My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 152

Lily pressed the elevator button and exhaled a long, heavy breath.

Her head throbbed from the day’s endless work and David.

She told herself she wouldn’t let him affect her anymore, but somehow he always managed to crawl under her skin.

The elevator doors slid open, and she stepped out into the cool evening air. The sun was nearly gone, casting long shadows across the glass building. She adjusted her bag over her shoulder, ready to head home and just disappear from everything for a few hours, but she has already promise Jabco for dinner.

then, she froze.

Standing at the entrance, leaning against his black car, was David.

Lily’s stomach twisted. Of course. Of course he’d be here. He had that calm, unreadable expression again, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone. The moment he saw her, he put it away and straightened up.

She let out a small, frustrated sigh. “Not again,” she muttered under her breath.

Ignoring him, she kept walking.

David stepped forward before she could pass. His deep voice cut through the noise of cars and chatter. “Where are you going? Get in. I’ll drive you home.”

Lily didn’t even look at him. “Go away, David. Don’t stand in my way.”

She tried to walk past, but his hand shot out, catching her wrist. His grip was firm, too firm.

“Lily,” he said quietly but with that tone she remembered too well, the one that left no room for disobedience. “Get in. I won’t repeat myself.”

Her teeth clenched. Heat rose in her chest, anger, humiliation, maybe both. She was about to snap back, to throw his hand off, but then she noticed a few of her colleagues walking out of the lobby.

The last thing she needed was a scene.

So she jerked her wrist free and said through gritted teeth, “Fine.”

David’s lips curved slightly, almost like a satisfied smirk, but his eyes gave nothing away. He walked ahead and opened the car door for her, as if they were a loving couple. Lily climbed in without looking at him, strapped the seatbelt, and stared out the window.

He shut the door, circled around and slid behind the wheel.

For a long moment, the car was silent except for the hum of the engine. The city lights reflected off the windshield, flickering across their faces.

David finally spoke. “What do you want for dinner? Where should we go?”

Lily didn’t answer. Her gaze stayed fixed on the passing streets.

His hands tightened around the steering wheel, jaw flexing, but his voice stayed calm. “You like Japanese food, right? I remember that little place on East Street, you used to love their sushi. We’ll go there.”

Still nothing.

David glanced at her quickly before turning his eyes back to the road. Maybe her silence meant yes. Maybe it didn’t. But at least she wasn’t fighting him right now.

He allowed himself to relax slightly. For once, it felt almost normal driving with her beside him again. The familiar scent of her perfume filled the air. He hadn’t realized how much he missed that smell until this moment.

Lily, however, was boiling inside.

Every second in that car felt like being trapped inside a glass box with no air.

He was pretending everything was fine, asking about dinner like they were still husband and wife. How could he sit there so calm after everything he’d done?

She turned her face further toward the window, blinking hard. The sight of his reflection beside hers in the glass made her chest tighten.

A small flicker of warmth passed through his chest. Even after all her anger, she still thought of him. Maybe this was her quiet way of softening. Maybe she still cared.

He watched her carefully, hoping for a clue, a glance something.

David stood quietly behind her, just watching. He had plenty of expensive, limited-edition watches, but even if she chose a simple one, he would wear it happily.

He thought about the gifts she had given him before, and how he had never gotten anything for her. Maybe he could get her something later—but not now.

His voice softened slightly. “We’ll have dinner out tonight. And I’ll have someone move your luggage back from your new place,” he said, guessing that maybe she had been moving back home since she was buying him a gift.

For a moment, David let himself imagine it. Maybe tonight, things could change. She’d give him the watch, they’d have dinner, talk like before. Maybe she’d stop running from him.

He wanted that. Desperately.

He didn’t even realize his expression had softened until Lily asked the salesperson, “Can I write a greeting card?”

The staff member smiled. “Yes, of course.”

David’s eyes lit up a little. “A card too,” he thought. “So it is for me.”

But then

“Write: Happy birthday, Jabco.”

David froze.

For a second, he wasn’t even sure he’d heard correctly. His body stiffened, eyes narrowing. “What did you just say?”