The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 215

Most of the guests arrived in the afternoon. Judith had a massive social circle, and many brought their families along. The estate was packed with visitors, making it livelier than the holidays.

Judith had changed into an elaborate traditional dress, accessorized with a flawless emerald green jade jewelry set, sitting in the main hall to receive well-wishes.

Maeve stood by the entrance. For every guest who arrived and presented a gift, she handed them a token of appreciation in return.

These were no ordinary party favors. They were solid gold coins wrapped in elegant envelopes, each weighing a hefty 66 grams.

After paying their respects to the matriarch, the guests would make their way to the back parlor for refreshments.

Nestor, Zenia, Garnett, and Julian were in charge of entertaining the crowd.

Lavinia ran back and forth between the front courtyard and the back parlor all afternoon—refilling tea, grabbing extra chairs, serving pastries, and keeping a watchful eye on the dinner preparations. She easily clocked twenty thousand steps around the massive estate.

By the time the evening banquet began, Charley still hadn't shown up.

Lavinia managed to sneak a glance at her phone. No missed calls, no messages.

She figured he probably wasn't coming after all.

After the dinner, the guests began to head home. Once the final guest was seen out, the entire family breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Judith was incredibly pleased with how the event had turned out, likely because it was the first time in years she had celebrated her birthday back at her ancestral home.

While everyone else rested in the front parlor, Lavinia was in the back hall helping Maeve catalog the mountain of gifts they had received.

These gestures of goodwill would have to be returned at the right time. Judith always said the Gilmore family never owed anyone a favor.

Garnett walked in, taking over Maeve's duties. Catching the hint, Maeve immediately found an excuse to leave the room.

"Maeve, please don't go," Lavinia said quickly.

Maeve paused, then walked back over to pour Garnett some tea, staying to assist Lavinia with the registry.

Garnett opened the gifts, reading out the sender's name, the item, and its estimated value while Lavinia sat across from him, logging everything.

As he read through the list, his voice gradually trailed off.

He stared at her, as if struggling to recall the gentle, obedient features she had possessed when they first got married.

Lavinia kept her head down, pen hovering over the paper. When Garnett failed to read the next item, she looked up, meeting his gaze.

His expression was unreadable.

Maeve stood to the side, looking back and forth between the two of them.

Bang—

Standing under the eaves of the corridor, a massive firework bloomed directly above the courtyard, illuminating both of their faces.

Garnett suddenly realized that he had perhaps never truly looked at Lavinia.

At this moment, her face was soft yet vivid—somehow slightly foreign, yet exactly the way she had always existed in his heart.

"What if I told you..." he paused. It took him a long moment to slowly finish the thought, "What if I promised that, for you, I'd never offer Sigrid anything more than the concern I'd give a regular friend?"

Lavinia stared at him unblinking.

After a long silence, she asked softly, "How can anyone hold on to a firework after it has already gone cold?"

She pulled her hand free from his grip, turned around, and walked away.

Once she rounded the corner and was out of his sight, she stopped, leaning against the wall and letting out a shaky breath.

Her heart was racing. She was terrified—terrified that he would try to pull the same stunt he had the last time.

Gathering her composure, she was just about to step through the arched doorway connecting the back courtyard to the front lawn when a hand gently wrapped around her wrist.