The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 254

Garnett's hand froze over his plate.

Sigrid looked up quickly, forcing a smile. "Mom, we're still young. There's no rush."

Florence opened her mouth to argue, but seeing the expression on her daughter's face, she swallowed her words and simply murmured, "Eat up, then. Eat up."

Garnett stayed until evening fell.

Sigrid walked him out to the front gate. With a brief "Go back inside," he stepped out into the dark night.

Sigrid stood behind the threshold, watching his silhouette dissolve into the shadows of the alley. She lingered for a few more minutes before finally turning and shutting the heavy wooden doors.

The courtyard was dead silent. The camellias were barely visible in the twilight, reduced to a blur of deep, shadowy red.

Sigrid crossed the courtyard and walked back into the main hall. Florence was busy clearing the table, carrying plates of leftovers into the kitchen one by one.

Sigrid followed her in and took the dishes from her hands.

"I'll wash these, Mom. Go rest."

Florence paused, gently taking hold of her daughter's wrist. She turned it over, admiring the flawless emerald-green jade bangle resting there.

Under the overhead light, the jade emitted a quiet, rich luster, making Sigrid's pale skin look even more striking.

"This bracelet is gorgeous," Florence murmured, lightly brushing her fingers over the cool stone. "Did Garnett give this to you?"

Sigrid nodded slowly. She reached over, turned off the faucet, and dried her hands. Then, she slipped the bangle off her wrist.

Grasping her mother's hand, she slid the cool jade onto Florence's wrist.

"Mom, I want you to have this."

Florence looked stunned and immediately tried to pull it off. "It's too expensive. I can't take this."

Sigrid firmly held her hands, stopping her.

"Mom, you've sacrificed so much over the years. Ever since Dad passed away, you've been my only rock," Sigrid said, her voice growing thick with emotion. "From now on, you have me, and you have Garnett. Things are only going to get better for us."

Florence stared down at the jade bangle, her eyes welling with tears. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.

Sigrid smiled, squeezing her hands tightly.

"It's a gift from your future son-in-law, so just accept it. If you refuse, Garnett might think you still don't approve of him."

He stood outside the gate for what felt like hours.

The street was entirely deserted. The only thing keeping him company was the glow of the streetlamp, stretching his shadow out against the pavement.

He didn't know why he had come here, and he didn't know what he was supposed to do now that he was. He just stood there. He didn't knock. He didn't call her name.

After a long time, he turned around and walked away.

He started the car and drove out of the alley. In his rearview mirror, the light glowing from that small house grew dimmer and smaller, until it vanished entirely around the corner.

He had no idea that the exact moment he turned away, the music on the roof stopped.

Lavinia lifted her head and peered down over the edge of the terrace.

The wind caught the hanging sheets again, swirling them upward. The street below was completely empty.

She lowered her head and went back to strumming the strings.

The chord was wrong again. She stopped, sighed, and started over.