The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 111

Garnett poured Sigrid a cup of tea. He didn't pour one for Lavinia.

"Here, the herbal blend you like," his voice was soft, so natural it seemed he'd brewed it for her countless times.

Sigrid took a sip, lifting her misty eyes from the rim. "Thank you, Garnett."

"About what happened this afternoon, I apologize on Lavinia's behalf," he said, turning an icy glare toward his wife. "Apologize to Sigrid."

Lavinia paused. She sat across from them, her spine straight, a cold smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"You want me to apologize?"

"Yes. Right now."

"It's fine, let it go..." Sigrid murmured.

Lavinia kept her eyes locked on her, enunciating every word. "You want me to apologize to the other woman in my marriage?"

She let the words hang in the air for a second.

"Sure. I'll take out an ad in the paper. Ten days straight. How about that?"

Garnett's eyes darkened, his tone dropping to freezing point. "This is your last warning. Cut the attitude, or get out of my house."

Lavinia stood up, staring right back at him.

"I've been waiting for you to say that." She shifted her gaze back to the other woman. "But before I get out, I have a question."

She looked directly at Sigrid.

"How did you know our address? This is our home. Aside from our families, we've never had visitors."

Sigrid stiffened. "I... the day I flew back from the States, it was the day of the college reunion. I didn't have anywhere to change, so Garnett brought me here to use the closet."

"You don't need to explain anything to her," Garnett interrupted.

The portrait tumbled down, its frame breaking apart as glass shards rained everywhere. Through the jagged cracks in the glass, the smiling faces of the couple in the photo were completely unrecognizable.

Lavinia stood perfectly still.

Garnett's hand remained suspended in the air, his chest heaving, his knuckles trembling slightly. Sigrid stood off to the side, shooting Lavinia a look of manufactured pity that barely concealed the triumphant gleam of a victor.

A tear slipped down Lavinia's cheek. She didn't wipe it away.

It took a few seconds for Garnett to lower his arm. He glanced at the wreckage on the floor, then back at his wife. He wasn't wrong. She had pushed him too far.

"I won't let anyone disrespect Sigrid," he stated, enunciating every syllable. "You better think very carefully before you open your mouth again. Saul's factory is still completely at my mercy."

He turned to Sigrid, his hand gently cupping her cheek, his voice softening instantly. "Let's go. I'll take care of you."

He paused, delivering his next words with heavy finality. "For the rest of my life."

The tenderness in his voice was so absolute, it didn't even sound like him.