My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 39

Lily returned home alone. The silence of the house greeted her the moment she stepped inside, the kind of heavy silence that seemed to stretch through the wide living room and echo faintly up the staircase. David hadn’t come back yet. Of course, she hadn’t expected him to.

She had only moved back into his house yesterday, and since then, she hadn’t even caught a proper glimpse of him here. The only time she saw him was at the party earlier. she knew exactly where he was—probably with Marina. The thought made something twist uncomfortably in her chest, but she shook it off, pretending not to care.

Setting her bag on the couch, Lily headed upstairs. She took a hot shower, letting the steam curl around her like a shield, washing away the smell of perfume and champagne from the evening. Standing in front of the mirror afterward, she wiped away the fog and looked at herself. Her eyes looked tired, her lips still holding the faintest trace of red lipstick. She forced herself to look away.

By the time she got into bed, her phone buzzed. She reached for it half-heartedly, but when she saw the name flashing on the screen, she hesitated—Jacob.

She opened the message.

“You looked gorgeous tonight. I can’t stop thinking about your kiss.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Playing along with Jacob was the easiest way to deflect. Still, Jacob seemed to have taken it as something more.

Another text followed right after.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t feel anything either ;)”

Lily sighed and tossed the phone aside. She had no energy to deal with his flirty lines. Her eyes had just closed when the phone buzzed again—this time not another flirt, but a notification about the contract.

“Contract ready. Please sign and confirm by tomorrow.”

Business. That was the only thing she wanted to deal with when it came to Jacob. Not his smile, not his suggestive remarks, not his bright eyes lingering on her face. Just the work.

As she leaned back against the pillows, she thought she heard something downstairs. A faint sound, the click of the door. Her eyes narrowed.

She wasn’t expecting David. He usually never came home this early when he was with Marina. But when she listened more carefully, the voice she heard wasn’t David’s.

It was softer. Familiar.

She quickly got up and went downstairs.

There, standing in the entryway with her elegant coat still on, was Olivia—David’s mother.

“Mom?” Lily blinked in surprise, adjusting her night robe.

Olivia turned and smiled, her expression full of warmth. “Lily. I hope I didn’t disturb you, dear.”

Lily shook her head quickly, stepping forward. “Of course not. Please, come in. It’s been so long since you visited.”

Olivia removed her coat, handing it to the maid who had rushed over. She reached out to hold Lily’s hand, her grip gentle but firm. “I’ve been hearing all sorts of nonsense lately, and I wanted to see you myself. These rumors… they say you and David are heading for a divorce. That can’t be true, can it?”

“Mom...”

“No,” Olivia cut him off sharply. “You listen to me. If you dare divorce Lily, I will personally make sure Marina regrets ever stepping into this family’s path. Don’t test me, David. You know very well I can ruin her if I want to.”

The room went heavy with silence.

David’s lips pressed together, his usual retorts stuck in his throat. His mother’s authority was one of the few things he couldn’t challenge openly. He stood there, tense, his eyes flickering briefly toward Lily, who was quietly watching.

Lily felt a small curl of amusement in her chest. Rarely—so rarely—did she ever see someone capable of shutting David up. Watching him stand there, shoulders stiff, mouth sealed, while his mother scolded him was almost… entertaining.

She hid her smirk, lowering her gaze to the floor, but inside she couldn’t help enjoying the moment.

For once, she wasn’t the one on the receiving end of his sharp tongue. For once, someone else was putting him in his place.

“Unbelievable,” Olivia snapped again. “You have a wife right here. A wife who has done nothing but stand by you despite your recklessness, and you humiliate her by flaunting another woman?”

Olivia turned, her hand resting on Lily’s shoulder. “Lily, tell me. Are the rumors true? Are you and David really thinking of divorce?”

Before Lily could even reply, David cut in, his voice firm. “There will be no divorce.”