The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 68

She paused.

"Mr. Harper, whether you accept it or not, in my heart, you're already out of the picture."

Garnett's eyes turned fathomless, swirling with a cold, furious tide.

"I'm out? Then who's in?"

Lavinia was taken aback. "You're suspecting me? Just because you can't stay faithful, you assume everyone is exactly like you?"

"Is it your dear senior from college, or someone else?" He glared at her.

Lavinia suddenly lost all the energy to speak. She was such an idiot for thinking she could actually communicate with him.

"There's no one. Go investigate if you want." She turned and walked toward her bedroom. "I'm tired. I'm going to sleep."

"Lavinia."

She paused but didn't turn around.

"The bank loan for Saul's factory was just approved not long ago." He paused, sounding as if he were discussing the weather. "One word from me, and they'll recall the loan. You know, having a loan recalled is much worse than never getting one in the first place."

Lavinia's fingers curled into tight fists.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Garnett stood up. "Just a reminder. Think carefully before you make any decisions."

He cast a glance at her, his gaze calm and completely unreadable.

"Go to sleep."

Lavinia stood at her doorway, her back to him, her shoulders completely rigid. After a moment, she pushed the door open and went inside.

The door didn't slam, nor did it click shut gently. It simply closed.

Garnett stood in the living room, listening to the quiet latch. He looked down at his hand, realizing it was clenched into a tight fist.

The moment the door shut, exhaustion washed over Lavinia.

She walked to the window and stared at the hill outside. In the distance, a tiny speck of light moved along the trail, looking like someone walking their dog.

She pulled out her phone and texted Charley: [Are you walking Nemo? I think I see you.]

The little speck of light on the hill stopped moving.

Seconds later, she got a reply: [I'm on the back hill.]

Lavinia smiled: [Sorry I can't walk Nemo with you tonight.]

Charley: [No problem.]

But she couldn't say it. It was way too private.

After a long while, he didn't send anything else. Lavinia didn't know whether to let her guard down or keep worrying.

The silence was deafening. Figuring she had to say something to break the tension, she sent another text:

[I don't have to go to work starting tomorrow. Want to grab coffee in the morning? Zachary recommended a few job openings, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.]

This time, he replied instantly: [Sure. 9 AM.]

He attached a location pin for a tiny cafe near the Arden Estate that she had never been to.

Lavinia finally let out a breath.

Familiar footsteps echoed outside the door. Garnett seemed to be heading to his room for the night too.

How strange. Was he really not going out tonight?

Too exhausted to analyze it, Lavinia grabbed her pajamas and went to shower.

The massive house had three en-suite bedrooms; she could hide in here all day if she wanted to.

She didn't believe for a second that Garnett was actually moving back in for good.