The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 66

Lavinia finished her presentation to thunderous applause. Several professors got up from their seats to shake her hand, exchange contacts, and request a copy of her slideshow.

Surrounded by the crowd, she spoke softly, humble and polite, her faint smile carrying a trace of flattered shyness.

Garnett waited until she was finally free before walking over.

He looked down at her, his voice slightly rough. "Have you eaten?"

While she had been on stage, Lavinia caught him watching her intently out of the corner of her eye.

Showing up unannounced, waiting for her, asking if she was hungry—his gentleness always came out of nowhere and vanished just as abruptly.

She wasn't moved in the slightest.

"I had a little something before I came. I'm not hungry right now," Lavinia said coolly.

"Alright. Let's go home."

He nodded to the people around them, acknowledging their curious stares, and securely escorted Lavinia out of the conference hall.

In the corner stood a figure wearing a mask and a baseball cap, blending in like a shadow, his eyes fixed firmly on the hand resting on her waist.

Inside the elevator, he stood right beside her, their arms brushing against each other.

"Weren't you eating with a friend? You don't need to head back?" Lavinia felt incredibly uncomfortable with this sudden closeness.

"I'll take you home first." He looked down at her. "Are you really not hungry?"

"I'm not."

They got the car from the parking garage, and Lavinia slid into the passenger seat. Perhaps because she hadn't sat in this Bentley for so long, the seatbelt locked up, and she couldn't pull it across.

"You have to change the angle," he said, leaning over to pull the belt for her.

His long fingers hooked the strap, and his gaze naturally fell upon her face.

Lowered eyelashes, porcelain skin. He was so close he could see the soft peach fuzz on her cheeks. She looked absolutely delectable.

Her light pink lips, with that slight pout, felt like an invitation.

Aside from the performative peck at their wedding, he had never actually kissed her.

It had been two years.

His phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was Sigrid.

He looked at Lavinia, then answered the call right in front of her.

"Garnett, where did you go? Are you coming back? Joel and I are still waiting for you."

"Sorry, I already left." He paused. "You guys eat. I'm heading home."

"...Is your wife with you?"

"Yes." Garnett glanced at Lavinia again.

She sat perfectly still, staring straight ahead, her hands neatly folded in her lap. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"I'm driving. I have to go." He hung up.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a tall, slender man standing in the corner of the parking garage.

He looked familiar.

The thought vanished as quickly as it came, and Garnett drove away.