My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 313

More silence.

“Who was she?” Riyana asked.

“That’s none of your.....”

Riyana cut in. “You don’t get to say that.”

His jaw tightened. "Riyana...."

“This marriage is still a marriage,” she said, her voice steady but cold. “You don’t get to touch other women like that.”

“I know and you ...,” he shot back.

“Yes,” she said. “But I didn’t expect you to disrespect me this way.”

He stared at her.

Something unreadable crossed his face.

“You’re overreacting,” he said.

Riyana smiled slowly.

“No,” she replied. “I’m reacting exactly the right amount.”

She walked past him toward the bedroom door.

“Remember this,” she added without turning back. “You forced me into this marriage. But don’t think for a second that means I’ll accept everything.”

She slammed the bedroom door behind her so hard the sound echoed through the apartment.

Riyana walked straight to the bed and dropped onto it without even taking off her shoes. Her chest felt tight, like something heavy was sitting on it. She closed her eyes, but sleep didn’t come. Instead, anger burned behind her eyelids.

She had never felt like this before.

This kind of anger didn’t explode all at once. It spread slowly, quietly, filling every corner of her chest until breathing itself hurt. And underneath that anger, something else crept in. Fear. A cold, unfamiliar fear that made her stomach twist.

What if this marriage really turned into a cage?

She heard the bedroom door open.

Her body stiffened instantly.

Jabco didn’t say anything. She could feel him moving around the room, calm, unbothered. He went to the bathroom. The sound of water followed. He was acting like nothing had happened, like their fight in the living room didn’t exist.

That hurt more than his words.

So this is it? she thought bitterly. He hurts me, then washes his hands and moves on?

The bathroom door opened again. She didn’t look at him. She kept her eyes closed, pretending she was already asleep, though her heart was pounding too loudly to ignore.

The bed dipped slightly. He lay down.

That was it.

Something snapped inside her.

Riyana sat up suddenly and grabbed the pillows and blanket between them, throwing everything onto the floor.

“You should sleep on the sofa,” she said sharply. “Or the floor. Anywhere but here.”

Jabco froze.

He turned his head slowly to look at her.

For a moment, he didn’t say anything. Then he laughed. Not a warm laugh. Not even an amused one. It was short, cold, and full of mockery.

“Why should I sleep on the sofa?” he asked. “I’m your husband. Or did you forget that just because you’re busy working with that Lennox?”

Riyana stared at him, stunned.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” she shot back. “Don’t try to drag my name through the mud just to cover your own affair.”

Her voice shook, but she didn’t stop.

“I saw you,” she continued. “With another woman. Don’t twist this around on me.”

His eyes darkened.

“And do you think I didn’t see you?” he snapped back. “Every day. Him walking you downstairs. The way he looks at you. The way you smile at him. Even a blind man could see it.”

Riyana let out a bitter laugh.

“So now you’re accusing me?” she asked. “I spend hours teaching my student, and that’s a crime? But you holding another woman in your arms is fine?”

“You didn’t even give me a chance to explain,” he said harshly. “You saw one scene and decided everything.”

“Explain what?” she demanded. “That you’re still sleeping around even after marriage?”

“That woman means nothing,” he said. “Nothing"

“But you touched her,” Riyana said quietly. “That was enough.”

“Don’t tell me he’s not interested,” Jabco continued coldly. “Even if he were, he wouldn’t choose you. In this country, no one would dare touch a woman I, Jabco Grey, have rejected.”

The words cut deep.

“You want to try?” Riyana challenged, her voice trembling with rage.

“Riyana!” he roared, his eyes blazing with an anger that felt dangerous.

For a moment, they were both breathing hard, locked in a standoff neither wanted to lose.

Then her voice dropped.

Low, Tired and Raw.

“Look at us,” she said. “Do we look like a normal couple to you? Bound or not, this marriage will end sooner or later.”

Her eyes burned as tears gathered, but she refused to let them fall.

Jabco stared at her.

Her eyes were red, shining, defiant. Like someone ready to fight to the end.

Something shifted.

His Adam’s apple moved as he swallowed. The anger didn’t disappear, but it dulled, turning into something heavy and suffocating.

He closed his eyes abruptly.

Then he released her.

Instead of getting up, he lay back down and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly against his chest.

“Enough,” he muttered. “Let’s sleep. Not fight tonight.”

Riyana stiffened.

Her body trembled with leftover anger, but she could feel it now. His body was trembling too. His hand on her back wasn’t steady. His breathing was uneven.

She didn’t hug him back.

But she didn’t push him away either.

They lay there, locked together, two people tied by anger, fear, and something neither of them was ready to name.

Neither slept. But neither moved.