I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 219

On her first day back at work after the holidays, Sophie brought the handmade chocolate cookies she and Gavin had crafted at The Swiss Cocoa Estate to share with her colleagues.

After the morning briefing wrapped up, she made a beeline for Lydia Langford's office.

Lydia had taken a full six months of maternity leave to spend time with her newborn, making today her grand return to the corporate battlefield.

Over those six months, the boss had completely regained her pre-pregnancy figure, but for some inexplicable reason, Sophie felt a subtle undercurrent of sorrow lingering around her.

"Ms. Langford, I made these myself. I hope you like them."

Lydia paused her work and gestured for Sophie to take a seat.

She accepted the gift, her eyes immediately zeroing in on the ring on Sophie's finger. "Engaged? Congratulations. When is the big day?"

"June," Sophie replied with a warm smile.

"You've been working incredibly hard lately. You can take things a bit easier now and focus on planning your wedding."

Sophie expressed her gratitude and was just about to leave when Lydia called her name.

"Ms. Langford? Did you need something else?" Sophie turned around and walked back to the desk.

But Lydia just shook her head. "It's nothing. Just... congratulations on leaving the past behind and starting a brand-new chapter."

"Thank you."

Sophie gave a polite nod and stepped out, though she couldn't shake the feeling that her boss was acting slightly out of character today.

Lydia was never the type to pry into her subordinates' private lives, nor was she one to beat around the bush. Yet today, she had hesitated, clearly weighing some unspoken burden on her mind.

At three o'clock that afternoon, a visitor arrived for Lydia.

Sophie escorted the woman to the office door and knocked before letting her in.

She recognized the visitor immediately—it was Yasmine Lloyd, the sharp-witted partner at the law firm Lydia had recommended when Sophie was dealing with Eileen's lawsuit.

Sophie recalled Lydia mentioning that Yasmine specialized in civil litigation, specifically high-stakes divorces.

When Sophie went in to deliver their coffee, she caught the tail end of Yasmine's sentence: "I completely agree with your proactive planning."

The moment she walked in, both women immediately fell silent.

Because Lydia was always swamped with work, she had her assistant shortlist high-end gifts for her family members before she made the final call.

Sophie had compiled a list of the latest luxury watches, tailored suits, and leather goods, emailing the options to her boss so she could finalize the purchase.

But Lydia never replied to the email, and Sophie certainly wasn't foolish enough to press the issue.

In April, for Lydia's own birthday, a florist delivered a massive bouquet of red roses. Sophie helped carry them into the office and set them prominently on the desk.

By the time Sophie walked in the next morning, the roses had been shoved into a forgotten corner on the floor.

They were from Lydia's husband. When Sophie was carrying them in, she had glanced at the card, which read: "From your loving husband."

By June first, when Sophie accompanied Lydia to a leukemia foundation gala, the final puzzle piece clicked into place. She finally understood why Lydia had previously asked her to monitor bone marrow registry databases. Her husband's ex-girlfriend had been diagnosed with leukemia, and for the past six months, he had been exhausting his resources trying to save her.

Looking back to Lydia's first day back from maternity leave, her hesitation upon hearing about the engagement suddenly made perfect sense. Lydia had been silently asking her if it was truly possible to completely close the book on an ex.

When Sophie formally requested time off for her wedding, she looked at Lydia and said, "Ms. Langford, thank you for all your guidance. As I step into this new chapter, I'm fully prepared to say goodbye to the past, and I absolutely refuse to let it drag down my present. What's gone is gone, and the only thing worth cherishing is what I hold in my hands right now."

Lydia studied her quietly for a few seconds before reaching across the desk and pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you, Sophie."