My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 173

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, though anger still pulsed through his veins like fire. “Why?” he asked finally, voice low, sharp.

“Why do you want a divorce so badly now? You were fine for five years, Lily. So why suddenly now? Is it because of Marina?”

Her expression twisted in disbelief. “I was fine?” she repeated, scoffing bitterly. “Because of Marina?” She laughed dryly, shaking her head.

“No, David. It’s because this marriage was wrong from the beginning. We were never meant to be. You love someone else, and I...” she stopped, her throat tightening, “I want to be with someone who loves me. I don’t want to live my life with a man who can’t even look at me without resentment.”

David’s eyes flickered. He took a step closer. “You want someone who loves you?” he said slowly, his voice tightening. “Are you planning to get married after the divorce?”

“Of course,” Lily answered immediately, her tone firm.

“You dare?” he said, moving closer again, his presence overwhelming.

“Why not?” she shot back. “Why? Are you expecting me to stay alone my whole life just because I once chose the wrong person?” Her tone was biting, filled with mockery. She knew exactly how to provoke him and she didn’t care.

David looked at her and laughed not out of humor, but anger. His laugh was bitter and sharp. “Why? Am I not enough for you? Not satisfying you?” he sneered.

Lily met his gaze with quiet strength. “It’s not that I’m dissatisfied,” she said. “It’s because of you. You failed to maintain even a basic marriage. You destroyed it. I will remarry someday, so don’t make me wait and let my future husband misunderstand.”

“Marry?” David scoffed, disbelief and fury in his voice. “Marry who? Jabco? Or Carson?”

Lily stared at him, stunned, but replied calmly, “No.”

But David’s eyes were already filled with mockery. “Don’t tell me they’re not interested in you,” he said cruelly. “Even if they were, they wouldn’t choose you. In this country, nobody would dare to lay a hand on any woman I, David Hardison, have rejected.”

The words hit her like a slap. Her chest burned with fury. She turned around, glaring at him, her eyes bright with anger. “Are you sure about that?” she said with a bitter laugh. “If I step out and look at men, a thousand would line up behind me.”

“Lily…” David’s voice thundered, his eyes wild with rage. He gritted his teeth as he said her name, every muscle in his body tense.

“Why do you keep pushing me like this, Lily?” he muttered, voice low, not even sure if she was meant to hear it.

She blinked, then gave a small, bitter smile. “Because that’s all you ever gave me reasons to push you away.”

Her words cut deeper than she realized.

David’s chest tightened. He opened his mouth to reply but no words came out. For once, he didn’t know what to say.

The silence stretched between them cold, painful, and heavy with everything they’d never said out loud.

Lily turned away first. She picked up her clothes from the bed with her left hand, her movements slow and tired. “You should leave,” she said softly, her voice hoarse now. “You’ve done enough damage for one night.”

David didn’t move. He stood there, his fists clenched, breathing unevenly. For the first time, he didn’t know whether he was angry at her… or at himself.