He Married Me for the Heart Inside My Chest Chapter 05

He Married Me for the Heart Inside My Chest Chapter 05

The plane touched down in the city just as dawn 

broke. 

I turned my phone on after three hours off, and 

texts blew up. 

Forty–seven missed calls from Silas Hale. 

Texts ranging from Where are you? to Lila, don’t scare me, ending with: What’s with the petition? 

Let’s talk. 

I didn’t reply to a single one. 

Wren Carter picked me up, her car waiting at arrivals. She saw me dragging the suitcase and 

jumped out, shoving me into the passenger seat. 

“Have you been crying?” 

“No.” 

“Then why are your eyes puffy?” 

“The plane AC was too dry.” 

She didn’t call my bluff, starting the car toward the 

city. 

“You can stay at my place. I got a room ready.” 

“Thanks.” 

“Don’t mention it.” She paused. “Does he know 

you’re here?” 

“No. Used my mom’s ID for the ticket.” 

“Good. Settle in, keep your phone off for a while. 

Let him sweat it out.” 

I shook my head. “I’m not doing it to make him 

sweat. I’m never going back.” 

Wren glanced at me, saying nothing more. 

At her apartment, I showered and changed, sitting on the living room couch, staring into space. 

My phone on the coffee table kept lighting up. 

I glanced down, unable to resist. 

Silas’s latest message, five minutes old: Lila, I read 

your letter. I can explain everything. 

Explain. 

What could he possibly explain? 

That he married me because Elowen’s heart was beating in my chest? 

That for three years he couldn’t remember my 

tastes, my allergies, our anniversary–but knew every detail about a dead woman? 

That he visited her grave every week with flowers, 

then came home to hold me like nothing was wrong? 

I flipped the phone face down on the coffee table. 

Wren walked in from the kitchen with a bowl of 

soup. 

“Eat something.” 

“Not hungry.” 

“Lila, you don’t need to grieve right now. You need 

to figure out what’s next.” 

“I already have. Divorce.” 

“Is he gonna agree?” 

“He doesn’t have a choice. I signed the petition. Whether he signs it or not, two years separation and the court grants it.” 

Wren sat next to me, pressing the bowl into my 

hands. 

“What are you gonna do for those two years?” 

“Work. Live.” I stirred the soup slowly. “Live like a 

normal person.” 

“You are a normal person.” 

“No, I’m not.” I set the spoon down. “I’m a 

stand–int. A living, breathing replacement with 

someone else’s heart.” 

Wren didn’t argue, just wrapped an arm around my shoulders. 

At three p.m., my phone rang again. 

Not Silas. Mom. 

“Lila, Silas called. Said you two fought? Where’d 

you run off to?” 

“Mom, I didn’t run. I’m at a friend’s place.” 

“Come home right now. Married couples don’t stay mad overnight. Silas is such a good guy, so good 

to you…” 

“Mom.” I cut her off. “He married me for my heart.“” 

Silence on the line. 

“What do you mean?” 

“The heart I got in the transplant was his 

ex–girlfriend’s. Her will said to give it to the person he loved. He found me because of that–not 

because he loved me.” 

“Lila, are you overthinking this? Silas is so good to 

you…” 

“Mom, he can’t remember my birthday, that I’m allergic to vanilla, or our anniversary. Everything he bought me was what she liked. He goes to her 

grave every week.” 

Mom’s voice wavered. “This… are you sure?” 

“I’m sure.” 

“What are you gonna do?” 

“Divorce.” 

“Lila, don’t be impulsive. This could be a misunderstanding. Let Silas explain…” 

“Mom, there’s no misunderstanding.” 

I hung up. 

As my finger pressed the end button, a new 

message popped up from Silas. 

Lila, I bought a ticket to the city tomorrow. Can we 

meet? 

I stared at the screen, my finger hovering over the 

keyboard. 

I typed two words. 

No. 

Sent. 

Then I blocked his number.