My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 86

Lily nodded quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. “Yes… I already promised someone else that I’ll have dinner with them. So, I can’t break my word. I’m sorry.”

She lied. She hadn’t promised anyone anything. The truth was she didn’t want to go with Jabco. She didn’t want to start anything that would go beyond work. She already had enough pain with David, she couldn’t afford to create another misunderstanding or tie herself to someone else’s feelings. Not right now at least.

Jabco’s eyes studied her face carefully. His lips curved slightly, not in a mocking way but like he understood something. “Then invite them too,” he said calmly. “We can all have dinner together. It’s no problem for me.”

Lily blinked at him, her face tensing. “No… no, I don’t want to bother you. It’s your kindness already that you offered me dinner. I can’t drag someone else into it.” She shook her head, forcing a small smile, though inside she felt restless.

Jabco leaned slightly on the car, his hands in his pockets now, his eyes not leaving hers. “Ms. Collins, you don’t want to go with me, right? That’s the real reason.” His tone was gentle, but his words cut straight.

Lily froze for a second, her breath catching. She forced her lips into a tighter smile, shaking her head quickly. “No, it’s not like that… really, I just don’t want to inconvenience you. You must be tired too, after visiting your friend.”

Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her.

Jabco watched her silently, his eyes calm but deep, as if he could read all the things she wasn’t saying. For a moment, she avoided his gaze, her cheeks heating with guilt.

Finally, he gave a small nod, his face softening. “Alright. I understand.”

The relief hit her chest, but also guilt. She didn’t like lying, but she had to. She didn’t want him to think she was leading him anywhere. She wanted to keep things clean, just work, just politeness. Nothing more.

“But,” Jabco said, breaking her thought, “at least let me drop you to your location. It’s already evening, and it’s not safe for you to go alone.” His voice was firm, leaving no space for refusal.

Lily’s eyes widened a little. “No, no, it’s fine. I can take a cab....”

“I insist,” Jabco cut her gently but firmly. “Please. At least this much, allow me.”

Her heart skipped. She had lied about dinner. Now if he insisted on dropping her, where could she go? She couldn’t tell him the truth that she just wanted to go back to her room and rest. She felt a little stuck, blinking rapidly, her lips parting to say no again.

But Jabco’s eyes were steady, his politeness hiding a quiet determination. She realized he wasn’t going to let her walk away alone. With a soft sigh, Lily finally nodded. “Okay… then just drop me.”

Jabco’s lips curved in a small, satisfied smile. He opened the car door again. “Please.”

Lily slipped into the passenger seat, her fingers twisting around her bag strap nervously. Jabco got behind the wheel, started the engine, and the car rolled out of the hospital driveway.

His voice was calm but carried a weight that made Lily’s chest tighten.

She forced a small smile, her eyes lowering. “Good night.”

She stepped out of the car, clutching her bag tightly, and walked toward the building entrance without looking back. Her steps were quick, like she wanted to escape.

Jabco sat in the car, watching her figure disappear into the building. His eyes lingered a moment longer, thoughtful, unreadable. Then he finally started the engine and drove away, the red tail lights fading into the night.

Lily entered the lobby of the apartment building and leaned against the wall for a moment, letting out a long, shaky breath. Relief, guilt, and confusion tangled inside her. She hated lying, but what else could she do? She didn’t want him to step into her life more than this.

Her heart still pounded with the day’s weight. She pressed her palm to her chest, whispering to herself, “Just breathe, Lily. Just breathe.”

And slowly, she walked toward the elevator, her figure small under the dim light.

The elevator doors slid shut with a soft hum, the metallic box climbing upward in silence. Lily clutched her bag tightly, her heart still unsettled from lying to Jabco a few minutes ago. She wanted peace, nothing more, just a quiet evening in her room. But when she sensed a presence behind her, her body stiffened. Slowly, she turned her head.