My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 40

David walked over with measured steps, his face as unreadable as ever. Without warning, his hand landed firmly on Lily’s shoulder, his grip steady but not harsh.

“There is no divorce, Mum. Right, babe?”

His words came out smooth, almost affectionate, yet Lily froze under his touch. She turned her head to him sharply, her eyes wide in disbelief. What the hell was wrong with this man?

Just a second ago, he had barely looked at her, had spoken to her with that usual sharp edge in his tone. And now, in front of Olivia, he was playing the role of the perfect, loving husband? Lily wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. If she hadn’t known him better, she might have believed him herself.

David, however, kept his expression calm, his lips curved into the faintest mockery of a smile as if this was all natural. Pretending—he was simply pretending. She knew it too well.

Olivia’s sharp eyes flicked between them, studying every twitch of their faces. When she saw David’s hand firmly settled on Lily’s shoulder, her suspicion seemed to ease, though not entirely.

“Good,” she said coldly, her voice carrying that weight of authority that could silence a room. “Because if you dare try—if either of you dare try—don’t think Marina will have a place to stand in this city. I have ways to ruin her life before she even dreams of becoming your wife.”

Her words cut through the air like blades, leaving a heavy silence behind.

David’s jaw tightened, his lips pressing into a thin line. For once, the usually sharp-tongued man had nothing to say. He had the power to destroy companies, to control boardrooms with a flick of his wrist, but against his mother, he stood cornered.

And Lily—oh, Lily almost laughed. Watching the cold, ruthless David Sinclair shrink under Olivia’s scolding—it was strangely satisfying. For once, he wasn’t the one holding the upper hand. For once, she wasn’t the one being belittled.

Her lips curved slightly, but she quickly raised her hand, pretending to adjust her hair to hide the smile.

But Olivia noticed. Nothing escaped that woman’s eyes.

Reaching forward, Olivia patted Lily’s hand with warmth, a contrast to the icy warning she had given David just seconds earlier. Then she turned her gaze back to her son.

“Remember this, David. Lily is the only daughter-in-law I will ever approve of. Don’t make me regret raising you.”

David muttered something under his breath—something inaudible, but his mother didn’t care to catch it.

“Do you understand me?” Olivia demanded, her voice sharper this time, the steel behind it impossible to ignore.

David finally gave a stiff nod. “…Yes.”

“Good.” Olivia’s face relaxed as though she had just won a battle. She turned back to Lily again, her expression softening like velvet after steel. “Don’t worry, dear. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

For a moment, Lily felt the irony sting her heart. Protection? That was never what she had wanted. Protection always came with invisible chains. What she wanted was freedom. A life without being pulled back and forth like a pawn in David's game.

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