My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 58

Lily arrived at the restaurant Claire had chosen. It wasn’t one of those fancy places where people went to show off, but still it was elegant, quiet, and perfect for conversation. The lighting was warm and the soft music in the background made the whole place feel relaxing

Claire was already sitting at a table near the window. She waved when she saw Lily and smiled brightly. Lily felt her mood ease a little because Claire’s presence always had that effect on her.

“Lily, here!” Claire said as Lily walked closer.

“Sorry, I hope I’m not late,” Lily said while taking her seat.

“No, not at all. I just got here a little earlier,” Claire replied as she signaled the waiter.

They ordered their food, Claire choosing wine while Lily decided to stick with water since she wasn’t in the mood for alcohol.

“So, how’s everything going?” Claire asked casually, her eyes studying Lily.

Lily forced a smile. “It’s okay. Work has been busy. You know how it is.”

Claire leaned her chin on her palm. “Busy is fine. But I feel like you’re tired. You don’t look like yourself these days.”

Lily lowered her eyes. She didn’t want to dump her problems onto Claire, but at the same time, hiding it was hard. “I guess I’m just not sleeping well.”

The waiter brought the wine and poured it into Claire’s glass. After he left, Claire changed the topic to something lighter.

“I’ve been thinking about the new jewelry line. I want something fresh, not the usual designs people expect from us. I want pieces that tell a story. Something bold, but also wearable every day. What do you think?”

Lily felt a little spark of energy at that. Work was the one thing she could focus on without getting lost in her personal problems. “I was sketching some ideas,” she said as she pulled out her small notebook. She flipped through the pages and showed Claire a few designs she had drawn.

Claire’s eyes lit up immediately. “These are beautiful. See this one?” She pointed at a necklace sketch. “This reminds me of a sunrise. Simple, but powerful. And this bracelet… it feels like waves. I love the flow in it.”

Lily smiled faintly. “I was inspired by everyday things. Sunlight, water, little details people miss when they’re too busy.”

“That’s exactly what we need,” Claire said with excitement. “I don’t want us to just make jewelry that looks pretty. I want it to connect with people. To feel like part of their life, not just decoration.”

For the next half an hour, they talked about designs, colors, materials, and how to make the new collection stand out. Claire listened carefully to every idea Lily had, and Lily felt encouraged. It wasn’t like talking to a strict boss; it was like sharing ideas with someone who truly respected her.

The food arrived, and while they ate, Claire asked suddenly, “By the way, how’s your apartment search going? Last time you mentioned you were looking.”

Lily froze for a second. She set down her fork slowly and sighed. “It’s… not going well. Actually, it’s a mess.”

Claire raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean? Didn’t you say you already signed a place near our company?”

“I did. But they canceled on me. Just like that. I thought maybe it was bad luck, but then I tried again with other agents, and everywhere I went, they refused. They said my name is on some kind of blacklist.” Lily’s voice grew smaller at the end.

Claire shook her head. “Not at all. You’ve been with me long enough to know I don’t mix those things. At work, you’re my employee. Outside, you’re my friend. I care about you, Lily. I don’t want you to go through this alone.”

The sincerity in Claire’s voice made Lily’s eyes sting. She quickly lowered her gaze so Claire wouldn’t see the tears forming.

“I don’t know what to say,” Lily whispered.

“Say yes,” Claire replied simply. “Move in. You’ll feel better once you have your own space, and it’ll give you time to breathe and figure things out. No pressure of contracts, no agents rejecting you.”

Lily let out a long breath. “It really won’t trouble you?”

“Not at all. In fact, it will make me happy knowing you’re safe,” Claire said warmly.

The conversation shifted back to lighter topics after that, but Lily’s heart was heavy and warm at the same time. Heavy because she hated that David was still controlling parts of her life, warm because Claire’s kindness was something she hadn’t expected.

After dinner, Claire insisted on driving Lily back to her hotel. On the way, she said, “Think about what I said. You don’t have to decide tonight. But I really want you to move in. Don’t refuse just because of pride.”

Lily smiled faintly, looking out the window at the passing streetlights. “I’ll think about it.”

Inside, though, she already knew she didn’t have many choices left.