The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 204

If he was just doing all this out of a sense of platonic loyalty and she completely misread the situation, they wouldn't even be able to remain friends.

Lavinia pressed her palms together and murmured a soft prayer toward the diorama: "Moon Goddess above, please bless my family with good health, safety, and peace. And please bless me with a promotion and wealth."

She finished her prayer and opened her eyes.

Charley asked, "That's it?"

Lavinia thought for a second and added, "And please bless me with a smooth divorce and an end to this toxic tie."

He looked at her, his gaze carrying an indiscernible depth.

After enjoying the night view from the mountain for a while, Charley drove Lavinia back down into the city. They grabbed a simple dinner, and then he took her home.

He helped carry all the gifts inside before leaving.

Once he was gone, Lavinia slowly began unwrapping the presents.

When she reached a slim, flat box in the middle of the pile, she paused.

It was a brand-new smartphone. It was the latest model from the same brand she currently used, in a soft lavender color she absolutely loved.

Her old phone was definitely due for an upgrade. The screen had a cracked line running through it, and the battery barely held a charge anymore.

She opened the box and found a small card tucked inside.

There was no signature, just a single line of text: *From now on, if anything happens, you have to tell me first.*

She hugged the Lina Bell plushie, leaned back against the headboard, and held the new phone up. She snapped a picture of the plushie, then lowered her hand.

She had no idea why she took the photo, or who she even wanted to send it to.

The wind drifted in through the window, making the curtains sway gently.

She realized that from now on, every time she used her phone, she would think of him.

She slid down into her bed and pulled the covers up, hiding half her face.

***

The interviewer asked: *What is Celestial Capital's stance on Renova Biosciences?*

Sigrid's printed answer: *Renova Biosciences is a key target in our focus on innovative pharmaceuticals, and our firm has been tracking their progress for quite some time. Our quantitative models indicate that Renova's core pipeline is significantly undervalued.*

Lavinia snapped the magazine shut. "Making public statements about a pending project before the investment committee has even voted is a blatant violation of company policy. Does Mr. Coleman know she did this interview?"

Jocelyn looked at her. "What do you think?"

Lavinia recalled Garnett's warning: Mr. Coleman didn't need people who did the right thing; he needed people who were "team players."

The door to the director's office was knocked twice.

Ethan stood in the doorway. Looking at Lavinia, he said, "Lavinia, Mr. Coleman just called your desk line. He wants you up in the Chairman's office."

Lavinia's heart sank.

The Chairman was calling for her directly? She had a terrible feeling about this.