The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 399

After chatting a bit longer, Rowena was summoned by her mother for some last-minute scolding. Lavinia stepped out of the room and headed down to the first floor, only to find the living room empty save for Geoffrey and Garnett.

She asked one of the maids and learned that Julian Gilmore had dragged Charley off to his study—likely to discuss some confidential business.

Not wanting to be in the same room as Garnett, Lavinia quietly slipped out through the back doors.

The koi fish pond in the back garden was filled with rare, imported Japanese breeds. A wooden box of fish food sat on the edge of the water.

She sat on a stone bench by the pond, tossing pellets into the water. Watching the fat, colorful fish clumsily climbing over one another to get the food, a soft, genuine smile touched her lips.

"Why didn't you reply to my message?" Garnett's voice suddenly broke the silence behind her.

She froze, trying to recall what his last message even was.

Right. The photo of the fireworks over the harbor. She hadn't cared enough to process it and had forgotten about it the second she put her phone down.

"Nice photo," she said flatly, keeping her eyes on the water as she tossed another handful of food.

Garnett sat down on the bench beside her. He reached into the wooden box, grabbed a handful of pellets, and threw them into the pond.

"Why didn't you reply when I sent it?"

He had waited all night. His phone had grown hot in his hand from how many times he had checked it.

"I forgot," she answered simply.

"Forgot to reply? Or forgot what it meant?" he pressed, refusing to let it go.

"I was busy. Besides, do I have to reply to every single message you send?"

"I always reply to yours," he said quietly, his voice dropping into a low, defeated register. "Since you left, you haven't looked back once."

Lavinia turned to him, her tone sharp. "Why would I look back? Walking away was the hardest thing I've ever done, but I survived it. What is there to miss?"

"Our home," he murmured. "Lavinia, I want to go home. But you're not there anymore. I only just realized... you *are* the home I want to go back to."

She stiffened.

She couldn't figure out what new strategy this was. Was he trying to manipulate her emotionally?

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