My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 363

It was already afternoon when Riyana finally decided to go down to the hospital canteen.

She had barely eaten since morning. Her head felt heavy, her body weak, but more than that, her mind was exhausted.

Too many things had piled up in just one day. Everything felt tangled together, pulling at her nerves without giving her space to breathe.

Cristo walked a few steps ahead of her, as always. He was alert, scanning the hallway out of habit. Riyana followed behind him, her steps slow, her thoughts drifting.

She was just thinking about what to eat, wondering if she could even stomach anything, when suddenly her body jerked violently.

Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her arm and yanked her sideways.

Riyana gasped, panic shooting straight through her chest. Before she could scream, another hand clamped tightly over her mouth, cutting off her voice completely.

Her heart started pounding wildly.

Instinct kicked in.

She struggled immediately, her body twisting, her hands pushing against the person holding her. Fear flooded her veins. The corridor sounds faded, replaced by the loud rush of blood in her ears.

Then her eyes met his face.

She froze.

It was her father.

Her eyes widened in shock, anger replacing fear in an instant.

“What....” she tried to speak, but his hand stayed over her mouth.

He pushed her quickly into a small storage room near the hallway, pulling her inside and closing the door behind them. The space was narrow, filled with cleaning supplies and boxes. The air felt thick and suffocating.

As soon as his hand loosened, Riyana shoved him away hard and stepped back, her chest heaving.

“What is this?” she snapped, her voice shaking with rage. “Have you completely lost your mind? How dare you do this?”

Her eyes scanned him rapidly. Only then did she notice the bandage wrapped around his forehead. One of his hands was also wrapped clumsily, stained faintly with old blood.

“And what are you even doing here?” she continued, her voice rising. “Do you have any idea where you are?”

“Riyana, listen to me,” he said quickly, stepping toward her.

“There is nothing to listen to,” she cut him off sharply. “What do you want now?”

“Lower your voice,” he hissed, his eyes turning cold as he moved closer.

Riyana instinctively stepped back until her back hit a shelf. Her jaw tightened. Anger burned so hot it made her hands tremble.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, as if gathering courage.

“You have to help me again,” he finally said.

For a second, Riyana thought she had heard him wrong.

“…What?” she whispered, disbelief heavy in her voice.

“You heard me,” he said through clenched teeth. “I need five million. Again.”

The words hit her like a slap.

“I promise you,” he added quickly, desperation seeping into his voice, “this will be the last time. If you give me the money, I’ll disappear. I won’t ever come looking for you again.”

Riyana stood frozen.

Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Money?

Again?

Her chest felt tight, like something was crushing her from the inside.

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