I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 141

After a long while, Sophie's tears finally subsided.

She released her grip on Gavin's waist and looked up. His t-shirt was a wrinkled mess, a large patch soaked completely through with her tears.

She tried to smooth out the creases on his shirt but failed.

"I'm so—"

Gavin didn't let her finish the apology, swiftly leaning down to capture her lips in a soft kiss.

"Never apologize to me," he murmured.

His voice was incredibly low, but she heard him perfectly. After a momentary daze, she gave a slight nod.

"Take a shower and get a good night's sleep. I'll take care of this."

Gavin wiped the remaining tear tracks from her cheeks with his thumb and gently pulled her up from the seat.

Sophie hugged him tightly, pressing her forehead against his chest, refusing to move.

"Do you need me to sing you a lullaby?" Gavin chuckled softly against her ear. "If Sarah comes back and sees me like this, she might get the wrong idea."

Sophie glanced down, lifting the edge of his shirt slightly. How much had she cried? Even his pants were damp, which explained why he had pulled his t-shirt out from his waistband to cover his lower abdomen.

Her face flushed scarlet in an instant. Another apology hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she forced it back down.

"I'm fine now. You should go back and change."

She bit her lip in embarrassment, trying her best to look put together as a small smile graced her face.

Gavin smiled back, pressing another quick kiss to her lips. Seeing that her eyes were clear of tears, he finally left.

As Gavin waited quietly for the elevator, he heard faint, suppressed sobbing coming from the stairwell.

He stepped lightly toward the sound. A dark silhouette sat on the dim stairs, head bowed, biting hard on her own fingers to muffle the cries.

It was Sarah.

The mother and daughter even looked alike when they cried. When Sophie had first broken down in his arms, she had done the exact same thing—biting her fingers desperately to keep quiet.

A reckless, loud sob would have been a much better release for their sorrow. Both women repressed their emotions entirely too much.

Sarah happened to look up. Spotting him, she immediately wiped her face and stood.

"I... I was outside the door just now... I heard everything."

She wrung her hands together. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but given the heavy atmosphere, she couldn't just casually stroll inside.

Sophie had never said those things to her.

She had no idea her daughter was so cautious, constantly trying to please everyone around her, always internalizing every misfortune as her own fault.

"Sophie, I have never resented you. The only joy I have left in this life comes from you. Seeing you happy is my greatest wish."

Sophie looked up at her mother, her vision blurring with fresh tears. After a long pause, she managed a choked, "Mom..." before her voice gave out entirely.

"I am going to live a good life. I have you, a job, and my hobbies. It's a good life. I'm content with this."

With those words, Sarah pulled Sophie into her arms, gently stroking her hair.

As far as Sophie could remember, this was the first time her mother had initiated a hug since she was in elementary school.

So many times, she had brought home certificates of achievement, presenting them like treasures, desperately hoping for a word of praise or a warm embrace.

But every single time, her mother had merely said, "Not bad, work harder next time," before walking away to focus on her own tasks.

She had waited far too long for this hug.

That night, Sophie shared a bed with her mother.

It had been her idea. They hadn't slept in the same bed since she was eight years old. When Sophie rolled over in the middle of the night, she naturally hugged her mother's arm, her fingers unconsciously tracing soothing patterns on the skin.

It was a childhood habit; she couldn't fall asleep unless she was clinging to her mother's arm. On cold nights, her tiny hands would sneak under her mother's sleeves, needing the comfort of skin-to-skin contact to drift off securely.

Sarah was actually a little stiff. After so many years of sleeping alone, she wasn't used to it, but she let Sophie hold onto her anyway.