My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 101

Lily walked out of the gala hall. She didn’t look back once.

Outside the main doors, the cool night air hit them. Lily breathed in deeply, her chest rising and falling, though her face still carried that same serene mask. Only her trembling fingers betrayed her, curling into her palm until her nails dug into her skin.

Jabco glanced sideways at Lily. “You handled that like a queen,” he said, his tone half teasing, half admiring.

Lily’s lips curved faintly, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “I wasn’t playing a role, Mr. Grey. I just gave back what was his.”

“You call that just giving back?” Jabco chuckled softly. “That was a declaration of war. You do realize half the media out there already think you’re the mysterious wife, don’t you? And tonight…” He shook his head, amused. “You gave them enough fire to burn the city.”

Lily stopped for a moment at the edge of the steps, her gaze turning upward toward the night sky. The stars were hidden behind clouds, but the air felt strangely freeing.

“Let them burn,” she said quietly.

Jabco’s smile faded just slightly, his eyes lingering on her profile. She looked calm, but he could see the faint quiver in her lashes, the way her throat tightened before she swallowed. Her heart wasn’t as still as her face showed.

They reached the valet point, where cars were lining up. A few photographers had already spilled outside, whispering among themselves as they tried to decide whether to chase Lily or wait for David. The boldest one raised his camera, snapping as Lily appeared with Jabco’s arm around her.

The flashes lit up the night like lightning.

“Mr. Grey! Are you and Miss Collins together? Is this your official appearance as a couple?”

Questions flew like arrows, sharp and loud.

Lily didn’t flinch. She kept walking, her face calm, eyes forward. Not a word left her lips.

Jabco, however, tilted his head toward the reporters, his expression carrying that effortless arrogance he was known for. “It’s a gala night, gentlemen. Why ruin it with boring questions?” His smirk widened. “You’ll get your answers eventually. For now, let the lady breathe.”

The reporters erupted louder at his words, sensing an intentional tease, their cameras flashing even harder.

The valet pulled up with Jabco’s sleek black car. Without hesitation, Jabco opened the door for Lily. He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “Do you want me to drive you home, or should we disappear somewhere quieter?”

Lily blinked, her head turning toward him. “Stronger?”

“David Hardison,” Jabco said simply. His eyes stayed on the road, but his jaw tightened faintly. “Tonight, he looked like a man struck by lightning. He didn’t even have the strength to deny you. You walked away, and he couldn’t move.”

Lily’s throat tightened. Her chest felt heavy again, but she forced a small smile. “That’s not strength, Mr. Grey. That’s just… knowing when to let go.”

For the first time, Jabco’s smirk faded into something gentler. He didn’t argue.

The car moved quietly through the city, carrying Lily farther from the glittering hall, farther from David’s life.

Inside, for the first time in years, Lily felt the weight of the ring gone from her finger. Her hand rested on her lap, bare, light, but also aching as if something had been torn away.

Yet she didn’t cry. Not tonight.

Tonight, she walked out with dignity and that, she told herself, was enough.