My Husband's Affair My Anniversary Gift (Lily and David) novel Chapter 324

Riyana walked into the bedroom slowly and closed the door behind her.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and rested her hands on her lap, staring at the floor for a long moment. Her head felt heavy, and her stomach still felt unsettled.

She didn’t understand why. She had eaten breakfast in the morning. It wasn’t like she had completely starved herself. Yes, she had skipped lunch, but she had coffee in the afternoon. That shouldn’t have made her feel like this.

Yet the nausea was there. Not sharp, but dull and persistent.

She pressed her palm lightly against her stomach and leaned back, breathing slowly. Maybe it was stress. The last few days had been a mess. Too many thoughts, too many worries piling up on her chest. Her emotions felt out of control lately. One moment she was angry, the next she felt tired, then suddenly scared for no clear reason.

Maybe her body was reacting to everything her mind had been trying to ignore.

She lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling, blinking slowly. After a while, she turned her head and reached for her phone on the side table. The screen lit up the dim room as she unlocked it.

She knew what she needed to do.

She needed money.

The thought made her chest tighten. She hated asking anyone for help, especially for money. It made her feel weak, exposed. But she had no choice.

The amount her father demanded wasn’t small, and she couldn’t arrange it on her own. Not quickly. Not without someone noticing.

She opened her contacts and started scrolling.

Name after name passed by, but none of them felt right. Some were colleagues. Some were old acquaintances. Some were people she barely talked to anymore. She stopped at a few names, stared at them, then moved on.

No.

She couldn’t ask them.

She kept scrolling, slower now, her thumb hesitating each time. Her heart sank a little more with every name she rejected. It hurt to realize how alone she actually was when it came to things like this.

Then her eyes stopped.

Lily.

She stared at the name longer than the others.

Lily could help her. She knew that. Lily had the means, and more importantly, Lily was someone she trusted. Lily wouldn’t ask too many questions. She wouldn’t judge her. And she definitely wouldn’t tell Jabco or anyone else. Riyana was sure of that.

They had known each other for years, but only recently had they started talking about personal things.

Even now, Riyana still felt a bit hesitant opening up completely. Asking for money was not a small thing. It could change how someone looked at you, even if they didn’t say it out loud.

Her finger hovered over Lily’s name.

What if Lily felt uncomfortable? What if she thought Riyana was taking advantage of their friendship? The amount was big. Too big to ask lightly.

Riyana closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

She didn’t have other options.

She tapped Lily’s name, her heart beating faster. Just as she was about to press the call button, the bedroom door opened.

She flinched.

Jabco walked in.

Riyana immediately locked her phone and slipped it under the pillow beside her, her movements quick and almost guilty. She sat up straighter, trying to look calm.

Jabco noticed the movement but didn’t say anything. He walked toward the bed, holding something in his hand.

“What is this?” Riyana asked, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed the bowl.

“Soup,” he said simply.

He let out a small breath that might have been a laugh. “Trust me. You’re not spoiled.”

She stayed silent, continuing to drink. The soup was helping more than she expected. Her head felt clearer, and the tight knot in her stomach slowly loosened.

When she finished, she handed the bowl back to him. “I’m done.”

He took it and placed it on the side table.

Riyana leaned back against the headboard and closed her eyes for a moment. Fatigue washed over her suddenly, heavy and deep.

“You should rest,” Jabco said quietly.

"I'll be back"

The door closed softly behind him.

Riyana lay there, staring at the ceiling again.

She turned onto her side and curled up slightly, exhaustion finally pulling her under.

After some time, the room door opened again.

Riyana was half awake, half asleep. She felt the mattress dip slightly, then the familiar sounds. The bathroom door closing. Water running. The soft echo of movement.

She didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t want to think. Her body felt heavy, tired in a way sleep alone couldn’t fix.

When he returned, the room smelled faintly of soap and warmth. He moved quietly, careful not to disturb her. The bed shifted again as he lay down beside her. As always, his arm came around her waist, firm but gentle, pulling her closer into his chest.

Every night, it was the same.

And every night, she told herself she would push him away but she never did.