I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 108

Neither of them was ever going to back down.

Sarah spun around and stormed off. She heard Harold calling after her, but she didn't so much as break her stride.

Spotting a police cruiser parked near the exit, she knew Harold wouldn't dare chase her. She quickened her pace, desperate to outrun the phantom of her past.

When Sarah burst back into the apartment, Sophie was still fast asleep.

Thank god Gavin had dragged her to that gym last night. Sophie had come home whining about her aching muscles, completely refusing to join him for a morning jog.

It was a stroke of absolute luck. If Sophie had gone out, she would have walked right into Harold.

A terrifying thought gripped Sarah's chest. What if Sophie actually wanted to live with a wealthy father who could give her the world? What could a useless mother like her possibly offer in return?

Sophie was all she had. Even if she had once deeply regretted the pregnancy, her daughter was her entire universe now.

"Mom? Is rehearsal over already?"

Sophie caught a glimpse of her mother lingering in the doorway before rushing past. Stretching her sore limbs, she groaned and rolled out of bed to follow her.

Her entire body was screaming in agony. She hadn't been training; she had practically been beaten into a pulp.

"I felt a little under the weather, so I left early," Sarah lied, keeping her back turned so Sophie couldn't see her bloodshot eyes.

"Are you okay? Do you need to go to the clinic?" Sophie asked, stepping closer.

"It's just my menopause acting up. I have a headache. Go hang out with Gavin. Having people buzzing around me is driving me crazy."

Without another word, Sarah disappeared into her bedroom.

Sophie sighed. Her mother's "menopause" was an endless saga. Anytime she was stressed, she blamed her hormones, but she aggressively refused to actually see a doctor.

Wandering into the kitchen, Sophie packed up the remaining locust blossom omelets her mother had made into a thermos, deciding to share them with Gavin.

When Gavin answered his door in sweatpants, she held up the container and batted her eyelashes. "Please take me in. I've been kicked out."

Gavin chuckled, pulling her inside. "Did you guys get into a fight?"

"No, I'm way past my angsty teenage rebellion phase. She said she had a headache and couldn't stand the sight of me."

"I bet she's just looking out for me. She wanted you to come keep me company," Gavin teased, handing her a glass of milk.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

The worst-case scenario was moving back in with her mother. Being single wasn't the end of the world.

"Sophie, let's not invent problems that don't exist. We can talk our way through anything. Just promise me you won't give up on us," Gavin said gently.

Sophie wanted to agree, but the words wouldn't come out.

Gavin rounded the table, pulling her onto his lap.

"Do you really think I'd let anyone dictate my life? Even them?"

"I just don't want you to have to choose. If you picked me over them, you'd eventually resent me for ruining your family."

She knew she was being deeply pessimistic. Once upon a time, she believed she could carve out her own destiny.

"Stop overthinking. My parents literally survived a forbidden teacher-student romance. They understand what fighting for love means. Most importantly, I love you."

Sophie remained silent.

"Is this just extreme pre-meet-the-parents panic? Because I was sweating bullets when I met your mom, and you ruthlessly made fun of me for it."

Pressing his forehead against hers, Gavin murmured sweet reassurances until the tension finally melted from her shoulders.