The One That Got Away Novel Lila And Blake นิยาย & เรื่องราว

Harlow's chart still sat open on the counter — Lila's mateless care form, the one that had started this. Unmated. Alone. A child whose father vanished before she could even tell him. I watched her gather her coat from the chair. Her hands were steady again. She didn't look at me. The profile fit one person I knew too well. Jacob had spent his twenties cutting through every she-wolf who'd hold still long enough. Charm without consequence. He'd leave a territory before the bond could settle, and the gap in Lila's file looked exactly like the ones he left behind.

Still nothing. Two full years of watching from the edges—anonymous social media checks, the occasional drive-by of their new house, quiet reports from the few contacts I still trusted. Lila was still floating through her perfect, useless existence: smiling in every photo on Elias’s arm, laughing at his jokes in public, probably already dreaming about nursery colors and family vacations. My parents smiled right along with her, playing the proud in-laws like they hadn’t once planned to turn their golden child into a murderer. I watched it all from the edges, jaw tight, fists clenched until my palms bled.

Lila whispered to Jenna, her voice trembling. Jenna’s lips quivered. “I didn’t have a choice! They said… if I didn’t…” Suddenly, the lights went out completely. Darkness swallowed the library. Shouts, scrambling footsteps, and the sound of furniture tipping over filled the air. Lila’s phone buzzed violently—another anonymous message lighting up the screen: “The real enemy is closer than you think. Look behind you.” She spun around—and froze. Cade was gone. Mara’s silhouette loomed, just out of reach, her grin wicked. And standing directly behind Lila, silently watching, was… Harper.

A win. “We don't know yet…” I started, but the look that she gave me made me shut up again. “Was she okay when the both of you got home?” Lila asked. I found it slightly fascinating that she still cared about her sister that stole her husband, and the life that she was supposed to have. I scoffed. “We didn't come to your parents' place together to begin with. She came from the house, and I came from Light's house. I just moved to the hotel so I could give Light the space that he's used to having.”

She pulled her hand back as if burned. “Don’t,” she breathed, her voice low and furious. Before he could respond, another voice, as cold and sharp as breaking icicles, cut through the air. “Sebastian, darling. I thought I’d find you here.” Liliana’s blood ran cold. She looked up and saw her worst nightmare walking toward them. Eleanor Blackwood, elegant and terrifying in a Prada suit, looking as if she had just stepped out of a cryogenic chamber. And clinging to her arm was a beautiful, blonde woman in her late twenties with a smile that was all teeth. Delilah Baskin. The chosen one.

“I’m glad you two are better now. You deserve peace.” “Thank you,” I said, meaning it. When she left to take the laundry upstairs, I stood by the window again, watching the sky darken slightly. My heart still wouldn’t calm down ************************************************ Later that night, long after everyone had gone to bed Downstairs, in the maid quarters, another phone glowed in the dark. Lila lay on her bed, scrolling through her messages. One chat was open, the name at the top hidden by a heart emoji. Unknown 💌: Chicago? Are you sure?

Even though my apartment was only two steps away, Shane and I still stopped at the door for an entire hour before I finally broke free and made it back inside. The moment I stepped inside, I received a message from Shane. He had managed to dig up the latest news about Anthony. After reading the report, I realized why Anthony had been willing to swallow his pride in search of me. Things were not going well with Lila after their marriage. Lila insisted on pursuing her career and refused to go abroad. For the sake of the woman he loved, Anthony fought with his family and refused to leave the country as well.

“He cut me off. Left me with nothing. And now you’re spreading your legs for him? You’re disgusting.” Lila smiled. It wasn’t kind. “I’m not the one who got kicked out of the Meridian lobby like a stray dog. I’m not the one who showed up drunk at my ex’s friend’s door begging for information. I’m not the one who lost everything because I was too lazy to keep the only good thing I ever had.” Tyler lunged forward. Marcus moved faster than Lila had ever seen. One hand shot out and slammed against Tyler’s chest, stopping him cold.

Run: Let the thread take me, save the others, balance the ledger with my life. Stay: Fight, risk the family, risk Etienne’s memory. Elena’s eyes met mine, fierce. “You’re not leaving us, Lila. You’re family.” Alexander’s voice was steel. “You saved my life. Let me save yours.” Mamá’s hand found mine, blood slick. “You carried my daughter through hell. Carry her now.” Marco’s fingers laced through, scars warm. “Choose us.” The thread pulled. I chose. I grabbed the thread, wrapping it around my fist, and yanked. The attic shattered. We fell back to the alley, the thread writhing, forming a new book: VOLUME III: LILA’S CHOICE.