The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 109

Lavinia stared down at the thick pages of the Gilmore Family Trust Deed, but her brain couldn't process a single word.

A legal document this complex couldn't possibly have been drafted on a whim. Judith must have been planning this for a long time.

But why? Why hand over such an enormous fortune to someone who didn't share a single drop of Gilmore blood?

"Lavinia, it belongs to you now. Take it home and read it over when you have time," Judith said, her voice warm and maternal. "If there's any legal jargon you don't understand, have Garnett explain it to you."

Sigrid stood rigidly, her head bowed in absolute humiliation, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her.

This entire performance was meticulously staged just for her benefit. Judith was making it painfully obvious that Garnett was entirely beholden to her authority, and based on how obedient he was acting...

Saul stared thoughtfully at Lavinia, his brow furrowing into a deep, troubled knot.

Judith finally turned her icy gaze back to Sigrid. "Now, Ms. Sloan, what exactly was so urgent that you had to visit us today?"

Sigrid stammered helplessly, utterly incapable of forming a coherent sentence.

"If there's nothing else, Maeve, see the guest out," Judith commanded coldly.

Maeve stepped forward, gesturing toward the door with an emotionless expression. "Ms. Sloan, allow me to call a car for you."

Sigrid shot a desperate glance at Garnett, but he didn't even turn his head. Clinging to the last shred of her dignity, she looked at Judith. "I understand. Thank you for your time, Ma'am."

Without another word, she turned and fled the house.

With the immediate crisis resolved, Saul stood there, entirely unsure of how to navigate the bizarre aftermath. Instinctively, he looked at Charley.

Charley met his gaze and spoke smoothly, "Saul, didn't you mention we needed to visit Latham at the hospital this afternoon?"

Compared to Sigrid, she was so incredibly stubborn and exhausting. Sigrid was always warm, always attentive, always prioritizing his feelings above everything else.

Thinking back to the absolute disaster that had just unfolded at the Manor, a wave of profound irritation washed over him. Judith was his savior. Despite having no blood tie, she had been the solitary pillar of strength in his miserable childhood.

When his own mother died, his father had immediately brought his mistress, Zenia, into the house. He was only six years old—old enough to understand the betrayal, but far too young to fight back. He had been forced to watch his father parade a new woman around while his mother's grave was still fresh.

It was Judith who had taken pity on him, pulling him under her wing and raising him herself. If it weren't for her, the Garnett Harper of today wouldn't even exist.

He valued her opinion above all else. But today, because of Saul's unhinged outburst, Judith was undoubtedly disappointed in him, viewing him as a man who would betray his own family.

He knew exactly how furious she was. An elder as deeply compassionate as Judith would never have publicly humiliated Sigrid like that unless she had been pushed to her absolute limit.

The more Garnett thought about it, the angrier he became. He gripped the steering wheel, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register. "Is Saul completely out of his mind? Throwing a tantrum in my house like a lunatic and humiliating Sigrid for no reason. I've never seen her so heartbroken."