The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 40

This was a VIP hospital suite with a living area outside. Through the crack in the door, she could hear the low hum of Saul and Charley talking.

She finally remembered that after seeing the medical report and realizing everything was okay, she had completely blacked out.

Had she fainted? Was she carried into this room?

Just as Lavinia was about to get out of bed, the door opened.

Saul stood in the doorway looking at her, his gaze warm but swirling with suppressed, complex emotions.

Charley stood right behind him.

"Lavinia." Saul walked over quickly, placing his hand gently over hers. "Dad is fine now. His condition is under control."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly.

"You saved him. You've worked so hard."

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. Noticing an outsider was present, she tried desperately to hold them back.

Charley stepped in smoothly, offering a handkerchief.

"Saul, Lavinia is incredibly capable," he smiled, his voice gentle and deep. "She studied the medical literature herself, and when she spoke with the factory director, her questions were highly professional."

"Lavinia has always been a genius," Saul laughed.

Lavinia dabbed her tears away with the handkerchief.

What was the point of talking about the past? After graduating, she hadn't completed her residency training, so she wasn't even qualified to be a doctor.

"Are you hungry?" Charley looked at her. "Saul and I decided that once you woke up, we'd take you out for a good meal to help you recover your strength."

Saul looked at Lavinia tenderly. "Lavinia, what do you want to eat?"

She really was starving; her stomach was completely empty.

That Michelin-starred chicken claypot place they went to last time was amazing, but she felt too embarrassed to bring it up.

"How about that chicken claypot place from last time?" Charley suggested.

Lavinia blinked in surprise and nodded eagerly.

"You two have eaten together before? When was this?" Saul asked.

Charley raised an eyebrow. "What, I can't treat Lavinia to a meal if I bump into her on the street?"

Saul laughed. "Chicken claypot sounds great. It's nutritious and easy to digest."

Lavinia looked at Charley, turned her head slightly, and smiled softly.

She suddenly felt as if she had gained another older brother.

The television mounted above the owner's counter was broadcasting a piece of local provincial news.

"A grand memorial ceremony taking place in Portus City, where local elites honor their ancestors..."

A familiar figure flashed across the screen.

Garnett, dressed in an all-black suit with a black tie, moved gracefully through the memorial reception.

Sigrid, dressed in a modest black mourning gown with a subtle dark ribbon in her hair, looked pale and devastatingly fragile. She gently hooked her arm through Garnett's, accompanying him as he toasted and thanked the guests.

It wasn't until the news segment ended that Lavinia finally looked away.

Turning her head, she met Charley's gaze.

"How very generous of him," he smiled faintly. "What a good man."

Lavinia forced a tight smile. "He's just there to help out. Don't read too much into it."

"Mhm." He paused. "Should we still keep this from Saul?"

Lavinia lowered her eyes.

"Don't worry. My lips are sealed."