Lahat ng Kabanata ng Betrothed To Six Lovers: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Lila’s P.O.V.The community hall felt like a trap closing around me, the air thick and stale with the scent of old wood polish and too many bodies crammed into one space. My heart hammered against my ribs as I sat there, Shayla fidgeting in my lap, her small fingers twisting the hem of my blouse. Lucas pressed closer to my side, his warmth a fragile shield against the cold stares from the mediators at the high table. Aiden gurgled softly in his sling, oblivious to the storm brewing. I wished I could be like him—innocent, unburdened. But no, I was here, summoned like a criminal, my life unraveling in front of strangers who held the power to judge me.Mr. Harlan, the chief elder, leaned forward in his chair, his voice booming across the room like thunder rolling in from the hills. His face was etched with deep lines, his eyes sharp and unyielding behind wire-rimmed glasses. He’d known my family for decades, but today there was no warmth, no familiarity. Just authority, heavy and unrelen

Lila’s P.O.VThe morning arrived like a bruise that had been waiting all night to darken. I woke before the alarm, before the children stirred, lying flat on my back in the too-large bed that still carried the faint ghost of Ethan’s cologne on the pillow beside mine. My eyes traced the familiar cracks in the ceiling plaster—shapes I used to read like maps when sleep wouldn’t come. Today they looked like fractures in bone.I dressed in the charcoal linen dress I’d worn to my mother’s funeral three years ago. Simple, high-necked, sleeves long enough to hide the tremor in my wrists. No jewelry. No makeup beyond a swipe of balm across cracked lips. I didn’t want to look like I was trying to charm anyone. I wanted them to see exactly what they’d already decided I was: a woman stripped down to essentials.Shayla padded into the bedroom barefoot, rubbing sleep from her eyes. “Mama, are we going to the big house again?”I knelt, smoothing her curls. “Yes, baby. But you and Lucas and Aiden are

Lila’s P.O.VI stood up, dusting off my dress, and took a deep breath. The metal door creaked open, and Tom's eyes met mine for a fleeting moment before he looked away. "It's time, Lila," he said, his voice low and gentle.I nodded, though I didn't feel ready. The corridor outside seemed longer than before, the walls closing in on me with every step. We emerged into the bright sunlight, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea. Whispers followed me, a living thing that crawled up my skin.The square was packed. Faces blurred together – some curious, some sympathetic, others eager for the spectacle. I scanned the crowd, searching for familiar eyes, but they were either hidden or avoiding mine.Diane stood at the edge, kids clustered around her like chicks. She tried to shield them, but Shayla peeked out, eyes wide with confusion. My heart twisted. What were they telling them?The chief elder, Mr. Harlan, stood on the steps of the town hall, his expression stern but not unkind. "Lila Voss,

Lila's P.O.VI woke up to the sound of Aisha crying. I rushed to her side, pulling her into my arms. "What's wrong, baby?"She buried her face in my chest. "The kids at school said you're a murderer, Mummy. They said you killed Daddy Shay."My heart broke. I held her tight, trying to hold back tears. "It's not true, sweetie. Daddy Shay died in an accident. You know that."Shay Jr. stood in the doorway, watching us with worried eyes. I motioned him over, and he climbed onto the bed, joining our hug.We stayed like that for a while, the three of us, trying to block out the world. But it was hard. The rumors were spreading like wildfire, and I was running out of options.I pulled back, looking at my kids. "We need to be strong, okay? We'll get through this."Aisha nodded, sniffling. Shay Jr. just looked at me, his eyes old beyond his years.I got them dressed and sent them off to school, trying to put on a brave face. As they walked out the door, I felt like I was watching them walk into

Lila's P.O.VI stared at the papers in my hand, the words blurring together as the reality sank in. The interior design company, my baby, was gone. I had sold it. The 50k dollars was now in my account, and I'd make sure my kids were safe. I felt a mix of relief and sadness, but mostly exhaustion. It was done.As I turned to put the papers away, something caught my eye. A name. Damien.My heart skipped a beat. Damien. The man who'd asked me to marry him a year ago. The man I'd refused, brutally. The man who'd sworn to make my life a mess.I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. Damien. The anonymous buyer.I stumbled back, collapsing onto the couch. Why? Why would he do this? I thought back to that day, the day he'd proposed. I'd laughed, told him I didn't love him, that I'd never marry him.And he'd smiled. A cold, calculating smile. "You'll regret this, Lila. I'll make sure of it."I shivered, memories flooding back. The subtle sabotage at my company, the whispers in the settlement,