My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 379

“I can handle myself,” she continued, her voice tight. “I don’t need you watching me like I’m doing something wrong.”

“That’s not what I was doing,” he said immediately.

“Then what was it?” she shot back. “You didn’t trust me enough to stay where I told you"

“Riyana, I’m sorry. I was wrong, okay?”

Jabco’s voice dropped the moment the words left his mouth.

He lifted his hand and placed it gently against her cheek.

The touch was warm.

Riyana reacted instantly. She tried to step back, her body moving before her mind could catch up, but he didn’t let her go. His other hand slid around her waist, holding her in place, firm but not rough.

“Don’t work yourself up,” he said quickly, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. “I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I promise.”

He meant it.

Apologizing didn’t come easy to him. He rarely did it. But right now, he knew this was the only thing he could do. If he pushed, if he argued, if he tried to justify himself, it would only make things worse.

Riyana looked at his face.

His brows were slightly drawn together. His jaw was tight, but not angry. There was something else there, concern and Regret. Maybe even fear that he had crossed a line too far.

She let out a slow breath.

“Fine,” she said at last, her voice tired rather than angry. “Step away.”

She pushed his hands off her, not roughly, just enough to create distance. She stepped back until her back hit the elevator wall, the cold surface grounding her.

“I don’t want anyone to see us like this.”

Those words made something dark flicker in Jabco’s eyes.

He didn’t care who saw them.

In fact, he wanted the opposite.

He wanted the world to know she was his. That she belonged beside him. That there was no confusion, no space for anyone else to step in.

But he didn’t say any of that.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft sound.

They stepped out.

As they walked, Jabco glanced at her from the side. Her anger had softened. The sharp edge was gone, but the frown between her brows was still there, faint but stubborn.

Just then, her phone rang.

Riyana stopped and reached into her bag.

“Lily,” she said softly when she saw the name on the screen.

She answered immediately.

“Lily.”

Jabco stood a little to the side, listening without meaning to.

“Yes, we’re here,” Riyana continued. “Okay. We’ll be there.”

She hung up and turned toward him.

“They’re in room 425.”

“Alright,” Jabco said after a brief pause.

“You go up. I’ll bring the gift from car. I’ll see you there.”

Riyana narrowed her eyes at him.

Suspicion flickered across her face.

“Now are you secretly going to buy gifts for Lily?” she asked.

Jabco’s expression tightened instantly.

“Riyana.”

She turned toward Danish and lifted her hand slightly.

“Hi.”

“Hello,” Danish replied with a polite bow.

“Hello, Mr. Hardison,” Riyana greet David politely.

"hello, Mrs. Grey" David smile at her. Riyana's expression froze upon hearing David addressing her as Mrs. Grey, she immediately shot look at Lily. "sorry" Lily smile apologize expression.

“Come sit,” she continue, pulling Riyana down into the chair beside her.

Riyana sat, smoothing her dress, her expression calm on the surface. But inside, her thoughts were anything but quiet.

They waited for Jabco for a while, long enough for the excitement in the room to thin out and turn into mild irritation. Lily checked the time more than once, trying not to look annoyed, but it showed anyway.

“Why isn’t he here yet?” Lily asked, her tone half joking, half genuinely confused.

Riyana frowned slightly. She did not answer right away. Jabco was never late for things like this, especially not today.

“I don’t know,” she said after a moment. “Let me call him.”

She took out her phone and walked toward the window, turning her back to the others. As the call rang, she stared outside without really seeing anything. Her chest felt tight, a quiet mix of worry and irritation. The call connected, and the ringing echoed faintly in the room.

At the same time, the door opened.

Jabco walked in as if nothing was wrong.

Riyana turned her head at the sound of the ringtone echoing closer than it should have.

The moment she saw him standing there, she let out a breath she did not realize she had been holding. It came out sharp, full of frustration. She cut the call immediately and walked back to her chair, trying to look calm, trying to look normal.

“You are finally here,” Lily said, standing up with a laugh. “I was about to say we should call the police.”

Jabco smiled faintly, as if the comment amused him. He stepped forward and gave Lily a light, friendly hug. “Happy birthday.”

From across the table, David saw the hug. His jaw tightened almost instantly. The smile on his face faded, replaced by something darker. Jealousy flickered openly in his eyes, but he said nothing. It was Lily’s birthday. This was not the time to start a scene, no matter how he felt.

“This is for you,” Jabco said, handing Lily the gift Riyana had bought.