The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 97

Charley returned to his apartment and locked the door behind him.

He didn't turn on the lights. He stood perfectly still in the pitch-black living room, leaning back against the door for a very long time. A single, glaring line of text burned in his mind:

*[Hymen: Intact.]*

His heart was hammering so violently it felt like it might crack his ribs. The rushing blood pounded against his eardrums.

He couldn't wrap his head around it. How could she possibly still be a virgin?

But the medical report was undeniable proof.

It felt as though something had been ignited inside him, a scorching heat burning him from the inside out, leaving him entirely restless.

He walked straight into the bathroom and twisted the shower knob to the coldest setting. Freezing water slammed against his shoulders, tracing icy paths down his spine.

He braced his hands against the tile, bowing his head, letting the frigid downpour soak him for an eternity.

The fogged mirror reflected his drenched face, his expression completely unreadable beneath the running water.

***

During class the next day, everyone could tell Charley was entirely off his game.

Though his lectures remained as sharp and logically flawless as ever, it was as if a layer of his soul had been siphoned out. He looked deeply fatigued.

Sitting in her usual seat, Lavinia watched him scrawl equations on the whiteboard. He was speaking less than usual, and his voice lacked its usual commanding timbre.

She didn't think too much of it, assuming he had just stayed up too late the night before.

Once the day wrapped up, the students trickled out.

Lavinia waited for him in the corridor and asked, "Charley, are you feeling sick?"

He didn't say much, merely shaking his head. "I'm fine. Come on, let's head home."

That evening, he insisted on tutoring her just like always.

Cooking, explaining formulas, going through the motions—everything seemed perfectly normal on the surface.

Lavinia didn't notice anything glaringly wrong.

He sat beside her, his voice low and steady, walking her through the problems one by one and pausing patiently whenever she needed time to process.

But every time he finished explaining a concept, his fingers would unconsciously press against his temples. The movement was incredibly subtle.

Charley knew full well he had been running a high fever for hours.

He hadn't been sick in years. The sudden, violent fever was likely the direct result of standing under that freezing shower for far too long the night before.

He was pushing through purely on willpower, refusing to let her see his weakness.

Finally, the tutoring session came to an end. Lavinia closed her textbook, stood up, and stretched lazily.

Just as she was about to head upstairs, her phone rang.

Charley's gaze snapped back up to her.

"There was a power grid failure in the neighborhood, and I hate the dark," she lied smoothly. "I'm staying at my family's place for a few days."

Garnett went quiet for two seconds before replying, his tone cooling. "I'll pick you up tomorrow. We'll grab dinner."

"Alright."

She hung up, slipped the phone into her pocket, and turned her full attention to Charley.

"Charley, you're burning up. Why didn't you tell me?"

"It just started," he murmured, his voice incredibly hoarse.

Lavinia didn't buy it for a second. *Just started?* Yeah, right. He had been completely off his rhythm all day.

And despite that, he still cooked dinner and tutored her.

She reached out, grabbing his arm to support his weight. "Come on. Let's get you to the couch."

She guided him over and eased him down so he could rest against the cushions.

Nemo trotted over immediately, resting his golden head on Charley's knee and letting out a soft, worried whine.

"Where's the thermometer? And do you have a first-aid kit? Where do you keep your meds?" she asked gently.

"I don't have any here," he sighed, lifting a hand to rub his burning forehead. "I rarely get sick. I didn't stock up."