The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 198

Zoey was secretly amazed. "You can memorize data that complicated?"

"Yeah."

"Can it be used as evidence?"

"No, but I'm not trying to sue them. I just need to write a report, and as long as the data is accurate, it's enough."

Lavinia finished her sentence and suddenly realized something. "Wait, how did you know I was..."

"I told her," Charley explained. "This campus isn't easy to deal with, and other drivers wouldn't dare make this run. I explained the situation to Zoey, and she was loyal enough to help."

Lavinia looked at Zoey with deep gratitude. "Thank you so much, Zoey."

"Don't mention it. Happy to help."

Lavinia lowered her head and went back to furiously typing data.

Charley shot Zoey a warning glare through the rearview mirror. Catching his eye, she playfully stuck out her tongue.

By the time she finished inputting the final numbers, Lavinia was dead on her feet.

She was already sleep-deprived, and coupled with motion sickness, she felt nauseous.

Charley gently slipped a travel pillow behind her neck. "If you're tired, just lean back and sleep for a bit," he said softly.

Lavinia hadn't wanted to fall asleep in front of others, but her eyelids were incredibly heavy. She couldn't hold on.

Her consciousness drifted like a falling leaf caught in a gentle breeze, slowly drifting downward.

In her half-awake state, she sank into a warm place, enveloped by a subtle, woody scent. It felt like walking into a quiet forest.

She completely relaxed, surrendering entirely to sleep.

...

She slept deeply and peacefully. When she finally woke up, she found herself resting on someone's broad shoulder.

The fabric of his shirt carried that complex, woody fragrance, offering a strange, calming power.

Suddenly realizing exactly who she was leaning on, Lavinia bolted upright, a wave of dizziness washing over her.

"You just woke up. Take it slow," Charley said gently.

He slowly withdrew his arm from behind her neck, discreetly clenching and unclenching his fist on repeat.

Lavinia realized his arm must have fallen entirely asleep.

The horizon was ablaze with a fiery sunset, stretching all the way up to the sky above. The tangerine light spilled across the ocean, shattering into a million shimmering pieces.

The highway hugged the coastline, winding endlessly into the distance.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Near Stanton City."

Stanton City. The shipwreck that had taken her parents all those years ago had happened in the waters right off this coast.

"Charley, there's a place I want to go. It shouldn't be far from here."

Charley's eyelashes flickered, and he let out a low, "Mhm. I know. We'll pass right by it on our way back."

Lavinia was stunned. "How did you know where I wanted to go?"

"Saul mentioned it."

He didn't explain further, getting back into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

The car merged back onto the coastal highway.

The fiery clouds hung low over the water, looking as though they were about to set the entire ocean ablaze.