My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 62

“Say something!” Olivia snapped at her son. “Apologize to Lily! Swear you’ll treat her better!”

David’s jaw tightened. His eyes lifted slowly to Lily’s face, searching, conflicted. But Lily only lowered her gaze, refusing to meet his eyes.

Olivia grabbed his arm. “If you don’t repent, David, I’ll cut you off. Do you hear me? Don’t think you can fool me with Marina’s tricks. She’s after your money. You’re blind if you can’t see it.”

David finally spoke, his voice low, almost strained. “Mother… please calm down. Your health...”

“My health wouldn’t be so weak if you didn’t bring me shame! You’re dragging your father’s name through mud!” Olivia shot back.

The room fell silent, tension wrapping around them like a thick fog. Lily could feel David’s anger simmering beneath his skin, but he held it in front of his mother. For the first time, Olivia’s sharp words made him look… small.

Lily sighed quietly. She stood up, smoothing her clothes. “Mum, don’t get upset. It’s not good for you.”

Olivia looked up at her with pleading eyes. “Promise me, Lily. Promise you won’t abandon this family completely.”

don't start now"

Lily’s lips trembled. She didn’t answer, only squeezed Olivia’s hand gently before turning away. Her silence was her answer, though Olivia refused to see it.

Behind her, she could feel David’s eyes burning into her back.

Lily stood up slowly. “Mum, please rest. I’ll come visit you again tomorrow.”

Olivia looked at her with pleading eyes. “Think about what I said, Lily.”

Lily forced a small nod, though inside her chest was a storm.

David followed her out of the room. The moment the door closed behind them, his calm mask slipped. His voice dropped to a hard edge.

“You heard her. Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”

Lily turned to face him, her voice cold but steady. “Don’t twist her words to fit your needs, David. She asked me, not you. And I’ll decide for myself. Stop using her as a shield for your mistakes.”

For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes, anger, maybe even fear but then he stepped closer, lowering his voice.

“Do you really want people talking? Do you want the media tearing into mum while she’s lying sick in that bed? Think carefully, Lily.”

She looked straight at him, her hands trembling but her chin held high. “I already am.”

Then she walked away, leaving him standing in the hospital corridor, fists clenched at his sides.

“What? Why?”

The brand she had built with so much love and care. The jewelry she designed late into the night, pouring her heart into every detail, every stone, every curve. The dream she finally had the courage to chase, to make her own. And now… David was taking it all away.

Lily swallowed hard, her throat tight. She waved her assistant out of the office with a small gesture. “Thank you. That’ll be all for now.”

The assistant hesitated. “Are you… okay, Ms. Lily?”.

Lily forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll be fine.”

The girl nodded and left, shutting the door gently behind her.

The moment Lily was alone, she slumped forward, pressing her elbows against the desk and burying her face in her hands. She stayed like that for a while, listening to the faint hum of the office outside her door.

People were working, typing, talking softly. The world kept moving, but Lily felt frozen.

She’d fought so hard to get here. She’d finally stepped out of the shadow of her broken marriage, finally started doing something that was truly hers. She’d poured everything she had into this. She’d made promises to Claire that she could handle it, that she was capable. Claire had trusted her, had given her opportunities most people could only dream of. And now, because of her connection to David, Claire’s business was being affected too.

A sharp sting pricked her eyes, but Lily blinked the tears away. No. She wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t fall apart, not now. She had to think. She had to fix this.

She sat there for hours, long after most people left the office. The sky outside her window turned from bright blue to shades of orange and pink, then to deep purple as the night settled in. The city lights sparkled below, but Lily barely noticed. Her mind was consumed with strategies, with what she could possibly do to save the brand, to stop David from destroying everything she’d built.