My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 124

Carson glanced sideways as he drove, his lips curving in that smug smile of his. Lily was slumped against the seat, one hand pressing to her forehead, the other gripping her bag tightly as if it would anchor her from floating away.

“You’re quiet,” Carson said, tapping the steering wheel with his fingers. “Normally girls chatter when they’re drunk. Or… they cry. Which one are you, hmm?”

Lily turned her head slowly, blinking at him through heavy lashes. “I’m neither… I don’t chatter. And I don’t cry in front of strangers.” Her words were slightly slurred, but the dignity in her tone made Carson chuckle.

“Stranger?” he repeated. “I just declared in front of your colleagues that I’m your boyfriend. Doesn’t that make me closer than a stranger?”

Lily groaned, covering her face with both hands. “Don’t remind me… why would you say that? Now they’ll think…”

“That you’re taken?” Carson interrupted smoothly. His eyes stayed on the road, but amusement danced in them. “Good. That saves me the trouble.”

Lily dropped her hands and glared at him, though her drunkenness softened the effect. “You’re impossible. You embarrassed me!”

Carson tilted his head, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Maybe. But you looked too adorable for me to let them think you go home alone.”

She peeked through her fingers, glaring at him or at least attempting to. “I don’t… need your help.”

“Sure,” Carson said smoothly, eyes flicking to her as he turned onto the main road. “But you leaned into me like a kitten the moment you lost your balance. Doesn’t really scream independent woman to me.”

Lily’s lips parted, but no comeback came out. Her mind was hazy, her body warm, and his teasing voice wasn’t helping. She turned her face toward the window instead, hoping to hide her burning cheeks.

Carson smirked wider at her silence. “Don’t worry, babe. I’ll take good care of you. After all…” he leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping into a playful murmur, “boyfriends are supposed to do that, right?”

Her heart skipped. Even in her drunken haze, she knew one thing for certain, Carson was dangerous.

Carson shrugged. “On the contrary, I saved you. Do you really want your colleagues seeing you wobbling around drunk, alone, waiting for a taxi? They’d talk. At least this way, they think you have someone looking after you.”

Lily’s lips parted, but no words came out. Deep down, she knew he was right, but she didn’t want to admit it. Instead, she turned her face to the window, muttering, “Still doesn’t make you my boyfriend…”

Carson smirked. “We’ll see about that.”

The rest of the drive was quiet, except for the soft hum of the engine. Lily’s head leaned against the window glass, her eyelids drooping despite her effort to stay awake. Carson glanced at her once, then again, and his expression softened for a fleeting second.

When they reached the house, Carson parked and got out quickly. He opened Lily’s door and crouched slightly.

Her eyes widened. “I can do that myself....”

“Too late,” he interrupted, placing the shoes neatly by the side of the bed. He looked up at her, his face suddenly serious. “Get some sleep, Lily"

For a moment, she just stared at him. His tone wasn’t teasing anymore; it was calm, almost protective. Her lips parted as if to say something, but the words never came.

Carson straightened up, his usual smirk returning to break the heavy moment. “Don’t worry. I won’t steal a kiss while you’re drunk. I’ll wait till you’re sober.”

Lily’s face heated instantly. “Y...You....”

“Goodnight, Lily,” Carson cut her off, heading to the door.

She watched his tall frame disappear out of the room. Her heart was beating faster than it should, and she pressed her hand against her chest, confused and overwhelmed.

“What is this man…?” she whispered to herself, echoing the thought she’d had before.