My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 374

She buried her face into his chest and wrapped her arms around him.

It was the first time she had done this on her own.

Not because he pulled her, Not because he asked, Not because he insisted.

She chose it.

And to her surprise, she did not feel awkward.

She did not feel angry,She did not feel trapped.

She felt… still.

Her body relaxed against him, her breathing slowly matching his. His heartbeat was steady beneath her ear.

In that moment, something inside her settled.

She had already made her decision earlier, even if she had not spoken it out loud.

She was not going to expect anything from this relationship.

No promises,No forever, No fairy-tale ending.

She was tired of expecting.

Expectations had only ever brought her pain.

If Jabco chose to leave one day, she would let him go.

She would not beg, She would not stop him.

She would not break herself trying to hold him back.

But if he chose to stay…

Then she would stop pushing him away.

She would stop pretending she could do everything alone.

She would lean on him.

Just a little.

Just enough to breathe.

For now, this peace was enough.

Jabco froze the moment she moved.

His body went completely still, as if he was afraid any movement might make her pull away. His mind took a second to catch up with what was happening.

Riyana was holding him.

She had come to him.

By herself.

His heart skipped. He slowly wrapped his arms around her, careful, gentle, like she might disappear if he held her too tightly. His hand rested on her back, feeling her warmth, her breath, the quiet rise and fall of her body.

A deep sense of relief washed over him.

This was not passion. This was not desire.

This was something far more dangerous to him.

Peace.

He closed his eyes.

For the first time in a long while, his thoughts did not race. He did not think about how to make her stay. He did not think about control.

He just stayed there, holding her.

He knew she was hiding her pregnancy from him.

But he did not say anything.

He wanted to hear it from her.

He wanted her to trust him enough to tell him herself.

He was willing to wait.

One day, she would speak.

One day, she would look at him and tell him the truth.

Until then, he would protect this quiet moment. This fragile peace.

Tonight, she chose him.

And for Jabco Grey, that was enough to keep him waiting as long as it took.

He tightened his arms around her just a little and pressed a soft kiss to her hair.

The room fell silent again.

Two people, lying close, not saying anything.

But for the first time, neither of them felt alone.

Days began to pass quietly.

Not loudly.

Not dramatically.

Just slowly, like the soft change of seasons that you only notice when you stop and look back.

The apartment that once felt tense now felt lighter.

He admired her quietly.

He loved her silently.

That afternoon, when she came out of the gallery holding a large, carefully wrapped package, he immediately noticed.

He was standing beside the car, waiting as usual. Watching her walk toward him, her steps calm, her posture relaxed.

His eyes narrowing slightly.

“What is this?” he asked as he came closer, already reaching to take the weight from her hands.

Riyana stopped in front of him.

She didn’t resist. She let him hold it.

“Gift for Lily,” she said simply. “It’s a painting. Last time she visited the gallery, she kept staring at this one. I remembered.”

Jabco took the gift from her carefully and placed it safely in the back seat of the car. He frowned slightly, confused.

“Lily?” he asked slowly as he closed the door. “Is there some special occasion?”

Riyana turned toward him fully now, her brows drawing together.

“What?” Her voice held real surprise. “You don’t know what today is?”

He hesitated. Just for a second. Then shook his head honestly.

“No. Did I forget something?”

She stared at him like he had said the most unbelievable thing in the world.

“You’re joking, right?” she asked flatly. “You have to be joking.”

“Are you seriously telling me you don’t know what day it is today?”

He shook his head. “Did I forget something?”

She watched him for a moment, trying to read his face. There was no teasing. No acting. He genuinely looked lost.

He searched her face, confused. “Riyana...”

“You forgot Lily’s birthday?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but the disbelief in it was sharp. “Seriously?”

He went still.

For a second, he didn’t say anything.

He actually had forgotten.

Completely.

The realization hit him like a quiet shock.

All his attention, all his thoughts, all his days had revolved around Riyana lately. Her moods. Her health. Her comfort. Her safety. Everything else had faded into the background.