The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 228

"Charley, did you listen to the recording?" Lavinia's voice was barely a whisper.

"Yeah."

She was doomed. She had literally asked Sigrid if the spermicide inserts were her preference or Garnett's. He had heard the whole thing.

She frantically tried to change the subject. "Do you think we need to upload it with timestamps? I can do it myself."

"I already secured the evidence," Charley said.

"Oh, good. Haha." Lavinia was dying of embarrassment, desperately grasping at any topic she could find. "Right, I quit my job today. I'm planning to take some time off before looking for a new one. What do you think?"

"Yeah, take a good rest," he agreed.

The silence was still painfully awkward.

"Charley, the soup isn't too hot anymore, right? I can feed myself." Lavinia desperately needed something—anything—to hide her burning face behind.

Charley handed her the bowl and spoon, gently reminding her, "Eat slowly."

While she kept her head down eating, he stepped out of the room and returned a moment later holding a cardboard box.

"Gifts for you." Charley sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the items out one by one to show her.

There was the famous Kopi Luwak coffee from Indonesia, tropical-style mugs, local woven fabrics, an agarwood meditation bracelet, and wind chimes made from exotic seeds.

He had bought so much, a dazzling array of everything imaginable. He must have just bought whatever caught his eye without a second thought, just to bring it back for her.

Lavinia suddenly felt like a child, being unconditionally spoiled.

After showing off the gifts, he handed her a set of brand-new pajamas and told her to get some rest.

He said he was sleeping in the guest room next door and told her to call him if she needed anything.

Lavinia watched him walk out with the tray. She picked up the gifts and played with them one by one, feeling completely content.

It was her first time quitting a job, and today, she had gained so much.

Some things were good, some were bad. She just had to throw away the bad and hold on to the good.

She lay on her side, staring at the 108-bead agarwood bracelet on her wrist.

She felt like she was catching his habits; she was starting to like wood too.

***

The scenic overlook was dead quiet, the city lights sprawling out in the valley below.

She kissed him again.

Slowly, he began to respond. It wasn't forceful, just slow, like he had finally given up after a long, exhausting internal struggle.

The night wind rushed past the windows, sounding muffled, like someone sighing from far away.

She climbed onto his lap, her fingers sliding past his collar, grazing his skin.

He caught her hand.

She stopped, looking into his eyes. His gaze was impossibly deep; something dark was churning violently inside, only to sink back down into the abyss.

He stared at her. There was a warning in his eyes, but also something else, something impossible to read.

"I want this," she whispered. "I just want to make you happy. I don't want anything else."

He looked at her for a long time before speaking softly, "I can't cheapen you."

A whirlwind of raw emotion surged in her eyes as she threw her arms around his neck.

"Garnett, I'll wait for you. No matter how long it takes, I'll always wait for you," Sigrid breathed like a sigh.