He Married Me for the Heart Inside My Chest Chapter 10

He Married Me for the Heart Inside My Chest Chapter 10

The café was downtown, with floor–to–ceiling 

windows flooding the space with warm sunlight. 

Vera arrived before me. 

She sat by the window, wearing an off–white knit 

sweater, her long hair falling over her shoulders. 

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. 

A gentle–looking woman. 

“Lila? You’re even prettier than your photos.” 

“You’ve seen photos of me?” 

“On Silas’s Instagram feed.” She waved me over 

with a smile. “He doesn’t post much, but I see 

every single one.” 

Every single one. 

I sat down, and a server handed me a menu. 

“Order whatever you want. My treat,” she said. 

“Thanks. Just an Americano, please.” 

“That bitter? No sugar?” 

“I’m used to it.” 

She ordered a caramel latte, stirring it with a straw 

while watching me. 

“Mrs. Moore said you wanted to ask me about 

Elowen?” 

“Yeah.” I cut straight to the point. “Were you and 

Elowen roommates?” 

“All four years of college.” Her expression 

softened. “She was my best friend.” 

“So you knew about her and Silas?” 

“Of course. They got together sophomore year, 

and they were inseparable. Silas was glowing 

back then–nothing like he is now.” 

“What’s he like now?” 

“Now?” She tilted her head. “Gloomy. Closed off. 

Like he’s trapped inside his own shell.” 

“Do you two still talk much?” 

“Occasionally. Old college friends, checking in on holidays.” 

I nodded, studying her expression. 

It was natural, no evasion. 

“Vera, I need to ask you something straight out.” 

“Go on.” 

“Did you know I had a heart transplant?” 

She froze mid–stir, just for a second. 

Just a split second. 

“Yeah. Silas told me.” 

“When did he tell you?” 

“About… two years ago? We were drinking once, he got wasted, and spilled everything.” 

“What did he say?” 

Vera set down her straw and looked me in the 

eyes. 

“He said he felt like a monster. That he got close to you because of the heart, but after spending time with you, he realized you were amazing. He didn’t know if his feelings were real or not.” 

“What else did he say?” 

“He said he was terrified. Scared you’d find out the 

truth and leave him.” 

“So he chose to never tell you.” 

“Yeah.” 

I took a sip of my Americano, the bitter taste spreading across my tongue. 

“Vera, did you send me a private message on 

Tik Tok?” 

This time, her reaction was obvious. 

Her eyes flickered, and her fingers tightened 

around her cup unconsciously. 

“What private message?” 

“A comment asking if I’d had a heart transplant. Then a DM telling me about the donation will.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” 

“That will was fake. Mrs. Moore confirmed it.” 

Vera’s face paled for a moment. 

She recovered quickly, but I caught it. 

“Lila, are you misunderstanding something? I had, 

nothing to do with this.” 

“Then why did your face change?” 

“I just… I’m shocked. Forging Elowen’s will? That’s 

unforgivable.” 

Her tone sounded sincere. 

But her hands were shaking. 

I didn’t push further. 

I stood up and grabbed my bag. “Thanks for the 

coffee.” 

“Lila.” She called after me. 

I turned back. 

She stood up, looking at me with a complicated 

expression. 

“Whatever happens, Silas… he’s not a bad person. 

He’s just stupid. He doesn’t know how to let go of 

someone who’s gone.” 

“I know he’s not a bad person,” I said. “But not 

being bad doesn’t mean he didn’t hurt me.” 

I walked out of the café and texted Wren: [It’s her.] 

[You sure?] 

[When I said the will was fake, she didn’t ask “what 

will?” She asked “what private message?“] 

[Meaning she knew about the will. She just didn’t 

know I found out it was sent via DM.] 

[Nice. What’s next?] 

I stood on the sidewalk, sunlight warm on my skin. 

The heart in my chest beat steady, one slow thud 

at a time.