I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 188

"Mom, if Sophie had genuine character flaws, I would seriously reconsider. But the issues you brought up aren't her fault. In my eyes, those aren't even real problems. Besides, who gets to live a life entirely free of trouble? Our entire careers are built around solving complex problems and troubleshooting."

"If you weren't my son, I wouldn't care what kind of woman you married. But you are my son, and I absolutely refuse to stand back. You have a completely comfortable life, but you're dead set on wading into her family's toxic mess. Is your life just too easy? Do you seriously need to invent drama to feel fulfilled?"

"Mom, I can't help who I fall in love with. It's just like how you couldn't help falling for your own chemistry professor. Back then, you were considered a massive 'trouble' for Dad. But did he abandon you just because it would make his life easier?"

"I never once considered your mother a burden," Graham immediately interjected, his survival instincts perfectly tuned.

Gavin grinned as he watched his father frantically reassure his mother. "No, Dad never said it. It was Uncle Zhang who said it. In the eighties, a teacher-student relationship was intensely scandalous. Even though you were already in college when you got together, plenty of staff members still gossiped about it. That year, Dad was disqualified from the 'Outstanding Teacher' award and got passed over for his promotion."

"Your mother's presence in my life far outweighed those minor setbacks," Graham added, patting her hand to reaffirm his absolute devotion.

"And Sophie's presence in my life far outweighs these complications. Mom, it's not that she can't live without me. It's that I can't live without her."

Those words nearly sent Gillian into cardiac arrest. She let out a derisive scoff. "Pathetic. How long have you two even been together, and you're already claiming you can't live without her?"

"We haven't been officially together for very long, and it took her some time to realize her feelings for me. But I've been in love with her for years. After missing my chance with her initially, I thought I could just move on and fall for someone else. I even tried dating. But it never worked. Some guys can endlessly jump from one passionate romance to another, but I'm an inert gas—I only react to her."

"Wait, last October, when you suddenly changed your flight and rushed back to San Francisco a day early... was that because of Sophie?"

Rosemary had suddenly recalled the incident. She had scolded him at the time for being in such a frantic rush. He had simply replied that he needed to see someone incredibly important, terrified that if he was even a second too late, he'd miss his chance forever.

"You've always understood me best, Grandma. If I hadn't made that flight, she wouldn't be my girlfriend right now."

Seeing her mother and son perfectly synchronized sent Gillian back onto the offensive.

"How do you know it won't work with anyone else if you barely gave them a chance? Do you know how many teachers at your father's school practically begged to introduce you to their daughters? And what about that bright junior researcher who chased you during your PhD? They all had impeccable, drama-free families and brilliant personalities. I never demanded an arranged marriage based on status. I fully support you finding your own love, but you don't have to throw your entire life away for one girl!"

"Out of three thousand rivers, I only need to drink from one," Gavin countered, keeping his signature grin firmly in place.

She was speechless with fury. Before she left Seattle, she had spent hours mapping out all the logical pros and cons. She thought two months apart would give him enough space to see reason.

Yet here he was, still fiercely defending his stance.

"This absurd stubbornness of yours... I have no idea where you get it from!" she snapped in utter frustration.

"If not from you, then definitely from Dad."

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