The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 48

Charley kept his eyes on the road and said calmly, "No idea."

Saul cursed under his breath. "He was in Portus City, acting as a pallbearer for Sigrid Sloan's dad. My dad has been sick for so long, and that bastard hasn't visited him once."

"Is he still involved with Sigrid?"

Saul didn't answer, his brow furrowed in anger.

"My cousin probably doesn't know about this yet. She's been pouring everything she has into taking care of my dad." He paused. "She's under enough pressure as it is. She literally fainted at the hospital a few days ago. Don't mention this to her yet."

Charley rested both hands loosely on the steering wheel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

After a long silence, a helpless, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"You two siblings are really quite something."

***

That afternoon, Garnett cleared three meetings from his schedule just to visit the hospital.

Lavinia had been raised by her uncle, which effectively made Latham Joplin his father-in-law.

This was Blossom City's premier private international hospital. It was exorbitantly expensive, and the facilities were immaculate.

Walking through the inpatient ward, he passed a doctor's office and spotted Lavinia inside, conversing fluently in English with a foreign specialist.

Her hair was pulled up into a neat ponytail. She wore a chic knit top and a tulip skirt, with a small navy-blue silk scarf tied around her neck. She looked youthful, radiant, and incredibly elegant.

He had never heard her speak English to anyone before. She was completely fluent, without the slightest trace of a localized accent.

Garnett stood quietly by the door for a moment before she finally noticed him and stood up.

"What are you doing here?" She looked genuinely surprised.

"Didn't I say I was coming to see your uncle?" Garnett's tone was unusually gentle as he turned toward the foreign doctor.

Lavinia made the introductions. "This is Professor Hart, one of the top specialists in oncology."

"A pleasure to meet you." Garnett extended his hand, speaking in English. "I'm her husband."

After chatting a bit longer, Lavinia finalized the upcoming treatment plan with the professor and excused herself.

Larkin looked miserable as he scrambled out of the room.

Lavinia could easily tell that this new secretary wasn't working out for him at all.

Saul crossed his arms and let out a sarcastic laugh. "To what do we owe the pleasure of the incredibly busy Mr. Harper's visit?"

Garnett maintained his perfect composure and smiled faintly. "I've been telling Lavinia I needed to come see him. It's just that things have been so overwhelming at the company, I haven't been able to slip away."

He paused. "Lavinia has been working so hard lately, I haven't even dared to ask her to handle anything for my side of the family. I didn't want to add to her stress."

The unspoken message was loud and clear: *My wife has been waiting on you hand and foot, so don't push your luck.*

Garnett shifted his gaze to the strangely familiar man standing nearby. "And you are?"

The man extended a hand. "Charley Sheffield."

Hearing the name, everything instantly clicked for Garnett.

The only person who had ever beaten him in high school was this exact Charley Sheffield.