The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 8

Garnett frowned the moment he saw her approach.

"Where's your jewelry?"

"I don't have any."

His frown deepened. This was a high-society reception. A man's wife was an extension of his status, and her looking this shabby was a direct slap to his face.

"What happened?"

"Your mother made me sign a liability waiver," Lavinia said evenly. "Four million dollars' worth of emeralds. I was afraid I couldn't afford it if I lost them."

A flash of shock crossed Garnett's eyes. Knowing his stepmother Zenia's typical antics, a flare of anger ignited in his chest. But this wasn't the time to make a scene.

"I'll have a word with her later," he said.

Lavinia didn't respond.

A commotion rippled near the entrance.

Sigrid strolled in, her arm looped through a man's. She was wearing a champagne-colored gown, a dazzling diamond necklace resting against her collarbone, catching every sliver of light in the room.

Lavinia recognized the man beside her. It was Garnett's high school and college classmate, Tobin Jensen. A wealthy heir who ran in the same circles, essentially one of Garnett's drinking buddies.

Garnett walked straight over to them, his entire demeanor shifting. His voice softened drastically. "Sigrid, what are you doing here? Are you feeling better?"

Sigrid smiled gently, her gaze sweeping over Lavinia before offering a polite nod. "I finally get to meet the legendary Mrs. Harper. You're as delicate as they say."

Her lips curved into a perfectly measured smile. "I'm Sigrid Sloan, an old classmate of Garnett's."

"I've heard so much about you," Lavinia nodded back politely.

That one phrase felt like a subtle jab to Garnett. He looked at his wife. "You know Sigrid?"

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