The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 168

The cafe finally quieted down. Sigrid was still standing there, slowly pulling her hand back as she whispered, "Garnett, your wrist..."

"It's fine." Garnett shoved his hands into his pockets.

***

"Setting up a charitable foundation, and taking care of my retirement? Did Lavinia really say that?" Judith asked.

Maeve nodded. "Yes, those were her exact words. She said she isn't inheriting it; she's managing it for you."

Judith let out a deep sigh. "That girl... from the moment I met her, I knew she was a rare treasure. Why on earth did Garnett..."

Maeve continued, "Setting up a charity foundation isn't going to be easy. Lavinia mentioned she's working at an investment firm right now, learning the ropes as she goes."

Judith nodded approvingly. "Relying on herself instead of others. She has a strong backbone."

Maeve hesitated for a moment before adding, "I heard that right after I left, Zenia showed up with a lawyer. And the young master rushed over too, with that Ms. Sloan in tow."

Judith's eyes widened in anger. "What were they doing there? Were they giving Lavinia a hard time again?"

"Zenia tried to force Lavinia to sign a supplementary agreement. The gist of it was that even if she inherited the Gilmore trust, she'd have to surrender ninety percent of it to the Harpers."

"She wouldn't dare!" Judith slammed her hand hard against the table.

"The young master had his own agenda. He supported Lavinia inheriting the trust, but with a major string attached. He demanded that she stay married and have a child with him."

"Garnett actually said that?"

"Without a doubt. I had someone keeping an eye on things."

Judith fell into a thoughtful silence. "So... Garnett doesn't actually want a divorce. The one pushing for the divorce is Lavinia?"

"Lavinia simply refuses to swallow that kind of humiliation. The young master is constantly running around with Sigrid. What decent woman could ever put up with that?"

Judith let out a long, heavy sigh. "Maeve, we're getting old. Ten years ago, I never would have tolerated this kind of disrespect. I would have chased that little tramp right out of Blossom City."

Maeve offered a comforting smile. "Ms. Judith, the younger generation will find their own path. Let them be. Please don't stress yourself over this. Your health is the only thing that truly matters."

Judith nodded.

Her voice echoed faintly from the hallway. "Sir, it's me. Ms. Judith is tired and is resting."

"What did you say? You don't want Lavinia to inherit the family trust? Why?"

Inside the room, a wave of profound sorrow washed over Judith.

Garnett was finally starting to play his own little games. He was all grown up now, his wings fully developed. He was no longer the obedient little boy who used to cling to her knees.

But just as quickly, she let the feeling go.

She had weathered countless storms in her lifetime; she saw through the fickle nature of people and the world perfectly clearly.

Wealth gathers, people scatter; wealth scatters, people gather. The true meaning of that phrase was simple: people are what actually matter.

Why couldn't he understand that? In the end, he truly was a Harper.

Pushing the thought entirely from her mind, Judith quickly drifted off to sleep.