He could not-he would not-hurt his sister. The more she learned about her past, the more she might dig, uncovering truths that could put her in danger again.

“Mark…” Lila asked quietly, sensing his hesitation, “did my late husband… cheat, or something?”

Mark took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. “Something like that,” he said slowly. “He wasn’t… actually a good man.”

Lila looked down at her stomach, a small smile spreading across her face as the thought of the child inside her warmed her. “It’s in the past now,” she said softly. “This one… this one is mine alone. Whoever I married before… before I lost my memory… it doesn’t matter anymore.”

Mark studied her face, the determination and innocence in her eyes cutting through the worry he had felt since learning the news. He nodded slowly, silently promising himself that he would protect both Lila and her child-no matter what.

For Lila, the child growing inside her was more than a memory of the past—it was a new beginning, a life that belonged entirely to her, free from the shadows of everything she had lost.

A month later, Damon finally woke from his coma. The room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the monitors. His eyes fluttered open, confusion clouding his gaze at first-but the first name that came to his lips was clear.

“Lila…” he whispered hoarsely.

Margaret, who had been sitting nearby, stepped closer and smiled gently. “She’s okay,” she said softly. Then, her expression turned serious. “But you need to recover first before you can see her. Follow the doctor’s advice, Damon. Take your time.”

Damon nodded, his mind already consumed by thoughts of her. Even as he went through the physical therapy, the exercises, and the routine checks that the doctors required, his thoughts never strayed far from

Lila.

All day, every day, he imagined her-her smile, her voice, her presence beside him. At night, even in his dreams, he saw a life with her: peaceful, happy, and full of love. He dreamed of living quietly with Lila, of building a home together, and most vividly, of raising a child in a life free from fear and danger.

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Chapter 97

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And in the back of his mind, a single thought grew stronger each day: this time, if fate allowed, they would have a baby. A life together, a family, a future they could finally call their own.

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Recovery was slow, but Damon’s determination never wavered. Every step he took, every therapy session he endured, was fueled by the hope of returning to Lila-of protecting her, loving her, and building the life he had once only imagined.

After completing his recovery program, Damon was finally ready to be discharged. His heart raced with anticipation-he had one question on his mind.

“Where is my wife?” Damon asked sharply as he entered his room.

Maddy stood by the doorway, her expression unreadable. She hesitated, weighing her words carefully.

If she told him that Lila had eloped, Damon would surely hunt her down. But what she said next froze him.

“She… she died,” Maddy said flatly.

Damon froze. “What?” he asked, his voice trembling. “She… died?”

“Yes,” Maddy said, her tone steady, full of conviction. “We already buried her.”

Damon’s hands clenched, disbelief clouding his mind. “No… I don’t believe it,” he murmured, his voice breaking.

Maddy gestured for him to follow. Outside, she led him quietly to a cemetery. There, in the soft afternoon light, a simple headstone stood with Lila’s name carved into it.

Damon’s knees weakened, and he sank to the ground. “No… this can’t be… this isn’t true,” he whispered, staring at the stone.

Maddy knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay, Damon. You have to live… for her memory.”

But Damon’s grief was overwhelming. He pressed his hands against the soil, desperate to feel some connection, some proof that she was truly gone. Maddy grabbed his arms gently. “Stop, Damon,” she said, her voice firm but compassionate. “Hurting yourself won’t bring her back.”

Damon shook his head, unable to control the storm of emotions. Maddy quickly called for the driver to help calm him and prevent him from further harming himself.

Slowly, with Maddy’s support and the driver’s steady hands, Damon was guided away from the grave. His mind was clouded with pain, disbelief, and longing-but even in his heartbreak, Maddy’s words lingered: he had to survive… for Lila’s memory.

Damon was brought back to the villa, his mind clouded by grief and disbelief. Maddy tried everything she could to soothe him, but her efforts barely reached him.

“My wife… is safe,” Damon muttered, his voice thick with confusion.

“Maddy… did you lie to me?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for the truth.

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Chapter 97

“No.” Maddy said firmly, though her heart pounded.

:

Damon sank back, sedated, unable to process anything further.

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Meanwhile, Margaret sat on the couch in the living room, waiting for Maddy to come down. When Maddy finally took a seat across from her, Margaret’s gaze fixed on her sharply.

“I never thought you were capable of having a grave for Lila,” Margaret said coolly.

Maddy’s eyes flickered, a mixture of resolve and justification in her expression. “It was the only way to make him stop hunting Lila,” she said quietly. “I did this because I love Damon. It breaks my heart to see him chasing her, even though it’s dangerous. This wouldn’t have happened if you’d advised him to sign the divorce,” she added, glaring at Margaret.

Margaret remained unbothered by the glare, her tone icy. “Did you think my son Damon is someone who simply follows whatever he’s told?” she said.

“You think my son is a fool? Be careful. If you think he is, it might bite you back,” Margaret warned, her words sharp and deliberate.

“Since you started this lie,” Margaret continued, “finish it. I won’t correct you. I will not intervene in your deception,” she said, standing up. Without another word, she walked out of the room.

“What do you mean?” Maddy asked, following her to the front door.

Margaret gave her nothing, simply dismissing her with a faint, cold look.

Maddy paused, a small smile tugging at her lips. Margaret’s silence was its own kind of support-finally, Damon was hers alone. And this time, she would make sure to claim him completely.

Back at the hidden villa, Lila moved through the garden, her hands brushing over the rows of vegetables and fruit trees. The warm sunlight and quiet rhythm of farm life offered her a sense of peace she hadn’t felt in months. She rested for a moment, placing a hand on her stomach and smiling softly at the life growing inside

her.

Mark watched her from a distance, leaning against the veranda. His jaw was tight, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of danger. Even though Lila was safe here, he knew the world outside still carried threats-people who might try to reach her or use her pregnancy to manipulate her.

He had received updates about Damon, and his concern deepened. Damon had awakened, unaware of Lila’s current life, but Maddy was close, whispering words of control, shaping him, and keeping him focused on her own desires. Mark’s gut told him it was only a matter of time before Damon’s grief and confusion could create trouble.

Ina approached, carrying a small tray of tea. “He’s recovering faster than expected,” she said softly, referring to Lila. “But you’re tense. You’ve been watching every shadow for the past hour.”

Mark exhaled slowly. “I can’t relax. Damon is awake… and Maddy is close to him. If he ever finds out about Lila, or if he starts asking too many questions, it could put her at risk. And now, with the baby… I won’t let anyone touch them.”

Ina nodded, understanding the weight on his shoulders. “Then we keep things controlled. No visitors. No

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Chapter 97

distractions. We make sure Lila stays safe, and that includes controlling what Damon can learn.”

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Lila looked up at Mark, sensing the tension even if she didn’t fully understand it. “Mark… what’s wrong?” she asked softly.

Mark forced a small smile. “Nothing. Just… keeping an eye out for you. That’s my job, remember?”

She nodded, satisfied for now, and returned her attention to the garden. Mark’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, the protective instinct in him stronger than ever. Whoever tried to reach Lila or harm her-whether from the past or from the present-would have to get through him first.

As the afternoon sunlight bathed the villa, a quiet determination settled over Mark. Lila’s life, and the new life growing inside her, were now his responsibility. And he would make sure that nothing-no one-would take them away from him.

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