The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 71

Lavinia had not been home long when the doorbell rang.

She opened it to find a man and a woman, each pulling a hand truck. The woman was wearing a hat, casual clothes, and flats, looking down to check a list. Lavinia thought she looked familiar and took a second glance.

When the woman looked up, she realized it was Corinne.

"Corinne," Lavinia greeted.

Corinne lowered her eyes, her voice barely above a whisper. "Ma'am, I'm no longer Mr. Harper's secretary. I've been transferred to logistics."

Lavinia pursed her lips, saying nothing.

The two of them brought the boxes inside. Corinne held a cardboard box in her arms. "These are Mr. Harper's clothes. I'll help you take them to the bedroom."

Lavinia was about to say she would do it herself, but her phone rang in the guest room. She pointed toward the master bedroom. "Just put it in there." Then she turned and went to answer her phone.

Corinne carried the box into the master bedroom. On her way out, she slowed her steps as she passed the guest room.

The door was open. Lavinia stood with her back turned, talking on the phone in a soft voice that made it impossible to make out the words. A few women's coats hung in the room, and there were a few books and a water glass on the nightstand.

It looked like she usually slept in this room.

Corinne waited in the living room for a moment. When Lavinia finished her call and came out, Corinne handed her a piece of paper. "Ma'am, this is the inventory list. Please double-check it when you unpack."

Lavinia took the list and gave it a cursory glance.

"Removing you from the chief secretary position wasn't my idea," she said, seemingly absentminded.

Corinne hurriedly replied, "It was my own incompetence. The boss is fair with his rewards and punishments."

Lavinia didn't say anything else. She put the list away.

"Got it, thanks. If there's nothing else, you can head back."

After they left, Lavinia started unpacking. Garnett's suits needed to be hung in the closet. She organized them one by one, habitually checking the pockets.

In the inner pocket of one suit, she felt a folded piece of paper.

It was an origami butterfly.

It was exquisitely folded, with symmetrical wings and crisp creases. She hesitated for a moment before carefully unfolding it. It was a note. The elegant, meticulous handwriting filled the page, writing Garnett's name over and over.

Who knew how he was going to criticize her tonight. So annoying.

Not long after, the doorbell rang again. A man in uniform stood there with a cooler bag. After signing for it, she opened it to find premium A9 wagyu beef. The marbling was fine and perfectly even—clearly very expensive.

Lavinia put the meat in the fridge and went back to cleaning the kitchen.

***

Half an hour past the usual end of the workday, the front door unlocked.

Garnett pushed the door open and walked in.

In two years of marriage, he had never come home this early. Lavinia stood at the counter, marinating the steak, and didn't turn around when she heard him.

His footsteps approached and stopped right behind her. Then, his arms gently wrapped around her waist from behind. He rested his chin in the crook of her neck, his breath brushing past her ear.

"Smells great," he murmured.

Lavinia stiffened, feeling completely uncomfortable. She turned slightly, seamlessly slipping out of his embrace.