The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 72

"Your things are in the master bedroom. Go check and see if anything is missing."

Garnett gave a low hum, let go of her, and headed toward the bedroom.

On the table, there was a small origami butterfly.

He picked it up and glanced at it. Sigrid had folded it, and he had casually shoved it into his suit pocket that day. It seemed Lavinia had found it while unpacking.

He held the butterfly between his fingers, standing there for a few seconds. Having another woman's belongings appear in his and Lavinia's home really wasn't appropriate.

He raised his hand and tossed it into the trash can.

"Dinner's ready," Lavinia's voice called from the dining room.

Garnett walked out and sat across from her. The ginger scallion steak was sliced thick and plated on white porcelain. A pile of scallions and minced ginger sat on top of the meat, sizzling fragrantly from the hot oil drizzled over it.

Lavinia had always been a great cook. In the past, he used to call her dishes toxic sludge, deliberately tearing her down for reasons he couldn't quite explain.

Garnett picked up a piece and tasted it. The meat was tender, infused perfectly with the ginger and scallion flavors, and seasoned just right.

He wanted to say it was delicious, but the words shifted on his tongue. He said in a teasing tone, "Well, still as toxic as ever."

Lavinia's silverware paused.

If you hate it so much, don't eat it. The words almost slipped out.

She held them back. She was a mature woman. She wouldn't stoop to a jerk's level.

She took a bite of meat, chewing slowly, and didn't respond.

"Corinne dropped the boxes off today," she said plainly. "Did you transfer her to logistics?"

"Yes."

Lavinia paused for a moment.

"Didn't you say last time that changing secretaries made the workflow chaotic?"

"We'll adjust."

"I never asked you to change your secretary," Lavinia said, picking up some vegetables. "That's a separate issue entirely."

Garnett looked up, eyeing her with a hint of surprise.

"Do you want me to bring her back?"

Lavinia didn't look up.

"That's your business," she said.

***

He walked past her, his tall, aloof figure stirring a faint breeze in his wake.

He was always like this—completely self-centered.

She felt like she wasn't even a person in his eyes, just a doll wearing a label that read 'Wife.'

Lavinia went back to clean the kitchen. Just as she finished bagging the trash, she received a text from Charley:

[Walking the dog?]

She thought about it and replied: [I was just about to take the trash out. See you at the usual spot.]

Lavinia grabbed the two large bags and headed for the door. Garnett came out and asked, "Taking out the trash? Wait for me, I'll go with you."

"Careful the bags don't rip and ruin your clothes," she said.

Once, he had volunteered to take out the trash, accidentally got a tiny speck of dirt on his pants, and sulked for half the day.

Garnett thought about it and elegantly sat back down. "Hurry back. Let's watch a documentary together."

Who wants to watch TV with you? Lavinia rolled her eyes internally.

She grabbed the bags and left. The moment the door clicked shut behind her, she let out a long, quiet breath.