My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 24

The next morning, the tension from the previous night hadn’t eased—if anything, it had taken on a sharper edge.

David sat behind his desk in the office, one hand resting on his temple while the other flipped through a stack of reports. He wasn’t really reading them; his eyes skimmed over the numbers, but his mind was elsewhere. The divorce rumors had spread faster than wildfire, and Marina’s public humiliation had only made things worse. News outlets were already stringing the two events together, speculating about his marriage falling apart and whispering about the scandal surrounding him and Marina.

And the stock prices were paying the price for it.

The latest report from the PR department was sitting right in front of him page after page of headlines, screenshots, and social media commentary. Every line seemed to mock him, and every photo of Marina walking out of the event with her head down felt like another nail in the coffin of his public image.

David leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment. This was spiraling out of control. He had to fix it and fast. He knew exactly where the problem had started.

Claire’s rejection of Marina had turned into a spectacle, and somehow, everyone was connecting it to his wife. Maybe they thought Lily had fed Claire information, maybe it was just convenient gossip, but either way… Marina's name had been dragged into it.

And now, the only way to salvage the situation was to have Lily publicly appear at his side showing the world that the divorce rumors were baseless, that they were still a married couple, no matter how complicated things actually were between them.

He didn’t want to admit it out loud, but Lily’s presence had weight. In public, her quiet poise could shut down questions better than any press release.

She didn’t even have to speak much just stand beside him, calm and untouchable, and the narrative would shift.

But after the way they had clashed last night in the parking lot… she probably wasn’t going to make this easy for him.

His intercom buzzed.

“Sir,” his secretary’s voice came through, hesitant. “Miss Marina is here. She says it’s important.”

David’s jaw tightened. “Send her in.”

The door opened moments later, and Marina stepped in, dressed far more modestly than she usually did, though the expensive tailoring and flawless makeup reminded him she was still very much playing her part.

Her eyes had a faint redness around them, but her smile was controlled.

“David,” she began, closing the door behind her, “I’ve been thinking. What happened yesterday it’s not the end. I don’t want to just hide from it.”

He leaned back in his chair, motioning for her to continue.

“I’ve wanted to start a real modeling career for a long time,” she said, her voice gaining a touch of determination.

“I thought this season’s jewelry line could be my spotlight. The media attention might be negative now, but we can turn it around. If I’m featured wearing those pieces, with the right coverage, people will forget the awkward scene at the event.”

David considered her for a moment. Marina had always been ambitious, but he had assumed she preferred the comfort of being seen as his companion rather than building something for herself. This was… a shift.

He pushed his chair back slightly. “I get it. But you have to understand—right now, the brand doesn’t want to be associated with either of us. They’re already distancing themselves.”

Marina’s expression softened, her lips curving into something faintly vulnerable. “That’s why I need your help. If you stand by me publicly, if you push the brand....”

Her hand reached across the desk, brushing against his. The move wasn’t subtle, and when she leaned forward just a fraction, her perfume seemed stronger.

David exhaled slowly and pulled his hand back, shaking his head. “Marina. This isn’t the time for that.”

She blinked at him, her voice dipping lower. “You’ve been cold to me lately. Is it… is it because of her?”

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