My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 14

"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, voice sharp.

David looked calm. Too calm. "Your father invited me."

"Why?"

"To talk."

Lily pushed past him and stepped inside, her heart pounding. Her father and stepmother were in the living room, pretending nothing was out of place.

"This is a family matter," Lily snapped. "He doesn’t belong here."

Her father raised an eyebrow. "He’s your husband."

"Not for long."

David walked over and settled onto the sofa like he owned the place, his eyes fixed on Lily with a blank, unreadable expression.

Her stepmother cleared her throat awkwardly. “We heard from Mr. Hardison that you're asking for a divorce?”

Lily narrowed her eyes, her voice sharp. “That’s none of your concern. Just give me my mother’s things, and I’ll be out of here.”

Her father’s expression hardened. “Go back home with David, and you’ll get your mother’s belongings.”

Lily stared at him, stunned. “What are you saying? That’s not happening. We’re getting divorced.”

Her father turned to David, almost as if Lily hadn’t spoken. “She’s always been stubborn, but she’ll come around. She always does.”

Lily’s head snapped toward him. “What the hell are you two scheming?”

David remained silent.

“You think I’ll just change my mind because you roped them into this?” she demanded.

“No one’s roping anyone,” her father replied coolly.

“Yes, you are!” Lily shot back, her voice rising. “You didn’t give a damn about me until David came into the picture. Suddenly, I exist again.”

David finally spoke. “I didn’t come here to argue. I just want to talk.”

“Then talk,” Lily snapped. “But don’t expect me to forget everything just because you had a cozy little chat with them. They stopped being my family the day they threw me out. I owe them nothing.”

“This isn’t about fixing anything,” she continued, stepping back, away from him. “It’s about you not being in charge anymore. You hate it, don’t you? That I’m walking away. That I’m not clinging to your lavish lifestyle or crying myself to sleep over your little trysts with Marina.”

David’s jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists at his sides. “This has nothing to do with Marina.”

“Oh please,” Lily laughed, the sound sharp and cold. “It always has something to do with her. You just don’t say it out loud because you like to look noble. Like the misunderstood husband who ended up with the wrong woman.”

“I never said that,” he growled.

“You didn’t have to,” she said, her eyes narrowing, her words slicing through the tension like a blade. “Every look. Every silence. Every time you chose her over me—you said it loud and clear.”

David took a step forward, his voice lower, rougher. “You know damn well I never wanted it to end like this.”

“Then maybe,” Lily shot back, her voice cracking under the weight of her anger, “you should’ve treated me like your wife when you had the chance.”

A silence fell between them. The air grew heavier. David exhaled through his nose, his gaze dropping to the floor before lifting again.

“I’m not asking you to come back,” he said, each word slow, deliberate. “But I can’t get a divorce. Not now.”

Lily blinked. Her heart stuttered. “You what?”