The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 269

"Typhoon Number 18 is expected to make landfall near the Blossom Estuary and hit Blossom City directly. We advise all residents to take necessary storm precautions."

On the radio, the female anchor's voice was steady and serious, repeating the warning over and over.

Outside the car window, the sky hung low, the clouds like waterlogged gray cotton, piled heavily on the horizon.

Lavinia sat in the passenger seat, looking out the window, muttering, "It's almost the autumn holidays, how is there still a severe storm?"

"Autumn storms hit harder than summer ones." Charley steered the wheel, the car turning a corner toward the supermarket. "Let's stock up first. Water, food, medicine, we need everything."

Lavinia stuck her tongue out.

He was so attentive, taking care of every little thing. Spending so much time with him, she was practically turning into a lazy person who couldn't function on her own.

The supermarket was packed with people who had heard the warnings and come to hoard supplies.

Charley pushed the cart, weaving through the aisles. Purified water, instant noodles, candles, flashlights, batteries, and several rolls of thick duct tape.

"What's the tape for?" Lavinia pointed at it.

"To tape a star pattern on the windows." Charley tossed the tape into the cart. "During a severe storm, if a window shatters, someone could get killed."

Lavinia mouthed an "Oh," and followed behind him.

He was wearing a dark gray cotton shirt today, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms. When he bent over, the outline of his shoulder blades was faintly visible through the fabric.

She looked away, her eyes landing on the mountain of supplies piled in the cart.

Long lines had formed at the checkout counters. Charley pushed the cart to the back of a line, Lavinia standing beside him, idly scanning the shelves near the registers.

"Ms. Joplin?" a voice called out from the side.

Lavinia turned to see Florence standing a few steps away, carrying a beige canvas shopping bag.

Lavinia paused for a moment, instinctively nodding. "Florence."

Florence watched her in silence, the light in her eyes dimming little by little. She slowly lowered her head, clasping her hands together on the table, her fingers twisting tightly.

"You don't have to say it, I know."

Florence spoke tearfully.

"Sigrid has always been the apple of her father's and my eye. She's perfect in every way, ever since she was little. Good grades, talented, and beautiful. I'm so grateful that God gave me such a perfect daughter."

Lavinia sat there, her fingers curling slightly against her knees. She didn't understand why she had to sit here and listen to this.

"Did you know, her father and I both knew she and Garnett were dating in high school?"

A bitter smile touched Florence's lips, her gaze growing distant.

"We turned a blind eye to it. Back then, her father and I would say they were both so outstanding, they'd go to the same college and get married after graduation."

As Florence spoke, her voice dropped lower, and her eyes slowly reddened.