I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 136

Gwen peeled the sheet mask off her face and began massaging her skin in slow, circular motions. "Stress causes wrinkles. I don't get mad. I just make other people mad."

"That's a relief. I was really worried this would ruin things between you and Jason."

"Hey, let's get one thing straight. There is no 'me and Jason.' What is there to ruin? I only agreed to go because I felt bad for Mia. It was a momentary lapse of judgment and pity. If you hadn't guilted me into delivering her present, I wouldn't have bothered showing up at all."

Gwen was stubbornly refusing to admit her feelings, as usual.

"Okay, okay, it's all my fault. I'm sorry I dragged you into that mess. Name your price. How can I make it up to you?" Sophie coaxed her gently.

"Take me out for crawfish this weekend. No Gavin allowed. I refuse to be a third wheel and watch you two be nauseatingly cute."

"Deal. Whatever you want."

Gwen finally cracked a smile. "That's more like it. Friends before boyfriends."

That weekend, Sophie and Gwen hit up a seafood spot for a massive crawfish boil.

A bite of crawfish, a sip of beer, and Gwen was completely back in her element, looking as vibrant as ever.

"There is absolutely no problem in this world that a mountain of crawfish can't fix." Gwen raised her beer glass and clinked it against Sophie's.

"Are you seriously writing Jason off for good?" Sophie couldn't help but ask.

Before leaving the apartment today, Sarah had repeatedly begged Sophie to put in a good word for Jason.

Her mother was so frustrating. She cared more about other people's lives than her own.

Sarah was just Jason's employee, yet she was agonizing over his love life, completely ignoring her own emotional needs.

Did middle-aged women suddenly stop wanting companionship? Older people needed partners the most. Young lovers became companions in old age—ultimately, everyone wanted someone to grow old with.

Because of one catastrophic heartbreak, her mother had locked her heart away forever. Sophie always felt that by doing so, Sarah was only punishing herself.

"I didn't even notice any of that. It just proves you're incredibly observant too," Sophie noted.

Sophie was genuinely surprised. Gwen always acted so brazen and carefree, yet she had mentally logged every tiny detail.

Gwen waved her hand dismissively, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"My ex-husband was incredibly oblivious. He never noticed those things. He never positioned himself between me and the traffic when we crossed the street. If I came home drunk from a networking dinner, it wouldn't even cross his mind to pour me a glass of water. So when some manipulative woman pretended to need shelter from the rain and wound up in my house, he was too stupid to think anything of it."

"A thoughtful man is definitely attractive, but he isn't just thoughtful to me. I want a man who treats me like I'm the only one who matters. You didn't see what happened. When his ex-wife walked up, she just naturally handed him her purse, and he instinctively took it. It pissed me off so bad."

The alcohol was clearly hitting her. The nonchalant armor had cracked, revealing a trace of genuine sadness. She wasn't just brushing it off anymore.

"I'm a divorced woman too. If I bumped into my ex-husband right now, there is zero chance I'd have the audacity to make him hold my bag. His ex-wife ordered him around so naturally. And honestly, the look she gave me was a clear message that she's still the love of his life. It was nauseating. If you loved him so much, you shouldn't have divorced him. Showing off your lingering connection after signing the papers is pathetic. I just can't get past it. Exes who refuse to move on are even worse than the other woman."

Sophie listened quietly. Gwen's last sentence made her heart skip a nervous beat.