My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 9

“You think you can just walk away from me that easily? After everything?”

“Everything?” she echoed, astonished. “What exactly is everything, David? You used me, threw a contract in my face like I was disposable, then paraded Marina around like she’s your queen. What do you even want from me?!”

“You’re defiant. Stubborn. Always challenging me. But damn it, Lily...” he said, his voice low and husky now.

She held her breath, the air between them crackled with tension, thick enough to choke.

“David…” she whispered, unsure whether it was a warning or a plea.

His eyes dropped to her lips. “You shouldn’t have worn red lipstick.”

She almost laughed. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“It makes it harder not to do this.”

Before she could respond, he leaned in his lips so close they almost brushed hers. His breath was warm, and Lily’s knees weakened despite her anger. Her hands pressed against his chest, but she didn’t push him away.

His heartbeat was rapid, matching hers.

“Tell me to stop,” he murmured, voice like velvet but laced with fire.

She stared into his eyes, breath caught in her throat. “Would you listen?”

A flicker of a smile curved on his lips, his nose nearly brushing hers. “No.”

Her body tensed, torn between slapping him again or closing the infinitesimal distance between them. Everything inside her was screaming—don’t fall for this, don’t want him, don’t let him control you again. But the warmth of his body, the way his voice dipped when he spoke to her like this… it ignited something she didn’t want to admit was still there.

His fingers grazed her waist, pulling her slightly closer. Lily’s lips parted, and she found herself leaning in without realizing it.

But just as their lips were about to meet...

“David!” a shrill voice echoed down the hall.

They jerked apart.

Marina appeared, clutching her clutch bag in one hand, breathless and fuming. “My necklace! It’s gone!”

Lily stepped away instantly, her heart still pounding in her chest. David’s expression twisted, frustration flashing in his eyes. He turned toward Marina, his back now to Lily, and the moment shattered into a thousand jagged pieces.

Marina clutched her neck dramatically, eyes darting around as if she were on the brink of panic. "It was here just moments ago!" she wailed. “The necklace David gave me for my birthday—it’s gone!”

Lily raised an eyebrow, standing a few steps away. “Maybe you dropped it,” she suggested calmly, trying not to get dragged into another of Marina’s melodramatic fits.

But Marina shook her head wildly. “No! I took it off in the restroom before fixing my makeup. And the only other person who was in there... was you.”

Lily’s face hardened in disbelief. “I didn’t even see you there.”

“You came out just after me. Who else could’ve taken it?” Marina stepped forward, voice growing louder. “If you didn’t take it, prove it.”

“What do you mean?” Lily frowned.

“Strip,” Marina said firmly, eyes gleaming with triumphant malice. “If you have nothing to hide, show everyone.”

Lily blinked in shock. “Excuse me?”

Gasps and murmurs spread among the crowd like wildfire. Heads turned. Phones subtly lifted. Everyone was eager for a show.

Lily turned to David, expecting him to intervene, to at least stop Marina from making such a baseless and degrading demand.

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