The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 160

Hearing footsteps approaching from behind, Lavinia stiffened for a second before continuing to type.

"Is working overtime in a cramped cubicle really better than staying home as Mrs. Harper?" Garnett stared at her slender, defiant back, his voice unconsciously softening.

Without turning her head, Lavinia kept typing her report and replied coolly, "It's fantastic. Because for the first time in my life, every minute belongs to me."

"Lavinia, didn't you choose to marry me? Didn't you choose to become Mrs. Harper?"

He stared at her, his heart beating a heavy rhythm against his ribs.

"We stood at the altar and took our vows. No matter what happened, I never once considered a divorce."

She scoffed. "Oh please. I also swore an oath when I joined my college sorority."

Watching her delicate profile, his lips flattened into a hard line.

"Come home with me. I have a surprise waiting for you. You're going to love it."

She honestly thought this man was a psychopath. After everything that had happened, he still seemed completely incapable of feeling an ounce of empathy for her.

Had some childhood trauma completely broken his emotional receptors?

"I told you last time: I am never going back to that place," she said evenly. "If the house feels too empty, bring someone else back. Take Sigrid, for instance. It's not like you haven't done it before."

Garnett let out a dark chuckle, his tone dropping to freezing temperatures. "I am only teaching you this because you are my wife. In the adult world, you prioritize the benefits above all else."

"You're not teaching her how to be an adult, you're teaching her how to be a dog." Charley's voice sliced through the room, low and lethal.

Feeling like she had just been rescued, Lavinia jumped to her feet. "Charley. You're here."

"Saul was worried about you, so he asked me to take you home," he said, stepping smoothly in front of her to block Garnett. "Head down to the parking lot and wait for me."

Lavinia snapped her laptop shut, shoved it into her bag, and bolted for the door.

"Lavinia!" Garnett reached out to grab her, but Charley locked an iron grip around his wrist.

Clutching her bag to her chest, she ran out of the office without a single backward glance.

"Mr. Harper, she's made her boundaries crystal clear. She doesn't want to go back to the place that brought her so much misery."

He froze, then brought the phone to his ear.

"Get back here right now," Judith's voice was tight and incredibly tense.

Something must have happened at the main estate.

Frowning, he replied, "I'm on my way, Grandma."

Hanging up, he shot Charley a venomous glare. "She is my wife. Don't think you can punch above your weight. If I find out you've laid a single finger on her..."

He leaned in close, his voice dripping with malice. "I will cut your fingers off, one by one."

Charley laughed out loud, raising an eyebrow. "You're an interesting guy, Mr. Harper. You constantly make threats you can't possibly follow through on."

"Just wait and see," Garnett spat.

Worried about his grandmother, he abandoned the fight and stormed out of the office.

Watching him leave, Charley's eyes turned pitch black.