All Chapters of My Husband's Affair, My Anniversary Gift : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The black-and-gold banner fluttered above the entrance of the Luxe Royale Hotel. Paparazzi clustered at the main gates like a colony of eager bees, camera flashes bursting in rapid succession as each luxury car rolled up to the curb. Laughter, the sharp clink of champagne flutes, and the soft notes of a live string quartet spilled from the open glass doors into the cool evening air.Lily stepped out of the taxi, her heels clicking against the polished stone driveway. The soft fabric of her pale beige dress shifted around her ankles with the breeze—simple, modest, and a far cry from the glittering gowns sweeping across the red carpet nearby. She smoothed her skirt, took a breath, and reminded herself why she was here.This wasn't the first time she had attended such a glittering event. But in the past, she had always walked in David's shadow, introduced as Mr. Cole's secretary while he navigated business deals and she stayed politely in the background. Tonight was different. Tonight, s

The moment Claire's words fell, the hall seemed to tilt against Marina. A faint, collective murmur rippled through the surrounding guests, like the soft crash of distant waves. Some concealed their amusement behind polite smiles; others didn't bother to hide it—eyebrows lifted, lips curling, eyes darting from Marina to David and back again. The sting of humiliation was sharp, metallic, and she could feel it searing her skin.Her manicured fingers tightened around her clutch until her knuckles paled. She'd been in the game long enough to endure polite rejection, but public embarrassment—this was different. Claire's refusal wasn't merely a "no." It was a rejection with an audience, and an implication that her worth was tainted.Marina's gaze flicked to David for rescue, but his face was unreadable, lips pressed in a thin line, hands resting loosely in his pockets as if the ridicule floating in the air had nothing to do with him. That stung even more.By the time the laughter had fully e

Lily hadn't planned on leaving the city that week, but the new design project required her to personally oversee some of the preliminary work.It was in a nearby city—two hours away by train—but far enough that she could breathe without feeling David's shadow over her shoulder. The early morning air was crisp when she stepped off the train, suitcase in hand, her mind already busy with color palettes, fabric textures, and potential concepts for the client's request.She didn't expect to run into Evan.They had just met a few days ago. Evan had breezed in with his easy smile and magnetic presence, instantly lightening the mood. Now, standing in the lobby of the hotel where her client had booked her a room, she blinked in surprise as the tall figure in a baseball cap and sunglasses turned at the sound of her suitcase wheels."Lily?" His voice was warm, carrying the kind of familiarity that made her lips curve into a smile before she could think."Evan? What are you doing here?" she asked

Lily froze for a moment, unable to believe her eyes. Of all the people she had expected to run into here, David was the last.Her brows furrowed. "Why are you here?" she asked, her voice sharp with surprise and suspicion.David's gaze was fixed on her, his expression as dark as a brewing storm. "Why?" His lips curled into a half-smirk, half-sneer. "Because you are my wife. And wherever my wife is, I have every right to be there."The possessive weight in his tone made Lily's chest tighten—not out of affection, but irritation. She had heard that line far too many times before, and it never failed to grate on her nerves.Evan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He glanced between them, sensing the tension. "Mr. Hardison," he said carefully with a smile, "I think you should calm down. You're misunderstanding the situation..."But before he could finish, David's head snapped toward him. His eyes narrowed like a predator catching sight of prey."Stay out of this, Evan. This has nothing to d

The next morning, Lily woke before sunrise. She had barely slept—her head was full of his threats.For the rest of the day, Lily tried to bury herself in work—emails, sketches, a bit of cleaning. Anything to keep her mind from circling back to him. But as evening settled in, her phone rang, the screen lighting up with a name she didn't want to see.Her father.She debated letting it ring, but she knew better. If she didn't answer, he would just keep calling."Hello," she said, her voice neutral."Lily," her father's tone was unusually warm, almost smug. "I've been hearing things. You've managed to get David's attention again. That's good... very good."Lily's brows knitted. "It's not what you think.""Of course it is," he said smoothly. "You have influence over him now. You should use it. Push him in our favor, maybe even win him back. It would be… beneficial for the family."Her stomach twisted. She could practically hear the unspoken words: money, power, reputation. It was always ab