My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 354

“Mum, go home and rest,” Riyana said quietly. Her voice was gentle, almost careful, as if speaking too loud would break something fragile between them. “I’ll stay here with him.”

She had been holding herself together for hours now. The smell of disinfectant, the cold hospital lights, the endless waiting. Her body was tired, but her mind refused to rest. Still, when she looked at her mother’s pale face and trembling hands, she knew someone had to be strong.

Her mother immediately shook her head.

“No.” The answer came fast, firm, almost stubborn. “You go home and rest. I’ll sit with him. I don’t want to leave him here alone.”

Her voice cracked near the end. She held the edge of the chair tightly, as if letting go would mean losing him.

“Mum…” Riyana tried again. She wanted to insist. She wanted to tell her mother that she needed rest, that sitting here all night would only make things worse. But when she looked into her mother’s eyes, she stopped.

Those eyes were full of fear. Fear of loss. Fear of coming home to an empty house.

Riyana felt helpless.

She swallowed the words she wanted to say. For once, she didn’t argue. She simply sat back down beside her mother, letting the silence stretch between them. She stayed, hour after hour, listening to the slow ticking of the clock, watching nurses walk past, praying quietly in her heart.

By evening, she finally left.

She went to her mother’s house, her body heavy, her mind still stuck in that hospital corridor. After taking a quick shower and changing her clothes, she slowly came downstairs. She was still wiping her damp hair with a towel when she saw them.

A man was sitting on the sofa.

For a second, she thought her tired eyes were playing tricks on her.

Then reality hit.

Jabco.

Cristo was standing beside him, stiff and alert.

Riyana froze on the stairs. Her grip on the towel tightened. All the exhaustion, fear, and bottled-up emotions from the whole day rushed straight to the surface.

“What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped, her voice sharp and angry as she walked down.

The calm she had forced herself to keep at the hospital shattered completely.

Jabco immediately stood up when he saw her. His movements were slow, hesitant, as if he already knew he was wrong to be there.

“I was just… worried,” he said quietly. He took a step toward her.

Her anger flared.

“Worried about what?” she shot back. “I clearly told you not to come. Clearly.” Her chest rose and fell quickly. “And now you’re here, in my mum’s house?”

Before she could finish, Jabco suddenly reached out and pulled her into a tight hug.

Riyana went still.

For a moment, she couldn’t even react. Her mind went blank. His arms were strong, familiar, warm. For just a second, the world felt quiet.

Then reality came crashing back.

She pushed him away hard.

“Have you sworn to never listen to me?” she shouted, her voice shaking with anger. “Do my words mean nothing to you?”

She had told him not to come. She had begged him. There was already too much tension. Too much fear. She didn’t want her mother worrying about her on top of everything else.

She didn’t want to explain him.

She didn’t want to explain her marriage.

She didn’t want anyone to know, especially now, when all she wanted was to end it.

"You..."she started again. It was full of frustration, trapped in her throat.

Jabco tried to reach for her hand. “That’s not what I....”

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