The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 123

Before seeing this house, Lavinia had been unsure about what kind of place she wanted for her fresh start.

But the moment she stepped inside, she knew exactly what her heart desired.

She wanted a sanctuary where no one would bother her, a place to truly begin again. Even when she'd been hiding out in Penbrook, living in a cramped, run-down neighborhood, she hadn't felt uncomfortable. In fact, she loved it. The lively, chaotic hum of ordinary life felt incredibly healing to her.

While Lavinia was still exploring the rooms, Charley called Jimmie Jennings to tell him she wanted to rent the place. Jimmie was thrilled and promised to have all the furniture and appliances delivered within a week.

"Charley, just get a bed first," Lavinia called out. "As long as I have somewhere to sleep, I'll move in today."

"That fast?"

"Yeah."

Charley gave her a look, then relayed the message to Jimmie. "Buy the bed first. Get whatever else you can today, and make sure it's solid wood furniture. Nothing with chemical smells."

Lavinia was ecstatic. She kept wandering around the empty house, unable to get enough of it.

She absolutely loved it here.

Her phone rang.

She glanced down. It was Maeve.

Lavinia hesitated. Maeve never reached out to her on her own. A twinge of unease settled in her chest, and she let it ring for a moment before answering.

"Maeve? Are you looking for me?"

Maeve's voice was warm. "Ma'am, could we meet privately?"

"Sure. Let's meet at a cafe," Lavinia agreed.

When she hung up, Charley walked over. "Who was that?"

"Maeve, my grandmother-in-law's assistant."

"These are the official finalized documents for the Gilmore Family Trust Deed. All you need to do is sign here, and the trust will go into effect. Moving forward, you'll receive monthly disbursements from the fund. If you ever face a major life event, you can withdraw a substantial lump sum."

Lavinia looked down. These documents were far thicker and more formal than the preliminary draft Judith had shown her before. She didn't reach for them. Instead, she looked back up.

"Maeve, can I ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"I don't have a drop of Gilmore blood in me. Why would she leave the family's wealth to me?" Lavinia asked softly.

Maeve smiled, though there was a hint of resignation in it.

"Judith was quite the trailblazer in her youth. She learned to let go of material possessions a long time ago."

Lavinia stayed silent, listening intently.

"The Harpers used to just run factories. It was Judith who brought them into true wealth. Her husband passed away early, and for decades, she shielded that entire bloodline of people she had no real relation to—solely out of loyalty to her late husband. But over the years, the Harper family has bled her dry. This trust fund is all that's left of her maiden family's original fortune. She doesn't want to give them another cent. She said she wants you to have it all."