Silvano’s Revelation
Tessa stared back at him, then shifted her gaze to Lila, who was smiling at both of them as if she already sensed they had something to say. Asher, especially.
“Do you want to say something to me?” she asked gently.
Asher fidgeted with his fingers, his lips pressed into a tight line as if he was trying to hold himself together.
“I’m sorry about what happened to him,” he said softly. Lila’s smile softened and she nodded, murmuring her thanks.
“I wish him a speedy recovery,” he added, and she nodded again, a little more quietly this time.
He glanced at Tessa, who gave a small shake of her head, silently urging him not to go further. But Asher drew in a breath, straightened his shoulders, and gathered what little courage he had left.
“I have something important to say to you, Lila,” he said, his voice steadier than before.
Lila stood straighter, waiting for him to continue.
“I know this is not the right time. But I need to let you know now.”
Tessa shut her eyes for a moment and instinctively stepped back from Lila, unsure of what her reaction would be.
“Lila,” Asher called softly. “I’m sorry to break this to you, but I don’t love you anymore.”
The words left his mouth in a fragile breath, but to his amazement, Lila’s expression did not falter. It was as if she had already prepared herself for every possible outcome.
“Okay,” she said calmly. “So are you going to tell me who you’re in love with now?”
Her voice carried a light teasing tone that made both Asher and Tessa snap their heads up in shock.
This was nothing like what they had expected.
“Y-You’re not mad, Lila?” Tessa asked, her voice trembling.
Lila lifted her shoulders in an easy shrug. “Why would I be? I caught you two and I knew something like this would happen. So why should I be mad?” she asked with a simple smile.
Both Asher and Tessa froze, staring at her in stunned silence, their minds scrambling to understand how she could be so calm. They exchanged glances before looking back at Lila, unable to believe what they were hearing.
“What?” Lila laughed softly. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have seen anything if you two weren’t so engrossed.” She winked at them, and Tessa’s face turned a deep shade of red, so bright she looked like a well-cooked shrimp.
“I know I’m not in the best position to ask this, but how were you able to stay quiet all this time, Lila?” Asher asked, his voice low and unsure.
“Uhmm…” Lila shifted her lips from side to side and wrapped her arms around her chest. “I knew you would eventually tell me.”
By then, tears had already gathered in Tessa’s eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, and two large tears rolled down her cheeks as she stepped closer to Lila again.
“I’m so sorry, Lila. Please forgive me. I didn’t mean to do that to you. I didn’t mean to snatched your boyfriend,” she cried, her voice breaking.
Lila smiled gently and pulled her into a hug, holding her with a tenderness that only made Tessa cry harder.
“Come on, you wouldn’t be able to snatch him if he were truly mine. He’s meant for you,” Lila said gently, trying to soothe her. They pulled apart from the hug, and Lila turned her attention to Asher.
“And let’s be honest, Tessa. I’ve only ever seen Asher as a friend,” She looked at Asher with a bright smile, and he returned it with a relieved one of his own.
“ I don’t blame you for going after the person who loves you. Forgive me too,” she added softly.
Asher nodded and shook his head at the same time, overwhelmed and grateful, unable to hide the relief in his eyes.
“Oh my, you’re so sweet, Lila,” Tessa cried as another wave of tears burst out of her. She threw her arms around Lila again.
Smiling softly, Lila returned the hug. But as she held Tessa, her gaze drifted toward the parking lot. Two men in black suits stood there, one of them opening the back door of a sleek car. A man stepped out slowly, leaning on a walking stick. Even from a distance, his presence radiated a powerful aura.
Lila recognized him instantly.
She gently pulled away from Tessa. “I’ll talk to you guys later. Or you can come back later. Right now I need to take care of something important and I can’t keep you guys waiting. Bye!”
Before either of them could respond, she hurried off, her steps quick and purposeful.
Lila quickened her pace and practically sprinted into the hospital. She rushed into the elevator and jabbed the button for her floor, her heartbeat drumming in her ears.
The moment the doors beeped and slid open, she shot out and hurried straight to Damien’s ward. Blade was sitting on the settee, calmly reading a book.
“That man is here, Blade,” Lila blurted the second she stepped inside.
Blade lowered the book and looked up at her. “Which man?”
“I don’t know his name,” Lila replied quickly, shaking her head. “But do you remember the party Wolfe and I went to after he returned from the mission?”
Blade nodded. “Yes, Silvano’s welcome party for his daughter.”
“Yes, that one. He’s here.”
“Really?” Blade’s brows rose as he stood and moved toward the entrance.
And there he was. Silvano himself, approaching with the same commanding presence Lila remembered.
“Sir,” Blade greeted with a respectful bow.
“How is he feeling now?” Silvano asked immediately as he and his men reached the doorway, his tone firm and heavy with concern.
Blade stepped aside and opened the door for him, allowing Silvano to enter while his men remained positioned outside like silent shadows.
“Nothing yet, sir,” Blade replied. “But the doctor said the maximum is a week. We are hoping he wakes up before then.”
Silvano gave a slow nod, absorbing the information.
His gaze then shifted toward Lila. She stood off to the side, watching them with quiet intensity, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as she tried to read his expression.
“I am the one who handled the dead body,” Silvano said.
Lila and Blade exchanged a startled glance, both taken completely off guard.
Before Blade could ask anything, Silvano continued, his attention fixed on Lila. “I do not know how my daughter managed it, but she had access to your location through your phone. That was how we learned everything.”
Lila’s mouth fell open in shock, her breath catching in her throat.
“I know this is going to cause a fight when Damien wakes up,” Silvano said, his voice firm but not unkind. “But I hope he will see the intention behind what she did. Because if not for her, you would likely be in police custody by now.”
The truth hit Lila so hard she felt the air leave her lungs. She stood there in stunned silence, trying to process the fact that she had been only a breath away from losing everything.