The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 390

"Why are you being so formal? It's not like you haven't met them before," Lavinia pointed out.

Charley remained silent for a long moment. "This time is different."

Lavinia wondered what could possibly be so different about it.

He started the car and merged onto the main road. The car was quiet for several seconds before he spoke smoothly.

"If they ask about our relationship, what do you plan on telling them?"

It suddenly clicked. He was treating this Marina Island trip like his official 'meet the parents' moment.

Without overthinking it, she smiled. "I'll just tell them you're my boyfriend. My aunt and uncle are my closest family, there's no reason to hide it from them."

Charley kept his eyes on the road and didn't say a word, but a faint, undeniable curve appeared on his lips.

Lavinia added, "Besides, they saw the news about that massive ad you put up on the building by the river and asked me about it. I already told them the truth."

He tilted his head slightly toward the window, supposedly checking his left mirror, but his right hand reached over, picked up her hand from her lap, and wrapped it firmly in his own.

***

Once the car was parked safely, Lavinia hopped out first and ran to the trunk to help Charley unload the gifts.

Saul pulled a folding camping cart out of his trunk and began stacking the endless mountain of gift boxes into it layer by layer.

"Are you here for a hospital visit or a marriage proposal?" Saul couldn't resist roasting him.

Charley didn't respond. He simply grabbed the handle of the camping cart and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Lavinia.

As they made their way from the underground garage to the main lobby, he casually reached out and took Lavinia's hand.

She looked over at him. He was staring straight ahead with a completely neutral expression, but his grip was incredibly tight.

"If we walk in like this, they won't be upset, will they?" Charley asked.

Charley was walking through the lobby, holding Lavinia's hand. Saul trailed behind them, pushing a camping cart overflowing with gift boxes.

They walked into the glass observation elevator, ascending floor by floor.

Charley leaned in and whispered something into her ear. She laughed and playfully scrunched her nose at him. He reached up, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

The elevator came to a stop on the fifth floor.

It had been almost a month since the divorce lawsuit ended, and he hadn't seen Lavinia since. He never expected to run into her at a hospital in Marina Island.

She and Saul were likely here visiting Latham. Garnett hadn't even realized his former uncle-in-law was staying at this particular hospital. If he had known, he would have visited long ago.

Garnett stepped into the next available elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor.

His mind replayed the bright, effortless smile on Lavinia's face, and his eyes subconsciously lowered. The sudden realization that her hand was now completely wrapped in another man's grip made him swallow hard against the suffocating bitterness in his throat.