My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 47

The next morning, Lily sat at her desk in the office, flipping through documents with a distracted expression. Her mind wasn’t on the numbers in front of her, nor on the endless notes her assistant had left on her schedule.

A soft knock came on her office door.

“Miss. Collins,” her assistant said, peeking in. “The meeting with Mr. Grey has been arranged. He’s waiting for you at the Lakeside Restaurant.”

Lily straightened her blazer, nodded lightly, and grabbed the neatly prepared file. She needed composure today, more than ever. Jacob wasn’t someone who could be brushed off casually—his investment had been crucial, and the next collaboration phase would determine the company’s momentum.

By the time she arrived at the restaurant, Jacob was already seated by the window, his tall frame relaxed but commanding. The late morning light poured over him, giving him an almost effortless charm that caught the attention of more than a few women passing by.

“ Lily,” he greeted with a smile as he stood. “I hope you don’t mind, I ordered us some tea already. I wasn’t sure of your preference, so I asked for the house special.”

Lily smiled politely. “That’s fine. Thank you, Mr. Grey.”

They exchanged formalities before diving into the thick folder of proposals.

The restaurant’s warm lighting reflected against the polished wooden walls, filling the air with a comfortable hum of quiet conversations and clinking cutlery. Lily sat across from Jacob at a corner table, the kind chosen deliberately to avoid curious stares. Today wasn’t personal—it was business. She was representing the company, and Jacob, with his calm composure and sharp eyes, was every bit the professional partner he had always been.

They spent nearly two hours going through documents and contracts. Jacob’s tone was steady, his mind sharp, but there was something in the way he studied her that unsettled Lily, a flicker of curiosity that seemed to stretch beyond the pages in front of them.

When the last paper was tucked away and their conversation shifted to lighter notes, Jacob leaned back slightly, fingers tapping against the rim of his glass.

“You’re… thorough,” he said softly, his gaze steady.

Lily smiled faintly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s what’s expected of me.”

But Jacob didn’t let it go. He tilted his head, as if turning over a puzzle piece that had suddenly fit into place. “Or maybe, it’s because you’ve always been this way. Careful. Calculated. Aurora-like.”

Her heart skipped at the name, but she didn’t flinch. She simply folded her hands on the table, meeting his eyes without fear.

“So, you figured it out,” Lily said, her tone light, as though it were something trivial, something she had never tried too hard to bury.

Jacob’s lips curved into the faintest smile, but he didn’t press. “I did. And don’t worry—I won’t tell anyone. If you didn’t announce it yourself, you must have your reasons.”

There was something respectful in his voice, something that made Lily exhale softly, as though relieved he understood without needing explanations.

“I’m not hiding it,” she admitted quietly. “I just don’t think it’s time to… put it in everyone’s face.”

Jacob nodded. “That’s fair. Sometimes, not hiding is braver than declaring.”

The words were unexpected, yet they sat in her chest warmly. It wasn’t judgment; it was acknowledgment.

As they rose from their seats and made their way out of the restaurant, Lily’s mind was calm. She had expected panic if anyone connected her with Aurora, but instead she felt… steady. She wasn’t ashamed.

The late afternoon crowd bustled outside, and as Lily stepped through the door, someone brushed too close. She instinctively stumbled, nearly losing her balance, but Jacob’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her firmly against him before she could fall.

“Careful,” he murmured, his voice low, protective.

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