The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 209

After having dinner with Judith, Lavinia and Garnett walked out of the estate. Garnett offered to drive her home.

Lavinia waved her phone. "No need. I already called a rideshare."

The two of them stood outside the massive estate doors, a small river flowing gently in front of them. The lush southern foliage seemed to exhale freely in the night air, emitting a rich, vibrant fragrance.

Garnett stared at Lavinia as she stood amid the distant, scattered city lights—gentle and uncomplicated.

He looked down, lit a cigarette, and held it between his fingers, his eyes turning cold. "Are you planning to just keep this stalemate going? What good does it do you?"

"Of course we can't keep going like this," Lavinia replied flatly. "I'm still waiting for you to sign the divorce papers."

Garnett looked at her and spoke slowly. "Lavinia, we're both adults. We should be realistic. The marriage is already legally binding. Why not just let things take their natural course?"

"Which natural course? The one where I naturally accept your infidelity?" Lavinia fired back.

Garnett scoffed. "And here I thought Mrs. Harper was so magnanimous. Turns out you're just a jealous wife."

He didn't even bother explaining himself, continuing, "You've made your point. Your anger should be fading by now. As long as you agree to move back in, we can negotiate whatever terms you want."

Lavinia let out a dry, two-syllable laugh. "That house is a love nest for you and Sigrid. Why would I go back there?"

In that house, she and Garnett played the role of a fake married couple. While he and Sigrid acted like true husband and wife.

"Just because I brought her back there once? That was purely to let her change clothes because it was close by," Garnett said.

Lavinia turned her head, utterly done with engaging him.

"If you hate the Arden Estate, we can switch properties. If you want a detached villa, we can buy one right in this neighborhood so you can easily take care of Grandma. How does that sound?" Garnett pressed.

Lavinia continued to ignore him.

Feeling completely dismissed, Garnett's eyes darkened. He reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Turn around and look at me," he ordered. "Lavinia, I will not allow you to turn your back on me."

Lavinia turned to face him. "You think I'm still angry? The truth is, I stopped being angry a long time ago."

She paused.

"Everything you do operates on your own logic and justification. You treat her well because you love her. You treat me poorly because you don't. Once I realized that, what was left to be upset about?"

Garnett stared at her, his lips flattening into a tight line, though his grip on her wrist subconsciously tightened.

He treated Sigrid well because he loved her; he treated Lavinia terribly because he didn't.

Was that the reason?

"Is that so?" Charley tapped his fingers lightly against the steering wheel.

And then, silence.

Lavinia thought to herself: *It seems like he doesn't really care all that much.*

After a moment, she added, "He also asked if I wanted to move into the Gilmore Estate too."

He didn't say a word.

The car sank into a heavy, cold silence for a long while before Lavinia finally continued, "I turned him down. With him there, it would be incredibly awkward."

His expression remained perfectly neutral.

Lavinia was absolutely convinced now that she had read the situation entirely wrong. He definitely didn't have feelings for her.

"What else did he say?" Charley asked.

Lavinia collected herself and maintained a casual tone. "He asked me if I had the pearl jewelry set. I told him that, other than him, I don't know any rich people."

She paused for a moment, her voice dropping lower. "No one is going to spend a fortune on me, anyway."

"Hmm. As long as you're okay. Let's get you home," Charley said.