The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 44

"Garnett Harper! What are you doing! Open the door!" she pounded frantically.

Garnett scoffed coldly. "Take some time to reflect."

He turned on his heel and stepped into the elevator, completely ignoring the desperate pounding echoing behind him.

***

Inside the lounge, smooth jazz set a languid mood.

Sigrid and Tobin Jensen were chatting in hushed tones, letting out occasional laughs. Garnett sat across from them, knocking back heavy drinks while scrolling through his phone.

He hadn't absorbed a single word of tonight's US stock market news.

Sigrid slid over, looking at his profile. Smiling, she asked, "Garnett, you haven't said a word all night. What are you looking at?"

Garnett seemed completely oblivious to her.

He had said a lot of harsh things today, and she had looked genuinely hurt.

In the past, she never argued; she was completely obedient to his every whim. Now, suddenly demanding a divorce and leaving empty-handed—was she playing hard to get?

He had locked her inside because he was worried she might actually run away in a fit of anger, but what if there was a fire?

*Crack.* The ice sphere in his glass suddenly fractured.

Garnett slammed the glass down, snatched his jacket, and muttered, "I'm heading out," before standing up to leave.

Sigrid was caught off guard and stood up with him. "What's wrong? Is everything okay at home?"

Tobin sneered. "What could possibly be wrong? Mr. Harper is just worried the woman at home is feeling too lonely and might be stepping out on him."

Garnett was already walking away, but the moment the words registered, he stopped dead in his tracks.

He turned around slowly, his gaze sweeping over the useless playboy on the couch.

Tobin sensed the immediate shift in the room's energy and tried to backtrack, but before he could speak, Garnett hoisted him off the sofa with one hand.

"My wife is none of your damn business!"

Garnett shoved him back down. Sigrid threw Tobin a panicked look before chasing after Garnett.

"Garnett!"

She caught up to him at the entrance of the bar, grabbing his hand. "You've been in a foul mood all night. What's wrong? Did you have a fight with your wife?"

Garnett thought for a moment, opened his contacts, found the number for a bank manager, and placed the call.

...

It was two in the morning by the time he got home.

The living room was completely dark, and the guest room door was shut tight.

Garnett tossed his jacket onto the sofa, walked into the master bedroom, and collapsed onto the bed.

It smelled clean and familiar.

Everything in the house had been picked out by Lavinia, all perfectly tailored to his preferences.

He had said some horrible things in the heat of the moment today.

And what she said must have just been out of anger, too.

He rolled over, his head sinking into the pillow, and let out a long breath.

He had too much going on at the company to deal with a fire in his own backyard. He would just coax her back into a good mood tomorrow.