My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 273

Riyana stood outside Jabco’s office for a few seconds after the door closed.

Her mind felt empty.

“What’s wrong with him today…?” she murmured under her breath.

She had worked beside Jabco Grey for almost ten years. Ten long years of schedules, meetings, flights, files, emergencies. In all that time, he had never asked her about her personal life. Never cared where she went, who she met, how she spent her days off.

Today was the first time.

And the way he asked… it wasn’t casual. It wasn’t polite curiosity. It was sharp. Heavy. Serious.

Just remembering his eyes made a chill crawl up her spine.

She shook her head hard, as if she could shake the feeling away. Don’t overthink it, she told herself. He’s your boss. Nothing more.

Riyana walked toward the break room and made coffee, just like she always did. Same cup. Same strength. Same habit she had memorized years ago. Her hands moved on their own, but her thoughts were still stuck in his office.

When the coffee was ready, she carried it back and knocked.

“Come in,” Jabco’s voice came from inside.

She pushed the door open and stepped in.

“Your coffee, sir,” she said, placing the cup neatly on his desk.

He didn’t look up right away.

Riyana didn’t wait for a response. She turned and left the room quietly, closing the door behind her.

The rest of the day felt strange.

Jabco barely spoke. When he did, his tone was short. His eyes often looked distant, like his mind was somewhere else. Meetings ended quickly. Calls were cut short. Even the office felt heavier than usual.

By evening, most employees had already left.

Only two lights were still on.

His office. And her desk.

Riyana sat there, staring at her screen, even though she had already finished everything. The new vacancy post was done. Emails sent. Schedule cleared.

She could leave.

But she didn’t.

She was his secretary. She always stayed until he left. That had been her rule since the beginning.

Still… tonight was different.

She opened her drawer slowly.

Inside was a white envelope.

Her resignation letter.

She had written it early this morning. Before coming to work. Before seeing him.

She had been thinking about leaving for a long time. Months, maybe longer. She just never had the courage to turn those thoughts into action.

But now she was sure.

Very sure.

She picked up the envelope and held it in her hands, feeling its weight. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt like it carried ten years of her life inside it.

Her heart beat faster.

This is the right decision, she told herself.

She took a deep breath, stood up, and looked toward Jabco’s office door.

Tonight, she would finally say it.

She walked to his office and raised her hand.

Knock. Knock.

The sound echoed louder than it should have in the quiet corridor.

“Come in,” Jabco said, his voice steady.

And for some reason… the thought made his chest feel uncomfortably tight.

Jabco looked at the envelope again, then slowly pushed it aside. He lifted his eyes to her face, trying to read something there, some sign that this was a joke or a sudden mood that would pass.

“Is the salary not enough?” he asked after a moment. His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge under it. “Or did another company offer you more money?”

Riyana shook her head at once. “No, sir. That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?” he pressed. “You’ve been here for years. You know how important you are to this office. You don’t just wake up one day and decide to leave without a reason.”

She took a small breath, steadying herself. “I just want to start my life in a new way,” she said simply.

His fingers tightened on the desk. He didn’t like that answer. It was too vague, too easy.

“Riyana,” he said, leaning forward, “if money is the problem, tell me. I can increase your salary. I can match or beat whatever offer you got.”

She looked at him, almost gently, and shook her head again. “No, sir. Thank you. I don’t want that.”

There was no hesitation in her voice. No room for negotiation.

Jabco felt his jaw clench. He knew her too well. Once Riyana made up her mind, there was no changing it. She wasn’t the type to bend just because someone was powerful or rich.

She had always been like this. Bold. Straightforward. Never afraid to speak.

He remembered all the times she had argued with him in this very office. Times when she told him his decision was wrong.

Times when she corrected him in front of directors. She never crossed her limits, but she never feared him either. If he was wrong, she said it to his face without blinking.

And that was exactly why he trusted her.

That was why he liked having her beside him.

She had stood with him when the company was struggling.

She had stayed late nights, missed holidays, pushed him when he wanted to give up.

Many of his successes had her quiet efforts behind them.

He had never imagined a day when she would stand here and hand him a resignation letter.