My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 41

The moment Lily opened her eyes the next morning, the room felt heavier than usual. Her head ached, her throat was dry, and her body burned with fever. She shifted slightly in bed, only to realize there was a damp towel resting on her forehead.

For a moment, she was confused. She didn’t remember putting it there herself.

Her gaze drifted slowly across the room, and that’s when she noticed David. He was sitting on the edge of the armchair nearby, his head tilted forward, eyes closed, clearly exhausted.

She blinked, stunned.

Was he… watching over her?

It didn’t make sense. In all the years they had been married, she could count the times he had cared for her on one hand—no, not even one. Because the truth was, whenever she got sick before, David had never so much as glanced her way. She had been left to manage herself, relying on the maid or her own strength.

But now…

Her lips pressed together as she carefully lifted the towel from her forehead and set it aside. Maybe it was just temporary. Maybe he was only doing this because Olivia had been so stern yesterday.

But before she could think too much, David stirred. His eyes opened, and they locked onto hers immediately.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice low but carrying that usual authority.

Lily felt her heart skip. “...Yes.”

He stood, walking toward her bed without hesitation, reaching out to touch her forehead with the back of his hand. She froze at the warmth of his skin brushing against hers.

“You’re still hot,” he muttered, almost to himself. Then he turned and walked out.

Lily sat there, staring at the door long after he left.

A few minutes later, he returned, carrying a steaming bowl. The smell drifted to her immediately—it was chicken soup.

“Eat first, then take medicine,” he ordered, placing the bowl gently on the bedside table.

Lily pushed herself up, leaning against the headboard. “You… cooked this?”

David raised an eyebrow, as if the question offended him. “Who else?”

Her lips parted, but no words came. David Sinclair—cold, ruthless, the man who had never shown her even a flicker of care—was standing in front of her with soup he cooked himself.

He lifted the bowl, picked up the spoon, and held it toward her. “Open your mouth.”

Lily blinked. “I can feed myself.”

“No.” His tone was final, brooking no argument. “Open.”

She hesitated, but eventually parted her lips. The warm broth slid onto her tongue, and she swallowed quietly.

David watched her closely, his expression serious, almost… careful.

The entire time, Lily couldn’t take her eyes off his face. She had known him for nine years, married him for two, yet this was the first time she had seen him like this. His sharp features usually looked severe, but tonight, there was a strange softness, a kind of ease that she couldn’t reconcile with the man she thought she knew.

She hated herself for it, but she felt greedy. Just for a moment, she wanted to believe this side of him was real.

He fed her spoon by spoon until the bowl was empty. Then he handed her the medicine and a glass of water.

Lily obediently swallowed the pills, her eyes still unconsciously following his movements. When she handed the glass back, their fingers brushed, and her heart skipped again.

She quickly looked away, but when she turned back, David’s gaze was fixed on her.

Their eyes locked.

She froze. Her instinct was to look away, but it was already too late. His eyes were searching hers, deep, unreadable, and she knew he could see the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

Her breath hitched.

The next two days passed in the same strange rhythm.

David never left her side. He cooked, he fed her, he changed the towels on her forehead, and even made sure she drank enough water.

Lily couldn’t deny she was touched. She also couldn’t deny that a part of her heart softened with every small thing he did.

But she reminded herself over and over—it was temporary. Maybe he felt guilty, maybe Olivia had pressured him, maybe this was just some strange mood he was in.

Whatever the reason, it wouldn’t last.

By the second evening, she was feeling much better. Her fever had dropped, her headache had eased, and she even had enough energy to sit up and open her laptop.

She was sitting cross-legged on the bed, scrolling through documents, when David walked in again. This time, he carried another bowl of soup.

“What are you doing?” he asked, setting the bowl down on the bedside table.

“Nothing,” Lily said quickly, snapping her laptop shut. “Just looking at some random things.”

She reached out to set the laptop aside, but David surprised her. He took it directly from her hands and placed it on the table himself.

“Eat first. Then medicine,” he said firmly, lifting the bowl again.

“Give it to me, I can do it,” Lily said, reaching for the bowl.

But he pulled it back. “No. Let me feed you.”

She sighed. He had been feeding her like this since she fell sick, so she didn’t argue further. She just opened her mouth obediently.

He gave her spoonful after spoonful, his gaze calm, his posture relaxed.

Lily found herself staring at him again, her eyes lingering on the way his lips curved slightly when he concentrated, the way his lashes cast shadows under his eyes, the way he looked almost… human.

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