The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 185

With a rare weekend off from overtime, Lavinia decided to treat herself and cook some of her favorite dishes.

She went to the local market for fresh ingredients. On her way back, she spotted a familiar figure standing right outside her gate from a distance.

It was Garnett.

He was dressed in a crisp white polo shirt paired with light khaki trousers, wearing a dark golf hat and casually draping a thin, sun-protective jacket over his arm. His tall, slender silhouette looked completely out of place, yet effortlessly put together.

Lavinia stopped dead in her tracks at the end of the alley, heavy plastic grocery bags dangling from her hands. She debated turning around and making a run for it, but he shifted his gaze and locked eyes with her.

Too late to escape now.

She stood her ground as Garnett closed the distance between them. "I've been waiting for an hour. Turns out you were just grocery shopping. Expecting company?" he asked smoothly.

"Shouldn't you be out on a weekend date with your girlfriend? What are you doing in a neighborhood like this?" Lavinia's tone was ice-cold.

"Lavinia, can we not do this? Must you be so stubborn?" Garnett stared at her.

"I'm not being stubborn." Lavinia ignored him and kept walking with her groceries.

Garnett followed, grabbing her arm. "We need to talk."

"Sorry, Mr. Harper, but you're not welcome in my home." Lavinia straightened her back and looked up at him defiantly. "If you have something to say, say it right here."

A flicker of irritation flashed in Garnett's eyes, and his voice dropped a degree. "And what if I insist on coming inside?"

"Then you can stand there alone, because I'll leave." Lavinia turned on her heel to walk away.

She barely took two steps before a little girl ran up, tugging desperately at Lavinia's hand. "Lavinia! There's a kitten stuck in the security bars!"

It was the neighbor's kid, Tina, who was only in kindergarten.

The last time a child in the alley had choked on a snack, Lavinia had saved his life using the Heimlich maneuver.

Ever since then, the entire neighborhood knew Lavinia was a doctor, and all the kids treated her like a superhero.

Tina dragged Lavinia toward a dilapidated apartment building at the end of the street. Looking up, Lavinia saw a tiny white kitten wedged tightly between the iron grilles of a third-floor window.

The kitten looked no older than two months. It was clinging desperately to the metal bars, looking as if it might plummet at any second.

"Quick, go find a blanket! We can catch it together!" Lavinia ordered Tina.

A small group of kids scrambled around in a panic, searching everywhere but failing to find a single piece of cloth.

The kids swarmed around the two of them, begging on his behalf. Lavinia replied coolly, "Don't worry, he has another lady who can take him to the hospital."

Garnett shot her a frosty glare. "Is that the kind of thing you should be teaching children?"

"He was so brave catching the kitty! Lavinia, please help him!" Tina's eyes turned red, looking like she was about to cry.

The other children quickly chimed in, pleading with her.

Left with no choice, Lavinia relented. "Alright, I'll help him bandage it right now. Don't worry, guys."

She gave Garnett a flat look. "Let's go."

Even as they walked away, Garnett didn't forget to grab the groceries Lavinia had bought. It wasn't much food—clearly only enough for one person.

Lavinia unlocked the door and walked in. Garnett followed right behind her, his eyes scanning every inch of the place.

"How's the security around here? Is it safe for you to live alone?"

"As long as you don't bother me, it's perfectly safe," Lavinia replied dryly.